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  1. ATSDR > Public Health Assessments & Consultations

PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT

NAVAL AIR STATION WHITING FIELD
MILTON, SANTA ROSA, FLORIDA


CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of its evaluation of available environmental information, ATSDR reached the following conclusions about potential exposures at NAS Whiting Field:

  1. No apparent public health hazard is associated with past consumption of drinking water from on-site wells at NAS Whiting Field. VOCs were detected in installation supply wells in the mid-1980s, but the concentrations of contaminants that were either detected in single samples and not detected in repeated sampling, or were present in concentrations several orders of magnitude (i.e., 1,000 to 100,000 times) lower than levels known to cause adverse health effects in animals. Thus, it is unlikely that VOCs reached levels of health concern prior to 1984, when sampling began. Contaminated wells were taken offline in 1986 and returned to service only after activated carbon adsorption filtration systems were installed to reduce levels of VOCs. Currently, the water supply system is monitored monthly for VOCs and regularly for other contaminants to assure that drinking water meets state and federal safe drinking water standards. Therefore, no public health hazard is associated with current or future consumption of drinking water from on-site wells.


  2. No apparent public health hazards are associated with past, current, or future consumption of water from off-site wells because no one is expected to be exposed to contaminated drinking water. The U.S. Navy has made efforts to locate the private wells surrounding NAS Whiting Field. It is also in the process of establishing the extent of all groundwater contaminant plumes originating from the site. Only one well that may be in the path of contaminant migration has been identified. The well was sampled and no contaminants were detected.


  3. No apparent public health hazards are associated with exposures to surface water, sediment, or fish in the Clear Creek floodplain. Recreational use of the creek is expected to be infrequent because it is difficult to access. Furthermore, warning signs have been posted. While surface water and sediment samples have contained contaminant concentrations exceeding comparison values, levels are too low to result in adverse health effects from recreational exposures. While no fish tissue samples are available, contaminants that would accumulate in fish have only been detected in sediment samples sporadically and are unlikely to accumulate in fish at levels of health concern to individuals occasionally consuming the fish.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION PLAN

The Public Health Action Plan (PHAP) for NAS Whiting Field contains a description of actions taken, planned, and recommended to be taken by ATSDR, the U.S. Navy, and USEPA subsequent to the completion of this public health assessment. The purpose of the PHAP is to ensure that this public health assessment not only identifies potential and ongoing public health hazards, but also provides a plan of action designed to mitigate and prevent adverse human health effects resulting from exposure to hazardous substances in the environment. The public health actions that are completed, ongoing or planned, and recommended are listed below.

Completed Actions:

  1. The U.S. Navy identified possible sources of contamination during several investigations.


  2. In 1986, two supply wells in which VOCs had been detected were closed until activated carbon adsorption filtration systems could be installed. A similar system was also installed on the third NAS Whiting Field supply well.


  3. The U.S. Navy conducted a survey of off-site private and municipal wells and looked for private wells near installation boundaries.


  4. Private well sampling was conducted at three residences. Two homeowners requested the sampling, and the tap water at the third residence was sampled because the private well serving the residence was near a well in which low levels of a VOC had been detected.


  5. The U.S. Navy investigated contamination at Sites 1 and 2, and RODs for the two sites have been signed.


  6. Remedial investigations have been completed for Sites 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 30, 32, and 33. Investigations have also been completed at three petroleum-contaminated sites under the UST program.


  7. Interim remedial actions were conducted at Sites 9, 10, 17, 18 over which two feet of clean fill have been placed. At Site 31C , soil contamination exceeding residential standards was excavated and replaced with clean fill. Contaminated soil was removed from two UST sites.


  8. Warning signs were placed around many of the sites under investigation, including Site 39, the Clear Creek floodplain.

Ongoing or Planned Actions:

  1. Each NAS Whiting Field water supply well is regularly sampled for contaminants, including VOCs, for which samples are analyzed monthly.


  2. Remedial investigations, including the analysis of further soil, groundwater, surface water, and/or sediment samples, are underway at all IRP sites where they are not yet complete. After investigations are complete, an appropriate remedial alternative will be selected for each site. Investigations and/or remediation are also underway or planned at four UST sites. Sampling at PSC 1485C is also planned.


  3. A pilot study to remove petroleum products from soil at Site 4 is underway.


  4. ATSDR will review additional groundwater and Clear Creek floodplain data.

Recommended Actions:

  1. ATSDR recommends that the U.S. Navy continue the work to delineate the groundwater plumes near installation boundaries.


  2. If any private wells are located that appear to be in the path of contaminants migrating from NAS Whiting Field, the U.S. Navy should develop and implement a plan for monitoring these wells and for addressing any contamination that may be detected.


  3. ATSDR agrees that recreational use of Clear Creek and its floodplain does not need to be curtailed.

REFERENCES

ABB-ES. 1992. Asea Brown Boveri Environmental Services, Inc. Naval Air Station Whiting Field Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study, Phase I: Technical Memorandum No. 4: Surface Water and Sediment Assessment. May 1992.

ABB-ES. 1993a. Asea Brown Boveri Environmental Services, Inc. Naval Air Station Whiting Field Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study, Phase IIA: Technical Memorandum No. 1: Surface Water and Sediment Assessment. July 1993.

ABB-ES. 1993b. Asea Brown Boveri Environmental Services, Inc. Clear Creek Floodplain Investigation Report, Naval Air Station Whiting Field. July 1993.

