Client: USACE Alaska
Location: Fort Yukon, Alaska
Scope of Work:
- Design
- Construction
- Operations & maintenance
- PFAS remediation
Brice is conducting a response action at the former Fire Training Area (FTA) at Fort Yukon (FYU) Long Range Radar Site (LRRS) in accordance with the U.S. EPA document Guidance for Performing Preliminary Assessments Under CERCLA. The Preliminary Assessment (PA) evaluated the potential of an environmental release of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) at the FYU LRRS, specifically those AFFF containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Based on historic USAF fire training practices, it was possible that AFFF use released PFAS into the soil and groundwater. Possible PFAS release mechanisms included spills, leaks, and direct discharges of AFFF during fire training exercises.
Specifically, our scope of work included: a PA for PFAS impacts associated with the historic onsite storage and/or usage of AFFF; a Site Inspection (SI) for PFAS impacts where spills/releases occurred or potentially occurred to evaluate for the presence or absence of selected PFAS constituents; complete an Action Memorandum in accordance with CERCLA; design, install, test, startup, and operation & maintenance of a Point of Entry Treatment (POET) filtration system.
Brice performed the design of a POET system for treatment of detected PFAS in the drinking water source well including a water softening unit to address a water hardness issue to protect the drinking water transfer pipes from scaling. The system includes a submersible pump, bag filters, pre-treatment vessels, PFAS removal vessels, and cartridge filters. The goal of the POET is to achieve the EPA Lifetime Health Advisory Level of 70 nanograms per liter (ng/L) for the combined total of PFOA and PFOS. The POET was designed to treat PFAS in the raw water derived from an on-site supply well. The POET provides treated water to a 75,000-gallon storage tank which supplies water for drinking, domestic uses (e.g., cooking, showering and laundry), and industrial uses (e.g., fire protection). The facility can house up to 23 people. The POET system was designed to meet the needs of the entire installation.
Brice constructed the POET System over the course of two weeks including installation of a new pump and treatment vessels, plumbing, water circulation, pumps and metering, testing, and staff training. Brice performs O&M of the system including weekly visits, monthly sampling, and routine and corrective maintenance and developed an O&M manual to provide the information to operate the POET system and maintain the system’s ability to ensure drinking water quality water is supplied to FYU LRRS.
