News Release (C-11-95)

For Immediate Release (C-11-95)
Contact: Communications Office (916) 324-9670
March 3, 1995

555 Capitol Mall, Suite 525
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 324-9670
FAX (916) 445-5563

California Environmental Chief Credits State/Federal Cooperation for Nation's First "Record of Decision" at a Closing Military Base, and for Bringing 3,000 Jobs to the Sacramento Army Depot Site

SACRAMENTO -- Secretary for Environmental Protection James M. Strock said today that the cleanup of toxic contamination and the opening of Packard Bell's computer- manufacturing plant at the Sacramento Army Depot can serve as a fast-track model for the cleanup and reuse of other military bases around the nation.

At a special ceremony today, Strock, along with officials from the U.S. Army, Packard Bell, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, marked the signing of the nation's first basewide "Record of Decision" (ROD) at a closing military base.  The document details the cleanup work which must be performed to remedy potential health or environmental threats posed by soil and groundwater contamination at the base.    

"Working hand-in-hand with Cal/EPA, the Army Depot has led the nation in cleanup work and has attracted an outstanding employer for productive reuse of the base," said Strock.  "Relying upon rapid, continued, monitored cleanup, Packard Bell has selected the Army Depot for a major corporate expansion."

"Through strong cooperation between the state Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, the U.S. Army and the U.S. EPA, the Army Depot is the first closing base in the nation with an approved basewide toxic cleanup plan," Strock said.

The Record of Decision calls for a continuation of soil and groundwater work that has been taking place for several years.  Four off-base groundwater wells will be installed to extract groundwater from a contaminated plume that extends about one-third of a mile from the south portion of the base.  Contaminated soil from several different areas of the base will be consolidated at one on-base site, mixed with cement and capped.

The ROD is the culmination of years of engineering work, testing and analysis, as well as an open public participation and approval process. 

Most military installations contain soil and groundwater contaminated from past handling and disposal of solvents, metallic substances and other hazardous waste.   Although the military's waste-management practices were thought to be appropriate at the time, they are now known to have caused environmental damage. 

The 485-acre Army Depot was established in 1945 and was approved for closure in 1991.   The base was placed on the national Superfund list in 1987.  The Army's goal is to sometime in 1996 have the base become the first facility removed from that list.

DTSC staff have thoroughly reviewed the City of Sacramento/Packard Bell lease and verified that the computer manufacturer's presence will not result in health or environmental threats due to the remaining contamination.  Packard Bell's facility occupies the northern portion of the base, and most toxic contamination is located in the southern portion.

The Army Depot is one of 22 major military installations in California that were approved for closure or realignment in the first three rounds of base closures in 1989, 1991 and 1993.  The Long Beach Naval Shipyard is included on the 1995 list of proposed base closures that was released this week.  Cal/EPA and other state entities are working closely with the military services and U.S. EPA to find ways to expedite base cleanup and reuse to ensure that California communities can make the best possible use of closing bases.

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