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REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION/FEASIBILITY STUDY :v: � , M L I,,_ .;..ill , . � - --. •--... '-�!� �. _ FEBRUARY 10ff DEFENSE ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION PROGRAM FOR FORMERLY USED DEFENSE SITES Across the country, the Department of. Defense acquired properties, often during times of w=ar, to use for military training, testing and demonstrations. When no longer needed, many of these properties were cleaned up according to the best practices available at the time and then transferred to other owners such as private individuals or other government entities. These Formerly Used Defense Sites can range from privately owned farms to National Parks. They also include residential, industrial and educational properties. We are committed to protecting people and the envirorunent and irnprovingpublic safety by cleaning up these properties. The Defense Environmental Restoration Program for Formerly Used Defense Sites was established to evaluate and, if necessary, to remediate Formerly Used Defense. Sites. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) manages the program on behalf of the Department of Defense. Congress passed the Comprehensive Environmtntal Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, also known as Superfund, in 1.980 and the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act in 1986. These laws give the Corps the authority for certain cleanup activities and dictate the process we must follow. We conduct investigations to determine the potential risk to people and the environment from the military's use of the property. Public involvement and community participation are important components of the process. The Corps partners with stakeholders throughout the process, including congressional representatives, state and local governments, regulatory and environmental agencies, and affected property owners. BACKGROUND The Fort Pierce Naval Amphibious Training Base was a 19,280 48 -acne site that extended approximately 25 miles from near Vero Beach to near. jenscn Beach and included North and South Hutchinson Islands. The military acquired the site during World War II .for the Navy to create a training facility The Navy constructed more than 450 buildings and other improvements, such as roads and water and sewer systems. By January 1943, detachments of Scouts and Raiders began arriving. The base fulfilled two primary missions during World War Il Its original mission was amphibious training, including training for .Naval Underwater Demolition Teams. Amphibious training missions included use of high explosive rockets, bombs, anti- aircraft guns and small arms. During 1943, the Joint Army-Navy Experimental and Testing Board was established to develop and test procedures for breaching and removing beach fortifications expected to be encountered in Europe and japan. Beaches were fortified along the northern portion of the base, and a variety of ordnance was tested against these fortifications. By 1946, the site was no longer needed, and the land was returned to the original owners. Much of the area comprising the former base has been developed and includes residential, commercial, governmental and educational facilities. ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS Over the years, the Corps has conducted a number of investigations to evaluate if any military -related materials remain at the site. We completed a Site Inspection in 2015 and concluded that a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study is necessary for three project areas: Project 02 Engineer Board Area, Project 03 Naval Demolition Research Area, and Project 05 Offshore Obstacle Area. Project 02 is on North Hutchinson Island in Indian River. County and comprises approximately 473 acres. Munitions have been P70