NH Class B Foam Survey Report

During the 2019 legislative season, the NH Legislature adopted Senate Bill 257 relative to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (also known as PFAS) in firefighting foam. RSA 154:8-b, effective September 3, 2019, among other things, required the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) to survey municipalities throughout the state on the quantitative stock of legacy Class B firefighting foams containing PFAS.

Pursuant to NH RSA 154:8-b, the NHDES in partnership with the New Hampshire Department of Safety, State Fire Marshal’s Office (FMO) issued a Legacy PFAS Firefighting Foam (AFFF) Self Inventory Survey Letter to New Hampshire municipalities on July 31, 2020. The law further required NHDES to estimate the cost of, and institute a take-back program by July 1, 2021 for the purpose of safe and contained disposal of the legacy firefighting foams identified in the survey.

This NH RSA 154 Class B Foam Survey Report has been prepared to summarize the survey findings and provide recommendations and a framework for an AFFF takeback program.