Maine Superfund Site: Brunswick Naval Air Station
Fight Air Pollution & Water Pollution With an Environmental Toxic Tort Lawsuit

Do you need a Toxic Tort Lawyer in The Lumber State? The EPA has designated Brunswick Naval Air Station in Maine as a Superfund site because of its amounts of enviromental contamination and harm to the natural world. 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 Maine may place you and your loved ones at risk of getting sick from proximity 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 Brunswick Naval Air Station Superfund site. If you, a loved one, or someone in your community has suffered due to exposure to a Superfund site Brunswick Naval Air Station, or if your property has lost value because of contamination, you will need a toxic tort lawyer who knows the people of the State of Maine . You can begin the process of filing a claim by filling out this simple form. There is no obligation, and your case will be evaluated within 24 hours. To refer a friend, neighbor, or loved one, click here to let them know about the environmental toxic tort attorneys at Weitz & Luxenberg.

Brunswick Naval Air Station

This site is a Federal Facility.

Site Type: Long Term/National Priorities List (NPL)

 BRUNSWICK NAVAL AIR STATION

 Brunswick, Maine

 Cumberland County, Sagadahoc County

Street Address:	RTE 24 AND 123
Zip Code:	04011
Congressional  District(s):	01
EPA ID #:	ME8170022018
Site ID #:	0101073
Site Aliases:	U.S. Navy NAS

 Street Address:

RTE 24 AND 123

 Zip Code:

04011

 Congressional
 District(s):

01

 EPA ID #:

ME8170022018

 Site ID #:

0101073

 Site Aliases:

U.S. Navy NAS

 Site Responsibility:

Federal

 NPL LISTING HISTORY

 Proposed Date

10/15/1984

 Final Date

07/22/1987

Initial Action

In 1994, at a former pesticide storage area over 1,000 cubic yards of pesticide contaminated soil were removed and transported for off-site incineration. At the former fire training site, contaminated soil and buried drums were excavated and transported off the base for treatment and disposal.

Sites 1 and 3, Orion Street Landfill North, and Hazardous Waste Burial Area

Construction of the site remedy which included a 12-acre double barrier landfill cap, a 2220 foot slurry wall, and a groundwater extraction and treatment was completed in 1996. Groundwater, surface water, and sediment continue to be monitored. In November 1997, after two and one half years of groundwater extraction, the extraction wells within the landfill were shutdown because, based on water level data, it appeared that the groundwater table had dropped below a significant amount of the landfill waste. Groundwater level has remained steady. Monitoring of groundwater, surface water, sediment, leachate, and leachate seep sediment continues on a biannual basis

Eastern Plume

An interim remedy was selected in July 1992. The remedy's goal is hydraulic containment of contaminated groundwater, which will prevent further migration and potential discharge into the Harpswell Cove estuary. Groundwater extraction and treatment began in May 1995. Contaminated groundwater is pretreated for metals and volatile organic contaminants are treated using UV/oxidation. Long-term monitoring of groundwater began in early 1995. An additional extraction well was added in 1998 to extract a hot spot of contaminated groundwater near MW-311. A final ROD was signed in February 1998, selecting containment of contaminated groundwater and restoration of the aquifer. The long term monitoring plan was revised in 1998. It reduced monitoring to biannually and improved the monitoring well network. Extraction well EW5 was replaced with a deep screened extraction well to remove more contaminants in 2000. Improving the treatment system by replacing the UV oxidation process with an air stripper and carbon polisher were studied in 1999 and implemented by an Explanation of Significant Differences to the ROD in 2000. This improves contaminant removal efficiency from 50% to >90%. The ESD also specified switching the plant effluent discharge to an infiltration gallery. Institutional controls to prevent use and exposure to the groundwater while it is being cleaned up were formally added as a remedy component by the ESD.
Per recommendations of the Five-Year Review in 1999, additional investigative work to a.) verify the leading edge of the plume southern boundary and b.) assess the liklihood of bedrock exposure to VOCs near the source area was performed in the summer of 2001and further downgradient close to the potential discharge area. EPA/MEDEP will be reviewing/providing comments to the Navy as to any optimization of the monitoirng system and of the treatment system. A second Five-Year Review will be performed during 2004 and reported in 2005.

