12 JANUARY 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Remedial Investigation at Truax Field Adapted from Information by Air National Guard Known for their unique ability to repel oil and water, Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) are synthetic fluorinated organic compounds used in many industrial and consumer products. Since the 1970s, the Air Force used Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) - a firefighting foam containing PFOS/PFOA - at crash sites, fire training areas, and some maintenance hangars at active and reserve Air National Guard installations. In 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established health advisory levels of 70 parts per trillion for separate and combined PFOS/PFOA concentrations in drinking water. In the U.S., the Air Force is systematically testing for potential concentrations in soil, surface water, and groundwater where AFFF may have been released. The Air National Guard recently concluded a remedial investigation (RI) into the presence of these substances at Truax Field in Madison, Wisconsin. It marks a major step in the EPA’s Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) process. The resulting data will determine the nature and extent of PFOS/PFOA present, and help determine the most effective means to clean up the site. “The remedial investigation is crucial in continuing the progress towards the remediation of PFOS and PFOA on or around Truax Field,” said Colonel Bart Van Roo, 115th Fighter Wing commander. “We are grateful to continue working with our local and state partners in moving forward in the next step in the CERCLA process.” The RI began with extensive surface soil sampling. Data provided by more than 220 bore sites throughout the base helped determine where more thorough testing was required. Drilling contractors with Plains Environmental Services, Inc. initiated the next phase, testing potentially contaminated sites with hydraulic profiling and electrical conductivity testing. Using a Geoprobe® mobile drilling rig, 30 targeted sample points were probed to depths reaching 100 feet. The process provided real-time soil permeability and conductivity data which can identify preferential pathways for contaminant migration. The sampling points will also be used to procure groundwater and additional soil samples. The aggregate data will then be compiled and analyzed to identify locations to install monitoring wells to expedite further groundwater sampling. “We are excited to continue the important process of analyzing soil and groundwater on our installation,” said Michael Hinman, project manager with the 115th Civil Engineer Squadron. “This investigation effort is moving along in a very timely manner and we are excited to continue progressing . . .” All data collected during the RI will support the next step in which the EPA recommends a preferred remedy. The proposed plan will be made available for public review and comment prior to being released. The final EPA record of decision will then be used to prepare for and initiate PFOS/PFOA cleanup on and around Truax Field. “115th Fighter Wing members and their families have deep roots in the community and we share their concerns on this issue. We are committed to continuing the effort to protect the environment and resources around our installation,” said Van Roo. ENV
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