Brunswick Naval Air Station AFFF (PFAS) Release

On August 19, 2024 at approximately 7:30 am, Maine DEP was notified by the Brunswick Fire Department that approximately 1,450 gallons of AFFF concentrate mixed with approximately 50,000 gallons of water was released at the Brunswick Executive Airport at Hangar 4. The release made its way out of the hangar into an oil/water separator and into nearby stormwater ponds. The release of AFFF concentrate mixed with agitated water resulted in the generation of foam at and near the hangar, through the sewer system and the stormwater collection system.

Responders on the scene that morning began coordination internally and with multiple agencies and organizations, ultimately resulting in establishing a Unified Command (UC) on August 20, 2024. Members of the UC include:

• Maine Department of Environmental Protection
• Maine Department of Health and Human Services' Center for Disease Control and Prevention
• Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Town of Brunswick
• U.S. Coast Guard

The Brunswick Naval Air Station is an active remediation site under the Superfund program that is administered by the US EPA, Department of the Navy, and Maine DEP.

---

November 12, 2024 - Three additional effluent sample results from the Brunswick Sewer District (BSD) have recently been added to the PFAS map. As a result of the AFFF spill on August 19, 2024, PFAS entered the public sanitary sewer system of the BSD wastewater treatment facility that discharges to the Androscoggin River. The recent results continue to indicate a steady downward trend in effluent PFAS levels over the sampling period since the spill. Additional sampling is planned.

Timeline and Documents:

• October 3, 2024 - Update 12: Sampling effort continues for the former Brunswick Naval Air Station
• October 1, 2024 - U.S. EPA Request for Information
• September 27, 2024 - US EPA letter: Base Wide PFAS Remedial Investigation Work Plan, Former Naval Air Station Brunswick, ME
• September 26, 2024 - Update 11: DEP continues to evaluate Brunswick's soil and water sample results
• September 20, 2024 - Update 10: DEP issues recent test findings from the Androscoggin River in relation to the Brunswick AFFF spill
• September 19, 2024 - Update 9: The Maine DEP's comprehensive testing efforts in Brunswick have resulted in ongoing sampling findings
• September 13, 2024 - Maine DMR Shellfish Harvesting Area Classification - Notification of Change
• September 12, 2024 - Update 8: DEP staff conduct door-to-door effort to sample wells in neighborhood near AFFF spill site
• September 7, 2024 - Update 7: The DEP releases the most recent Brunswick sample findings
• September 5, 2024 - Update 6: DEP will assist in facilitating the transition from emergency response to long-term remediation in Brunswick
• September 3, 2024 - Update 5: DEP expands sampling plan at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station
• August 30, 2024 - Update 4: Mitigation efforts will continue over the holiday weekend in Brunswick
• August 28, 2024 - Update 3: Response efforts to address the Brunswick AFFF spill continue
• August 26, 2024 - Update 2: Unified Command continues response to AFFF spill in Brunswick
• August 23, 2024 - Updates on Response to AFFF spill in Brunswick
• August 21, 2024 - (Corrected) **MEDIA ADVISORY** Unified Command established for Brunswick AFFF release
• Project folder
  • Test results
  • Site map