EPA Orders Cleanup at Tyndall Air Force Base

In November, EPA issued an Order under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, RCRA, which requires the Air Force to investigate contamination at the base and take action to clean it up.

Located one mile southeast of Panama City, in Bay County, Tyndall Air Force Base covers 28,823 acres. The base was placed on the EPA Superfund National Priorities List in 1997.

Fighter jets fly over Tyndall Air Force Base. (Photo courtesy U.S. Air Force)

To date, more than 50 sites have been identified on the base as being potentially contaminated, including municipal and industrial waste landfills, areas used for fire training and the explosion of ordnance, fuel storage, pesticide storage and mixing areas, and vehicle maintenance shops.

The contamination includes polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs, pesticides such as DDT, heavy metals, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, residues from exploded ordnance, jet fuel and oil.

These hazarous substances have been found in the soils, sediments, surface waters, and groundwater at the base.

The EPA will review future work at the base to ensure that it is conducted according to regulations and that the cleanup is protective of human health and the environment.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will review the reports, the investigations, and proposed cleanup remedies for the base.

In October 1985, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted sediment sampling throughout St. Andrew Bay, including Fred Bayou - also known as Shoal Point, which is used as a waterway for barges and small ships to deliver products and building supplies.

Analyses identified the presence of DDT and its metabolites, which were detected at levels higher than were found in samples collected from any other locations in the bay.

The Order describes the steps the Air Force must take and the time frames in which to complete those steps, from initiation of an investigation to actual cleanup measures.

In addition to the technical work, the Order requires that the Air Force develop a community relations plan to involve the surrounding community in the cleanup process.

The Air Force began its Installation Restoration Program, IRP, at the base in 1981. Presently, the program consists of 37 IRP sites with 13 active sites - five of which are being investigated under the states petroleum program.

The majority of investigation work at the installation was completed by 2006 and cleanup is scheduled to be in place by 2008-2009. Selected remediation implementation, monitoring and land use restrictions will continue beyond this date.

The goal is to have all response actions other than long term operation or monitoring completed by 2014.

The EPA says technical challenges at this site include groundwater level changes from drought and flooding; technology applications adjustments and controlling contaminant migration during dredging.

The Tyndall is the home base for the 325th Fighter Wing, whose primary mission is to provide air dominance training for F-15C Eagle and F-22 Raptor pilots and maintenance personnel and air battle managers to support the combat Air Force.

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