Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

PFAS Education, Outreach and Communication

One of the key focus areas identified in the Connecticut PFAS Action Plan is enhancement of education, outreach, and communication on PFAS. Specific recommendations included establishing a public outreach team to improve communication with affected communities and other stakeholders, collaborating with local emergency response personnel to efficiently and effectively disseminate information to the public about incidents involving PFAS, supporting initiatives to enhance notification of PFAS releases to potentially threatened stakeholders, and continuing state agency participation in regional and national workgroups and training opportunities to maintain knowledge and capacity for addressing PFAS. In addition, DEEP has been actively engaged in supporting Connecticut-based PFAS research and student development efforts. 

Public Outreach
 Professional Networking and Information Sharing
PFAS Release Notification and Local Emergency Response Collaboration
 Regional and National Workgroup Participation
 Academic Collaborations

Public Outreach

A PFAS public outreach team, consisting primarily of DEEP and DPH personnel, has been established. Team members provide a variety of public outreach and risk communication services including hosting and/or attending public meetings to discuss environmental incidents that pose a real or perceived threat to human health. Staff are available to answer general PFAS questions as well as site-specific questions regarding PFAS releases and investigations to support local municipalities and local health departments.

To date, team members have participated in general PFAS-related outreach events, including showings of the film Dark Waters, NGO-led community forums, and academic panel discussions. Staff have also participated in virtual training workshop designed to educate CT municipal officials on PFAS health effects, remediation, testing methods, and policies.

Professional Networking and Information Sharing

DEEP and DPH staff subject matter experts have attended the meetings of numerous associations to deliver presentations on PFAS, including but not limited to the Connecticut Association of Directors of Health (CADH), the Connecticut Chapter of the Environmental Business Council of New England, the Connecticut Water Well Association, the Connecticut Chapter of the Society for Women Environmental Professionals (SWEP-CT), the Environmental Professionals Organization of Connecticut (EPOC), Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM).

In addition, DEEP hosts a Remediation Roundtable three times a year to provide an open forum for the exchange of ideas and information on environmental site cleanup programs in Connecticut. Regular PFAS updates are provided during each Roundtable meeting.

PFAS Release Notification and Local Emergency Response Collaboration

DEEP has established an internal coordination group within the Environmental Quality branch of the agency to coordinate the agency’s implementation of the Action Plan. DEEP has developed and implemented technological and procedural initiatives to enhance the agency’s emergency incident reporting system that simplifies assessing the potential risk posed by PFAS releases in the context of potential vulnerable drinking water or surface water resources if located nearby. 

Since 2016, DEEP staff have conducted outreach to the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control of the presence of PFAS in firefighting foams. The State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), coordinated by DEEP, has facilitated discussions between federal, state, regional, and local emergency response planners and responders to share technical information on AFFF.  DEEP and DESPP collaborated to draft and distribute via multiple communication channels advisory bulletins to fire departments containing information on AFFF use restrictions as well as how to participate in the statewide AFFF take-back program. In addition, DEEP and DESPP provided local fire departments with guidance regarding alternative foam products, draining of equipment, and  the requirement to report AFFF deployment to the DEEP Emergency Response and Spill Prevention Division per CGS 22a-450. 

Additional Information:

Regional and National Workgroup Participation

DEEP staff participate in numerous regional and national workgroups to keep abreast of the evolving landscape of PFAS regulation and science. Ongoing PFAS-related workgroup membership includes:

Academic Collaborations

DEEP welcomes partnerships with academic institutions to further PFAS-related research and education. To learn more about the Agency's efforts to support Connecticut-based PFAS research, to provide PFAS-themed undergraduate student opportunities, and to mentor graduate students pursuing PFAS-related career fields, please visit our PFAS Academic Collaborations webpage. 

Contact Information

Questions or comments regarding the environmental impacts of PFAS in Connecticut should be sent to DEEP.PFAS@ct.gov.

Related DEEP Webpages

 

Content last updated January 11, 2024.