Community Information Session PFAS Investigation & Management - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Community Information Session

PFAS Investigation & Management Program HMAS Albatross PFAS Management Area Plan

17 July 2019

We would like to respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which this meeting takes place, and also pay respect to Elders both past and present. We would also like to pay our respects to the Indigenous men and women who have contributed to the defence of Australia in times of peace and war.

Acknowledgment of Country

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

Session outline:

• What are PFAS
• About the Program
• The Investigation Process
• The PFAS Management Area Plan
• Next steps

Speaker:

• Luke McLeod, Assistant Secretary, PFAS Investigation

and Management Program

Welcome

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

Widely used around the world to make products that resist heat, stains, grease and water. Used in legacy firefighting foam to extinguish liquid fuel fires by both civilian and military authorities. PFAS of concern:



Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)



Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)



Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) Most people in developed countries are likely to have levels of PFAS in their blood.

From 1950s From 1970s 2003 From 2004 2010 2015 - Present

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

PFAS was used in legacy firefighting foam to extinguish liquid fuel fires by both civilian and military authorities.

From 1970s

Defence introduced a new foam and commenced phasing out use of the old foams for both training and emergencies.

From 2004

NICNAS recommends the use of PFOS and related PFAS-based chemicals be restricted to essential use only and PFOS-based firefighting foam not be used for fire training purposes.

2003

From 1950s From 1970s 2003 From 2004 2010 2015 - Present

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

From 1950s From 1970s 2003 From 2004 2010 2015 - Present

• In 2010, Defence

commenced the first PFAS environmental investigation in Oakey. Investigation Site Management Site

• In 2015 the PFAS

Investigation and Management Program commenced.

• Defence has commenced

28 detailed environmental investigations, 16 of which have now been completed and transitioned to management sites.

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

Health Advice

• In July 2019, the enHealth guidance statements were updated to reflect the

current evidence relating to PFAS. As a precaution, enHealth recommends exposure to PFAS be minimised wherever possible whilst further research is undertaken on the potential health effects of PFAS exposure. This precautionary advice takes into account the uncertainties in the current scientific evidence (i.e. the lack of causation data on human health effects) and the ability of these chemicals to persist in humans and in the environment. If you live or work in a PFAS contaminated area, your State or Territory Health Department can provide you with local advice on how to minimise exposure to PFAS.

The Environmental Health Standing Committee (enHealth)

“ ”

What did the investigation involve?

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

May 2016 Sep 2016 Nov 2017 July 2019 Nov 2017 Investigation commenced Investigations complete Preliminary Site Investigations complete Human Health & Ecological Risk Assessments Complete Detailed Site Investigations Complete

The detailed environmental investigation was undertaken in accordance with the National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 1999 (NEPM).

PFAS Management Area Plan Complete Ongoing Monitoring

Investigation Overview:

Detailed Site Investigation findings

• No imminent environmental
• r human health exposure

risks/scenarios identified

• Primary source areas are the

current and former fire training areas and the sewage treatment plant

• Key PFAS pathways are

surface water to the north and south, and to a lesser extent, groundwater

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

Investigation Overview: Hum an Health and Ecological Risk Assessm ent findings

• Elevated PFAS exposure scenarios:
• Consumption of home-grown fruits or vegetables on properties

where PFAS is present in soils, or where water containing PFAS is used for irrigation;

• Consumption of home-grown meat/offal, milk or eggs on

properties where PFAS is present in soil or water;

• Consumption of certain species of fish and crustaceans caught

from the Shoalhaven River and Currambene Creek;

• Using groundwater or surface water near the Base as a drinking

water source (this is not known to occur in the Investigation Area); and

• Ecological risks via the food chain, for mammals that eat insects

from areas impacted by PFAS.

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

PFAS Management Area Plan

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

Aim:

• To manage and reduce the risks of PFAS exposure and/or

migration as a result of Defence’s activities Plan considerations:

• Management options selected based on net-environmental

benefit – Key source areas – Exposure Risks – Pathways – Available treatment technologies

Management Strategies:

• 2. PATHWAYS
• 3. RECEPTORS

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

Conduct ongoing monitoring of PFAS in surface water and groundwater. Manage PFAS in soil at the on-base former firefighting training area. Manage contaminated surface water leaving the Base through the drainage network. Investigate how PFAS is entering the Base sewer network, then implement a management solution to reduce PFAS movement off-base. Continue to assist NSW State government agencies in the implementation of precautionary dietary advice.

PMAP recommended actions

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

• Capping – applying a physical barrier

such as clay that is impermeable to seal contaminated soils and prevent movement of PFAS away from the source area

• Immobilisation – adding a binding

agent to contaminated soils, which stabilises PFAS in soils and prevents movement of PFAS away from the source area

• Excavation – digging up the source

area to remove contaminated soils from the site, and filling the excavated areas with landfill

Potential Soil Treatment Options

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

• Pump and Treat – pumping

contaminated water into a purpose-built facility designed to remove PFAS from water. Treated water is then pumped back into the environment

• Passive Treatment – installing a

permeable reactive barrier in a weir, which will filter out PFAS as water passes through the barrier. This option requires further feasibility assessment

Potential Water Treatment Options

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

Assess potential changes to the nature and extent of PFAS impacts and/or exposure risks on and off-Base.

Ongoing Monitoring Plan

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

What Where When

Monitoring of surface water 13 locations (4 on base and 9 off base) Quarterly for the first 12 months and then biannually Monitoring of groundwater 31 locations (21 locations on base and 10 off base*) Biannual for first 12 months and then annually

* To be confirmed. Some locations may occur on private property. These have not been identified on the map for privacy reasons.

PMAP Monitoring Area

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

Next Steps

PFAS Investigation and Management Program

Implement management & remediation recommendations Ongoing Monitoring

Thank you

Contact us

Phone: 1800 365 414 Email: PFASDefenceCoordination@golder.com.au Website: www.defence.gov.au/Environment/PFAS/Albatross/