Fritzsche Army Airfield Fire Drill Area (FDA) was established in 1962 as a training area for the Fort Ord Fire Department. As part of training activities, fuel was discharged from an onsite storage tank into a pit, ignited, and then extinguished. Training activities at the FDA were discontinued in 1985 and the associated structures were removed. As Fort Ord's first site investigation, studies concluded that soil and groundwater cleanups were required in this area. About 4,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil was removed to clean this area. The former fire drill area was then backfilled with clean fill. In addition to the soil cleanup, a water treatment facility was constructed in 1988 in order to remediate TCE and other related groundwater contaminants. Groundwater cleanup takes a long time to cleanup up since groundwater moves rather slow. It may take as long as 30 years to complete the cleanup. During the operation of the treatment system, the surrounding groundwater is sampled and checked to make sure that the treatment system is operating effectively and properly. Since 1988, water samples have been taken every three months. This information has been compiled into annual reports to show the long-term trends of system operation. In addition, large-scale study of all data is summarized in a document called the 5-year review. The quarterly, annual, and five-year review reports are available to the community in the information repositories and within the administrative record. The community, local agencies, as well as the Army have used the information collected in these reports to make sure that the systems are working and also note any trends in water quality.
The Fort Ord Landfill is about 150 acres. The cleanup actions for this site are addressed in two ways. First, a cap has been constructed over the top of the landfill debris. A small, approximately 25-acre area of the landfill (called area A) was excavated then hauled to another part of the landfill to consolidate the debris in a smaller area. This soil consolidation action allowed for clean closure of that 25-acre area of former landfill, which is now available for unrestricted use. The remaining areas of the large landfill (Areas B, C, D and F) have been completely closed by the construction of a cap. A seven acre portion of Area E is covered with an interim cap, but will be completely closed pending completion of soil excavation actions at Site 39. In addition to soil cleanup, a groundwater treatment facility was constructed in 1995 to remediate groundwater under the area of the landfill. Remediation is expected to take about 30 years. During the operation of the treatment system, groundwater is sampled to make sure that the treatment system is operating effectively and properly. Since 1995, water samples have been taken every three months. This information has been compiled into quarterly and annual reports to show the long-term trends of system operation. In addition, large-scale study of all data is summarized in a document called the 5-year review. The community, local agencies, as well as the Army have used the information collected in these reports to make sure that the systems are working and also note any trends in water quality, like sea water intrusion.
Lower 180-foot aquifer: Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA).
A pilot test system was installed in late 2007 to refine the design of the in-situ bioremediation system. Based on the successful results from the pilot test an remedial action plan was developed for full system build-out that should be completed in 2010/2011. Remedial action will likely take 15 years for bioremediation, based on groundwater modeling. An additional extraction well will be installed in late 2010 that will be used to capture contaminated groundwater in the upper 180-foot aquifer and treated in the Fort Ord Landfill. Monitored Natural Attenuation will require the installation of four additional monitoring wells in the lower 180/400-foot aquifers, with monitoring continuing for at least 30 years or longer.
Site 1 - Ord Village Sewage Treatment Plant
Site 1 is the former Ord Village Sewage Treatment Plant in the southwest corner of Fort Ord within the coastal dunes. Sewage treatment operations ceased in 1964; currently, the facility is used as a pump station. Potential chemicals of interest include petroleum hydrocarbons, VOCs, SOCs, mercury and other metals, fecal coliform, and nitrates. The cleanup of the site included excavation of the sludge drying beds and additional soil excavations in areas noted in the original site investigation. All cleanup is complete and pending approval from regulatory agencies. The proposed cleanup actions for this area were outlined and advertised to the community in a 1997 memo. The soil was excavated under the interim action process.
