Addressing environmental concerns at closed military facilities is a big job, but EPA and its federal, state, and local partners are making progress.

In Texas, local communities are redeveloping Carswell, Bergstron, Kelly, and Reese Air Force bases, the Dallas Naval Air Station, and Red River Army Depot. Fort Chaffee and Eaker Air Force bases in Arkansas, England Air Force Base in Louisiana, and Fort Wingate Army Depot in New Mexico are being transformed into uses ranging from airports and industrial parks to hospitals, recreation facilities, and housing developments. In addition, more than 900 formerly used defense sites (FUDs) in the five south-central states have been inventoried, screened, and are being prioritized for assessment and cleanup.

Many military bases and former defense facilities are polluted with hazardous waste, unexploded bombs and artillery shells, and a variety of toxic materials, including radioactive waste. Sometimes groundwater is also contaminated. To protect the public, EPA and the armed services must ensure property and facilities are safe before returning bases to communities for redevelopment. Depending on the extent of the contamination, cleanup can be methodic and expensive.

In 1993, the U.S. Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended that Dallas Naval Air Station be closed. Surveys began immediately and within a year, more than 160 areas of environmental concern were identified at the 832-acre site located 11 miles west of downtown Dallas. Contaminants included petroleum, cleaning solvents, and heavy metals in both the soil and groundwater, as well as asbestos in the buildings. A cleanup team and local redevelopment authority were formed, and 98 wells and 210 soil borings were initially completed across the base to assess the extent of contamination. In 1997, the first 100 acres were returned to the city of Dallas. More contaminated soil and 15 underground storage tanks were moved. Asbestos was properly sealed or removed from the buildings. Assessments and reviews continued and by 2002 all property had been transferred, mostly to the city of Dallas. Soil excavation, which commenced in December 2003, should be completed soon at a 2-acre site still contaminated by solvents.

The newly redeveloped facility, with its original name, Hensley Field, includes office structures, a rail line, a training auditorium, and recreational facilities. There is also a unique 8,300-foot airport runway, aircraft repair facilities, and full-size hangars. Current Naval Air Station tenants include the Texas Air National Guard, Texas Army Guard, and TXU Electric.

Efforts are also gaining momentum to address pollution problems at many of the over 900 formerly used defense sites located in the five south central states. In 2003, EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality finalized management action plans for the 404 former defense sites in Texas, prioritizing them for cleanup and redevelopment.

Currently EPA is involved at 60 former military sites, 40 of which are being assessed for possible Superfund cleanup. EPA plans to conduct environmental sampling at two additional Oklahoma sites in the coming months, and the Army Corps of Engineers is actively assessing and cleaning up other sites.

EPA has established a pilot project to issues Ready for Reuse certificates when environmental problem at a site have been addressed and the property is ready for community use. EPA plans to issue the first certificate shortly to the Fort Worth Federal Center. Cleaning up former defense sites will take enormous effort and funding. Most of the facilities drew little attention for nearly half a century. Now, EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the states are joining forces to focus attention on the high priority sites.

For more information:
EPA-Dallas Base Closure Team
Dallas Naval Air Station Summary
Locate Formerly Used Defense Sites
Formerly Used Defense Sites Web Site
BRAC Environmental Fact Sheet: Unexploded Ordnance (PDF)
Response and Mangement: Military Munitions/Unexploded Ordnance

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