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Marine Corps Air Station Yuma

Environmental Restoration Program Public Website

The Navy and Marine Corps are requesting permission to sample drinking water obtained from drinking water wells within a sampling area near MCAS Yuma to test for certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS.

 

Property owners and tenants who drink water from a well on a property located within the sampling area may request sampling by calling 888-444-9862 (888-444-YUMA) to schedule a sampling appointment.

If your drinking water is provided by The City of Yuma Water Utilities and not from a well, we do not need to sample your drinking water.

 

Introduction

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of thousands of different chemicals that have been widely used in industrial and consumer products since the 1950s. PFAS are man-made and have been used in many household and industrial products because of their stain- and water-repellent properties. PFAS are now present virtually everywhere in the world. Once these compounds are released, they break down very slowly.

In May 2016, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued lifetime drinking water health advisories of 70 parts per trillion (ppt), individually or combined, for two PFAS: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Health advisories are not enforceable, and are not regulatory levels; rather, they are levels that provide Americans, including sensitive populations, with a margin of protection from a lifetime of exposure.

In June 2016, the Department of the Navy developed a proactive policy to ensure the communities near Navy and Marine Corps installations are not exposed to drinking water with PFOA and/or PFOS because of a known or potential Navy and Marine Corps release of PFAS-containing materials. The Navy and Marine Corps’ first priority with the investigations of past releases is to ensure that concentrations of PFOA or PFOS in drinking water are not above 70 ppt as a result of Navy and Marine Corps PFAS release. The most common activity that could have resulted in the historical release of PFOA, PFOS, and other PFAS to the environment at Navy and Marine Corps installations is the use of firefighting foam (specifically, aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF) for testing, training, firefighting, and other life-saving emergency responses. Because of this historical use, there is potential for PFOA, PFOS, and other PFAS to be in the groundwater on base, and may be present in nearby drinking water wells that are located in the direction that the groundwater flows away from the base.

In January 2023, the Navy released a new military specification for a formulation of AFFF that does not contain PFAS. Until products that meet this new military specification are available, the Navy and Marine Corps will continue to use formulations that contain lower concentrations of PFOA and PFOS than many historical AFFF formulations, and will continue to take steps to prevent or minimize additional release of firefighting foam to the environment.

On March 14, 2023, the EPA proposed a draft regulatory drinking water standard for certain PFAS, including PFOA and PFOS. In response, DoD has issued the following statement: "DoD respects and values the public comment process on this proposed nationwide drinking water rule and looks forward to the clarity that a final regulatory drinking water standard for PFAS will provide. In anticipation of the final standard that EPA expects to publish by the end of 2023, the DoD is assessing what actions DoD can take to be prepared to incorporate EPA’s final regulatory standard into our current cleanup process, such as reviewing our existing data and conducting additional sampling where necessary. In addition, DoD will incorporate nationwide PFAS cleanup guidance, issued by EPA and applicable to all owners and operators under the federal cleanup law, as to when to provide alternate water when PFAS are present.”

Off-Base Drinking Water Sampling at MCAS Yuma (Figure 1)

PFOA and PFOS have been detected in groundwater at MCAS Yuma above 70 ppt. When a known or suspected release of PFAS is identified on a Navy and Marine Corps installation and groundwater is used as drinking water, a sampling area is established 1 mile in the direction that groundwater flows away from a release area. The Navy and Marine Corps offer sampling to all property owners and tenants whose property is within the sampling area, and whose drinking water is sourced from groundwater supplied directly from a drinking water well.

Figure 1: Location Map of MCAS Yuma

At this time, the Navy and Marine Corps are only asking to sample drinking water wells located in the sampling area (Figure 2). Records indicate that some properties within the sampling area (Figure 2) are provided drinking water by the City of Yuma Water Utilities. Property owners and tenants should contact the City of Yuma Water Utilities with any questions regarding treatment and testing of publicly provided drinking water.

