Navy Divestiture deep in the heart of

TE ASCollaboration Leads to Successful Remediation

& Redevelopment of McGregor Property

Tiny Organisms Play Large Role in Toxicity Studies

Navy Divers Complete Critical Repairs to Chinese Vessel

Integrating Avian Radars into Navy Operations

Navy Divestiture deep in the heart of

TE ASCollaboration Leads to Successful Remediation

& Redevelopment of McGregor Property

Tiny Organisms Play Large Role in Toxicity Studies

Navy Divers Complete Critical Repairs to Chinese Vessel

Integrating Avian Radars into Navy Operations

S U M M E R 2 0 0 7 Currents 7

Navy Divestiture

deep in the heart of

Collaboration Leads to Successful Remediation & Redevelopment of McGregor Property

The dedication of the Navy team coupled with the use ofdynamic approaches to perchlorate remediation, real estateand economic development propelled the successful divesti-ture of the Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant (NWIRP)McGregor, TX property.

On 30 October 2006, the Naval Air Systems Command(NAVAIR) returned the last of 9,700 acres to the City ofMcGregor, TX, for economic redevelopment. On this sameday, NAVAIR received the Navy’s first “Ready for Reuse”determination from the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on EnvironmentalQuality (TCEQ) for the successful remediation of the formerNWIRP McGregor.

TEXAS

This determination marked the culmination of a 14-yearproject that has set new standards for innovative technolo-gies and generated a fresh perspective for best businesspractices for future remediation projects.

The NWIRP McGregor project is, however, far morecomplex than an outstanding and innovative environ-mental remediation effort. Personnel from NAVAIR, theNaval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast(NAVFACSE), and contracting partners EnSafe and CH2MHill formed the Navy team that spearheaded the innova-tion that allowed the Navy to transfer the NWIRP propertyto the City of McGregor.

Always focusing on their goal, the McGregor officials andcitizens, Navy, TCEQ and the EPA forged a strong andmutually respected partnership that proved to be the key tothis successful and precedent-setting environmental remedi-ation and redevelopment project.

“The cooperation among the Navy, the city, the TCEQ and the EPA has been remarkable,” said Mark Craig,NAVFACSE Remedial Project Manager. “Working withthem as a team, as well as other local, state andfederal stakeholders, is what trulymade this property transfer possible.We had our fair share of challenges toovercome, and we all worked togetherfor solutions. It’s an incrediblyrewarding experience to work toward acommon goal, achieve that goal, and toknow that this project is a model forfuture remediation projects.”

BackgroundThe NWIRPMcGregor prop-erty has served ournation for over half acentury. Fulfilling thesemissions initiated a greatereconomic stability in theregion and, at the height ofproduction, employed upwards of1,400 McGregor and central-Texas citizens, making itthe largest employer in this area of central Texas.

In 1942, the Army Ordnance Corps established theBluebonnet Ordnance Plant (named for the Texas stateflower) on 18,000 acres just outside of McGregor, to manu-facture bombs for World War II. When the plant closed in1946, a large portion of the property was deeded to TexasAgricultural & Mechanical University for agriculturalresearch and education.

In 1952, the Air Force acquired over 11,000 acres of theformer Bluebonnet facility to support their production of jetassisted take-offboosters and solid-fuel rocket propul-sion systems.

The Navy assumedownership in 1966.In 1973, NAVAIRassumed ownershipof the property andfor the next 20 years,the NWIRP operatedas a government-owned/contractor-operated (GO/CO)facility dedicated to researching, testing and manufacturingsolid propellant rocket motors used in missiles such as theShrike, Sparrow, Phoenix and Sidewinder. (In this case,

Hercules/Alliant was the contractor operating the NWIRPMcGregor facility.)

As environmentalawareness increased,the Navy knew they

were responsible tomitigate effects of

over a half-century’s worthof mission-related byprod-

ucts, so theyengaged ordnance

and environmentalexperts in 1991 to inves-

tigate and identify a plan toaddress environmental concerns.

This plan involved the most

8 Currents S U M M E R 2 0 0 7

This “Ready for Reuse” determination marked the culmination of a 14-year project that has set new standards for innovative technologies and generated

a fresh perspective for best business practices for future remediation projects.

advanced science, innovative technolo-gies, and close communications withthe community.

The regional economy was severelyaffected by the NWIRP closure in1995, but the Navy remained open toa continued partnership with the Cityof McGregor to help provide someeconomic relief by returning theproperty to the city for economicredevelopment.

