FNOD munitions cleanup marks significant progress

Posted September 10, 2009
By Jerry Rogers
Norfolk District Public Affairs

9/10/2009 - NORTH SUFFOLK, Va. — After years of investigation and multiple clean-up actions by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, removal of munitions and explosives of concern at the Former Nansemond Ordnance Depot, or FNOD, here has been completed at all suspected site areas.

With the removal of more than 2,800 pounds of munitions of concern, 1,210 pounds of bulk TNT, 6,186 pounds of munitions debris and another 20,223 pounds of scrap metals at the Nansemond River beachfront and main burning ground areas, USACE continues to make significant progress in environmental investigation and restoration at the formerly used defense site property.

The Department of Defense is responsible for cleaning up the nation's properties, which were formerly owned, leased, possessed or operated by DoD. USACE is DoD's executive agent for FUDS restoration.

In 1987, FNOD became a matter of public concern when a piece of crystalline TNT was found on the property at the Tidewater Community College, Portsmouth Campus. This initiated extensive historical research, investigations, testing and removal actions. In 1999, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency placed this site on the National Priority List.

Since the first discovery of buried TNT in 1987, USACE has conducted extensive environmental investigation and restoration activities at the 975-acre site, which was used primarily to store and renovate ammunition during World War I and II.

With a fiscal year 2010 projected budget of $3.4 million, said Suresh R. Kikkeri, FNOD project manager, several key actions are planned at the former ordnance depot, including:

• Complete main burning ground remedial investigation
• Complete Horseshoe Pond remedial investigation
• Complete TNT Area data gap investigation for remedial investigation report
• Complete site wide background study
• Complete Military Munitions Response Program site wide investigation
• Initiate Horseshoe Pond feasibility study
• Finalize site inspection reports for other smaller areas of concern

At a Sept. 3 FNOD Restoration Advisory Board meeting in Suffolk, Kikkeri also revealed that there would be a slippage in the 2011 final cleanup forecast because of unexpected findings at the site.

"Our team came across several surprises during munitions cleanup activities in FY 09," said Kikkeri. "At the Nansemond River beachfront, we discovered significant amounts of TNT material. After removal, we completed a critical two-phase major shoreline stabilization of the beachfront area. During our supplemental site characterization at the TNT Area investigation, we again had to address newly discovered munitions. We also had to address the analytical part of the human health and ecological risk factors associated with the Horseshoe Pond and James River beachfront areas. These issues were resolved with our interagency regulatory partners, the EPA and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality."

Kikkeri reiterated that his team remains fully committed to the complete cleanup of FNOD. "We've been working here since 1987, and we're now able to clearly see the finish line," said Kikkeri.