Brunswick Naval Air Station

Overview

The former Brunswick Naval Air Station covers roughly 3,100 acres in Brunswick, Maine. It was added to the EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) in 1987 after military operations left behind widespread contamination. The base closed in May 2011 and is now being redeveloped as Brunswick Landing. The Navy leads cleanup, working alongside the EPA and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under an agreement reached in October 1990.

Contaminants found at the site include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, vinyl chloride, and dichloroethane. Heavy metals including lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, chromium, nickel, and beryllium have been found in soil, sediment, and groundwater. Other contaminants include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides like DDT, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), asbestos, explosives, and unexploded ordnance. More recently, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), specifically perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctyl sulfonate (PFOS), were detected at levels at or slightly above laboratory detection limits in drinking water. All reported supply well concentrations were below EPA lifetime health advisories.

The Navy has spent over $100 million on investigation and cleanup. Work has included excavating landfills and contaminated soils, capping two major landfills with barrier walls, removing soil from a pesticide storage area and ash dump, and operating a groundwater extraction and treatment system at the Eastern Plume area. The site is divided into 13 operable units (OUs). Most have finished active remediation and moved into long-term monitoring. Overall construction was completed in 2002. The most recent sitewide five-year review was completed on September 29, 2025. Human exposure at the site is currently under control. However, contaminated groundwater is still migrating, and not all cleanup goals for anticipated future land uses have been met. Institutional controls, including land use restrictions, remain in place to prevent exposure and protect cleanup work.

Two operable units are still active. Picnic Pond (OU12) is expected to finish remedial action between September and November 2026. Basewide PFAS contamination (OU13) began removal work in May 2025, with a combined investigation and feasibility study estimated to finish between September and November 2028. A record of decision for OU13 will follow. The Navy has transferred over 2,700 acres to local authorities and educational institutions, and redevelopment continues under zoning and use restrictions.

Community members can get involved through the Restoration Advisory Board (RAB), created by the Navy to allow public input on cleanup progress. The Brunswick Area Citizens for a Safe Environment (BACSE) is an active local stakeholder group. RAB meetings are typically held quarterly, with announcements posted on the Navy's website. Site records are available at the Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick, Maine. The EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator and Remedial Project Manager can also answer questions and direct people to the administrative record.