FIRING SITE AREA

 

SITE DESCRIPTION

The Firing Site area has been in use since the 1940’s for testing of static warheads. The fenced site encompasses about 450 acres and is about one mile from the nearest installation boundary.

In 1947, the IAAAP was selected as the first production facility for manufacturing of high explosives components for weapons under the Atomic Energy Commission. A portion of Line 1, the Explosives Disposal Area sites, Yards C, G and L and the Firing Site Area came under control of the Atomic Energy Commission and their contractor, Silas Mason Company, last known as Mason & Hanger – Silas Mason Co. Inc. The Atomic Energy Commission is also thought to have operated at the SECOM, ERC and Deactivation Furnace Sites. These areas occupied approximately 1,630 acres within the IAAAP and became known as the Burlington Atomic Energy Commission Plant (BAECP). The BAECP closed in July 1975 and control of the areas reverted to the IAAAP under the direction of the Army.

Portions of the Firing Site were under the control of the Atomic Energy Commission from 1948 to 1974. The Atomic Energy Commission operated Sub-Area FS-12 from December 1965 to December 1973. FS-12 was used for destructive testing of ordnance containing depleted Uranium 238 and High Explosives. Area FS-12 was surveyed for radioactivity by the Atomic Energy Commission in 1974 and some contaminated soil was shipped off-site to Sheffield, IL in that same year. In May 2001 a survey conducted by FUSRAP detected numerous fragments of depleted uranium.

The PA/SI was completed in 1991, RI in May 1996 and found radionuclides and metals in soil and groundwater. A Supplemental RI was completed in 2002. 

FUSRAP performed a Preliminary Assessment (published December 2001) of this site and determined it to be a former Atomic Energy Commission area.  In July 2002, the Corps designated this area to be under FUSRAP.

Both radiological and non-radiological contamination attributable to former AEC operations will be addressed by FUSRAP for soils.  FUSRAP will complete a supplemental RI for this site.  FUSRAP will assume responsiblity for cleanup of soils.  A non-ER,A source of funding will address groundwater becuase this is an active site.

This site was transferred to FUSRAP and is considered Response Complete by the IRP.

A revised draft OU3 RI/FS was submitted to EPA for review in April 2008 to address groundwater; the recommendation for groundwater is institutional controls, monitored natural attenuation, and long term monitoring.