PFAS Testing Results at Selected Landfills and WWTFs and Overview of State-Wide Background Study. John Schmeltzer VT DEC.

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1 PFAS Testing Results at Selected Landfills and WWTFs and Overview of State-Wide Background Study John Schmeltzer VT DEC June 6, 2018

2 Started in Bennington-2016 Water Supply Wells-nd to over 2500 ppt Bennington Landfill Leachate Vault-over 5,000 ppt PFOA WWTF-over 350 ppt influent WWTF-6 to 8 ppb pressed Sludge samples Elevated PFOA in Septic sludge

3 What are PFOA concentrations in leachate and influent/effluent at other Facilities? Fall-Winter 2017 Developed Scope for State-Wide Sampling at these facilities Selected five landfills Selected six WWTF (those that received leachate from landfills Analytical Methods-Currently not consensus and Evolving MLA 110-DOD approved method (primary) Modified EPA 537Results from WWTP influent 350 Samples collected in Winter 2018 Report May 3, 2018

4 PFAS results from analysis of WWTP Influent and Effluent by MLA 110 (January 2018) ALL PFAS results are in ppt (ng/l) range Maximum effluent PFOA/PFOS values (Facility E), maximum influent values (Facility F) Average PFOA and PFOS for all 6 facility effluent and influent samples in last two columns [Bolded values indicate result above detection level]

5 PFAS results from analysis of WWTP Influent and Effluent [Bolded values indicate result above detection level] Six (6) WWTFs that receive landfill leachate Grab samples collected from INFLUENT, EFFLUENT, RESIDUALS Analyzed by MLA 110 and EPA modified 537 and SPLP (sludge) ALL results are in ppt (ng/l) range * RPD calculated as means of comparing methods. * RPD improves dramatically when method yields results above the method detection limit!!

6 PFAS results from analysis of WWTP Residuals by MLA 110 MLA 110 method produced the best results (lowest RL/DL) compared to modified EPA 537 for solids All PFAS detections for sludge in the low ppb range from < 1 to 14 ug/kg

7 PFAS results from analysis of WWTP Residuals by MLA 110 and EPA 537 and SPLP Method comparison note high detection limits for EPA 537 [Bolded values indicate result above detection level]

8 SPLP Results SPLP = synthetic precipitation leaching Procedure (how much PFAS leaches from sludge exposed to slightly acid rainfall) Results Max = 22.7 ppt PFOS Avg = 13 ppt PFOS Max/avg = 5 ppt PFOA

9 PFAS results from analysis of Landfill Leachate (March 2018)

10 TOP ASSAY-One WWTF and One Landfill WWTF Effluent No Precursors due to oxidation but high reporting limits Landfill Leachate several PFCs (5-12 carbon chains) increased

11 PFAS Results from Bennington WWTF Media PFOA 2016 PFOA 2018 Influent 350 ppt 39.7 ppt Effluent ND - 69 ND 430 SPLP ppt 62.6 Sludge ppb 9.1 ppb

12 Summary of State-Wide Study Results PFOA concentrations found in Leachate and at WWTF PFOA concentrations in Leachate below Recommended Guidelines-requiring no restrictions prior to discharging to a WWTF Modified 537 more sensitive to matrix interference than MLA 110 TOP ASSAY a tool to identify the character of the mixture present and potential future problem with PFAS

13 What s Next? VT DEC reviewing the results and conferring with other States, EPA, Regional and National Organizations Work in Progress Stay Tuned

14 Acknowledgements Eamon Twohig Residuals Management and Emerging Contaminants Program Weston and Sampson-Steve LaRosa and Steve Shaw

15 Overview State-Wide Background Study Why do we need one? Many argue it is everywhere-it is in the blood of Polar Bears Background Samples Results collected at part of area-wide Site Investigation in Bennington had higher than expected levels of PFCs in soils. An argument is being made that PFCs in soils, particularly the eastern side, reflect a regional background. We don t believe it. Winter 2018 VT DEC requested Grant Proposals University of Vermont Awarded Grant

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18 Study Approach Grantee to obtain soil samples from around Vermont to be analyzed for poly and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Starting point-select locations (state property, municipal parks, etc.) used in recent VT Background Study for lead, arsenic and PAHs Screen out locations that may be located near and known and suspected source of PFAS

19 Study Approach (Continued) Modified EPA 537 proposed Principal Component Analysis to be performed on Results

20 Current Timeline Preparation of QAAP/Sampling Plan, HASP etc. - pending Perform Sampling-Summer 2018 Report Sampling Results-September 2018 Present Findings and Regional and National Meeting and plan to publish in technical journal- December 2019

21 Questions? Thank you! Contact information: John Schmeltzer