BRUNSWICK, Maine — According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Navy has the "ultimate responsibility" to address the toxic chemical spill that happened at Hangar 4 at the Brunswick Executive Airport in August.
The EPA sent a letter on Sept. 26 notifying the Navy to "take any and all actions necessary" to protect human health and the environment. The Navy still owns the land where Hangar 4 is located at the airport, which formerly served as the Brunswick Naval Air Station, according to the letter written by EPA official Bryan Olson addressed to Naval Base Closure Manager Thuane Fielding.
However, Olson does not specify what actions the Navy should take to address the contamination.
"While post-spill ground water sample collection by MEDEP may not indicate current impacts to the aquifer, the potential for this contamination to leach through the soil column and comingle with historic PFAS ground water contamination is high," the letter said. "Connecting and bringing online EW-11 would reduce the ground water contamination from further migrating the southeast where it eventually discharges to Mere Brook and Harpswell Cove."
The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, also known as MRRA, manages the airport. Its executive director Kristine Logan wrote in an email to NEWS CENTER Maine that the situation is complex. Logan did not explain how the agency will collaborate with the Navy moving forward.
"MRRA appreciates the efforts of all parties working together to solve the issue. We will work together with the Navy, EPA, Town of Brunswick, and the State Legislatures to find a comprehensive solution to this challenge," Logan wrote.
MRRA has recently submitted a "Corrective Action Plan" to the Brunswick Fire Department, stating that it will work with fire inspectors to fix system deficiencies by Oct. 30. The agency also said it has hired an engineering firm to conduct risk assessments for Hangars 4, 5 and 6 to determine other options for the fire suppression systems.
State Rep. Dan Ankeles, D-Brunswick, said he feels MRRA should have taken these steps weeks ago.
"I'm very disappointed in the lack of urgency," Rep. Ankeles said. "I don't think it has truly sunk in for them that this is the worst spill of this nature in the history of our state. I don't think it has sunk in for them that this will have irrevocable effects on our community and its surrounding waterways for a long time."
Logan said she understands the urgency around wanting to remove the aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) from the hangars, but she said it's not a quick fix.
"The MRRA board and staff have been working diligently to not only address the immediate items at hand but have been working to determine potential options to reach everyone’s ultimate goal: the removal of all AFFF foam from our facilities," Logan wrote in an email.