WINDSOR, Conn. (WTIC Radio)—Connecticut is banning the use of firefighting foam and food packaging that contain chemicals known as PFAS which pose a risk to public health and the environment.
In a ceremonial bill signing by the Farmington River Tuesday, Governor Ned Lamont made into law Public Act 21-191 which reduces the amount of products that contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in Connecticut.
PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that are commonly known as "forever chemicals" because of how persistent they are in the environment. They can also lead to adverse health effects in humans when consumed or with longtime exposure, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
This new law will benefit Connecticut's residents, "by minimizing their exposure to PFAS in food packaging and significantly decreasing future releases by banning the use of AFFF foam with PFAS and replacing it with a green alternative," Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Deputy Commissioner Betsey Wingfield said.
With the law, the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam, otherwise known as AFFF, is prohibited effective October 1. The use of it in training activities is effective immediately.
Work to remove AFFF from municipal fire departments across Connecticut is already underway.
DEEP set up a takeback program to collect AFFF from municipal fire departments at no charge with $2 million funding that the State Bond Commission approved in July 2020. The new law makes this program mandatory.
"It was recorded in excess of about 40,000 gallons was on hand in the inventory of fire departments statewide as well as within the state regional foam trailer program," State Fire Administrator Jeffrey Morrissette said. "We're about a quarter done with about 10,000 gallons collected to date from about a third of the fire departments statewide."
With collections done weekly, Morrissette said it's anticipated that the collection will be completed by the end of August.
DEEP has identified a PFAS-free alternative to AFFF known as National Universal F3 Green that can be used to put out fires without risking the health of residents or the environment.
Groundwork is also underway to drain and decontaminate onboard foaming systems, Morrissette said, including the state's eight regional foam trailers and foam systems employed by fire departments across the state.
With the new law, food packaging that contains PFAS will be phased out by 2023 which, according to state officials, allows food and packaging industries time to develop safe alternatives.
The law builds upon the governor's 2019 PFAS Action Plan developed by the Connecticut Interagency PFAS Task Force. The task force was created following two PFAS spills at Bradley International Airport.
