Mid-Atlantic Superfund

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

Virginia
Radford City

EPA ID# VA1210020730

9th Congressional District

Last Update: January 2008
- EPA will provide future updates on an as needed basis. expected.

Other Names

Radford Arsenal
Radford Ordnance Works
Radford Ordnance Plant

Current Site Status

The Radford Army ammunition Plant is being addressed under the Army’s RCRA Correction action Permit.

Site Description

Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RAAP) is a government-owned, contractor-operated military installation supplying solvent and solventless propellant and explosives to the Armed Forces. Construction of the current RAAP production facility began in 1940. RAAP initially consisted of a smokeless powder plant, referred to as [Radford Ordnance Works (ROW)].

RAAP currently has a RCRA Corrective Action permit, issued in October 2000, which directs the Army to conduct investigations and/or clean-ups at 77 total identified areas at RAAP.

The RAAP is currently not listed on the NPL, but environmental investigations are proceeding under the EPA RCRA Corrective Action permit.

To date, the investigation of four RCRA Corrective Action units at RAAP have been completed, including SWMU 6, SWMU 8, SWMU 36 and SWMU 58.

Site Responsibility

RAAP is being addressed under the Army's RCRA Corrective Action permit, which was issued by EPA-Region III in 2000.

NPL Listing History

This is a non-NPL site.

Threats and Contaminants

Contaminants of concern currently identified at the RAAP include: Explosives, including trinitrotoluene, dinitrotoluene, nitrogylerin, HMX, and RDX; Metals, including lead, chromium, and cadmium; volatiles; semi-volatiles; and perchlorates.

Contaminant descriptions and risk factors are available from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, an arm of the CDC.

 

Cleanup Progress

In January, 2001, the Army completed field work in support of a facility-wide, naturally-occurring inorganic background study for the Radford Army Ammunition Plant . Based upon this field sampling event, the Army issued a Background Study Report to EPA, which was finalized in February, 2002. SImilarly, in October, 2001, the Army submitted to EPA a Work Plan for the performance of Site Screening activities at the RAAP. The Site Screening Process Work Plan was also finalized in February, 2002.

The Army conducted a Site Screening Process (SSP) evaluation of Solid Waste Management Unit (SWMU) 6, located at RAAP. SWMU 6 was an abandoned acid wastewater lagoon. The Army had conducted a removal action at SWMU 6 in support of future construction activities, and performed the SSP evaluation of the post-removal excavation area. Based upon the SSP evaluation, it was determined that no futher action was required at SWMU 6. The Region issued an approval letter for SWMU 6 on October 9, 2002.

The Army is continuing the process of assessing the remaining 73 SWMUs at the RAAP under the RCRA Corrective Action permit.

Contacts

Site Contacts

Administrative Record Locations