Firefighting Substances Disposal Reimbursement Program

Who is eligible?

A person can qualify for reimbursement of their expenses to dispose of AFFF in two ways:

1. They live in a community that has a population of less than 2,000 people and is off the road system. DEC will use the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development's Division of Community and Regional Affairs website to determine the most current population of a community. The ‘road system’ is interpreted as the main highway system which connects Alaska to Canada and the Lower 48. It does not include roads which connect some communities to each other but not to the rest of the state, such as on Prince of Wales Island.
2. They live in Alaska and have received AFFF from a partially state-funded fire safety project, such as the Alaska Department of Public Safety’s Project Code Red. A list of the entities that received AFFF through Project Code Red is available here. 

A ‘person’ is defined in AS 46.03.900 as “any individual, public or private corporation, political subdivision, government agency, municipality, industry, copartnership, association, firm, trust, estate, or any other entity whatsoever”. For the purposes of eligibility for this reimbursement, a business can be eligible if it operates in an eligible community even if it’s principal place of business is elsewhere. 

What are eligible expenses?

AS 46.03.135 provides for the reimbursement of expenses associated with the disposal of firefighting substances that contain PFAS and the equipment that contains them, disposal of residually contaminated firefighting equipment, and the replacement of contaminated equipment. At this time, DEC is prioritizing reimbursements for disposal of AFFF and the equipment that contains it. At an unspecified future date, DEC will be providing reimbursement for equipment that is residually contaminated with PFAS and for new equipment to replace the items that had to be disposed of, as funds allow.

Expenses eligible for reimbursement could include:

• Purchase of associated packaging materials necessary for transporting the AFFF and contaminated equipment to the disposal facility, such as overpack drums or other storage containers, pallets, etc.,
• Labor costs associated with packaging material and readying it for transport to a disposal facility;
• Third-party vendor costs to assist in the coordination of transportation and disposal;
• Transportation costs to a disposal facility; and
• Disposal costs at a disposal facility.

How do I know if my AFFF contains PFAS?

Class B firefighting foams can be divided into two categories – 1) fluorinated foam, and 2) fluorine-free foam. PFAS is the active ingredient in Class B fluorinated foams. The fluorine-free foams, commonly called F3, do not contain intentionally added PFAS. 

Legacy fluorinated foams may contain perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) or other fluorotelomers. Starting in 2006 – 2015, foam manufacturers transitioned away from using PFOS to short-chain fluorotelomer-based fluorosurfactants that are considered to be less toxic. However, even these “modern” fluorotelomer AFFF contain PFAS. The Interstate Technology Regulatory Council provides additional information about PFAS in AFFF on their website, including a table of specific AFFF products.

How can I dispose of my AFFF?

DEC is not currently aware of any locations within the State of Alaska where AFFF can be disposed of; therefore, you will have to coordinate with an out-of-state disposal facility and arrange for transport of the AFFF to that facility. You should confirm with the disposal facility that they are in compliance with all applicable state and federal requirements. You can coordinate transport and disposal of AFFF on your own or can seek the services of a qualified contractor who can assist with packaging, manifesting, shipping, and coordinating with disposal facilities. 

In 2024, DEC issued a Request for Interest to solicit names of vendors who are interested in and capable of providing these services to communities. The following vendors responded to DEC:

• Republic Services
• Attn: Paul Nielsen
• PNielsen@republicservices.com
• (907) 646-5005

• Clean Harbors Environmental Services
• Attn: Christopher Boorman
• boorman.christopher@cleanharbors.com
• (509) 262-8035

• Shannon and Wilson
• Attn: Kristen Freiburger
• kristen.freiburger@shanwil.com
• (907) 479-0600

You may work with other vendors of your choosing as long as the disposal activities comply with all state and federal laws. For more information about proper disposal of AFFF view the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Interim Guidance on the Destruction and Disposal of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Materials Containing Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances.

How do I confirm my eligibility for reimbursement?

Prior to submitting an eligibility confirmation form, you should obtain a cost estimate for the packaging, transportation, and disposal of the AFFF and equipment. A cost estimate can be requested from a vendor who plans and performs the entire disposal process for a fee, or you can organize the disposal yourself and coordinate with the various individual transportation and disposal entities individually. If coordinating transportation and disposal yourself, you will have to personally confirm with the shipper and the disposal facility that they are in compliance with all applicable state and federal requirements.

You will also need to have a Vendor Customer (VCUST) number before submitting an eligibility confirmation form. This number will allow you to receive payments from the State of Alaska. If you don’t already have a VCUST number, you can request one by registering through the State of Alaska Vendor Self Service portal. You will need to include your VCUST number on your eligibility confirmation form.  

Contact details and further instructions about the VCUST number are available on the VSS Portal website. You can also email the helpdesk at doa.dof.vendor.helpdesk@alaska.gov for assistance obtaining a VCUST number.

Once you have a cost estimate and VCUST number, submit an eligibility confirmation form to DEC detailing how you meet the eligibility criteria and your estimated costs. DEC will review the form and contact you if additional information is needed. After reviewing the eligibility confirmation form, DEC will let you know if your eligibility has been approved and the deadline for disposal. You must complete an eligibility confirmation form before submitting a request to DEC for reimbursement. 

How do I request reimbursement?

Following the disposal of the AFFF and/or contaminated equipment, you can submit a request for reimbursement of your costs through our online application. In your application, you will need to provide copies of all invoices and a certificate of disposal from the disposal facility. 

If you are unable to access our online application, PDF versions of your eligibility confirmation form and reimbursement request form may be printed and faxed or mailed to the address below.

• Response Fund Administration
• Division of Spill Prevention & Response
• Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
• 555 Cordova St.
• Anchorage, AK 99501
• Fax: 907-465-5245

How long will it take for my reimbursement to be processed?

Claims will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. The processing time may vary. If DEC staff have questions about the request or need additional information, they will contact you directly. 

Approved reimbursements will be issued through a direct payment to the applicant typically by check or electronic funds transfer. 

Contact Us

For questions about the FSDR program or your reimbursement application, please email dec.spar.fsdr@alaska.gov or call 907-465-1229.