Integrity - Service - Excellen ce Air Force response to PFOS/PFOA: Davis-Monthan AFB 26 Jul 2019 Agenda What are PFOS and PFOA? Background CERCLA Air Force Response Identify Respond
Prevent Base-specific info Questions? Integrity - Service - Excellence What are PFOS and PFOA? PFOS and PFOA are synthetic fluorinated organic compounds used in many industrial and consumer products, including: nonstick cookware, waterproof fabric, some food packaging, and the firefighting agent Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF). AFFF is widely used to extinguish petroleum fires at civilian and military airports across the U.S. The Air Force began using AFFF in 1970.
In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency issued provisional health advisories for PFOS and PFOA, followed by a lifetime HA in 2016 of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOS and/or PFOA in drinking water. The LHA applies only to drinking water for humans.. PFOS/PFOA are classified as emerging contaminants because: They have reasonable pathways to reach drinking water sources. They present a potential unacceptable risk to human health. Regulatory standards are evolving. Integrity - Service - Excellence What are PFOS and PFOA?
Background The Air Force is taking aggressive measures to reduce the risk of missionrelated PFOS/PFOA contamination to drinking-water sources. In June 2009, DoD established policy and assigned responsibilities for the identification, assessment and risk management of emerging contaminants. In 2010, AFCEC began a comprehensive assessment that determined AFFF may have been released at the following locations: Active Bases Fire Training Areas
Reserve Bases Emergency Response Sites Air National Guard Bases Aircraft Crash Sites Closed Bases Other release areas Integrity - Service - Excellence CERCLA
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act The Air Forces investigation work and mitigation actions are guided by CERCLA, applicable state laws and the EPA's drinking water lifetime health advisory of 70 parts per trillion. AFCEC is moving forward aggressively in accordance with the CERCLA process to identify, define and mitigate potential contamination. The CERCLA process: Ensures thorough investigation work Promotes accountability, community involvement and long-term protectiveness Integrity - Service - Excellence Air Force Response
The Air Force is using a three-step approach to assess the potential for PFOS/PFOA contamination of drinking water and respond appropriately. Integrity - Service - Excellence Air Force Response Identify IDENTIFY: Preliminary Assessment A base-wide records review identifies fire training areas, crash sites and other areas at installations where AFFF may have been released. Site Inspection AFCEC conducts groundwater, surface water, soil and sediment sampling to verify releases, map contamination and potential pathways to drinking water. If SI sampling indicates potential pathways to human drinking water supplies, AFCEC expands the SI footprint and may test public water systems and private
wells. Once SI is complete, AFCEC determines if investigation yielded adequate data to fully map contamination or if more investigation work is needed. Integrity - Service - Excellence Air Force Response Respond RESPOND: Mitigation When AFCEC determines PFOS/PFOA levels exceed the lifetime HA in drinking water, the Air Force will take measures to reduce risk and, if needed, provide an alternate drinking water source, like bottled water, until a permanent solution is in place. Criteria developed IAW SAF/IEE policy - Confirmation of PFOS/PFOA above US EPAs Lifetime Health Advisory
(LHA) 1. Probablility that AF mission is a source of PFOS/PFOA contamination 2. Proximity of AF contaminant area(s) above the LHA to drinking water sources 3. Pathway to exposure exists between contaminant source and receptor(s) Integrity - Service - Excellence Air Force Response Prevent PREVENT: Legacy AFFF Disposal: The Air Force is eliminating legacy AFFF through incineration at authorized disposal facilities. - Completed at DMAFB July 2018
AFFF Replacement: AFCEC is replacing legacy AFFF in fire vehicles, stockpiles and hangar systems with more environmentally responsible formulations. - Completed at DMAFB July 2018 Retrofit fire vehicles: AFCEC is retrofitting fire vehicles with an ecologic system that prevents foam discharge during equipment testing. - As of July 2019, 97% of installations are finished retrofitting vehicles with ecologic system kits Integrity - Service - Excellence Air Force Response The safety and health of our Airmen, their families, and our community partners are our priority: We are members of the communities where we serve. We share concerns about potential PFOS/PFOA
contamination of drinking water and we are moving aggressively to protect human drinking water supplies connected to and affected by our installations. PFOS/PFOA contamination of drinking water is an urgent national issue requiring a whole of government response to evaluate and determine solutions for health effects and concerns about food safety and agricultural commodities. The Air Force is proud to be a leader in the response to PFOS/PFOA, and we will continue to work with our neighbors, regulators and elected officials to comply with environmental protection law and
protect human health and our environment. Integrity - Service - Excellence Air Force Response Action Update Integrity - Service - Excellence PUBLIC WORKS WORKING GROUP Aqueous Film-Forming Foam and Associated Compounds Christopher Brewster, PE Chief, Environmental Compliance DMAFB AQUEOUS FILM-FORMING FOAM AND ASSOCIATED COMPOUNDS Initial Site Investigation (SI) at DMAFB for Perfluorinated Compounds
SI Report released by Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) in March 2019 No groundwater contamination within installation. Surface soil concentrations exceeded Regional Screening Level (RSL), based on residential exposure scenario of 0.126 ppm, at the fire training area. Subsurface soil (>1) was non-detect. Recommended installation of additional monitoring wells within NW installation boundary DMAFB, AFCEC, Tucson Water, and AZ DEQ continue to work together on developing an investigation strategy for our community Two additional monitoring wells have been installed within the 100 Acre Wood
Bike Park which is just up-gradient from TW well locations. Samples were taken and the Expanded SI Report was released by AFCEC in late July 2019. PFOS, PFOA and PFOS+PFOA were detected in vertical aquifer samples (VAS) at concentrations exceeding the USEPA lifetime health advisory (HA) values and PFBS was detected at concentrations below the USEPA Tap Water RSL at AFFF Release Area 3. Maximum concentrations were identified at the groundwater interface at approximately 296 feet bgs with concentrations decreasing with depth. PFOS/PFOA were not detected within the screened intervals of the installed monitoring wells during subsequent groundwater sampling. DM is working with AFCEC on determining what additional studies/surveys are to be done next. The Air Force is also spending $500K to perform a groundwater hydrogeology survey of the installation.
Public reports are available through http://afcec.publicadmin-record.us.af.mil/ Questions? Integrity - Service - Excellence
