U.S. Army Reserve Fort McCoy
Base Background
Fort McCoy was built in 1909 and is the only federally-operated Army installation in the state of Wisconsin. This site includes 60,000 acres of land, which provides multi-terrain training for multiple military units. There are thousands of military personnel, civilians, family members, retirees, and contractors present on the base today.
Toxic Exposure at Fort McCoy
PFAS contamination at Fort McCoy was first documented in 2016 when the Army reported results from monitoring wells near burn pits where Aqueous Film Forming Foam had been used in fire training. In one burn pit AFFF had been used since before 1982. In 2017-2018, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources directed the Army to investigate and clean up contamination at three burn pits, where extremely high levels of PFOS were found.
Current Status of PFAS Water Contamination
The Army and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are monitoring the PFAS situation at Fort McCoy and its surroundings. In June 2022, DNR issued a release advising to reduce the consumption of fish from Angelo Pond, located southwest of Fort McCoy, after tests found high PFAS levels in certain species. A similar advisory had been issued for Silver Creek in 2021.
If you developed a medical condition related to toxic exposure after living or working at or near Fort McCoy, you may be able to obtain compensation. Get a free case evaluation to explore your legal options.
Known Toxins
The following chart outlines the medical conditions associated with toxic exposure at this base, classified by the strength of evidence required (strong, good or limited).* Please keep in mind that it is not a complete list.
| Toxin | Potential Effects | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong | Good | Limited | ||
| PFAS (Firefighting Foam) | Potential Effects | - | - | Testicular cancer, Renal (kidney) cancer, Prostate cancer |
*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.
Paths to Getting Compensation
Veterans and civilians who lived or worked at or near the base may be able to receive compensation if they developed health conditions associated with toxic exposure. This would require:
Documenting the exposure
Gathering comprehensive medical evidence
Obtaining expert medical opinions to establish a link between the diagnosed medical conditions and the toxic exposure
Making a VA disability claim or pursuing a lawsuit
For a free case evaluation, please call us on 1-888-477-2363. We specialize in disability law and work on a contingency basis, with no upfront fees.