In addition to the remediation plan,the Navy opted for a phased divestiturethat allowed them to transfer portionsof the property to the city as theybecame eligible. This would allow thecity to bolster its economy throughlease agreements and tax revenues. Butbefore a single acre would be trans-ferred, the Navy was required toensure that it was either free of envi-ronmental hazards or had effective andproven remedies in place. Althoughthis is a typical regulatory requirement,this was not a typical transfer case. As acontractor-operated facility, the typicalfunding provisions under the baseclosure laws did not apply; the NWIRPwas neither an active military base, norwas it closed as part of the BaseRealignment and Closure Act (BRAC).

To remedy this and help revitalize theeconomy for his constituents,Congressman Chet Edwards (D-Waco)sought special legislation that wouldallow the Navy to transfer the property.This legislation was passed under theNational Defense Authorization Act of1998, which then put NWIRPMcGregor on the fast track for environ-mental cleanup and property transfer.

One of the first steps was to conductan Environmental Baseline Survey(EBS), which investigated historicalrecords and conducted a fence-to-fence examination of the property todetermine if it was suitable for transfer.The EBS provided the informationneeded for the Navy to determine thebest remediation strategy.

The Navy then implemented an aggres-sive, multi-phased Resource Conserva-tion and Recovery Act (RCRA) FacilityInvestigation, and identified four broadareas of environmental concern:

1. EnergeticsAlthough the Navy never madewarheads, bombs, or militaryordnance at NWIRP McGregor,they were responsible to ensure theproperty was safe from explosivematerials prior to transfer.

2. PerchlorateAmmonium perchlorate (AP) is amajor component of propellants insolid fuel for rockets and missiles.AP has a limited shelf life; so pres-surized water was used to flushthe casings before reloading themwith a fresh supply. During thisprocess, the perchlorate woulddissolve and remain in the waterunder natural conditions.

3. Soil ContaminationConcerns included landfills, petro-leum products, industrial solvents,pesticides and heavy metals.

4. Groundwater ContaminationWater had the potential tobecome exposed to contaminantsas it migrates on the surface andbelow ground.

EnergeticsPrior to Navy ownership, energetics(explosive material) was used at theNWIRP property in the manufacturingprocesses for bombs and jet-assistedtake-off boosters.

The Decontamination Unit of theNaval Surface Warfare Center inIndian Head, MD was brought in toconduct extensive decontamination tocertify that all buildings were safe fromenergetics hazards, as outlined bystrict Department of Defense (DoD)

S U M M E R 2 0 0 7 Currents 9

Based on the sampling results, many buildings were determined to be safe; others were

washed down or demolished, then re-sampled to confirm they were clear of energetic hazards.

Workers going through a decontamination line inthe Open Burning/Open Detonation area (Area S).

One of the buildings undergoing explosive decontamination.

guidelines. These guidelines alsorequired that soils and waters befree of buried ordnance or ener-getics materials.

During a two-year energetics studyand remediation investigation,approximately 4,700 samples wereanalyzed for energetics at an on-sitelab created specifically for the decont-amination effort. Based on thesampling results, many buildingswere determined to be safe; otherswere washed down or demolished,then re-sampled to confirm they wereclear of energetic hazards. The teamultimately certified 198 buildings asfree of explosive hazards.

PerchlorateWith the environmental investiga-tion for traditional contaminants

such as solvents, metals and petroleum products wellunderway, additional investigations began in 1998 toaddress perchlorate.

The Navy’s original transfer schedule was significantlyaltered when samples from both on and off the facilityrevealed traces of perchlorate. Due to the reloadingprocess, ammonium perchlorate was initially releasedinto the soil, and subsequent natural washing andleaching caused perchlorate to enter the surface waterand groundwater. This discovery had the potential toimpact the drinking water for 16 local communities—approximately half a million people. At this juncture, theNavy’s partnerships with the community, TCEQ(formerly the Texas Natural Resource ConservationCommission, or TNRCC) and EPA were to become moreimportant than ever.

In February 1999, offsite samples were taken from thewatersheds that feed lakes Belton and Waco, as well asthe water intakes of the local water authorities.

10 Currents S U M M E R 2 0 0 7

Before a single acre would be transferred, the Navy was required

to ensure that it was either free of environmental hazards or had effective

and proven remedies in place.

