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JBSA News
NEWS | Jan. 8, 2010

Former Kelly AFB completes cleanup project

With the conclusion of a major environmental cleanup project at the former Kelly Air Force Base, the Air Force Real Property Agency is poised for whole base transfer in 2010 to the local redevelopment authority, Port San Antonio.

AFRPA is responsible for the environmental cleanup and property transfer program at former Kelly AFB, and has worked with the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to prepare the former base for completing its transfer to the local community.

Demonstrating the Air Force's commitment to protecting human health and the environment, AFRPA utilized innovative remediation technologies to complete the environmental cleanup at the site of Bldg. 301, a former metal plating facility that was demolished in 2003.

"During operation of the plating facility from 1978 to 1999, chlorinated solvents from Bldg. 301 were released into the underlying soil and shallow groundwater," said Paul Carroll, Base Environmental Coordinator. "Using cutting-edge electric resistance heating technology, we were able to remove the volatile and semi-volatile contaminants in a year, whereas before it may have taken decades to clean up, clearing the way for the transfer of the last 368 acres from Kelly to the Port."

The ERH system was brought online in July 2008 and achieved cleanup goals in September 2009.

The ERH system places electrodes in the ground throughout the contaminated region to heat the soil temperature to 198 degrees. At that temperature, the contaminants are then removed by a soil vapor extraction system. CAPE, Inc., an environmental engineering firm, installed and operated the ERH system.

Over 1,200 lbs of chlorinated solvents were removed, and confirmation samples collected were found to be cleaner than regulatory standards.

Remediation goals for this site have been met, and the Air Force received approval from TCEQ to shut down the ERH system and close the site without any property restrictions for future reuse. Restoration of the Bldg. 301 site and paving are now complete, freeing up over 300 parking spaces for the adjacent Boeing facility.

The Air Force invites interested members of the public to attend the meetings of the Restoration Advisory Board. This group of interested community members meets with the Air Force and regulatory representatives quarterly to discuss the cleanup program.

The next Kelly RAB meeting is Jan. 12 at 6:30 p.m. For location, please call 925-0956.

The Air Force Real Property Agency is responsible for remediation and property transfer at 40 former Air Force installations throughout the U.S. under the Base Realignment and Closure program. At the height of the BRAC process, AFRPA managed 87,000 acres, or about 137 square miles of property.

In the two decades since the first BRAC in 1988, the agency has transferred 88 percent, or more than 116 square miles of land - twice the area of Washington, D.C. - back to communities for public use.

Throughout the transfer process, the Air Force remains committed to protecting human health and the environment.
(Courtesy AFRPA Public Affairs)