b'Airport officials felt it was important to test for PFAS and share 54 MVY ENVIRONMENTALresults with the island community.PHOTO: MVYtraining exercises, and also downstream from where initialMyrick reports that Tetra Tech is currently performing a study mapping revealed groundwater flows. Installation occurred fromthat will include further review of expanded use of PlumeStop November to December 2022.and other remedial technologies for implementation. Results are The groundwater remediation method MVY and its teamexpected this November.chose has been used at hundreds of sites worldwide since itBeyond the science and logistics, MVY must also consider was introduced in 2014. Among them are seven other airportscost implications. and several Department of Defense facilities, including FairbanksAs Freeman points out, the federal government is not providing International Airport (FAI), Grayling Army Airfield and two airportsassistance to airports to help with the situation. This money in the United Kingdom.is coming out of our operating budget, he notes. That can beDooley, who was part of the on-site team at MVY, reports thatdaunting for smaller, seasonal airports such as MVY. Last year, there were no significant surprises at the small Massachusettsit logged about 42,200 flight operations served roughly 69,000 airport. The treatment zone was relatively shallowless than 40passengers. Since 2017, it has spent $300,000 to $400,000 per feet deepand predominantly sandy, allowing the injections toyear for PFAS testing and monitoring alone.proceed smoothly, she explains. Even so, working at MarthasAdditionally, keeping up with recent and impending changes Vineyard in late fall and early winter presented challenges,to firefighting procedures and products is no easy matter. Local notably extra coordination and communication to mobilizefire departments can shift to new, more environmentally friendly and demobilize the materials, equipment and personnel to thefirefighting substances more quickly than airports, which are island, and performing the application during a cold, wet week insubject to more guidance and regulatory requirements of the December, says Dooley.FAA, Freeman explains. Despite the added challenges, initial results seem encouraging.Despite the financial and regulatory obstacles, Were Myrick reports that regulated PFAS in the immediate area of thecommitted to dealing with a problem that has originated at the new carbon barrier were quickly reduced to less than detectableairport, he emphasizes. levels. At a location 25 feet downgradient of the barrier, regulated PFAS were reduced by approximately 80% after about threeSuch complexities are everyday realities for airports large and months (by mid-March 2023). And the reduction percentage issmall. Even with an airport the size of ours, were very much our expected to increase over time as treated groundwater continuesown microcosm of a town, says Freeman, We have our own to migrate beyond the barrier to downgradient areas, adds Myrick.wastewater facility, our own water department, a business park; so theres a lot of moving parts. Its not just airplanes coming in Moving Forward and taking off.Naturally, there will be continued quarterly monitoring of theAs a result, airports face a diverse range of challengesgroundwater in 2023 with annual or more frequent monitoringincluding emergent issues like PFAS remediationthat affect expected thereafter. Beyond that, the precise path forwardtheir neighbors. is pending given that federal and Massachusetts regulationsOn that point, Freeman is crystal clear: We take that responsibility governing PFAS standards, testing, treatment and remediation arevery seriously. We are part of this community. still evolving. Airport officials have not determined whether a full-scale carbon barrier project will occur at MVY, nor has a timetable been set for such a decision. July | August 2023AirportImprovement.com'