The Iowa Army Ammunition Plant is a 19,000-acre active munitions facility near Burlington, Iowa, that has produced ammunition since 1941. The Atomic Energy Commission also operated parts of the site from 1947 to 1975. The site was added to the National Priorities List in 1990 after past operations released explosives, metals, volatile organic compounds, and depleted uranium into soil, surface water, and groundwater. Cleanup began in earnest in the 1990s and is still ongoing. The most recent five-year review was completed in March 2026.
Contaminants of concern include explosive compounds such as RDX, TNT, HMX, and dinitrotoluene found in soil and groundwater. Heavy metals including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and chromium(VI) are present in soil. Depleted uranium from past Atomic Energy Commission work has contaminated soil and buildings in a designated remediation zone. Chlorinated solvents pose a vapor intrusion risk to buildings. PFAS chemicals, historically used in firefighting foams, have been detected in groundwater since July 2022. Unexploded ordnance is also a concern across parts of the site.
Cleanup is divided into 14 operable units. Off-site groundwater cleanup in Operable Unit 3 was completed in 2014 and is now in operation and maintenance. The Army Corps of Engineers is currently excavating and treating soil at the Firing Sites Area, with an estimated completion date in late 2026. One draft cleanup plan is under EPA and Department of Defense review for approval in 2025. Several operable units are still in investigation or feasibility study phases, with some work estimated to continue through 2028. Residents with off-post drinking water affected by site contaminants have been connected to alternative water supplies. Human exposure is currently reported as under control, and groundwater migration is stabilized, though physical construction remains incomplete. Land use is restricted to industrial, commercial, and certain agricultural activities, with hunting and fishing occasionally permitted.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, oversees environmental cleanup. American Ordnance operates the plant day-to-day. The Army has established a Restoration Advisory Board that meets quarterly and is open to the public. More information about the board is available at http://www.iaaaprestoration.com/rab/. Community members with cleanup questions can contact the Army Corps of Engineers at (888) 835-5971 or the EPA staff assigned to the site.