The Basics About PERCHLORATE

1. Perchlorate is an efficient and stable oxidizer andis the safest propellant available today.

2. Perchlorate salts are both man-made and natu-rally occurringcompounds and arecommonly found asammonium, potassium,and sodium perchlorate.

3. Perchlorate is used inthe production of explo-sives and fireworks.

4.Perchlorate is used toquickly deploy some air bags.

5. Perchlorate uses includethe production ofmatches, dyes, lubri-cating oils, electro-plating, rubbermanufacturing, andpaint productions.

6. Potassium perchlorate is used by DoD as anoxidizer in pyrotechnics such as training simula-tors, flares, hand grenade delays, and aircraftcountermeasures.

7. Potassium perchlorate was once used to treatthyroid disorders in people with Graves’Disease. Potassium perchlorate is still usedtoday under limited conditions to test forthyroid hormone production.

For additional perchlorate information, please visitthe Defense Environmental Network & InformationeXchange (the official DoD source for perchlorateinformation) at https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/Library/MERIT/Perchlorate/index.html

Perchlorate was found only a fewtimes in the watersheds; ensuingsamples showed the perchlorateconcentration was decreasing.Perchlorate was never found at thewater intakes.

The investigation indicated that conta-minated groundwater had migratedoff the property and containedperchlorate at concentrations thatexceeded the Texas drinking waterinterim standard of 22 microgramsper liter. The TNRCC requested thatinterim stabilization measures beimplemented to prevent further offsitemigration of perchlorate from theNWIRP McGregor site.

Strategic & EffectiveRemediationSubsequent investigations showed thatperchlorate in groundwater hadmigrated from onsite sources to offsiteproperties by way of three majorgroundwater plumes with a combinedarea of 2,800 acres.

The Navy was determined to find asolution that would keep the projectmoving forward while stabilizingperchlorate migration. “To proceed,

we needed to address three key chal-lenges—one, assure that the new anduntested remediation technologywould operate reliably and at lowcost; two, complete the development,evaluation and implementation of thenew technology under a compressedscheduled to meet the TNRCC deadlines for the site; and three,distribute information to the commu-nity and stakeholders to educatethem about perchlorate remedialtechnologies and site cleanup status,”said Craig.

As a result of the excellent cooperationbetween the partners, a three-prongedstrategy was implemented:

1. Expedite environmental investiga-tions;

2. Develop innovative technologies toremediate the groundwater beforeit threatened human health and theenvironment; and

3. Work through regulatory issues thatwould allow the property transferto proceed as rapidly as possible.

The challenge of remediating perchlo-rate emerged as one of the mostpressing issues for the site. Because

LEFT: Three multipurpose soil cells were constructed in 2001 to address perchlorate-contaminated soil and source areagroundwater in Area M. The soil cells enabled anaerobic soil treatment while allowing carbon and nutrient-rich water to infiltrate into the perchlorate-contaminated aquifer.

RIGHT: The intercepted groundwater is pumpedthrough a biological Fluidized Bed Reactor thatdegrades perchlorate to concentrations belowlaboratory detection limits (less than 0.00043

micrograms per liter). Since January 2002,more than 4,500 pounds of perchlorate havebeen removed from more than 400,000,000

gallons of recovered groundwater.

there were no proven technologies avail-able for remediating perchlorate otherthan the expensive and hard-to-operateion-exchange systems, the Navy set outto develop its own remediation systemsutilizing both ex situ and in situ biolog-ical systems. These innovative, cost-effective, and easy-to-operate treatmentsystems were bench-scale tested and,within a three-month period, successfulpilot studies were underway.

Because of the favorable geologic andhydrogeologic conditions, the Navyfound that permeable reactive barriers(PRB) filled with gravel and organicmatter could be used to reduce perchlo-rate to concentrations below laboratorydetection limits while allowing cattlegrazing to continue directly above theremediation systems. Two forms ofPRBs (trenches and bioborings) wereconstructed to deal with different typesof site topography. The PRBs are alsoreferred to as biowalls.

Trenches, approximately two feet wide,were keyed into a non-water-bearingzone 10 to 30 feet below groundsurface. Slotted polyvinyl chloridepiping was then placed at the bottomof the trenches on a bed of gravel andattached to riser pipes that could be

S U M M E R 2 0 0 7 Currents 11

Strategic & Effective REMEDIATION

Efficiently developed, innovative perchloratetreatment technologies have saved the Navymillions of dollars in pilot-scale testing and full-scale operations. While there were many, primarymeasures included:

� Developing multiple in situPRB delivery systems,

� Creating innovative and multi-functional anaerobic land-farming cells that treat bothsoil and groundwater simulta-neously,

� Establishing a continuouslydischarging, fully automatedex situ biological fluidized bedtreatment system, and

� Using innovative investigationtechniques to reduce thenumber of groundwater moni-toring wells.

