PFAS

 

Nantucket Fire Department & Environmental Protection


On December 19, 2022 at 4:59 PM Nantucket Fire Department Deputy Chief Sean Mitchell notified MassDEP Environmental Strike Force that ACV Environmental Services, Inc. (a contractor working for the Nantucket Fire Department (NFD)) was responsible for a hazardous material (OHM) releases pursuant to the Massachusetts Oil and Hazardous Material Release Prevention and Response Act (M.G.L. c. 21E or Chapter 21E) on the fire station’s ramp at 4 Fairgrounds Road. 
 
An unknown amount of firefighting foam (aqueous film forming foams (AFFF))  which is believed to contain Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), was released when a vacuum truck that was operated by ACV Environmental Services overflowed. This release impacted pavement and a catch basin. As a result of NFD’s decisive action the release was contained.  On 12/21/22 MassDEP issued a Notice of Responsibility (NOR) to ACV Environmental Services Inc. who is considered a  “potentially responsible party” and is working to remediate the release at the property per Massachusetts Contingency Plan (310 CMR 40.0000 et seq.). 
 
Nantucket Health and Human Services and the Nantucket Water Department were immediately notified of the release. 
 
Updated information on this matter will be posted on this page.

 

The Town is performing an island-wide assessment of PFAS inclusive of wastewater treatment plant residuals and landfill operations. In August 2020 the Town hired CDM Smith, an environmental consultant, and is evaluating potential municipal sources contributing to PFAS contamination. The CDM Smith team brings the experience of a large engineering consulting firm with a team of recognized PFAS experts and local staff to assist in this evaluation. The PFAS evaluation and the information gathered will help identify the steps and future actions needed to meet regulatory requirements and guidelines.

The PFAS Preliminary Assessment and Planning Approach Report is available here.  This report was revised on March 16, 2021 (original dated February 4, 2021) to address an error in Table 6-1 and now includes an errata sheet at the end of the report. A five-page fact sheet that summarizes the report can be found here.

Contact Us

  1. If you have questions regarding PFAS, please contact Nantucket’s Environmental Contaminant Officer at PFAS@Nantucket-ma.gov.

Related Documents

Additional information about PFAS and Town actions is available with the tabs below: