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Massachusetts Airport PFAS Remediation Lawsuits
Massachusetts Airports Are a Major Source of PFAS Contamination
Across Massachusetts, airports have become some of the most serious sources of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination. For decades, federal regulations required airports and military airfields to use aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) for aviation fuel fires and training. While effective at extinguishing fires, these foams contained toxic PFAS chemicals such as PFOA and PFOS—compounds now classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as hazardous substances under CERCLA (Superfund law).
The result? Thousands of gallons of PFAS-laden foam were discharged directly onto airport soils, fire training pads, and hangar systems across the Commonwealth. Those chemicals seeped into groundwater, aquifers, wetlands, and rivers, contaminating municipal drinking water and private wells for miles beyond airport property lines.
Even though airports are beginning to transition to fluorine-free foams (F3), the legacy contamination remains. Without active remediation, PFAS from airports will continue to leach into Massachusetts’ water supplies for decades to come.
Attorney Tracy Paulsen and the team at Rightful Legal represent Massachusetts airports, municipalities, and communities in lawsuits against the manufacturers of AFFF to recover the enormous costs of site investigation, remediation, and long-term monitoring.
Navigating Airport PFAS Remediation? Contact Attorney Tracy Paulsen Today for a Legal Consultation
How PFAS From Airports Pollutes Massachusetts Communities
Routine Training and Testing
At airports across the U.S., AFFF was historically discharged during routine firefighting drills and equipment tests. In many cases, this meant hundreds of gallons of foam were sprayed onto unlined training pads or directly into stormwater systems.
Aircraft Fire Emergencies
When real aircraft fires occurred, AFFF was used in large volumes. Foam runoff entered storm drains, wetlands, and rivers, depositing PFAS into sediments and groundwater.
Hangar and ARFF System Discharges
Hangars and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) vehicles were required to be equipped with foam systems. System tests and accidental discharges flushed concentrated PFAS into the soil and water below.
Stormwater Runoff Pathways
Much of the foam applied at airports migrated through storm drains into off-site wetlands and surface waters, spreading contamination far from the original release.
Because PFAS never degrade, each of these discharges created long-lasting “source areas.” Even decades later, contaminated soils and shallow groundwater beneath airports act as reservoirs, slowly feeding PFAS plumes that migrate into aquifers used for drinking water.
Massachusetts Airports Linked to PFAS Contamination
Several airports in Massachusetts have been tied to PFAS detections in groundwater and public water supplies:
- Barnes Regional Airport / 104th Fighter Wing (Westfield, MA)
One of the most significant PFAS cases in Massachusetts. Fire training areas and military operations released large amounts of AFFF, leading to widespread contamination in the Barnes Aquifer. Local neighborhoods faced drinking water levels many times higher than state limits. - Joint Base Cape Cod (Otis Airfield, Cape Cod, MA)
PFAS use at fire training facilities has led to migrating groundwater plumes that threaten multiple drinking water supplies serving Cape Cod communities. - Logan International Airport (Boston, MA)
As one of the busiest airports in the country, Logan has decades of AFFF use. Surrounding soils, stormwater basins, and Boston Harbor sediments remain areas of concern for PFAS contamination. - Worcester Regional Airport (Worcester, MA)
With a history of firefighting foam training and emergency response, Worcester has joined the growing list of regional airports under review for PFAS discharges. - Other Municipal Airports – Beverly, Plymouth, Lawrence, and other smaller airports with firefighting training histories are also considered potential PFAS sites under MassDEP’s monitoring programs.
Each of these locations represents not only a local hazard but a continuing liability—as PFAS plumes spread, remediation costs for water suppliers and towns skyrocket.
Federal and State Regulations Governing Airport PFAS
EPA’s First National Drinking Water Standards for PFAS
In April 2024, the EPA finalized its first legally enforceable PFAS drinking water standards:
- 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS
- 10 ppt for PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA (GenX)
- A Hazard Index of 1 for mixtures including these and other PFAS compounds
Any airport-adjacent water system exceeding these limits must act immediately, often pointing back to the airport as the contamination source.
