Contract: USAESCH WorldwideEnvironmental Remediation Services (WERS)

Chemical Warfare Materiel (CWM) Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) at the former Withlacoochee Army Air Field (WAF), FL

This $5.8M CWM RI/FS project was performed under the USAESCH Worldwide Environmental Remediation Services (WERS) contract and executed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Jacksonville District’s Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) program.

The site, located approximately 45 miles west of Orlando, Florida, covers approximately 18,240 acres and is comprised of three Munitions Response Sites (MRSs) within the Richloam Tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest.

Task efforts have been as follows:

• develop work and associated plans;

• conduct technical project planning (TPP) meetings;

• conduct RI/FS field activities in accordance with regulatory guidance and the approved Work Plan;

• submit an RI/FS Report; and

• gain acceptance of a Decision Document for the referenced MRS.

These RI/FS activities have been performed in order to meet the project Data Quality Objectives (DQOs) as defined during the TPP process, and to subsequently characterize the nature and extent of possible CWM and Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC) contamination at the referenced MRS. The data collected has also supported the completion of baseline human health and ecological risk assessments for munitions constituents (MC) in accordance with applicable guidance and regulations.

During field work, USA had to overcome a number of logistical challenges including lack of locally present communications towers (no cell or radio coverage), scheduling field work around hunting seasons, swamp-like terrain with dense undergrowth, and seasonal inclement weather conditions. USA was able to remain on schedule and stay within budget. The successful completion of the field work was mostly due to USA’s extensive coordination and communications with USACE, the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Analytical and Remediation Activity (CARA), Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC), as well as with other regulatory agencies and all stakeholders.