PFAS on Federal Lands: A National Resource Protection Issue
National parks, national forests, and Bureau of Land Management lands encompass drinking water source areas for millions of Americans and support unique ecological communities sensitive to chemical contamination. PFAS contamination from AFFF use at park airports, military overflights, and atmospheric deposition affects federal land water resources that require coordinated management.
National Park Service PFAS Challenges
National parks with airports—including Denali, Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone—used AFFF for aircraft emergency response, contaminating soil and groundwater near park aviation facilities. NPS is conducting PFAS assessments at affected parks and developing remediation plans that respect park mission values of minimal intervention and ecological preservation while addressing human health protection.
Forest Service Water Supply Watershed Management
US Forest Service lands provide 20% of the nation’s drinking water supply. PFAS in forest watershed waters from AFFF use at forest aviation bases, helicopter landing areas, and fire retardant application sites represents an emerging source water protection concern. Forest Service water quality monitoring programs are being updated to include PFAS analysis in drinking water source watersheds on national forest lands.
BLM Land PFAS Sources
Bureau of Land Management lands include oil and gas operations, mining activities, and grazing that can introduce PFAS from industrial sources, including PFAS-containing drilling muds, fire suppression foams used at oil field emergencies, and biosolid land application on BLM grazing allotments. BLM environmental assessment requirements are being updated to evaluate PFAS pathways for activities on public lands