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PFAS: Regulation of Firefighting Foam
Nov 13, 2020This blog was originally published in November 2020. Visit our up-to-date blog on PFAS in firefighting foam (AFFF) and equipment: state-by-state regulations >
26 states have either passed or proposed regulations regarding per- or polyfluoroalkyl (“PFAS”) based Class B Aqueous Film-Forming foams (“AFFF”) used for firefighting. These regulations typically involve restrictions in four general areas:
- Discharge or use requirements – These regulations usually limit or prohibit the use of AFFF in training or testing exercises, and only allow the use of AFFF in active firefighting situations;
- Storage or “take-back” provisions – Some states have enacted state run programs to purchase and dispose of AFFF, usually purchasing from government agencies;
- Notification or reporting requirements – When continued use of AFFF is allowed, some states have required that businesses report specific details regarding their use; and
- Limitations on personal protective equipment (“PPE”) – In some cases states have limited or prohibited PPE for firefighters that contains PFAS-materials.
While the specific regulations are listed in the chart below, BCLP wants to begin by providing an overview of the potential risks that businesses face as a result of AFFF use or storage.
- Regulatory Action. Businesses who own(ed) or operate(d) property where AFFF was historically used, stored, or disposed of may be the focus of regulatory investigation and enforcement actions based on PFAS impacts to drinking water, groundwater, and other media, as well as municipal systems like sewers and water treatment plants. In addition, some state’s AFFF regulations impose use restrictions and reporting requirements for businesses that chose to continue to use AFFF, and failure to comply with those requirements creates further regulatory enforcement risk.
- Impacted Industries. To date, airports have been the primary focus of investigations by regulatory agencies, usually focusing upon impacts to drinking water wells and groundwater supplies near the airports. If your business is involved in aviation, it may be advisable to review your company’s current or historic use of AFFF. Other impacted industries include the oil and gas sector, marine facilities, mining, and certain types of industrial facilities.
- Litigation. States, cities, and individual plaintiffs have all begun filing suits based on impacts from AFFF, usually targeting the manufacturers of these chemicals. The risk of litigation extends beyond the original manufacturers, and for example, to businesses that stored, used, or disposed of the chemicals.
Department of Defense Response
On December 20, 2019, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”).1 This lengthy law phases out the use of AFFF, subject to some limited exceptions, at all military sites by October 1, 2024. In the meantime, the NDAA forbids training exercises with the use of any AFFF releases.
Importantly, the provisions of the NDAA only apply to military facilities on property owned by the federal government, and do not apply to any civilian facilities. However, defense contractors should be aware of the provisions of the NDAA both for planning and risk mitigation purposes.
Conclusion
A map showing the states that have enacted or proposed regulations regarding AFFF is below, along with a detailed chart providing more information on the specific provisions of those regulations. Because the regulation of AFFF, and PFAS more generally, is developing rapidly it is important to note that this client alert reflects the status of state regulation of PFAS in AFFF as of November 10, 2020.
If you believe that you may be impacted by an enacted or proposed regulation, or if you have a question about an AFFF regulation in a specific jurisdiction, please contact Tom Lee or John Kindschuh at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.
| State | Product Categories | Regulatory Status | Reference |
| Alaska
|
Reporting: Immediately reporting discharges of AFFF as certain PFAS materials are defined as hazardous substances. | Enacted | Reporting discharges in regions pursuant to 18 AAC 75 |
| Notification: A public notice should be issued when a PFAS substance is used for a firefighting purpose that is no longer required by applicable federal law. | Proposed | Notify: SB 176 | |
| Arizona | Discharge and Use: Beginning on January 1, 2020, a person, local government or state agency may not discharge or use AFFF for training or testing purposes unless the testing facility has implemented appropriate containment, treatment, and disposal measures to prevent releases of AFFF to the environment. | Enacted | Ariz. Rev. Stat. 36-1696 |
| California | Discharge and Use: Beginning on January 1, 2022, manufacturers of AFFF are prohibited from selling or distributing AFFF. Discharges or uses of AFFF for training purposes are also prohibited.
