THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 26, 1995 TAG: 9502250092
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
The following letter was written by the Environmental Protection Agency to U.S. Rep. Norman Sisisky in regard to the Tidewater Community College - Portsmouth campus.
Honorable Norman Sisisky
Member, House of Representatives
309 County Street, Suite 204
Portsmouth, Virginia 23704
Thank you for your letter of Dec. 12, 1994 on behalf of your constituent regarding (constituent's) concern about potential contamination at the Tidewater Community College, Frederick Campus site, in Suffolk, Va. The known contamination issues surrounding the TCC campus are most likely attributable to the past practices of the Department of Defense in that the parcel of land now operated by TCC was once part of the former Nansemond Ordnance Depot (NOD), also referred to as the Pig Point Ordnance Depot (PPOD).
The former NOD consisted of 975.3 acres, of which roughly 579 acres are now occupied by TCC. The former PPOD was constructed in 1917 for the purpose of munitions storage and shipment of munitions overseas during World War I (WWI). Between WWI and WWII, the PPOD remained an active munitions facility, with activities ranging from preparing ammunition for storage to disposing of unserviceable ammunition by burning. In 1929, the name of the PPOD was changed to NOD. During WWII, the former NOD was an instrumental munitions facility for the Hampton Roads area. At the end of WWII, the former NOD again remained active, with activities ranging from reconditioning ammunition to disposal of captured enemy munitions. The former NOD was transferred to the Department of the Navy in 1950, and the name of the facility changed to the Marine Corps Supply Forwarding Annex. The facility was declared excess in 1960.
Numerous historical documents state that tens of thousands of tons of all types of conventional ordnance and chemical warfare munitions were handled at PPOD and NOD, including 155mm chemical shells, three-inch Mark III and Mark IV Stokes Mortar shells, Navy rockets, Navy mines, demolition bombs and various captured enemy chemical munitions returned from overseas. Thus, the potential for ordnance and explosive waste material being discovered at the former NOD exists.
Since 1987, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has had an ongoing involvement with an Army lead removal action at the TCC campus and the Army Corps of Engineers (COE) as a result of the discovery of TNT-contaminated soil near the TCC soccer field. The Army conducted the removal action in accordance with Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP) guidance for Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS). EPA is now planning to conduct an Expanded Site Inspection (ESI) to sample the soils, groundwater and surface water on the site.
(Your constituent) is concerned that the Army has not convened a ``Technical Review Committee'' (TRC) to facilitate public involvement in DERP funded projects, such as the Army removal action at the TCC campus. TRCs are established by the Army at FUDS to promote public participation and disseminate information on ongoing Army environmental restoration activities. We suggest that (your constituent) address concerns surrounding the formation of a TRC for the former NOD to the U.S Army Corps of Engineers in Norfolk, Va., as EPA has no direct involvement with the establish of TRCs. However, EPA can assure (your constituent) that when the region initiates an ESI for the investigation of the fomer NOD, which includes the TCC campus vicinity, public participation will be solicited.
It is likely that an EPA ESI will be initiated during the latter part of 1995. If the ESI results indicate that further investigation is needed, the site will be scored in accordance with the Hazard Ranking System (HRS) to assess the relative threat associated with actual or potential release of hazardous substances. The HRS is the primary screening tool of determining whether a site warrants inclusion on the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL is EPA's list of sites that are priorities for remedial action and, if necessary, response action under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), 42 USC 9601, commonly known as Superfund.
For information about the Army removal action, your constituent may contact Marvin Taylor of the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, who is the manager of the TCC project for the Army. He indicated that Kirk Stevens in the Norfolk District (441-7647) is also familiar with the TCC project and would be another resource for additional information. The EPA contact for the former NOD facility is Robert Thomson (215-597-1110).
EPA shares your concern about this site and appreciates your interest in environmental issues pertaining to the TCC area.
Peter H. Kostmayer
Regional Administrator
Environmental Protection Agency
Philadelphia, Penn. by CNB