Accidental Discharge of PFAS Containing Firefighting Foam at Brunswick Executive Airport
August 19, 2024 3:00 p.m.
As I reported earlier this morning, there was a discharge of the fire suppression system at Hangar 4, at the Brunswick Executive Airport at approximately 5:15 a.m. this morning. MRRA staff received electronic notification that the fire suppression system had been engaged in Hangar 4. This fire suppression foam system is required in hangars of this size.
Immediate action was taken to notify the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MaineDEP), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), EPA’s National Response Center, Brunswick Fire Department, Brunswick Sewer District, the United States Department of Navy to begin the response and the initiation of a comprehensive clean-up effort to remediate the effects of the deployed fire suppression system
The fire suppression system discharged approximately 1,600 gallons of foam containing PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment. The cause of the accidental discharge is still under investigation.
The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) is a quasi-municipal corporation created by the State of Maine to manage the redevelopment of the former Naval Air Station Brunswick which was closed as a result of a federal Base Realignment and Closure action in 2005.
MaineDEP, who is overseeing the cleanup effort, was notified immediately and had officials on site quickly to assess the extent of contamination and monitor affected areas within hangar 4, TechPlace, and areas impacted outside the buildings.
MRRA activated an Incident Command Center at 8:30 a.m. to begin the coordination of the response team and clean-up effort which will involve a multi-phase approach to ensure thorough remediation of affected areas. MRRA has retained Clean Harbors of South Portland to provide containment and clean up services. They are on site with vacuum trucks, containment booms, and frac tanks to begin this cleanup effort.
“We take this situation very seriously and are committed to addressing the cleanup with the utmost urgency and transparency,” said Kristine Logan, the Executive Director of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority. “Our goal is to not only clean up the affected areas but also to ensure that such incidents are handled effectively and responsibly.”
MRRA will continue to work closely with local, state, and federal agencies to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and to minimize any negative impacts to the environment.
Regular updates will be provided through our website and community outreach channels as we continue the cleanup process.
August 19th, 11:00 AM
Accidental Discharge of PFAS Containing Firefighting Foam at Brunswick Executive Airport
We want to inform the public of a discharge of firefighting foam containing PFAS from the fire suppression system at Hangar 4, Brunswick Executive Airport at approximately 5:30 a.m. this morning.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MaineDEP), Brunswick Fire Department and Clean Harbors are currently on-site assessing the situation and addressing any potential impacts.
We understand the importance of this matter and are committed to keeping you informed. Additional details will be provided as they become available.
Thank you for your attention and understanding.
Kristine Logan
Executive Director
Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority
Hello,
Is the water safe to drink and bathe in on the landing in Bruns, ME?
Hello,
There is no reason to believe that the water has been contaminated and it is safe to drink and bathe in.
Thanks
When will the samples be analyzed and their data made available to the public?
From https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas
The maximum contamination limit enforced by the EPA for a PFOA compound is 4 ppt (parts per trillion). I disagree with Mr. Levesque. There is no reason to believe that the water is safe to drink without measurements that show that the water contains less than 4 ppt of the chemical.
What has been measured is well over 1,000 gallons of AAAF deposited on the ground at Brunswick Landing on the morning of 19-August-2024.
What has been researched and well documented are the toxic effects of these “forever chemicals” in humans.
Steve,
Feel free to reach out to DEP for further info. Thank you
David Madore, Deputy Commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection is the point person for inquiries regarding the incident and response: David R. Madore, Deputy Commissioner david.madore@maine.gov