Site 8 Perimeter Road Landfill

Expressing opposition to the original containment remedy, the local community played a role in the final remedy selection for this area. Finalized in mid-1993, the remedy for the site involved excavation of contaminated soils and transportation of the soils to Sites 1 and 3 where it was used as part of the landfill cap. No land use restrictions are necessary at this area since all materials were removed. Cleanup activities, including site restoration, were completed in the fall of 1995.

Sites 5 & 6

Finalized in mid-1993, the selected remedy for these sites involved removal of soil,construction debris, and asbestos-containing materials, encapsulation of asbestos-containing pipes in two layers of polyethylene, and transportation of all materials to Sites 1 and 3 where it was used as part of the landfill cap. No land use restrictions are necessary at this area as all materials were removed. Cleanup activities were completed in mid-1995.

Neptune Drive Disposal Area (Site 9)

An interim remedy, selected in the fall of 1994, involves long-term monitoring of groundwater, surface water and sediments. Long term monitoring began in early 1995. Additional source investigations that were conducted in the fall of 1995 did not identify a particular source of the volatile organic groundwater contamination. A final ROD was signed in 1999 selecting Natural Attenuation, Long Term Monitoring, Institutional Controls, and Five Year Reviews as the final remedy at Site 9. In 2000 this remedy was initiated and documented in an EPA Interim Remedial Action Report. Additional groundwater investigation for optimization was performed in 2003. The Navy has investigated
groundwater contamination to the south during 2004. Additional monitoring wells have been installed and included in the biannual monitoring plan.

Sites 2, Orion Street Landfill South

Approximately two acres in extent, the landfill at Site 2 was reportedly the primary base landfill from 1945 to 1955. Currently, the site is overgrown by a grove of conifers. A ROD was signed in September 1998. Due to minimal risks, the remedy selected in the ROD was long term monitoring and institutional controls. Visible metal debris was removed in 1999 and the landfill slope was stabilized and regraded. Institutional Controls were implemented in 1999, long term monitoringstarted in 2000 and continues on a biannual basis.

Sites 4, 11, and 13

At Site 11, the former fire training, a removal action to address drums, contaminated soil, and an underground storage tank was conducted in 1994. Underground storage tanks at Site 4 and 13 have been removed. Based on these actions, no further source control action is proposed for these sites. A Final ROD was signed in February 1998 which identifies no further source control action at Sites 4,11, And 13; a contingent action if Building 584 at Site 4 is removed; and continued groundwater extraction and treatment to contain the Eastern Plume and restore the aquifer. Additional investigative work to delineate plume migration pathways in the vicinity of site 11 was performed in 2001,2003, 2004 and will contiue in 2005. EPA/Maine DEP will be evaluating/providing comments to the Navy on this effort.

Sites 7 and 12

Investigations have been completed at these sites. At Site 7 a limited removal was performed in 2001 in an attempt to remove the source of cadmium in groundwater slightly above the MCL. Groundwater sampling after the removal indicated the removal was not successful since cadmium was still detected in groundwater above the MCL. A Record of Decision implementing a limited action remedy including groundwater monitoring and institutional controls was signed in September 2002. Long term groundwater monitoring will begin in 2005.
Site 12, the explosives ordnance disposal and training area, is being proposed for closure. EPA and MeDEP will be discussing closure documentation with the Navy in 2005.

Site-wide

The EPA produced a "Preliminary Close-Out Report" in September 2002 to document that the milestone of Constuction Completion was reached with the signing of the Site 7 ROD. This milestone means that a Record of Decision has been signed for all OUs/sites and that all ROD's requiring it have a constructed remedy placed into operation.

