PFAS Investigation & Management Program … Investigation & Management Program Community Information Session ... Voluntary Blood Testing Program ... Dedicated mental health and counselling

PFAS Investigation & Management Program Community Information Session RAAF Base Tindal, NT

Monday 4 December 2017

We would like to respectfully acknowledge the Jawoyn, Wardaman and Dagoman peoples, 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

• WGCDR Andrew Tatnell, SADFO RAAF Base Tindal • Dr. Tony Hobbs, Deputy Chief Medical Officer,

Department of Health • Mr. Steve Grzeskowiak, Defence Deputy Secretary

Estate and Infrastructure Group • Dr Sarah Richards, Lead Consultant, Coffey • Dr. Hugh Heggie, Chief Medical Officer, NT

Department of Health

Speakers


4

Community Support Package

Katherine, Northern Territory Australian Government Department of Health Dr Tony Hobbs Australian Government Deputy Chief Medical Officer

December 2017

Katherine Community Support Package

• On 3 December 2017, the Australian Government announced a community support package for those affected by PFAS contamination emanating from RAAF Base Tindal.

• Voluntary Blood Testing Program

• Epidemiological Study

• Dedicated mental health and counselling services

• Services will made available early 2018.

• The community will be updated as arrangements are put in place.

5

What is available now?

• SupportNow – online and telephone counselling services.

www.supportnow.org.au 1300 096 257

• Health PFAS Information Service – general enquiries

[email protected] 1800 941 180

Website: www.health.gov.au/pfas

6

http://www.supportnow.org.au/

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.health.gov.au/pfas

To provide you with information about: • Introduce voluntary blood testing • PFAS • What Defence is doing to support and update the

community • Detailed Site Investigation (DSI) findings • Interim Human Health Risk Assessment (IHHRA) findings

Presentation overview:


What are per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)?


• 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 their blood.

About the Defence Program


• Defence National PFAS Investigation and Management Program was established in late 2015 to: • identify the nature and extent of PFAS on and around Defence

properties • research and implement remediation and management activities

to reduce the impact of PFAS contamination • Defence is currently conducting detailed

environmental investigations at 23 Defence properties around Australia.

History of firefighting foam use in Defence


From 1970s Defence commenced use of legacy firefighting foam containing PFOS/PFOA as active ingredients.

In 2003 Defence and other users became aware that PFOS/PFOA was an emerging persistent organic pollutant.

From 2004 Defence introduced a new foam and commenced phasing out use of the old foams for both training, and emergencies.

Currently For emergencies, Defence uses a foam that does not contain PFOS or PFOA as active ingredients. Foam is captured and disposed of in accordance with current regulations.

Investigation activities:

• Conducting an investigation to understand the nature and extent of PFAS contamination

• Conducting Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessments

• Residential sampling (including outside the Investigation Area) of bores, pools and produce

What has Defence been doing?


Management activities:

• Providing alternative drinking water for eligible residents

• Providing rainwater tanks for eligible residents

• Supporting Katherine Town Council in reopening Katherine town pool

• Installation of interim water treatment plant

• Temporary storage of low level PFAS waste at RAAF Base Tindal




Community engagement activities:

• Community Information Sessions; November 2016, April, June and October 2017

• Operation of investigation information phone line and email

• Local dedicated liaison staff

• Engagement with Indigenous community

• Stall at Katherine Show in July 2017

• Investigation Factsheets; June, July, October and December 2017

• Community update newsletters; July, October and December 2017

• Water Use Survey from July 2017

• Community Survey from November 2017

• Engagement with local media at each community event



• Extensive work by PWC in protecting public water supply

• Testing of waters by DENR and PWC

• Support by DPIF regarding commercial agriculture

• Discussions with NT EPA and NT Health regarding public health implications

• Discussions with Federal Health about epidemiology studies and voluntary blood testing programs

What else has been happening?


STAGE 3:

Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessments

Investigation Process


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

There are three main stages to an investigation:

STAGE 2: Detailed Site Investigation

STAGE 1: Preliminary Site Investigation ✔

Detailed Site Investigation report to

be released early 2018. Interim Human Health

Risk Assessment report to be released

January 2018.