Site 2 - Main Garrison Sewage Treatment Plant
The Main Garrison Sewage Treatment Plant (MGSTP) occupies an unpaved area of approximately 28 acres west of Range Road between Trainfire Range No. 9 and Stilwell Hall. The former treatment facility is fenced and contains a few buildings and two large trickling filters. Outside of the fenced area are three unlined sewage ponding areas and 10 asphalt-lined sludge-drying beds. The MGSTP was the primary sewage treatment facility for Fort Ord, serving the majority of the housing areas and the main industrial areas from the late 1930s until May 1990 when it was decommissioned. During operation, effluent from the MGSTP was discharged under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to a storm drain that emptied onto Indianhead Beach during low tide and discharged to Monterey Bay during high tide. Sewage from Fort Ord now flows via gravity feed to a pumping station in Marina and is then pumped to the Monterey Regional Treatment Plant (MRTP), also in Marina. The excavation of contaminated soil is complete. This is also the area of the third groundwater treatment facility for Fort Ord. It has been constructed to remediate groundwater contamination under Sites 2 and 12. Water sampling, system operation, and water quality is checked every quarter to make sure that the system is operating correctly. This system is expected to require more than 30 years to complete the groundwater cleanup. Since it is located and currently operates so close to the ocean, the Army must be careful to avoid any seawater intrusion with additional pumping actions.
Sites 2/12
Sites 2 and 12 were combined into one site after the first phase of the Remedial Investigation (RI) activities because of the similar groundwater contamination identified both at and between the two sites. See the section on Site 12 for a description of the soil investigation. Details of this combined site investigation, excavation, and groundwater remediation are outlined in the preceding paragraph.
Site 3
Site 3, Beach Trainfire Ranges, extends approximately 3.2 miles along the coastline of Monterey Bay at the western boundary of Fort Ord. It has been used for small arms trainfire since the 1940s. In general, trainees fired from firing lines on the eastern portion of the site toward targets spaced at varying intervals to the west. Spent ammunition accumulated on the east-facing (leeward) sides of the sand dunes that formed the "backstops" for the targets. Site 3 is proposed for reuse as a state park consisting of hiking trails, campgrounds, and ancillary facilities. Boardwalks through the dunes will connect parking lots on the eastern portion of the site with the beach to the west. The excavation of contaminated soil on this site is complete. Actions still to be completed include post remediation risk assessments for both ecological and human health, which will be available for public review. In addition, the Army will complete a proposed plan, public comment period, and Record of Decision addressing ecological risk at this site.
Site 4 - Beach Stormwater Outfalls
Site 4 originally consisted of three stormwater outfalls that discharge surface runoff from various areas of the base directly to the coastal dunes. This site was investigated as part of the Basewide Surface Water Outfall Investigation. The recommendation for no further action was included in the 1995 Remedial Investigation Proposed Plan and Record of Decision.
Site 5 - Open Detonation / Open Burning Area
Site 5 is an area that was used for open detonation / open burning while the impact ranges were active at Fort Ord. All cleanup actions for this site are pending closure under the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). As such, the work at this site was pulled out of the CERCLA process and actions will be completed thought the RCRA process. A No Action memo was issued and approved for this site. The community will have an opportunity to comment on the RCRA closure plan for this area.
Site 6 - Range 39, Abandoned Car Dump
Site 6 is an approximately 400-foot by 1,000-foot undeveloped parcel 1.5 miles southeast of the intersection of Eucalyptus and Parker Flats roads, within the multi-range area, where vehicles, scrap metal, and other items were dumped. All contaminated soil in this area has been removed. This cleanup work was completed through the Interim Action process.
Site 7 - Ranges 40 / 41 Fire Demonstration Area
Site 7, an undeveloped parcel of property in Ranges 40 and 41 in the Impact Area, was reportedly used for fire and smoke demonstrations. According to an interview with the Fort Ord Directorate of Logistics (DOL), trenches were excavated and flammable materials (mostly gasoline) were placed in the trenches, ignited, and subsequently extinguished. The trenches were reportedly backfilled. Potential concerns associated with the reported activities are the trench locations and the potential for flammable chemicals in underlying soil and groundwater. This site was determined to be a duplicate of Site 9. Site 9 was initially identified as another area where some training was done. Subsequent research led to the conclusion that Site 7 and Site 9 were two names for the same area. Site 7 was deleted from the list and Site 9 was incorporated into Site 39.
Site 8 - Range 49, Molotov Cocktail Range
Site 8, an undeveloped parcel at Inland Range 49, is a former training area where troops practiced using Molotov cocktails. Contamination associated with Site 8 is flammable liquid (possibly leaded gasoline, transmission oil, and motor oil) in soils adjacent to the two armored vehicles that were used as practice targets for the Molotov cocktails. All contaminated soils were removed under the interim action process.
