Richmond Airport PFAS Stormwater Threat Needs Strong Action from DEQ

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation on Friday urged the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to set meaningful targets to reduce harmful chemical discharges under a stormwater permit for Richmond International Airport.

The airport has been identified as a significant source of PFAS, yet a draft stormwater permit for the facility fails to place any limits on how much of these “forever chemicals” can be discharged.

For years, firefighters conducted training exercises at the airport using foam containing PFAS, which are widespread, toxic man-made chemicals that repeal heat, oil, grease, and water. They are also used in common products like packaging, cookware, clothing, and cosmetics. The scientific consensus is that there is no safe limit for these chemicals, which have been found in drinking water sources near the airport.

The Virginia legislature passed a law in 2019 aiming to stop this practice, but the PFAS from the foams already applied can persist on-site for years and reach groundwater, surface water, and stormwater.

PFAS has been detected in the White Oak Swamp near one of the airport maintenance facilities within the last five years. The swamp is a tributary of the Chickahominy River, which flows into the James River and supplies drinking water to Newport News. Nearby private wells that supply drinking water have also tested positive for PFAS, and Virginia has issued a fish consumption advisory for PFAS downstream of the airport.

The draft permit would provide for PFAS monitoring and would require the airport to submit a plan to minimize pollution, but it does not set any goals or targets for reducing PFAS discharges for the facility to aim for in its plan. Planning to cut pollution without setting a target for success will not protect public health or clean water.

“The Facility is essentially writing its own ticket with no defined guardrails or expectations, or minimum level of expected effort or investment” for the pollutant minimization plan, CBF wrote in comments to DEQ on the draft permit. The comments also note other upgrades planned for the airport, including a recently announced $880 million capital improvement and expansion plan.

DEQ should set clear targets on PFAS discharges in any final permit and should provide opportunities for meaningful public input during the process.

The deadline to submit comments on the draft permit is Friday.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Staff Attorney Patrick Fanning issued the following statement:

“Virginia must take meaningful steps to control PFAS runoff from Richmond International Airport. These harmful chemicals can linger in the environment for years, and leaders should be making every effort to keep people and waterways safe.

“DEQ can take a necessary step by including clear targets on limiting PFAS discharges in any final stormwater permit for the airport. The department must also provide additional opportunities for the public to weigh in on the airport’s cleanup plan.

“Virginians have a right to know how prominent, high-traffic facilities are dealing with these harmful ‘forever chemicals’ that are already reaching our drinking water sources.”