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Consultants say PFAS plumes near Yarmouth are complex; town pushes for more sampling and regulatory oversight
Summary
Consultants from Kleinfelder told the Yarmouth Select Board that multiple PFAS plumes overlap near Mill Creek and Lewis Bay, and recommended more groundwater and surface‑water sampling, better coordination among responsible parties and asking MassDEP for additional oversight.
Consultants from Kleinfelder told the Yarmouth Select Board on April 15 that per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) detected in local soils, groundwater and some surface waters appear to come from multiple sources and that existing clean‑up and monitoring efforts may not fully define the extent of contamination.
The consultants said the data collected to date show several plumes — including contamination linked to a firefighting training academy and airport activities — but also additional unidentified plumes. They urged expanded sampling in Yarmouth surface waters and groundwater, continued participation in the regional stakeholder work group, and stronger engagement with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to require more complete delineation and public review.
Why it matters: PFAS are persistent chemicals associated with developmental, liver and immune effects in high‑exposure populations. Yarmouth officials and residents have raised concerns about PFAS in Mill Creek and other local waterbodies, shellfish, and impacts to conservation land. Consultants warned that the current regulatory focus on a small set of PFAS…
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