Travis Air Force Base

Overview

Travis Air Force Base covers 6,368 acres in Fairfield, Solano County, California. It was added to the National Priorities List on November 21, 1989. Contamination came from landfills, fire training areas, a radioactive burial site, and solvent spills. More than 150 chemical substances have been identified across groundwater, soil, surface water, and free-phase liquid contamination that does not mix with water. Contaminants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethene and benzene, pesticides including DDT and dieldrin, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals like lead and chromium, dioxins, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

The Air Force has been leading cleanup under a 1990 Federal Facilities Agreement with EPA and state agencies. The site is divided into seven operable units. Most soil cleanups are complete through excavation and disposal, backed by land use restrictions. Groundwater treatment began in 1996 and has removed over 15,000 pounds of VOCs through pumping, treating, and monitored natural attenuation. A final basewide groundwater remedy was established in 2014. Several operable units have finished remedial action, though construction is not complete across the entire site.

PFAS is the most pressing current concern. The Air Force began investigating PFAS in 2015 and found levels above EPA's drinking water health advisory. The investigation expanded in June 2020 to include off-site drinking water wells. Households with affected wells received bottled water, and drinking water treatment systems were installed by early 2021. Additional monitoring wells are being placed on and off the base to determine the full extent of PFAS contamination. The PFAS remedial investigation is estimated to finish between December 2025 and February 2026.

Separately, oil discharges from the base to Union Creek were discovered in October 2021. A jet fuel pipeline spill occurred in August 2022. In May 2023, EPA issued a Clean Water Act order requiring the Air Force to speed up efforts to stop the ongoing discharge. The Air Force is still investigating multiple potential sources. EPA's 2018 five-year review found the remedy protective of human health and the environment, though continued actions were needed. The most recent five-year review was completed September 29, 2023, and human exposure assessment is currently insufficient to draw final conclusions.

Community members can get involved through the Restoration Advisory Board at the Travis AFB website. Site records are available at Mitchell Memorial Library on base, the Vacaville Public Library, the Fairfield-Suisun Community Library, and the EPA Region 9 Superfund Records Center in San Francisco. The EPA Community Involvement Toll Free Hotline at 800-231-3075 can help with document access questions.