South Repeater Building Area
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC), in collaboration with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), is conducting a Center-wide investigation to identify past uses and potential locations where per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may have been used at KSC.
PFAS are synthetic compounds used in a wide variety of consumer products as well as a firefighting foam known as aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). In recent years, scientific studies have brought increased awareness of potential environmental hazards associated with the use of PFAS.
As part of our investigations, NASA has collected hundreds of samples on KSC in areas of known or suspected PFAS use. One area of known PFAS use includes the South Repeater Building on Tel-4 Road, where, in 1998, KSC’s Fire Department used firefighting foam to extinguish wildfires threatening the facility and neighboring homes. Testing detected three PFAS at the Repeater Building location in concentrations above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s current screening levels.
The evaluation of PFAS at KSC is an iterative process with each step forward building on results on the previous activities. NASA’s priority is to protect human health and the environment. Sampling is underway, prioritized to evaluate off-Center groundwater migration. A groundwater pilot study is planned for 2024.
NASA will share more information about sampling efforts and results for the South Repeater Building area on our website as it becomes available.
For more information on NASA’s ongoing efforts, contact Anne M. Chrest, KSC Remediation Program Manager, via email at anne.m.chrest@nasa.gov.
Kennedy Space Center – South Repeater Building Area PFAS Documents
Information Sheet – An Update on PFAS Investigations, June 2023
- Section 8.16 documents the Area of Potential Concern #20, South Repeater Building, site history, investigation results, conceptual site model, and recommendation for a site assessment.