ALPENA, MI — Unsafe levels of toxic chemicals from old firefighting foam use have contaminated the groundwater at the Michigan Air National Guard base in Alpena County.
According to local public health officials, the concentration of two PFAS compounds reached about 80,000 parts-per-trillion at one location, which is about 1,140 times higher than a federal health advisory level for those chemicals in drinking water.
Other installations with known PFAS problems include Camp Grayling, the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda and former K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base near Marquette.
2, which serves both the Alpena and Oscoda areas.
Brown said residents near the base should expect to be visited by state and local officials very soon.
Once drinking water wells in the area have been sampled, state toxicologists will decide whether a public health advisory needs to be issued, she said.
The concern areas included two fire training sites, two fire engine nozzle testing areas and the location of a 1977 F-100 Super Sabre crash at the base’s north end.
Bryan praised the National Guard for acting more cooperatively with state and local officials than she’s experienced with the Air Force.
PFAS at K.I.