Fort Detrick announces start of landfill

By Fort Detrick Public Affairs OfficeMarch 26, 2009

Efforts are underway at Fort Detrick to complete

restoration actions at several former Area B disposal sites. For the next few

months, contractors will be on site constructing impermeable caps over the

former disposal areas.

Beginning March 30, 2009, local construction vehicles will begin delivering fill dirt

to soil stockpiles in Area B. Working with the contractor, Fort Detrick officials

have developed a traffic pattern which will allow the construction vehicles to

operate on a loop utilizing Rosemont Ave, Montevue Lane, Shookstown Road

and a small segment of Kemp Lane. The intent of the designed traffic pattern is

to alleviate traffic concerns during peak hours and to reduce the amount of dirt

and dust that could occur as a result of the number of vehicles.

Fort Detrick expects an estimated 135 trucks per day will be delivering soil to

Area B through the beginning of June. The trucks will be hauling more than

100,000 tons of fill dirt and topsoil that will be used to construct the caps. The

caps are designed to provide an impermeable barrier that prevents rainwater

from leaching contamination from the disposal areas into groundwater.

With the completion of the caps, 41 of 42 identified restoration sites will have

been closed or have a remedy in place. Investigation and cleanup activities at

the last open site, Area B groundwater, are still ongoing. The Army is working

closely with the Environmental Protection Agency and Maryland Department of

the Environment to develop the work plans necessary to complete restoration of

the Area B groundwater in a safe and timely manner.

The Army is committed to keeping Fort Detrick and the neighboring communities

safe. The Army continues to work closely with EPA and state regulatory

agencies, and will maintain an ongoing dialog with the local community through

Restoration Advisory Board meetings. RAB meetings are held to keep the public

informed and involved in Fort Detrick's restoration activities and provide

opportunities for public involvement in its environmental restoration program.

For more information, go to <a href="http://www.detrick.army.mil/emo/index.cfm" target="_blank">the Fort Detrick Environmental Management web page</a>