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Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) (Alpena, Alpena County)

Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) (Alpena, Alpena County)

Disclaimer: Web content may not be routinely updated on this page.

Please contact the Site Lead for the most up-to-date status of this site.

EGLE site lead

Jacob Palinsky, PalinskyJ@Michigan.gov or 989-370-3053.

Background

The Alpena CRTC is an active Michigan Air National Guard (ANG) training facility and is located seven miles west of the city of Alpena. As part of the United States Air Force (USAF) comprehensive approach to protect human health, several areas of the Alpena CRTC were tested for PFAS. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) was made aware of this site when the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs notified EGLE on October 2, 2017, of groundwater samples collected on-base on May 16, 2017. The samples detected PFAS in groundwater at levels above the Lifetime Health Advisory level (LHA) of 70 ppt.

Content updated December 2024.

Alpena CRTC PFOA Map

PFOA map

See an aerial view of the PFOA on the site.

Expand the map
Alpena CRTC PFOS Map

PFOS map

See an aerial view of the PFOS on the site.

Expand the map

Drinking water

DHHS continues to conduct resampling of select drinking water wells in the sampling area. Households with detections of PFAS have been provided point of use filters and replacement cartridges by District Health Department #4.

EGLE's contractor, AECOM, will continue to monitor new residential sampling requests within the one-mile sampling radius and call residents to set up sampling dates and times as directed by EGLE. All residential well testing reflected on this report has been conducted by EGLE.

Anticipated activities

ANG is conducting additional remedial investigation activities under a second mobilization that started in Summer 2024.

Military Update

The site is currently in the Remedial Investigation phase under CERCLA. The ANG and EGLE continue to meet to discuss the Remedial Investigation work plans and results. Field work for the Remedial Investigation started in Spring 2022 and phases will continue into 2025 as PFAS impacts are delineated.

Historical timeline

    • Two public meetings have been held at the Alpena CRTC. 
      • October 18, 2017: approximately 200-250 attendees.
      • January 18, 2018: approximately 150 attendees.
    • On November 7, 2017, EGLE began sampling residential wells. Additional private water well sampling will continue as sampling requests within the designated sampling area are received. 
       
    • On February 14, 2019, AECOM collected two residential drinking water samples.
    • On March 11, 2019, EGLE received the results from the February residential drinking water sample event.
    • On June 13, 2019, AECOM collected one residential well sample.
    • On July 8, 2019, AECOM collected one residential well sample.
    • On September 9, 2019, AECOM collected one (1) residential well sample.
    • On September 17, 2019, AECOM collected one (1) residential well sample.
    • On October 28, 2019, AECOM collected one (1) residential well sample.
    • On March 16, 2020, DHHS finished sending out results letters for the first round of drinking water well resampling conducted in December 2019.
    • On April 10, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) sent a press release detailing January 2020 resampling efforts of residential wells surrounding Alpena CRTC. Results were consistent with EGLE's initial sampling efforts. Results letters were sent to residences that participated in the resampling.
    • On November 10, 2020, DHHS finished sending out results letters for the second round of drinking water well resampling conducted in June 2020.

    Sampling Results Summary

    This table was updated to include all seven PFAS criteria effective 12/21/2020

    Type of Sample

    Date Sampled
    (or range)

    Number of Sample
    Results Received

    Number of Samples
    above Criteria*

    Drinking Water
    (Residential)

    		 Through
    December 6, 2021    		 127 1
    Surface Water Through June 2022 33 3

    *Residential well results are compared to EGLE Part 201 Drinking Water Cleanup Criteria for 7 PFAS compounds: PFOS (16 ppt), PFOA (8 ppt), PFNA (6 ppt), PFHxS (51 ppt), PFHxA (400,000 ppt), PFBS (420 ppt), and HFPO-DA (370 ppt).
    **Surface Water results are compared to EGLE Part 201 Surface Water Cleanup Criteria for PFOS (12 ppt).

    Sampling notes

    • Other PFAS analytes were detected in samples. There are no federal or state standards for these analytes.
    • All sample counts and activities reflect EGLE "off-base" sampling efforts only. 
    • On January 21, 2021, EGLE and representatives of Alpena CRTC participated in a scoping session for Phase I of the remedial investigation. Air National Guard Anticipates Phase I of the investigation to begin by late Autumn of 2021.
    • In January 2021, DHHS conducted the third round of drinking water well resampling in the study area. DHHS is currently working on result letters to well owners.
    • On August 30, 2021, EGLE met onsite with ANG to discuss EGLE's upcoming water and sediment sampling around Alpena CRTC.
    • On September 3, 2021, EGLE contractors sampled water and sediment in areas adjoining Alpena CRTC.
    • On October 5, 2021, EGLE and ANG met onsite to discuss ANG's upcoming Phase I of the Remedial Investigation planned for early 2022. 
    • On December 6, 2021, EGLE received results of surface water sampling from areas surrounding Alpena CRTC. Of 23 total surface water samples, 3 exceeded surface water criteria of 12 ppt PFOS.
    • On December 15, 2021, the Air National Guard, EGLE, and DHHS held a virtual town hall.
    • In June 2022, EGLE’s contractor collected ten surface water samples from areas surrounding Alpena CRTC.
    • On July 22, 2022, EGLE received the surface water sampling results.  One of the ten surface water samples collected exceeded the surface water quality value for PFOS at 44 ppt PFOS (compared to 12 ppt PFOS).
    • In August 2022, ANG completed the first phase of the Remedial Investigation.
     
    • On January 26, 2023, EGLE completed a report of the Sinkhole Geophysical Investigation.  
    • On July 5, 2023, EGLE provided comment to the ANG Off Base Mitigation and Potential Exposure Pathway Assessment. 
    • On July 21, 2023, EGLE provided comments to the ANG Alpena CRTC Quality Assurance Project Plan for Mobilization 2 of the Remedial Investigation. 
    • In May 2024, ANG started Mobilization 2 of the Remedial Investigation at Alpena CRTC.