MassDEP reports foam take‑back, marine spill response and ER staffing updates

Cathy Kylie (Emergency Response Program) reported to the MassDEP Wayside Cleanup Advisory Committee on program activity, staffing and marine oil-spill prevention work.

What the bureau said: Kylie said MassDEP’s foam take-back (AFFF and modern foams) has collected "over 420,000 pounds, 49,000 gallons of foam," and that the program has assisted 166 fire departments and facilities, including 75 in environmental‑justice communities. She noted MassDEP’s ER staff operate 24/7 response and that the program continues to receive notifications and complaints (the meeting cited 951 releases and 939 complaints year-to-date, roughly comparable to the previous year).

Marine-spill and preparedness work: Kylie described MassDEP’s coordination with the Coast Guard and NOAA, participation in area committees (Plymouth/Salisbury and Southeastern New England), and geographic response strategies for coastal and inland waterways. She encouraged stakeholders to use the marine-oil portal and noted forthcoming exercises on the Merrimack and other rivers.

Staffing and transitions: The bureau also announced ER leadership changes: Andrew Clark is serving as interim deputy regional director and interim PR chief following retirements; Andy Jones is the new ER section chief for HERO and Derek Bruce is the Western Region ER section chief; David Slowick will retire at the end of the fiscal year but agreed to support onboarding.

Why it matters: The foam collection program addresses PFAS-containing firefighting foams and reduces PFAS inputs to the environment; marine spill coordination supports municipal preparedness and response; staffing continuity matters for timely ER responses.

Ending: Kylie invited people to consult the program website for grant and geographic-response strategy information and to contact regional coordinators with site-specific questions.