Mid-Atlantic Superfund

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

Maryland
Prince George’s County
Camp Springs

EPA ID# MD0570024000

2nd Congressional District

Last Update: May 2008

Other Names

None

Current Site Status

The EPA, Maryland department of the Environment (MDE), Prince George County Health Department (PGCHD) and the Air Force signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on November 23, 2004, to support the Andrews Air Force Base (Andrews AFB) Accelerated Performance-Enhanced Plan (APEP). The APEP envisions having remedies in place at all sites at Andrews AFB and at the Brandywine Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO) site by 2009.

EPA and Maryland Department of the Environmental (MDE), and Prince George County Health Department (PGCHD) continue to work with the U.S. Air Force (AF) to investigate and pursue clean up of the site. Members of the Air Force, MDE, PGCHD and EPA continue to meet to develop work plans, discuss and resolve technical issues pursuant to ensuring the cleanups are consistent with regulations and proceed in an expedited fashion. Numerous hazardous substances have been identified at the site as detailed under "Threats and Contaminants" .

Several investigations are well under way or are almost complete. The EPA and MDE are reviewing several remedial investigation (RI) reports. These include Leroy's Lane Landfill (LF-05), FT-03 (Fire Training Area 2), and Fire Training Area 3 (FT-04). A treatability study was completed in early 2007 at ST-14. The treatability study is evaluating In-situ Anaerobic Reductive Dechlorination. A no action ROD was signed on June 31, 2007 for SD-23 Sludge Disposal Site.

Site Description

Andrews Air Force Base (AAFB) is an active U.S. Department of Defense facility that occupies about 4,360 acres of land in Camp Springs, Prince George's County, Maryland, about 5 miles southeast of Washington, D.C. AAFB was established as the Camp Springs Army Air Field in 1942 and became AAFB in 1947. AAFB serves as the headquarters of the 89th Air Wing and is host to about 50 tenant units. AAFB supports worldwide airlift support operations for the President of the United States and other high-ranking domestic and foreign dignitaries, and supports the flight operations of more than 100 aircraft.

The Air Force (AF), EPA, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), and Prince George's County health Department (PGCHD) in July 2001, identified 73 sites or areas of concern to be investigated under Superfund. Of these, the AF previously identified 23 sites and 11 Areas of Concern (AOCs). Sites identified to be investigated is done prior to negotiating a federal facility agreement (FFA) or Interagency Agreement (IAG).

Lead and numerous semi-volatile organic compounds have been detected historically at significantly elevated concentrations in Piscataway Creek. Lead was documented in Piscataway Creek at concentrations above the Ambient Water Quality Criteria in 1993. Surface water migration pathway targeted wetlands, a fishery in Piscataway Creek downstream of AAFB, migratory runs of anadromous fish, and an area of critical state concern.

Site Responsibility

Cleanup of this site is the responsibility of the federal government.

NPL Listing History

This site was proposed to the National Priorities List of the most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites requiring long-term cleanup action on July 28, 1998. The site was formally added to the list May 10, 1999, making it eligible for federal cleanup funds.

Threats and Contaminants

Investigations have revealed the presence of numerous hazardous substances on site. These substances include lead, mercury, chromium, and cadmium; volatile organic compounds, such as tetrachloroethylene; semi-volatile organic compounds, predominantly polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons such as acenaphthene, benzo(a)pyrene, and fluoranthene; and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Contaminant descriptions and associated risk factors are available on the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, an arm of the CDC, web site at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hazdat.html

Cleanup Progress

EPA, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), and Prince George County Health Department (PGCHD) continue to work with the AF to accelerate cleanups. The first record of decision (ROD) was signed for ST-10, PD-689 Spill site in September 2005, and the ROD for FT-04, Fire Training Area 4 was signed in November 2005. These two RODs built on treatability studies initiated at the sites to remediate groundwater. It is expected that groundwater at these two sites may attain cleanup within 10-years.

The Base Wide Background Study is complete. The Base Wide Ecological Risk Assessment (BERA) is complete. The ROD at FT04 supports the construction of a readiness facility for the Air National Guard (ANG) at Andrews AFB. The ANG will provide air support for the Washington DC area.Numerous site documents are being reviewed. ANG construction has not begun.

Numerous documents are being reviewed and investigations continue. The investigations continue at Leroy's Lane Landfill (LF-05), LF06/07 (Landfills 6 and 7), at FT02 (Fire Training Area 1), FT03 (Fire Training Area 2), and SS22 (Hangar 13) as well as several other sites. Other work plans are being prepared for field work in an effort to support the Andrews Air Force Base's Accelerated Performance-Enhanced Plan (APEP).

The record of decision (ROD) for ST14 East Side Service Station (Groundwater Contamination of TCE, Carbon Tetrachloride with several small petroleum plumes) was signed in 2007. The team is reviewing the ROD for FT-03 (Fire Training Area 2) and is expected to be sign in Spring/Summer 2008. In addition, RODS for FT-02, and SS27 (Dry Cleaners) and possibly Leroy's Lane Landfill (LF-05) should be signed in 2008. The AF, EPA, MDE and PGCHD are making progress toward attaining the AF goal of remedy-in-place (RIP) for a good number of the sites at Andrews AFB by the end of 2009. The team continues to work to accelerate the cleanup of site at Andrews AFB despite not having and federal facilities agreement signed.

Contacts

Site Contacts