Alpena PFAS Updates:

December 15, 2021- Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center to Host PFAS Investigation Community Meeting
The Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) will update Alpena residents on the continuing investigation of PFAS contamination near the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) on December 15, 2021 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.  For full announcement click here

January 3, 2020 — EGLE to hold January public hearings on proposed PFAS in drinking water rules

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division (DWEHD), will this week hold the first of three public hearings to receive public comments on proposed rules to establish maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for seven per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds in drinking water.

The proposed rules will amend the current rules to provide provisions that reduce exposure to seven PFAS compounds in drinking water. The provisions include establishment of drinking water standards, sampling requirements, public notification requirements and laboratory certification criteria.

The first public hearing will be held on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., at Grand Valley State University, 301 Fulton Street W., Grand Rapids, Mich., in the LV Eberhard Center, Room EC 215. This hearing will also be livestreamed.

• Sign up for the livestream.

Additional public hearings are scheduled for Tuesday, January 14, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., at Washtenaw Community College, Morris Lawrence Building, 4800 E. Huron River Dr., Ann Arbor, Mich., in ML Towsley Auditorium, and on Thursday, January 16, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Ralph A. Macmullan (RAM) Conference Center, 104 Conservation Dr., Roscommon, Mich., in the Au Sable Room.

• These hearings will not be livestreamed.

In October 2019, on the recommendation of the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART), EGLE provided draft rules to Governor Whitmer to establish maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for seven PFAS compounds. Approximately 2,700 water supplies in Michigan will be covered under the new rule. In November 2019, the Michigan Environmental Rules Review Committee voted to move forward with formal rulemaking. The official public comment period opened in December 2019.

A copy of the draft rules, regulatory impact statement and cost benefit analysis, as well as other updated documents and information related to the rulemaking process, can be found on the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Administrative Rulemaking System web page.

Any interested person is invited to attend the public meetings and present their views. It is requested that all statements be submitted in writing for the hearing record. Anyone unable to attend may submit comments in writing by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2020, to the postal address below or by e-mail to EGLE-PFAS-RuleMaking@Michigan.gov. Copies of the draft rules may also be obtained by mail or electronic transmission by submitting a request to the following address: EGLE, DWEHD, Attention: Suzann Ruch; P.O. Box 30817; Lansing, Michigan 48909-8311; Phone: 517-284-6544.

For more information, contact EGLE at EGLE-PFAS-RuleMaking@Michigan.gov

November 19, 2019- The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) will be retesting residential drinking water wells near the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The repeat testing will help MDHHS determine if there are changes to levels of PFAS in residents’ drinking water.  see news release

The Environmental Rules Review Committee (ERRC) will meet to consider the draft PFAS MCL rules.

Date:          Thursday, October 31

Time:          1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Location:    Constitution Hall – Lee Walker Conference Room (Atrium North)

525 West Allegan, Lansing

There will be a presentation on the Draft Supplying Water to the Public Rules (2019-35 EG) and an opportunity for Public Comment.   It will also be posted on the ERRC webpage.  Please feel free to visit the ERRC webpage for more information.

PLEASE NOTE: On August 3, 2018, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) notified District Health Department No. 4  (DHD4) that the NSF Certified AquaSana water filtration system is the only alternate water option available to residents at this time.  For residents that have an in-home water cooler, once the initial allotment of funds has depleted, the homeowner can next choose to have an in home filtration system installed.

Residents who are concerned about PFAS who are not in designated testing areas can now have their well water tested themselves.  Michigan PFAS Action Response Team has provided a PFAS Sampling Guidance on the Michigan PFAS Response webpage. The Guidance includes costs for analysis, phone numbers for the labs and other pertinent information. The residential information is under the Residential Guidance Documents header. Click here for the guidance https://www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse/0,9038,7-365-86510_87154-469832–,00.html

October 11, 2019- Michigan moves forward on drinking water standards for PFAS    

August 20, 2019– District Health Department No. 4 Board of Health approved a resolution recognizing that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, have created a public health crisis, supporting the continuation of the state’s coordinated response to address ongoing site investigations and proactively lead the state in dealing with PFAS, and recognizing that resources must be provided locally to residents and veterans to address their PFAS concerns. see resolution

April 1, 2019–The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has begun a statewide initiative to test drinking water from all schools that use well water and community water supplies for PFAS. MDEQ is taking this precautionary step of testing these drinking water sources to determine if public health actions are needed. Information on this page summarizes current sampling results from these locations.  Access page HERE

March 26, 2019 – Gov. Whitmer Directs MDEQ To File a Request for Rule making to Establish PFAS Drinking Water Standards.

January 19, 2018 – Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Alpena County.  PFC Detection in Monitoring Wells.  As of January 18, 2018:

89 private wells have been tested for PFOA/PFAS
80 results are in
29 are non-detects
24 – PFOA & PFOS detected (0.56 -15.6 ppt)
0 – Samples above MDEQ Criteria – PFOA+PFOS 70 ppt
51 – Any PFAS Detected (0.51 – 52.1 ppt)

People whose well tests detected compounds can contact District Health Department No. 4 who will help coordinate getting a faucet filter for the home or water delivery from Culligan.

January 11, 2018 –  Area residents are invited to attend a town hall meeting, Thursday, January 18, 2018, concerning the Alpena CRTC recent drinking water well testing. Multiple agencies will be on hand to present the latest information and answer any questions. The town hall meeting will be held at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center: Collins Center, 5884 A Street in Alpena.  There will be an informational open house beginning at 4:30 p.m. with the town hall program beginning at 6:00.

January 11, 2018 – Michigan environmental regulators have adopted a state criteria standard for emerging chemical contaminants that are being found in drinking water, a move they say will let them take regulatory enforcement actions against responsible parties. The Combined criteria for perfluorooctanic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid is 70 parts per trillion.  That mirrors a federal advisory level set in 2016.   Department of Environmental Quality Director Heidi Grether said having a stat standard enables the state to issue violation notices and take legal action against parties who do not comply with cleaning up contaminated sites.  Read more about the state criteria standard.

The chemicals were long used in firefighting, waterproofing, carpeting and other products.  They have been identified at 28 sites in 14 Michigan communities, including the combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena and the former Wurtsmith Air Force base.

Governor’s Directive Creates The PFAS Action Response Team