BRUNSWICK, Maine — Crews continued their cleanup all day Tuesday after 1,600 gallons of foam containing toxic chemicals was released out of Hangar 4 at the Brunswick Executive Airport early Monday morning. The fire-fighting foam, also known as AFFF, contains PFAS—forever chemicals that pose a health risk and danger to the environment.
People who live near the Brunswick Landing say they're looking for answers about the long-term effects of the chemical release, as well as how similar situations can be prevented in the future.
Just about a mile away from the landing is a new housing development, where many recently purchased new homes, Megan Kissling being one of them. "We know the signs of environmental disasters. We've seen them many, many times," Kissling said.
Like many others, she is worried about the foam contaminating the town's drinking water supply.
"Some people are on well water. Where is this [the foam] going?" Aquifers that feed the Topsham and Brunswick Water District, which thousands, like Kissling, rely on for water, lie close to the airport. The PFAS inside the foam is known for being dangerous if ingested.
"Monday's incident was as disturbing to us as to anyone else," Kristine Logan, executive director of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, which runs the property, said.
Initial investigations show the foam did not leak into drinking water supplies.
"None of what happened yesterday drains off into that area," she said. The Department of Environmental Protection also confirmed this information in a statement. "At this time, the discharge of firefighting foam containing PFAS at Brunswick Landing is not impacting the Brunswick Topsham Water District (BTWD) water supply. Homes and businesses served by the BTWD can safely use the water," David Madore, who represents the Maine DEP, said.
Despite their observation, the DEP added they have still discontinued the use of a nearby well-field, but only as a precautionary measure. It is waiting until lab testing comes back, which could take a few days.
However, Logan says the foam did contaminate nearby sewer and storm water systems, which town representatives said they are concerned about. "It's one of those substances that just shows up in lots of places once it's released," Jennifer Hicks, Brunswick City Councilor for District 5, said.
Even if the outcome isn't the worst case scenario, many can't help but think about how bad it could have been. "It could only have been worse if it had happened on the north end of the base, Hangar 6, which is closer to the Brunswick Topsham Water District wellfield," David Page, who sits on the Restoration Advisory Board for Brunswick, said.
Page, who is also a retired chemistry professor at Bowdoin College, also noted this is the third major spill at Brunswick landing since 2012. It's a recurring problem that is giving town representatives like Hicks a feeling of responsibility to mitigate potential risks in the community.
"I don't know exactly what, as a council member or elected official, I can truly do other than make sure it doesn't happen again," Hicks said. In a town council meeting on Monday night, councilors voted to develop a plan within the town to address the crisis. They also suggested potentially looking at long-term solutions, like finding an alternative to the use of AFFF.
Representatives from MRRA say they are aware of the developing problem and Logan even went so far to say the accidental spills are more common than the foam being used for it's original purpose of fighting fire. However, they are required to follow the recommendations of the National Fire Protection Agency, which favors the foam.
"If the rules change where these types of facilities don't need a foam system, then that would be a great way to not have these incidents happen again." Logan believes MRRA has the same goal as the town and it's one that would be a relief to all those who call the area home, like Megan Kissling.
"I mean really that's my big concern, my child, my family, our health and safety," Kissling said.