Site 9
Site 9 was incorporated into Site 39.
Site 10 - Burn Pit
Site 10 is a former burn pit approximately 160 feet south of the Fort Ord Fire Station in the Main Garrison. The site is an unlined, rectangular pit (approximately 45 feet long, 25 feet wide, and 2 feet deep) into which flammable liquids were placed, ignited, and subsequently extinguished for firefighting training. A 2-inch diameter pipe apparently was used to regulate fluid levels in the pit, and a narrow drainage ditch exits the pit to the south. The southern portion of the 2-inch-diameter pipe is buried within surface soils. The pit is no longer in use and is partially overgrown with grass. All contaminated soils have been removed and the cleanup of this site is complete, as required by the interim action process.
Site 11 - AAFES Fueling Station
Site 11, the AAFES Main Service Station, is in the Main Garrison. The site consists of a garage for automotive engine work, a small store for auto supplies and sundries, and an active gas station that includes six gasoline underground storage tanks, one waste oil underground storage tank, and one oil/water separator. This site has completed the no action process. Subsequent cleanup actions have been completed as required under regulations governing underground storage tanks.
Site 12
Potential developments planned for Site 12 include a central business district, light industrial areas, a high-technology business park, a transit center, retail businesses, medium-to-high-density residential areas, and a school. The four major areas of Site 12 are described below. Results of the soil cleanup are reported in the Remedial Action Confirmation Report for Site 12, issued in 1999.
Lower Meadow
The Lower Meadow is a grassy field of approximately 2 acres east of Highway 1 near the Twelfth Street gate. The site is bounded to the east by the DOL Automotive Yard and to the west by First Avenue. The Lower Meadow is approximately 5 feet lower than the DOL Automotive Yard and receives runoff from it. Several drainpipes (including Outfall 31) are in the southeast corner and the eastern side of the site. It is uncertain if the pipes were designed as drainage lines. No buildings are in the Lower Meadow. The Lower Meadow was previously used to dispose of waste material such as scrap metal, oil, and batteries generated by the DOL. The area also appears to contain road construction waste. In a large-scale soil removal project, all contaminated soils were removed from this area.
The DOL Automotive Yard
The DOL Automotive Yard is east of Highway 1 and northeast of the Southern Pacific Railroad Spur (SPRR) that runs east from First Avenue. The 8.5-acre fenced site is bounded by Twelfth Street to the north and the Lower Meadow to the west. The site includes a paint shop, two wash racks, one temporary hazardous waste container storage area, an oil/water separator, an aboveground storage tank (AST), and several buildings used for automotive repair. The site is paved and slopes gently to the west. Previous site activities included transmission repair, degreasing, engine testing, steam cleaning and washing vehicles, and petroleum/oil/ lubricant (POL) storage. A buried container, which was originally used as a muffler for exhaust from engine testing, may also have been used for liquid waste storage. All tanks were removed and all contaminated soils excavated.
Cannibalization Yard and Industrial Area
The Cannibalization Yard is a small (0.5-acre) paved and fenced area located within the larger (18.5-acre) paved and fenced Industrial Area. The entire 18.5-acre area is bounded by Highway 1 to the west, a baseball field to the east, and Tenth Street to the south. The SPRR spur separates the Industrial Area from the DOL Automotive Yard to the north. The area includes a machine shop, a furniture repair shop, the base laundry, a temporary hazardous waste container storage area, an oil/water separator, and an aboveground storage tank (AST). The Cannibalization Yard was used (from 1964) to disassemble old equipment, primarily decommissioned military vehicles. Used motor oil was collected and stored onsite in 55-gallon drums. Between January 1988 and August 1988, waste oil was stored in a 450-gallon AST in the hazardous waste storage area at the machine shop adjacent to the yard. Other activities included removing from vehicles: gasoline (leaded and unleaded), diesel fuel, brake fluid, asbestos-containing brake shoes and linings, antifreeze/coolants, lead and acid from batteries, lubricating greases, and transmission fluids. Prior to the installation of the oil/water separator at the northeast corner of the yard, runoff from the site flowed down the sloped area northeast of the Cannibalization Yard toward the baseball field. The site is no longer active and, with the large-scale soil removal operations, all soil contamination has been removed.
