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Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Private Industry Initiate Joint Landmark Approach to Superfund Cleanup

NAVSEA News

By John Peters, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic Division Public Affairs, and Steve Milner, Norfolk Naval Shipyard Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH, Va.--A groundbreaking ceremony held on March 18 marked an innovative partnership in which the federal government and private industry are now working together to clean up a co-mingled Superfund site.

After discussing for years contamination on the adjoining properties along the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River in Portsmouth, Va., which belong to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) and Atlantic Wood Industries, Inc. (AWII), the Navy, state and federal regulators, and AWII entered into a landmark Joint Resolution to address co-mingled contamination. Both sites have been designated under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) as Superfund sites.

Issues at the sites include calcium hydroxide, abrasive blast material (ABM), metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), treated wood wastes, and inert construction debris, all by-products of shipyard operations and AWII's former wood treatment operations.

About 18 months ago Navy and Atlantic Wood representatives sat down to see what could be accomplished if they worked together.

NNSY and AWII, along with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic Division, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) were active participants in the planning for the action and will be providing oversight on the work at the site. The NNSY Restoration Advisory Board, the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences and the private Elizabeth River Project also participated. A contractor, CH2M Hill, did the site assessment under a Navy CLEAN contract, and Shaw Remediation and Infrastructure will clean up both sites.

Mike Host, of the NNSY Environmental Division, said "I see this as a breakthrough project, the benefits of which will extend far beyond the boundaries of this site. The relationship forged between its partners will be a foundation for success in future projects not yet started. It will demonstrate in a very real way what people and organizations, working together, can accomplish. That's the real power of a project like this - its potential to inspire others to take on new challenges, and achieve new successes that exceed anything we currently dare to expect."

"This agreement resulted in several 'firsts,'" said Rear Adm. Michael Loose, NAVFAC Atlantic Commander. "This was the first time we have developed an integrated solution to address commingled contamination at a combined federal and commercial site. This was the first time project settlement funds were provided by the Department of Justice up front rather than through after the fact litigation. And this was the first time we have used a single contractor when there were multiple funding sources and responsible parties."

"This project is another example of the commitment shown by the Navy and our neighbors here along the Elizabeth River to work together and restore our environment, said NNSY commander, Capt. Mark Hugel.

The abrasive blast material disposal area will be capped and an engineered wetlands will be created in the areas of the calcium hydroxide sludge excavation. The wetlands grasses will be planted before mid-June to optimize the growing season.