Reporting: Entities who use AFFF shall report their use to the State Fire Marshal within five business days of the use, including the identity of the AFFF, the quantity used, the total PFAS concentration, the application for which the AFFF was used, and the duration of the fire. Notification: On or before July 1, 2021, a manufacturer of AFFF shall notify, in writing, persons that sell the manufacturer’s products in the state. For products sold after July 1, 2021, a manufacturer shall provide that notification on or before December 31, 2021. PPE: Beginning on January 1, 2022, a person, including a manufacturer, that sells PPE must provide a written notice to the purchaser at the time of sale if the PPE contains PFAS substances. |
Enacted | SB 1044 |
| Colorado
|
Discharge and Use: Beginning on August 2, 2019, a person or fire department may not discharge or use any AFFF for training or testing purposes, subject to certain exceptions. Also, beginning on August 2, 2021, a manufacturer may not sell or distribute any AFFF that contains PFAS substances, subject to certain exceptions. | Enacted | Use: CRS 24-33.5-1234; CRS 25-5-1303 |
| Notification: A manufacturer of AFFF must notify, in writing, persons that sell the manufacturer's products in the state prior to August 2, 2020. | Reporting: CRS-25-5-1304 | ||
| PPE: Beginning on August 2, 2019, a person, including a manufacturer, that sells PPE must provide written notice to the purchaser at the time of sale if the PPE contains PFAS substances. | PPE: CRS 25-5-1305 | ||
| Take-back Program: The Department of Public Health and the Environment shall purchase and dispose of eligible materials, subject to available funds. | Storage: CRS 25-5-1311 | ||
| Connecticut | Use: Beginning on July 1, 2021, no person, local government or state agency may use AFFF for training purposes or any firefighting purpose unless an agency fails to identify an alternative by April 1, 2021. Also, beginning on January 1, 2021, no person, local government or state agency may use AFFF that contains PFAS substances for any purpose.
Take-back Program: Beginning on October 1, 2021, an agency shall develop a take-back program for municipal sources of PFAS substances. |
Proposed | SB 297 and HB 5288 |
| Delaware | Discharge: Beginning on January 1, 2021, it is unlawful to discharge AFFF, subject to certain exceptions for emergency firefighting operations and for training or testing purposes. |
Proposed | SB 217 |
| Georgia | Discharge and Use: Beginning on January 1, 2020, no person, including fire departments, state agencies and political subdivisions, shall discharge or use AFFF, subject to some exceptions. | Enacted | O.C.G.A. 25-2-41 |
| Illinois
|
Discharge and Use: A person, fire department, local government or state agency may not discharge or use AFFF for training or testing purposes. Also, beginning on January 1, 2021, a manufacturer of AFFF is prohibited from selling or distributing AFFF. Additionally, beginning on June 30, 2020, a person, unit of local government, or state agency shall not use AFFF for training or testing purposes unless the testing facility has implemented appropriate containment, treatment, and disposal measures to prevent releases of AFFF to the environment. | Proposed
|
Use: SB 3154, HB 5003 |
| Take-back Program: A voluntary take-back provision is established for local fire departments that store older firefighting foam made with PFAS materials. | Storage: HB 5529 | ||
| Indiana | Use: Beginning on June 30, 2020, a person, unit, or state agency shall not use AFFF for training or testing purposes unless the testing facility has implemented appropriate containment, treatment, and disposal measures to prevent releases of AFFF to the environment. | Enacted | Ind. Code 36-8-10.7-6 and 7 |
| Iowa | Use and PPE. It will be unlawful to manufacture, distribute, or sell AFFF or PPE. Note: this is a very general set of proposed bills. | Proposed | H.F. 775 and H.F. 2241 |
| Kentucky | Use: Beginning on July 15, 2020, AFFF shall not be used for training or testing purposes, unless the testing facility has implemented best industry practices to prevent uncontrolled releases of AFFF into the environment. | Enacted | Ky. Rev. Stat. 227.395 |
| Maine | Reporting: A person causing a discharge of AFFF into any waters of the state shall report the discharge as soon as practicable, but no later than 24 hours after the discharge occurs.
