Public Comments Sought on Site-Wide Spring Valley Cleanup

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will seek to minimize unnecessary disruptions to residents as it investigates several dozen properties in Spring Valley for possible buried munitions, the Army said Monday as it released its “preferred alternative” for the latest phase of work in the community. The Army has been working in Spring Valley since 1993 — at a cost of more than $267 million to date — to locate and remove contaminated soil and hazardous debris from areas where chemical munitions were tested during the World War I era ... The Army already investigated 43 residential properties (along with undeveloped woodland and D.C. right-of-way space) for these hazards between 2003 and 2010, in addition to other efforts elsewhere in Spring Valley that included munitions excavation and removal of contaminated soil. This time, the Army will return to check out another 49 properties and potentially revisit some of the earlier 43 ...  The “preferred alternative” plan released Monday calls for the Army to conduct digital geophysical mapping of open areas not yet investigated on these properties, and then to remove items determined to be a potential hazard. This preferred alternative, at an estimated average cost of $192,500 per property, avoids disturbing buildings, driveways, fences, and large trees and other “valuable” vegetation.
Brady Holt
Northwest Current

June 15, 2016 

Spring Valley "Response Action Areas" (pg. 44)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District has released the Site-Wide Proposed Plan for the Spring Valley Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) and will be hosting a public information session from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. the evening of July 14, 2016 at American University.  The meeting will be held in the Butler Board Room on the 6th Floor of the Bender Arena at American University, at 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20016.  Free parking will be available at the Bender Arena parking garage after 5:00 p.m. ... The public will have the opportunity to submit oral or written comments regarding the Proposed Plan to the Meeting Recorder that evening.  The public can also submit comments via letter or e-mail until the end of the comment period, July 28, 2016 ... Written comments can be sent to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Chris Gardner, Rm. 11400, 10 South Howard St., Baltimore, MD 21201; or by e-mail to: christopher.p.gardner@usace.army.mil no later than midnight July 28, 2016.
US Army Corps of Engineers
Announcement of Site-Wide Proposed Plan
Spring Valley FUDS