MassDEP Legacy Firefighting Foam Take-Back Project

Over five months, MassDEP was contacted by 86 fire departments/public safety entities. MassDEP developed a master list of locations, volumes, container sizes, and photographs. Responses fit into four groups:

 28 fire departments confirmed that they no longer had legacy foam. This included several major cities in the Commonwealth where we had anticipated that large amounts of legacy foam may have existed.

 53 fire departments confirmed that they had small quantities of legacy foam and needed help with its disposal. These were all small volumes as originally expected, but at locations spread across the state from the tip of Cape Cod to the corner of the Berkshires. These 53 fire departments accounted for 27.7% of total legacy foam recovered.

 4 fire departments/public safety entities confirmed they had legacy foam and needed help with disposal. These were all very large volumes from area foam caches or fire/safety entities with major facilities in their jurisdiction. These four accounted for 73% of total foam recovered.

 1 fire department was unable to participate due to inability to afford replacement foam and complexities of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules. They still have 13,600 pounds (or 1,600 gallons) of legacy foam. MassDEP is working with this fire department beyond the scope of this project.

Read the full project summary on the link to the right (below on mobile).

Take-Back Program

Extensive AFFF materials (128,000 pounds; 15,000 gallons) are disposed in this program. 

Personal Protective Equipment - PPE

Beginning on January 1, 2020, a manufacturer that sells PPE to any person, local government, or state agency must provide written notice to the purchaser at the time of sale if the PPE contains PFAS chemicals.  Also, beginning on January 1, 2022, a manufacturer that sells PPE to any person, local government, or state agency shall not manufacture, sell, or distribute for use PPE containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals.

Regulatory Status

Proposed

Legislative Reference

MA S.1400 https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/SD1784

MA H.3661 https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H3661