Former Nansemond Ordnance Depot

Overview

The Former Nansemond Ordnance Depot covers 975 acres in Suffolk, Virginia. The U.S. Army used it from 1917 to 1960 for munitions storage, loading, and destruction. The Navy also used it after World War II to destroy explosives and chemicals. The site was added to the Superfund National Priorities List in 1999 after inspections found hazardous substances in disposal pits, trenches, and offshore dumping areas.

Contamination is concentrated in soil, sediment, groundwater, and offshore areas. The Horseshoe Pond Disposal Area contains 15 confirmed contaminants, including metals like arsenic and zinc, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as benzo(a)pyrene and naphthalene, and DDT pesticide residues. Over 400 live munitions have been excavated across the property. The greatest health risk comes from ingesting or having direct contact with contaminated groundwater, soil, sediment, or waste. Exposure pathways that could cause unacceptable risks are currently being controlled, and assessments show no unsafe human exposure pathways at this time.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leads cleanup in partnership with EPA and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Removal actions began in 1988 and have included excavating contaminated soil, removing explosives and ordnance, extending municipal water lines to Tidewater Community College, and stabilizing the shoreline. EPA has signed cleanup decisions for seven areas. Some operable units, including the Horseshoe Pond Disposal Area and Track H and I Magazine Line, have completed their remedial action phases. Others, such as the Main Burning Ground and TNT Burial Site, are still in investigation and will not complete feasibility studies until 2028 at the earliest. Physical construction of the overall cleanup is not yet complete, and the site remains on the National Priorities List.

Today the property supports more than 100 landowners with residential, commercial, industrial, and public uses. Tidewater Community College has occupied part of the site since 1968. As of December 2024, 35 on-site businesses employed 1,061 people and generated an estimated $136.7 million in annual sales revenue.

Community members can get involved through the Restoration Advisory Board (RAB), which meets quarterly on the first Thursday of March, June, September, and December from 6:15 to 8:15 P.M. Meetings are held at the Suffolk Chesapeake Courtyard Marriott, 8060 Harbour View Blvd., Suffolk, and may occasionally be held virtually. The RAB includes residents, local businesses, regulators, property owners, and Army Corps personnel. A Community Involvement Plan completed in 2022 guides participation throughout the cleanup. For more information, contact the Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District Public Affairs Office at 757-201-7606 or DLL-CENAO-PA@usace.army.mil.