Location and Description: The Iowa Army Ammunition Plant (IAAAP) is located eight miles west of downtown Burlington and covers 19,000 acres of property adjacent to the city of Middletown. IAAAP is currently an
active facility with a mission to load, assemble, and pack military munitions. Prior
tenants included the former Atomic Energy Commission.
Problem and Response: Historical operations at IAAAP resulted in the release of
contaminants (primarily explosives, metals, and solvents/fuels) to soil, sediments,
groundwater, and surface water at numerous sites scattered across the facility. Some
private properties near IAAAP have been impacted by contaminated groundwater and
surface water.
IAAAP was placed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s
(EPA) National Priorities List in 1990. Several remedial actions have been put into
place, including excavating and treating several hundred thousand cubic yards of
contaminated soil. Multiple groundwater plumes are being treated to remove
contaminants and to prevent further migration of contaminants. The remaining program
is focused on groundwater treatment systems, surface water cleanup, residual soil
cleanups, and closure of the on-site soil repository.
In 2002, through the Military
Munitions Response Program (MMRP), seven military munitions response sites were
identified and are subsequently being characterized. A remedial investigation/feasibility
study was conducted for all seven sites. This work identified the nature and extent of
contamination at these sites and described the remediation alternatives.
Activities for 2015: Continue groundwater and surface water treatment.
Complete the soil remediation projects. Conduct the remedial investigation/feasibility
study for MMRP sites.
Issues and Other Information: USACE started work on the environmental
restoration program at IAAAP in 1992. Since 2004, primary execution of
the environmental work is being done by an AEC performance-based contract with
Tetra Tech. As a result, USACE provides only limited environmental restoration
support for real estate and historical information to IAAAP. USACE is now managing
the MMRP work at IAAAP for AEC.