12 Currents S U M M E R 2 0 0 7

The Area M perchlorate plume is receding over the nearly five-year period that the remediation systems were constructed (biowalls/fluidized bed reactor).

Biowall construction was keyed into bedrock in order to capture groundwater flow.

The biowalls are typically 30-feet deep and two-feet wide.

The Navy has strategically installed approximately three miles of

biowalls and 1,077 bioborings making NWIRP McGregor the world’s largest

application of permeable reactive barriers.

accessed from the surface. Thisdesign allows the Navy to addsupplemental soluble organicsubstrate if required. Bioborings, 12-inches in diameter, were drilled usingan air rotary drill rig. Bioborings wereinstalled at five-foot intervals withinthree offset rows spaced 100-feet apart.

The borings and trenches were bothbackfilled with 60 percent gravel and40 percent biodegradable organicmatter mixture, allowing the ground-water to pass through the biowalls andbioborings while the organic matteraltered the groundwater’s geochemistry,allowing the metabolic processes of theindigenous bacteria to degrade theperchlorate and volatile organiccompounds (VOC).

The Navy has strategically installedapproximately three miles of biowallsand 1,077 bioborings making NWIRP

McGregor the world’s largest applicationof PRBs. The groundwater monitoringdata indicate that after nearly four yearsof operation, the biowalls are still effec-tively treating perchlorate-contaminatedgroundwater and it is estimated that theoffsite property will be effectivelycleaned up within 15 years. These inno-vative and cost-effective technologies arereadily transferable to other DoD sites.

Since January 2002, more than 4,500pounds of perchlorate have beenremoved from more than 400,000,000gallons of recovered groundwater, all ofwhich was permitted for local discharge.Additionally, perchlorate concentrationsthroughout the groundwater plumes atNWIRP McGregor continue to decrease

via natural attenuation (dilution) at arate of five percent to seven percentevery year, which complements theengineered perchlorate remediation.

In a major undertaking, an additional22,000 acres beyond the NWIRPproperty were investigated:

� Approximately 2,200 soil samples,100 sediment samples, and 500surface water samples were collected;

� More than 800 groundwatermonitoring wells were installed,with multiple samples taken fromthe majority;

� Ground-penetrating radar andother surface geophysical tech-niques were used;

S U M M E R 2 0 0 7 Currents 13

RIGHT: More than 13,000 feet of biowalls and 1,300 bioborings were installed by the summer of 2005,

creating the world’s longest biowall application.The biowall was backfilled with a mixture of mushroom

compost, pine wood chips, soybean oil, and limestone aggregate. Diffuser pipes were installed on the bottom

of each trench to allow for future injections of soybean oil or other carbon substrates as needed.

ABOVE: Strategically placed biowalls and natural attenuation proves to be a

highly cost-effective approach, saving the Navy millions of dollars while

achieving the offsite cleanup goals.

Sampling triamino-trinitrobenzene sludge in Area S, the Open Burning/

Open Detonation Area.

� Global Positioning Systems wereused for detailed grid sampling onthe lakes;

� Rapid drilling in combination withexpedited laboratory turnaroundtimes allowed screening beforepermanent wells were installed;

� Data were integrated into aGeographical Information Systemfor “real-time analysis;” and

� Visual aids were developed thattransformed approximately750,000 separate pieces of analyt-ical data into easy-to understandgraphics.

Due to the uniqueness of the project,the team had to have a flexible andadaptable remediation design andimplementation plans. As part of thiseffort, the Navy met with locallandowners whose properties wereimpacted by contaminated ground-water to discuss the type, design, andlocations of remedial systems thatwould be installed on their properties.

The Navy also worked closely with theArmy Corps of Engineers (ACOE)during their two-year environmentalstudy, which focused on the waterquality of the Brazos and Leon riverbasins. The ACOE study resultssupported the Navy’s findings that theperchlorate posed no threat to thelocal drinking water supply.

