FACTSHEET MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE AND GUNTER ANNEX ...

FACTSHEET MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE AND GUNTER ANNEX MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA SEPTEMBER 2018

Contract/Task Order Number/SubCLIN: W9128F-13-D-0012/0001/0031AA

Performance Based Remediation (PBR) at Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex, Alabama and Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee

Prepared For: AFCEC/CZRE 2261 Hughes Avenue, Suite 155 JBSA Lackland, TX 78236-9853

Under Contract to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District Omaha, Nebraska

Maxwell Air Force Base Public Affairs (334) 953-2014 or (334) 953-1517

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Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB) and Gunter Annex, Alabama, are committed to being responsible stewards of the environment and conducting the Base’s military missions in a matter that safeguards human health and the environment. A key component of this commitment is the Environmental Restoration Program (ERP).

Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex encompass over 4,100 acres. The Alabama River borders the north-northeastern portion of the Base while the southern portion is bordered by the Birmingham Highway (U.S. Highway 31), commercial/ industrial, and residential properties. The west is bordered by commercial and industrial properties and includes the off-Base landfills (LF004, LF005, and LF006). The Gunter Annex currently occupies approximately 390 acres and is bounded to the north by U.S. Highway 231, to

the east by Gunter Industrial Park, to the south

by residential and commercial properties, and to the west by property owned by the State Department of Corrections and a tributary to Three Mile Branch Creek.

The ERP is a congressionally authorized Department of Defense (DoD) program that began in 1984 and addresses past disposal sites on military installations in the United States. Through the ERP, both former and current DoD waste releases are identified, investigated, and cleaned up. Areas of potential releases are also evaluated. One ERP goal is to provide concerned citizens with timely and accurate information about cleanup activities through a community involvement program.

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Com-pensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Re-

Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex, Alabama

Environmental Restoration Program

(September 2018)

Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex Factsheet – September 2018


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authorization Act (SARA) of 1986 is the federal law that forms the basis of the ERP. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) is the state agency providing regulatory oversight of the ERP program for Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex.

The ERP Process at Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex At U. S. Air Force (USAF) facilities, the inves-tigation and restoration of sites contaminated by past practices is implemented in steps, with provisions for emergency removal actions or other rapid responses if an imminent danger to public health is identified. The main steps, or phases, in the cleanup process are described briefly below.

Preliminary Assessment (PA) - initial evaluation of existing information to determine whether a release is likely to have occurred.

Site Inspection - initiated for areas of concern identified during the PA, or for munitions response areas.

Remedial Investigation - determination of nature and extent of the contamination and the nature and extent of any threat to human health and environment.

Feasibility Study - Evaluation of remedial alternatives to address any threats to human health and the environment.

Proposed Plan - A synopsis of previous work, summary of remedial alternatives evaluated, and how they compare to the evaluation criteria.

Record of Decision (ROD) - Documents selection of the preferred remedial alternative and is signed by both the facility and ADEM.

Remedial Design - Occurs after the selection of the final remedy and is the design concept to be implemented to protect human health and the environment.

Remedial Action - Implementation of the final remedy.

o Remedial Action-Construction (RA-C) - A DoD term to define the period of time that a response action is being implemented, but is not yet operating as designed.

o Remedial Action-Operations (RA-O) - A DoD term to define the period of time that a selected remedy must operate before achieving remedial action objectives [RAOs] as outlined in the ROD.

Remedy-in-Place (RIP) - Designation that a final remedial action has been constructed and implemented and is operating properly and successfully

Response Complete (RC) - RC signifies that the remedy is in place and the required RA-O have been completed (or if there is no RA-O, the end of the RA-C).

Long Term Management - Post-project activities such as LTO/LTM may also be required to

History of Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex

Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex encompass over 4,100 acres of land. Maxwell AFB has been the site of formal military air training programs since its inception in 1918. Support operations for these training programs have included general operation and maintenance, including building and support facilities and aircraft related training activities. Activities involving the use of potentially hazardous substances have included refueling, fuels storage, construction, storage of cleaners and solvents, fire training, waste management, and grounds maintenance. Maxwell AFB has both ERP and MMRP sites. Maxwell AFB is the home of Air University (AU), the 42nd Air Base Wing, and the Air Force Reserve Airlift Wing. Maxwell AFB’s primary mission is to provide support to AU, the professional military education arm of the Air Force charged with providing a professional educational environment promoting creative thought on air and space power.

