Alpena Hide and Leather (Alpena, Alpena County)

• In the Fall of 2017, EGLE collected 27 groundwater monitoring well samples.

• In April 2018, EGLE collected 20 groundwater monitoring well samples.

• In June 2018, EGLE collected 13 groundwater monitoring well samples.

• In November 2017, EGLE conducted a search to assure that no private drinking water wells are in use in the area.

• In 2017, EGLE collected 14 surface water samples. All of the surface water results from the Thunder Bay River were below the Rule 57 surface water quality values of 12 ppt for PFOS and 12,000 ppt for PFOA.

• In April and May 2018, EGLE collected additional surface water samples from the Thunder Bay River. Again, all the surface water results were below the Rule 57 surface water quality values.

• In November 2018, EGLE collected 40 groundwater monitoring well samples and 10 surface water samples from the Thunder Bay River.

• In August 2018, EGLE conducted a bench study and treatability study to see if a carbon-based material could be added to the soil to reduce leaching. The results in both of the lab studies were very promising.

• In December 2018, a work plan for an in-field pilot test for soil treatability was prepared and the pilot test was conducted.

• On December 13, 2018, EGLE finalized the PFAS Supplemental Investigation Report for April-July 2018, for PFAS soil, groundwater, surface water, and foam sampling.

• On December 14, 2018, the in-field pilot test for soil treatability was completed.

• On February 4, 2019, EGLE received validated analytical results from the November and December groundwater and surface water sampling for review.

• On February 19, 2019, a meeting with community stakeholders and local governmental agencies was conducted.

• In April 2019, EGLE collected 30 groundwater monitoring well samples; 11 surface water samples from the Thunder Bay River, 14 storm water samples, and two foam samples.

• On April 2 – 5, 2019, EGLE performed the spring PFAS sampling event. Samples were collected from monitoring wells, storm water and surface water.

• On April 5, 2019, EGLE collected a surface water foam sample from the Thunder Bay River.

• On April 9 – 10, 2019, EGLE performed PFAS pilot sampling and grab groundwater sampling from 4 grab groundwater locations.

• On June 24-25, 2019, EGLE installed three new monitoring wells on the site and six offsite monitoring wells for future PFAS sample collection and downgradient hydrogeologic characterization.

• On June 27, 2019, EGLE surveyed the location and top of casing elevation of newly installed monitoring wells. The location and ground elevation of catch basins near the newly installed monitoring wells were surveyed.

• In July and August 2019, EGLE developed and gauged newly installed monitoring wells to assess the downgradient groundwater flow direction/gradient.

• On August 19 – 23, 2019, EGLE performed the summer PFAS sampling event. Samples were collected from monitoring wells, storm water and surface water (Thunder Bay River).  No foam was encountered/sampled on the river during this event.

• On September 27, 2019, EGLE and AMEC met with the Site property owner to discuss PFAS impacts to groundwater and its relationship to surface water.  Remediation and/or mitigation strategies were discussed as well as future Site development plans. 

• On September 27, 2019, EGLE deployed a test boom for potential cost-effective point source treatment/mitigation of PFAS in storm water.

• On October 2, 2019, following a significant rain event (>0.1-feet), EGLE collected a sample of storm water up- and downstream of the boom.

• EGLE received up- and downstream analytical results from the test boom on November 5, 2019.   Results suggest that the current Boom placement had little effect on storm water quality with respect to PFAS, likely due to existing sediment buildup within the storm sewer vault. 

• On December 9-12, 2019, EGLE performed the Winter PFAS sampling event. Samples were collected from monitoring wells, storm water and surface water (Thunder Bay River).  Trace levels of foam were observed in the river but due to limited accumulation, no foam samples could be collected during this event.

• On December 10, 2019, EGLE collected soil samples from the injection and soil mixing pilot test areas to assess ongoing immobilization performance/stability of the injected media.

• On December 19-20, 2019, EGLE cleaned out two historical storm water vaults and implemented a storm water mitigation pilot test in the downstream vault.  The vault appears to have been installed as part of storm water/groundwater management during past tannery operations and is connected downstream to the City of the Alpena system.

• On January 15, 2020, EGLE collected storm water samples of from the vault being used as a pilot test of a passive mitigation approach to remove PFAS from storm water.   A pressure transducer was also installed to monitor water levels to assess discharge. 

• In February 2020, the PFAS 2nd Quarter 2019 monitoring report was finalized.

• On June 1, 2020, the depth to water was gauged at the monitoring wells and nearby catch basins to further assess surface water drainage on-site and off-site.

• On June 2, 2020 the Second Quarter groundwater, storm water, and surface water PFAS samples were collected.

Sampling: PFOS and PFOA Only

*Groundwater results are compared to EGLE Part 201 Criteria of 70 ppt PFOS+PFOA.
*Surface water results are compared to Rule 57 surface water quality values of 12 ppt PFOS and 12,000 ppt for PFOA.
Tabulated monitoring well include grab groundwater samples.
Pilot test performance monitoring groundwater results are not included in the above totals.

Sampling Notes

• Other PFAS analytes were detected in samples. There are no federal or state standards for these analytes.
• The highest concentration detected in foam samples from the Thunder Bay River to date is 1,060 ppt Total Tested PFAS (April 2019). There has been a total of six foam and foam-surface water interface samples collected from the Thunder Bay River. Foam accumulations have been limited to high flow conditions (spring).