For Immediate Release

AUGUSTA, MAINE, August 30, 2024 — The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) intends to sample water supplies in the south-southeast direction of Hangar 4, roughly one mile from the discharge location.  Locations were selected by carefully reviewing the historical data, hydrogeology, and test findings from the former naval air base and after hearing concerns from the public at last night’s forum. Several of the water sources in this area have previously been sampled by the Navy. In order to arrange with homeowners to test their drinking water wells, DEP employees will be contacting property owners along Coombs Road from the southern intersection with Gurnet Road up to roughly a quarter mile past the intersection with Hawkins Lane, including properties on Hawkins Lane and Purinton Road.

Following the same protocol the Department is using to conduct the statewide PFAS investigation, test results from this initiative will be used to assess whether more testing is needed.

The DEP will only consider reimbursement requests from homeowners in the above-mentioned area who may have recently tested their drinking water wells for PFAS. All of the requirements listed in the accompanying document must be fulfilled to qualify due to the limited funds available for reimbursement. https://www.maine.gov/dep/spills/topics/pfas/PFAS-homeowner-water%20sampling.pdf

Major operational goals achieved by responders and contractors working on the Brunswick Executive Airport AFFF release are as follows:

• Flushed the stormwater piping and catch basins leading to the retention ponds
• Completed mitigation of Hangar 4 including cleaning the impacted planes
• Collected 18,574 gallons of impacted water and foam
• Partnered with the UMA drone program to conduct overflights of the stormwater retention waterway for foam deposits

Over the holiday weekend, the Department's contractors will carry out daily sampling in addition to continued foam recovery operations.

Due to processing delays, the accelerated test results will not be available today as previously announced. Lab results will be made accessible on the DEP website at  https://www.maine.gov/dep/projects/bnas/index.html as soon as they become available.

The public should avoid contact with foam. If any foam is observed outside of restricted areas, residents in the spill site area should report it by calling: 207-844-8040. This number is to report AFFF foam only.

The next update is scheduled for Tuesday, September 3, 2024, unless new information or additional test results become available before then.