March 18, 2024

Site 31 Remediation Plan Open for Comment

site 31 remediation

The public is invited to comment on the proposed remedial action plan for Site 31 under the Naval Air Station Patuxent River’s Environmental Restoration Program, the Department of the Navy has announced.

Site 31 occupies approximately 1.5 acres and on the southeast margin of the West Patuxent Basin, along the Patuxent River. It consists of cleared land and Building 307, the tire shop.  Building 307 is associated with past use of hazardous substances during its mission of supporting aircraft parts maintenance and testing. Since 1943, the tire shop has been used to clean aircraft tires, repair fiberglass ray domes, paint aircraft ground handling equipment, and test structural parts for signs of failure.

The findings of the remedial investigation and the results of the Non-Time-Critical Removal Action in 2007 for Site 31, which consisted of the soil from a drainage ditch at Site 31, indicate that there is unacceptable risks to human health or the environment remaining in the drainage ditch soil and site wide groundwater. Therefore, “action” for soil and groundwater and “no action” for sediment and surface water is proposed for Site 31 media.

Public comment is open. The comment period closes Nov. 1, 2016. A public meeting is scheduled for 4:30 pm Oct. 19, 2016, at the Frank Knox Employee Development Building in Building 2189’s Room 100 to present the proposed remedial action plan for Site 31 and answer questions.

Proposed remedial action plans are issued as part of the Navy’s Environmental Restoration Program. The purpose of a PRAP is to describe the background and rationale for the selection of the remedy proposed by the Navy and US Environmental Protection Agency. The PRAP includes solicitation of public comments on the remedy.

The public is encouraged to comment on the remedial action plan. The final remedy will be selected only after the public comment period has ended. An alternative remedy may be selected for Site 31 only after all comments have been received from the public.

Relevant environmental documents for Site 31, including final technical reports and the PRAP, are available at the following locations:

  • Naval Air Station Patuxent River library at 222690 Cedar Point Road, Building 407 Patuxent River. 301-342-1927; Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30 am – 4:30 pm, Friday 10 am – 2 pm, Closed Saturday and Sunday
  • St. Mary’s County Public Library  Lexington Park branch at 21677 FDR Boulevard  Lexington Park. 301-863-8188; Hours: Monday-Thursday 9 am – 8 pm, Friday and Saturday 9 am – 5 pm, Sunday 1 – 5 pm

Comments may be written and mailed (postmarked by Nov. 1) to any of the following points of contact:

  • Naval Air Station Patuxent River Public Affairs Officer Attn: Patrick Gordon, 22268 Cedar Point Road Building 409, PAO Patuxent River, MD 20670-1154
  • US EPA Region 3 Attn: Andrew Sochanski, Hazardous Site Cleanup Division 3HS11, 1650 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
  • Maryland Department of the Environment Attn: Rick Grills, Federal Facilities Division Hazardous Waste Program, 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 645 Baltimore, MD 21230-1719

For further information, contact the NAS Pax River public affairs officer at 301-757-3343 between 8 am and 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays.

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