Grantee Research Project Results
2024 Progress Report: Alaska PFAS Remediation Facility Feasibility Study
EPA Grant Number: EM84053201Title: Alaska PFAS Remediation Facility Feasibility Study
Investigators: Barnes, David L , Dev, Subhabrata
Institution: University of Alaska - Fairbanks
EPA Project Officer: Ludwig-Monty, Sarah
Project Period: October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2025 (Extended to September 30, 2026)
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 2023 through September 30,2024
Project Amount: $2,000,000
RFA: Congressionally Directed Spending (2022)
Research Category: PFAS Detection , Watersheds , Endocrine Disruptors , Environmental Justice , Drinking Water , Human Health , Water , Land and Waste Management
Objective:
As of 14-August-2023, there are 465 known sites contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Alaska (ADEC 2023). Many of these sites are in urban locations or on military bases. However, a number are in remote locations that have limited power supply and are accessible only by air, barge, or ship. These conditions present constraints on how responsible parties and regulators address PFAS contamination at these sites. Beyond excavating and barging contaminated soil to the nearest disposal facility (Arlington, Oregon) at great expense, the options for treating PFAS contaminated soils are limited due to the recalcitrant nature of PFAS. Moreover, the effectiveness of available treatment methods, such as immobilization of PFAS in contaminated soils, in Alaska’s unique environment are largely unknown. Complicating the impact of PFAS contamination in Alaska is the lack of analytical capability in Alaska to measure PFAS compounds in contaminated soil and water. The near absence of laboratory testing capability necessitates shipping samples to testing laboratories in the contiguous United States, which can be costly and logistically challenging. The State of Alaska has identified a great need for a comprehensive strategy to address the PFAS contaminated sites and for the analytical capability to measure PFAS compounds in soil and water, both for sample testing and for furthering our understanding of the mobility and treatability of these compounds in Alaska’s extreme environment. The three objectives of this project are: (1) Evaluate effective PFAS contaminated soil and groundwater treatment options for use in Alaska, (2) Work with state agencies to develop a strategy for treating PFAS contaminated soil, surface water, and groundwater in urban and remote areas in Alaska, and (3) Establish a laboratory at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in the Water and Environmental Research Center for analysis of PFAS compounds in water and soil.
Progress Summary:
Work towards Objective 1 includes the design of an Alaska PFAS contaminated sites database and the ongoing entry of data into this database. The completed database will be a critical source of information as we evaluate di erent possible remedial strategies for Alaska’s PFAS contaminated sites. Under Objective 1 progress has also been made on a literature review of possible PFAS contaminated soils and groundwater treatment methods that are applicable for cold regions. An additional task under Objective 1 includes testing PFAS immobilization agents used to slow or halt the migration of PFAS compounds in contaminated soil under soil freezing and thawing conditions. The hypothesis for this investigation is as follows: The amount of PFAS mass retained by PFAS immobilization soil amendments does not decrease when contaminated soil undergoes cyclic soil freezing and thawing. Progress on this task includes completion of two freezing and thawing cycles as well as leaching tests to determine if PFAS was remobilized during freezing and thawing conditions. Conclusions on the performance of soil sorbents to reduce or eliminate the migration of PFAS in freezing and thawing soils are pending and will be completed following sample analysis and interpretation of results.
Leaching tests for the evaluation of sorbents in freezing and thawing conditions were conducted following U.S. EPA Method 1314, Liquid-Solid Partitioning as a Function of Liquid-Solid Ratio for Constituents in Solid Phase Materials Using Up-Flow Percolation Column Procedure. Method 1314 was originally developed to evaluate the leachability of inorganic constituents from solid material. The leach testing conducted in this research is a good evaluation of the applicability of this leaching test method for organic contaminants, such as PFAS, in soils. Partial results indicate that the mass of PFAS released as measured by Method 1314 is repeatable over several replicates. This result suggests that Method 1314 may be a valid method for measuring the leachability of PFAS from contaminated soil. Evaluation of the use of Method 1314 for measuring PFAS leachability will continue as more results become available. Additional evaluation of the method applied to PFAS will include a complete analysis of the repeatability of the test to determine mass released across replicates as well as mass balances on each replicate.
Progress on the tasks associated with Objective 2 includes a modification of the approach to evaluating the di erent options for addressing Alaska’s PFAS contamination. Investigators are now working on a complete evaluation of di erent remedial strategies that are applicable to the di erent regions in Alaska independent from state agencies. This evaluation is being conducted without the state’s assistance through a working group as originally planned. The evaluation of the different remedial strategies is ongoing and will provide an independent assessment of the PFAS treatment options available to the state.
Future Activities:
The evaluation of soil sorbents to decrease the mobility of PFAS in freezing and thawing soils will be completed during the next reporting period. An associated evaluation of the use of EPA Method 1314 for measuring PFAS leaching from contaminated soils will also be completed. Publications will be written on each of these tasks. Progress on evaluating PFAS contaminated site remediation options in Alaska continues.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this projectProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.