Gunter Annex was established in 1940 when the War Department leased the area including the Montgomery Municipal Airport (approximately 607 acres) plus an additional 348 acres from the City of Montgomery. In July 1942, the U.S. Government leased another 210 acres from the City of Montgomery to expand Gunter Field to approximately 1,165 acres. In 1971, the federal government returned 777 acres of leased land along the eastern border of Gunter to the City of Montgomery. This returned acreage is now part of Gunter Industrial Park. Gunter Annex has only one active ERP site (SD-001).



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quantitatively document the continued effectiveness of the selected remedy. For any site that is not restored to a condition that allows unlimited use/unrestricted exposure, the protectiveness of the remedy is reviewed during a five-year review process.

Site Closeout (SC) – SC refers to the point in the Air Force cleanup process when regulating authorities believe no further action is warranted to protect human health and/or the environment.

Five Year Reviews - If any hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants are left in place, the site is subject to a Five-Year Review. A Five-Year Review is conducted to evaluate the implementation and performance of a remedy in order to determine if the remedy is or will be protective of human health and the environment.

The mission of the USAF ERP is to identify, investigate, and clean up multi-media contamination associated with past USAF activities as necessary to protect human health and the environment. A key objective of the USAF ERP is to reduce, or eliminate when possible, threats to human health and the environment resulting from past use or disposal practices of toxic and hazardous substances, low level radioactive materials, petroleum products, oil, lubricants, (POL), and other pollutants and contaminants.

The objective of the Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP) is to address munitions-related concerns, including explosive safety, environmental, and health hazards from releases of unexploded ordnance (UXO), discarded military munitions (DMM), and munitions constituents (MC) found at locations other than operational ranges on active Bases, Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) installations, and Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) properties. The MMRP addresses releases which occurred prior to 30 September 2002; is at a site that is not an operational range, an active munitions demilitarization facility, or an active waste military munitions treatment of disposal unit that operated after September 2002; and were not already included in an installation’s site

cleanup activity.

For sites, relative cleanup priorities are assigned using the DoD Munitions Response Site Prioritization Protocol (MRSPP). Data are gathered during the comprehensive site evaluation (CSE), the equivalent to a SI, phase to identify munitions contaminant types, sources, transport processes, receptors, and exposure pathways. These data are evaluated to determine if a munitions response area (MRA) requires further investigation, and to assign a priority for subsequent action.

The Maxwell/Gunter programs consist of 32 ERP sites and 3 MMRP areas at Maxwell AFB and 12 ERP sites at Gunter Annex. AOCs were also identified at Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex, but were found to not require any additional investigation or remediation. ADEM has issued NFA to 16 of the 32 ERP sites at Maxwell AFB and 11 of the 12 sites at Gunter Annex.

The concern at both installations is the presence of chlorinated solvents and fuel-related contaminants in the shallow groundwater aquifer. However, this shallow aquifer is not a source of drinking or irrigation water for either Installation. Some contaminant migration into the deeper Eutaw aquifer has occurred at or near Maxwell AFB. While the Eutaw is a source of drinking water, the direction of groundwater flow in the Eutaw beneath contaminated areas (along the southern Base boundary at Site SS008 and near Kelly Street Gate) of Maxwell AFB is not toward Montgomery’s West Well Field, which lies approximately half a mile south of the Base.

The following active sites were investigated as part of the ERP at Maxwell AFB (14) and Gunter Annex (1):

Landfill No. 2 (LF002)

Landfill No. 3 and Fire Training Area No. 2 (LF003/FT002)

Landfill Nos. 4, 5, and 6 (LF004, LF005, and LF006)

Building 1092 (SS002)


Base Boundary (SS004)



Junk Yard (SS008)

Old Commercial Gas Station (SS009)

Former JP-4 Pipeline Spill (SS010)

Gunter Annex Basewide Site Drainage (SD001) The following active sites have been investigated as part of the MMRP at Maxwell AFB:

Old Small Arms Range (SR300)



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Golf Course Small Arms Range (SR302)

Old Skeet Range (TS301)

A brief overview of the sites is provided below.

