Industrial activity at Air Force Plant 44 (AFP 44), a manufacturing facility located on property owned by the U.S. Air Force and operated by a major defense contractor, resulted in extensive contamination of groundwater with the industrial solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) and other organic compounds. The sole-source regional aquifer underlying AFP 44 provides potable water for municipal, commercial, private, and industrial supplies for the City of Tucson, the municipality of South Tucson, adjacent areas of Pima County, and the Tohono O’odham Nation. Contamination of the aquifer with organic solvents and stabilizers in the area surrounding the Tucson International Airport has been an issue of public concern since being discovered in 1981.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identified contaminants in the upper several hundred feet of the regional aquifer underlying areas around the Tucson Airport and identified a number of sources of contamination, including some at AFP 44. The area having contaminated groundwater was designated the Tucson International Airport Area (TIAA) Superfund Site and the U.S. Air Force was given the responsibility for cleanup activities for part of the site. Although large quantities of contaminants have been removed from the subsurface at AFP 44, cleanup activities initiated in 1987 have not yet been successful for complete and permanent aquifer restoration.
OBJECTIVES
The primary objective of this project is to provide technical assistance to the Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC) of the U.S. Air Force for their oversight responsibilities for remediation activities being conducted by contractors at Air Force Plant 44. Additional responsibilities are to provide public information relevant to groundwater contamination at AFP 44 and other areas of the Tucson International Airport Area (TIAA) Superfund Site, remediation activities, and associated geohydrologic and technical issues.
APPROACH
Recent projects by the USGS in the area include an investigation of the extent and trends in 1,4-dioxane contamination in groundwater and an investigation of hexavalent and total chromium in groundwater.
RELEVANCE AND BENEFITS
USGS participation in field activities at AFP 44 enables it to provide appropriate technical assistance to the Air Force and provide accurate information to the public and policy makers. Because water supplies of the Tucson area are a critical concern to the community at large, decisions involving these resources require that the public have access to unbiased technical information.
Concentration and trend of 1,4-dioxane in wells sampled during 2002–2017 in the vicinity of the Tucson International Airport Area Superfund Site, Arizona
Concentration of 1,4-Dioxane in Wells Sampled During 2002-2009 in the Vicinity of the Tucson International Airport Area Superfund Site, Arizona
Below are publications associated with this project.
Results of the Analyses for 1,4-Dioxane of Groundwater Samples Collected in the Tucson Airport Remediation Project Area, South-Central Arizona, 2006-2009
Trichloroethylene and 1,1-dichloroethylene concentrations in ground water after temporary shutdown of the reclamation well field at Air Force Plant 44, Tucson, Arizona, 1999
Contamination of ground water at the Tucson International Airport Area, Superfund Site, Tucson, Arizona — Overview of hydrogeologic considerations, conditions as of 1995, and cleanup efforts
Distribution and movement of trichloroethylene in ground water in the Tucson area, Arizona
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
Industrial activity at Air Force Plant 44 (AFP 44), a manufacturing facility located on property owned by the U.S. Air Force and operated by a major defense contractor, resulted in extensive contamination of groundwater with the industrial solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) and other organic compounds. The sole-source regional aquifer underlying AFP 44 provides potable water for municipal, commercial, private, and industrial supplies for the City of Tucson, the municipality of South Tucson, adjacent areas of Pima County, and the Tohono O’odham Nation. Contamination of the aquifer with organic solvents and stabilizers in the area surrounding the Tucson International Airport has been an issue of public concern since being discovered in 1981.
Location of Air Force Plant 44 and Tucson International Airport Area Superfund Site, Tucson Basin, southeastern Arizona The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identified contaminants in the upper several hundred feet of the regional aquifer underlying areas around the Tucson Airport and identified a number of sources of contamination, including some at AFP 44. The area having contaminated groundwater was designated the Tucson International Airport Area (TIAA) Superfund Site and the U.S. Air Force was given the responsibility for cleanup activities for part of the site. Although large quantities of contaminants have been removed from the subsurface at AFP 44, cleanup activities initiated in 1987 have not yet been successful for complete and permanent aquifer restoration.
OBJECTIVES
The primary objective of this project is to provide technical assistance to the Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC) of the U.S. Air Force for their oversight responsibilities for remediation activities being conducted by contractors at Air Force Plant 44. Additional responsibilities are to provide public information relevant to groundwater contamination at AFP 44 and other areas of the Tucson International Airport Area (TIAA) Superfund Site, remediation activities, and associated geohydrologic and technical issues.
APPROACH
Recent projects by the USGS in the area include an investigation of the extent and trends in 1,4-dioxane contamination in groundwater and an investigation of hexavalent and total chromium in groundwater.
RELEVANCE AND BENEFITS
USGS participation in field activities at AFP 44 enables it to provide appropriate technical assistance to the Air Force and provide accurate information to the public and policy makers. Because water supplies of the Tucson area are a critical concern to the community at large, decisions involving these resources require that the public have access to unbiased technical information.
- Maps
Concentration and trend of 1,4-dioxane in wells sampled during 2002–2017 in the vicinity of the Tucson International Airport Area Superfund Site, Arizona
Industrial activities causing extensive groundwater contamination led to the listing of the Tucson International Airport Area (TIAA) as a Superfund Site in 1983. Early groundwater investigations identified volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including the chlorinated solvents trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE), in wells in the area. Several responsible parties were identified and cConcentration of 1,4-Dioxane in Wells Sampled During 2002-2009 in the Vicinity of the Tucson International Airport Area Superfund Site, Arizona
Extensive groundwater contamination resulting from industrial activities led to the listing of the Tucson International Airport Area as a Superfund Site in 1983. Early investigations revealed elevated levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including the chlorinated solvents trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) in wells in the area. Several responsible parties were identified an - Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Results of the Analyses for 1,4-Dioxane of Groundwater Samples Collected in the Tucson Airport Remediation Project Area, South-Central Arizona, 2006-2009
Extensive groundwater contamination resulting from industrial activities led to the listing of the Tucson International Airport Area (TIAA) as a Superfund Site by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in 1983. Early investigations revealed elevated levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including the chlorinated solvents trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene, in wells in the areAuthorsFred D. TillmanTrichloroethylene and 1,1-dichloroethylene concentrations in ground water after temporary shutdown of the reclamation well field at Air Force Plant 44, Tucson, Arizona, 1999
Industrial activities beginning in the early 1940s resulted in extensive contamination of ground water near the Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, including an area around Air Force Plant 44, an industrial facility located on land owned by the U.S. Air Force and operated by a defense contractor. Principal ground-water contaminants are volatile organic compounds, primarily trichloroethyAuthorsD. D. Graham, T.J. Allen, M.L. Barackman, W.H. DiGuiseppi, M.F. WallaceContamination of ground water at the Tucson International Airport Area, Superfund Site, Tucson, Arizona — Overview of hydrogeologic considerations, conditions as of 1995, and cleanup efforts
No abstract available.AuthorsD. D. Graham, J. E. MonicalDistribution and movement of trichloroethylene in ground water in the Tucson area, Arizona
In 1981, investigations of groundwater quality around Tucson International Airport revealed a number of wells that pumped water contaminated with trichloroethylene. Subsequent investigations resulted in the delineation of three distinct areas of contamination, the largest of which encompasses about 5 sq mi of aquifer surface area. Most of the contamination is in the top 100 ft of the saturated groAuthorsS. A. Leake, R. T. Hanson - Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.