California Superfund Site: Fort Ord
Fight Air Pollution & Water Pollution With an Environmental Toxic Tort Lawsuit

Do you need a Toxic Tort Attorney in The Golden State? The E.P.A. has designated Fort Ord in California as a Superfund site due to its levels of environmental toxins and harm to the environment. You can read the report for the site below.

Some Superfund sites are on the National Priority Site Lists. The National Priorities List ("NPL") is the list of hazardous waste sites in the United States eligible for long-term remedial action financed under the federal Superfund program. Environmental Protection Agency regulations outline a formal process for assessing hazardous waste sites and placing them on the NPL. The NPL is intended primarily to guide the EPA in determining which sites warrant further investigation.

Sites are listed on the NPL upon completion of Hazard Ranking System (HRS) screening, public solicitation of comments about the proposed site, and after all comments have been addressed. EPA may delete a final NPL site if it determines that no further response is required to protect human health or the environment. Sites where a remediation was completed through the Superfund program are typically deleted from the NPL.

Living near Superfund Sites in California may place you and the people you love at risk of developing a disease from exposure to the site and experiencing a loss of value for your property, but there are steps you can take to fight back: The EPA says,

[We have] set up a "Post Construction Completion" (or PCC) strategy to ensure that Superfund response actions provide for the long-term protection of human health and the environment. EPA's Post Construction Completion activities also involve optimizing remedies to increase effectiveness and/or reduce cost without sacrificing long-term protection of human health and the environment.

Below you can read the EPA report for the Fort Ord Superfund site. If you, a loved one, or someone in your community has suffered due to exposure to a Superfund site Fort Ord, or if your property has lost value because of pollution, you are better off with a toxic tort lawyer who knows the people of the State of California . Take your first step filling out this simple form. There is no obligation, and your case will be evaluated within one business day. To refer a friend, neighbor, or loved one, follow this link to let them know about the environmental toxic tort attorneys at Weitz & Luxenberg.

Fort Ord

This site is a Federal Facility.

Updated: January 25, 2005

FORT ORD
CALIFORNIA
EPA ID# CA7210020676

EPA Region 9
City: 2 miles north of Monterey
County: Monterey
Other Names:

Site Responsibility:

This site is being addressed by the U.S. Army, with EPA oversight. A Federal Facility Agreement was signed by the Army, EPA and the State of California in 1990.

NPL LISTING HISTORY

Proposed Date:07/14/1989

Final Date:02/21/1990

Deleted Date:

On-site groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). One such plume near the City of Marina has migrated offsite. In no cases is contaminated groundwater being consumed. On-site soils in several vehicle maintenance and motor pool areas, and a 150-acre landfill and other minor dump sites have been contaminated with chemicals that spilled onto the ground. In addition, soils at target ranges are contaminated with lead. These contaminated soils have been addressed, as described below, significantly reducing or eliminating the potential threat to public health. Unexploded ordnance on an 8,000-acre firing range/impact area and at limited on-site areas may pose safety hazards. Types of ordnance found at Fort Ord include artillery projectiles, rockets, hand grenades, land mines, pyrotechnics, bombs and other demolition materials. The Army has ensured that known munitions sites are fenced, posted with warning signs and are off-limits to unauthorized people.

Initial Actions: The Army initiated an investigation into the nature and extent of groundwater contamination in 1984. Findings showed an area of contamination known as the Fritzsche Army Airfield practice fire area. The Army installed a groundwater and soil treatment system that has been operational since 1988. The contaminated groundwater is treated through carbon adsorption. A mixture of treated groundwater and necessary nutrients was sprayed on the contaminated soil adjacent to the groundwater treatment plant to facilitate the treatment. Soil treatment is complete.

Removal actions: Both time-critical and non time-critical removal actions to address unexploded ordnance both in- and out-side the 8000-acre firing range are on-going while the Munitions and Explosives of Concern Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study is underway. The Army has developed a Site Security Program to increase education, fencing, warning signs, and overall security to prevent the public from coming into contact with unexploded ordnance until final actions are complete.

Plug-In Record of Decisions (ROD):

- An Interim Action Plug-in ROD was signed by EPA, the Army, and the State in March 1994, to address sites with limited soil contamination by soil excavation. The Plug-in ROD identifies the criteria each potential site must be evaluated against. If a site meets all the criteria, the Army can remediate the site by soil excavation according to the Plug-in ROD. The interim actions are focused on addressing primarily surface soils contaminated with fuels and waste oils from motor pools. Soils will be excavated and then treated at a treatment area using bioremediation. Since 1994, 16 sites have been cleaned up under the Interim Action Plug-In ROD.

