Location and Description: The property was one of
three Atlas "D" missile sites operated by the Air Force as part
of the 565th Strategic Missile Squadron at F.E. Warren Air
Force Base, Wyoming. The property is located 20 miles west of Cheyenne, and consisted of 702 acres
acquired by purchase and condemnation between 1959 and
1962.
The property was excessed to the General Services
Administration (GSA) in 1965. The 330 fee acres and
easements over 34 acres that included the developed
portion of the property were sold to Southern Scrap Iron and
Metal Company, St. Louis, Missouri. This portion of the
property was later sold to the Belvoir Grazing Association,
Ault, Colorado. GSA sold the remaining portion of the property, which consisted of easements
over 338 acres, to the Belvoir Grazing Association. The site is currently owned by the city of
Cheyenne and the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities.
Problem and Response: Due to trichloroethene (TCE) groundwater contamination at the
site, a Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste (HTRW) project was initiated under the
Defense Environmental Restoration Program for FUDS.
Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study: The in-house remedial investigation (RI)
report was finalized in 2006. The feasibility study (FS) was implemented in 2005 to consider
remedial action alternatives (RAAs) for TCE contamination in the groundwater. The revised
draft final FS report was submitted in November 2009. Supplemental investigations were
conducted from 2007 to 2013 to fill data gaps from the RI and collect data to support the RAAs.
Three years of interim monitoring of all monitoring wells, existing domestic, stock, industrial and
municipal wells in the delineated portion of the contaminated groundwater plume were
completed in 2010, 2011 and 2013 to assess plume stability.
The interim monitoring continues
on an annual basis for impacted wells and wells that are in proximity of the contaminated plume.
In 2013, a contract action was awarded to conduct a data synthesis, evaluation and
interpretation (DSEI) in an effort to extract and assess information from private wells and
investigations conducted in the area by others to further define the conceptual site model. The
DSEI study area was expanded in 2014 to include areas east and southeast of the original
study area. The DSEI study is scheduled for completion in 2016, and will be used to assess
and plan for any additional delineation and characterization work needed to complete the FS
report.
Interim Removal Actions: An interim action was implemented in 2009 on two domestic
supply wells with the installation of granular activated carbon treatment systems. A second
interim action implemented in 2010 to design, construct, and operate a groundwater treatment
facility at the Sherard Water Treatment Plant to provide treatment for the four impacted
Cheyenne municipal wells in the Borie Wellfield has been completed. Both interim actions have
been completed and continue to be monitored and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers.
Activities for 2015: Restoration Advisory Board meetings will continue to provide
community involvement and input on the evaluation and selection of the FS RAAs. The DSEI
effort will continue, including conducting additional technical project planning meetings to
address Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ)/stakeholder concerns and
plan additional investigations to complete the FS. Award of a contract for the continuation of
interim monitoring and operation of the residential wells/treatment facilities is planned.
Proposed Activities for 2016: Review of
data synthesis documents along with conducting
technical project planning and Restoration
Advisory Board meetings is planned to address
WDEQ/stakeholder concerns prior to completion of the remedial investigation/feasibility study
phase of the HTRW project. Monitoring and operations of the domestic and municipal treatment
facilities is also planned. .
Issues and Other Information: Regulators and stakeholders believe the site is the
source for TCE contamination in several municipal wells east of the site and look to the FUDS
Program for treatment of the TCE contamination. In addition, WDEQ and EPA Region 8 are
pushing for remedial action of the TCE-contaminated groundwater. There are also questions on
an underground storage tank that may be eligible for removal with FUDS funding. The biggest
challenge will be to satisfy the regulators’ concerns regarding remediation of TCE in the
contaminated groundwater plume.