RegulatoryRequirementsThe Navy had to prove to the EPAthat all remediation systems had beeninstalled and were operating properlyand successfully (OPS). This requiredsupplying the EPA with detailedreports and backup data showing thatthe remediation systems were reducinggroundwater perchlorate concentra-tions to acceptable levels. Based on theinformation supplied and the fact thatthe EPA was a key member in thepartnering effort, favorable OPS deter-mination was granted in June 2006.

With the OPS determinationgranted—the first in the United Statesfor a non-BRAC facility—the finalproperty transfer was within reach.

Eight sites at the NWIRP had beenidentified in 1989 as RCRA units,which were included in the Navy-owned RCRA permit. This permitpresented the final challenge to prop-erty transfer because the city did not

have the financial resources toassume ownership of and liability forthe entire permit. They needed aviable plan to reduce the overall sizeof the permit—a plan that wouldenable the city to adequately managethe permit while allowing the prop-erty to be sold—while the Navyretained the responsibility for envi-ronmental cleanup.

The TCEQ and the Navy workedtogether to outline a progressive regu-latory strategy in a Post-Closure Order(PCO). The PCO holds the Navyresponsible for environmental cleanupat the facility and pares down the3,700-acre RCRA permit to only 16.4acres, which is much easier for theCity of McGregor to manage. TheTCEQ approved the PCO inSeptember 2006 and it was the firstPCO to be issued in the State of Texas.

The PCO was the decisive milestonefor the Navy and with that approval,the Navy could move forward with thefinal divestiture plans.

14 Currents S U M M E R 2 0 0 7

The biowalls were excavated with a hydraulicexcavator (shallow trenches) or rock-trencher(deep trenches) and backfilled with a mixture ofmushroom compost, pine wood chips, soybeanoil, and limestone aggregate. Diffuser pipeswere installed on the bottom of each trench to allow for future injections of soybean oil or other carbon substrates as needed.

NAVAIR GOCO project manager Joe Kaminskiwas pleased with this achievement. “In nearly40 years of federal service, I have never seen somany, and such a diverse group of people withseparate agendas, work together toward thecommon goals of environmental protection andeconomic redevelopment. Nor have I seen somany obstacles overcome by people who wouldnot take no for an answer,” said Kaminski.

Ready for ReuseWith the PCO in place, the TCEQ and the EPAthen declared the NWIRP property as “Readyfor Reuse.” This Ready for Reuse (RfR) determi-nation is the very first to be issued to the Navy.

An RfR determination provides, in a straightfor-ward manner, specific information about a site,including the nature and extent of contamination, thecleanup work performed, and the status of the propertywith respect to federal and state requirements. Consideringthe expansive scope and technology requirements of theNWIRP McGregor project, receiving this determination wasthe ultimate commendation.

The Navy and the City of McGregor were formally recog-nized by the EPA and the TCEQ on 30 October 2006 inMcGregor. Donald Schregardus, Deputy Assistant Secretaryof the Navy (Environment), was present to accept and signthe letter of determination on behalf of the Navy.

S U M M E R 2 0 0 7 Currents 15

“The McGregor remediation and redevelopment project is apowerful demonstration of the Navy’s commitment to ensurea safe environment for future generations,” said Schregardus.“It’s a proud day for the Navy, knowing our partners, the Cityof McGregor and community, will benefit greatly from thissuccessful collaboration.”

“Getting property back into productive use is one of ourhighest priorities,” EPA Regional Administrator Richard E.Greene said. “This determination clears the way byproviding the necessary assurances to help encourage devel-opers to reuse these valuable resources.”

The Navy and Navy contractors supporting the RfR and final property transfer. BACK ROW FROM LEFT: Keith Johns, Fred Lamb, Bill Thomas,Jeff James, Bob Owens, Tom Beisel, Rob Plsek, Joe Kaminski, Scott Smith, Steve Beverly, Rick Davis, Ernie James, Alan Jacobs.FRONT ROW FROM LEFT: Donald R. Schregardus, Captain Bill Cords, Judith Hare, Mark Craig, Kelly Burdick, Captain Ed Brown.Photo by Michelangelo “Rez” Flores

Project team member Fred Lamb conducted a facility tour for distinguished guests attending the RfR and property transfer ceremony.

Such tours were conducted as part of the community involvement efforts.Photo by Michelangelo “Rez” Flores

The Ready for Reuse SIGNING CEREMONY

An RfR determination confirms that the environ-mental conditions on a site are protective of humanhealth and the environment based on the site’s currentand anticipated use as a commercial/industrial prop-erty. For more information on the RfR program visit:http://www.epa.gov/region6/ready4reuse/index.htm.

