Did the Air Force supply contaminated water to Adelanto and George AFB?

May 29, 2022

Did the Air Force supply contaminated water to Adelanto and George AFB and contaminate the aquifer used by the public? Yes

Three contaminated sites threatened the supply wells for George AFB, Adelanto, and private homes and ranches via soil contamination leaching into the aquifer: 1) the Southeast Disposal Area (SEDA), 2) the George AFB Golf Course, and 3) the Base Family Housing. It should be noted that the Air Force owned and operated the wells that supplied Adelanto, which were just east of the GAFB Golf Course.

Three sets of books

Abrahm Lustgarten’s reporting exposed that the Air Force and DoD keep several sets of books for the environmental cleanup at Air Force Superfund sites.

  1. Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) CERCLA Administrative Record. This repository contains public documents regarding environmental testing and sampling conducted at Air Force installations.
  2. Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP) contains internal reporting regarding environmental testing and sampling conducted at Air Force, DoD, and FUDS installations. This information was NOT made public until Mr. Lustgarten requested the data under FOIA and made it public on ProPublica’s website.
  3. Shaw, an Air Force contractor, maintains the George AFB project portal. It is not accessible to the public. Shaw was bought by CBI (Chicago Bridge and Infrastructure), and then they were bought by Aptim.

The following test results are from the Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP) released under FOIA to ProPublica.

Southeast Disposal Area (SEDA)

The SEDA is approximately 1/4 of a mile upstream of the old supply wells for George AFB, Adelanto, the Victor Valley Country Club, and current supply wells for private homes and ranches.

The Air Force’s stated use of the landfills at George AFB does not appear to agree with the testing results. Additionally, the Air Force failed to evaluate the risk this contamination posed to base personnel and the public.

Site ID: LF011, LANDFILL

  • Groundwater: Risk Not Evaluated
    • Contaminants: Methylene Chloride 0.95 ug/L Acetone 1.2 ug/L Benzene, methyl- 1.9 ug/L Beryllium and compounds 2.1 ug/L Silver and compounds 3.0 ug/L Arsenic 8.4 ug/L Lead 16.0 ug/L Cobalt 29.0 ug/L Copper and compounds 47.0 ug/L Nickel (Soluble Salts) 55.0 ug/L Chromium 63.0 ug/L Vanadium 140.0 ug/L Zinc 250.0 ug/L Barium 280.0 ug/L Fluoride 300.0 ug/L Phosphorus (white) 690.0 ug/L Manganese and compounds 1500.0 ug/L Aluminum 37200.0 ug/L Iron 51300.0 ug/L
  • Soil: Risk Not Evaluated
    • Contaminants: Methylene Chloride 0.0293333333 mg/kg Beryllium and compounds 0.405 mg/kg Benzenol 2.2 mg/kg Diethyl Phthalate 2.9 mg/kg Molybdenum 5.4 mg/kg Nickel (Soluble Salts) 6.6 mg/kg

Site ID: DP015, MUNITIONS/OIL, Landfill

  • Soil: Risk Not Evaluated
    • Contaminants: Radium 226 0.0027 mg/kg Thorium 228 0.0037 mg/kg DDE 0.01 mg/kg Toluene 0.013 mg/kg Methylene Chloride 0.029 mg/kg Chromium VI and compounds 0.2 mg/kg Mercury (Inorganic) 0.21 mg/kg Thallium 0.51 mg/kg Beryllium and compounds 1.3 mg/kg Selenium 1.9 mg/kg Phenol 2.2 mg/kg Molybdenum 5.5 mg/kg Cadmium and compounds 6.5 mg/kg Antimony and compounds 10.1 mg/kg Arsenic 19.0 mg/kg Chromium III 37.1 mg/kg Vanadium 77.1 mg/kg Nickel (Soluble Salts) 205.0 mg/kg Lead 300.0 mg/kg Barium 468.0 mg/kg Manganese and compounds 662.0 mg/kg Copper and compounds 662.0 mg/kg Aluminum 27600.0 mg/kg Iron 132000.0 mg/kg

