Aberdeen Proving Ground – Aberdeen, MD

As we continue to profile a variety of contaminated sites across the country, we often rely on subscriber/reader input for potential locations to research or update. Recently, we were contacted with a request to look into Aberdeen Proving Ground:

What happened to the Aberdeen Proving Ground test veterans? I have been trying to get compensation and all they do is make up stuff about denying your claim. There are no records because they were destroyed by the CIA, Army, and the DOD for the chemical/biological testing done on thousands of veterans. The whole area of the ABP is contaminated with all kinds of toxic chemicals. The DoD, CIA, and Army are all involved in lying to veterans to get them to go through test for their chemical and biological testing all with the promise of extra hazardous pay, three day weekends and commendation and medical care if needed any time. All would come at a great price to the veterans that went through Aberdeen Proving Grounds. This has led to lawsuit after lawsuit for more than 40 years. Veterans have been waiting for their day when the public gets behind them and make our government admit to what they have done, but every time we get close the language used never makes any sense. They want the veteran to prove what they were exposed to. We don’t have the records, they do. They will not or cannot give them to you. They were caught destroying records to cover up their actions.

The following information is gathered from a variety of sources, including the EPA, CDC, individual document submissions and other sources to provide a complete overview ONLY of the toxic chemicals and contamination present in soil, water, etc.

We have also been provided documents regarding testing and the allegations made in the quote from the reader above. We are actively investigating that side of the issue for an upcoming report. Stay tuned.

Update: Scroll to the bottom of this post to see the 2016 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report from the City of Aberdeen. That report is relevant to those living outside of the Aberdeen Proving Grounds gates, in the city of Aberdeen MD. As is often the case, surrounding communities of contaminated military bases also face impacts and potential exposures. In this case, the very sensitive ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay area is also involved.

Background: Two sites are involved – Edgewood Area Site and Michaelsville Landfill Site.

According to the EPA, the following is a summary on Edgewood:

The 13,000-acre Aberdeen Proving Ground (Edgewood Area Site) site is located in Edgewood, Maryland and includes Gunpowder Neck, Pooles Island, Carroll Island and Graces Quarters. Development and testing of chemical agent munitions took place at this federal facility site. From 1917 to the present, site activities have included conducting chemical research programs, manufacturing chemical agents, and testing, storage and disposal of toxic materials. Site activities contaminated soil, sediment, ground water and surface water with hazardous chemicals. EPA placed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990. After the final NPL listing, the U.S. Army entered into a federal facility agreement (FFA) with EPA and led further site investigations. Cleanup is ongoing.

CDC/ATSDR Public Health Assessment – Edgewood: Civilian Exposure – Aberdeen Proving Ground – Final PHA

According to the EPA, the following is a summary on Michaelsville:

The site consists of the 20-acre Michaelsville Landfill and numerous known or suspected solid waste management units that may be sources of contamination. The U.S. Army has operated a testing base on site since 1918. The base includes firing ranges, impact areas, vehicle test tracks, a fire training area, and laboratories in support of the testing activities. The Michaelsville Landfill operated as a sanitary landfill from the 1970s until 1980. The landfill received household garbage and refuse from the base. Base and landfill activities contaminated soil, sediment, ground water and surface water with hazardous chemicals. EPA placed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1989. In 1990, the U.S. Army entered into a federal facility agreement (FFA) with EPA. Following cleanup, operation and maintenance activities are ongoing. 

