BISMARCK – The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality reported Friday that 6,000 gallons of a Class B firefighting foam and water mixture were released from a facility owned and operated by Polar Creek Industries US, Inc., in Williston on Jan. 6. The spill was confined to a road ditch.

Class B firefighting foam, also known as Aqueous film-forming foam or AFFF, is used for fighting high-hazard flammable liquid fires and may potentially contain per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS is a synthetic chemical that persistently remains in the environment and can be harmful to human health.

Cleanup has begun, and personnel from Environmental Quality have inspected the site and collected samples to determine if the Class B foam contains PFAS. The investigation team will continue to monitor the situation and remediation.