PHILADELPHIA (May 14, 2015) - The E.P.A. announced today that the U.S. Navy has completed Superfund cleanup construction at the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Va. The completion culminates 31 years of investigation and remediation at the major East Coast operating base supporting overseas contingency operations.
Construction completion is the most important Superfund milestone because it means that all physical construction of the cleanup remedies are complete. All immediate threats have been addressed and all long-term threats are under control.
"Thanks to the Navy's hard work, commitment and the excellent working relationship they cultivated with E.P.A. and Virginia, we're able to celebrate only the 2nd construction completion for a Navy facility here in the Mid-Atlantic region," said E.P.A. Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. "The Navy community here at JEB has much to be proud of and look forward to, given that 140 base locations that were once of concern are now protective of people's health and accessible for appropriate reuse, including new recreational areas that will provide personnel and their families places to enjoy for years to come."
Overall, the Navy spent in excess of $40 million on approximately 140 locations known or suspected to be contaminated throughout the facility. Now, the land is accessible to support the Navy's mission, provide environmental benefits to the Chesapeake Bay and also recreational and sporting opportunities for the base and the community.
JEB Little Creek, formerly known as the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, was added to the Superfund National Priorities List in May 1999. Between 1999 and 2015, EPA, the Navy and the Commonwealth of Virginia have worked together to ensure that the cleanup was consistent with current Superfund and Department of Defense guidance.
For each of the 140 sites that were known or suspected to be contaminated, an assessment was performed. At locations where unacceptable risk to human health or the environment was found, action was taken. All of the sites are now accessible to support the Navy's mission; 132 of these sites have no land-use restrictions.
In addition to mitigating human health and environmental risks, the cleanup sought to revitalize areas for beneficial uses and environmental stewardship, such as:
· At one area of the base, waste was removed and replaced with wetlands, nature trails and wildlife observation platforms. This location is on the Chesapeake Bay and attracts birders and hikers.
· An area that was once a 12-acre landfill is now used by the Navy for combat training exercises. On another part of the former landfill, families can now run and play on several ball fields.
· At a six-acre former landfill, the area is now the Eagle Haven Golf Course driving range, where today's event was held. It includes 2 windmills that generate green energy and power an irrigation system to maintain the vegetation on the driving range.
EPA's Mid-Atlantic Regional office has determined that the installations at this facility have met the criteria for being added to EPA's construction completion list.
More information on the location is accessible at: http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/super/sites/VA6170061463/index.htm .