The Southern Pacific Railroad (SPRR) Spur
The SPRR spur (part of Site 13), an area of approximately 0.8 acres, consists of the right-of-way along a portion of the railroad spur that extends northward from the Southern Pacific Railroad track west of Highway 1 and curves east through an industrial complex. A portion of the railroad track extends east from the main track east of Highway 1, across First Avenue, and between the DOL Automotive Yard and the Cannibalization Yard and surrounding Industrial Area. The rest of the railroad spur was investigated during the characterization of Site 13 and is not discussed here. The relatively flat right-of-way is mostly unpaved except in the areas adjacent to loading docks and where the spur crosses First Avenue. The railroad spur was used to transport troop materials and equipment from the main rail line to storage facilities between the DOL Automotive Yard and the Industrial Area. The SPRR spur is of concern because oil or fuel spirits may have been sprayed in this area for dust control. The soil cleanup in this area has also been completed.
Site 13 - Railroad Right-of-Way
Site 13 is a 5,000-foot-long railroad spur and right-of-way adjacent to an industrial area in the Main Garrison. Third Street, Eleventh Street, Highway 1, and First Avenue bound the site. The railroad tracks head north (immediately east of and paralleling Highway 1) then curves eastward into the industrial area. This site was included in the no action process and has completed that process.
Site 14 - 707th Maintenance Facility
Site 14 is an approximately 19-acre area at the northwest corner of the intersection of 3rd Street and 6th Avenue in the Main Garrison. The site was used as a maintenance and fueling facility for military vehicles, beginning in the early 1950s. Potential areas of concern include gasoline, diesel, and waste oil at underground storage tanks; hazardous materials storage areas; grease racks; wash racks, and oil/water separators. Through a series of soil excavation actions, all contamination has been removed. All underground storage tanks in this area have been removed and clean-closed. The cleanup of this site is complete and the community was requested to comment on the cleanup through the Interim Action process.
Site 15 - Directorate of Engineering and Housing (DEH) Yard
Site 15, the DEH Yard, is an approximately 10-acre, developed parcel in the Main Garrison. The site consists mainly of administration buildings, with some areas used for light industry and/or storage. Soil, contaminated with pesticides and metal, has been excavated and removed from this area in accordance with the Interim Action process. The area is clean and community input was solicited through the process outlined by the Interim Action Record of Decision.
Site 16
Site 16 consists of the DOL Maintenance Yard, Pete's Pond, and Pete's Pond Extension. Site 17 consists of a Disposal Area and other areas. Sites 16 and 17 were combined into one site after the first phase of the Remedial Investigation (RI) activities because of the similar contamination identified at both sites. For future land use planning, part of Site 16 has been designated to be part of a 40-acre parcel that will contain public agency corporation yards for the city of Marina, the county of Monterey, and the Monterey-Salinas Transit District. The three areas of investigation at Site 16 are described below.
DOL Maintenance Yard
The DOL Maintenance Yard was used as a heavy equipment maintenance facility since the 1950s. The yard consists of an approximately 4.5-acre facility containing five buildings, a steam cleaner shed, a wash rack and associated oil/water separator, and a diesel fuel aboveground storage tank.
Pete's Pond Extension
Pete's Pond Extension consists of a vacant area of approximately 3.5 acres between the DOL Maintenance Yard, Fifth Avenue, and the Fifth Avenue Cut-Off. Before the remedial investigation, trenching performed in this area to repair a stormwater drain encountered stained soils and debris including concrete, rusted ordnance (old bazooka round), a toy wagon, and other scrap metal. Evidence of earthwork and potential dumping was also observed in historical aerial photographs reviewed during Phase 1 of the remedial investigation.
Pete's Pond
Pete's Pond consists of an approximately 3.3-acre triangular depression between Fifth Avenue, the Fifth Avenue Cut-Off, and Eighth Street. Six storm drains discharge to Pete's Pond; although the depression is dry most of the year, it occasionally fills with up to 5 feet of water for short periods of time during heavy rainfall.