Site ID: RW009, RADIOACTIVE DISPOSAL, Landfill

  • Soil: Risk Not Evaluated
    • Contaminants: Radium 226 0.0027 mg/kg Thorium 228 0.0037 mg/kg DDE 0.01 mg/kg Toluene 0.013 mg/kg Methylene Chloride 0.029 mg/kg Chromium VI and compounds 0.2 mg/kg Mercury (Inorganic) 0.21 mg/kg Thallium 0.51 mg/kg Beryllium and compounds 1.3 mg/kg Selenium 1.9 mg/kg Phenol 2.2 mg/kg Molybdenum 5.5 mg/kg Cadmium and compounds 6.5 mg/kg Antimony and compounds 10.1 mg/kg Arsenic 19.0 mg/kg Chromium III 37.1 mg/kg Vanadium 77.1 mg/kg Nickel (Soluble Salts) 205.0 mg/kg Lead 300.0 mg/kg Barium 468.0 mg/kg Manganese and compounds 662.0 mg/kg Copper and compounds 662.0 mg/kg Aluminum 27600.0 mg/kg Iron 132000.0 mg/kg

Site ID: DP010, LANDFILL, Landfill

  • Soil: Risk Not Evaluated
    • Contaminants: Radium 226 0.0027 mg/kg Thorium 228 0.0037 mg/kg DDE 0.01 mg/kg Toluene 0.013 mg/kg Methylene Chloride 0.029 mg/kg Chromium VI and compounds 0.2 mg/kg Mercury (Inorganic) 0.21 mg/kg Thallium 0.51 mg/kg Beryllium and compounds 1.3 mg/kg Selenium 1.9 mg/kg Phenol 2.2 mg/kg Molybdenum 5.5 mg/kg Cadmium and compounds 6.5 mg/kg Antimony and compounds 10.1 mg/kg Arsenic 19.0 mg/kg Chromium III 37.1 mg/kg Vanadium 77.1 mg/kg Nickel (Soluble Salts) 205.0 mg/kg Lead 300.0 mg/kg Barium 468.0 mg/kg Manganese and compounds 662.0 mg/kg Copper and compounds 662.0 mg/kg Aluminum 27600.0 mg/kg Iron 132000.0 mg/kg

Site ID: LF008, TETRAETHYL LEAD DISPOSAL, Landfill

  • Soil: Risk Not Evaluated
    • Contaminants: Methylene Chloride 0.00545 mg/kg Beryllium and compounds 0.3 mg/kg Arsenic 1.8533333333 mg/kg Silver and compounds 3.2 mg/kg Molybdenum 4.6 mg/kg Cobalt 5.1666666667 mg/kg Cadmium and compounds 6.5 mg/kg Chromium 18.433333333 mg/kg Vanadium 22.966666667 mg/kg Barium 59.633333333 mg/kg Nickel (Soluble Salts) 76.433333333 mg/kg Manganese and compounds 198.33333333 mg/kg Zinc 223.63333333 mg/kg Copper and compounds 240.66666667 mg/kg Lead 300.0 mg/kg Aluminum 8246.6666667 mg/kg Iron 16933.333333 mg/kg

Site ID: WP040, CHEMICAL TOILET SLUDGE, Landfill

  • Soil: Risk Not Evaluated
    • Contaminants: Radium 226 0.0027 mg/kg Thorium 228 0.0037 mg/kg DDE 0.01 mg/kg Toluene 0.013 mg/kg Methylene Chloride 0.029 mg/kg Chromium VI and compounds 0.2 mg/kg Mercury (Inorganic) 0.21 mg/kg Thallium 0.51 mg/kg Beryllium and compounds 1.3 mg/kg Selenium 1.9 mg/kg Phenol 2.2 mg/kg Molybdenum 5.5 mg/kg Cadmium and compounds 6.5 mg/kg Antimony and compounds 10.1 mg/kg Arsenic 19.0 mg/kg Chromium III 37.1 mg/kg Vanadium 77.1 mg/kg Nickel (Soluble Salts) 205.0 mg/kg Lead 300.0 mg/kg Barium 468.0 mg/kg Manganese and compounds 662.0 mg/kg Copper and compounds 662.0 mg/kg Aluminum 27600.0 mg/kg Iron 132000.0 mg/kg