Notification. Beginning on January 1, 2023, a manufacturer of a product that contains PFAS materials shall submit a written notification, subject to some exemptions. |
Proposed | LD 2147 |
| Maryland | Use: Beginning on October 1, 2021, AFFF may not be used for training or testing purposes, subject to some exceptions. | Enacted | Md. Code, Envir. 6-1603, 1604 |
| Massachusetts
|
Take-back Program: Extensive AFFF materials (128,000 pounds; 15,000 gallons) are disposed in this program. | Enacted | Take-back program details |
| PPE: Beginning on January 1, 2020, a manufacturer that sells PPE to any person, local government, or state agency must provide written notice to the purchaser at the time of sale if the PPE contains PFAS chemicals. Also, beginning on January 1, 2022, a manufacturer that sells PPE to any person, local government, or state agency shall not manufacture, sell, or distribute for use PPE containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals. | Proposed | PPE: SD 1784 and HD 3661 | |
| Michigan
|
Use and PPE (Mich. Comp. Law 408-1014r): Rules involve the containment and handling of PFAS materials, including the decontamination of PPE, following the use of AFFF and a prohibition for AFFF in training purposes. Also, beginning on January 1, 2020, AFFF should not be used for equipment calibration purposes, subject to two exceptions. | Enacted
|
Mich. Comp. Laws 408-1014r,
|
| Use and PPE (Mich. Comp. Law 29-369c): Beginning on October 6, 2020, AFFF must not be used in any training. Also, until December 31, 2023, the training must follow two requirements: (1) include the proper use, handling, and storage of the AFFF; and (2) adhere to the best environmental and public health practices, including the containment, disposal, and decontamination of the PPE. | Mich. Comp. Laws 29-369c, | ||
| Notification: Immediately after a fire department uses AFFF, the fire chief shall report the incident to the Michigan Pollution Emergency Alert System. | Mich. Comp. Laws 324.14703, and | ||
| Take-back Provisions: A collection program is available for properly disposing of any firefighting foam containing PFAS substances. | Mich. Comp. Laws 324.14705 | ||
| Minnesota | Discharge: Beginning on July 1, 2020, no person, political subdivision, or state agency shall discharge AFFF for training purposes, subject to some exceptions, and for testing purposes, unless the testing facility has implemented appropriate containment, treatment, and disposal measures to prevent releases of AFFF to the environment.
Notification: Beginning on July 1, 2020, any person, political subdivision, or state agency that discharges AFFF must be reported to the Minnesota Fire Incident Reporting System within 24 hours of the discharge. |
Enacted | Minn. Stat. 325F.072
|
| New Hampshire
|
Discharge and Use: Beginning on January 1, 2020, no person, local government, or state agency may use AFFF for training or testing purposes, but the testing may occur if there are containment, treatment, and disposal measures to prevent any releases of AFFF to the environment. Also, beginning on January 1, 2020, a manufacturer shall not sell or distribute AFFF, subject to some exceptions.
Take-back Provision: After evaluating some additional information, beginning on July 1, 2021, the Department of Environmental Services will establish a take-back program for the purpose of safe and contained disposal of firefighting foams containing PFAS materials. Notification: The municipality discharging the AFFF shall notify the Department of Environmental Services within 48 hours of the discharge. |
Enacted
|
Use, Take-back provision, Reporting: N.H. Rev. Statute 154:8-b |
| PPE: Beginning on January 1, 2020, a manufacturer or other entity that sells PPE to any person, municipality, or state agency must provide written notice to the purchaser at the time of sale if the PPE contains PFAS chemicals. | PPE: N.H. Rev. Statute 154:8-c | ||
| New Jersey | Discharge: Beginning two years after the date of enactment, no person shall discharge AFFF for training or testing purposes, unless the testing facility has implemented the appropriate containment, treatment, and disposal measures to prevent harm of any AFFF release to the environment.
