Project Specifics

The Iowa Army Ammunition Plant (IAAAP) is a government-owned ammunitions production facility in Iowa. The approximately 19,000-acre site includes active and inactive production and storage areas, undeveloped areas, and agricultural leases.

The IAAAP, constructed in November 1940 and starting production in 1941, was partly operated by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) from 1947 to 1975. Historical operations, by both the U.S. Army and AEC, resulted in releases of hazardous substances to soil, surface water, and groundwater at IAAAP. The site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990. The primary contaminants of concern include explosives, metals, volatile organic compounds, and depleted uranium (DU). Although the U.S. Army currently uses the Firing Sites Area (FSA) of the IAAAP as an operational range to test military ammunitions, the AEC no longer tests munitions at the FSA, and munitions containing DU are no longer tested at the FSA.

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is in charge of the remediation of FSA-12 of Operable Unit 8 (U-8) removing DU fragments and DU contaminated soil. Remediation at OU-8 has included excavating, treating, and off-site disposal of contaminated soils. In addition, contaminated buildings have been either decontaminated or removed for off-site disposal.

Geosyntec Scope of Services

Geosyntec is currently acting as the Construction Quality Control Systems Manager (CQCSM) for this large multi-year contracted project with the USACE for the Superfund Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) Site in southeast Iowa. The project at OU-8 consists in the management of soil screening and processing operations of DU and DU contaminated soils within a former firing site for ammunitions and explosives/unexploded ordinance (UXO). Geosyntec’s responsibilities include quality control (QC) of project plans and safety components, the inventory and management of environmental sampling, daily QC reporting and compliance, and assistance of project management roles while maintaining a full-time presence on-site.

Notable Accomplishments

Geosyntec’s management of the safe processing and removal of DU from 17,467 cubic yards of soil far exceeded the annual goal of 10,000 cubic yards.

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