Complex PFAS Sampling at Two Industrial Sites
Thursday, June 20, 2019: 10:35 a.m.
Jack Sheldon
,
Antea Group, West Dess Moines, IA
Caron Koll, , LSP-MA, PG-NH, PG-PA, CPG
,
Antea Group, Syracuse, NY
Background. Two industrial facilities in the Northeast and Midwest were the sites of unique risk determinations for per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through complex sampling programs. The Northeast site was an asphalt batching plant where suppression of a petroleum tanker fire was accomplished through the application of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF). The Midwest site was a chemical manufacturing facility using fluorosurfactants to formulate demisting products for the chrome plating industry. In both cases, site owners were concerned of potential PFAS impacts from their site to drinking water or public stormwater treatment.
Approach. At the Northeast site, understanding distribution of the AFFF and the risks associated with it both on-site and in an adjacent river were critical to developing the conceptual site model and mitigation plan. A “rinse-based” sampling program was established to sample site infrastructure and pointed to specific sources of PFAS that were leaching to stormwater and discharging to the river.
At the Midwest site, legacy use of exempted long chain PFAS-containing raw materials and more recent transition to short chain PFAS-containing raw materials sparked a sampling program focused on raw material and wastewater. Discharge to a public wastewater treatment plant was of chief concern.
Results/Lessons Learned. Details of the sampling programs will be described and the challenges of sampling under complex scenarios will be discussed. Careful review of sampling procedures and regular communication with the analytical laboratories is essential to achieving accurate results. These are key lessons learned from the projects. The analytical results for each site will be presented and put in context to the site scenarios. For the Northeast site, options considered and the strategic approach taken to remedy the PFAS issue will be detailed leading to a No Further Action (NFA) declaration. PFAS mitigation steps for the Midwest facility will also be described.
Jack Sheldon, Antea Group, West Dess Moines, IA
Jack Sheldon is a Senior Remediation Specialist with Antea Group located in West Des Moines, Iowa. He has over 36 years of experience in the fields of environmental microbiology and remediation. Jack has a BS in Bacteriology & Public Health and an MS in Environmental/Industrial Microbiology from Wagner College in Staten Island, NY. In his current role, he advises on remediation technology selection, performance, and optimization across the US and abroad. His key technology areas are bioremediation and chemical oxidation. Jack has authored numerous papers and posters, and co-authored two best-selling books on bioremediation.
Caron Koll, , LSP-MA, PG-NH, PG-PA, CPG, Antea Group, Syracuse, NY
Over the span of 34 years, Caron has developed focused environmental response actions, and managed hundreds of environmental investigations and remedial projects in the Northeast and Midwest United States, and South America. She has experience serving a wide spectrum of industrial clients including: chemical manufacturing, oil and gas, energy, automotive, transportation, and general manufacturing. Contingent on client needs and regulatory drivers, she is an account leader and manages, directs, and oversees the development and implementation of environmental remedial investigations including conceptual site models, feasibility studies, permitting, remedy design, remedy implementation, and remedy operations through to post closure.
