Last week, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed H.B. 1279 to prohibit the use of class B aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), which is used in firefighting and contains PFAS, for training purposes. The bill also creates the Firefighting Foams Control Act, which prohibits the sale of PFAS foam in certain circumstances and requires manufacturers to comply with regulations and limit the use and distribution of AFFF. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will conduct a survey to determine the amount of PFAS foam currently held, used, and disposed of by fire departments in the state.
This action follows the known contamination of drinking water of nearly 100,000 residents near Fountain, Colorado, including five water systems downstream from Peterson Air Force Base and at wells at firefighting stations where AFFF was used.
