EPA lists Alameda NAS as Superfund Site

["cpeo@cpeo.org" <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Thursday July 22, 2:06 pm Eastern Time

SOURCE: U.S. EPA
EPA Lists Alameda NAS as Superfund Site

SAN FRANCISCO, July 22  -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency listed
the former Alameda Naval Air Station as a federal Superfund site today, a
decision that will help bolster the installation's cleanup and
environmentally safe reuse.

``Today's announcement allows us to move ahead with the Navy and the state
in remediating this site and turning property back over to the community
for reuse,'' said Keith Takata, director of the EPA's regional Superfund
program. ``At large and complex federal facilities like Alameda, we believe
that Superfund listing affords us the best framework for getting faster,
more effective cleanups.''

The EPA has been working with the California Department of Toxic Substances
Control and the Navy without any formal cleanup agreement since 1993 to
study the nature and extent of contamination on the 2,600-acre
installation. Listing the station as a federal Superfund site will provide
a framework of enforceable schedules, penalty authorities that enhance
accountability for the cleanup, and an ultimate decision maker for disputes
that arise in the cleanup process.

Groundwater and soil at various parts of the installation is contaminated
with a variety of compounds, including solvents, pesticides, chromium and
cyanide wastes, and PCBs. Although a considerable amount of soil and
groundwater data have been collected basewide, Alameda NAS has yet to
complete any full cleanup plans. The primary actions taken to date resulted
in the excavation of lead and PCB-tainted soils in two areas on the site,
removal of sediment from storm drains, and an ongoing removal of soil and
drain pipes with radiological contamination.

For the past two months, the EPA has solicited public input on the proposed
listing. The agency received one comment letter during that time.

Fourteen other sites nationwide were finalized for Superfund listing today,
and 11 were proposed for future listing. 

SOURCE: U.S. EPA