Pensacola Naval Air Station

Overview

Pensacola Naval Air Station is an active military installation covering 5,900 acres in Pensacola, Florida. It has been on the EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) since November 1989, placed there because past military operations left behind contaminated soil, sediments, and groundwater. The Navy is the lead party responsible for cleanup, working under a 1990 Federal Facilities Agreement with the EPA and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).

Contamination at the site spans at least 22 of the 25 distinct cleanup zones, called operable units (OUs). Chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene appear in groundwater, along with volatile organic compounds like benzene and vinyl chloride. Metals including arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, and mercury are found in soil and groundwater. Pesticides such as dieldrin, aldrin, and DDT compounds contaminate soil and sediment. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and asbestos are also present across various areas. Three operable units address PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a group of synthetic chemicals that are still being assessed through ongoing remedial investigations begun in late 2023.

The Navy has contained all groundwater and soil contamination, and groundwater migration has been stabilized. Human exposure is currently under control, with no unacceptable pathways for people in the area to encounter the contamination. However, physical construction of cleanup work is not yet complete, and the site has not achieved sitewide readiness for anticipated use. Active cleanup methods across various units include extraction wells, excavation, offsite disposal, soil covers, monitored natural attenuation, and institutional controls. A soil remedy for lead and PAHs has been underway at one area since 2023. Several units have been fully addressed, and others have received no-action decisions. The Navy's fifth Five-Year Review was completed in September 2023, with the next review estimated for 2028.

The site remains in active use as a military installation, housing training facilities, military housing, and an industrial complex for aircraft engine and frame repair. The western portion includes an airfield and forested land. A Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) was established in July 1995 to keep the community informed and involved. The RAB meets regularly, is open to the public, and reviews investigation and remediation progress. Meeting and membership information is available through the NAS Pensacola Public Affairs Office at 150 Hase Road, Suite A, Pensacola, Florida 32508-5217. Key site documents are available through EPA's Superfund records system and the Public Information Repository at the John C. Pace Library at the University of West Florida.