Enforcement Highlights

In October 1990, the Navy and the EPA agreed on their cleanup responsibilities under an Interagency Agreement (IAG). The IAG later was amended to include the State of Maine as a party to the cleanup. Brunswick Naval Air Station is participating in the Installation Restoration Program, a specially funded program established by the Department of Defense (DOD) in 1978 to identify, investigate and control the migration of hazardous contaminants at military and other DOD facilities. In 1990, the first EPA Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) was awarded to a local community group called Brunswick Area Citizens for a Safe Environment. Follow-on grants have been awarded to continue TAG support. Throughout the entire process, there has been excellent public participation, especially from the TAG recipient.

Disclaimer

Instructions about PDF

Recent Press Releases about this project (if any) nbsp

Final NPL Listing nbsp

Five Year Review Report, March 31, 2000 (2243KB) nbsp

Second Five-Year Review Report, September 29, 2005 (44.24MB) nbsp

View Records of Decision (RODS) on-line (EPA HQ) nbsp

Record of Decision, Site 7, September 27, 2002, (2612KB) nbsp

NPL Site Narrative at Listing: nbsp

[Back to Top

EPA Remedial Project Manager:

Christine Williams

Address:

1 Congress Street, Suite 1100 (HBT)
Boston, MA 02114

Phone #:

(617) 918-1384

E-Mail Address:

williams.christine@epa.gov

EPA Community Involvement Coordinator:

Pamela Harting-Barrat

Address:

1 Congress Street Suite 1100
Boston, MA 02114-2023

Phone #:

(617) 918-1318

E-Mail Address:

harting-barrat.pamela@epa.gov

Threats and Contaminants
Due to past disposal practices, the soil and groundwater on a portion of the base is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Harpswell Cove, a valuable, commercial fishery located downgradient of the site, is subject to potential groundwater contamination. Ingestion of contaminated groundwater may pose health risks, however it has been determined though investigations that no current drinking water supplies are threatened.

Cleanup Approach
This base was addressed in three phases: initial removal actions; long-term remedial actions focusing on cleanup of specific areas of contamination; and long-term monitoring, and operation and maintenance. Cleanup actions have been completed on several site areas. Four of the completed site areas have begun long-term monitoring to assess the effectiveness of cleanup actions.

