The site was finally listed on the NPL on August 30th 1990. The process began on July 13th 1989 and followed the Hazard Ranking System to be listed on the NPL. The site posed a significant health hazard, as it could contaminate the municipal water supplies for Atlantic City. The pollutants in this area are currently held in place by a regional clay layer that separates the shallow groundwater from the deeper groundwater where the municipal wells are located.
The remediation investigation and feasibility study was conducted by TRC Environmental consultants and took approximately 2 years with at least 2 revisions. Currently the area is being addressed under 15 operable units covering 32 areas of concern: The following are the sites located at the FAA Tech Center and are all listed in the NPL LISTING HISTORY
Area D (Jet Fuel Farm):
Area 20A (Salvage Yard):
A ROD was signed September 28, 1990. In addition, an Explanation of Significant Differences was issued on June 16, 1995 to document a change in polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-soil treatment and disposal. Storage of old aircraft parts, trucks and cars, scrap metal and 55-gallon drums resulted in contaminated soil and groundwater in this area. Contaminants of concern include VOCs, BNA extractable compounds, PCBs and metals. The selected remedy includes groundwater extraction with air stripping and excavation and landfill disposal of PCB-contaminated soil. An interim-remedial measure to pump and treat groundwater from the intermediate aquifer has been fully operational since February 1992 and a pump and treat remedy for shallow-aquifer contamination has been operational since September 1996. A removal action of PCB-contaminated soil was completed September 1999.
A ROD was signed September 28, 1990. In addition, an Explanation of Significant Differences was issued on June 16, 1995 to document a change in polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-soil treatment and disposal. Storage of old aircraft parts, trucks and cars, scrap metal and 55-gallon drums resulted in contaminated soil and groundwater in this area. Contaminants of concern include VOCs, BNA extractable compounds, PCBs and metals. The selected remedy includes groundwater extraction with air stripping and excavation and landfill disposal of PCB-contaminated soil. An interim-remedial measure to pump and treat groundwater from the intermediate aquifer has been fully operational since February 1992 and a pump and treat remedy for shallow-aquifer contamination has been operational since September 1996. A removal action of PCB-contaminated soil was completed September 1999.
Area 29 (Fire Training Area):
PCB-contaminated soils with off-site landfill disposal. Excavation of PCB-contaminated soils and construction of the groundwater remedy has been completed. The groundwater remedy has been operational since Summer 2004.
Area B (Navy Fire Test Facility):
A ROD was signed September 20, 1996. The former test facility was used for aircraft fire-training exercises and motor-pool parking. These activities resulted in VOC-contaminated groundwater. The remedy for Area B consists of a groundwater-extraction and treatment system. Construction of the Area B remedy was completed in 2010.
A ROD was signed September 20, 1996. The former test facility was used for aircraft fire-training exercises and motor-pool parking. These activities resulted in VOC-contaminated groundwater. The remedy for Area B consists of a groundwater-extraction and treatment system. Construction of the Area B remedy was completed in 2010.
Area 41 (Fuel Farm and Photo Lab):
A ROD was signed September 27, 2000. Investigations of the nature and extent of contamination at the 14.5 acre area have been expanded to include adjacent areas; identified in a site-wide U.S. Fish and Wildlife study as being contaminated with PCBs. Past activities at a photographic laboratory, fuel farm and impoundment areas have contaminated soils, sediments and groundwater with VOCs, PCBs, pesticides, metals, phthalate esters and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The remedy for Area 41 includes a groundwater-extraction and treatment system as well as removal and capping of contaminated soils and sediment. Construction is expected to be completed in 2011. During pre-remedial soil sampling, a large area adjacent to Area 41 was discovered to be contaminated with PAHs. This area of PAH-contaminated soil will be treated as a separate area of concern with its own ROD.
Area U (Absecon Creek Watershed): Investigations into the nature and extent of mercury contamination in the Absecon Creek Watershed have been completed. Although no source of mercury contamination attributable to historic or current operations has been identified, mercury contaminated sediment has been found in Absecon Creek and two downstream reservoirs. Mercury levels in pickerel and bass from the reservoirs have resulted in a fishing advisory recommending “no consumption”. Fishing is not allowed in either reservoir. Since FAA was able to attribute the mercury contamination to the Naval Air Station which previously occupied the site, responsibility for Area U has been taken over by the Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) program. FUDS plans on submitting an RI report for Area U in 2011.
