PFAS Solutions
Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been considered emerging contaminants in recent years. They’ve become one of today’s most significant environmental issues. PFAS are widely detected in soil, groundwater, and surface water, and are associated with multiple industries and activities, including industrial production and processes, firefighting foams, commercial and consumer products, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants. Learn more about our PFAS solutions below.
We have the expertise, experience, and resources to mitigate PFAS risks and liabilities through innovation, insight, and advocacy.
The legal and regulatory landscape for PFAS is in flux and continues to evolve. However, significant progress has been made in the technical understanding of PFAS, including the science and technology necessary to manage and mitigate risks related to PFAS in the environment.
Our Approach
We recognize that PFAS (also known as ‘forever chemicals’) follow a familiar pattern of emergence based on years of experience with predecessor contaminants. This allows us to anticipate public response, regulatory developments, remedial technologies, and legal issues. Without relying on a single tool, we help clients manage, mitigate, and remediate PFAS. We achieve this through a multifaceted approach that utilizes practical innovation, insight, advocacy, and technology.
Our PFAS Expertise And Solutions
PFAS are a multifaceted issue requiring a multidisciplinary approach. Our PFAS team consists of a network of technical professionals and consultants throughout the United States and Canada who are experts in hydrogeology, human health, ecological risk assessment, water and wastewater treatment, remediation, and modeling. This combination of knowledge positions us to mitigate risks and liabilities through insight, advocacy, risk assessment, risk communication, remediation, and treatment.
Sustainable Firefighting Foam: Combatting AFFF Through Our PFAS Solutions
Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) is a firefighting foam that contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of chemicals used in countless products across industries. PFAS are toxic and break down slowly, leading to its dangerous accumulation in the environment and risk to Human and ecological health.
In May 2023, following the mandate ordering U.S. military airports to phase out AFFF containing PFAS, the Federal Aviation Administration published its “Aircraft Firefighting Foam Transition Plan” laying out an initial path for civilian airports. By transitioning to a safer alternative, airports can reduce the risk of exposure to workers, passengers, the surrounding communities, and environment. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2020 mandates U.S. military airports remove and dispose AFFF containing PFAS by October 2024.
We have planned, designed, and executed AFFF transitions in the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea at 71 US Air Force Installations over the last seven years. Through this experience we have developed methodologies and procedures that give our teams the ability to rapidly and seamlessly change out PFAS containing firefighting foam while maintaining fire fighter readiness requirements and without disturbing airport operations. We bring a network of service providers for all aspects of the AFFF transition process to safely and efficiently remove legacy AFFF, dispose of it in accordance with regulatory guidance, and replace it with non-fluorinated firefighting foam. Our experienced team can guide both military and civilian airports from assessment to implementation, ensuring a seamless and effective transition.
Our Partnership With Battelle
In 2024, we joined forces with Battelle Memorial Institute to offer turnkey zero waste firefighting foam change out services to the industry. Through this collaboration we combine our industry leading firefighting change out experience and capabilities with Battelle’s advanced waste management and destruction technologies to offer a complete start to finish zero waste solution. We developed this solution to completely eliminate the risk and financial liability associated with PFAS containing firefighting foam waste rather than putting this waste in a landfill to resurface as a financial liability at some point in the future.
We are proud to apply our experience, creativity, and industry partnerships to develop solutions that will help our clients and ultimately deliver a better world.
Our Sustainable Firefighting Foam Approach
Our comprehensive approach includes:
- Assessing the airport’s current use of firefighting foam and its impact on the environment and public health.
- Identifying the most suitable alternative firefighting foam that meets the airport’s needs while minimizing the use of PFAS.
- Developing a transition plan that includes the training of airport personnel on the new foam, updating equipment and infrastructure, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Implementing the transition plan in a phased manner to minimize disruption to airport operations while ensuring the safety of passengers, employees, and the environment.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Innovation
We conduct self-funded, internal research and development for the improved management and remediation of PFAS. In addition, we collaborate with world-renowned research organizations on PFAS destruction technologies, testing methods, and analytical tools.
Our treatability laboratory is optimizing proven filtration technologies for a wide range of PFAS, including familiar compounds such as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). It also works with replacement products such as hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), more commonly known as GenX.
Through our PFAS investigations and data analysis, we’re a key contributor to the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) grant. This US Environmental Protection Agency grant is awarded to New York state and improves the understanding of PFAS occurrence at landfills and their potential impact to drinking-water supplies.
PFAS CERCLA Designation
Industry Experience
PFAS are known to affect a variety of markets and industries throughout their life cycle, including industrial production and use, foams at fire-training and aviation facilities, landfill disposal, water-supply treatment, and more. Many consultants have limited experience with a particular industry or type of PFAS. Parsons has demonstrated experience across a range of industries, uses, and receptors, including the following:
- Manufacturing
- Industrial coating
- Firefighting
- Aviation facilities
- Metal plating facilities
- Landfills
- Water supply treatment
- Petroleum facilities
Leadership
Our leadership participation includes the following:
- Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) PFAS Team
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Historical PFAS Reconstruction Study Expert Panel (former Pease AFB)
- National Ground Water Association (NGWA) PFAS Writing Group
- NGWA PFAS Conference Committee
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada