Airservices' National PFAS Management Program

Airservices Australia provides a vital aviation rescue and fire fighting service at 27 of Australia’s busiest airports. We are always on stand-by to rescue people and property from an aircraft crash or fire and other fires and emergencies at airports. When Airservices became aware of the potential environmental impacts of PFAS in the early 2000s, we transitioned away from their use. We have used PFAS-free foam at civilian airports since 2010.

National PFAS Management Program

Airservices is committed to the responsible management of PFAS resulting from our historical use of PFAS-containing fire fighting foams at airports where we provide aviation rescue and fire fighting services.

We manage PFAS to ensure the safety of our people and the communities and environment in which we operate.

We are committed to taking action through site investigations, monitoring, management actions and, where appropriate, remediation.

We work closely with Australian Government, State and Territory regulators, airport owners and operators, and research institutions to manage the impacts of our historical use of PFAS.

In addition, we are contributing to the global science on PFAS. Read more about our PFAS research here.

Site investigations and management

Airservices is conducting a national investigation program of our airport lease areas and their immediate surrounds to determine the presence of PFAS and to inform ongoing management actions and remediation requirements.

Airservices began providing these services at five of these locations – Ballina, Coffs Harbour, Gladstone, Newman, and Proserpine – only after we started using PFAS-free foams in 2010.

Of the remaining 22 locations, early investigations determined there was no PFAS attributable to our operations at Hamilton Island or Broome airports, and Darwin and Townsville airports are joint-user facilities where the Department of Defence is the lead agency for investigations. The 18 locations that are subject to ongoing investigation by Airservices are:

• Australian Capital Territory – Canberra
• New South Wales – Sydney
• Northern Territory – Alice Springs, Ayers Rock
• Queensland – Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Mackay, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast
• South Australia – Adelaide
• Tasmania – Hobart, Launceston
• Victoria – Avalon, Melbourne
• Western Australia – Karratha, Perth, Port Hedland

Our approach to PFAS investigation and management involves two key program phases.

Program phase: site characterisation

The site characterisation process involves a Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) and may also require a Targeted Site Investigation (TSI) and/or a Detailed Site Investigation (DSI) to be completed. These involve:

• PSI: This is largely a desktop study which helps to determine the potential presence of PFAS at a site and identify areas for further investigation. A PSI examines the site’s history, using historical data, aerial photographs, known geology and reports. Limited sampling of soil, sediment or water may occur. A ‘conceptual site model’ can then be established to help us understand the presence and behaviour of PFAS.
• TSI: This investigation type is conducted to answer specific questions, fill data gaps and to understand potential impacts at a specific location. It complements PSI results and enables the conceptual site model to be refined.
• DSI: These investigations are in-depth, designed to identify the nature and extent of PFAS present at a site. DSIs are undertaken when the results of a PSI and/or a TSI confirm PFAS is present, but more information is required.

Our current site characterisation works are subject to independent technical oversight by accredited contaminated site auditors, as well as ongoing engagement with Australian Government, State Government and Territory environmental agencies.

Since our National PFAS Management Program commenced in 2009, sampling investigations have undergone several iterations as our understanding of PFAS and technology has evolved. For each site investigation, we adopt the best-practice guidelines available at that time for investigation protocols and assessment criteria.

As an Australian Government organisation, we use the National Environment Protection Measure (Assessment of Site Contamination) 1999 to guide our approach to investigations, sampling and analysis. This Measure does not include specific criteria for PFAS, so prior to 2018 we adopted the available best-practice international criteria for PFAS. In 2018, the Australian Government’s PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (PFAS NEMP) was published and provides Australia-specific criteria for the assessment of PFAS as well as nationally consistent environmental guidance and standards for managing PFAS. The PFAS NEMP was updated in 2019 (PFAS NEMP 2.0), and a further update is currently being considered for PFAS NEMP 3.0. The PFAS criteria applied in our site investigations will continue to develop to reflect updated standards and evolving understanding of PFAS.

Program phase: Management, remediation and monitoring

The identification process for remediation works is dynamic and considers a number of factors, including environmental risk, impacts to operations and whether it is feasible to remediate a site. For example, at a site that is currently operational for essential aviation rescue and fire fighting services, it may not be feasible to relocate those services without affecting the operation of the airport.

The information obtained from site investigations will inform next steps in the management or remediation of our sites. We also continue to monitor sites through regular sampling to determine if the actions taken are working as anticipated, or if further actions or investigations are required.

For more information about the investigations being carried out near you, please check the specific locations shown in the Hub Page.