Original Source: Annual FUSRAP Report Available Online
Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program Update – Fiscal Year 2021
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Published Feb. 24, 2022
Mississippi Valley Division
St. Louis District, Iowa Army Ammunition Plant
Middletown, Iowa
The Iowa Army Ammunition Plant is an active, government-owned facility that covers more than 19,000 acres in southeastern Iowa. From 1947 to 1975, portions of the plant were under the control of the AEC for munitions testing and weapon-assembly operations. This resulted in uranium contaminated and munitions explosives contaminated soils. The St. Louis District is addressing the plant areas formerly used by the AEC in accordance with the Federal Facilities Agreement signed among USACE, DOE, EPA and the state of Iowa.
This was an increase of 1,462 cubic yards over FY 2020 totals despite a 53% increase in time lost due to weather and use of the site by IAAAP.
In September 2011, the district completed a ROD for OU-8, which addresses depleted uranium (DU) contamination using a sorting process to remove DU from the surrounding soil. This process reduces the amount of contaminated soil that must be shipped off-site, thus saving money.
In FY 2021, a total of 25,658 cubic yards of soil was handled and processed using the on-site soil-sorting process. This was an increase of 1,462 cubic yards over FY 2020 totals despite a 53% increase in time lost due to weather and use of the site by IAAAP.
Using this soil-sorting process, soils were sorted into two stockpiles: soils with levels above remediation goals and soils with levels below remediation goals. Soils that were above remediation goals were loaded into railcars and shipped off-site for disposal, and soils with levels below remediation goals were tested and used for backfill on-site. This resulted in 3,356 cubic yards of contaminated soils needing to be shipped off-site for disposal. Of note, the soils within the former Test Fire Pit and surrounding apron that were remediated were particularly challenging because of the 18-foot depth of excavation. The final status survey evaluation (FSSE) for an additional 20 survey units outside of the general excavation area was completed as well.
In FY 2022, the district should complete its cleanup efforts at the site under the OU-8 ROD. The remaining 41 survey units at Firing Site (FS)-12 plus all areas outside of FS-12 (FS-1 and 2; FS-3, 4 and 5; etc.) are scheduled for FSSE. The district will also start remediating Line 1 under the Army’s OU-1 ROD.
February 28, 2022