Area A (Navy R & D Landfill), Area J (Excavation Area near Runway) and Area N (Building 214, Catapult Test Area): Environmental investigations and risk evaluations at these areas demonstrated that contaminant concentrations do not pose a threat to human health or the environment. The EPA signed a ROD on July 22, 1997, which stated no further action for Areas J and N, and continued groundwater monitoring required for Area A.
Area 27 (Fuel Mist Test Area), Area 56 (Abandoned Navy Landfill), Area F (Air Blast Facility), Area R (Trash Dump in the Vicinity of Building 169), and Area S (Excavation West of Tilton Road): A non-time critical removal action at Area 27 took place in the late 1980's, which involved the removal of approximately 800 tons of contaminated soil. Environmental investigations and risk evaluations at these areas demonstrated that contaminant concentrations do not pose a threat to human health or the environment. A ROD for Areas 27, 56, F, R, and S was signed on September 28, 1999 documenting the need for residential land use restrictions as well as continued groundwater monitoring for Areas 56 and R.
Area C (Butler Aviation Fuel Spill), Area H (Salvage Yard near Sewage Treatment Plant) and Area M (Building 202 Gelled Fuel Test Area): Environmental investigations and risk evaluations at these areas demonstrate that contaminant concentrations do not exceed regulatory cleanup criteria. The EPA signed a ROD September 30, 1994 which stated that no remedial action is required, with continued groundwater monitoring at Area C. Monitoring is needed at Area C to insure that a jet-fuel spill at Butler Aviation, located off FAA property, is not impacting the groundwater in this area.
Area G (Transformer Storage Area): A ROD was signed September 30, 1992 to document the decision of no further action. Two non-time critical removal actions of PCB-contaminated soil and concrete took place in the Fall of 1989 and the Spring of 1990. Approximately 62 tons of excavated soil and concrete debris were disposed of in an approved Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) facility.
Area I (Former Incinerator Building) and Area Q (Fire Station): Environmental investigations and risk evaluations at these areas demonstrate that contaminant concentrations do not exceed regulatory cleanup criteria. The EPA signed a ROD August 17, 1994 which stated that no further action required.
Area P (Building 204 Fuel Spill): A non-time critical removal action involving fuel-contaminated soil and ground water took place in June 1987. Approximately 700 tons of soil was excavated, treated and disposed off-site. Environmental investigations and risk evaluations at this area demonstrate that contaminant concentrations do not exceed regulatory cleanup criteria. The EPA signed a ROD February 13, 1997 which stated that no further action is required.
Area E (Building 11 Tank Excavation): A ROD was signed September 26, 2003. Soils and groundwater have been contaminated with petroleum and pesticides. The remedy for Area E includes excavation of contaminated soils, free-product removal of petroleum, and pump and treat of pesticide-contaminated groundwater. The remedy is expected to be implemented in 2011.
Area W Landfill: In 2005, FAA identified the Area W landfill and also discovered a broken glass tube in the area that was consistent with Chemical Agent Identification Sets (CAIS). CAIS contained chemical warfare agents at low concentrations for military training. FAA subsequently constructed a fence around the landfill in 2005. FUDS completed an investigation of Area W landfill in 2006 for chemical warfare agents (CWA) in soil and groundwater and did not detect any CWA. EPA sampled homeowner wells from nearby residences located on English Creek Avenue in 2006 and did not detect any CWA or other contaminants that might have been associated with landfill activities. FUDS has submitted a remedial investigation work plan to investigate the Area W landfill and is expected to complete the investigative work Spring 2011.
Other Areas: Ongoing investigations are being conducted to determine the nature and extent of contamination at other areas at the FAA Technical Center Site. A recently designated Area U was assigned to a mercury investigation on the Absecon Creek Watershed. Based on the results of these investigations additional remedial actions will be selected. The New Jersey Air National Guard (NJANG) began site investigations in November 1991 at four areas of concern which they lease from the FAA Technical Center. FAA and NJANG signed a Memorandum of Agreement in March 1995 outlining the coordination for completion of investigations and remedial activities. NJANG submitted a preliminary report of investigations to the EPA in May 1993. Remedial activities for the NJANG sites have been managed by FAA and with environmental investigations being conducted between 1996 and 2002. In 2003, the Air National Guard took over the management of the cleanup of their sites and has completed remedial investigations of their sites.
