Community Information Session · (perfluorooctanoic acid). • PFAS have been widely used around...

Community Information Session RAAF Base Williamtown Stage 2B Environmental Site Assessment and Human Health Risk Assessment

August 2016

We would like to respectfully acknowledge the Worimi, the traditional custodians of the land on which this meeting takes place, and also pay respect to Elders both past and present.

Acknowledgment of country

Session outline:• Background• Overview of Stage 2B Environmental Investigation• Overview of Human Health Risk Assessment• Next steps• Questions

Welcome

Deputy Sectary

Deputy Secretary Steve GrzeskowiakEstate & Infrastructure Group

Department of Defence

RAAF Base Williamtown Stage 2B Environmental Investigation

• Per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS).

• Group of man-made compounds. • Include PFOS (perfluorinated

sulfonate) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid).

• PFAS have been widely used around the world in coatings (including food packaging) and products that resist: heat, oil, stains, grease and water.

• Most people in developed countries are likely to have levels of PFOS and PFOA in their blood.

• Emerging contaminants.

What are PFAS?


Overview of Environmental Investigation


What is an Environmental Site Assessment?

An environmental site assessment includes a study of past and present activities that take place on a parcel of land or site. Using this information, the possibility of contamination on and off the site is assessed in addition to the human and ecological health impacts of that contamination.

Definitions


What is a Human Health Risk Assessment?

A human health risk assessment is the process to estimate the nature and possibility of adverse health effects in humans who may be exposed to chemicals in contaminated environmental media, now or in the future.Human health risk assessment includes 4 basic steps:– Step 1 - Hazard Identification– Step 2 - Dose-Response Assessment – Step 3 - Exposure Assessment– Step 4 - Risk Characterisation

Definitions


• Source: the point or area where contamination has originated from – most often where a chemical was used or stored

• Pathway: the physical path a contaminant takes from the source to the receptor – such as water, food, soil

• Receptor: the community or ecosystem which is exposed to and also susceptible to a contaminant – people, wildlife, livestock, waterways

Definitions


Stage 2B Environmental Investigation (EI)


• Improve understanding of historical use of PFAS

• Understand where PFAS is and how it moves

• Generate data for Human Health Risk Assessment and Ecological Risk Assessment

Review: Accredited Contaminated Sites Auditor, NSW EPA, Expert Panel

Environmental Investigation Overview


Stage 2B EI TestingTesting Sep 2015 – May 2016 Number testedResidential Bore Sampling Program 211 bores,166 rainwater tanks, 1

lake, 2 springs, 24 pools, 31 soilsNew groundwater monitoring wells 116

Groundwater samples 1048Soil samples 620Sediment samples 131Surface water samples 118Terrestrial Biota (animals and plants) 173Other 56Flow gauging stations 16

Hydraulic tests 22


–NSW EPA–Hunter Water–NSW DPI–Base Redevelopment testing

Additional Data Sources

Media Tested Total Analytical Results Considered in EI

Soil 1926

Groundwater 1470

Surface Water 178

Sediment 180

Terrestrial Biota (animals and plants) 230

Aquatic Biota (fish, prawns, oysters and crabs)

1101

Other 261

TOTAL 5346

PFOS Groundwater Extent – 0.2 ug/l



Inferred Groundwater Extent – PFOSUSEPA 2009 (0.2 ug/L)




RAAF Base Williamtown Human Health Risk Assessment

Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA)


• The objective of the HHRA is to assess the possible human health risks

• This includes exposure through soil, groundwater, surface water, sediment, plants, animals, and seafood within the Investigation Area

• HHRA report examines multiple exposure pathways:

• Drinking groundwater • Dietary intakes (via seafood, home grown plant and animal produce)• Unintended swallowing of surface water, groundwater, sediment and soil• Skin contact with impacted soil, groundwater, surface water, sediment • Breathing in dust

HHRA Objectives


The following were analysed for PFAS:• Seafood (fish, prawns, oysters and crabs)• Eggs• Fruit and vegetables• Honey• Pasture grasses

Calculated PFAS concentrations for the following:• Milk• Beef• Eggs• Fruit and vegetables

Plants & animals tested to date


A Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) was produced by a toxicologist– Based on current knowledge at the time, an

estimate of the daily intake of the chemical which is considered to be safe over a lifetime

– The TDI was adopted after analysis of a range of international standards

– The TDI was agreed by the accredited contaminated sites auditor

– The EPA was also consulted• Identified PFAS exposures were compared to this

TDI for representative receptors


Risks from following pathways are low and acceptable:• Inhalation of dust from soil irrigated with groundwater• Incidental or unintentional ingestion and dermal contact with

surface water and groundwater – pools, dams surface water bodies

• Incidental ingestion and dermal contact of soil and sediment in outdoor activities

