EPA may remove part of site from list
MONTEREY >> If a proposal from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency goes through, nearly 12,000 acres of the almost 28,000-acre Fort Ord Superfund site will be deleted from the agency’s Superfund list, acknowledging the completed cleanup of military munitions and soil contamination there. However, cleanup of contaminated groundwater and soil gas throughout the site continues.
“The Army agrees and supports the EPA’s proposed decision to delete these parcels at the Fort Ord Superfund site from the Superfund list,” said Bill Collins, U.S. Army Fort Ord Base Alignment and Closure environmental coordinator. “This is a major milestone in the Superfund process for any site, but for such a large and complex site, it
is a huge accomplishment. The deletion process provides many advantages for redevelopment.”
Collins noted the Army will still be required to ensure the protectiveness of the remedies, with EPA and state oversight, even if the parcels are deleted from the Superfund list.
In November, the Environmental Protection Agency published a notice proposing the partial deletion and opening a 30-day public comment period. It was a consolidated partial deletion proposal that included Fort Ord and three other sites nationally.
This is a partial deletion in that it includes only a part of the cleanup at a portion of the site where cleanup is finished and only covers cleanup work for military munitions and soil pollution.
EPA policy allows for cleaned up areas to be deleted separately from contaminated water and soil gas below the ground. This partial deletion rule allows the agency to delete portions of the National Priorities List (Superfund) sites provided that deletion criteria are met. While total cleanup of an entire site may take years, portions of the site may be cleaned up and may be available for productive use.
“All land overlying contaminated groundwater and soil gas at Fort Ord can safely be used for recreation and development, as long as those uses are consistent with the Fort Ord Base Reuse Plan and land use controls specified in property deeds,” said Joshua Alexander, an EPA spokesman. “Contamination levels below ground are monitored regularly to ensure they are safe for the uses specified in that reuse plan — development, recreation, habitat, etc. — at ground level.”
The Fort Ord Base Reuse Plan was completed in 1997 to help determine cleanup goals that support the future reuses identified in the plan.
Fort Ord stood primarily as a base for infantry troops from 1917 until it was shuttered in 1994 under Congress’ Base Realignment and Closure process. In its day, the base operated like a city including facilities such as a landfill and sewage treatment plant, while military training operations were conducted. Hazardous substances and pollutants were released into the soil and groundwater over time.
The Army has been conducting investigation and cleanup activities at the former base under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act since 1990, with the oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency and the state of California.
The state of California approved the proposed deletion through letters sent by the Department of Toxic Substances Control and the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control board in July 2020 in which they agree with the EPA’s proposed decision to delete the parcels from the National Priorities List and the agency’s assessment that cleanup
is complete on military munitions and soil contamination on nearly 12,000 acres of the site.
Alexander said the partial deletion proposed for 11,934 acres of the 27,827-acre site, reflects the EPA’s opinion that cleanup is complete for soil and military munitions contamination, but cleanup of contaminated groundwater and soil gas throughout the site continues and is deemed to be effective.
The remaining 15,934 acres of the site, and all contamination associated with those acres, including potential per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination, remain on the National Priorities List. The cleanup work required will happen with EPA and state oversight.
“As final cleanup levels have not yet been reached, however, this contamination cannot be included in the proposed deletion,” said Alexander. “It’s important to note that much of this property has been transferred from the Army to local jurisdictions and in some cases, has already been developed.”
Alexander said that contamination
levels below ground will continue to be monitored regularly.
The Superfund cleanup remedies for much of the site include land use controls designed to minimize the risks of exposure to prior or current contamination, such as digging and excavation ordinances, land use restrictions and groundwater well exclusion zones, among others.
“All those land use controls will continue to be implemented and monitored site-wide by local jurisdictions and the Army, with EPA and state oversight, even if part of the site is deleted from the (National Priorities List),” said Alexander.
The public comment period ended on Dec. 21. If, after receiving comments, the EPA finds it is appropriate to delete the portion of the site, the agency will publish another notice in the Federal Register. The target date for the notice is May 2021 and will include responses to all comments that were received during the comment period.