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Alabama Army Ammunition Plant

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Study Area 22 Landfill at the Alabama Army Ammunition Plant Superfund site
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Site Summary Profile
EPA ID: AL6210020008
Location: Childersburg, Talladega County, AL
Lat/Long: 33.338100, -086.326800
Congressional District: 03
NPL Status: Proposed:10/15/84; Final: 07/22/87
Affected Media: Debris, Residuals, Sediment, Soil
Cleanup Status: Physical cleanup activities have started
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Area A - occasional logging, wildlife preserve; Area B - industrial reuse with ancillary commercial, recreational, and natural habitat areas
Site Manager: Dann Spariosu (spariosu.dann@epa.gov)


Site Background

The Alabama Army Ammunition Plant site is located in Talladega County, Alabama, approximately four miles north of the town of Childersburg on Highway 235 (Plant Road) and 40 miles southeast of the City of Birmingham. The site covers approximately 5,170 acres just east of the Coosa River. An estimated 40 residents live within two miles of the site.

The plant was established in 1941 and used for the manufacture of explosives including trinitrotoluene (TNT), dinitrotoluene (DNT), tetryl, nitrocellulose, and smokeless powder. The U.S. Army ceased operations in 1945, but the plant remained on standby status until 1973, when it was declared excess property.  

In 1981, the plant was divided into Area A (2,714 acres) to the east, containing the former storage area and General Services Administration (GSA) area still under U.S. Government control, and Area B (2,187 acres), consisting of the former manufacturing (industrial) area. Area A has been found clear of ground water contamination. It was sold to private residents in 1991 and is currently used for occasional logging and as a wildlife preserve. Area B property is intended to be reused primarily for industrial reuse with ancillary commercial, recreational, and natural habitat areas.

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Threats and Contaminants

Sources of explosives and heavy metal contamination in soil and ground water include spills, disposal sites, and general wastes from manufacturing processes. Contaminants of concern include chemicals related to the manufacture of explosives, including, for example, TNT, DNT, and tetryl. One or more contaminants of concern have been identified in soils, sediment, ground water, debris, and residuals.

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Site Cleanup Plan

The overall site cleanup strategy refers to Areas A and B as well as Operable Units (OUs) and Study Areas.

Between 1991 and 1997 six Records of Decision (RODs) were issued, describing cleanup approaches for various portions of the site. Cleanup approaches selected have included, for example, excavation and thermal treatment of contaminated soils.

A Proposed Plan describing a possible cleanup approach for the completion of soils cleanup in Area B was issued in 2008. The final action includes excavation and disposal of contaminated soils in a small (0.5 acre) area in the former smokeless powder manufacturing area along with Land Use Controls for the whole of Area B. Cleanup approaches to address ground water contamination in Area B are also being considered.

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Cleanup Progress

Area A: Thermal treatment of Area A stockpile soils was completed in 1994. Excavation and thermal treatment of explosives contaminated soil from Study Area 12 was completed in 1995. All cleanup actions for Area A were completed in 1998.

Area B: The excavation and thermal treatment of soils from the old industrial areas 6, 7, 10 and 21 was completed in early 1996. The cleanup approach implemented for contaminated soil in areas 2, 10, 16, 17, 19, and 22 was completed in 1997.

Between 1994 and 1997, approximately 120,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil were cleaned up across the site.
The Department of Defense transferred Area B to the City of Childersburg Local Redevelopment Authority in 2003. The property will be used as an industrial park while the investigation of contaminated ground water continues. Approximately twenty new ground water monitoring wells were installed in 2000-2001. The investigation is aimed at determining the extent of the contamination and its potential for impacting drinking and recreational water sources. The investigation has demonstrated that site ground water is impacted by explosives and lead.  
A Five-Year Review (FYR) completed in 2008 which evaluated OU-1, OU-2 and OU-6 found that cleanup actions selected remain protective of human health and the environment.

The U.S. Army is leading site cleanup activities with oversight by EPA.

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Enforcement Activities

In 1989, a Federal Facilities Agreement between EPA and the U.S. Army was signed to ensure that the environmental impacts associated with past and present activities at the site are thoroughly investigated and that appropriate cleanup actions are taken.

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Community Involvement

EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the Alabama Army Ammunition Plant site to solicit community input and to ensure that the public remains informed about site activities throughout the site cleanup process. Outreach activities have included site public notices and information meetings on cleanup progress and activities.

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Future Work

An investigation of contaminated ground water in Area B is still continuing; possible cleanup approaches are being considered.

The next FYR for the site will take place by 2013.

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Site Administrative Documents

Site Repository

For more information or to view any site-related documents, please visit the site information repository at the following location. As new documents are generated, they will be placed in the information repository for public information.

Administrative Record Index

For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.

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For information about the contents of this page please contact Carolyn Haugabook.

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