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Camp Grayling - MATES at Range 30 (Grayling, Crawford County)

Camp Grayling - MATES at Range 30 (Grayling, Crawford County)

Background

MATES is a 60-acre area located in North Post approximately 2.5 miles northeast of downtown Grayling at 2450 W. North Down River Road. The area was designed to provide materials storage and maintenance and repair areas for military equipment, including fire trucks that utilized AFFF. This includes 7 buildings with uses including hazardous waste storage, compressed gas storage and tank washing platforms. An operational wastewater treatment system includes in-ground rapid sand filters that discharge to groundwater via groundwater discharge permit No. GW1810156. To access files related to the groundwater discharge permit, visit MiEnviro.

Groundwater flow is generally south to southeast towards the Au Sable River one mile south of the MATES facility. Private drinking water well sampling was first conducted by the Army National Guard in 2018 and 2019, and 23 wells were sampled. MDHHS continues to offer resampling to private drinking water wells in the area. To date, residential well results indicate no exceedances of EGLE Part 201 Criteria for 7 PFAS.

Following the CERCLA process, the Army National Guard completed the PFAS Preliminary Assessment in 2018 and the Site Inspection in 2020. Although the Preliminary Assessment did not identify any known releases of AFFF or historic fire-suppression systems in MATES buildings, initial groundwater samples taken as part of the Site Inspection identified PFAS in groundwater. The Army National Guard will complete fieldwork as part of the Remedial Investigation, which includes groundwater, soil, sediment, surface water, and porewater sampling.

Content updated March 2026.

Anticipated activities

EGLE will continue to review incoming data, Army National Guard reports, and Army National Guard workplans in a timely manner to facilitate ongoing work being completed by the Army National Guard.

Fieldwork and data collection by the Army National Guard for the Remedial Investigation is expected to continue through 2026.

MATES Groundwater Heat Map Preview

Site map

See an aerial view of the groundwater results at the location of the site.

Expand the map

Other Camp Grayling site locations

  • Grayling Army Airfield (GAAF)

  • Cantonment/Lake Margrethe

  • North Post/South Post

Return to Camp Grayling overview

EGLE site lead

Summer Cox, CoxS12@Michigan.gov or 517-275-2805.

Historical Timeline

    • In August 2018, the ARNG in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) tested existing monitoring wells for PFAS.
    • On October 7, 2018, EGLE received the sampling results for 12 existing monitoring well samples at the MATES facility.  The highest result was 150.5 ppt PFOS+PFOA, 371.4 ppt Total Tested PFAS.
    • On December 11, 2018, EGLE hosted a Town Hall meeting for the Grayling area PFAS sites. Attendees included the ARNG, DMVA, MDHHS, and District Health Department #10.
    • On February 28, 2019, sampling of 23 residential wells within the target area of the MATES facility was completed.  Results from all 23 residential well samples have been received and are below the USEPA LHA level of 70 ppt PFOS+PFOA. 
    • On June 5, 2019, there was a Restoration Advisory Board community meeting for the Grayling Area to learn about the RAB process, how a RAB functions, and the change to fill out a Community Member Interest Form. Applications were due by June 10 and the first RAB meeting will be announced in the coming week.
    • On June 25, 2019, the Army National Guard hosted an open public meeting from 7:30-8:30 pm at Kirtland Community College, 4800 W 4 Mile Rd, Grayling, to discuss plans to provide alternative drinking water to property owners with wells over 70 ppt of PFOA and PFOS.
    • On July 31, 2019, the first meeting of the Camp Grayling Restoration Advisory Board was held from 10:00am - 12:00pm at Kirtland Community College - Grayling Campus, 4800 W 4 Mile Road, Grayling MI 49738. It included the organization of the new Restoration Advisory Board and other set-up functions. This meeting was open to the public.
    • On August 1, 2019, a Town Hall PFAS Informational Meeting was held at Kirtland Community College, 4800 W 4 Mile Rd, Grayling. An open house was from 4:30-6:00 pm, followed by a presentation of recent investigations from 6:00-7:30.
    • On August 30, 2019, a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) Meeting was held. The meeting focused primarily on developing RAB meeting operating procedures and other administrative topics.
    • On November 6, 2019, a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) Meeting was held. The meeting focused primarily on finalizing RAB meeting operating procedures and RAB communication with the public. Progress updates were given by the DMVA and EGLE. A presentation on the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) process was given by DMVA.
    • On December 11, 2019, a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) Meeting was held. Progress updates were given by the DMVA and EGLE. A presentation on the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) process was given by DMVA. Eric Keller, Regional Director for Senator Gary Peters, gave an update on PFAS at the federal level.
    • On January 13, 2020, a Camp Grayling Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting was held. Progress updates were given by DMVA, EGLE and DHHS. Sesha Kallakuri (DHHS) gave a presentation on risk assessment and DHHS Drinking Water Screening Levels. The RAB members continued to develop their outreach and communications plans.
    • On February 20, 2020, a Camp Grayling Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting was held. Progress updates were given by DMVA, EGLE and DHHS. Recent and future RAB outreach was discussed and the final RAB brochure was released.
    • On May 27, 2020, a virtual Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) was held. Progress updates were given by DMVA, EGLE, and DHHS.
    • On July 22, 2020, a Camp Grayling Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) Virtual Meeting was held. Updates were given by DMVA, DHHS, and EGLE.
    • On September 24, 2020, a virtual Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) was held. Progress updates were given by DMVA, DHHS, and EGLE.

