Cleanup of PFAS contamination at the former K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base is years away.

Officials told Marquette County residents at a public meeting Wednesday, Sept. 16, that testing continues across six sites but must finish before remediation can begin.

The Restoration Advisory Board's annual meeting drew representatives from the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC), the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the local water department, WLUC reported.

Kenneth Heitkamp, EGLE senior project manager, said the remedial investigation is measuring PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) levels in surface water, groundwater, sediment and soil. Cleanup cannot start until investigators determine how far the contamination has spread.

"How contaminated is the site, how far does this contamination go, and then we can prioritize where we want the clean-up to take place, and how long that clean-up will take," Heitkamp said.

PFAS are synthetic chemicals that do not break down easily in the environment. They have been linked to cancer, thyroid problems and other health effects. The contamination at K.I. Sawyer stems from decades of firefighting foam use during training exercises at the base.

The timeline for completing the investigation has stretched. Bridge Michigan reported in September 2025 that the Pentagon pushed the estimated completion of remedial investigations at K.I. Sawyer from 2026 to 2033 without public announcement. That was the longest extension among Michigan military sites. The state's PFAS Action Response Team website lists the base as an active investigation site, with AFCEC continuing fieldwork through fall 2026.

Marquette County has secured state funding to support the effort. On Feb. 3, the county Board of Commissioners learned staff had submitted a $1 million EGLE grant request for continued PFAS investigation and remediation at the former Marquette County Airport site in Negaunee Township. Staff also submitted a $150,000 EGLE grant request to clean foam tanks in the airport's firefighting trucks and transition from PFAS-containing foam to a fluorine-free alternative.

At the same Feb. 3 meeting, Negaunee Township resident Lowell Larson told commissioners during public comment that tests had shown PFAS in his well water. He asked for a collaborative effort to bring municipal water lines to his area.

Filtration systems for affected residents continue to be funded through two grant programs, Marquette County Health Officer Patrick Jacuzzo reported at the Board of Health's June 24 meeting.

AFCEC Program Coordinator Isamar Nieves-Cancel urged residents who receive letters about private drinking water sampling to respond. She also asked that property owners allow access for monitoring well installation if needed.

The names of the six sites under investigation were not disclosed at the meeting. No date for the next RAB meeting or a public comment deadline was announced.