The Brunswick Town Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday night to require the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority to immediately remove and dispose of the remaining toxic foam at Brunswick Executive Airport, over a thousand gallons of which spilled over two weeks ago.
On Aug. 19, a malfunction with the fire suppression system at hangar 4 in the airport caused the release of 1,450 gallons of PFAS-laden firefighting foam, which led to the contamination of nearby bodies of water and outcry from the public.
But this wasn’t the first spill of this foam from the airport. In fact, it’s the third known to the public since MRRA took over the airport in 2011, with the previous ones being in 2019 and 2012. The 2019 spill contaminated drinking water wells in the area, which required the Brunswick-Topsham Water District to shut down the wellfield.
The public drinking water is safe for now, officials say, but the Maine Department of Environmental Protection intends to take samples of private wells near the site.
The resolution includes directions for MRRA to provide the town with an inventory of all PFAS-containing firefighting foam, immediately remove and dispose of the foam, provide qualified state or third-party oversight of all things related to the foam, and to provide the town with documents and data about the spill and contamination, among other things.
The reason for passing this resolution, said Councilor James Ecker, is to create a call-to-action for MRRA, the Maine DEP, the Maine Legislature and Gov. Janet Mills. However, the resolution doesn’t have any “teeth,” he said, meaning the town cannot require any action of MRRA since it responds to the state.
“This is a blueprint for every community in the state of Maine who has the potential to be in the situation we are in,” said Councilor David Watson.
Though Brunswick doesn’t have the legal authority to require anything of MRRA in the resolution, MRRA Executive Director Kristine Logan said at the meeting that the organization has the intention of being fully cooperative with the town moving forward. She said over the past two years, she’s been working on trying to find alternatives to the AFFF fire suppressant that caused the spill.
“You’re not gonna get pushback from MRRA,” Logan said.
At least 16 people spoke at public comment at Tuesday’s meeting, saying they were generally supportive of the resolution, but wanted more answers. Some asked if anyone will provide water to people whose wells are contaminated. Others wondered if the U.S. Navy, who still owns hangar 4, will help with costs or remediation efforts. Sean Hogan, a Brunswick resident, asked if MRRA is prepared for another spill.
“I mean, it could happen again if that system is not deactivated,” Hogan said. “Do we have liquid-absorbing booms in place that would go around the interior or exterior or perimeter of the building, covers for the drains so it doesn’t leak into the drainage system?”
Council Chair Abby King said the council has been in talks with the Navy, but the other questions went unanswered.
