Welcome to the NHDES PFAS Response Website
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals that are increasingly being found in our environment. Some PFAS do not break down easily and can move through soil, get into groundwater, and be carried through air. Because they are stable chemicals and move so easily in the environment, some PFAS have been found far away from where they were made or used. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services has responded to these emerging contaminants through testing, sampling and monitoring our groundwater, drinking water, surface water and fish, soil, wastewater and biosolids, and waste sites and landfills; as well as conducting thorough and ongoing site investigations at various contamination origination sites. This website details NHDES' response to PFAS contamination, as well as the agency's ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of the state's resident and the environment.
PFAS in New Hampshire
A New Hampshire-specific PFAS fact sheet has been produced by a team at Geisel School of Medicine and Dartmouth College in collaboration with community partners and state agencies, including NHDES and DHHS. It provides a comprehensive overview of how we are all affected by PFAS and is a good tool to help educate water users about how to reduce exposure.
Draft Air Permit Available for Public Comment
On May 19, 2023, NHDES released a draft state permit to operate for Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics (SGPP) in Merrimack. The draft permit incorporates all regulatory requirements for the facility for manufacturing of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated fabrics and films including operation of air pollution control equipment for the purposes of removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
