Cecil Field Naval Air Station is a former military base covering about 17,200 acres in northeastern Florida. It was added to the National Priorities List in November 1989 after operations like fuel storage, aircraft maintenance, and engine repair left soil and groundwater contaminated with hazardous chemicals. The Department of the Navy leads cleanup with EPA oversight under a 1990 Federal Facilities Agreement.
Contaminants in groundwater include volatile organic compounds such as benzene, trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, vinyl chloride, and xylenes, along with heavy metals like arsenic, manganese, and vanadium. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides such as chlordane are also present in groundwater at specific areas. Soil contamination includes metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium, as well as petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and pesticides. PCBs appear in sediment at the former fire training area. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, are present in some on-site areas above EPA health advisory levels, though 2018 testing found no private wells exceeded those levels.
The site has been divided into 13 operable units (OUs) to address different contaminated areas. Physical construction of cleanup work was completed in August 2009, and the site reached sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status in September 2013. Most areas use monitored natural attenuation and land use controls. At one area, solar-powered air sparging actively treats vinyl chloride in groundwater near a creek. Three operable units have been closed with no further action needed. A partial deletion from the National Priorities List occurred in May 2003. One operable unit addressing PFAS contamination, OU 13, is still under investigation, with a cleanup decision expected between June and August 2028.
Human exposure to contaminants is under control, and EPA has determined there are no unacceptable exposure pathways at the site. Contaminated groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Land use controls restrict residential development across the site. All 17,225 acres have been transferred to the City of Jacksonville and other entities, and the former base now supports Cecil Airport, a commercial spaceport, and the Cecil Commerce Center, with major tenants including Boeing, FedEx, and Amazon.
The most recent five-year review was completed in September 2021, with the next expected between August and October 2026. The EPA keeps the community informed through fact sheets, public notices, and public meetings. Site documents are available at the Public Library in the Former Memorial Chapel at Cecil Commerce Center, 6112 New World Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32221, and through the EPA's SEMS (Superfund Enterprise Management System) database. Residents with questions can contact the EPA Remedial Project Manager.
