Capital Region International Airport (Lansing, Clinton County)

EGLE Site Lead: Kim Sakowski, SakowskiK@Michigan.gov or 517-582-2219.Webpage last updated November 16, 2021.

Background

Capital Region International Airport, formerly known as the Lansing Capital City Airport, located at 4100 Capital City Boulevard is located three miles northwest of downtown Lansing.

In June 2019, EGLE collected samples from Reynolds Drain and the Grand River near the airport.  The sample collected from the Reynolds Drain just north of Reynolds Pond had a result of 45 ppt for PFOS which exceeds the Water Quality Standards (WQS) of 12 ppt PFOS.  Samples collected from the Grand River upstream and downstream of Reynolds Drain were all below WQS.  Follow up samples were collected in August 2019 from the Reynolds Drain as well as the Reynolds Pond, and upstream and downstream in the Grand River. Reynolds Drain had 29 ppt, 91 ppt and 110 ppt PFOS (upstream to downstream).

In 2020, fish were collected from Reynolds Pond and from Jones Lake in 2021.  The results for these analyses are still pending.

In August 2020, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) awarded the airport a grant to investigate the potential for PFAS contamination associated with Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) use at the airport.  Aircraft rescue and firefighting personnel at the airport have historically performed equipment testing and training at the airport which involved the discharge of AFFF to perform required equipment calibration. Also,  airplane crashes have occurred at the property.

In August 2020, Triterra, was contracted by the airport to conduct  Phase I of the investigation.  Sample collection began in March 2021.  The Phase I investigation included installing and collecting 30 soil borings, sampling 14 groundwater wells, sampling two drinking water wells, and collecting 14 surface water samples from stormwater drainage and collection points located on the airport proper.

A separate  investigation of the hangar building, leased to the Army National Guard, was conducted in July 2021. Results are pending.

Groundwater is moving generally south/southeast. The closest water bodies impacted by PFAS are Reynolds Drain, the Grand River and Jones Lake.
 

Recent Accomplishments

• On August 24, 2021, a plane crash occurred at the airport property. Approximately 105 gallons of AFFF and 105,000 gallons of water was used to put out the fire.  To address the PFAS release associated with the airplane fire, 800 cubic yards of soil was excavated and approximately 7,000 gallons of impacted water was removed from the Reynolds drain.
• On September 10, 2021, EGLE received the results of the Phase I investigation. The highest groundwater result was 30,000 ppt for PFOS.
• Also on September 10, 2021, the airport submitted a work plan (Phase II) for additional sampling activities to further investigate the areas of PFAS impacts identified on-site. EGLE provided comments on the Phase II work plan to MDOT on October 11, 2021.
• On October 12, 2021, EGLE held a Township Officials meeting to discuss the results of the site investigation to date and to make them aware that this site would become the 188th MPART site.
• On November 1, 2021, the Phase II investigation began to better delineate the impacts identified during the Phase I investigation.. Results of the Phase II investigation are pending.

Next Steps

• EGLE will review the Phase II investigation results when received.

Residential Well/Alternate Water

• Residential well sampling efforts were conducted by EGLE contractors on May 27, 2021. Both Capital Region Airport Authority and Department of Military and Veteran Affairs (DMVA) conducted sampling of the drinking water wells located on the airport property. All drinking water results to date have been non-detect for PFAS.
• Three municipal water sources in the area have also been tested.  Those sample results were non-detect for PFAS.
• On November 9, 2021, MDHHS sent additional sampling request letters to seven homes.  The agency is currently awaiting access agreements before conducting additional residential well sampling. 

Upcoming Community Engagement

• On November 17, 2021, MPART will host a virtual town hall to inform the community of the PFAS investigation, share results, and next steps.  The event details to join the meeting are posted on the MPART Public Calendar at: Michigan.gov/MPARTEvents.

Sampling Results Summary

Sampling Notes

• None.