Maine enviro agency downplays PFAS dangers at former naval base

 

Portland Press Herald

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is downplaying the risk to the public water supply and nearby drinking water wells from an accidental discharge of 1,450 gallons of toxic firefighting foam at the Brunswick Executive Airport on Monday.

But a state toxicologist at the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said Maine does not yet understand the public health risk that might be posed from inhalation of foam. After the spill, the foam could be seen blowing in the wind around Hangar 4, drains and manholes, and nearby retention ponds.

“We’ve all seen the videos of the foam in the air,” toxicologist Andy Smith said. “We can understand why that is concerning to people. … As that happens, you can potentially form an aerosol, small droplets, and it is the small droplets that people can inhale.”

State Rep. Dan Ankeles, D-Brunswick, said he was concerned to hear the foam could become an aerosol.

“Given that the foam blew all over the Landing, getting a warning now that there may be an air-quality issue – that was a little concerning,” Ankeles said. “And I’m looking forward to hearing more about what sort of proximity we’re talking about when they tell us ‘don’t get close to the foam.’ ”

[Last] Monday, 1,450 gallons of firefighting foam containing forever chemicals, or PFAS, which are known to be harmful to human health, were discharged from a malfunctioning fire suppression system in place to smother high-intensity fuel fires inside Hangar 4 at the Brunswick Executive Airport.

For decades, military and civilian firefighters used special foam containing PFAS to smother the intense flames caused by fuel fires. While manufacturers can no longer use two variants of the chemicals, large amounts of “legacy” PFAS-containing foam are still out there.

The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority is responsible for fronting the cost of cleanup efforts, Executive Director Kristine Logan said. The price tag will run into the millions, money that she said MRRA doesn’t have.

DEP Commissioner Melanie Loyzim acknowledged Wednesday that Maine has long known the former [naval air] base had a forever chemical contamination problem, even before Monday’s spill. Some tests show high levels of forever chemicals in the base groundwater – as high has 10,000 parts per trillion.

Maine says drinking water can’t have more than 20 parts per trillion of six combined forever chemicals. New federal limits are even lower, with a 4-parts-per-trillion cap. All houses and businesses located on Brunswick Landing – the new name of the old base – draw water from the public supply.

A public meeting will be held on Thursday, August 29 at the Brunsiwck Town Hall at 6:30 pm for local residents to raise questions and seek more information.