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Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station

Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station
EPA ID: NC1170027261
Location: Havelock, Craven County, NC
Congressional District: 03
NPL Status: Proposed: 08/23/94; Final 12/16/94
Project Manager
Documents:About Adobe Portable Document Format

Site Background:
Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point is located in southeastern Craven County, North Carolina. The installation covers approximately 11,485 acres. Commissioned in 1942 as Cunningham Field, MCAS Cherry Point and Naval Aviation Depot (NAVAVNDEPOT), its largest tenant command, has served the country for more than half a century. The Air Station's primary mission is to maintain and operate support facilities and services to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, NAVAVNDEPOT, and Naval Hospital.
MCAS Cherry Point was added to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Priorities List (NPL) on December 16, 1994. The Air Station's inclusion on the NPL was based on groundwater contamination. These environmental problems stem from past waste disposal and storage practices of industrial chemicals, waste, and fuels resulted in several contaminated ground water plumes and soil contamination from numerous smaller waste disposal units.
Environmental investigations at MCAS Cherry Point are conducted under the Installation Restoration Program (IRP). Currently, 32 IRP sites are being investigated at the station which is divided into 13 Operable Units (OUs). MCAS has taken numerous actions to clean up and control the areas of contamination.
Cleanup Progress: Threat Mitigated by Physical Cleanup Work
OU1 Status:
MCAS completed its focused Remedial Investigation /Feasibility Study for OU1 ground water in February, 1996. Since then, MCAS has implemented several interim cleanup measures, including ground water extraction initiated at a central hot spot of contamination to control plume migration, an air sparge/vapor extraction at Site 16, design of an enhanced bioremediation pilot test for a chlorinated solvent plume at Building 137/Stripper Barn hot spot. A full-scale OU1 Remedial Investigation report was submitted to EPA in November 2001. In February 2002, there is an OU1 treatability study underway, which evaluates treatment options, and an enhanced bioremediation using the injection of Hydrogen Release Compound (HRC). Total VOCs were reduced by 90%, but individual constituents remain at concentrations that exceed regulatory screening. The Feasibility Study has been rescheduled for submittal in FY 09.
OU2 Status:
A Record of Decision(ROD), or cleanup decision was signed in 1999. The cleanup plan includes: (1)land use controls; (2)natural attenuation of ground water plume; (3) long term monitoring of ground water to ensure contaminant reduction. The long term monitoring plan is complete. At this time, long-term monitoring and removal of a secondary source of volatile organic contamination from soil through soil vapor extraction (SVE), implemented in November 1998. The SVE treatment was discontinued in August 2003.  Additional soil sampling and data evaluations are underway to reassess conditions in the Site 10 area.  A final report is scheduled for FY 09.
OU3 Status:
The Final ROD for OU3, signed October 2000, required only long-term monitoring for groundwater. The monitoring plan was approved and monitoring began in 2002.  An Interim Final Remedial Action Report was completed September 2007.
OU4 and OU13:
RI reports are complete. No significant risk drivers were identified during the RI. However, low concentrations of metals and organics were found in soil and groundwater. The RODs for OU4 & OU13 were signed September 2005.  The remedy for these OUs includes land use controls and monitored natural attenuation.  The Interim Close Out Report was completed in October 2006. The Final Close Out of the sites is expected in FY11.
OU5:
This OU includes Sites 1 & 2.  These sites were borrow pits that served as waste disposal areas beginning in the late 1950s.  The RI was completed in FY 05 and identified one area of benzene contamination above standards in the groundwater at site 2.  A ROD was signed on July 21, 2006. The remedy includes land use controls and groundwater monitoring.
OU6: This OU includes Site 12, which is a crash crew training area. This area includes a crash crew burn pit and the former location of historical burn pits. The draft RI has been completed. A supplemental investigation was initiated in October 2003. The RI was completed in FY05. The ROD was signed Sept. 28, 2006.  The remedy includes source removal of approximately 1333 yd3 of a tar like material, groundwater water monitoring and institutional controls. The source removal was completed in FY 07.  The groundwater remediation goals have been meet as demonstrated by groundwater monitoring data results.  The Remedial Action Completion Report was finalized in September 2008 signifying completion.


The second five year review was completed in Feb. 2008 and concluded that all remedies remain protective of the environment and public health.

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

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