Expedited environmental investigation for base conversion

摘要

Bergstrom Air Force Base (AFB), located in Austin, Texas, officially closed in September 1993. The former AFB is currently being convereted to the Austin-Bergstrom International airport and is scheduled to be fully operational by May 1999. The conversion includes demolition of most existing structures; construction of an additional runway, a terminal, freight facilities and parking structures; and installation of storm-water control structures and new utilities. As part of the conversion, an environmental management and complinace program was implemented to assess and address any base-related environmental issues prior to completion of the pairport construction. Numerous sites across the base were identified during the initial phases of the program. Environmental investigation/clean-up had to be performed at approximately 300 solid waste management units (SWMUs) and 200 petroleumrelated sites. Primary regulatory oversight was provided by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), but final approval of property transfers has to be granted by the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).