A large-scale soil removal action was completed as outlined in the Remedial Investigation Site Proposed Plan and Record of Decision, published in 1995. Cleanup of this site is now complete. The results of the soil cleanup were reported in the Remedial Action Confirmation Report for Site 16/17, issued in 1999.
Site 17
This area, proposed by the California State University (CSU) as part of the site for its new Monterey Bay campus, includes mostly developed lands of the former Main Garrison of Fort Ord. This area is adjacent to Site 16 and, all cleanup activities and community involvement activities are included in the discussion above.
Site 18 - 1600 Block Facility
Site 18, the 1600 Block Facility in the Main Garrison is a multipurpose complex that includes maintenance and support facilities for motor pool vehicles, the DOL Busworks Yard, and several light industrial buildings. Potential areas of concern are current and former underground storage tanks (waste oil, diesel, and gasoline), six wash racks with associated oil/water separators, five grease racks, drum storage areas at the DOL Busworks Yards and the Training and Audiovisual Service Center (TASC) Plastics Shop, and a dry well at the TASC Graphics Shop. Approximately 99 percent of the site is covered with either asphalt or concrete. Investigation determined that this site required no further action. All community and regulatory notifications as outlined by the No Action Record of Decision have been completed.
Site 19 - 2200 Block Facility
Site 19, the 2200 Block Facility in the Main Garrison, is 90 percent paved and consists of storage, administration, and light industrial buildings. Three potential areas of concern are: Building T-2241 (the photographic laboratory, formerly the telephone and telegraph building), where wastes were reportedly discharged through a floor drain into a suspected dry well beneath the building; Building T-2251, where an oily substance reportedly flowed to a drain east of the building during wet weather; and Building T-2253 (a former gasoline service station), where one soil sample collected during tank removal activities in 1991 contained TPH constituents. Investigation determined that this site required no further action. All community and regulatory notifications as outlined by the No Action Record of Decision have been completed.
Site 20 - South Parade Ground and 3800 and 519th Motor Pools
Site 20 is in the Main Garrison and consists of the 9.5-acre South Parade Ground, the 27-acre troop training area west of the parade ground, the 6-acre 3800 Motor Pool, and the 20-acre 519th Motor Pool. With completion of the notification process as outlined for the eligible Interim Action sites, contaminated soils were excavated. The cleanup of this area is complete.
Site 21 - 4400/4500 Block Motor Pool East
Site 21, the 4400/4500 Block Motor Pool East, was used for motor vehicle service, maintenance, and storage and is in the eastern portion of the Main Garrison. Potential areas of concern include a 400-gallon gasoline fuel spill near Building 4495 that occurred in 1979, six oil/water separators, a concrete-lined canal and its unpaved discharge area, nine wash racks and nine grease racks, and twenty current and former underground storage tanks. The cleanup of this site is complete. The proposed cleanup of this site was completed as outlined by the Interim Action process.
Site 22 - 4400/4500 Block Motor Pool West
Site 22, the 4400/4500 Block Motor Pool West, was used for motor vehicle service, maintenance, and parking and is in the eastern portion of the Main Garrison. Potential areas of concern include 16 current and former underground storage tanks, a fueling facility, maintenance shops, four grease racks, and three oil/water separators. The cleanup of this site was completed through the interim action process. As required by the Interim Action process the community was notified of the proposed site cleanup and had the opportunity to review and comment on this cleanup process.
Site 23 - 3700 Block Motor Pool Complex
Site 23, the 3700 Block Motor Pool Complex, is an approximately 19-acre parcel in the eastern portion of the Main Garrison where vehicle maintenance activities were performed. Potential areas of concern include six former underground storage tanks, three former grease racks, three oil/sand interceptors with oil/sand separators, and three hazardous waste storage sheds. A previous investigation consisted of drilling three soil borings and installing three monitoring wells. The borings were at the former underground storage tanks, and the monitoring wells were along the east site boundary, in the central portion of the site, and along the west site boundary to determine the groundwater flow direction. Investigation determined that this site required no further action, and this site completed all community and regulatory notifications as outlined by the No Action Record of Decision.
