Jacksonville Naval Air Station

Overview

Jacksonville Naval Air Station is an active U.S. Navy installation in Jacksonville, Florida. EPA placed it on the Superfund National Priorities List on November 21, 1989, after contamination was found in soil, groundwater, sediment, and surface water. The Navy, EPA, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have been working on cleanup since the 1990s under a Federal Facilities Agreement signed in 1990.

Over 200 chemical contaminants of concern have been identified at the site. Groundwater holds the widest variety, including chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene. Pesticide-related chemicals including DDT, dieldrin, and heptachlor appear mainly at the PSC 47 Pesticide Shop. Heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and cadmium are found in soil and sediment at several locations. PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), PCBs, and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have also been identified across various parts of the site.

The site is divided into multiple operable units, each targeting a different contaminated area. Cleanup methods have included landfill capping, soil removal, soil cover systems, bioremediation, solidification and stabilization, and monitored natural attenuation, which allows groundwater to clean itself naturally over time. Several units have reached completion, including the Child Street Landfill and PCB Storage area, the Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant, and Casa Linda Lake. Other units remain in active investigation or design phases, including the Industrial Complex and several PFAS-related areas. The agencies are also investigating roughly 10 to 12 additional areas and planning feasibility studies for six former shooting ranges. Sources differ on the total number of operable units, citing either 8 or 20, so that specific count is noted here without resolution.

Human exposures are currently under control, meaning no unacceptable pathways exist for people to come into contact with the contamination. Contaminated groundwater migration is stabilized, and there is no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Land use controls are in place across the site, limiting development to industrial or compatible uses. The site has not yet been deleted from the National Priorities List or achieved sitewide ready-for-reuse status. The most recent Five-Year Review was completed on April 17, 2026.

Community members can access site documents online through the Navy's environmental restoration website and at the Webb Wesconnett Branch Library in Jacksonville. EPA's Remedial Project Manager, Pete Dao, can be reached by email or phone for questions about the site. The EPA's Superfund Redevelopment Program also works with the community to support productive reuse of the site while protections remain in place.