MATHER FIELD EARLY TRANSFER

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

MATHER FIELD EARLY TRANSFER

With the approval of California Governor Pete Wilson and U.S. EPA, the
Air Force is transferring 25 acres of Mather Field, the former Mather
Air Force Base, to Sacramento, before the cleanup remedy is in place.
This is the first "Superfund" National Priorities List site to complete
an early transfer under the terms of the 1997 Defense Authorization Act.

The Air Force's Spring, 1998 "Environmental Update" newsletter for
Mather reports, "The site being transferred is atop a contaminated
groundwater plume, but because the Air Force has committed to treat the
groundwater, early transfer is possible. The County of Sacramento is
eager to redevelop the property; by obtaining ownership it can more
easily attract businesses and create jobs."

It took the Air Force, regulatory agencies, and local officials five
months to develop the transfer agreement. According to the newsletter,
it met the four requirements of the law:

1) determination, by EPA, the state, and the Air Force, that human
health and the environment will be protected under the new land uses
identified in the property transfer record of decision;

2) preparation of a Quit Claim Deed, by the Air Force, "containing
assurances that all required environmental cleanup actions will be
completed";

3) public notice

4) determination by EPA, the state, and the Air Force, that the transfer
will not delay cleanup.

The Air Force newsletter concludes, "The early transfer at Mather is now
a model for other NPL sites looking to safely and quickly transfer
property to support economic growth and job creation."

Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 222B View St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/968-1126
lsiegel@cpeo.org