DEWITT TWP. – An investigation is currently underway to assess possible PFAS contamination at the international airport in the capital region.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy last week added the airport to a list of locations across the state where contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS may have adversely affected drinking water. According to EGLE, preliminary sampling at the site did not reveal any drinking water contamination.
The highest groundwater sample showed a PFOS contamination of 30,000 parts per trillion, more than 1,800 times the state limit, according to EGLE.
Soil monitoring and testing of wells to make sure the drinking water is free of PFAS continues, Katherine Japinga, director of marketing, said in an email. The airport has hired Triterra, an environmental consultant, to monitor it.
“We know there is PFAS material on the airport premises and it is believed that there is no immediate risk to human health,” she said.
Aside from residential wells, no PFAS was found in drinking water wells on the airport grounds when the samples were taken, Japinga said.
“While the tests of the drinking water wells in residential areas show no contamination, tests on the airport grounds indicate a PFAS groundwater contamination, which requires additional investigation phases,” said EGLE spokesman Scott Dean in an email. “During the on-site investigation, EGLE will continue to evaluate all data for potential threats to public health.”
EGLE is currently reviewing plans to further investigate potentially contaminated groundwater and conduct additional sampling to determine if an August plane crash caused contamination problems.
The Capital Region International Airport, like others across the state, has been tested for PFAS for the historical use and storage of aqueous film-forming foam known to contain the man-made chemicals and used in fire fighting, Dean said.
Testing on the website so far has shown the following:
- Groundwater monitoring wells found elevated PFAS levels in seven of the 18 samples tested
- Of 21 surface water samples taken on the property, 15 came back with values above state standards
- Contractors tested 10 residential wells around the airport and found no samples with high PFAS or PFOS values
The state requires cleaning of all sites with groundwater levels of PFOA above 8 parts per trillion and PFOS above 16 parts per trillion in accordance with drinking water standards that went into effect in 2020.
PFAS and PFOS are a group of man-made chemicals that EGLE says are used in waterproof coatings, non-stick coatings, upholstery, carpets, paper packaging for food and fire-fighting foam. PFAS do not degrade in the environment.
More:PFAS: What you need to know about the environmental crisis threatening drinking water
EGLE has listed 201 PFAS locations across the state to date. According to EGLE, 14 of these are airports.
The airport is Greater Lansing’s sixth identified PFAS location. Others include the Grand Ledge Army Aviation Support Facility, Eaton County Landfill, Eaton Rapids Municipal Landfill, Adams Plating site in Lansing Township, part of the RACER Trust property in Lansing and Lansing Township, and Kent Cleaners in Lansing.
Early tests showed increased PFAS in water samples
As of June 2019, EGLE took water samples from the Reynolds Drain and the Grand River near the airport.
A sample from Reynolds Drain found 45 parts per trillion for PFOS, which exceeds the water quality standards of 12 parts per trillion for surface water. Samples taken from the Grand River downstream and upstream were not exceeded, according to EGLE.
More:Michigan State University Opens New PFAS Research Center
Subsequent tests of the Reynolds drain found samples of 29 parts per trillion, 91 parts per trillion, and 110 parts per trillion for PFOS, according to EGLE.
In 2021, contractors collected fish from Reynolds Pond and Jones Lake to test for PFAS or PFOS contamination. According to EGLE, these sampling results are still pending.
The airport received a grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation in 2020 to investigate possible PFAS contamination on the property. According to EGLE, this work began in 2021.
Possible contamination from plane crash is being investigated
A single-engine Cirrus Vision SF 50 aircraft crashed at the airport on August 24th. According to the airport authorities, four people and a dog escaped unharmed.
Aqueous film-forming foam that is used when rescue workers arrive on the scene contains PFAS and PFOS. The airport fire department used 105 gallons of foam and 105,000 gallons of water to extinguish the flames of the crash.
More:The state begins collecting and disposing of 35,000 gallons of PFAS foam
EGLE has started collecting unused fire extinguishing foam from departments across Michigan, although the Federal Airport Administration has not yet approved an alternative foam that does not contain PFAS and PFOS compounds.
The airport is conducting additional water and soil samples around the crash site.
Contact reporter Craig Lyons at 517-377-1047 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @craigalyons.
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