Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man made chemicals that are resistant to heat, water, and oil. PFAS was historically used at the airport in fire-fighting foams as was required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). PFAS can get into drinking water when products containing them are used or spilled onto the ground. The purpose of residential well sampling in known PFAS contamination areas is to determine if any wells have been impacted.
PFAS Sites:
Gogebic County Airport
Houghton County Airport
Keweenaw County – Copper Harbor Landfill
https://www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse/
For questions about the investigation or for a copy of the presentation materials, contact Amber Kauppila regarding the Gogebic County Airport site at KauppilaA1@Michigan.gov or (517) 869-2425, Ashley Miller regarding the Houghton County Airport site at MillerA65@Michigan.gov or (906) 235-7435, and James Staley regarding the Copper Harbor Landfill site at StaleyJ1@Michigan.gov or (231)429-1945. For questions related to PFAS and health, contact Rosa Jaiman, MDHHS, at JaimanR@michigan.gov, or call 517-331-1049 or 800-648-6942 and ask for Rosa Jaiman.