Site ID: DP034, MUNITIONS/BOMBS, Landfill

  • Soil: Risk Not Evaluated
    • Contaminants: Radium 226 0.0027 mg/kg Thorium 228 0.0037 mg/kg DDE 0.01 mg/kg Toluene 0.013 mg/kg Methylene Chloride 0.029 mg/kg Chromium VI and compounds 0.2 mg/kg Mercury (Inorganic) 0.21 mg/kg Thallium 0.51 mg/kg Beryllium and compounds 1.3 mg/kg Selenium 1.9 mg/kg Phenol 2.2 mg/kg Molybdenum 5.5 mg/kg Cadmium and compounds 6.5 mg/kg Antimony and compounds 10.1 mg/kg Arsenic 19.0 mg/kg Chromium III 37.1 mg/kg Vanadium 77.1 mg/kg Nickel (Soluble Salts) 205.0 mg/kg Lead 300.0 mg/kg Barium 468.0 mg/kg Manganese and compounds 662.0 mg/kg Copper and compounds 662.0 mg/kg Aluminum 27600.0 mg/kg Iron 132000.0 mg/kg

Site ID: DP033, MUNITIONS, Landfill

  • Groundwater: Risk Not Evaluated
    • Contaminants: Methylene Chloride 0.65 ug/L Acetone 1.8 ug/L Bis(2-Ethylhexyl)Phthalate 2.3 ug/L Beryllium and compounds 2.4 ug/L Arsenic 11.0 ug/L Lead 18.0 ug/L Cobalt 34.0 ug/L Copper and compounds 50.0 ug/L Nickel (Soluble Salts) 53.0 ug/L Chromium 85.0 ug/L Vanadium 220.0 ug/L Zinc 250.0 ug/L Barium 300.0 ug/L Fluoride 420.0 ug/L Manganese and compounds 1700.0 ug/L Phosphorus (white) 2100.0 ug/L Aluminum 50000.0 ug/L Iron 78300.0 ug/L
  • Soil: Risk Not Evaluated
    • Contaminants: Beryllium and compounds 0.6933333333 mg/kg Benzenol 1.2333333333 mg/kg Selenium 1.9 mg/kg Nickel (Soluble Salts) 7.8 mg/kg

Site ID: XU402, 40MM GRENADE RANGE, Unexploded Munitions, and Ordnance Area

  • UXO – no data

Site ID: XU400, OLD BORROW AREA (OB/OD), Unexploded Munitions and Ordnance Area

  • Soil: Risk Not Evaluated
    • Contaminants: Dibenzo(b,e)(1,4)dioxin,2,3,7,8-tetrachloro- 2.5e-07 mg/kg 1,2,3,7,8,9-Hexachlorodibenzeno- p-Dioxin 1.3e-06 mg/kg 1,3-Dinitrobenzene 0.016 mg/kg TNT 0.05 mg/kg 2,6-Dinitrotoluene 0.13 mg/kg Cadmium and compounds 1.4 mg/kg Dinitotoluene 1.7 mg/kg Molybdenum 2.2 mg/kg Nickel (Soluble Salts) 11.6 mg/kg Antimony and compounds 19.6 mg/kg Vanadium 24.0 mg/kg Chromium 35.1 mg/kg Trinitroglycerin 87.0 mg/kg Manganese and compounds 393.0 mg/kg Zinc 741.0 mg/kg Barium 746.0 mg/kg Lead 797.0 mg/kg Copper and compounds 1140.0 mg/kg Aluminum 22400.0 mg/kg

Site ID: SR401, SMALL ARMS RANGE, Small Arms Range

  • Soil: Risk Not Evaluated
    • Contaminants: Copper and compounds 0.012 mg/kg Dinitotoluene 0.1 mg/kg Aluminum 0.31 mg/kg Manganese and compounds 0.45 mg/kg Zinc 0.48 mg/kg Barium 1.2 mg/kg Trinitroglycerin 5.1 mg/kg Antimony and compounds 5.7 mg/kg Lead 597.0 mg/kg

Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)

The Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) posed a threat to George AFB, and Adelanto supply wells as the STP outflow was used to water the GAFB Golf Course, and the Golf Course was upstream and less than 500ft from the 1st well. The following test results are from the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) percolation ponds. The STP outflow was first chlorinated and then used to water the golf course. WHY didn’t the Air Force evaluate the risk that this contamination posed to the base personnel and the public.

