Location and Description: The former Sioux City Army Air Base, now known as the Sioux City Municipal Airport, comprises 2,242 acres and is located six miles from downtown Sioux City, Iowa. In April 1942, the city of Sioux City leased 1,441 acres of property to the United States for use by the Army Air Forces as an airbase, airport, cantonment, training school, and military reservation. In 1947 and 1948, the War Assets Administration surrendered its 1942 lease and quitclaim deeded to the city of Sioux City, including the aqua gasoline system and its associated tanks. 

The city of Sioux City then operated the site as a municipal airport. In December 1951, the United States again began leasing property for use by the Air Force. The Air Force had a fighter-interceptor base at the site from 1952 through 1960, and then a semiautomatic ground environment installation from 1960 through 1968. The Air Force deactivated the semiautomatic ground environment installation in September 1968. 

In June 1970, the United States quit-claimed and released the remaining property to which it had a lease hold. Once again, throughout all the time that the Department of Defense (DoD) was at the site after 1948, the city of Sioux City mainly utilized the property as its municipal airport and has had other lessees/tenants who serviced airport-related needs, including airplane maintenance, refueling, and fuel storage. Currently most of the site is owned by the city of Sioux City for public airport purposes, along with the Iowa Air National Guard and the Department of the Navy. 

Problem and Response: The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) previously sent letters to Sioux City regarding the initiation of free product recovery. However, as state underground storage tank (UST) funds would be used to pay for the free product recovery, both IDNR and Sioux City want DoD to pay for or do the work. In an examination of contemporaneous records from the period of time that the DoD leased property and tanks from the city of Sioux City, there is no evidence upon which to base a determination of governmental liability. 

The city leased the tanks thought to be the source of the petroleum free product to lessees such as Graham Flying Service and Airways Service. It has been the established position of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that the government will not undertake the removal of the petroleum free product, or take financial responsibility for such removal, based on the solid legal and factual defenses available to the United States. 

Activities for 2015: Support Omaha District Office of Counsel, when requested, with information regarding path forward, to project closeout activities. 

Issues and Other Information: Areas of conflict/concern involve property ownership issues, beneficial use by other lessees, and the legal responsibility for the existing petroleum free product plumes on the part of owners and operators of USTs and fuel system at the time of the release(s).

Location and Description: The former Sioux City Army Air Base, now known as the Sioux City Municipal Airport, comprises 2,242 acres and is located six miles from downtown Sioux City, Iowa. In April 1942, the city of Sioux City leased 1,441 acres of property to the United States for use by the Army Air Forces as an airbase, airport, cantonment, training school, and military reservation. In 1947 and 1948, the War Assets Administration surrendered its 1942 lease and quitclaim deeded to the city of Sioux City, including the aqua gasoline system and its associated tanks. 

The city of Sioux City then operated the site as a municipal airport. In December 1951, the United States again began leasing property for use by the Air Force. The Air Force had a fighter-interceptor base at the site from 1952 through 1960, and then a semiautomatic ground environment installation from 1960 through 1968. The Air Force deactivated the semiautomatic ground environment installation in September 1968. 

In June 1970, the United States quit-claimed and released the remaining property to which it had a lease hold. Once again, throughout all the time that the Department of Defense (DoD) was at the site after 1948, the city of Sioux City mainly utilized the property as its municipal airport and has had other lessees/tenants who serviced airport-related needs, including airplane maintenance, refueling, and fuel storage. Currently most of the site is owned by the city of Sioux City for public airport purposes, along with the Iowa Air National Guard and the Department of the Navy. 

Problem and Response: The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) previously sent letters to Sioux City regarding the initiation of free product recovery. However, as state underground storage tank (UST) funds would be used to pay for the free product recovery, both IDNR and Sioux City want DoD to pay for or do the work. In an examination of contemporaneous records from the period of time that the DoD leased property and tanks from the city of Sioux City, there is no evidence upon which to base a determination of governmental liability. 

The city leased the tanks thought to be the source of the petroleum free product to lessees such as Graham Flying Service and Airways Service. It has been the established position of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that the government will not undertake the removal of the petroleum free product, or take financial responsibility for such removal, based on the solid legal and factual defenses available to the United States. 

Activities for 2015: Support Omaha District Office of Counsel, when requested, with information regarding path forward, to project closeout activities. 

Issues and Other Information: Areas of conflict/concern involve property ownership issues, beneficial use by other lessees, and the legal responsibility for the existing petroleum free product plumes on the part of owners and operators of USTs and fuel system at the time of the release(s).