|
Proposed | A747
|
| New York
|
Discharge and Use: No person, local government, or state agency will discharge or use AFFF for training purposes. Also, beginning two years after the effective date, manufacturers may not manufacture, sell, or distribute AFFF, subject to some exceptions. | Enacted
|
Use and PPE: S439A |
| PPE: A manufacturer or other person that sells PPE to any person, local government, or state agency must provide written notice to the purchaser at the time of sale if the PPE contains PFAS substances. Notification: Releases must be reported by an employee, agent, or representative of the person who has knowledge of the release of a hazardous substance to the Department’s Spill Hotline within two hours after discovery of the release. PFOS and PFOA are specifically listed as hazardous substances. | Reporting: 6 NYCRR 597; Listing PFOS and PFOA as hazardous substances | ||
| No incineration: Incineration of AFFF shall be prohibited in a city with a population between 16,000 and 17,000 and in a region designated by the Department of Environmental Conservation as an environmental justice area. | Proposed | Disposal: A9952 | |
| North Carolina | Discharge and Use: Beginning on July 1, 2022, no person may discharge or use AFFF for training purposes. Also, a manufacturer may not manufacture, sell, or distribute AFFF, subject to some exceptions.
PPE: Beginning on July 1, 2022, a manufacturer that sells PPE to any person, local government, or state agency must provide written notice to the purchaser at the time of sale if the PPE contains PFAS chemicals. |
Proposed | HB560 |
| Ohio | Use: Beginning on January 1, 2020, no person shall use AFFF containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals for training or testing purposes. The AFFF can only be used for testing purposes if the facility has implemented appropriate containment, treatment, and disposal measures to prevent releases of AFFF into the environment. | Proposed | HB328 |
| Pennsylvania | Discharge and Use: Beginning on July 1, 2021, no person, entity, or a municipality may discharge or use AFFF for testing or training purposes, subject to some exceptions including: (1) the testing facility has implemented appropriate containment, treatment and disposal measures to prevent releases of AFFF into the environment; and (2) the training replaces the AFFF that contains a PFAS chemical with non-fluorinated substance.
|
Proposed | SB919 |
| Vermont | Discharge and Use: A person, municipality, or state agency must not discharge or use AFFF for training purposes. Also, a manufacturer of AFFF shall not manufacture, sell, or distribute AFFF, subject to numerous exceptions.
PPE: A manufacturer that sells PPE to any person, municipality, or state agency shall provide written notice to the purchaser at the time of sale if the PPE contains PFAS. |
Proposed | S295 and H721 |
| Virginia | Discharge and Use: Beginning on July 1, 2021, no person, local government, or agency shall discharge or use AFFF for training, subject to some exceptions, or testing purposes. AFFF can only be used for testing purposes if the facility has implemented appropriate containment, treatment, and disposal measures to prevent releases of AFFF into the environment. | Enacted
|
VA Code Ann. 9.1-207.1 |
| Washington
|
Discharge and Use: Beginning on July 1, 2018, a person, local government, or state agency may not discharge or use AFFF for training purposes. Also, beginning on July 1, 2020, a manufacturer of AFFF may not manufacture, sell or distribute any AFFF, subject to some exceptions. | Enacted
|
Use: RCW 70A.400.010 and RCW 70A.400.020 |
| PPE: Beginning on July 1, 2018, a manufacturer that sells PPE to any person, local government, or state agency must provide written notice to the purchaser at the time of sale if the PPE contains PFAS chemicals. | PPE: RCW 70A.400.030 | ||
| Notification: A person discharging AFFF or any substance containing PFAS materials must immediately notify the Division of Emergency Management within the state military department and the Department of Ecology within 24 hours of the discharge. Also, a person discharging AFFF or any substance containing PFAS materials to state waters or in a location where a rain event would lead to a discharge of unrecovered foam to state waters must immediately notify the Division of Emergency Management within the state military department and the Department of Ecology within 24 hours of the discharge. | Proposed | Notify: HB 1143 | |
| Wisconsin
|
Discharge and Use: No person may discharge or use AFFF, including for training or testing purposes, subject to some exceptions. The testing facility must implement appropriate containment, treatment, disposal, or storage measures to prevent discharges of AFFF to the environment.
(3m Notification: A person who uses or discharges AFFF shall notify the Department of Natural Resources immediately or as soon as practicable without hindering fire prevention operations. |
Enacted | Use: Wis. Statute 299.48 |
| Storage: The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources, shall administer a program to collect and store or dispose of foam that contains PFAS substances that was voluntarily surrendered by the person in possession of the foam. |
Proposed | Storage: AB792 |
No Regulations: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
1. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1790.
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