pfas investigation & management program · investigation overview: detailed site investigation...

Community Information SessionPFAS Investigation & Management Program

HMAS AlbatrossPFAS 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



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: Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) Perfluorooctanoicacid (PFOA) Perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS)

Most people in developed countries

are likely to have levels of PFAS in

their blood.

From 1950s

From1970s 2003

From2004 2010

2015 -Present


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.

From2004

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

From1970s 2003

From2004 2010

2015 -Present


From 1950s

From1970s 2003

From2004 2010

2015 -Present

• In 2010, Defence commenced the first PFAS environmental investigation in Oakey.

Investigation SiteManagement 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.


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 minimisedwherever possible whilst further research is undertaken on the potentialhealth effects of PFAS exposure.

This precautionary advice takes into account the uncertainties in the currentscientific evidence (i.e. the lack of causation data on human health effects)and the ability of these chemicals to persist in humans and in theenvironment.

If you live or work in a PFAS contaminated area, your State or TerritoryHealth Department can provide you with local advice on how to minimiseexposure to PFAS.

The Environmental Health Standing Committee (enHealth)

“

”

What did the investigation involve?


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

or 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


Investigation Overview: Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment 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 Management Area Plan


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


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


• 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


• 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


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

Ongoing Monitoring Plan


What Where WhenMonitoring 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


Next Steps


Implement management &

remediation recommendations

Ongoing Monitoring

Thank youContact us

Phone: 1800 365 414

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.defence.gov.au/Environment/PFAS/Albatross/

mailto:[email protected]

pfas investigation & management program · investigation overview: detailed site investigation...

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