07/29/07: Plan for ammo plant opposed- Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger
Plan for ammo plant opposed
ANITA CLARK
608-252-6138
aclark@madison.com
An environmental group is criticizing a proposal to cap contaminated soil sites as part of the hazardous waste cleanup at the closed Badger Army Ammunition Plant near Baraboo.
Public comments will be accepted until Thursday on the proposal under review by the state Department of Natural Resources.
At issue are three major waste pits known as the Propellant Burning Grounds on the west side of the 7,300-acre site near Highway 12 in Sauk County.
Soil containing explosives, solvents and other hazardous pollutants is the source of contaminated groundwater that is threatening nearby wells.
Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger, a community environmental group, said Friday that the Army should excavate more soil at the waste pits.
Hank Kuehling, a DNR hydrogeologist who is environmental projects manager for the Badger site, said the Army is proposing to cap the sites to prevent rain and melting snow from infiltrating contaminated soil.
The cap would consist of soil and an impermeable membrane such as those used to line and cover landfills, he said.
Laura Olah, executive director of the environmental group, said the Army should excavate an additional 10 to 20 feet of the most contaminated soil before installing a permanent cap.
"This additional step could save millions of dollars by significantly reducing the number of years that groundwater extraction is required,'' she said.
Ongoing cleanup efforts at the site include a system to encourage biological breakdown of contaminants in soil, pressurized air to strip out some contaminants and two well systems dealing with contaminated groundwater, Kuehling said.
Opened in 1942, the ammunition plant made powder and propellants used by U.S. armed forces during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars.
The DNR will review public comments before making a decision this fall on the soil capping proposal. Comments may be sent to Kuehling at the Department of Natural Resources, 3911 Fish Hatchery Road, Fitchburg WI 53711, or via e-mail to harlan.kuehling@wisconsin.gov.
ANITA CLARK
608-252-6138
aclark@madison.com
An environmental group is criticizing a proposal to cap contaminated soil sites as part of the hazardous waste cleanup at the closed Badger Army Ammunition Plant near Baraboo.
Public comments will be accepted until Thursday on the proposal under review by the state Department of Natural Resources.
At issue are three major waste pits known as the Propellant Burning Grounds on the west side of the 7,300-acre site near Highway 12 in Sauk County.
Soil containing explosives, solvents and other hazardous pollutants is the source of contaminated groundwater that is threatening nearby wells.
Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger, a community environmental group, said Friday that the Army should excavate more soil at the waste pits.
Hank Kuehling, a DNR hydrogeologist who is environmental projects manager for the Badger site, said the Army is proposing to cap the sites to prevent rain and melting snow from infiltrating contaminated soil.
The cap would consist of soil and an impermeable membrane such as those used to line and cover landfills, he said.
Laura Olah, executive director of the environmental group, said the Army should excavate an additional 10 to 20 feet of the most contaminated soil before installing a permanent cap.
"This additional step could save millions of dollars by significantly reducing the number of years that groundwater extraction is required,'' she said.
Ongoing cleanup efforts at the site include a system to encourage biological breakdown of contaminants in soil, pressurized air to strip out some contaminants and two well systems dealing with contaminated groundwater, Kuehling said.
Opened in 1942, the ammunition plant made powder and propellants used by U.S. armed forces during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars.
The DNR will review public comments before making a decision this fall on the soil capping proposal. Comments may be sent to Kuehling at the Department of Natural Resources, 3911 Fish Hatchery Road, Fitchburg WI 53711, or via e-mail to harlan.kuehling@wisconsin.gov.
Submitted by wnpj on Fri, 11/02/2007 - 2:31pm.