FORMERLY USED DEFENSE SITE INSTALLATION ID: MD39799F143900
ASSATEAGUE ISLAND
assateague island, Maryland
Cost So Far
$963K
Money already spent on the evaluation and cleanup of hazardous sites.
Expected Additional Cost
$13.8M
The estimated amount of money needed for evaluation and cleanup of hazardous sites at this installation.
Expected Completion Date
2032
The date by which the DOD estimates cleanup of all sites will be complete. Long term monitoring may continue after this date.
Prior to 1943, the U.S. Lighthouse Service and U.S. Coast Guard constructed and operated one lighthouse and two lifesaving stations on the Virginia portion of the island. From approximately 1944 to 1946 or early 1947, it is alleged that portions... see more » Prior to 1943, the U.S. Lighthouse Service and U.S. Coast Guard constructed and operated one lighthouse and two lifesaving stations on the Virginia portion of the island. From approximately 1944 to 1946 or early 1947, it is alleged that portions of the beach were used by the Department of the Navy as bombing ranges, although no official documentation was located. Since records were unavailable, the dates of DOD use and type of improvements constructed cannot be established. Furthermore, since no records indicating DOD control of the site are available, it is believed that the site was not under DOD control during the period of DOD ownership or use. Subsequent to a July 1988 incident where World War II vintage ordnance washed ashore near the North Ocean Beach swimming area, an ordnance investigation of the northern buried ordnance disposal site was conducted by a U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Detachment (EOD), Mobile Unit 2 based at Fort Story, Virginia. Based on the U.S. Navy EOD ordnance investigation and interviews with National Park Service personnel, it is likely that there are two possible locations (northern and southern) where World War II vintage ordnance is buried, a. The northern disposal site is suspected to be under water just offshore from the North Ocean swimming area on the Maryland portion of Assateague Island, which is currently under National Park Service control. The possible location(s) of the southern buried ordnance disposal site is believed to be on dry land on the Maryland portion of Assateague Island which is currently owned by the National Park Service. It is also alleged by previous island residents that Navy ships fired on the island from the ocean; that aircraft were launched from naval vessels at sea to also fire on the island; and that the island was used for militia training, based on discussion with Mr. Brion Fitzgerald - Chief Range (Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) « see less
2 Hazardous Sites
Below are the locations of hazardous sites associated with this military installation, according to the DOD. A site’s contamination may affect a much larger area, including public and private lands and the water supplies beneath them.
High Risk
Medium Risk
Low Risk
Risk Not Evaluated or Not Required
Response Complete
We haven't independently confirmed the location of every site. If you notice a site placed at the incorrect location, please contact us.
Not all sites in the DOD data include location information, so there may be sites listed below that are missing from the map. The risk level of a site refers to a relative risk assessment made by the DOD to prioritize the cleanup of sites.
2 Active Sites
Sites where military cleanup actions are still ongoing. The risk level of a site refers to a relative risk assessment made by the DOD, which prioritizes the cleanup of sites that pose greatest threat to safety, human health, and the environment.
Site ID: 01OEW
ROCKET RANGE NORTH & BURIAL NORTH
Unexploded Munitions and Ordnance Area
Cost
$6.94M
Cost in 2015 plus expected future cost of cleanup
Final Cleanup Action
Sep 2032
This site is under ongoing monitoring until Sep 2065
Site ID: 03OEW
ROCKET RANGE SOUTH & BURIAL AREAS
Unexploded Munitions and Ordnance Area
Cost
$6.83M
Cost in 2015 plus expected future cost of cleanup
Final Cleanup Action
Sep 2032
This site is under ongoing monitoring until Sep 2065
Update (Dec. 5, 2017): We have changed the source of the installation cost data after being notified by the Department of Defense that they erroneously reported their own cost figures on the DERP website. We are now displaying the costs the department says are the most accurate available, from the Pentagon’s DERP database that we received in a FOIA request.
Note: The risk level of a site refers to a relative risk assessment made by the DOD to prioritize the cleanup of sites.
Data: All data comes from the Defense Environmental Restoration Program and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and will be released soon at the ProPublica Data Store. Read our methodology »