Contaminated Wells Relocation Act

This bill allows NASA to reimburse the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia, for the cost to remove and replace certain drinking water wells that sit on NASA property near the town. The goal is to move the wells off NASA land and build new ones on land the town controls. This follows PFAS contamination found in wells near NASA’s Wallops site, linked to firefighting foam used since the 1970s.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Chincoteague residents who use the town’s water system, and NASA as the reimbursing agency.
• What changes: NASA can make an agreement (up to five years) to pay the town’s direct costs to plan, remove, and relocate three remaining wells, and to set up replacement wells on town‑controlled land; the plan must name the new site and include a current cost estimate for the move and construction.
• When: NASA must send Congress any agreement made under this bill within 18 months of the law taking effect.