Eglin AFB Munitions Investigation and Removal

Background

Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), located in Florida, is a key installation for the U.S. Air Force. It plays a significant role in the testing, development, and deployment of military munitions. Eglin is known for its vast test and training range, the largest in the Department of Defense. Bay West has conducted military munitions investigations and removals at Eglin AFB in support of its primary mission focus.

Project Details

Bay West has collaborated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 96th Test Wing, Air Force Civil Engineer Center, U.S. Navy, and Florida Department of Environmental Protection to develop technical approaches that will address sites where munitions have impacted land use. These approaches have been implemented by qualified personnel with the highest degree of safety and professionalism. Bay West has coordinated closely with Eglin AFB stakeholders to ensure minimal impact or interference to their primary mission. Projects have included site evaluations and removal actions, including military construction support to address the hazards associated with munitions contamination. Bay West projects have allowed for land reuse for recreational purposes, and the development of critical infrastructure.

Bay West’s projects at Eglin AFB have resulted in the clearance of >200 acres, the destruction of > 4,500 munitions and explosives of concern items and the final disposition of > 6.5 million pounds of material documented as safe.

Recent Experience

PFAS Destruction Using Supercritical Water Oxidation

In partnership with General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS), Bay West is exploring the viability and cost-efficiency of using supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) for treating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Tests achieved a remarkable 99.94% reduction in PFAS highlighting SCWO’s potential for effective PFAS destruction.

St. Louis River Area of Concern Remediation

The St. Louis River and Duluth/Superior Harbor have historically been polluted by industries like logging and papermaking. Bay West has been a key partner with local and state agencies in addressing comprehensive cleanup plan aimed at restoring the area.

Perham Investigation and Remediation

The East Otter Tail County Fairgrounds in Perham, Minnesota, served as a mixing station and depository for unused arsenic-based grasshopper bait in the 1940s. Bay West has helped ensure the ongoing protection of communities and the environment with various site investigation, optimization studies, and groundwater modeling.

Superior Plating Remediation and Oversight

The largest plating facility in the Midwest was closed due to soil and groundwater contamination. Bay West is pivotal in providing support and oversight for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and its cleanup efforts.