Environmental History
Over the past 25+ years, the Environmental Restoration (ER) Program has investigated 32 sites at the Washington Navy Yard. Studies conducted from 1993 to 1996 initially identified 16 possible contaminated areas resulting from chemicals used during the WNY’s industrial past.
In 1998, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added Washington Navy Yard to the National Priorities List (“Superfund”) of the nation’s highest-priority waste sites. In 1999, the Navy, EPA and the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) signed a Federal Facilities Agreement, which defined EPA’s and DOEE’s oversight roles in the Navy’s management and cleanup of sites and identified eight more possible sites. The Navy conducted more in-depth historical research that identified additional sites or areas of concern, bringing the total to 32. To date, the vast majority of ER sites at the WNY have been closed, six of which required some type of remedial action prior to closure. Years of investigations, site studies and remediation of ER sites at WNY has greatly reduced the number of active sites on the installation.
The Navy does not manage the WNY ER program alone. We team with partners at the EPA and DOEE to set priorities and to manage the best course of action for investigations and cleanups. The Partnering Team also consults with experts from other organizations, such as the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey and others, to develop and implement the most effective remedies.
The map below shows the Location of the ER Sites at WNY. For more information, including site background and descriptions, please view the most recent Site Management Plan.
