November 2018 RAAF Base Pearce – Ecological Risk Assessment Findings PFAS Investigation and Management Program About the Investigation In April 2016 Defence commenced a detailed environmental investigation to identify the nature and extent of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on, and in the vicinity of RAAF Base Pearce as a result of the historical use of legacy firefighting foams at the Base. The environmental investigation has involved a Preliminary Site Investigation, Detailed Site Investigation, Human Health Risk Assessment and has now concluded with the completion of the Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA). Ecological Risk Assessment The aim of the ERA was to better understand the potential PFAS exposure risks to plants and animals within the Investigation Area. The ERA involved a detailed scientific process to analyse the results of sampling conducted during the Preliminary Site Investigation and Detailed Site Investigation. This assessment included identifying sensitive ecological receptors (such as birds, reptiles and mammals) located within three assessment areas. The areas were locations where PFAS concentrations exceeded the ecology based assessment guidelines in soil and/or water and lower order animals (fish, crustaceans and invertebrates) presented in the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP 2018). These areas were the: Fire training area on the Base (Source Area A); Former fire training area on the Base (Source Area B); and Within Ki-it Monger and Ellen Brooks. The ERA Report is currently being finalised and is expected to be released by the end of November 2018. Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) May 2016 - Sept 2016 Community Water Use Survey June-Aug 2016 Community Walk-in Sessions Sept 2016; Dec 2016, May 2017, Nov 2017 Community Shopfronts 23-24 Feb 2018 Detailed Site Investigation (DSI) Oct 2016 - July 2018 Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) April 2018 – July 2018 DSI and HHRA Community Walk-in Session 24-28 July 2018 Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) July 2018 -Nov 2018 Community Kiosk 15 Nov2018 PFAS Management Area Plan (PMAP) Oct 2018 to Dec 2018 *Dates may be subject to rescheduling WE ARE HERE
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RAAF Base Pearce Ecological Risk Assessment Findings...Where PFAS was detected in the lower order consumers (fish, invertebrates and crustaceans), the detections were below guidelines,
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November 2018
RAAF Base Pearce – Ecological Risk Assessment Findings PFAS Investigation and Management Program
About the Investigation
In April 2016 Defence commenced a detailed
environmental investigation to identify the nature and
extent of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS) on, and in the vicinity of RAAF Base Pearce
as a result of the historical use of legacy firefighting
foams at the Base.
The environmental investigation has involved a
Preliminary Site Investigation, Detailed Site
Investigation, Human Health Risk Assessment and
has now concluded with the completion of the
Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA).
Ecological Risk Assessment
The aim of the ERA was to better understand the
potential PFAS exposure risks to plants and animals
within the Investigation Area.
The ERA involved a detailed scientific process to
analyse the results of sampling conducted during the
Preliminary Site Investigation and Detailed Site
Investigation. This assessment included identifying
sensitive ecological receptors (such as birds, reptiles
and mammals) located within three assessment
areas. The areas were locations where PFAS
concentrations exceeded the ecology based
assessment guidelines in soil and/or water and lower
order animals (fish, crustaceans and invertebrates)
presented in the PFAS National Environmental
Management Plan (NEMP 2018).
These areas were the:
Fire training area on the Base
(Source Area A);
Former fire training area on the Base
(Source Area B); and
Within Ki-it Monger and Ellen Brooks.
The ERA Report is currently being finalised and is
expected to be released by the end of November
2018.
Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) May 2016 - Sept 2016
Community Water Use Survey June-Aug 2016
Community Walk-in Sessions Sept 2016; Dec 2016, May 2017, Nov 2017
Community Shopfronts 23-24 Feb 2018
Detailed Site Investigation (DSI) Oct 2016 - July 2018
Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) April 2018 – July 2018
DSI and HHRA Community Walk-in Session 24-28 July 2018
Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) July 2018 -Nov 2018
Community Kiosk 15 Nov2018
PFAS Management Area Plan (PMAP) Oct 2018 to Dec 2018
*Dates may be subject to rescheduling
WE ARE
HERE
November 2018
RAAF Base Pearce – Ecological Risk Assessment Findings PFAS Investigation and Management Program
Summary of the ERA findings
Table 1 (right) summarises the exposure risks posed to birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals (the
higher order species). The species assessed are representative of the various plants and animals
within the Investigation Area. The summary considered the levels of PFAS recorded, the way PFAS
affects the species and the ways the species are exposed to PFAS.
None of the species with elevated exposure risks are threatened or endangered and the assessment
suggests that exposure risks are low and acceptable given their widespread population.
Where PFAS was detected in the lower order consumers (fish, invertebrates and crustaceans), the detections were below guidelines, suggesting a low and acceptable risk of PFAS exposure.
Figure 1: Ecological Risk Assessment Conceptual Site Model
Table 1: Ecological Risk Assessment: Higher order consumers: Characterising the risks
Source Area A:
Fire training Area
Source Area B: Former Fire Training Area
Ellen and Ki-it Monger Brooks
Birds
Pacific Black Duck Yellow-rumped Thornbill
Straw-necked Ibis
Australian Magpie Willie Wagtail Australian White Ibis
Banded Lapwing Weebill Pacific Black Duck
Willie Wagtail Grey Fantail Wood Duck
Singing Honeyeater Tree Martin Great Egret
Horsefield's Bronze Cuckoo
White-faced Heron
Mudlark
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Black-shouldered Kite
Australian Magpie
Nankeen Kestrel
Western Wattlebird
Brown Honeyeater
Galah
Reptiles and amphibians
Clicking Frog Dugite Oblong turtle
Common Dwarf Skink Western Swamp Tortoise
Shingleback Dugite
Clicking Frog Black-headed Monitor
Squelching Frog
Mammals
House Mouse Fox Fox
Chuditch (male) Rabbit Horse
Chuditch (female) Western Grey Kangaroo
Cattle
Southern Brown Bandicoot
Chuditch (male)
German Shepard (police dog)
Chuditch (female)
Chuditch (male)
Chuditch (female)
Green shading –The PFAS risk to
these species is considered low and
acceptable.
Yellow shading – There may be
some potential PFAS risk of
exposure but it is difficult to
measure. Any management actions
implemented, would reduce risk of
exposure over time.
Orange shading –There is an
elevated exposure risk for these
species. Management actions may be
required to reduce exposure.
November 2018
RAAF Base Pearce – Ecological Risk Assessment Findings PFAS Investigation and Management Program
Next steps – potential management actions
While the exposure risks to broader species are
considered to be low, the level of risk to the local
populations residing in Source Areas A and B could
be reduced through measures such as remediating
impacted soils and sediments to reduce exposure to
PFAS. This would also help to reduce surface water
impact to Ellen and Ki-it Monger Brooks as a result of
run-off and in turn reducing the level of exposure to
the species that inhabit the Brooks. Periodic
monitoring of PFAS in surface water concentrations in
Ellen and Ki-it Monger Brook will also be undertaken
as part of the Ongoing Monitoring Program for the
Site.
Management and remediation options for PFAS will
be informed by the findings of the environmental
investigation.
Keeping the community informed
Defence will continue to keep the community informed
on the outcomes of further sampling and the
implementation of management plans. Updates will be
provided through the project website, newsletters and