SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District hosted a public meeting Mar. 4 in Sierra Vista, Arizona, announcing the final decision on soil remediation related to the Fort Huachuca Vehicle Maintenance Facility, Bldg. 72805.
The presentation was held under the guise of the Army Defense Environmental Restoration Program as the Installation Restoration Program in this case. The program manager is the Army Environmental Center and USACE supports the program through the local district as the executing agent for environmental remediation at the fort.
How did we get here?
In March 2008, two double-walled fiberglass underground storage tanks and associated piping were removed from the VMF: a 1,000-gallon tank which stored antifreeze and a 2,000-gallon tank for used oil. No holes or punctures in the tanks or piping were detected during removal.
Soil samples collected from beneath the former pipelines were analyzed for contaminants of potential concern, which were detected at or above the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality non-residential soil remediation levels. ADEQ opened a Leaking Underground Storage Tank case in December 2010, requiring further soil characterization in the vicinity of the former tanks and pipeline.
In June 2017, additional site characterization was conducted to evaluate the residual levels of contaminants of potential concern at the site and were not detected at concentrations greater than their respective soil remediation levels.
ADEQ issued a Closure Notice of Decision in June 2018, requiring no further corrective action at the site.
The final remedy selected for the VMF is No Further Action, which includes no further investigation or remedial action. This remedy will be implemented immediately upon stakeholder approval.
Where do we go from here?
Historical documents are available for public review at the Administrative Record located on Fort Huachuca. To review those documents, please contact the Fort Huachuca Physical Scientist at 520-533-9091. The Draft Final Decision Document, which details the final remedy, is available at the information repository located at the Sierra Vista Public Library.
The Army will accept comments until March 16.
Mail: ATTN IMHU-PWB (7)
IRP MANAGER
3040 Butler Road, Bldg. 22426
Fort Huachuca, AZ 85613-7010
Email: FUDS.SPL@usace.army.mil