• Consumption of locally sourced seafood including finfish, prawns, crabs and oysters

Potential risks may result from consumption of:• Groundwater• Large quantities of eggs from backyard chickens that drink PFAS

affected water (for an adult – greater than 8 eggs per week)

HHRA findings – Overall (outside the Southern Area)


Potential risks may result from consumption/exposure of:

• Groundwater

• Incidental or unintentional ingestion of groundwater while showering, bathing, use in pools or sprinkler play

• Eggs from backyard chickens

• Beef grown in Southern Area

• Cows milk produced in the Southern Area

Additional HHRA findings – Southern Area


• The findings of the HHRA determined that any potential increased risk to infants through exposure (ingestion) of breast milk did not increase potential adverse risks over a lifetime

• The HHRA considers this in the context of a child (up to 6 years) and an adult (35 years)

Exposure of Infants to Breast Milk


Investigation Area (excluding Southern Area)

• It is not recommended to drink groundwater, particularly in areas where elevated PFAS concentrations have been detected

• It is not recommended to eat eggs from backyard chickens that drink PFAS affected water

Southern Area • Do not drink groundwater• Do not shower and/or bathe in groundwater• Do not fill pools with groundwater• Do not eat beef grown within the area• Do not drink milk from local dairy cows• Do not eat eggs from chickens that drink PFAS affected

groundwater

Recommended Precautions


HHRA Outcomes• Confirmed the key exposure pathways (groundwater,

beef, eggs, milk)• Identified key areas of contamination risk to human

health (Southern Area)• Identified further work is needed to:

– Refine the extent of the Southern Area– Improve understanding of groundwater

contamination within the investigation area– Improve understanding of potential for PFAS

exposure through eggs, milk and beef– Update the HHRA, as required, based on

changes to the regulatory environment (enHealth Review)

RAAF Base Williamtown – Next Steps

Next steps


• ERA will assess:

– The potential risks of PFAS contamination to ecological receptors which inhabit the Base and surrounding area

– The potential for wider ecosystem impacts as a result of the accumulation of PFAS in terrestrial and aquatic organisms

• ERA includes an ecological survey and uses data from the Environmental Investigation

Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA)


Blood Testing

• The Australian Government has committed to funding a voluntary blood testing program for residents who live within investigation areas

• Defence is working with Government as to how a blood testing program might best be implemented


What's Next –Commitment to Long Term Management– Outflow of Lake Cochran Water Treatment Plant on line by end September

2016 – Options currently being assessed to also treat Lake Cochran stored water– Ongoing remediation and management trials

• Solidification• Stabilisation• Foam Separation • Commencement of groundwater remediation through pilot trials

– Improving the drains carrying water from the base• Completion of the drain functionality assessment • Identification of remediation options

– Ongoing treatment of water from construction sites – Continue to assess international remediation capabilities


What's Next –Commitment to Long Term Management

• Regular review of HHRA in light of any enHealth guidance or new information Annual residential water sampling

• Ongoing environmental monitoring• Ongoing community engagement• Implementation of management solutions such as paying for

HWC connection to town supply • On going liaison with NSW EPA• On going liaison with industry and regulatory professionals

nationally and internationally


• Published on 8 August 2016• Project website:

http://www.defence.gov.au/id/Williamtown/Default.asp• Port Stephens Council• Raymond Terrace Library

How can you receive assistance interpreting the report?• Contact the project team on 1800 011 443 or

[email protected]• Attend community walk-in session• Take home the Stage 2B EI and HHRA Fact Sheets today

Where can you find a copy of the reports?

http://www.defence.gov.au/id/Williamtown/Default.asp

mailto:[email protected]

• Project website - http://www.defence.gov.au/id/Williamtown/Default.asp

• Community walk-in sessions:

Wednesday 10 August 2016 (tomorrow)Salt Ash Community Hall, 1 Michael Drive, Salt Ash 12.30pm – 6.30pm


Further Information

http://www.defence.gov.au/id/Williamtown/Default.asp

Questions

Thank youContact usPhone: 1800 011 443 free call (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm)Email: [email protected]: ww.defence.gov.au/id/williamtown

Mail: RAAF Base Williamtown Stage 2 Environmental InvestigationC/O AECOM Pty LtdPO Box 1307 Fortitude Valley Qld 4006

mailto:[email protected]

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