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EPA Deletes Federal Superfund Site Near Sabana Seca From The National List of Hazardous Waste Sites After Cleanup Completed

Release Date: 10/15/1998
Contact Information:

(#98148) SAN JUAN, P.R. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in coordination with the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board (EQB), has formally deleted the Naval Security Group Activity Superfund site in the Village of Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico from the National Priorities List (NPL) of hazardous waste sites after a site cleanup and investigations determined that all appropriate actions have been completed and no further response action is necessary. The Sabana Seca naval base, a high-frequency, direction-finding facility that provides communication and related support to the Department of Defense, was the only federal facility in Puerto Rico on the NPL.

EPA Regional Administrator Jeanne M. Fox said, "The Navy personnel were cooperative and responsive in coordinating their cleanup activities with EPA and the government of Puerto Rico. The Clinton Administration is committed to eliminating serious hazardous waste sites from the environmental landscape. This deletion marks the successful completion of that process at this site."

"This is a significant accomplishment for Navy environmental efforts. Our program is well into remediation and cleanup," said Ms. Elsie Munsell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Environment and Safety. "Deletion of Sabana Seca from the NPL is the result of the Navy, EPA and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico working together to resolve environmental issues. We hope that this is one of many more delistings to follow."

EQB Chairman Hector Russe said, "The combined efforts and cooperation of all the parties involved in the various activities leading to the successful delisting of the Naval Security Group Activity in Sabana Seca from the NPL should be an example for other contaminated sites to follow."

Federal Superfund activities have been completed at the site, including the demolition of a building that housed a pest control shop which was the source of pesticide contamination in soils on the property. Subsequently, the Navy constructed an asphalt cap over the building area. Federal investigations of four other sites at the facility, including three on-site landfills and one paint disposal area, suspected of containing hazardous wastes found only low levels of residual chemicals in small quantities that do not pose any significant, remaining risk to public health and the environment. Deletion from the NPL does not make the site ineligible for future review or later cleanup actions. If proven necessary, additional cleanup can be done without renominating the site to the NPL.

The notice of this decision appeared in the Federal Register on October 7, 1998.

For more information contact:
Carl Soderberg
EPA Caribbean Environmental Protection Division
1492 Ponce De Leon Avenue
Santurce, PR 00909
Voice: 787-729-6951 FAX: 787-729-7747 E-Mail: [email protected]