      Historical Sampling Chart: data is reflective of criteria prior to 8/3/2020:
      PFOS + PFOA Only
      This chart reflects data received prior to 8/3/2020.

      Type of Sample

      Date Sampled

      # of Samples

      # of Results Received

      # of Non-detects

      # Between Non-detect and standard*

      #>Standard

      Monitoring Wells

      		 Aug 2, 2018 - Feb 28, 2019 12 12 10 1 1
      Residential Drinking Wells Aug 2, 2018 - Feb 28, 2019 22 22 19 3 0

      Cumulative

      		 35 35 29 5 1

      *Groundwater results are compared to EGLE Part 201 Criteria of 70 ppt PFOS+PFOA.
      *Residential well results are compared to the USEPA Lifetime Health Advisory level of 70 ppt PFOS+PFOA. 

    • On September 24, 2020, a virtual Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) was held. Progress updates were given by DMVA, DHHS, and EGLE.
    • On October 5, 2020, DHHS finished the first round of drinking water well resampling.
    • On December 1, 2020, a virtual Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) was held. Progress updates were given by the Army National Guard, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
    • On January 28, 2021, a virtual Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) was held. Progress updates were given by the Army National Guard, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
    • On March 26, 2021, a virtual Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) was held. Progress updates were given by the Army National Guard, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
    • On March 29, 2021, DHHS mailed the first round of drinking water well resampling results to well owners.
    • On April 26, 2021, a virtual town hall for Camp Grayling PFAS sites was held. The purpose of this online public meeting is to update the community about the on-going PFAS investigations and drinking water well resampling efforts.
    • On May 11, 2021, The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced that a second round of resampling of residential drinking water wells would begin.
    • June 9, 2021, a Grayling Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) Meeting was held.
    • On August 25, 2021, a Grayling Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) Meeting was held.
    • On August 27, 2021, EGLE sent a Compliance Communication to DMVA regarding wastewater sampling at MATES.
    • On September 9, 2021, MPART hosted a virtual town hall. Updates were presented by Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Department of Military and Veteran Affairs (DMVA), and Army National Guard (ARNG).
    • On November 2, 2021, DMVA provided a response to EGLE’s August 26, 2021, Compliance Communication regarding wastewater sampling at MATES.
    • On November 2, 2021, a Grayling Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) Meeting was held. DMVA/ARNG gave an update on recent wastewater sampling at MATES.
    • On February 1, 2022, a Grayling Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) Meeting was held. DMVA/ARNG gave an update on recent wastewater sampling at MATES. 
    • On May 10, 2022, a Camp Grayling Public Meeting was held at Kirtland Community College. PFAS investigation updates were given by EGLE, ARNG, and DHHS. 
    • On July 13, 2022, a Restoration Advisory Board meeting was held at Grayling Township Hall. 
    • On November 21, 2022, a Camp Grayling RAB meeting was held. Updates on the drinking water sampling efforts around the Grayling area including Lake Margrethe along with an update on surface water and pore water sampling. Updates on the remedial investigation field work at Cantonment, GAAF, and the delay at MATES.
    • On January 17, 2023, a Camp Grayling RAB meeting was held to discuss updates pertaining to the Camp Grayling investigations, including a delay in the MATES Remedial Investigation.
    • On May 16, 2023, a Camp Grayling RAB meeting was held to provide updates on the Camp Grayling investigations. The day included a visit from Office of Secretary of Defense, Environment and Energy Resilience staff, to conduct interviews with regulators and RAB members for the Environmental Cleanup Communication and Outreach Initiative.
    • On August 3, 2023, EGLE provided comment on the ARNG Draft Community Involvement Plan – Camp Grayling, MI.
    • On May 15, 2024, a Town Hall was held to discuss ARNG investigation updates.