Site 24 - Old Directorate of Engineering and Housing (DEH) Yard
Site 24 is a grassy vacant lot (including a 1/4-mile jogging track); however, the site is the location of the former DEH Yard and a former plant nursery within the Main Garrison. Areas within Site 24 that may have been potential sources of contamination include a maintenance facility, a grease rack, drum and asphalt storage areas, aboveground tanks, and the nursery. With the removal of the contaminated soil and buried drums at this site, the cleanup of this site is complete. The proposed cleanup of this site was completed as outlined by the Interim Action process.
Site 25 - Former Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO)
Site 25, the DRMO, is a vacant, unpaved, 11-acre field in the Main Garrison. The site was used for storage of decommissioned equipment, including electrical transformers, from 1950 to 1972. Miscellaneous materials such as waste oil, diesel fuel, and possibly solvents may have also been stored onsite; however, there are conflicting reports about such storage. Before 1950, the site served as a prisoner-of-war camp and included officers' quarters, a mess hall, a warehouse complex, and an administrative building. Since 1972, the site has periodically been used for military training and heavy vehicle/equipment parking. The sampling results from the site investigation indicate that this area meets the criteria for a no action site. The recommendation for no further action was included in the Remedial Investigation Sites Proposed Plan (issued in 1995) and the Record of Decision, signed in 1997.
Site 26 - Sewage Pump Stations, Buildings 5871 and 6143
The Imjin sewage pump station is in Building 5871, and the Clark sewage pump station is in Building 6143. Both buildings are southwest of the Fritzsche Army Airfield. There have been eight documented sewage spills from these stations since 1988; however, soil contamination from the sewage spills is not expected. Investigation determined that this site required no further action. The recommendation that this site be eligible for no further action was presented to the community for review and comment, as required by the no action process.
Site 27 - Army Reserve Motor Pool
Site 27, the Army Reserve Motor Pool, is immediately south of the former Fritzsche Army Airfield (FAAF). Potential areas of concern are the wash rack and the associated oil/water separator, a 500-gallon waste oil underground storage tank, and a hazardous materials storage area. The assessments of the existing waste oil underground storage tank and the hazardous materials storage area are being handled under the current underground storage tank management program and the RCRA-type facility program (Section 5), respectively. Investigation determined that this site required no further action and the details of this determination were announced through the process issued by the No Action Record of Decision.
Site 28 - Barracks and Main Garrison Area
Site 28 consists of three buildings in the Main Garrison Area: the Visual Information Center (Building T-2842), the Photo Developing Unit (Building T-2850), and the Print Shop (Building T-2353). Potential chemicals of concern associated with Site 28 include solvents, PCE, and chemicals used for photograph development. Investigation determined that this site required no further action. The details of this determination were issued through the process required by the No Action Record of Decision.
Site 29 - Defense Reutilization Marketing Office
Site 29, the Defense Reutilization Marketing Office, is in the East Garrison and centers around Buildings 110 and 111, where polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) containing transformers may have been stored in the past, and an unpaved field adjacent to the DRMO hazardous materials storage area. Potential contaminants are PCB-containing waste oil, metals, and PCBs. Investigation determined that this site required no further action. A Draft Closure Plan was mailed to community members on the community relations mailing list on February 23, 2000. A presentation on the draft plan was made at the March 8, 2000 Community Involvement Workshop. The public comment period for the Plan was March 1 to March 30, 2000.
Site 30 - Driver Training Area
Site 30, the Driver Training Area, is a partially developed parcel in the East Garrison. Former facilities at the site representing potential areas of concern include a former grease rack with stained surface soils, a former gasoline station with two underground storage tanks and an abandoned wash rack. The cleanup of and appropriate community notifications for this site were completed in accordance with the process outlined in the Interim Action Record of Decision.
Site 31 - East Garrison Dump
Site 31 is in the southern part of the East Garrison area adjacent to a ravine. This is a dumpsite allegedly used during the 1940s and 1950s. During this time, refuse was wholly or partially incinerated in a 500-ton incinerator, which was adjacent to a very steep ravine covered with poison oak. The contamination in this area was carefully and completely removed in accordance with the preferred remedy outlined in the Remedial Investigation Sites Record of Decision (1997). The cleanup of this site is complete. The results of the cleanup of this site are reported in the Remedial Action Confirmation Report for Site 31 (1999).
