Review finds base actions continue to protect environment

  • Published
  • By Renée Wright
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  While many units focus on spring cleanup, the base also works diligently on a cleanup program that began nearly 20 years ago. In 1990, Elmendorf was added to the National Priorities List under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, commonly known as CERCLA. This action initiated restoration of 40 sites within seven operable units. A recent report indicates the program is still on track. 

During 2008, the base completed its third Five-Year Review of its environmental restoration efforts under CERCLA. The review documents were finalized and made available to the public April 24. The report determined that the cleanup remedies the base selected for each site continue to function as they were designed and remain protective of human health and the environment. 

"This Five-Year Review gave us another look at the effectiveness of our treatment systems and made recommendations to make certain we're getting the best possible performance from them," said Donna Baumler, remedial project manager in the 3rd Civil Engineer Squadron Natural Resources Management office. "Elmendorf's hard work toward meeting cleanup goals will speed up closure of sites as they are restored." 

A project team consisting of Air Force remedial project managers and contracted environmental engineers conducted the review, with participation by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation project managers. 

"We continue to work closely with state and federal regulators to keep them involved in developing our cleanup strategies," said Ms. Baumler. "It's useful to have access to their expertise and perspective." 

The review encompassed remedies of 14 CERCLA sites designed to clean up contamination that occurred prior to 1984 due to accidental releases and practices that are no longer allowed. 

The remedies for cleanup vary by site and have included contaminated soil and debris removal; institutional controls also known as land use controls; monitoring and natural attenuation of contaminated groundwater; and operation and monitoring of several active remediation systems such as high-vacuum extraction, a constructed wetland treatment cell, and in-situ bioventing. 

"The results of this Five-Year Review reflect the maturity of Elmendorf's restoration program. We have gone from about 100 sites or areas of concern from the program's conception to 14 active CERCLA sites," said Gary Fink, chief of the Cleanup Section of the Natural Resource Management office. "Most importantly, we have demonstrated through this review that the remaining sites continue to be protective of human health and the environment. It's a testament to the commitment and professionalism that the staff displays on a daily basis." 

The completion of this review triggers the beginning of the timeline until the next five-year review, which should begin in 2013. These federally mandated reviews will continue every five years until contaminant levels allow unlimited use of each remediated site and unrestricted exposure to the soil and water. To prevent access to contaminated elements, the base has employed an extensive groundwater monitoring program and established institutional controls, such as fences and a ban on use of the shallow groundwater aquifer. 

The Five-Year Review report is available for review in the Elmendorf information repository located at the Alaska Resources and Library Information Services, University of Alaska Anchorage Consortium Library, 3211 Providence Drive in Anchorage.