Following the RfR presentation, City ofMcGregor Mayor Jimmy Hering addressed anauditorium of over 250 people and proclaimed,“This is a great opportunity for the City ofMcGregor. When we look to the west, we seealmost 10,000 acres of potential and almost1,000 current jobs. The Navy, and state andfederal agencies, have worked for years to turnthat industrial land into property that we cangrow into and will serve as the basis forMcGregor’s future prosperity. There is no doubtthat the success of this project will pay off forgenerations of McGregor citizens.”

Captain Edward W. Brown, NAVFACSEExecutive Officer, presented the quit-claim deed

to Mayor Herring, memorializing the final propertytransfer. “Together we have demonstrated our commit-ment, working closely over the past 14 years on acomprehensive 45 million dollar environmental restora-tion of the former Naval Weapons Industrial ReservePlant,” said Brown. “We now return this land to youwith the hope that you can enjoy these dividends morefully. I am confident the land will be as productive foryou as it has been for our Navy and our country.”

Captain William F. Cords, NAVAIR InfrastructureOperations Director, presented a ceremonial key tothe property to the mayor and locked in on the key tothe NWIRP McGregor success. “The key to success…has been the spirit of determination, forwardthinking, a strong public and private partnership, aprogressive and innovative government and regulatorycommunity, combined with a whole lot of Texas can-do,” said Cords.

Economic RedevelopmentFrom the beginning of this project, the entire NWIRPMcGregor team, along with its partners, focused oneconomic redevelopment and property transfer. The

16 Currents S U M M E R 2 0 0 7

The McGregor remediation and redevelopment project is a

powerful demonstration of the Navy’s commitment to ensure a safe

environment for future generations.” —Donald R. Schregardus, Deputy Assistant

Secretary of the Navy (Environment)

Capt. Edward W. Brown, Executive Officer, NAVFAC Southeast and Donald R. Schregardus, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy(Environment) present Jimmy Hering, Mayor, City of McGregor with a copy of the quit-claim deed to the property.Photo by Michelangelo “Rez” Flores

Laurie King, Chief, Federal Facilities Section, EPA Region 6, reads the RfR certificate while John Steib, Deputy Director, TCEQ Compliance and Enforcement, presents the RfR Letter of Determination and Certificate for signatures. FROM LEFT: Laurie King, Donald R.Schregardus, Congressman Chet Edwards, Frank Leos, President,McGregor Economic Development Corporation and John Steib.Photo by Michelangelo “Rez” Flores

results of these efforts are now payingoff as new tenants have invested overthree million dollars in what is nowcalled the McGregor Industrial Park.

The McGregor Industrial Park islocated about 100 miles from bothDallas and Austin, with convenientaccess to the Waco Regional Airport. Inaddition, Burlington Northern/Santa FeRail service is onsite.

Leo Connor, Executive Director of theMcGregor Economic DevelopmentCorporation, recognizes the chal-lenges and opportunities in creatingjobs and bolstering the city’seconomic base. “The land is beautiful,flat, includes an existing infrastructureand, in some cases, the buildings werealready here. We are planning onsubdividing a 1,000-acre section ofgently sloping land, surrounded bytowering oak trees, to develop anoffice park,” said Connor.

The site’s location, the existing facilities,and incentives offered by the city helpedto attract several tenants quickly.Companies like Dell Computer,SpaceEx, Ferguson Enterprises, andMcClennan Electric Co-Op have movedonto the property and have contributedto nearly 1,000 jobs. Additionally, thereare four smaller companies that haveoperations onsite and the city is negoti-ating with several others. Anindoor rodeo arena is now aregular regional attraction,bringing over 40,000 peopleto the McGregor area.

CommunityInvolvementA Restoration AdvisoryBoard (RAB) was convenedin 1996 to provide a forumfor community members,local and state agencies,

environmental regulators, and the Navyto discuss and review remediation plansand environmental concerns.

The biggest challenge faced by thecitizen members of the RAB wasovercoming lingering distrust of thegovernment due to the closure of thefacility, job losses, and the 1993Federal Bureau of Investigation’sseizure of the Branch Davidiancompound in Waco. The RAB metquarterly for a progress report thatincluded test results, technologyupdates and general information.