Operable Unit No. 1 (OU-1) Maxwell AFB’s widespread groundwater solvent contamination is designated as Operable Unit No. 1 (OU-1). Thirteen sites (FT002, LF002, LF003, LF004, LF005, LF006, SS002, SS003, SS004, SS006, SS007, SS008, and SS009) currently comprise OU-1. The remedies for OU-1 were selected and implemented in accordance with the October 2002 ROD. The selected remedies included long-term monitoring (LTM) of groundwater concentrations and elevations, subsurface injections of oxygen releasing compounds, and land use controls. The site has achieved remedy-in-place (RIP), and is currently in the remedial action-operation (RA-O) phase.

Previous investigations and LTM of groundwater have indicated that the concentration and location of contaminants of concern do not currently pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. However, multiple investigations have not provided sufficient information on the location of any existing source areas. In addition, contamination is migrating onto the Base from upgradient, off-Base sites, which are also unidentified at this time.

Based on LTM data, concentrations were reduced after several subsurface injections. However, due to the migration of off-Base

contaminants, the concentrations are expected to increase along the southern Base boundary. The OU-1 site is currently sampled for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on an annual basis. No additional injections are anticipated at this time. Land use controls prohibiting the installation of wells for drinking water and prohibiting subsurface activities that would expose the water table without permission from the USAF have been implemented.

Most recently, a Supplemental Remedial Investigation Report, which included sampling data that indicate eight sites (FT002, SS002, SS003, SS006, SS007, SS008, SS009, and SS011) were not an existing soil source of the OU-1 plumes, was submitted to ADEM with a recommendation of No Further Action (NFA). On 12 June 2018, Maxwell AFB received notification from ADEM that these eight sites (FT002, SS002, SS003, SS006, SS007, SS008, SS009, and SS011) have achieved NFA for the soils, however the areas with wells will continue to be sampled under the groundwater LTM program as part of the OU-1 plume. Maxwell is preparing a Proposed Plan and ROD for NFA in order to complete the process required by the Air Force and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). An investigation is currently underway to remove LF003, LF004, LF005, and LF006 from the OU-1 plume and place the landfills into the proper regulatory context of the ADEM Solid Waste program.

Photo 1. SS-010 Pilot Study Injection Activities

Former JP-4 Pipeline Spill (SS010) An underground jet fuel pipeline was installed in 1961 on and off Base to supply Maxwell AFB petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tank farm (ST010) from a commercial off-Base fuel terminal. Portions of the former pipeline traversed along the southwestern boundary of the Base and releases were reported in the



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mid-1970s to 1995. There was over 8,000 gallons of light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) jet fuel (JP-4) calculated to be present in the subsurface soils at SS-010 prior to the Supplemental RI phase. Previous treatment systems have been unable to effectively remove all of the LNAPL or significantly reduce groundwater concentrations to below the regulatory standards. However, site risks were evaluated to determine if an active remedy will be required.

MMRP Sites Three munitions response areas, SR300, TS301, and SR302, have completed investigations. Results of the comprehensive site evaluation indicated elevated concentrations of lead and PAH in soils and/or sediment. Selected remedies are currently being implemented.

TS301 Old Skeet Range The Old Skeet Range (TS301) is co-located with the RV campground and supporting structures (restrooms, playground, and recreational support buildings), a baseball field, and off-base commercial properties. The Old Skeet Range was investigated during the Comprehensive Site Evaluation (CSE) Phase I and CSE Phase II. No munitions or explosives of concern (MEC) or munitions debris were encountered at this munitions response site (MRS) during the CSE Phase II investigation, although clay target debris was observed. Lead was detected above human health screening criteria in surface and subsurface soils. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were also detected above human health screening criteria in surface and subsurface soil and sediment. Lead and PAHs were detected in surface soil and sediment above ecological screening.

