CSWAB Wants State to Set Enforceable Timelines for Compliance
On June 2, the U.S. Army submitted a 730-page report to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on potential remedies for groundwater contamination at and near the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant. However, it will easily take at least another 5 years before a final remedy for groundwater is selected and implemented, Army officials said.
The Army’s site-wide groundwater study identified four separate groundwater contaminant plumes emanating from former hazardous waste disposal sites. Groundwater contamination has migrated several miles offsite, affecting nearby residential areas. The primary contaminants of concern are the toxic explosive dinitrotoluene (DNT) and volatile organic compounds.
At source areas like the former Propellant Burning Grounds, groundwater is in contact with heavily contaminated subsurface soils. As a result, in September 2020, concentrations of total DNT were detected as high as 1,286.9 μg/L – a concentration that is 25,000 times higher than the WI Groundwater Enforcement Standard of 0.05 μg/L for total DNT.
The Army’s new report describes possible groundwater remedies including monitored natural attenuation (meaning no active treatment), extracting and treating groundwater with activated carbon, injection of emulsified vegetable oil (EVO) to facilitate biodegradation, and others. Construction of a new municipal water system for residential well owners south and east of Badger was eliminated as a possible remedy as the Army does not have authority, the military’s report says.
In a May 10 letter to the DNR, CSWAB asked that the State establish enforceable timelines for compliance with environmental standards, which the agency has previously avoided. With every passing year, groundwater contaminants are migrating further away from source areas and pose an increasing risk to downgradient agricultural wells, residential drinking water wells, and the Lower Wisconsin River at Prairie du Sac, CSWAB wrote.
Enforceable schedules of compliance have been required at other Department of Defense sites around the U.S. including Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (MO), McAlester Army Ammunition Plant (OK), Radford Army Ammunition Plant (VA), and Blue Grass Army Depot (KY).
While the Army’s recent study identifies and evaluates potential remedies for groundwater, it does not recommend or select final cleanup methods. The military’s preferred alternative for each of the four groundwater contaminant plumes will be presented in a Proposed Plan, scheduled to be completed in 2021.
Private drinking water wells near Badger are currently all safe to use, according to the Army.
Remedial Action Options Report Groundwater Site-Wide Badger Army 2 June 2021