Figure 2: Sampling Area

Actions Based on Off-Base Drinking Water Sampling Results

The preliminary results from the off-base drinking water sampling near MCAS Yuma are expected approximately 30 days after collecting the samples. We provide notification to the property owners and tenants of their drinking water results and any follow-up actions, if needed. The Navy and Marine Corps will provide notification to the property owners and tenants of their drinking water results and any follow-up actions, if needed, and will do their best to keep the testing results and property information confidential to the extent permitted by law.

The Navy and Marine Corps will provide bottled water at no charge for drinking and cooking to any property in the sampling area with a drinking water well that contains PFOA and/or PFOS above 70 ppt and does not have an alternate drinking water source available. The Navy and Marine Corps will continue to provide bottled water until a permanent solution is implemented.

2023 Off-Base Drinking Water Sampling Results

In May 2023, the Navy and Marine Corps team initiated the sampling of drinking water from wells within a designated area near MCAS Yuma. Table 1 summarizes the drinking water sampling results to date. We call each property owner and tenant upon receipt of their preliminary results to let them know if their water contains PFOS and/or PFOA above or below 70 ppt. Bottled water is typically provided within 24 hours of the preliminary results being received by the Navy and Marine Corps. Final laboratory results are mailed to each property owner and tenant after all data is verified and final. Out of respect for the privacy of the property owner and tenant, individual results are provided only to each property owner and tenant.

Table 1. MCAS Yuma - Off-Base Drinking Water Results as of June 29, 2023

Year

Number of Wells Sampled

Number of wells with no detections of PFOA or PFOS

Number of wells with detections of PFOA and/or PFOS below 70 ppt

Number of wells with detections of PFOA and/or PFOS above 70 ppt

2023

5

1

4

0

 
Table 2. MCAS Yuma – Off-Base Drinking Water Summary of Detections as of June 29, 2023
Wells PFOA (ppt) PFOS (ppt) PFOA+PFOS (ppt)
1 ND ND ND
2 1.3 J ND 1.3 J
3 0.81 J ND 0.81 J
4 0.93 ND 0.93
5 1.2 J ND 1.2 J
*Where duplicate sample(s) were collected, the highest value is reported
  = No detections of PFOA or PFOS in sample
  = Detections of PFOA and/or PFOS in sample
 

Identification of PFAS Releases at MCAS Yuma

The 2019 Preliminary Assessment (PA) conducted at MCAS Yuma identified 15 on-base areas, where releases of PFAS may have occurred. Following completion of the PA report, two of the 15 on-base areas were combined into one area, meaning a Site Inspection (SI) was initiated for 14 areas.

In June and July 2019, the Navy completed sample collection and analysis of groundwater and soil at these 14 areas in support of the SI and PFOA and PFOS were detected in groundwater on-base. At that time, no off-base drinking water wells were identified within one mile in the direction that groundwater flows away from the potential release areas investigated in the SI. The sampling results showed that additional investigation was needed for 13 out of the 14 areas. In February 2022, sample collection and analysis of groundwater and soil was conducted by the Navy in support of a Remedial Investigation (RI). Release Areas were combined, as follows:

  • Site 7 – Includes CERCLA Area of Concern (CAOC) 7 (Fire School Area), CAOC 14 (drain field south of Building 97), the Building 95 and Building 97 Runoff Area, and Building 490.

  • Site 9 – The Broken Gate Saddle Club Fire (referred to as “Stables”)

  • Site 19 – Includes Operable Unit 1 Area 1, the Air Show Mishap, the Building 144 Runoff Area, Building 146 Runoff Areas, and the Building 227 Runoff Area

  • Site 20 – Includes the 2015 Accident Site, the Air Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) Fire Training Area, and the Hot Spot 1

At MCAS Yuma, PFOA and PFOS were detected in shallow groundwater above 70 ppt. During the RI, PFOA and/or PFOS were detected in groundwater closer to the base boundary, and potential off-base drinking water wells were identified within one mile of these detections. As a result, a sampling area has been established one mile in the direction that groundwater flows away from these detections. The Navy and Marine Corps will continue on-base PFAS investigations and evaluate if actions are needed on base.

MCAS YUMA DRINKING WATER SAMPLING DOCUMENTS

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