Mid-Atlantic Superfund

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

Maryland
Prince George’s County
Camp Springs

EPA ID# MD0570024000

2nd Congressional District

Last Update: October 2011

Other Names

None

Current Site Status

The EPA, Maryland department of the Environment (MDE), Prince George County Health Department (PGCHD) and the Air Force signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on November 23, 2004, to support the Andrews Air Force Base (Andrews AFB) Accelerated Performance-Enhanced Plan (APEP). The APEP envisions having remedies in place at all sites at Andrews AFB and at the Brandywine Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO) site by 2009. However, EPA and the AF have negotiated the FFA (Federal Facility Agreement). The FFA was signed by EPA and the Air Force. The 45-day comment period will end on December 5, 2011.

EPA and Maryland Department of the Environmental (MDE), and Prince George County Health Department (PGCHD) continue to work with the U.S. Air Force (AF) to investigate and pursue clean up of the site. Members of the Air Force, MDE, PGCHD and EPA continue to meet to develop work plans, discuss and resolve technical issues pursuant to ensuring the cleanups are consistent with regulations and proceed in an expedited fashion. Numerous hazardous substances have been identified at the site as detailed under "Threats and Contaminants" .

Several investigations are well under way or are complete. The EPA, MDE, and PGCHD have reviewed several remedial investigation (RI) reports. Investigations are ongoing for SS-28 Hangar 1516, and LF-06 (Landfill 6), LF-07, BLNA (Base Lake North Area, and several MMRP sites. Progress has slowed at LF-06. LF-07, and BLNA due to a disagreement between the AF and Solid Waste Division within Maryland Department of the Environment as of March 2010. This disagreement continues.

Site Description

Andrews Air Force Base (AAFB) is an active U.S. Department of Defense facility that occupies about 4,360 acres of land in Camp Springs, Prince George's County, Maryland, about 5 miles southeast of Washington, DC. AAFB was established as the Camp Springs Army Air Field in 1942 and became AAFB in 1947. AAFB serves as the headquarters of the 89th Air Wing and is host to about 50 tenant units. AAFB supports worldwide airlift support operations for the President of the United States and other high-ranking domestic and foreign dignitaries, and supports the flight operations of more than 100 aircraft.

The Air Force (AF), EPA, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), and Prince George's County health Department (PGCHD) in July 2001, identified 73 sites or areas of concern to be investigated under Superfund. Of these, the AF previously identified 23 sites and 11 Areas of Concern (AOCs). EPA and the Air Force have identified 16 sites that require a RI/FS and six are part of the Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP) that require investigation as part of the (FFA) or Interagency Agreement (IAG).

Lead and numerous semi-volatile organic compounds have been detected historically at significantly elevated concentrations in Piscataway Creek. Lead was documented in Piscataway Creek at concentrations above the Ambient Water Quality Criteria in 1993. Surface water migration pathway targeted wetlands, a fishery in Piscataway Creek downstream of AAFB, migratory runs of anadromous fish, and an area of critical state concern. Shallow groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds at several sites. Some have remedies in place through issuance of a record of decision (ROD) while other are being investigated.

Site Responsibility

Cleanup of this site is the responsibility of the federal government.

NPL Listing History

This site was proposed to the National Priorities List of the most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites requiring long-term cleanup action on July 28, 1998. The site was formally added to the list May 10, 1999, making it eligible for federal cleanup funds.

Threats and Contaminants

Investigations have revealed the presence of numerous hazardous substances on site. These substances include lead, mercury, chromium, and cadmium; volatile organic compounds, such as tetrachloroethylene; semi-volatile organic compounds, predominantly polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons such as acenaphthene, benzo(a)pyrene, and fluoranthene; and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Contaminant descriptions and risk factors are available from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, an arm of the CDC.

Cleanup Progress

EPA, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), and Prince George County Health Department (PGCHD) continue to work with the AF to accelerate cleanups. The first record of decision (ROD) was signed for ST-10, PD-689 Spill site in September 2005, and the ROD for FT-04, Fire Training Area 4 was signed in November 2005. These two RODs built on treatability studies initiated at the sites to remediate groundwater. It is expected that groundwater at these two sites may attain cleanup within 10-years from implementing the treatment.