Response Action Status

Initial Action	In 1994, at a former pesticide storage area over 1,000 cubic yards of pesticide contaminated soil were removed and transported for off-site incineration. At the former fire training site, contaminated soil and buried drums were excavated and transported off the base for treatment and disposal.
Sites 1 and 3, Orion Street Landfill North, and Hazardous Waste Burial Area	Construction of the site remedy which included a 12-acre double barrier landfill cap, a 2220 foot slurry wall, and a groundwater extraction and treatment was completed in 1996. Groundwater, surface water, and sediment continue to be monitored. In November 1997, after two and one half years of groundwater extraction, the extraction wells within the landfill were shutdown because, based on water level data, it appeared that the groundwater table had dropped below a significant amount of the landfill waste. Groundwater level has remained steady. Monitoring of groundwater, surface water, sediment, leachate, and leachate seep sediment continues on a biannual basis
Eastern Plume	An interim remedy was selected in July 1992. The remedy's goal is hydraulic containment of contaminated groundwater, which will prevent further migration and potential discharge into the Harpswell Cove estuary. Groundwater extraction and treatment began in May 1995. Contaminated groundwater is pretreated for metals and volatile organic contaminants are treated using UV/oxidation. Long-term monitoring of groundwater began in early 1995. An additional extraction well was added in 1998 to extract a hot spot of contaminated groundwater near MW-311. A final ROD was signed in February 1998, selecting containment of contaminated groundwater and restoration of the aquifer. The long term monitoring plan was revised in 1998. It reduced monitoring to biannually and improved the monitoring well network. Extraction well EW5 was replaced with a deep screened extraction well to remove more contaminants in 2000. Improving the treatment system by replacing the UV oxidation process with an air stripper and carbon polisher were studied in 1999 and implemented by an Explanation of Significant Differences to the ROD in 2000. This improves contaminant removal efficiency from 50% to >90%. The ESD also specified switching the plant effluent discharge to an infiltration gallery. Institutional controls to prevent use and exposure to the groundwater while it is being cleaned up were formally added as a remedy component by the ESD. Per recommendations of the Five-Year Review in 1999, additional investigative work to a.) verify the leading edge of the plume southern boundary and b.) assess the liklihood of bedrock exposure to VOCs near the source area was performed in the summer of 2001and further downgradient close to the potential discharge area. EPA/MEDEP will be reviewing/providing comments to the Navy as to any optimization of the monitoirng system and of the treatment system. A second Five-Year Review will be performed during 2004 and reported in 2005.
Site 8 Perimeter Road Landfill	Expressing opposition to the original containment remedy, the local community played a role in the final remedy selection for this area. Finalized in mid-1993, the remedy for the site involved excavation of contaminated soils and transportation of the soils to Sites 1 and 3 where it was used as part of the landfill cap. No land use restrictions are necessary at this area since all materials were removed. Cleanup activities, including site restoration, were completed in the fall of 1995.
Sites 5 & 6	Finalized in mid-1993, the selected remedy for these sites involved removal of soil,construction debris, and asbestos-containing materials, encapsulation of asbestos-containing pipes in two layers of polyethylene, and transportation of all materials to Sites 1 and 3 where it was used as part of the landfill cap. No land use restrictions are necessary at this area as all materials were removed. Cleanup activities were completed in mid-1995.
Neptune Drive Disposal Area (Site 9)	An interim remedy, selected in the fall of 1994, involves long-term monitoring of groundwater, surface water and sediments. Long term monitoring began in early 1995. Additional source investigations that were conducted in the fall of 1995 did not identify a particular source of the volatile organic groundwater contamination. A final ROD was signed in 1999 selecting Natural Attenuation, Long Term Monitoring, Institutional Controls, and Five Year Reviews as the final remedy at Site 9. In 2000 this remedy was initiated and documented in an EPA Interim Remedial Action Report. Additional groundwater investigation for optimization was performed in 2003. The Navy has investigated groundwater contamination to the south during 2004. Additional monitoring wells have been installed and included in the biannual monitoring plan.
Sites 2, Orion Street Landfill South	Approximately two acres in extent, the landfill at Site 2 was reportedly the primary base landfill from 1945 to 1955. Currently, the site is overgrown by a grove of conifers. A ROD was signed in September 1998. Due to minimal risks, the remedy selected in the ROD was long term monitoring and institutional controls. Visible metal debris was removed in 1999 and the landfill slope was stabilized and regraded. Institutional Controls were implemented in 1999, long term monitoringstarted in 2000 and continues on a biannual basis.
Sites 4, 11, and 13	At Site 11, the former fire training, a removal action to address drums, contaminated soil, and an underground storage tank was conducted in 1994. Underground storage tanks at Site 4 and 13 have been removed. Based on these actions, no further source control action is proposed for these sites. A Final ROD was signed in February 1998 which identifies no further source control action at Sites 4,11, And 13; a contingent action if Building 584 at Site 4 is removed; and continued groundwater extraction and treatment to contain the Eastern Plume and restore the aquifer. Additional investigative work to delineate plume migration pathways in the vicinity of site 11 was performed in 2001,2003, 2004 and will contiue in 2005. EPA/Maine DEP will be evaluating/providing comments to the Navy on this effort.
Sites 7 and 12	Investigations have been completed at these sites. At Site 7 a limited removal was performed in 2001 in an attempt to remove the source of cadmium in groundwater slightly above the MCL. Groundwater sampling after the removal indicated the removal was not successful since cadmium was still detected in groundwater above the MCL. A Record of Decision implementing a limited action remedy including groundwater monitoring and institutional controls was signed in September 2002. Long term groundwater monitoring will begin in 2005. Site 12, the explosives ordnance disposal and training area, is being proposed for closure. EPA and MeDEP will be discussing closure documentation with the Navy in 2005.
Site-wide	The EPA produced a "Preliminary Close-Out Report" in September 2002 to document that the milestone of Constuction Completion was reached with the signing of the Site 7 ROD. This milestone means that a Record of Decision has been signed for all OUs/sites and that all ROD's requiring it have a constructed remedy placed into operation.
Enforcement Highlights	In October 1990, the Navy and the EPA agreed on their cleanup responsibilities under an Interagency Agreement (IAG). The IAG later was amended to include the State of Maine as a party to the cleanup. Brunswick Naval Air Station is participating in the Installation Restoration Program, a specially funded program established by the Department of Defense (DOD) in 1978 to identify, investigate and control the migration of hazardous contaminants at military and other DOD facilities. In 1990, the first EPA Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) was awarded to a local community group called Brunswick Area Citizens for a Safe Environment. Follow-on grants have been awarded to continue TAG support. Throughout the entire process, there has been excellent public participation, especially from the TAG recipient.