The Old Skeet Range was subdivided into five separate MRSs:

1. Old Skeet Range (Contaminated) (TS301 MRS),

2. Old Skeet Range (TS301a MRS),

3. Old Skeet Range (TS301b MRS, located off-Base),

4. Old Skeet Range (TS301c MRS), and

5. Old Skeet Range (TS301d).

Land Use Controls, which prohibits the development and use of property for residences, daycare centers, healthcare centers, or schools, and prevent the use of contaminated soil for unrestricted uses in the event of excavation and implement a soil management plan, were the selected remedy for TS301 MRS and TS301a. The selected remedy for TS301b and TS301c was no further action.

An Interim Removal Action (IRA) was conducted in 2012 at TS301d for soils exceeding specific lead and/or PAH screening levels. Approximately 4,530 tons of soil were excavated, transported, and disposed from TS301d. Since all lead and PAH contamination above the IRA criteria was removed and disposed off-site, all of the Munitions Response Site Prioritization Protocol (MRSPP) modules for the Old Skeet Range (TS301d MRS) were assigned the alternative rating of “Prioritization No Longer Required.” Site TS301d was closed with no further action following remediation to UU/UE.

Photo 2. MMRP Excavation Activities Photograph

SR300 Old Small Arms Range This MRA is co-located with the golf course and horseback riding club facilities (rodeo, paddocks, and stables). An impact area consisting of 8-foot tall berms was present immediately north of the horse rodeo area.

No MEC or munitions debris were identified at this MRS during the CSE Phase II, although clay target debris was observed. Lead was detected above human health screening criteria in surface and subsurface soil. The PAHs were also detected in surface soil and sediment above ecological screening criteria, however, the site does not support habitat for ecologically sensitive species.

The ROD selected a removal action to address elemental lead and PAHs in soil that present a potential



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threat to human health or the environment. The ROD (signed in February 2018) and work plan (approved in October 2017) to conduct removal activities were approved. Removal activities are currently underway and will achieve SC upon approval of the final completion report.

SR302 Golf Course Small Arms Range

The Golf Course Small Arms Range is currently the Maxwell AFB golf course, but had been a small arms range in the past. An impact berm is still apparent.

No MEC was identified at this MRS during the CSE Phase II, but munitions debris (i.e., bullet) was discovered. Clay target debris was also observed. Lead was detected above human health screening criteria in surface and subsurface soil. The PAHs were also detected in subsurface soils above human health screening criteria. Lead was detected in surface soil above ecological screening criteria, however the site does not support habitat for ecologically sensitive species.

The ROD selected a removal action to address elemental lead and PAHs in soil that present a potential threat to human health or the environment. The ROD and work plan to conduct removal activities were approved in February 2018 and October 2017, respectively. Removal (see Photo 3) and restoration activities are currently underway and will achieve SC upon approval of the final completion report.

SD001 Gunter Annex Site Drainage

SD-001, Gunter Annex Site Drainage, includes three geographically separate areas that were believed to contribute contaminants to stormwater contamination. Each area is described in the subsections below.

Area 1 – Gunter Ditch

Area 1 is located adjacent to the northwestern corner of Gunter Annex and is situated on property owned by the Alabama Department of Corrections.

Contaminated soil/sediments were treated in 2010 and 2011 using in-situ soil blending (ISSB) with sodium persulfate and hydrated lime, followed by confirmation soil sampling and site grading. In addition, a new storm drainage system was installed to replace the existing

open drainage ditch and improve the long term drainage and erosion control, minimize long term maintenance, and eliminate the potential pesticide exposure pathways for ecological receptors.

Confirmation sampling results detected residual pesticide contaminants (chlordane, dieldrin, and heptachlor epoxide) exceeding their respective site-specific ecological clean-up levels. However, since the potential pesticide exposure pathways for ecological receptors was eliminated by restricting drainage flow through the enclosed corrugated double walled pipe and eliminating the contact with any potentially contaminated soil onsite, remediation to residential Regional Screening Levels (RSLs) for soil was deemed applicable.

Furthermore, additional safeguards (i.e. sheet pilings) were put in place to ensure that secondary treatment would not damage the primary engineering control. Based on these safeguards, only three of the pesticide compounds originally detected above the site-specific remediation goals exceeded their respective, applicable residential RSLs for soil: dieldrin, heptachlor epoxide, and chlordane.