ABB-ES. 1995a. Asea Brown Boveri Environmental Services, Inc. Naval Air Station Whiting Field Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study, Phase IIA: Technical Memorandum No. 4: Hydrogeologic Assessment. January 1995.

ABB-ES. 1995b. Asea Brown Boveri Environmental Services, Inc. Naval Air Station Whiting Field Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study, Phase IIA: Technical Memorandum No. 3: Soil Assessment. Volume I: Chapters 1 through 5 and Appendices A through D. May 1995.

ABB-ES. 1995c. Asea Brown Boveri Environmental Services, Inc. Naval Air Station Whiting Field Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study, Phase IIA: Technical Memorandum No. 5: Groundwater Assessment. November 1995.

ABB-ES. 1996. Asea Brown Boveri Environmental Services, Inc. Naval Air Station Whiting Field Baseline Risk Assessment Workplan, Operable Units 3, 4, 5, and 6. May 1996.

ABB-ES. 1997a. Asea Brown Boveri Environmental Services, Inc. Naval Air Station Whiting Field Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study: Phase II-C Work Plan for Sites 3, 4, 30, 32, and 33. August 1997.

ABB-ES. 1997b. Asea Brown Boveri Environmental Services, Inc. Memorandum from Gerry Walker, ABB-ES to NAS Whiting Field Partnering Team Re: Preliminary Risk Screening For Site 39, Clear Creek Flood Plain. November 11, 1997.

ABB-ES. 1998a. Asea Brown Boveri Environmental Services, Inc. Naval Air Station Whiting Field Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study: General Information Report. January 1998.

ABB-ES. 1998b. Letter from Asea Brown Boveri Environmental Services, Inc. to Linda Martin, Navy. Subject: Draft Report on the Investigations at Sites 35, 36, and 37 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field in Milton Florida. January 28, 1998.

ABB-ES. 1999. Asea Brown Boveri Environmental Services, Inc. Naval Air Station Whiting Field Remedial Investigation Report: Site 9, Waste Fuel Disposal Pit and Site 10, Southeast Open Disposal Area (A). January 1999.

Aqua Tech Environmental Laboratories, Inc. 1999a. Lab Format for Reporting Drinking Water Analyses. January 12, 1999.

Aqua Tech Environmental Laboratories, Inc.1999b. Lab Format for Reporting Drinking Water Analyses. July 16, 1999.

ATSDR-DHAC. 1995. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Division of Health Assessment and Consultation. Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Florida, Site Summary. January 1995.

Auston, J. 2000. Personal communication with James Auston, Lead Operator, Naval Air Station Whiting Field Water Plant. February 16, 2000.

Brown & Root Environmental. 1997. Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Florida. Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study Phase II-C Work Plan for Sites 3, 4, 30, 32, and 33. August 1997.

Durbin, P. 2000. Personal communication with Pat Durbin, Naval Air Station Whiting Field, February 24, 2000.

Envirodyne Engineers, Inc. 1985. Initial Assessment Study. Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Florida. May 1985.

Florida DHRS. 1992. Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Office of Laboratory Services. Status Report - Sample Number: 92011153. February 4, 1992.

Geraghty & Miller, Inc. 1984. Hydrogeologic Assessment and Ground-water Monitoring Plan, U.S. Naval Air Station, Whiting Field, Florida. June 26, 1984.

Geraghty & Miller, Inc. 1985. Detection and Monitoring Program, Battery Shop Site, NAS Whiting Field, Florida. November 14, 1985

Geraghty & Miller, Inc. 1986. Verification Study: Assessment of Potential Ground-water Pollution at Naval Air Station Whiting Field. December 1986.

Gibson, M. 2000. Personal communication with Mark Gibson, Natural Resources Manager, NAS Pensacola. March 1, 2000.

HLA. 1999a. Harding Lawson Associates. Record of Decision: Site 1, Northwest Disposal Area, Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Florida. September 1999.

HLA. 1999b. Harding Lawson Associates. Record of Decision: Site 2, Northwest Open Disposal Area, Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Florida. September 1999.

Hendon Engineering Associates, Inc. 1989. Treatment of Water Supply Wells: Phase II - Long Term Solution, NAS, Whiting Field, Milton, Florida. January 1989.

Holland, J. 2000a. Personal communication with James Holland, Naval Air Station Whiting Field. February 24, 2000.

Holland, J. 2000b. Written communication from James Holland, Naval Air Station Whiting Field. February 24, 2000.

Martin, L. 2000. Personal communication with Linda Martin, Southern Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command. March 3, 2000.

NASWF. 1999. Naval Air Station Whiting Field. Site Visit conducted by ATSDR. June 22 to 24, 1999.

NEHC. n.d. Naval Environmental Health Center. Trip report, NAS Whiting Field, 5-8 December 1994.

Tetra Tech NUS, Inc. 1999. NAS Whiting Field Environmental Geographic Information System. Release 1.0. October 1999.

Tetra Tech NUS, Inc. 2000. Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study Work Plan for Sites 5, 7, 29, 35, 38, 39, 40, and PSC 1485C. Naval Air Station Whiting Field. January 2000.

Touart, T. 2000. Personal communication with Toni Touart, Potable Water Section, FDEP. February 16, 2000.

USEPA. n.d. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Superfund Program. NPL Site Narrative for Whiting Field Naval Air Station. http://www.epa.gov/oerrpage/superfund/sites/npl/nar1423.htm.

U.S. Navy. 1995. United States Department of the Navy, Installation Restoration Program. Naval Air Station Whiting Field Community Relations Plan. Final Draft. 1995 Update. December 1995.

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