Marshall Space Flight Center's Superfund Program
"We've made significant progress in a rather short time," said Dr. Rebecca McCaleb, director of Marshall's Environmental Engineering & Management Office. "Our investigations to date indicate that the surface conditions at the Marshall Center pose no threat to public health or the environment."
Since 1994, the Marshall Center has spent an estimated $12 million on identifying, investigating, sampling and restoring 67 sites where hazardous material was used, disposed or stored in the past, before the potentially harmful results of such activities were known, said McCaleb. Remedial expenditures are expected to reach an additional $54 million through 2004, she said.
Successful Restoration
In 1994, the Center was placed on the National Priorities List of sites eligible for cleanup under Superfund, an environmental program managed by the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up hazardous waste sites throughout the United States.
During its Superfund investigation, the Marshall Center examined soil, subsoil, sediment, surface water and groundwater in the affected areas. Environmental scientists collected samples of soil, sediments, surface water, groundwater and fish tissue. They tested these samples in laboratories to see if they contained any hazardous contaminants. Results of the surface media investigation determined a need to restore the West Test Area Deluge Pond and East Test Area Pond 9. Groundwater studies are continuing.
West Test Area: Built in the 1960s, the West Test Area has been used for hundreds of test firings in support of the U.S. space program. The Saturn V rocket's first-stage engine, the F-1, and Space Shuttle Main Engines have been tested there. During the 1960s, solvents such as trichloroethylene were used to clean rocket engines after test firings. Then the water and solvents were discharged to the West Test Area's Deluge Pond. To restore the site and ensure it poses no future threat to public health or the environment, Marshall removed all contaminated soil and sediment and installed a liner in the pond. In addition, Marshall installed an air stripper, a cleaning process that uses air to "strip away" volatile solvents from water.
Air strippers are vertical columns filled with packing material. Pumped groundwater flows downward through the column while a stream of forced air blows upward from the bottom, "stripping" contaminants from the water. After contaminants separate from the water, they exit through the top of the column. If necessary, contaminants are trapped to ensure appropriate air quality. The treated groundwater exits through the bottom.
East Test Area: Built in the 1950s and 1960s, the East Test Area was designed to develop and test various missiles and rockets, beginning with the Redstone rocket. Hundreds of tests have been conducted there on rocket engines, as well as the Space Shuttle and the Saturn I and Saturn I-B rockets. During the study of the East Test Area, Marshall tested fish from Pond 9, which was used to capture water used for cooling during rocket engine testing. Polychlorinated biphenyl -- commonly referred to as PCBs -- were detected in fish at levels that exceed ecological risk criteria. PCBs historically have been used as components of hydraulic fluids in heavy equipment and in electrical equipment such as capacitors and transformers.
Studies have shown that PCBs bioaccumulate, or become stored in the fatty tissue of animals, fish and living systems. In an effort to prevent PCBs from moving up the food chain via larger animals feeding on contaminated sunfish and bass, Marshall decided to drain Pond 9, install a liner on the bottom, and put the pond back in service.
Current and Future Remediation Projects
For approximately eight years, Marshall has been studying Center groundwater to learn its course, the rate at which it flows, where it leads and ultimately, the type and amount of contamination - if any - that needs to be removed.
Fluorescent dye was injected at various well sites and sinking streams within Marshall Center. A series of automated groundwater collection samplers placed around the Center determined the direction, velocity and distribution of groundwater.
To date, studies show Marshall Center has seven contaminated underground bodies of water called "plumes" that flow through the soil and bedrock. Environmental tests of those plumes are scheduled for completion by the end of 1999. Appropriate action to remedy groundwater conditions will be taken, if necessary.
Background
When placed on the National Priorities List in 1994, Marshall began working with the Environmental Protection Agency to identify sites where hazardous materials had been used, disposed or stored. A total of 95 sites were at the Marshall Center. The Army's Redstone Arsenal is responsible for 13 of those, with Marshall Center responsible for the remaining 82 sites. The sites were grouped into 11 "operable units" to help organize the study of the sites, which include fuel loading areas, rocket engine test stands and paint shops. They include:
1. East and West Test Areas
2. Industrial Sewer
3. Northwest Area Groundwater
4. Northeast Area Groundwater
5. Building 4760 Area Activities
6. Northeast Areas
7. Satellite Waste Accumulation Areas
8. Petroleum Sites
9. Former Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant
10. Sites requiring no further action
11. East and West Test Area Groundwater
Marshall's Environmental Study
Marshall initiated its environmental study in 1988 to identify the nature and extent of contamination areas that should be further addressed. For each of the 11 groups of sites, or operable units, Marshall will prepare a Remedial Investigation Report and a Proposed Plan. After the public has the opportunity to comment on the Proposed Plan for each operable unit, a remedy will be selected and presented in a Record of Decision.
Community Involvement
Community involvement has been essential to Marshall's Superfund Cleanup Program. From the start, Marshall has kept citizens informed about the program and other environmental efforts by holding public meetings and providing site tours, newsletters, videos, fact sheets and information displays. Marshall has ensured that the community has received information about site investigations and has had opportunities to comment on proposed plans during 30-day public comment periods, including public meetings.
More information on Marshall's Superfund Cleanup Program is available on the Web at:
http://eemo.msfc.nasa.gov/eemo/
Information can also be obtained by contacting:
Dr. Rebecca McCaleb, Director
Environmental & Engineering Management Office
Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, Ala. 35812
(256) 544-4367
About Marshall
Marshall Space Flight Center is NASA's premier organization for developing space transportation and propulsion systems and for conducting microgravity research.
Marshall is also NASA's Center of Excellence for Space Propulsion. Marshall was established in 1960 under the leadership of Dr. Wernher von Braun. Milestones during its first decade included designing, developing and producing the Mercury-Redstone vehicle that boosted America's first astronaut, Alan B. Shepard, into suborbital flight; and developing the Saturn rockets that took the first humans to the Moon in 1969.
Throughout its history, Marshall has managed many significant space projects including the Lunar Rover Vehicle for transporting astronauts on the lunar surface; Skylab, the United States' first crewed orbiting space station; the Space Shuttle's Main Engines, external tank and solid rocket boosters; the Hubble Space Telescope, a space-based observatory that is making unprecedented discoveries of the universe; and 20 Spacelab missions.