I am trying to document when the Department of Defense (DoD) knew or suspected it had a problem with environmental contamination at its facilities, installations, or bases. To do this, I am trying to find the earliest DoD records that address specific environmental contamination or health hazards at the DoD’s installations. e.g., Radiation, Trichloroethylene, Burn pits, Incinerators, and …
Burn pits or incinerators
Burn pits release known carcinogens and respiratory sensitizers into the atmosphere. Incinerators present acute and chronic health hazards to civilians, military personnel, and their family members. A list of possible contaminants includes acetaldehyde, acrolein, arsenic, benzene, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, dichlorofluoromethane, dioxins, ethylbenzene, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, various heavy metals (lead, cadmium, and mercury), nitrogen dioxide, phosgene, sulfuric acid, sulfur dioxide, toluene, trichloroethane, trichloropropane, and xylene.
Burn Pit Health Hazards Memo – December 20, 2006 – Air Force
Chlordane and other organochlorine pesticides (“OCPs”)
1970 – The Air Force knew that some of the Webb Air Force Base Family Housing units, located in Big Spring, Texas, were contaminated with and the occupants exposed to a large quantity of chlordane. The Air Force knew that due to the method used to apply the pesticide and building design flaw, a completed exposure pathway (CEP) existed at a large percentage of its habitual structures, and occupants’ exposure was possible at ALL of the Air Forces’ Family Housing units.
Chlordane Contamination of Government Quarters and Personal Property Webb AFB TX
Groundwater
(War Department Technical Manual 5-634, October 1946, § III), sets forth the mandatory requirement not to select sites with surface or sub-surface drainage to the water supply. Requires that waste disposal must not contribute to a public nuisance, with specific reference to water. *
Before 1950, it was common knowledge that groundwater could be polluted and that the pollution could travel great distances from the original contamination site. Further, it was generally known before that time that percolation, a process by which disposed of substances would leach into the underlying groundwater, could occur and that groundwater needed to be protected from deleterious leachates.
(AFM 88-11 Chapter 5, § 504C) requires that the location of the fill should be such that run-off can be disposed of without polluting surface or sub-surface water supplies. *
Executive Order 11288. Prevention, control, and abatement of water pollution by Federal activities. Signed: July 2, 1966
Lead
Navy document acknowledging contamination of Lake Michigan with lead from its firearms training range but stating it needs to take action only if it transferred the property from federal control. Instead of cleaning it up, it transferred it to the FBI, which still violates environmental law by not cleaning it up.
Engineering Service Request No. 21-696-350 – September 1984 – Navy
Radiation
Land burial of radioactive waste was authorized with specified procedures to be followed, including identification of the location on appropriate maps and fencing to prevent the entry of unauthorized personnel. However, procedures for maintaining existing burial sites were not specified.
Technical Order 00-110A-1, “Radioactive Waste Disposal” – AF – May 25, 1956
A FOIA request has been filed for this document.
The disposition of solid radioactive waste is strictly controlled, and burial was not authorized without specific approval of the USAF Radioisotope Committee, AFLC.
Technical Order 00-110N-2, “Radioactive Waste Disposal” – AF – Date?
Hq USAF survey letter – Radioactive Waste Disposal, Hq, SCN 71-28 -AF – February 1971
Burial of Radioactive Waste in the USAF – AF – 1972
Trichloroethylene (TCE)
The appropriate standard of care in waste disposal in the 1950s was to treat TCE as a hazardous substance in disposing of the contaminant so as not to pollute groundwater. *
McChord AF base was held liable for negligence and emotional distress for TCE contamination of drinking water wells. TCE leached from AF golf course in Washington. AF negligence caused a diminution in the value of the plaintiff’s property. …
Clark v. United States, No. C85-97TB (660 F. Supp. 1164) (WD Wash. April 20, 1987)
Removal Of Trichloroethylene Contamination From Drinking Water At A [Pease AFB, NH] USAF Installation – AF – July 31, 1978
If anyone has found an earlier publication, please send me a link to the records.
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