Location and Description: This site occupies 19.4
acres and is located four miles directly southwest of Beatrice
in Gage County, NE. The S-8 Atlas “F” Intercontinental
Ballistic Missile site was one of 12 that surrounded the former
Lincoln Air Force Base and was used for the launch support
for the operationally ready Atlas missile.
Site facilities consisted of: an underground, reinforced concrete
launch silo; a connecting underground launch control
center; an industrial waste water evaporation lagoon; two offsite
water wells (1.5 miles away); and underground storage
tanks for water, diesel fuel, and fuel catchment. Support
structures included a cooling tower, a septic tank with subsurface sand filter, and two corrugated
steel igloos.
Construction occurred in 1960 and 1961. After five short years of operation, Site 8
was decommissioned and transferred to private ownership in 1967. The property now sits
vacant and is unused except for some cattle grazing. Most of the site has been significantly
altered with removal of all aboveground features (with bulldozing most features to flatten the
surrounding areas). Except for the concrete pad around the silo and a parking area, the fenced
area of the site is grass-covered with scattered shrubs and trees. Most of the fence is still
intact.
Problem and Response: Trichloroethylene (TCE) has been released into the
groundwater. During 2010, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District project
delivery team completed remedial investigation fieldwork to delineate groundwater
contamination. Contamination was found in two water-bearing zones (pitching in opposite
directions). Groundwater flow also moves in an “S” shape going off-site to the north, making
delineation much more challenging. The final decision document was approved in 2013.
Activities for 2015: Contractor to complete the initial residential well sampling and start
the design and implementation of the pilot study for the selected remedy chemical
oxidation. Submit technical memo detailing residential well sampling results.
Proposed Activities for 2016: Complete
the pilot study. Submit work plans for
review/comment to Nebraska Department of
Environmental Quality of the “full-scale” remediation. Implement full scale remediation system.