CURRENT INVESTIGATIONS AND REMEDIAL ACTIVITIES
PFAS Contamination
During the past decade poly-& perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been discovered in high concentrations at the former BNAS. These chemicals are components of aircraft firefighting foams (AFFF) that were used by the Navy when the former base was active. The Navy’s investigations indicate that the soil, groundwater, surface water and stormwater at the former BNAS is contaminated with PFAS . Additional studies have shown that PFAS contaminants have traveled offsite and are impacting the Brunswick Topsham Water District public water supply wells, private water supply wells , surface water systems and shellfish. Given the extent PFAS contamination at the former BNAS, in February 2021 U.S. EPA designated a new base wide operable unit – OU‐13 – to address the investigation and remediation this PFAS contamination. The Navy is currently in the process of conducting a Remedial Investigation for OU-13 to define the nature and extent of PFAS contamination on and off the former Brunswick Naval Air Station.
Contaminated Sediment Removal, Former Picnic Pond Stormwater Retention System
The Navy has identified several contaminants in the surface water and sediments in the four stormwater retention ponds: Picnic Pond and the related Ponds A, B and C, that comprise the so-called Picnic Pond Retention System. Contaminants identified in the sediments include pesticides (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane [DDD], dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene [DDE] and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane [DDT], collectively known as DDx; lead; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and PFAS. PFAS is also present in the stormwater in the ponds in the system at 20 times the Maine drinking water standard.
RESOURCES
Visit the Navy's website to access former BNAS related documents and reports including:
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Sampling and Analysis Plan (Field Sampling Plan and Quality Assurance Project Plan) for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Remedial Investigation, Former Naval Air Station (NAS) Brunswick, Brunswick, Maine,July 2022
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Final Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Investigation Summary Report,Former Naval Air Station (NAS) Brunswick, Brunswick, Maine, September 2020
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Remedial Action Work Plan, Picnic Pond Stormwater Retention System Remedial Action, Brunswick Naval Air Station, Brunswick, ME July 2022
See also
The Department of Defense website on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's PFAS site