Location and Description: The site is five miles southeast of
the city of Chugwater, Platte County, Wyoming. The site was one of
nine Atlas “E” missile sites operated by the Air Force under the 549th
Strategic Missile Squadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.
The site consisted of 18 fee acres and easements over 240 acres acquired between May 1961 and May 1962. Improvements
consisted of one underground launch operations building and one
launch and service building, segregated storage buildings, sentry
house, two water wells and pump stations, helicopter pad, spray
pond, roads, walks, fences, water, sewer, and electrical systems.
The site was excessed in August 1965. By quitclaim deed dated July
20, 1967, the entire area was conveyed to Francis Orvis Daellenbach
and Murrill H. Daellenbach. The site is currently owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Tim
Bendel, who operate the business Frontier Astronautics from the site.
Problem and Response: Due to trichloroethene (TCE) groundwater contamination, a
Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste project has been initiated for this site under the
Defense Environmental Restoration Program for FUDS.
Remedial Action: A remedial action contract was awarded with FY11 FUDS plus up
funding to begin a performance-based contract action. The contract includes a five-year basic
award to get to Remedy In Place, with a FY16 option award to continue operation and
monitoring for another five-year period of
performance until response complete is reached.
Activities for 2015: The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers contractor has completed the
proposed plan and decision document. The remedial design and implementation of the full
scale remedy is to occur this year followed by performance monitoring to confirm that the
remedy in place 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 contamination of the
final Remedy In Place.
Issues and Other Information: The biggest challenge will be to satisfy WDEQ and
EPA concerns regarding the reduction of TCE in the contaminated groundwater plume.