Air Force Plant 85 is a 420-acre former defense manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ohio. It operated from 1941 to 1994, producing naval aircraft and missile systems under companies including Curtiss-Wright Corp., Rockwell International, and McDonnell Douglas. Machining, metal finishing, electroplating, painting, and assembly work left soil and groundwater contaminated with hazardous chemicals, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The site was proposed for the National Priorities List (NPL) in January 1994 but has not yet been finalized on that list. The NPL guides EPA decisions about which contaminated sites need further cleanup action under the federal Superfund program.
The U.S. Air Force sold the property to a local investment group in 1997 and kept the sale proceeds to fund environmental cleanup. The Air Force is the lead federal agency responsible for cleanup and community involvement. The EPA serves as the lead regulatory agency, making sure federal cleanup law requirements are met. Ohio EPA also oversees hazardous waste cleanup required under state law for portions of the site. The Air Force has already removed manufacturing equipment, PCB transformers, and PCB-contaminated soil. It has also cleaned up the former fire training area and Mason's Run. Of more than 100 areas first identified for attention, about 10 remain, including former underground storage tank sites, process areas, and Turkey Run.
EPA has determined that human exposure to contamination is currently under control. That means assessments show no unacceptable pathways exist for people to contact the contamination. Groundwater migration is also under control, with no unacceptable discharge to surface water detected. EPA will continue monitoring to confirm contaminated groundwater stays within the original area. Physical construction of the cleanup is not yet complete across the entire site, and the site has not yet met all criteria for sitewide readiness for anticipated reuse.
The site has been redeveloped in part and now operates as Columbus Air Center, offering warehouse space, office space, and support for aircraft industries. The Superfund Redevelopment Program worked with the community to help return portions of the site to productive use. The site is organized into one sitewide operable unit. The EPA uses Records of Decision (RODs) to document chosen cleanup methods and can issue amendments or explanations of significant differences when changes are needed.
Community members with questions can reach out directly to EPA staff. Adrian Palomeque is the Community Involvement Coordinator for the site. Jenny Polster is the Remedial Project Manager. Both can help direct the public to the Administrative Record, which documents cleanup decisions for the site. A complete copy of the Administrative Record is also available through the lead agency and the site's Public Information Repository.