Environmental Progress
Since the Brunswick Naval Air station site was placed on the National Priorities List, most of the base's old underground storage tanks have been removed and replaced. Through other environmental programs, the Navy is cleaning up contamination resulting from the former fuel tank farm and taking steps to improve the quality of stormwater discharges on the base. The majority of direct contact threats on the base have been eliminated through cleanup actions completed in 1995. Long-term monitoring on some areas of the base have begun, and data evaluated yearly. The first Five Year Review of all sites was performed in 2000. It found that all remedies implemented were protective of human health and the environment, but it recommended several modifications to increase remedy effectiveness. These have been partially completed as of Winter 2004.

Current Site Status
Since the Brunswick Naval Air station site was placed on the National Priorities List (NPL), direct contact threats on the base have been eliminated through cleanup actions completed by 1995. Through other environmental programs, the base's old underground storage tanks have been removed and replaced. The Navy is cleaning up contamination resulting from the former fuel tank farm and has taken steps to improve the quality of stormwater discharges on the base. Operation of the groundwater pump and treatment system for the Eastern Plume continues and long-term monitoring is in progress and data evaluated yearly. The first Five Year Review of all sites, which was performed in 2000, found that all remedies implemented were protective of human health and the environment and recommended several modifications to increase remedy effectiveness. These modifications included installing new deep extraction wells, conversion of groundwater treatment from ultraviolet to an air stripper and installation of a groundwater infiltration gallery for plant discharge. As of January 2002, these improvements were completed. The review also specified a confirmation of plume boundaries. A phase of the field work to confirm plume boundaries was perfomed in 2001 and a follow-on phases are planned to be completed in 2005. The last ROD for NAS Brunswick, at Site 7, was signed in September 2002, implementing a limited remedy of monitoring and institutional controls for low level groundwater contamination.

Site Photos


Links to Other Site Information

Disclaimer

Instructions about PDF

Newsletters & Press Releases:

Recent Press Releases about this project (if any) nbsp

Federal Register Notices:

Final NPL Listing nbsp

Reports and Studies:

Five Year Review Report, March 31, 2000 (2243KB) nbsp
Second Five-Year Review Report, September 29, 2005 (44.24MB) nbsp

Decision Documents:

View Records of Decision (RODS) on-line (EPA HQ) nbsp
Record of Decision, Site 7, September 27, 2002, (2612KB) nbsp

Other Links:

NPL Site Narrative at Listing: nbsp

Site Repositories
Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant Street, Brunswick, ME 04011

[Back to Top

EPA Remedial Project Manager:	Christine Williams
Address:	1 Congress Street, Suite 1100 (HBT) Boston, MA 02114
Phone #:	(617) 918-1384
E-Mail Address:	williams.christine@epa.gov
EPA Community Involvement Coordinator:	Pamela Harting-Barrat
Address:	1 Congress Street Suite 1100 Boston, MA 02114-2023
Phone #:	(617) 918-1318
E-Mail Address:	harting-barrat.pamela@epa.gov

source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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see also:

Brunswick Naval Air Station Environmental Pollution in Maine- Site: Brunswick Naval Air Station
Brunswick Naval Air Station Superfund Site Info - Fight Air Pollution, Water Pollution

Ba - Bz Maine Superfund Sites: Ba - Bz
Maine Superfund Site Info - Fight Air Pollution, Water Pollution