Robins Air Force Base (Landfill #4/Sludge Lagoon)

Overview

Robins Air Force Base is an 8,800-acre U.S. Air Force installation in Houston County, Georgia. Aircraft maintenance and repair work from 1962 to 1978 produced solid and industrial wastes that were disposed of in Landfill Number 4 and an unlined Sludge Lagoon. Both areas were closed and covered in 1978. A 1982 installation-wide survey flagged them as high contamination migration risks, and EPA added the site to the National Priorities List in 1987.

The site has 40 identified contaminants spread across soil, groundwater, surface water, sediment, leachate, sludge, and wetland areas. Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, and mercury are present in the landfill and sludge lagoon areas and in groundwater. Chlorinated solvents including trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene contaminate soil and groundwater. Other volatile organic compounds found at the site include benzene, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and vinyl chloride. Pesticides including dieldrin and DDT-related compounds were detected in wetland soils and surface water. Additional contaminants include benzo[a]pyrene, copper, selenium, silver, and zinc. Contamination is concentrated in the landfill and sludge lagoon area and nearby wetlands.

The U.S. Air Force is the lead federal agency responsible for cleanup. EPA oversees compliance with CERCLA, the federal law governing Superfund sites. Cleanup work began in 1991 and included capping the landfill and lagoon, building surface water controls, collecting and treating leachate, and using soil vapor extraction and solidification to treat lagoon wastes. A groundwater pump-and-treat system started in 1997 and shifted to monitored natural attenuation in 2007, allowing natural processes to reduce contamination over time. The site reached Construction Completion status in 2004. A wetlands area was transferred to Georgia's environmental program in 2002 and no longer receives Superfund oversight.

The site currently meets EPA's criteria for Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use. Contaminated groundwater migration is stabilized, with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. No unacceptable human exposure pathways have been identified. Land use controls remain in place, including groundwater use restrictions and excavation limitations. Quarterly cap inspections and annual groundwater monitoring continue. Five-Year Reviews were completed in 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021, each confirming the remedy protects human health and the environment. The next Five-Year Review is expected between June and August 2026.

Community members can stay involved in several ways. EPA and the Air Force hold public notices and distribute fact sheets. A Community Relations Plan was developed in 2005 to guide outreach. An Environmental Advisory Board made up of local residents, public officials, and EPA staff meets to keep community voices part of the process. Site documents and the Administrative Record are available at the Nola Brantley Memorial Library at 721 Watson Boulevard, Warner Robins, Georgia 31093. Residents can also reach the site's Remedial Project Manager or Community Involvement Coordinator directly for more information.