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Naval Station Norfolk Environmental Restoration Program
In 1975, the Department of Defense initiated the Installation Restoration Program (IRP) to assess past hazardous and toxic materials management practices at military installations. To implement this mandate, the Department of the Navy (Navy) established the Navy Assessment and Control of Installation Pollutants (NACIP) program in 1980. Naval Station Norfolk (NSN) began its environmental restoration efforts under the NACIP program with an Initial Assessment Study that was completed in 1983.
In 1980, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), or “Superfund,” was passed to investigate and remediate areas resulting from past hazardous waste management practices. In 1986, this act was amended through the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), which explicitly required federal facilities to comply with CERCLA standards. Subsequently, the NACIP program was discontinued and restructured to reflect the strict requirements of CERCLA as amended. In response to the SARA, the Navy formally adopted the standardized IRP process to address releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants on installations and former properties that result from past practices and may pose risks to human health and the environment. The IRP is currently managed under the broader Department of the Navy Environmental Restoration Program (ERP). NSN was added to the CERCLA National Priority List (NPL) of Superfund sites on April 1, 1997. At the time of the NPL listing, Naval Support Activity (NSA) Hampton Roads was a part of NSN. Under the NPL, the Navy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with concurrence from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, approve all decision documents associated with site investigation and environmental cleanup, and together, the Navy, EPA, and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality comprise the NSN ERP Partnering Team.
As a result of the Initial Assessment Study and subsequent assessments, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Facility Assessment, and the Aerial Photographic Site Analysis, 22 sites and 148 potential contaminated areas were identified. The NSN ERP Partnering Team evaluated data from subsequent reports and historical operational data and conducted field visits. Of the identified locations, 10 sites and 20 solid waste management units were recommended for further investigation under CERCLA in a Federal Facility Agreement between EPA Region 3 and NSN, which was signed in February 1999. In 2003, one additional site was added to the ERP after transferring from the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act program. The ERP was further expanded in 2023 by 10 new sites after completion of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection.
In September 2010, the Navy, in collaboration with EPA and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, designated NSN as Construction Complete under the NPL. This designation is achieved when physical construction of all cleanup actions is complete, all immediate threats have been addressed, and all long-term threats are under control for all portions of the site. Although remedy construction has been completed, the cleanup is ongoing at seven NSN sites and two NSA Hampton Roads sites that were included in the Federal Facility Agreement and investigation of PFAS is beginning at sites identified for further investigation in the PFAS Preliminary Assessment/ Site Inspection.
The status of the cleanup at active sites is updated in an annual Site Management Plan. Click on the following links to view the Site Management Plan and a fact sheet providing an overview of the ERP at NSN and NSA Hampton Roads:
This website is part of the Navy's active efforts to provide accurate, timely, and comprehensive information on the ERP currently in action at NSN and NSA Hampton Roads in Norfolk, Virginia.
Facility Location and Physical Description
NSN is the largest naval base in the U.S. and including special areas covers 6,200 acres. NSN is situated in the northwestern portion of Norfolk, Virginia and is bordered to the north by Willoughby Bay, to the west by the confluence of the Elizabeth and James rivers, to the east by the City of Norfolk, and to the south by NSA Hampton Roads and by the City of Norfolk. A portion of NSN’s eastern boundary is also formed by Mason Creek. NSN includes over 500 significant facilities, 13 piers, an airfield, and two heliports. The western portion of NSN is a developed waterfront area containing the piers and facilities for loading, unloading, and servicing naval vessels. Land use in the surrounding area is commercial, industrial, and residential. The waterfront area south of NSN provides shipping facilities and a network of rail lines for several large industries. Residential and recreational areas border NSN at the Installation’s southern, eastern, and northeastern boundaries.
NSA Hampton Roads is along the southern border of NSN and encompasses just under 800 acres. NSA Hampton Roads is bordered to the north and east by NSN or the City of Norfolk, to the south by the City of Norfolk, and to the west by the City of Norfolk and the Supply Depot Annex.
Figure 1 - Base Map with Site Locations (Click on image below to open a larger PDF version)
Facility History and Mission
NSN began operations in 1917 when the Navy acquired 474 acres of land to develop a naval base to support World War I activities. Bulkheads were built along the coast to extend available land, and after extensive dredge and fill operations, the total land under Navy control was 792 acres. An additional 143 acres of land were acquired in 1918 and officially commissioned as Naval Air Station Norfolk. Improvements to the piers and expansion of supply and material handling facilities were also completed between 1936 and 1941.
During World War II, major construction projects were completed, including a power plant, numerous runways and hangars, a tank farm, several barracks, and housing complexes. During this time, the area of NSN expanded to more than 2,100 acres. After World War II, NSN continued to acquire land through various types of land transfers and dredge and fill operations conducted in areas of Mason Creek, Bousch Creek basins, and Willoughby Bay.
During its history, NSN has expanded to become the world’s largest naval installation, with approximately 105 ships homeported at the Installation. NSN currently has 13 piers handling approximately 3,100 ship movements annually. The mission of NSN is to provide support and readiness for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
NSA Hampton Roads, which was originally named the Flag Administrative Unit, separated from NSN in 1948 and adopted its current name in 2011. Since its inception, NSA Hampton Roads has become a major Navy command with the responsibilities as the Installation Commander for three Installations and as the Program Director for Regional Support Services. The mission of NSA Hampton Roads is to enable robust command and control for Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and interagency units; provide premier training and operational facilities and ranges to sustain generation activities; support warfighters with world-class medical, family support, and recreational facilities and services; and enhance relationships with community partners in Norfolk, Portsmouth, and North Carolina.
Operations and Process Descriptions
NSN operates in various capacities to provide support to vessels, aircraft, and other activities. NSN houses many tenants, each performing different operations involving the servicing and maintenance of vessels and aircraft.
The service and maintenance of vessels include utilities hookups, onboard maintenance, and coordination of ship movements in the harbor. Additional functions include loading, unloading, and handling of fuels and oils used aboard the vessels. Ship and aircraft repair operations consist of paint stripping, patching, parts cleaning, repainting, engine overhauls, sandblasting, and metal-plating processes.
NSA Hampton Roads seats more than 6,000 personnel and includes facilities for Fleet headquarters’ administrative and communication operations, along with the U.S. Fleet Forces Command; Joint Staff Hampton Roads; U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command; Naval Submarine Forces, Atlantic; and Naval Reserves Forces Command.