STAGE 3:

Interim Human Health Risk Assessment

• Draft DSI and interim HHRA reports have been received

and are undergoing a quality assurance review. • Once this is complete, the reports will be publicly released

(early in 2018). • It is important to share these findings with you now.

Timing Update


Stage 1: Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) Summary


• The Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) was undertaken between March to June 2017 to understand where PFAS may be coming from, going to, and how it may be getting there.

• The PSI included: • a review of previous reports • inspection of the site • talking to people about past firefighting foam use and storage

• The PSI identified five confirmed source areas and three potential

source areas on base

Stage 2: Detailed Site Investigation (DSI)


• Comprehensive sampling program to assess extent of PFAS contamination

• Commenced in June 2017

• On and off-base sampling in soil, groundwater, surface water and drainage lines was conducted

• Plant and animal sampling was also started to investigate impact to food and ecology

• Investigation Area has been defined

Stage 2: DSI – Investigation Area


Stage 2: DSI – PFAS in groundwater


Stage 2: DSI – PFAS in Soil


Stage 2: DSI – PFAS in Groundwater


Stage 2: DSI – PFAS in Surface Water


Stage 2: DSI – Conceptual Site Model



Stage 2: DSI – Aquifers


Stage 2: DSI – Aquifers

Stage 2: DSI Activities


Sampling activity Quantity

New Groundwater Monitoring Wells 45

Off Base Private and Irrigation Bore Samples 116

On Base Groundwater Samples 188

Soil and Sediment Samples 389

Katherine River and Tindal Creek Samples 100

Plant and Egg (home grown) Samples 96

Fish Samples 98

Extensive sampling has been conducted to provide confidence in the understanding of the nature and extent of contamination

Stage 2: DSI Summary


• PFAS is leaching to groundwater and spreading in runoff from the Fire Training Area and Fire Station.

• PFAS is flowing in Tindal Creek and in groundwater to the Katherine River.

• PFAS has been detected in the Katherine River downstream of the Stuart Highway.

• Contact with soil outside of the main source areas on Base is not an exposure pathway.

Western Side of Katherine River


• Due to community concern, residential testing program has been extended to include bores in the unconfined Tindall aquifer on the western side of the Katherine River.

• To date, 27 bore results have been received with only 3 positive detects for PFAS.

• All three detects are deep bores and very close to the river.

• Groundwater is still flowing towards the river from both sides, but localised flow under the river is occurring depending on the location of the spring.


• HHRA assesses the possible risks within the investigation area associated with human exposure to PFAS.

• HHRA is a detailed, scientific process to analyse the results of samples conducted during the PSI and DSI.

• Information gathered from the Community Survey will inform the HHRA.

• Input into the HHRA will continue until February.

• An interim HHRA is expected to be released early in January with the final HHRA expected to be completed in April 2018.

• The results of the HHRA will assist with planning for managing risks and remediation.

Stage 3: Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA)


Stage 3: HHRA

What it can tell us What it can’t tell us

Which activities to avoid to minimise PFAS exposure

Potential future health effects for individuals

Activities where no adverse health effects are likely

Whether existing health effects for individuals are associated with past exposure

Cumulative exposure from multiple activities

Medical advice

Inform future management actions


Stage 3: Interim Human Health Risk Assessment (IHHRA) • The purpose of the IHHRA is to assess the potential risks of human

exposure to PFAS when residents conduct certain activities.

• The IHHRA will inform the final HHRA that will look at potential exposures in more detail.

• The IHHRA provides information to allow residents to make informed decisions about ways to reduce their potential exposure to PFAS.

• The draft IHHRA report is currently being reviewed by relevant government agencies and is expected to be finalised and released to the public in January 2018.


Stage 3: IHHRA – Risk Descriptions

• Low and Acceptable - means the intake of PFAS from this activity will not be above the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI)

• Potentially Elevated - means that the activity may result in intake above the TDI for some people under some situations.

• Elevated - means this activity is likely to result in intake above the TDI and should be avoided or reduced.


