Skip to content
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Logo
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

PER- and POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES
You are here: DOT&PF >  Alaska PFAS Information > Gustavus Airport Contamination
DOT&PF has created a Department PFAS website, please visit for more information regarding PFAS

Gustavus Airport Firefighting Testing Area Contamination

Page updated 04/24/2024   Go back to PFAS Home Page

To view information regarding the Gustavus Runway Rehabilitation Project click here
September 2020 Gustavus Well Search Map

Above: Gustavus Water Sampling Results as of April 2024
(click image for larger view)

Community Outreach

Background

DOT&PF was alerted in late July 2018 to concentrations of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the groundwater at Gustavus Airport. The presumed source of PFAS in groundwater at the Gustavus Airport is the Federal Aviation Administration-mandated use of fire-fighting foams at Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) testing areas.

Since then, DOT&PF has worked with an environmental consulting firm, Shannon & Wilson, Inc., and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to identify and sample private water wells around the airport. Based on those samples, PFAS has been reported above DEC action levels in 23 water supply wells. Concentrations at many private wells and the well which serves the National Park Service water system are below DEC action levels. Many sampled wells show negligible PFAS levels. Based on sample results, the airport-generated plume boundaries appear to be identified within the shallow drinking water zone.

To date, DOT&PF’s priority in Gustavus has been to identify and provide safe drinking water to those who need it. DOT&PF is providing alternative drinking water to impacted properties.

DOT&PF initiated site characterization, to determine the specific characteristics of the plume, spread, and influencing hydrology.

Site characterization in October 2021 consisted of increasing DOT&PF’s monitoring well network, sampling of the ditches and private well monitoring.

Additional sampling was conducted in relation to the Runway Resurfacing project. To view those results visit the project website here.

Those who participated in the sampling event(s) will receive a copy of their results at the mailing address they provided. If you have questions regarding sample results please email airportwater@alaska.gov.

PFAS Fact Sheets

Note: If you have trouble viewing any of the above documents, please contact us for an alternative option.

Related Reports

Email Updates

To sign up for updates or to access your subscriber preferences, please enter your contact information below.

Contacts

For more information, please contact us.

For questions about testing & study:

Shannon & Wilson, Inc.
Kristen Freiburger, Project Manager
907-479-0600
kristen.freiburger@shanwil.com

For regulatory questions:

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, 
Contaminated Site Program
Bill O’Connell, Environmental Program Manager
907-269-3057
bill.oconnell@alaska.gov

Alyssa Wood, Contaminated Sites
907-269-4587
alyssa.wood@alaska.gov

Division of Spill Prevention and Response website: 
Alaska DEC Gustavus PFAS Database

For questions about PFAS health effects:

Alaska Department of Health
Allison Natcher, Env. Public Health Program Manager
907-269-8054
allison.natcher@alaska.gov

Department of Health PFAS Website:
https://health.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/eph/Pages/PFAS.aspx

For claim filing instructions:

Alaska Department of Administration
Division of Risk Management
Ken Simpson, Claims Administrator
PO Box 110218
Juneau, AK 99811-0218
907-465-2183
907-465-3690
Ken.simpson@alaska.gov

For questions about Gustavus Airport Firefighting Testing Area and all other inquiries:

Melanie Bray
DOT&PF - Statewide Aviation
907-451-5385
melanie.bray@alaska.gov