Public Meeting Held to Discuss PFAS Remediation at Former Fire Training Site
Barnstable County hosted a virtual public meeting on Thursday, May 29, 2025, to discuss ongoing efforts to address PFAS contamination at the Former Municipal Fire Training Facility Site in Hyannis. This meeting was conducted under the Public Involvement Plan (PIP) established by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), which designates the site as Release Tracking Number (RTN) 4-26179.
During the meeting, representatives from Barnstable County and GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. presented an update to the Immediate Response Action Plan. The focus of this update is the planned installation of a Permeable Reactive Barrier (PRB)—a key step in the site’s long-term remediation strategy.
What is a Permeable Reactive Barrier (PRB)?
A Permeable Reactive Barrier is an underground structure designed to treat contaminated groundwater as it flows through the barrier. The system is comprised of activated carbon, safe for the environment and very similar to what is used in public water supply filtration systems, that capture harmful substances, such as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in this case, which were commonly used in firefighting foam.
It functions similarly to a large-scale underground water filter, operating continuously to intercept and treat contaminated groundwater—helping to prevent the spread of pollutants to surrounding areas, including potential drinking water sources.
Watch the meeting recording below:
Additional technical details about the site and the response plan are available through MassDEP’s online file viewer:
🔗 https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/portal/dep/wastesite/viewer/4-0026179
For questions or further information, please contact:
Paul Ruszala
Barnstable County
3195 Main Street, Barnstable, MA
(508) 419-2860
[email protected]
