Waterford, MI - Oakland County International Airport (OCIA) in Waterford submitted a June 24, 2021 to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) that PFAS has been detected in groundwater below airport property.
See submitted report.
ASTi Environmental of Brighton installed eight permanent detection wells on airport grounds in May and received sampling results back in June. Here are key takeaways:
- OCIA is among 20 commercial airports in Michigan where EGLE is requiring PFAS sampling because Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations mandate the use of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) containing PFAS at these airports because of its effectiveness at putting out aircraft fires.
- OCIA, which has a 24-hour airport rescue and fire-fighting unit, is prudent in its use of AFFF containing PFAS, limiting its use to when there is a fire. From 1996-2019, there have been seven fire-fighting incidents on OCIA property where AFFF was utilized to extinguish the fire. In addition, OCIA uses only water rather than AFFF to conduct fire-fighting training.
- ASTi Environmental lab results indicated detectable concentrations of one or more PFAS compounds in seven of the eight monitoring wells. Four of the wells had PFAS concentrations exceeding EGLE standards, which are more stringent than Environmental Protection Agency standards for PFAS.
- Initial shallow testing by ASTi Environmental at OCIA indicated the groundwater flows in a south-southeast direction toward M-59. It is undetermined at this time whether any PFAS detected at OCIA has flowed off property. The source of the PFAS is also undetermined.
- In the interest of transparency, OCIA has launched a webpage to inform and educate its neighbors about PFAS testing and detection and what it means. Go to OakGov.com/Airports/PFASResponse to learn more.
- OCIA will continue to collaborate with ASTi Environmental, EGLE, Oakland County Health Division, and other agencies to determine the need for further testing and implementing best practices on PFAS mitigation.
“Oakland County International Airport has a long commitment to minimizing our impact on the environment,” said J. David VanderVeen, the director of Oakland County Central Services who oversees the airport. “Whether it’s our fuel-water separator that prevents aircraft fuel from entering the stormwater sewer, our ground run-up enclosure which quiets noise pollution for our neighbors, or our LEED Gold-certified airport terminal that has reduced energy consumption by 44 percent, we are always looking for ways we can be better stewards of the environment. We bring that same mindset to investigating and addressing the detection of PFAS at the airport.”
EGLE identified 24 homes north of OCIA that remain on well water. Thirteen homeowners opted to have EGLE test for PFAS. Lab results for 11 of the homes indicated detectable concentrations of one or more PFAS compounds. Only one home’s PFAS test result exceeded EGLE’s standards. EGLE has asked Oakland County Health Division to install point-of-use filters for drinking water at these 11 homes if the homeowner is interested. Note that the source of the PFAS detected at these homes has not been determined.
Airports have been utilizing AFFF that contain PFAS since the mid-1960s. The Federal Aviation Administration mandates its use at all commercial airports because of its effectiveness at extinguishing aircraft fires. In October of 2018, Congress directed the FAA to no longer require airports to use AFFF that contain PFAS. As of June 2021, the FAA has not lifted its requirement for airports to use the traditional AFFF.
About PFAS
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of manmade chemicals that are resistant to heat, water, and oil. PFAS have been classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an emerging contaminant on the national landscape. For decades, they have been used in many industrial applications and consumer products such as carpeting, waterproof clothing, upholstery, food paper wrappings, personal care products, fire-fighting foams, and metal plating. They are still used today. PFAS have been found at low levels both in the environment and in blood samples of the general U.S. population.
These chemicals are persistent, which means they do not break down in the environment. They also bioaccumulate, meaning the amount builds up over time in the blood and organs. Studies in animals who were exposed to PFAS found links between the chemicals and increased cholesterol, changes in the body’s hormones and immune system, decreased fertility, and increased risk of certain cancers. Studies in which animals were given high levels of PFAS showed effects including low birth weight, delayed puberty onset, elevated cholesterol levels, and reduced immunologic responses to vaccination. Animal studies help scientists understand what could happen in people. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse. Source: Michigan PFAS Action Response Team