[CPEO-MEF] Contaminated water moves off base

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

California
Friday, February 21, 2003
Contaminated water moves off base
Beale cleanup effort under way; 50-year project to cost millions
Harold Kruger
Appeal-Democrat

A contaminated plume of groundwater has migrated off Beale Air Force
Base, tainting about seven acres, officials said Thursday night.

The plume is from a former base landfill, between the main gate and the
Wheatland gate, which is in the process of being cleaned up.

The landfill, known as Site 13, has been coupled with Site 10, a former
aircraft engine test area, in the base's continuing cleanup process.

The two projects are expected to cost a total of about $21 million over
a 50-year period, officials said.

Gerald Vogt, a senior project manager for CH2M Hill, which is involved
in the cleanup project, also said another location has created some
groundwater contamination off base.

That site is an outfall area that collected stormwater from the
flightline area. It is still under investigation, he said.

Vogt said another base site also has been found to be contaminated with
perchlorate, which the military used for many years in solid propellant
for rockets and missiles.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/022103/022103hpktce.shtml

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