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[Portal ID #1962]

Department of Ecology
Committees, Boards, and Workgroups

PFAS in Firefighting Foam

The Department of Ecology uses this site to share information and solicit feedback on the environmental, health, and social impacts of a collection and disposal program for firefighting foam containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Washington State Legislature allocated funds for Ecology to collect, transport, and dispose of PFAS containing firefighting foam owned by municipal fire departments. 

Ecology investigated disposal options for PFAS containing firefighting foam and conducted a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review. The review indicated that our next steps were to evaluate the potential environmental, public health, and social impacts of our collection and disposal program before proceeding. A third party consultant will complete this evaluation through an Environmental Impact Statement.

The use of firefighting foam for emergencies and training is believed to be the source of PFAS ground and drinking water contamination around the state, including in communities such as Airway Heights, Issaquah, Lakewood, and on Whidbey Island. PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because there is no known natural process to break them down. PFAS are detrimental to both human and wildlife health at low levels, and are found throughout the globe.

To stay up to date on Ecology’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), subscribe to the firefighting foam email list.

  • Comuníquese con nosotros a hwtrpubs@ecy.wa.gov si usted necesita ayuda con servicios de interpretación o materiales traducidos a otro idioma.
  • Hãy liên lạc chúng tôi qua điện thư hwtrpubs@ecy.wa.gov nếu quý vị cần trợ giúp thông dịch hoặc tài liệu dịch sang tiếng Việt.
  • 통역서비스나 다른 언어로 번역된 자료가 필요하시면 저희에게 이메일 (hwtrpubs@ecy.wa.gov) 로 연락하세요.
  • 如需翻譯服務或其它語種材料請發送郵件至hwtrpubs@ecy.wa.gov 聯繫我們。

Share your feedback on the study’s scope

The disposal options we are currently considering include:

  • Incineration
  • Landfill
  • Deep Well Injection
  • Collect and hold until new technologies are available
  • Leave in place until new technologies are available

Ecology wants public input on the scope of issues that we should address in this EIS. Scoping helps us determine what resources will be impacted by this collection and disposal program. We will use your feedback to help write a draft EIS. Please send comments to Sean Smith at sean.smith@ecy.wa.gov.

We expect to publish the draft EIS for public comment by Fall 2022.

Related information

Contact

Sean Smith
Department of Ecology | Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program
425-649-4495
sean.smith@ecy.wa.gov

Documents

 File NameFile SizeDescriptionCategoryDate Added
Foam SEPA Check List_Sep2020.pdf 207.4 KB SEPA Checklist
SEPA Checklist
None 03/02/23 02:12 PM
Ecology DNS Cover letter_Sep2020.pdf 70.6 KB Cover Letter: Determination of Non-Significance
Cover Letter: Determination of Non-Significance
None 03/02/23 02:12 PM
DS Scoping Comment Summary 2022.pdf 6.4 MB Summary Report on Scoping Comments
Summary Report on Scoping Comments
Comments 05/25/22 01:41 PM
01.19.2020_DS_EIS_Issuance.pdf 141.2 KB Determination of Significance, call for comments
Determination of Significance, call for comments
Environment Impact S... 01/19/21 08:03 AM
01.15..2020_DNS_Withdrawal.pdf 107.7 KB Withdrawal of the Determination of Non-Significanc...
Withdrawal of the Determination of Non-Significance
Environment Impact S... 01/19/21 08:02 AM

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