CERCLA Hazardous Substance Listing
In May 2024, EPA designated PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERCLA (Superfund). This designation:
- Establishes strict, joint, and several liability for PFAS releases
- Allows governments and site owners to pursue cost recovery from polluters and product manufacturers
- Requires reporting of PFAS releases above certain thresholds
This change significantly strengthens the legal footing for airports, municipalities, and affected communities to recover cleanup costs from AFFF manufacturers.
Massachusetts Standards
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) enforces its own PFAS drinking water standard—20 ppt for the sum of six PFAS compounds (“PFAS6”). Massachusetts was one of the first states to set PFAS limits, and it continues to conduct widespread testing of public water supplies and private wells near airports and other suspected PFAS sources.
Why Airport Remediation Is Essential
Airports are not just historical contributors—they remain active PFAS source zones. Even if nearby towns install filtration systems to remove PFAS from drinking water, contamination will reappear unless the soil and groundwater at airports are cleaned up.
Typical Airport Remediation Strategies Include:
- Excavation of contaminated soil at fire-training areas and hangars
- Pump-and-treat systems using granular activated carbon (GAC) or ion-exchange resins
- Source containment with caps, liners, or stormwater controls
- In-situ stabilization or sequestration to immobilize PFAS in soil
- Long-term monitoring programs to track plume movement and prevent re-contamination
These remedies are costly. Installing and operating PFAS treatment systems can cost millions of dollars per site, with ongoing maintenance required for decades. Lawsuits are often the only path to shift those costs from taxpayers to the companies that manufactured PFAS foams.
Nationwide Airport PFAS Litigation
Across the country, airports and municipalities are filing lawsuits against 3M, DuPont, Chemours, and other PFAS manufacturers. These lawsuits claim that chemical companies knew for decades that PFAS were toxic and persistent, yet failed to warn users or provide safer alternatives.
Settlements have already reached into the billions of dollars, with portions specifically dedicated to airport and water utility remediation. Massachusetts airports and towns can benefit from joining this wave of litigation to secure the funds needed to clean up contaminated source sites.
Looking to Cover the Cost of PFAS Remediation? Contact Rightful Legal Today
How Rightful Legal Supports Massachusetts Airports
Attorney Tracy Paulsen, founder of Rightful Legal, combines a background in environmental science with more than 15 years of litigation experience. She and her team help airports and municipalities by:
- Filing lawsuits against PFAS manufacturers to recover remediation costs
- Coordinating environmental experts to map PFAS plumes and identify source areas at airports
- Navigating federal and state regulations, including EPA’s NPDWR and MassDEP’s PFAS6 standards
- Building strong technical cases that connect contamination at airports to nearby water supply impacts
- Protecting Massachusetts taxpayers and ratepayers from footing the bill for decades of corporate negligence
Rightful Legal works on a contingency basis—you do not pay unless compensation is secured for your cleanup costs.
Why Choose Rightful Legal for Airport PFAS Cases
- Massachusetts Focus – We represent airports and towns across the Commonwealth, from Westfield to Cape Cod.
- Proven Litigation Experience – Attorney Paulsen has represented both corporations and individuals in mass torts, giving her unique insight into how polluters defend themselves.
- Environmental Expertise – With a background in environmental science, Attorney Paulsen understands the complex chemistry and hydrogeology behind PFAS contamination.
- Commitment to Justice – Rightful Legal is dedicated to holding polluters accountable and ensuring communities are not left with unfunded cleanup responsibilities.
Contact Rightful Legal About Airport PFAS Remediation
If your Massachusetts airport, municipality, or community is dealing with PFAS contamination tied to firefighting foam use, now is the time to act. The EPA’s new regulations and CERCLA designation have opened the door to recovering cleanup costs from the companies that created this crisis.
📞 Call Rightful Legal today at 617-821-5856 or fill out our secure online form to tell us your PFAS story. Attorney Tracy Paulsen will review your case at no cost and help you fight for the funds needed to protect your airport, your water, and your community.