EPA Record of Decision – Michaelsville: Civilian Exposure – Aberdeen – EPA Decision Michaelsville – 1997

Current Edgewood Site Status:

There are currently 52 operable units (OUs) to address about 100 contaminated areas at the site. Over 27 decision documents have been completed; at least 20 more will need to be issued to complete all site cleanups. The U.S. Army, as the lead agency, is conducting the investigation and cleanup of the facility under EPA oversight. The Army has completed cleanups at 23 OUs. Cleanup is ongoing at the remaining OU areas. Some of the site’s long-term remedies included: capping of contaminated areas, extracting and treating contaminated ground water, implementing land use restrictions, excavating contaminated soil, and constructing erosion control measures. Remedy construction began in 1990, and is ongoing for numerous OUs. Some site areas are in the remedial investigation phase. Cleanup has also included over 25 removal actions, or short-term cleanups, to address immediate threats to human health and the environment. Removal actions between 1990 and 2009 disposed of underground storage tanks, surface wastes, contaminated soil and chemical munitions. Completed removal and remedial actions have addressed many of the potential site risks. At site areas not yet remediated, people who accidentally ingest or come in direct contact with contaminated ground water, surface water, soil or sediments may be at risk.

Chemical Contaminants at Aberdeen – Edgewood:

Current Michaelsville Site Status:

Construction of the remedy took place between 1989 and 2001. The U.S. Army entered into a federal facility agreement (FFA) with EPA in 1990. The FFA requires the U.S. Army to address the site’s 11 operable units (OUs). Remedy construction is complete at all OUs except OU-11. The site’s long-term remedy included ground water treatment and monitoring, land use restrictions, landfill capping, and excavation of contaminated soil and sediment. A remedial investigation is underway at OU-11. Vapor intrusion investigations are underway site wide. The U.S. Army, as the lead agency, is conducting the investigation and cleanup of the facility under EPA oversight. Cleanup has also included several removal actions, or short-term cleanups, to address immediate threats to human health and the environment. Removal actions between 1989 and 2011 included the excavation of contaminated soil and sediment, erosion control measures, and the installation of a leachate collection system. Risks and pathways addressed by the cleanup include health risks from people ingesting or touching contaminants in soil, sediment, surface water and ground water.

Chemical Contaminants at Aberdeen – Michaelsville:

EPA Site Facts for Aberdeen – Edgewood

NPL Status: Final
Street Address:
OFF RTE 40, ABERDEEN, MD 21005
Congressional District: 02
EPA ID: MD2210020036

EPA Site Facts for Aberdeen – Michaelsville:

NPL Status: Final
Street Address:
OFF RTE 40, ABERDEEN, MD 21005
Congressional District: 02
EPA ID: MD3210021355

For surrounding communities:

2016 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report – Civilian Exposure – Aberdeen City Water Report 2016

Highlights Quoted Directly from Document:

• Lead: If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. City of Aberdeen is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hOUlS,you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for dtinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your drinking water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. The city is currently schedule to perform Lead & Copper sampling every three (3) years.
• Fluoride: Some people who drink water containing fluoride in excess of the MCL over many years could get bone disease, including pain and tenderness of the bones. Fluoride in drinking water at half the MCL or more may cause mottling of children’s teeth, usually in children less than nine years old. Mottling, also known as dental fluorosis, may include brown staining and/or pitting of the teeth, and occurs only in developing teeth before they erupt from the gums. As a precaution we always notify physicians and health care providers in this-area if there is ever a higher than normal level of Nitrates: nitrates in the water supply.
• TTHM (Total trihalomethanes): Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years’ experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have increased risk of getting cancer.

A mention about Perchlorate:

Perchlorate is an unregulated contaminant that is an ingredient in a variety of products including air bag inflators, electronic tubes, lubricating oils, rocket propellant, explosives and other commercial and agricultural applications. At the direction of the Maryland Department of the Environment, the City has been managing the wells to ensure that the level of perchlorate in tbe finished water does not exceed 1.0 ppb (the level established by MDE in the absence of an EPA standard). The City has currently installed perchlorate filtration units 0n several of its wells that were completed in fall of 2005. The Department of Public Works will ensure that all measures will be taken to address this issue and that our drinking water meets or exceeds all EPA drinking quality standards. A fact sheet on perchlorate can be found on the EPA web site at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/perchlorate/perchlorate.html

News Reports of Interest on Aberdeen:

• What went wrong at Aberdeen Proving Ground’s Super Pond?
• Army says no risks from radioactive material found at APG’s Edgewood area
• The Aberdeen Mess – Washington Post 1989