Site ID: WP026, STP PERCOLATION PONDS, Surface Impoundment/Lagoon

  • Groundwater: Risk Not Evaluated
    • Contaminants: Chloroform 0.05 ug/L Benzene, chloro- 0.1 ug/L 1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.1 ug/L Benzene 0.15 ug/L Trichloroethylene (TCE) 0.2 ug/L 1,1-Dichloroethane 0.35 ug/L Carbon Dichloride 0.5 ug/L Methylene Chloride 0.5 ug/L 1,2-Dichlorobenzene 1.2 ug/L Silver and compounds 3.0 ug/L Benzene, methyl- 4.2 ug/L Beryllium and compounds 5.0 ug/L Lead 7.0 ug/L Tetrahydrofuran 11.0 ug/L Methyl Ethyl Ketone 11.0 ug/L Chromium 17.0 ug/L Nickel (Soluble Salts) 43.5 ug/L Ethyl benzene 44.0 ug/L Copper and compounds 55.5 ug/L Zinc 139.0 ug/L Iron 9800.0 ug/L
  • Soil: Risk Not Evaluated
    • Contaminants: Benzene dicarboxylate 0.059 mg/kg Diethyl Phthalate 0.07 mg/kg 1,2-Benzacenaphthene 0.115 mg/kg Benzo(def)Phenanthrene 0.135 mg/kg Bis(2-Ethylhexyl)Phthalate 0.145 mg/kg Dibutyl Phthalate 0.195 mg/kg Chromium 5.295 mg/kg Lead 18.91 mg/kg Zinc 31.833333333 mg/kg

For more information about the source of the 5,578,400 gallons of industrial waste used to water the George AFB Golf course see:

Dieldrin contamination at the Base Family Housing

Dieldrin is considered one of the dirty dozen Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) aka a Forever Chemical. Despite the extreme toxicity of dieldrin and its daughter products and the fact that the contamination plume is upstream of the 1st Adelanto supply well the Air Force chose NOT to evaluate the risk. Additionally, when the Air Force modeled the dieldrin contamination plume the map showed the contamination plume stopping at the base boundary. WHY didn’t the Air Force evaluate the risk that this contamination posed to the base personnel and the public.

The soil under and around the Base Housing is so heavily contaminated with dieldrin that the Air Force placed the following CERCLA 120(H) deed restriction on the property and the aquifer under the Family Housing.

  • Groundwater use restrictions:
    “(a) Groundwater use restrictions: the Grantee covenants and agrees for itself and any of its agents, representatives, contractors, or lessees that it will not construct any well on the Property or extract/pump groundwater from beneath the Property for any purpose other than monitoring.” page 4
  • Land use restrictions:
    “(e) Grantee covenants and agrees that it will not use, or allow others to use, the Property for residential purposes (including mobile or modular homes), hospitals for human care, public or private schools for persons under 18 years of age, nursery schools, or daycare centers for children.” page 5

The data released to ProPublica by the Defense Environment Restoration Program (10/01/1979 To 10/07/2016) does not contain any test results for soil or groundwater contamination despite the fact that the Air Force placed the following conditional use clause in the George AFB Housing Quitclaim Deed on 01/10/2007.

Abrahm Lustgarten, Propublica’ s FOIA 17-F-0038

Dear FOIA officer, Pursuant to FOIA, I’d like to request a copy of the complete Defense Environment Restoration Program (DERP) Information System database including all legally releasable data fields including but not limited to a complete list of each unique site registered in the system, the unique identifier for that site, the status and classification of that site, the legal justification and explanation of the status, information on steps taken to achieve status, and so forth. The response should also include the DERP information system data definitions. The response should reflect a complete listing of all sites designated as needing or once needing environmental cleanup including FUDS, active and BRAC sites, under programs for the IRP and MMRP, as well as any additional sites not mentioned. Thank you. (Date Range for Record Search: From 10/01/1979 To 10/07/2016)

Source: ProPublica’s BOMBS IN OUR BACKYARD SERIES

I am not a doctor, Veterans Service Officer (VSO), or attorney; therefore, I cannot provide medical or legal advice.

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