Sandra Wittliff, first community co-chairof the RAB, commended the Navy andits contractor staff for presenting under-standable findings and transparent plans.“The project team’s patience really addedto the success of this project. Theyalways provided unique comparisons todefine unusual technologies and regula-tory requirements,” says Wittliff.

“The Navy also gave us the opportu-nity to meet with RABs from otherfacilities. After listening to stories ofthe BRAC process I realized that, evenwith the added perchlorate problem,our site and team were far ahead ofany others,” Ms. Wittliff adds.

“NAVAIR operates and works activeand inactive government owned andcontractor operated facilitiesthroughout other parts of the county,”said Captain Cords. “Without hesita-

S U M M E R 2 0 0 7 Currents 17

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Environment) Donald R. Schregardus accepted the RfR determination on behalf of the Navy. Here, Mr. Schregardus signs the RfR certificate as Laurie King, Chief, Federal Facilities Section, EPA Region 6 and the City of McGregor Mayor, the Honorable Jimmy Hering stand by to sign.Photo by Michelangelo “Rez” Flores

The NWIRP McGregor: A Commitment toCommunity DVD is available on request.Contact Kelly Burdick for a copy.

NWIRP McGREGOR DVD Available

tion I say that the most successfuldivestiture, the one that is alwaysmoving forward in the process oftransfer, the one that everyone workstogether on in a spirit of cooperation,is right here at McGregor.”

In addition to the RAB, the Navydeveloped and coordinated the TexasRegional Perchlorate Conference heldin Temple, Texas, in May 1999 inconjunction with the InteragencyPerchlorate Steering Committee. Theconference was designed to educatestakeholders, community leaders, andlocal and federal officials on nationalperchlorate issues and to describe the

environmental efforts that were beingconducted at NWIRP McGregor. Inaddition, the Interagency PerchlorateSteering Committee used this venue toconduct a community outreachprogram.

Recognition &AchievementsThis investigation, remediation, andmanagement strategy for the world’slargest PRB application resulted inmany key achievements:

� First Navy and State of Texas PostClosure Order (September 2006);

� First Navy non-BRAC OPSDetermination (June 2006);

� First Navy facility to receive an EPA“Ready for Reuse” Determination(October 2006);

� First full-scale biowall applicationfor groundwater remediation ofperchlorate and VOCs;

� Economic redevelopment createdover 1,000 new jobs for the City ofMcGregor (new tenants includetwo Fortune 500 companies);

� Accelerated remediation time-frames. Predicted reduction ofclean-up times by 10 years or more;

� Cost savings of over 20 milliondollars in construction costs andmore than three million dollarsannually;

� Over 20 million dollars incontracts issued to specializedSmall and DisadvantagedBusinesses; and

� A spotless health and safety record.More than 1,000,000 constructionman-hours with no reportablehealth and safety incidents.

NWIRP project has produced anumber of published papers and hasbeen recognized with several awards.

In February 2000, the NWIRPMcGregor project team won the GrandAward from the Consulting Engineersof Tennessee in association with theAmerican Consulting EngineersCouncil for the innovative and low-cost remediation of perchlorate-conta-minated groundwater through an insitu system.

Because of the collaboration amongthe Navy, the City of McGregor, theEPA, and the TCEQ, the City ofMcGregor received the CommunityEconomic Development Award spon-sored by the Texas Department ofEconomic Development.

The NWIRP McGregor has also beenrecognized by the Chief of NavalOperations and Secretary of the Navyfor its many breakthroughs with inno-vative technologies both in remedia-tion and investigations withperchlorate, working through difficultregulatory issues with the state, andinstituting public awareness. It was thecombination of these dynamic effortsby a team of dedicated Navy profes-sionals that resulted in the ultimategoal of property divestiture andeconomic redevelopment. �

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Mark CraigNaval Facilities Engineering

Command Southeast843-820-5517DSN: 583-5517mark.craig@navy.mil

Kelly BurdickNaval Air Systems Command301-757-6909DSN: 757-6909kelly.burdick@navy.mil

C O N T A C T S

The RAB is an advisory bodydesigned to act as a focal pointfor the exchange of informationbetween an installation and thelocal community regardingrestoration activities. The RABis intended to bring togethercommunity members whoreflect the diverse interestswithin the local community,enabling early and continuedtwo-way flow of information,concerns, values, and needsbetween the affected commu-nity and the installation.

RAB members are asked tomeet regularly and review andcomment on technical docu-ments and plans relating to theongoing environmental studiesand restoration activities.

RAB Basics