Site 32 - East Garrison Sewage Treatment Plant
Site 32, the East Garrison Sewage Treatment Plant in the northern portion of the East Garrison, consists of sludge beds, a percolation pond, and Dotton-sedimentation tanks. Potential contaminants include TPH as gasoline (TPHg), TPHd, VOCs, metals, fecal coliform bacteria, and nitrogen. The contaminated soils at this site were excavated and removed as required by the provisions of the Interim Action Record of Decision.
Site 33 - Golf Course
Site 33 consists of a pesticide mixing area, an unpaved surface drainage adjacent to the mixing area, and a former storage area at the golf course, in the southwest portion of Fort Ord. Potential chemicals of concern are pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and metals. Investigation determined that this site required no further action. This decision was documented in the Remedial Investigation site proposed plan and Record of Decision (1997).
Site 34 - Fritzsche Army Airfield (FAAF) Fueling Facility
Site 34 is the former Fritzsche Army Airfield Fueling Facility and developed areas. Potential areas of concern include four helicopter wash aprons, one vehicle wash rack, and associated oil/water separators at various locations. Helicopters were cleaned at the wash aprons using solvent solutions, and vehicles were cleaned at the wash rack using soap and water. Each wash apron or wash rack is a relatively large, 12-inch-thick concrete pad where helicopters or vehicles were washed. Each pad either sloped inward toward a central drain or sloped uniformly in the direction of a perimeter drain adjacent to an associated oil/water separator. The contaminated soil was excavated in accordance with the remedy outlined in the Interim Action Record of Decision, and additional soil contamination resulting from former underground storage tanks was removed. The underground storage tanks and contaminated soil has been removed and the cleanup is complete.
Site 35 - Fritzsche Army Airfield (FAAF) Aircraft Cannibalization Yard
Site 35, the FAAF Aircraft Cannibalization Yard, is an approximately 11-acre undeveloped area across which aircraft debris has been scattered, west of the northern portion of the FAAF. The FAAF burn pit is approximately 800 feet north of the site. Debris consisted of helicopter and small plane fuselages, jet engines, and wing sections. Potential contaminants associated with the site are engine oils and fuels that may have leaked from the aircraft parts and possibly solvents from aircraft cannibalization activities. Investigation determined that this site required no further action. The community had the opportunity to review and comment on the eligibility of this site for no further action in the process outlined in the No Action Record of Decision.
Site 36 - Fritzsche Army Airfield (FAAF) Sewage Treatment Plant
Site 36 is the inactive FAAF Sewage Treatment Plant near the northern border of Fort Ord. The facility consists of an Imhoff tank, two evaporation ponds, and two sludge beds. Potential contaminants include TPHg, TPHd, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), metals, fecal coliform bacteria, and Kjeldahl nitrogen. The contaminated soil in this area was cleaned in accordance with the Interim Action Record of Decision and all the cleanup related to this site is now complete. The community had the opportunity to comment on the cleanup through the process outlined in the Interim Action Record of Decision.
Site 37 - Trailer Park Maintenance Shop
Site 37, the Trailer Park Maintenance Shop, is near the northwest portion of Fort Ord and serves as the maintenance storage yard for the adjacent trailer park. Potential areas of concern are the waste oil drum storage area, degraded and stained asphalt at a former location of an aboveground tank, and the storm drain inlet that collects runoff from the site. Investigation determined that this site required no further action. Community comments regarding the categorization of this site as a no action area were solicited through the process described in the No Action Record of Decision.
Site 38 - AAFES Dry Cleaners
Site 38 is a dry cleaning facility in the Main Garrison. The site consisted of three underground storage tanks, all of which have been removed. Investigation determined that this site required no further action and the details of this site designation were provided to the community for review and comment as required by the No Action Record of Decision outreach process.
Site 39 - Impact Area
Site 39 is in the southwest portion of Fort Ord and includes the Inland Ranges (approximately 8,000 acres) and the 2.36-inch rocket range (approximately 50 acres). The inland ranges were used since the early 1900s for military munitions training exercises. Over the years, various types of military munitions have been used or found in these ranges including hand grenades, mortars, rockets, mines, artillery rounds, and small arms rounds. Sampling results indicated that explosive compounds, organic compounds and the metals lead, and beryllium have been detected in shallow soils near firing areas. Currently, these contaminated soils are being excavated. Additional actions, such as military munitions cleanup are addressed through the military munitions program.
