Naval Weapons Station Yorktown in Yorktown, Virginia has been an active military installation since 1918. Decades of weapons storage, explosives testing, and ordnance operations left soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment contaminated with a wide range of hazardous substances. The site joined the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in October 1992. It has not yet been deleted from the NPL, and physical cleanup is not yet complete across the entire installation.
Contaminants of concern include military explosives such as TNT, RDX, and HMX, as well as heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, and mercury. Chlorinated solvents like trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, and vinyl chloride are present in groundwater and sediment. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PCBs, and pesticide residues appear in soil and sediment. The Navy is also investigating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), specifically PFOA and PFOS, which were used in firefighting foam at the site.
The Navy leads cleanup efforts, working under a Federal Facilities Agreement signed in August 1994 with the EPA and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ). The site is divided into 37 operable units. EPA has signed 12 Records of Decision covering 16 operable units, with many receiving "No Further Action" decisions after removal and investigation. Remedies in use include excavation, engineered caps, bioremediation, institutional controls, and monitored natural attenuation. The most recent Record of Decision was issued in October 2023 for operable unit 35. Some units, including Site 24 (Aviation Field), have more complex challenges such as unexploded ordnance and dioxins, with removal work estimated to continue through August 2027.
Human exposure is currently under control, meaning EPA assessments show no unacceptable exposure pathways at this time. However, groundwater migration status remains uncertain due to insufficient data on whether contaminated groundwater movement has been stabilized. Land use controls are in place at various locations, including fencing, signage, restrictions on residential development, and prohibitions on using groundwater as drinking water. A five-year review was completed in March 2023, with the next review scheduled between March and May 2028.
Community members can get involved through Restoration Advisory Board meetings held at the site. A Community Involvement Plan is available to guide public participation. Site records can be reviewed at the York County Public Library (8500 George Washington Memorial Highway, Yorktown, VA) or at the EPA Region 3 office in Philadelphia. Calling ahead to schedule an appointment is recommended before visiting either location.
