Brunswick Environmental Restoration Program Website

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NAS Brunswick Clean-Up Program Overview

The Department of the Navy’s Environmental Program

Federal environmental laws provide the framework for cleanup activities conducted at NAS Brunswick and other Department of the Navy installations. NAS Brunswick’s cleanup activities are specifically driven by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) and the 1984 Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA). Cleanup activities associated with past operations, that ceased after November 1980 and with ongoing hazardous waste management operations are governed by RCRA. Cleanup activities associated with past operations that ceased prior to November 1980, are driven by CERCLA and are being investigated under the Department of the Navy’s Installation Restoration (IR) Program.

In 1975, the United States Department of Defense (DOD) developed a nationwide program to identify and address environmental problems resulting from past operations and waste disposal practices at DOD facilities. Since the early 1980s, the Department of the Navy has been addressing environmental issues from past operations under this program. Originally, the Department of the Navy’s program was referred to as the Department of the Navy Assessment and Control of Installation Pollutants (NACIP) Program. The NACIP Program was modeled after the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Superfund Program authorized by CERCLA. In 1986, the Department of the Navy restructured the NACIP Program into the Installation Restoration (IR) Program to conform to USEPA’s Superfund procedures.

Section 120 of CERCLA addresses procedures to be followed by federal facilities during the investigation and cleanup of environmental problems. To implement CERCLA, the USEPA issued the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) setting forth the guidelines and procedures to respond to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. CERCLA requires the NCP to include a published list of sites selected by the USEPA for priority environmental investigation and response. This compilation of sites is called the National Priorities List (NPL).

The NCP established the Hazard Ranking System (HRS) as a primary mechanism for placing sites on the NPL. The HRS is a numerical ranking system used by the USEPA to identify the level of potential hazards to human health or the environment posed by documented or potential releases of hazardous substances at a site. Numerical values are assigned based on the environmental conditions at a site, and an overall score is calculated. Sites receiving an HRS score of 28.5 or greater are added to the NPL. For federal facilities, if one individual site at an installation has an HRS score of 28.5 or greater, the entire installation is added and subject to the requirements of the NPL.

Following the final listing of a federal facility on the NPL, the negotiation of a Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA) is required. The FFA provides guidelines for the investigation, development, selection, and implementation of response actions at an installation. The FFA requires the development of a Site Management Plan (SMP) or similar document that outlines methodologies and schedules for the performance of environmental response activities.

NAS Brunswick was listed on the NPL on July 22, 1987 under both Federal and State response.

NAS Brunswick’s IR Progress

Past Navy activities (either leaks, spills, or other activities that were acceptable practice at the time) have left behind chemicals in the soil, groundwater, and sediment at certain areas of the Naval Air Station. In total, 26 site/areas of concern have been identified to date at NAS Brunswick and have been, or are being investigated. A Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) consisting of community representatives, as well as State and Federal regulators was formed to advise the Navy on environmental cleanup issues and strategies as NAS Brunswick progresses toward closure as designated under the authority of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act (BRAC).

Since NAS Brunswick was placed on the National Priorities List in 1984, threats on the Base are being addressed via clean-up actions. Long-term monitoring on some areas of the base have begun, and data evaluated yearly. The first and second Five Year Review of all sites was performed in 2000 and 2005. It found that all remedies implemented were protective of human health and the environment, but it recommended several modifications to increase remedy effectiveness. These have been partially completed as of 2007.

Through other environmental programs, the Navy is cleaning up petroleum contamination resulting from the old Navy Fuel Farm and Navy Exchange Service station, and military munitions sites.

Major Reports and Studies:

Five Year Review Report, March 31, 2000 (2.24MB)
Second Five-Year Review Report, September 29, 2005 (44.24MB)