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EPA LISTS ALAMEDA NAS AS SUPERFUND SITE

Release Date: 7/22/1999
Contact Information: Leo Kay, U.S. EPA, (415) 744-2201

     SAN FRANCISCO   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.

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