- A No-Action Plug-in ROD was signed in April 1995. The ROD was designed for sites where soil sampling results indicate levels are below concern. A thirty (30) day public comment period is held for sites that meet the No-Action criteria. Since 1995, ten sites have met the No-Action ROD criteria.

Basewide RI Sites ROD: In 1990, the Army began further investigations into the nature and extent of on- and off-site soil and groundwater contamination, as well as any ecological or health threats that may be present. The investigation identified three waste disposal sites, firing ranges, and a vehicle maintenance area that require extensive cleanup actions. The Army completed the RI/FS and ROD in 1997, and all soil cleanup actions are complete, and groundwater pump and treatment systems are operational. The action included remediating the Sites 2/12 maintenance/disposal area by soil excavation and ongoing groundwater remediation, Sites 16/17 disposal area by soil excavation, Site 31 disposal area by soil excavation, and Site 39 small arms ranges by soil excavation. Most of the excavated soils were placed at the Fort Ord Landfill, which was closed in December 2002. The Army is currently evaluating treatment/disposal options for additional Site 39 soils to be excavated.

Site 3 Beach Small Arms Firing Ranges: Site 3 is situated within about 3.2 miles (780 acres) of dunes along the coastline of Monterey Bay at the western boundary of Fort Ord. Results of the investigation indicate lead from small arms is the main contaminant at the site. The site is also home of the Smith's Blue butterfly, an endangered species, and buckwheat plants which the butterflies use to lay their eggs on. In 1997, the Army completed a ROD allowing them to first clean up the lead contamination to address human health concerns by soil excavation and placement in the Fort Ord Landfill, which was simultaneously being remediated (capped). This cleanup was completed in 2000, with the dunes being re-contoured and re-vegetated. The Army is finalizing a post-cleanup ecological risk assessment which suggests the initial cleanup is protective of ecological species as well.

Fritzsche Army Airfield Practice Fire Area (Operable Unit 1): An investigation into the nature and extent of contamination in the Fritzsche Army Airfield practice fire area began in 1984. The ROD was signed in September 1995. Groundwater cleanup standards were established in the ROD which must be met through the existing pump and treat system. The selected remedy is consistent with the initial action described above. The groundwater treatment system was installed in 1988. In 2004, the Army awarded a fixed price contract for the management and completion of the groundwater cleanup remedy at Operable Unit 1.

Fort Ord Landfill (Operable Unit 2): In 1994, the Army completed an investigation focusing on groundwater and soil contamination originating from the landfill. Monitoring wells were installed, surface soil samples collected, and soil gas samples taken. The Army selected a remedy (ROD) in the fall of 1994 that included capping the landfill and installing a groundwater pump and treatment system. Construction of the groundwater treatment system is complete and is operational. In May 1995, the Army proposed to consolidate wastes from several areas around the main landfill which will provide more clean land for re-use. The changes are documented in the Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) in August 1996. The consolidation is complete and capping of the main landfill was completed in December 2002. The Army has installed an active landfill gas extraction and treatment system to capture and remediate methane and other volatile organic compound gases that are being generated by decaying materials in the landfill. The Army continues to monitor landfill gases to ensure that do not pose a health hazard.

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) RI/FS: The Army is addressing the cleanup of unexploded ordnance through removal actions, as discussed above, and remedial actions. A comprehensive RI/FS was initiated in 2000 - the first such RI/FS nationally. The RI/FS is evaluating ordnance detection equipment and procedures, risk assessment approaches, and long-term monitoring methods, to name a few. The RI/FS for munitions sites at Fort Ord utilizes a tracking process to allow for sites at various phases of investigation to move through the decision-making process faster. According to this tracking process, a munitions site on Fort Ord is assigned to one of four Tracks, Track 0 through Track 3. Track 0 sites are sites that have no evidence of use of munitions and explosives of concern. A Record of Decision (ROD) for Track 0 was signed on June 19, 2002. Track 1 sites are sites where munitions and explosives of concern were suspected but no further remedial action was deemed necessary to protect human health and the environment. The Track 1 Proposed Plan was issued for public comment on September 15, 2004 and the ROD is scheduled to be signed in 2005. Track 2 sites are sites where munitions and explosives of concern were found and a removal action was conducted to clean it up. The first of several Track 2 RI/FS reports is due to be issued in 2005 for the area of Fort Ord known as Parker Flats. Track 3 sites are sites where munitions and explosives of concern are known to be present but no cleanup has been conducted yet. The final Track 3 ROD is expected to be completed by 2007, with UXO cleanup work continuing for at least 10 years thereafter.

