You can find more information on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bureau for Remediation and Redevelopment Tracking System (BRRTS) .

A site chronology of significant environmental events at Badger Army Ammunition Plan (BAAP) is listed below.

 

  • During World War II, BAAP employed approximately 7,500 workers and produced approximately 271 million pounds of single- and double-base propellant. Oleum and smokeless powder production began in 1943. Rocket paste powder production began in 1945. The solvent less extrusion smokeless propellant process was installed in 1944 and 1945. From 1945 to 1951, the BAAP was in standby status.

  • BAAP was reactivated for the Korean War in 1951. Reactivation activities were completed by 1954. Facilities for the manufacture of Ball Powder® propellant were constructed during 1954 and 1955. A facility to recycle old cannon powder as a source of NC for the new propellant was also constructed in 1954 and 1955. BAAP remained in production until the Korean War ended and the propellant magazines were full, approximately 1958. During the Korean War, approximately 286 million pounds of single- and double-base propellant were manufactured with a peak production employment of 5,022 employees. The BAAP was in standby status again from 1958 to 1966.

  • BAAP was reactivated in 1966 for the Vietnam Conflict. The BAAP manufactured Ball Powder® propellant, rocket propellant, and smokeless propellant from 1966 to 1975. In 1972, construction included new sewage treatment systems, new acid production, and new NG production facilities. During the Vietnam Conflict, approximately 487 million pounds of single- and double-base propellant were manufactured with a peak production employment of 5,400 employees. The BAAP was placed in standby status in 1975 and was declared excess in 1998, which began the dismantling/demolition process.

  • Studies conducted during the late 1970s and early 1980s, discovered that materials such as propellant grains, dinitrotoluene (DNT), organic solvents, and acids had been released during production. Some contamination of surface soils and groundwater were found or suspected.

  • In 1987, a preliminary assessment (PA) and site investigation (SI) were conducted, and documented in the master environmental plan.

  • In September 1987, based on information developed during the preliminary assessment, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) issued an In-field Condition Report (IFCR) for BAAP. The IFCR contained requirements to conduct a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS). Over the years the IFCR has been modified by the state, as necessary, to keep it current and address the latest findings and decisions regarding the installation cleanup program.

  • In 1988, the installation received a hazardous waste operations license in accordance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Part B permit process. Issued jointly by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Region V and the WDNR, it included specific requirements for an investigation at each of the potentially contaminated sites previously identified. It also provided for a phased study program based on a prioritized ranking.

  • In 1988, BAAP was nominated for the National Priorities List (NPL), but was not listed. The remediation program proceeded under the RCRA authority of the state and the USEPA, but the terminology and investigative procedures follow the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA).

  • There is joint oversight of the remedial efforts by the USEPA and the WDNR, with the WDNR taking the lead role.

  • In 1988, the RI began at BAAP.

  • In 1990, the draft final Phase I RI report was issued. The report indicated that two plumes of contamination have migrated beyond BAAP boundaries. From the former Propellant Burning Ground (PBG) underground area, a plume of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with carbon tetrachloride as the primary contaminant, has moved past the southern boundary.

  • From the former Deterrent Burning Ground (DBG) area, a sulfate plume has been detected past the eastern boundary.

  • In January 1990, an off-post groundwater monitoring program was initiated.

  • In late April 1990, results of the monitoring of residential supply wells south of BAAP showed that three private potable water wells had been contaminated with carbon tetrachloride. The locations of these wells confirm the expected groundwater movement from the modeling conducted as part of the Phase I RI. The VOC plume is flowing south from the PBG waste pits, past the installation's southern boundary, then easterly to the Wisconsin River below the Wisconsin Power and Light dam.

  • In May 1990, an interim groundwater extraction, treatment, and discharge system was constructed to prevent the PBG plume from moving off-site.

  • In December 1990, two replacement residential wells were installed as a remedial measure.

  • In 1991, the work resumed and in December 1992 a draft final RI Report was submitted to the regulatory agencies. The final report was issued in April 1993.

  • Of the 12 sites studied, six were recommended for NFA, and six for further study.

  • In April 1993, the RI for BAAP was completed. It identified the types, concentrations, and locations of contamination at the installation.

  • In August 1994, the FS looked at the possible ways to treat the contamination identified in the RI, and recommended remedies for each site. The regulators agreed with the Army's recommendations for remedies. These were incorporated into the IFCR modifications of June 1995 and the RCRA permit modification of January 6, 1996.

  • In July 1993, a draft final FS was issued to the regulators for review. This draft required several modifications due to Wisconsin's new rules for site cleanups.

