Cleanup Ongoing
Soil and Groundwater Contamination Program
Basewide Remedial Investigation Sites:
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 all soil cleanup actions, 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 before the Army placed cover material (a so-called "cap") over it in December 2002. The Army is currently conducting additional soil excavation at Site 39.
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. The Army continues to monitor the plume, while slightly expanding the system to address areas of contamination that has moved further down-gradient.
Fort Ord Landfill (Operable Unit 2):
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 would 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.
Carbon Tetrachloride Plume Operable Unit:
The Army selected a remedy in 2008 for the site that included bioremediation and monitored natural attenuation for the groundwater. Currently, there is active remediation of the groundwater using lactate injection at the site.
Army Munitions and Explosives of Concern Program
Track 3 Sites:
Impact Area Munitions Response Site
The Army commenced the cleanup up action at the Impact Area with a prescribed burned per the requirements of the ROD. In December 2008, the Army conducted a prescribed burn for areas designated as Burn Unit 18 (137 acres) and Burn Unit 22 (72 acres) that is within the Site 39 Inland Range area. The purpose of the prescribed burn is to clear vegetation so munitions experts may safely remove munitions and explosives that remain within the former training range. The Army will be conducting surface and limited subsurface removal over next few months.
Interim ROD/Prescribed Burn:
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 munitions and explosives of concern (MEC) amidst thick vegetation that needs to be removed first so the MEC 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. In addition, for the first burns conducted under this Interim Action, the Army offered temporary relocation to all residents of the county during the burns.
2003 Prescribed Burn:
The first prescribed burn took place on October 24, 2003. The burn was planned for 500 acres but escaped the initial boundaries and an additional 1000 acres was burned. The Army studied the October 2003 burn to understand what went right and what went wrong. As a result, the Army :
1) changed the burn prescription (decreased maximum wind gusts, etc.) to minimize the likelihood of escapes;
2) will not ignite the burn until burn prescription weather and fire fighting resource conditions are met;
3) increased the width of fuel breaks from 50 feet to 150 feet ;and
4) will try to keep the size of prescribed to 100 acres or less.
After the October 2003 burn, the Army cleared all munitions and explosives of concern from the surface of the entire burned area. A subsurface clearance was conducted in the 500 acre area of Ranges 43-48 per the interim action ROD with the exception of several so-called special case areas where MEC densities were so high that cleanup to depth would have been very costly, risky for workers and would have destroyed endangered maritime chaparral habitat.
2006 Prescribed Burn (Munitions Response Site 16):
With the lessons learned and the new burn prescription, the Army conducted the Munitions Response Site (MRS) 16 prescribed burn on October 19, 2006. The MRS 16 burn was conducted successfully with minimum impact from smoke to the surrounding communities.
2008 Prescribed Burn (Units 18 & 22): The Army conducted a prescribed burn at MR Site 18 and 22 on December 10, 2008. MRS Site 18 is 137 gross acres, with 88 acres burned. The adjacent site MRS 22 is 72 gross acres with 51 acres burned. From the lessons learned, a large buffer zone was created as part of the site preparations. Cleanup operations began shortly after the burn and are currently ongoing.
2009 Prescribed Burn (Units 14 & 19): A prescribed burn of 280 acres was conducted on Unit 14 on October 6-7, 2009. The Army also conducted a prescribed burn on 196 acres of Unit 19 on November 16, 2009. Cleanup activities began shortly after the burn and are currently ongoing.
2010 Prescribed Burn (Units 15 & 21): A prescribed burn of 277 acres was conducted on October 7 and October 8, 2011.
2011 Prescribed Burn (Units 11&12): Planned prescribed burn for 2011 has been cancelled due to the unexpected encounters with two types of large artillery projectiles on the ground surface. These types of projectiles are generally found buried several feet into the ground. Because these items were found on the surface, they require a much greater safety setback distance than had been anticipated. This greater safety setback distance exceeds the Army's capabilities to conduct a safe prescribed burn. therefore the Army cancelled the planned prescribed burn. Instead, the Army will cut the vegetation in Units 11&12 first to allow the safe removal of unexploded ordnance in these areas. Once the surface unexploded ordnance has been removed from the areas and the vegetation grows back sufficiently to carry a fire, the areas will be burned to ensure successful recovery of the rare, fire-dependant chaparral habitat.
Privatized Munitions and Explosives of Concern Program
Currently, there are no on going cleanup under the Privatized Munitions and Explosives of Concern Program. All sites under the Privatized Munitions and Explosives of Concern program are still in the Site Studies phase.