Johnson County officials have declared a state of disaster due to contamination by carcinogenic chemicals.
The action was prompted after “forever chemicals,” also known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), were discovered in local agricultural land.
Testing showed that PFAS had contaminated soil, groundwater, and surface water and killed animals in the affected areas, according to a statement from Johnson County Judge Christopher Boedeker.
County Commissioner Larry Woolley said, “This is not just an environmental issue; it is an agricultural issue.”
Judge Boedeker concurred, stating, “This situation threatens the very foundation of our agricultural community and the safety of our residents. We are taking immediate action to protect our citizens and support our farming community through this crisis.”
Johnson County reportedly held a town hall on the evening of February 11th to provide citizens with more information on the order. During the event, Dana Ames, the county’s environmental crime investigator, cited a complaint made in the last days of 2024 that led to the investigation.
“Through a very exhaustive and extensive investigation, we did a lot of testing with the assistance of scientists,” said reportedly Ames. “Our test results were absolutely shocking.”
The disaster declaration said the county will seek governmental assistance from all levels.
“The County has requested that Texas Governor Greg Abbott join in the declaration and seek federal disaster assistance. Despite the known contamination, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality continues to approve the application of biosolids as fertilizer in Johnson County, prompting urgent calls for regulatory intervention.”
The suspected source of the contamination cited in the order was fertilizer.
In recent years, the presence of PFAS in fertilizer and the prudence of its application in agricultural settings have become increasingly scrutinized.
In early December 2024, a story swept national news outlets regarding PFAS contamination that had reportedly killed 39 animals in Johnson County.
One rancher lost almost 40 cattle to the toxins.
“It’s like a nightmare you can’t wake up from,” the rancher, Tony Coleman, told Newsnation at the time. “You go home at night and you don’t really sleep well, because you know the next day is coming, and you know what it’s going to bring. I don’t think there’s enough words. It’s like ripping your heart out.”