The Base Wide Background Study is complete. The Base Wide Ecological Risk Assessment (BERA) is complete. The ROD at FT04 supports the construction of a readiness facility for the Air National Guard (ANG) at Andrews AFB. The ANG will provide air support for the Washington DC area. Numerous site documents are being reviewed. ANG construction is complete at FT04.

Numerous documents are being reviewed and investigations were completed. The ROD for LF-05, Leroy's Lane Landfill was sign in July 2009. The remedial design, remedial action work plan are complete. The remedial design (RD) was accepted and the remedial action (RA) field work began in November 2009. The ROD calls for a RCRA Cap, funnel/gate permeable reactive barrier, monitoring, institutional controls, and off-base in-situ groundwater treatment. The remedial action at LF-05 began in November 2009 and is almost complete as of October 2011. EPA anticipate reciept of the IRACR following the final inspection at LF-05.

The record of decision (ROD) was signed for ST-14 East Side Service Station (Groundwater Contamination of TCE, Carbon Tetrachloride with several small petroleum plumes) in 2007. The remedial action (RA) is complete and long-term monitoring and treatment continues at ST-14. The Air Force, EPA, MDE and PGCHD are evaluating the remedy and its performance. Additional in-situ groundwater injections will need to occur at ST-14. A ROD was signed for FT-03 (Fire Training Area 2) on October 2, 2008. The remedial design (RD) will be submitted for review in 2010. . The ROD for FT-02 Fire Training Area 1 was signed October 16, 2009. The remedy calls for in-situ bioagmentation, monitoring and institutional controls. The RA began in June 2010 and is almost complete.

The ROD or RODs for LF-06, LF-07 and BLNA will be delayed based upon the disagreement between the Solid Waste Division of Maryland Department of the Environment and the AF. The Final Five-Year Review Report for the sites with remedies was reviewed signed in March 2011 and was finalized in May 2011. In addition, the AF, EPA, MDE and PGCHD are making progress toward implementing remedies at the sites at Andrews AFB.

EPA received the AF signed ROD for SS-27 Former Dry Cleaner site and it's anticipated to be signed by EPA after the FFA is signed. EPA completed its review of the draft RI report for SS-26 storage tank site and anticipates the document will be finalized this year.

The AF was planning to issue a blanket performance based contract (PBC) for all the sites at Andrews AFB including Langley AFB. However, the Air Force issued a base wide (PBC) for Andrews AFB only. EPA is concerned about the work to be performed under this contract since the performance based contracts issued to date have not exhibited stellar performance and the Air Force issued the PBC for sites that do not have a RI, FS and/or ROD finalized and is some cases no data or investigation has ever been collected.

EPA anticipates that the Interim Remedial Action Completion Report (IRACR) for LF-05 for the landfill will be issued by the AF late this winter and a Interim RACR for the groundwater treatment is anticipated this year around Spring 2012.

EPA received the signed IRACR for ST-14 in late March 2011 and concurred. EPA received the signed Five-Year Review Report for ST-10, FT-04, and ST-14; sites where remedies are in place. EPA concurred with the Air Force that the remedies are protective on May 17, 2011. In addition,
EPA received the signed Interim Remedial Action Completion Reports for ST-10 and FT-04 on May 26, 2011 and it anticipates signing both documents in October 2011.

EPA signed the ROD for FT-02 on September 14, 2011. The remedy at FT-02 is in place which consists of in-situ groundwater injections in and around a portion of the runway. Furthermore, the Federal Facility Agreement (FFA) was signed by the Air Force and EPA. A notice starting the 45-day comment period was published by EPA in The Inquirer-Gazette on October 20, 2011. The public comment period will end on December 5, 2011. Lastly, the Air Force issued a performance based contract (PBC) for twenty sites in September 2011. The twenty sites will be evaluated based upon the priorities, work load, as well as, the Site Management Plan as required by the FFA. EPA some sites my be prioritized so that the work load can be accomplished in an efficient and effective manner.

Contacts

Site Contacts