  • In August 1994, the revised FS was published and in 1995 it was accepted by the regulators and the public as final. Remedial design (RD) work began upon completion of the FS.

  • The regulatory approvals, conditions, and time frames were contained in the IFCR from the state, modified in June 1995 and in the RCRA permit modification issued jointly by the state and the USEPA on January 6, 1996.

  • In 1995, the third residence finalized an agreement with the Army, and the well replacement was completed in 1996. Prior to this, bottled water was provided. In the northeast area, private wells were monitored, and did not show contamination attributable to Army sources.

  • Based on further investigations, the Army developed new estimates of the extent of contamination and probabilities of success for the selected remedies for some sites. As a result, in 1998, the Army received approval for changing the cleanup methods at the nitroglycerin (NG) Pond, Rocket Paste Area, and East and West Rocket Ditches.

  • In 1998, the hazardous waste operations license (RCRA Part B) was renewed. The licensed storage facility was closed in 2003 and the associated license terminated.

  • In 2002, the Army received approval for changing the remedy at the DBG.

  • In 2003, a cap and in situ bio-treatment system were installed at the DBG.

  • Between 2002 and 2012, a majority of the structures at the BAAP were demolished and placed into the on-site Landfills 3118 and 3646, located on the east-central portion of the BAAP. Landfills 3118 and 3646 are Wisconsin state-licensed facilities that accepted demolition debris and contaminated soil. Landfills 3118 and 3646 were closed in 2008 and 2013, respectively. Demolition activities included: removal of all process chemicals, equipment, piping, process and storage tanks, munitions and explosives of concern that may reasonably be expected to cause an environmental or safety hazard. Many of the concrete slabs that laid underneath these structures have been removed and have either been disposed of or recycled for beneficial reuse.

  • In 2009 – 2010 Six remedial actions were conducted at “hot spot” locations in the Final Creek / Settling Ponds locations with WDNR concurrence. Approximately 78,052 cubic yards of material was removed and deposited in the on-site landfill.

  • In 2009, the north east boundary investigation was completed for the DBG to better understand the extents of the contaminant plume. There was no significant VOC plume discovered.

  • In 2010, 11 monitoring wells were installed in the DBG plume to better monitor capture of the plume.

  • In 2010, sediment sampling investigation was finalized to characterize the volume, extend, and risk of remaining sediment in Gruber’s Grove Bay (GGB). Approximately 6,600 cubic yards remain the bay.

  • In 2010, the granular activated carbon (GAC) was discontinued on the Modified Interim Remedial Measures (MIRM).

  • In 2011, the Enhanced Biodegradation System (EBS) system was shut down for the DBG.

  • In 2011, a Revised Alternative Feasibility Study (RAFS) was completed for groundwater. The Remedial Action Objectives (RAOs) that were previously drafted were condensed into the following: The objective of the groundwater remedial action is to protect human health by preventing exposure to contaminated groundwater from BAAP, to restore groundwater to the extent practicable, and minimize the impact of the contaminant plumes on the environment. The selected remedy was to install a residential water system, modify groundwater monitoring, abandon residential wells, and monitored natural attenuation (MNA) for the groundwater plumes.

  • In 2012, a vapor intrusion study was conducted in the PBG groundwater plume. The study concluded that vapor did not pose a significant risk.

  • In 2012, the Interim Remedial Measures (IRM) was shut down due to lowered influent levels and return on investment running the system.

  • In 2012, an AFS was completed for the Final Creek / settling pond area. The selected remedy was excavation of sediment and disposal in the onsite landfill.

  • On September 4, 2013, the WDNR approved modifications to the residential well sampling plan. The September 4, 2013 plan included the annual sampling of 51 residential wells and the semi-annual sampling of one residential well.

  • On March 5, 2014, the WDNR approved a modification to the groundwater monitoring plan by eliminating base neutral acids (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) testing.

  • On May 27, 2014, the WDNR approved a modification to adjust the sampling frequency, parameters analyzed, removed wells, and added some wells in these DBG license areas.

  • On October 3, 2014, the WDNR approved modifications to the groundwater monitoring plan associated with seven monitoring wells located in the former Nitrocellulose Production Area.

  • On January 5, 2015, the WDNR approved a modification to the groundwater monitoring plan associated with the PBG Plume that adjusted the sampling frequency, parameters analyzed, removed wells, and added some wells in these license areas.

  • On June 16, 2015, the WDNR approved a modification to the groundwater monitoring plan associated with the Central Plume that increased sampling frequency of residential well WE-UK124 to quarterly.

  • On July 15, 2016, the WDNR approved a modification to the groundwater monitoring plan associated with the Central Plume and DBG Plume.