Defence releases the Oakey environmental site assessment report

Defence has publicly released the Army Aviation Centre – Oakey Environmental Site Assessment Report and today hosted a community information session on the report at Oakey this evening.

Defence is continuing to ensure that residents, businesses and local stakeholders are kept fully informed of developments regarding the investigations through regular advice and community forums.

The purpose of the environmental site assessment (ESA) released today is to define the levels and extent of PFOS and PFOA compounds detected within the investigation area. The report shows here PFOS and PFOA have been detected and describes the location of, and the method used to collect, soil, sediment, groundwater and surface water samples.

The report will inform the community about where PFOS/PFOA source areas are and how these compounds appear to be transported.  Another component of the ESA is a numerical groundwater model, which estimates the possible future movement of PFOS and PFOA in groundwater beneath the area.

Media note: 

Members of the community who were unable to attend today’s community information session or with for further information will also have the opportunity to ask questions about the report at community walk-in sessions on 28 July 16.  Further details are available at http://www.defence.gov.au/id/oakey/CommunityConsultation.asp

Copies of the report will be available for review at the Oakey and Toowoomba libraries and the Defence PFAS website: http://www.defence.gov.au/id/PFOSPFOA/Default.asp

Defence is due to finalise the Human Health Risk Assessment and the Ecological Risk Assessment by August and September 2016 respectively. 

The results of both assessments will assist Defence and the Queensland government to determine the next steps. Defence will consult with the community at the earliest opportunity once both reports are finalised.

More information about the Defence National PFC Environmental Management Program is available online athttp://www.defence.gov.au/id/PFOSPFOA/Default.asp