Former Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Iosco County

Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Oscoda, Iosco County

Updated: October 14, 2020

EGLE Site Lead:
Beth Place
PlaceB1@Michigan.gov
(517) 899-7524

All Wurtsmith Documents

Background

Wurtsmith Air Force Base served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70-year history. Since its establishment in 1923, Wurtsmith played an important role in World War II, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War, hosting the 134th Army Air Force Base Fighter Unit and 379th Bombardment Wing.  Wurtsmith was officially closed on June 30, 1993. Most of the acreage (4,354 of 4,628 acres) of the former base has been transferred for reuse.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) became aware of PFAS concentrations in groundwater in March 2010 when EGLE staff performed sampling at a former fire training area on the base. Air Force Civil Engineering Center (Air Force) is the lead cleanup agency.  Air Force has completed the PFAS Preliminary Assessment, Site Inspection, and is currently planning the Remedial Investigation under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.  Air Force has performed three removal actions and is currently planningg two interim remedial actions.

Recent Accomplishments

• On August 20, 2020, Air Force hosted a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Cleanup Team (BCT) meeting with EGLE and MDHHS via teleconference to discuss Remedial Investigation and Interim Remedial Action scoping.  Air Force proposed Interim Remedial Actions, which include the expansion of the FT-002 and CTS PFAS groundwater treatment systems. The Final BCT summaries from planning meetings will be made available in All Wurtsmith Documents and include schedules.
• EGLE identified potential Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements (ARARs) in a letter to Air Force on September 18, 2020 in response to an August 6, 2020 Air Force request. The letter is available in All Wurtsmith Documents
• On September 22, 2020 Governor Whitmer submitted a letter to Assistant Secretary Henderson to urge the Air Force to comply with Michigan PFAS standards at the former Wurtsith Air Force Base. The letter is available in All Wurtsmith Documents.
• On September 23, 2020, Air Force hosted the BCT meeting with EGLE and MDHHS via teleconference. The Final BCT Minutes from recent meetings are made available in All Wurtsmith Documents. The review schedule for reports is included in the BCT minutes.
• On September 23, 2020, EGLE hosted a PFAS response coordination call. Representatives from EGLE, MDNR, MDHHS, DHD2, Oscoda Township, Au Sable Township, OWAA, the community RAB, USDA‑FS, and Air Force were invited to attend.  These calls will continue to occur monthly.
• On October 7, 2020, Air Force hosted a BCT meeting with EGLE and MDHHS via teleconference to discuss Interim Remedial Action scoping.  Air Force proposed Interim Remedial Actions include the expansion of the FT-002 and CTS PFAS groundwater treatment systems.  The Final BCT summaries from planning meetings will be made available in All Wurtsmith Documents .
• On October 7, 2020, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Henderson responded to Governor Whitmer.  The response is included in All Wurtsmith Documents.

Next Steps

• EGLE plans to continue to review data collection methods in Air Force work plans and adherence to the work plans during data collection.
• Air Force, EGLE and MDHHS will meet the week of October 12, 2020 for a BCT meeting to discuss the Data Quality Objectives for the upcoming PFAS Remedial Investigation.Air Force, EGLE and MDHHS will meet in October and November for BCT meetings to discuss scoping the upcoming PFAS Remedial Investigation Risk Assessment Data Quality Objectives, Risk Assessment, and ARARs.
• During the week of October 26, 2020, EGLE will host a PFAS response coordination call. Representatives from EGLE, MDNR, MDHHS, DHD2, Oscoda Township, Au Sable Township, OWAA, the community RAB, USDA-FS, and Air Force are invited to attend.  These calls will continue to occur monthly.
• Air Force, EGLE, and MDHHS will meet the week of October 26, 2020 for a BCT Meeting to discuss site progress.

Residential Well Testing/Alternate Water Information

• MDHHS is offering drinking water well retesting to Oscoda-area residents whose wells were previously tested for PFAS or who were offered drinking water filters, or both. There is no charge for the testing.  MDHHS has contacted these residents by letter and by phone to schedule water collection appointments. Seasonal residents who are away for the winter can schedule an appointment at a later date.  The goal of the repeat testing is to determine if PFAS is in residential wells; if so, the amount of PFAS; and whether the amount is increasing, decreasing, or remaining the same over time.  MDHHS will be retesting these drinking water wells in coordination and District Health Department No. 2.  Residents who have questions about this PFAS testing effort or who would like to schedule an appointment can call the MDHHS Drinking Water Hotline at 844-934-1315.
• More information on residential well sampling is included in the Oscoda Area page.
   

Sampling: PFOS and PFOA Only

Type of Sample	Date Sampled	# of Samples	# of Results Received	# of Non-detects	# Between Non-detect and standard*	# > Standard
Groundwater	Mar 2010 - Present	736	736	115	373	268
Surface Water	May 2010 - Present	181	181	22	62	97
Comparison to AFCEC	Aug 2019 - Present	9	0	-	-	-
Cumulative		926	917	137	435	365

*Groundwater results are compared to EGLE Part 201 Criteria of 70 ppt PFOS+PFOA.
*Surface water and effluent results are compared to Rule 57 surface water quality values of 12 ppt for PFOS and 12,000 ppt for PFOA. 
*Residential well results are available on the Oscoda Area page. 

Sampling notes

• Sample totals in the above provided table reflect samples taken from the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base and some historical samples from the Oscoda Area sites.
• Other PFAS analytes were detected in samples. There are no federal or state standards for these analytes.
• Foam samples have been taken off-base. Please visit the MPART Foam Tab for more information on foam.
• Reporting of samples EGLE collects to compare to Air Force sampling results began in August 2019.