WHEREAS, firefighting foam is an exceptionally effective fire suppression tool which helps to minimize the impact of some of the worst possible fires, including flammable liquid fires; and
WHEREAS, unfortunately, the most effective of these firefighting foams, aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (collectively, PFAS); and:
WHEREAS, PFAS were accidentally developed by chemists at 3M and Dupont during an experiment where a coating was created and discovered to repel both oil and water, and was also resistant to any method designed to break apart the atoms within the chemical PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid); and
WHEREAS, on September 6, 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated PFAS as “hazardous substances” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as the Superfund law; and
WHEREAS, PFAS are widely used anthropogenic chemicals – often referred to as “forever chemicals” because of how long they persist in the environment and in the human body; and
WHEREAS, PFAS do not break down or biodegrade over time, and are exceptionally persistent, which is why PFAS are so dangerous and may be linked to low infant birth weights; liver and kidney effects, reproductive and developmental effects, cancer, thyroid hormone disruption and even immunological effects; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Defense has confirmed that AFFF is a major environmentally contaminating source of PFAS and when AFFF is used to suppress a fire, the PFAS within the foam is able to seep into the environment and groundwater contaminating anything in its path; and
WHEREAS, for these reasons, many states are considering restricting the use of and even banning AFFF, and the Department of Defense has even mandated that military organizations phase out firefighting foams containing PFAS by 2024; and
WHEREAS, it should be known that the Delaware State Fire School had made its own effort to dispose of and replace its supply of this AFFF years ago.
NOW THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 152
nd
General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the Delaware State Fire School ascertain the inventory of all Aqueous Film Forming Foam currently stored within Delaware Fire Departments and Fire Companies, including the Wilmington Fire Department, is requested to propose a plan for the safe disposal of the State of Delaware’s inventory of Aqueous Film Forming Foam and any variation of firefighting foam containing PFAS.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the proposed plan is requested to include the time required to collect and dispose of the Aqueous Film Forming Foam, the proposed method of disposal and potential environmental impacts of such disposal, the cost of disposal of the Aqueous Film Forming Form, safe and viable alternatives to the Aqueous Film Forming Foam, as well as the necessary time and cost necessary to procure such alternatives.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Delaware State Fire School shall obtain pricing of an adequate supply of replacement to enable a replenishment of said foam on a prorata basis of equal amounts to each fire company or department to enable them to continue to protect our communities without incurring any financial cost to each of these entities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Delaware State Fire School is requested to provide a proposed plan to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Office of the Controller General and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget no later than May 1, 2023.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, following final passage, a copy of this Concurrent Resolution be sent by the Clerk of the House of Representatives to the Delaware Fire School and its Director.
