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Ford Airport-Iron Mountain (Kingsford, Dickinson County)

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

EGLE site lead

Andrew Reed, ReedA20@Michigan.gov or 906-250-7532

Background

Ford Airport-Iron Mountain is located at 400 Riverhills Road. Based on historical use of AFFF on the airport property, the airport received a grant in the fall of 2020 to conduct a PFAS investigation. Sampling at the airport confirmed PFAS exceeded groundwater cleanup criteria at two locations: a former training area and where a plane crashed in 1980.  Follow-up investigation activities are being planned in 2022 to determine the nature and extent of the contamination.

The Menominee River, and Cowboy Lake are the major downgradient water bodies in the area. During the 2021 investigation, surface water samples were collected from both water bodies for PFAS testing and the results were non-detect for PFAS.

Content posted June 2022.

Site map

See an aerial view of the location of the site.

Expand the map

Drinking water

Nineteen private drinking water wells were identified in the area immediately adjacent to the airport in the presumed direction of groundwater flow. Eleven of the residents elected to have their wells sampled for PFAS. Seven well were non-detect for PFAS and four of the samples had detections of PFAS below criteria.

Anticipated activities

The airport will implement their Phase II workplan for additional investigative activities in the summer of 2022. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will resample private residential wells in the area immediately west and southwest to the airport.

Historical timeline

    • On June 22 & August 14, 2021, EGLE’s contractor, AECOM sampled a total of eleven private residential wells in the area immediately adjacent to the airport in the presumed direction of groundwater flow.
    • On June 22, 2021, EGLE’s contractor, AECOM sampled two surface water bodies in the presumed direction of groundwater flow (e.g., Menominee River and Cowboy Lake).
    • November 2021, the airport’s contractor, Prein & Newhof drilled eight soil borings on the airport property. Soil and groundwater samples were collected from each of the boring locations. The highest results were 40.3 ppt PFOA, 17.6 ppt PFOS, 8,390 ppt PFBS, and 9,140 ppt PFHxS.

    Sampling Results Summary

    Type of Sample

    Date Sampled
    (or range)

    Number of Sample
    Results Received

    Number of Samples
    above Criteria*

    Groundwater
    Monitoring Wells

    November 9 - 14, 2021

    8

    4

    Residential Wells

    June 22, 2021 and August 11, 2021

    11

    0

    Surface Water

    June 22, 2021

    2

    0

    * Residential well and groundwater monitoring well results are compared to EGLE Part 201 criteria for 7 PFAS compounds effective 12/21/2020:  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 samples are compared to Rule 57 non-drinking water values of 12 ppt for PFOS and 12,000 ppt for PFOA.

    Sampling Notes

    • None at this time.