Follow-on treatment/cleanup for the Gunter SD-001 Area 1 Site incorporated additional ISSB with sodium persulfate and hydrated lime. The follow-on treatment was applied in February 2014. Confirmatory samples were collected in April 2014 and analytes were below their respective RSLs.

Photo 3. Area 1 Excavation, in-situ soil blending, and drainage construction

Area 2 and Area 3 Area 2 (approximately 10 feet by 10 feet) is a low spot where sediment was deposited by stormwater runoff from a parking lot and industrial areas along the southeastern corner of Gunter Annex. A thin crust of



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sediment was present over an area of approximately 100 square feet. A single sample collected in 2003 indicated that the sediment contained concentrations of several metals (lead and mercury), the Semi-volatile Organic Compound (SVOC) bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, and organochlorine pesticides in excess of ecological risk screening criteria. The USAF proceeded with the removal of the sediment buildup by excavating to shallow depths and disposing of the excavated material.

Area 3 (approximately 3 to 4 cubic feet) is a storm drain sump near Morris Avenue, near the western edge of Gunter Annex. An accumulation of organic debris and sediment was present in the sump when the risk assessment samples were collected. The sediment sample contained concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (4,4’-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane [DDD], 4,4’-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene [DDE], 4,4’-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane [DDT], and chlordane [alpha, gamma, and technical]) in excess of ecological risk screening criteria. The USAF proceeded with the removal of sediment buildup in the sump and resampled sediment after three months of buildup. The sample contained high concentrations of pesticides and additional remedial actions by excavating the soils around the existing outlet of the storm drain and developing earthen swales downstream were completed. Within the excavation area, a concrete sediment trap was also constructed to discharge water at the pre-existing grade of the base of the drainage to further improve sediment retention instead of migrating downstream.

Area 1, 2, and 3 Site Closeout (SC)

A completion report requesting NFA for Area 1, 2, and 3 was submitted to ADEM in January 2017 and a letter of concurrence was received in June 2017. A completion report, with a revised title, requesting NFA was submitted in August 2017 and approved by ADEM in April 2018. A Proposed Plan for NFA was submitted in February 2018 and was approved by ADEM in April 2018. The ROD for NFA is being prepared. Site closure is anticipated in 2019.

The Community Involvement Plan Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex welcome and encourage community participation throughout the ERP process. To ensure that the needs of the community are recognized and addressed, Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex maintains a Community Involvement Plan (CIP), located at the Montgomery City – County Public Library (Juliette Hampton Morgan Memorial Library). The CIP for Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex was updated in October 2017.

An integral part of the environmental restoration program; the Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex CIP is designed to foster an open channel of communication between the USAF and the community.

To assist area residents, interested groups, and local organizations in providing input into the cleanup process, the Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex CIP is structured to allow modifications to be made in response to the changing needs of the community. As such, it is a living document.

A Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) was initiated to disseminate information about Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex’s ERP and to ensure opinions about environmental restoration reflect diverse interests within the community and currently meets twice per year. However, public involvement with the RAB has been minimal. Therefore, an alternative to a RAB is a Technical Review Committee (TRC) which would meet every two years or as necessary and/or required. A survey has been developed to determine if there is enough public interest to continue the RAB or if Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex should replace the existing RAB with a TRC. The survey has been made available for a limited time and for those who wish to participate, the address for the website is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6QLHVC8

Administrative Record Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex maintains an Administrative Record, a legal compilation of significant correspondence and reports regarding environmental restoration activities. Consisting of non-circulating documents, the Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex Administrative Record is maintained in the Base Environmental Restoration section. Documents can also be accessed at the USAF’s Administrative Record online at the following address:

http://afcec.publicadmin-record.us.af.mil/

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6QLHVC8

http://afcec.publicadmin-record.us.af.mil/



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Information Repository An Information Repository is a set of documents that contain important facts about environmental restoration program such as those at Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex. The Information Repository typically contains the same documents found in the Administrative Record. However, the Information Repository is not a legal record. It is intended to provide the public with an additional source of information about environmental restoration activities at the Bases. The Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex Information Repository is located at the Juliette Hampton Morgan Memorial Library

For More Information To learn more about the Environmental Restoration Program at Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex, contact:

Eric Sharman Public Affairs Office

55 LeMay Plaza South, Suite 201 Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6335

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