Background

Camp Grayling in Crawford County, Michigan is a large year-round military training center operated by the Michigan National Guard (MIARNG). The MIARNG has been remediating localized chlorinated solvent impacts to site groundwater on the Grayling Army Airfield (GAAF), resulting from historical operations at the facility, since the 1990’s. In 2016, the MIARNG became aware of the potential for PFAS contamination resulting from historical operations and began testing on-site groundwater. At GAAF, PFAS was found commingled with the previously identified chlorinated solvent plume that was migrating towards the property boundary. In a proactive effort to evaluate possible components of an integrated solution, MIARNG decided to test an in situ reactive barrier application of colloidal activated carbon as a way of controlling further migration of PFAS impacted groundwater.

Colloidal activated carbon was selected because of the expected rapid reductions of PFAS by removal from the dissolved mobile phase. Colloidal activated carbon effectively increases the retardation factor of PFAS migration contaminants by multiple orders of magnitude and eliminates the exposure to down-gradient receptors. In addition, colloidal activated carbon was selected due to its expected lower total project costs when compared to operating a mechanical system over a similar time.

The cleanup of PFAS contaminated groundwater is particularly challenging because this group of chemicals is extremely stable and have only recently become a major environmental concern, which means that very few clean up alternatives are available. While investigating possible remedial options for PFAS groundwater contamination, the MIARNG became aware of a new approach to eliminate risk using REGENESIS PlumeStop®, a liquid-based activated carbon formulation that is used in situ. This innovative technology has been proven at other sites where PFAS contaminants have been found and quickly and effectively eliminates the risk of PFAS compounds for decades.

The MIARNG decided to conduct a PlumeStop pilot test to determine if this treatment would meet their site goals prior to a possible full-scale application. The goals for this pilot project were to utilize an approach that could both protect the Grayling community from exposure and cost-effectively expand to a full-scale application. The success of this project may also serve as a test-case for other military sites where PFAS may be present.

Michigan Army National Guard
Employs PlumeStop Barrier at
Grayling Army Airfield