Kimball County, NE: Warren Air Force Base Facility Former Atlas "E" Missile Site 8

Formerly Used Defense Sites Program

Published April 7, 2015

Location and Description: The site is four miles southwest of the city of Kimball, NE. The site was one of nine Atlas missile sites operated by the U.S. Air Force under the 549th Strategic Missile Squadron at Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. Improvements consisted of one underground launch operations building and one launch and service building, segregated storage buildings, sentry house, helicopter pad, spray pond, roads, walks, fences, water, sewer, and electrical systems. The facility was connected to the Kimball city water system with a pump station located adjacent to the city water tower. The General Services Administration excessed the site in August 1965.

Problem and Response: Due to trichloroethene groundwater contamination, a Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste project has been initiated under the Formerly Uused Defense Sites Program for this site.

Activities for 2015: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractor completed the proposed plan and decision document last year. The design and implementation of the full scale remedy are to occur this year followed by performance monitoring to confirm that the remedy continues to meet expectations for TCE mass reduction.

Proposed Activities for 2016: Under the remedial action contract, the USACE contractor will continue performance monitoring to track reduction of the TCE contamination to attain final remedy in place.

Issues and Other Information: The biggest challenge will be to satisfy NDEQ and EPA concerns regarding reduction of the TCE-contaminated groundwater plume. Funding is being programmed for 2016 to make the award of an option to continue operation and monitoring of the remedial action in order to obtain site closure in 2021.