Stage 3: IHHRA - Water Scenario Risk from PFAS

Consumption of town water Low and acceptable

Drinking bore water, within the Investigation Area

Elevated risk where PFAS concentration is above drinking water guidance value

Drinking river water, downstream of Stuart Hwy

Elevated risk, if primary supply

Domestic use of bore water or river water

Low and acceptable

Swimming in pools filled with bore water

Low and acceptable

Swimming in Katherine River Low and acceptable

Sprinkler play with bore water or river water

Low and acceptable


Stage 3: IHHRA - Foods

Scenario Risk from PFAS

Eating fish from Katherine River Elevated

Eating home-grown eggs Low and acceptable, unless chicken’s water contains PFAS concentrations well above drinking water guidance value

Eating home-grown fruit and vegetables

Low and acceptable

Eating home-grown meat watered with contaminated water

To be determined


Stage 3: IHHRA - Soils

Scenario Risk from PFAS

Contact with soil irrigated by contaminated bore water

Low and acceptable

Contact with soil on base outside of the main source areas

Low and acceptable

Contact with soils during excavation in main source areas

Potentially elevated if hygiene controls not used

Dust generated from contaminated areas at the base presents a negligible exposure pathway.

Food sampling


• Fruit and vegetable testing (57 samples) has only found very occasional detectable PFAS.

• Eggs (39 samples) bioaccumulate PFAS.

• Fish (98 samples) bioaccumulate PFAS, particularly in livers.

• Animal serum assessment to commence soon.


Species Range of PFOS + PFHxS concentrations in flesh (µg/kg)

Barramundi 12 - 42

Cod and Catfish 6.2 - 88

Other fish 9.5 - 350

• FSANZ Trigger value for PFOS in fish flesh is 5.2 µg/kg based on a young child (2-6 yrs) eating 0.5 kg of fish per week.

• End of dry season results from Katherine River (under Stuart Hwy bridge and Galloping Jack’s) were above the trigger value.

• Results suggest eating fish from Katherine River (at least down stream of Donkey Camp) should be minimised to reduce exposure.

Fish


• The ERA will assess the possible risks to plants and animals associated with exposure to PFAS within the investigation area.

• The ERA will be completed and published in 2018.

• Potentially relevant ecological receptors from PFAS contamination are:

– Land based flora and fauna on-Base

– Aquatic flora and fauna on-Base

– Terrestrial flora and fauna near Tindal Creek and Katherine River

– Aquatic flora and fauna in Tindal Creek and Katherine River

Stage 3: Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA)


• Finalising and publicly releasing the Interim HHRA

• From December 2017 to March 2018 wet season sampling will occur.

• Conducting the Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) and comprehensive HHRA for delivery in April 2018.

• Ongoing water, plant and animal testing to refine risk assessments.

• A final report will be provided to Defence in April 2018, including all wet and dry season results

• On Base remediation program being developed and implementation will commence in 2018.

• All reports will be publicly available.

Next Steps

• Defence commenced a NEPM compliant detailed environmental investigation at RAAF Base Tindal in March 2017.

• Sampling has been undertaken both on and off-base.

• PFAS contamination is present in the Tindall Aquifer between the Base and Katherine River and in the waters of Katherine River downstream of Katherine.

• Collection of information for the HHRA commenced during the DSI and will continue until end of February 2018.

• Defence will provide the IHHRA report in December 2017 to report on major identified risks before delivery of the HHRA in April 2018

• Findings from the investigation will help inform remediation and management options.

In Summary


Thank you


Thank you to everyone who has participated by:

• Providing access to their property for sampling

• Providing samples of produce

• Completing the water use survey

• Attending the community shopfront and walk-in sessions

• Participating in the Community Consultative Group

• Completing the community survey

We will continue to be open with the community.

Reminder - Community shopfront – tomorrow and Wednesday at Katherine Oasis


Questions?

Need more information? Phone: 1800 316 813 [email protected] www.defence.gov.au/environment/pfas/Tindal

http://www.defence.gov.au/environment/pfas/Tindal

Documents

PFAS Investigation & Management Program … Investigation & Management Program Community Information Session ... Voluntary Blood Testing Program ... Dedicated mental health and counselling