DEQ issues draft stormwater permit without PFAS limits for Richmond International Airport

RICHMOND, Va. —  The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued a draft stormwater permit for Richmond International Airport that fails to include PFAS limits, despite the airport being a known source of pollution. DEQ is accepting comments on the draft permit until July 31.

For decades airports and defense installations, like the Army National Guard and Air National Guard which have been tenants at the airport, have used firefighting foams that contain PFAS during trainings and emergencies. PFAS from these foams can end up in the soil, groundwater, surface water, and stormwater.

PFAS are a class of thousands of human-made chemicals that include PFOA and PFOS and are associated with serious health harms. These contaminants are known as forever chemicals—they do not dissipate, dissolve, or degrade but stay in water, soil, and our bodies. The airport’s own sampling shows it releases extremely high levels of PFAS to Gillies Creek and White Oak Swamp through its stormwater. DEQ has identified the airport as a potentially significant source of PFAS affecting public drinking water supplies.

While DEQ’s draft permit would require PFAS monitoring and a PFAS pollution minimization plan, it does not limit the amount of PFAS the airport can release.

“DEQ and the airport have been aware of PFAS pollution coming from the property for years,” said Carroll Courtenay, SELC Senior Attorney. “We also know there is PFAS contamination downstream of the airport. This permit presents a real opportunity for DEQ to control a source of PFAS pollution in the James River watershed.”

“The time is now for Virginia to act on PFAS, and that should start right here with this contaminated water getting into the White Oak Swamp, the James River, and downstream residents’ drinking water,” said Tom Dunlap, James Riverkeeper. “The State has already instituted a PFAS fish consumption advisory for the area downstream from this facility, and now DEQ should tackle contamination at the source.”

Comments to DEQ must be submitted by July 31. Members of the public can write to DEQ by email to [email protected], or by mail to:

Joy Abel
Piedmont Regional Office
4949 A Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060