JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. —
Validated ground water and surface water testing results for possible Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfanate (PFOS) that were collected by Air Force Civil Engineer Center officials at 21 sites at JB MDL have been received.
Based on the initial review of the sampling results and ground water flow paths, there are four sites where additional sampling will be accomplished to evaluate the potential for off-base impacts, base officials announced. A contract has been awarded to conduct the additional sampling.
The areas planned for step-out sampling are:
- Old Fire Station, Bldg. 2502 (McGuire PFC Area 4), which is in the northeastern portion of JB MDL-McGuire;
- Waste Water Treatment Plant Land Application Area (Dix PFC Area 14), which is in the southwestern portion of JB MDL-Dix;
- Old Firefighting School (AT014) (Lakehurst PFC Area 17), which is in the northeastern portion of JB MDL-Lakehurst; and
- Former Naval Air Training Technical Center (AT016) (Lakehurst PFC Area 18), which is in the southeastern portion of JB MDL-Lakehurst.
The sampling effort included approximately 160 groundwater samples and 30 surface water samples, which were collected as part of a base-wide site inspection (SI) for PFOA and PFOS. A full draft SI report is expected in March 2017.
Base officials will continue their close coordination with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials and state regulators to determine if PFOA and PFOS are a risk to off-base drinking water supplies. The investigation effort follows established federal environmental response guidelines.
There are currently no federal regulatory standards that have been issued for PFCs. In May 2016, the EPA established lifetime health advisory levels of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS, individually or combined, in drinking water. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) officials have established an interim specific ground water criterion for Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA) of 10 ppt.
PFOS and PFOA are a component of aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), a type of fire-fighting foam that has been used by industry and the Air Force since 1970 to extinguish petroleum fires. The Air Force used this foam at crash sites, in fire training areas and some maintenance hangars at active, reserve, Air National Guard and former bases. Additionally, PFOS and PFOA are used in many industrial and consumer products such as nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabric and carpet, some food packaging and specialized foam.
The Air Force is committed to mitigating PFOS and PFOA from the AFFF inventory and transitioning to a more environmentally sound alternative. The change out for firetrucks at JB MDL has been completed.
The PFOA and PFOS sampling results and a figure showing the location of the 21 sites are available at the Burlington County Library, the Ocean County Library (Toms River Branch), and the JB MDL PFC website at www.jointbasemdl.af.mil/PFCs. For more information, contact the JB MDL Public Affairs Office at (609) 754-2104.