Site 39A - East Garrison Ranges
The East Garrison Ranges are on the west side of the East Garrison. They include three small-bore shooting ranges (EG-1, EG-2, and EG-3), a skeet range, and a target area that appears to have been part of a moving target range that was decommissioned many years ago. Weapons use was limited to pistols (.45 caliber or less) at Ranges EG-1 and EG-2 and to small-bore (.22 caliber) rifles at Range EG-3. Bullets were fired at targets 25 or 50 meters away and became embedded in the hillsides at the back of the range. The skeet range was primarily a recreational shooting range for trap and skeet. Potential contaminants are arsenic, antimony, copper, and lead associated with spent ammunition and PAHs from clay pigeons that contain 32 percent petroleum pitch (asphalt). Soil has been excavated. The community was provided an opportunity to review and comment on the cleanup as required by the Interim Action memo approval process. The cleanup of this area is complete.
Site 39B - Inter-Garrison Training Area
Site 39B is located east of the Main Garrison south of Inter-Garrison Road between Eighth Avenue and Abrams Drive. On April 14, 1994, an unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance crew found a small container while excavating a site. Two crewmembers became dizzy and nauseated. The crew also noted metal debris and odors at a second location within 50 feet of the containers. An emergency response action was initiated to treat the UXO crew and secure the site. Other items found in the vicinity of the incident included oil filters, scrap metal, paint cans, engines, and ammunition canisters. A time-critical removal action was completed in August 1994 and contamination was determined to be lead, oil and grease, and diesel fuel. The soil contamination in this area has been excavated in accordance with the Interim Action Record of Decision. The community was notified and requested to comment on the cleanup plan for this area in accordance with the process outlined in the Interim Action Record of Decision.
Site 40 - Fritzsche Army Airfield (FAAF) Helicopter Defueling Area
Site 40, the FAAF Helicopter Defueling Areas, is near Building 533 in the northwest portion of the FAAF. According to interviews with Building 533 employees, four separate potential areas of concern have been identified as locations where helicopters have been defueled or where chemicals associated with helicopter maintenance may have been released. One of these areas was also a suspected landfill site. The cleanup of this site is complete as outlined by the Interim Action process. The community was provided an opportunity to review and comment on the cleanup through the Interim Action memo approval process.
Site 41 - Crescent Bluff Fire Drill Area
Site 41 - consists of four small fire-fighting training pits that were recently identified during personnel interviews; they are on a bluff approximately 0.75 mile southeast of the East Garrison. The training pits are overgrown and contain ponded water during the wet season. Potential contaminants are flammable liquids (e.g., fuels and solvents). The contaminated soil in this area was excavated and removed in accordance with the Interim Action Record of Decision and all the cleanup related to this site is now complete. The community had the opportunity to comment on the cleanup through the outreach process outlined in the Interim Action Record of Decision.
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Groundwater in the Fort Ord aquifer system has been impacted by base activities and by seawater intrusion resulting from the pumping of groundwater for water supply and agricultural purposes. These two water quality conditions are summarized in the following sections.
The OU2 landfill is located north and south of Imjin Road in the Main Garrison Area. Area A, the landfill area north of Imjin Road and the only one which had surface developments (military housing units, recreation sites etc.) covers approximately 25 acres. The landfill areas south of Imjin Road, Areas B through F, encompass approximately 93 acres of undeveloped land. They were covered by uneven sand dunes and grass, shrubs and bushes. Surrounding land uses include former military training areas and military housing developments close to or encroaching upon the landfill areas.
FTO-044, the Operable Unit Carbon Tetrachloride Plume (OU-CTP), is located in the north-central portion of Fort Ord. Based upon some limited historical information, electronics maintenance activities existed in the north-central part of the former Fort Ord during the 1950s. Carbon tetrachloride appears to have been discharged to the ground after it was used to clean radio parts. Construction of base housing occurred in the area from the 1980s to the early 1990s. Data collected for the site investigation for inclusion in the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study indicated that carbon tetrachloride had migrated through the soil to groundwater. A soil vapor extraction system installed as a pilot study has successfully removed remaining soil vapor contamination.