In the short term, an interim action ROD was signed in September 2002 to allow the Army to initiate cleanup actions at several ranges that contain extremely sensitive and dangerous UXO amidst thick vegetation that needs to be removed first so the UXO can be seen and cleared. Prescribed burns were selected as the safest method to clear vegetation, while also protecting special status plants. To minimize smoke impacts to the community, the Army has developed a specific set of meteorological conditions under which a burn would be conducted such that smoke will disperse, and have offered temporary relocation to all residents of the county during each burn. The first prescribed burn took place on October 24, 2003. The burn escaped the initial boundaries and an 1000 acres was burned. The Army is studying the October 2003 burn to understand both what went right and what went wrong. Ordnance has been cleared from the surface of the entire burned area and subsurface clearance is ongoing. The next prescribed burn is scheduled to take place in 2005.

Carbon Tetrachloride Plume Operable Unit: The Army has initiated a remedial investigation/feasibility study of another area of groundwater contamination, the so-called "carbon tetrachloride plume operable unit", near the City of Marina. Contaminants slightly above regulatory standards have been found in offsite groundwater. This area of contamination is not being used for drinking water. Potential source areas are also being investigated. A soil vapor sampling and extraction system pilot study was conducted in 2004 to address the vadose zone above the carbon tetrachloride plume area. The pilot study was very successful and appears to have removed significant mass from the vadose zone. The Army expects to complete the draft Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Report for the carbon tetrachloride plume operable unit in 2005.

The groundwater treatment systems at the former fire practice area, the Landfill, and the Site 2/12 area, the capping of the landfill and removal and treatment of landfill gas, a pilot soil vapor extraction system for volatile organic compounds in the vadose zone above the carbon tetrachloride plume, and the removal of soil and debris have reduced the potential of exposure to contaminants. UXO removal actions, fencing, warning signs, and patrols have further reduced exposure to UXO. Contaminated groundwater is not being used for drinking water.

The public information repositories for the site are at the following locations:

Fort Ord Administrative Record
Building 4463
Gigling Road, Room 101
Ord Military Community, CA 93944-5004
831-393-9186

Seaside Branch Library
550 Harcourt Avenue
Seaside, CA 93955
831-899-2537

California State University -
Monterey Bay
Library Learning Complex
CSUMB Campus Bldg 12, Third St.
Seaside, CA 93955
831-582-3733

The most complete collection of documents is the official EPA site file, maintained at the following location:

Superfund Records Center
Mail Stop SFD-7C
95 Hawthorne Street, Room 403
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 536-2000

Enter main lobby of 75 Hawthorne street, go to 4th floor of South Wing Annex.

EPA SITE MANAGER:

Ms. Claire Trombadore (munitions issues) and Mr. Martin Hausladen (non-munitions issues)

ADDRESS:

US EPA
75 Hawthorne Street, SFD-8-3
San Francisco, CA 94105

PHONE NUMBER:

(415) 972-3013 for Ms Trombadore and (415) 972-3007 for Mr. Hausladen

E-MAIL ADDRESS:

trombadore.claire@epa.gov, hausladen.martin@epa.gov

EPA COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT COORDINATOR:

Viola K. Cooper

ADDRESS:

75 Hawthorne St., SFD-3
San Francisco, CA 94105

PHONE NUMBER:

(415) 972-3243 or toll free message line at 1-800-231-3075

E-MAIL ADDRESS:

cooper.viola@epa.gov

PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTER:

(415) 947-8701

E-MAIL ADDRESS:

STATE CONTACT:

Roman Racca

ADDRESS:

CA Department of Toxic Substances Control
Region 1, Sacramento, CA

PHONE NUMBER:

916-255-6407

PRP CONTACT:

Gail Youngblood

ADDRESS:

Fort Ord Environmental Office

PHONE NUMBER:

831-242-7918

COMMUNITY CONTACT:

ADDRESS:

PHONE NUMBER:

State Environmental Protection Agency

US Environmental Protection Agency

(800) 852-7550

(800) 424-8802

STATE:

CA

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:

17

EPA ORGANIZATION:

SFD-8-3

• Site Description and History

•  Maps
•  Images

•  Description
•  Environmental Data

•  Response Action Status

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source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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Fairchild Semiconductor Corp. (South San Jose Plant) Environmental Pollution in California- Site: Fairchild Semiconductor Corp. (South San Jose Plant)
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