Based on the review and evaluation of available environmental information on soil, groundwater,
surface water, and ambient air, ATSDR concludes that no public health hazards are associated
with exposure to any environmental media at Luke AFB.
No public health hazards are associated with exposure to soil at Luke AFB because
contamination was either 1) detected at levels that did not or do not pose a public health
hazard; 2) detected at depths below the ground's surface that are inaccessible to the
general public; or 3) detected in areas where site access is restricted, unlikely, or
infrequent.
No public health hazards are associated with drinking or otherwise using the water
supplied by on-base wells because 1) no contaminants were detected at levels that pose a
public health hazard, and 2) the base's drinking water continues to be monitored regularly.
No public health hazards are associated with drinking or otherwise using water from one
private well southeast of the base because no contaminants have been detected during
sampling of this well.
No public health hazards are associated with surface water exposures at Luke AFB
because 1) limited surface water exists on or near the site, 2) no contaminants were
detected at levels that pose a public health problem, and 3) the sources of potential
contamination have been removed.
No public health hazards are associated with ambient air exposures near the site because
no contaminants were detected in ambient air at or near the IRP sites at levels that might
result in adverse health effects.
The public health action plan (PHAP) for Luke AFB contains a description of actions taken and
those to be taken, as necessary, by ATSDR, the Air Force, EPA, and the Arizona Department of
Health at and near the site subsequent to the completion of this PHA. The purpose of the PHAP is
to not only identify potential and ongoing public health hazards, but provide a plan of action
designed to mitigate and prevent adverse human health effects resulting from exposure to
hazardous substances in the environment. The public health actions that are completed, being
implemented, or planned are as follows:
Completed Actions:
The Air Force completed investigations at the 32 IRP sites to identify potentially
contaminated areas. Soil investigations and cleanup were completed at most of these
targeted areas (see Table 1).
The base ammunition storage area (IRP Site DP-24) was listed on the NPL due to a
clerical error. This site has been removed from the list. The Facility 328 spill site (IRP Site
SS-15), the Facility 321 USTs (IRP Site SS-16), and the BX leaking USTs (IRP Site ST-19) were also removed from the NPL process; these sites were placed under the
jurisdiction of the Arizona Dept. Environmental Quality Underground Storage Tanks
program.
A SVE system has been installed on the eastern portion of the north fire training area (IRP
Site FT-07E) and the bulk fuel storage area (IRP Site SS-42) to reduce contamination and
to prevent contaminants from migrating into the groundwater.
The USTs were removed from the liquid waste storage facility (IRP Site ST-18) in 1983.
The site was capped in 1987.
All wastes on the former defense property disposal office yard (IRP Site SS-17) were
shipped from the site for proper disposal in 1986.
In 1991, bank stabilization was conducted at the wastewater treatment annex landfill (IRP
Site RW-02) to prevent erosion into the Agua Fria River.
In 1991, a concrete bottom was installed at the southwest oil/water separator (IRP Site
SD-38) to prevent leakage.
The Oil/Water Separator 912 (IRP Site SD-20) was fixed in 1992 to prevent overflowing.
Construction debris from northwest landfill (IRP Site LF-25) was removed in 1992.
The oil/water separators at the Hush House canal (IRP Site SD-26) were connected to the
base's WWTP in 1993 and no longer discharge directly to the canal.
Contaminated soils from the old surface impoundment area (IRP Site DP-23) were
excavated, treated, tested, and put back on this site in 1995.
Ongoing Actions:
One private well located to the southeast of the site will continue to be monitored through
1998.
The Air Force will continue to regularly test the base water supply to ensure compliance
with federal and state drinking water standards.
Treated effluent from the WWTP will continue to be routinely monitored in accordance
with EPA regulations under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.
Groundwater monitoring wells were installed at the former liquid waste storage facility
(IRP Site ST-18). Periodic inspections are being performed to monitor the integrity of the
concrete cap.
The Air Force will continue operating the SVE system at the bulk fuel storage area (IRP
Site SS-42) to alleviate contamination and prevent contaminant migration to the
groundwater. The Air Force anticipates shut down of the SVE after the soil is sufficiently
clean and no future impacts to the groundwater are expected.
Planned Actions:
No further action was recommended for most of the IRP sites that have not been removed
or transferred from the NPL process. These sites will be officially closed by the Air Force
once the Record of Decision is signed by September 1998.
Land use restrictions will be placed on various IRP sites (RW-02, LF-03, FT-07E, DP-13,
LF-14, DP-23, LF-25, and SD-38) to prevent future residential use.
CERCLA requires ATSDR to conduct needed follow-up health actions in communities
near hazardous waste sites. To identify appropriate actions, ATSDR created the Health
Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP). HARP has evaluated the data and information
contained in the Luke AFB Public Health Assessment for appropriate public health
actions. HARP has no further follow-up actions or recommendations.
Amanda Stoddard, MPH
Environmental Health Scientist
Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Gary Campbell, Ph.D.
Environmental Health Scientist
Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
REFERENCESArizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). 1989. UST File #4715.3330,
Underground Storage Tank Release at Luke Air Force Base, Building 299. November 1, 1989.
Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). 1997. Personal Communication with Brian
Hasty regarding water use for nearby housing area. December 1997.
ATSDR. 1990. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services. Superfund record of communications: Maricopa County Health
Department, Arizona. December 17, 1990.
ATSDR. 1991. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services. Trip report for site scoping visit, February 1115, 1991, Luke AFB,
Arizona. March 11, 1991.
ATSDR. 1992. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services. Luke AFB Maricopa County, Arizona: ATSDR actions and ranking
category. 1992.
ATSDR. 1997. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services. ATSDR site visit. December 3, 1997.
Booz, Allen & Hamilton, Inc. 1996. Management action plan, Luke AFB, Arizona. August 27,
1996.
Geraghty & Miller, Inc. 1991. Draft base-wide community relations plan, Luke AFB, Arizona.
January 31, 1991.
Geraghty & Miller, Inc. 1997a. Summary of potential sources of contamination, Luke AFB,
Arizona. September 3, 1997.
Geraghty & Miller, Inc. 1997b. Final Appendix B, Baseline basewide risk assessment, Luke AFB,
Arizona. Volumes I and II. October 1997.
Geraghty & Miller, Inc. 1997c. Final remedial investigation report, Luke AFB, Arizona. Volumes
I and II. October 1997.
Luke AFB. 1997. Groundwater sampling data from October 1986 to September 1997. 1997.
Rothrock. 1997. United States Air Force. Information on deed restricted IRP sites provided by
Jeff Rothrock, Base Environmental Coordinator. 1997.
Rothrock. 1998. United States Air Force. Personal communication with Jeff Rothrock, Base
Environmental Coordinator. 1998.
United States Air Force (USAF). 1997. Memorandum for 56 AMDS/CC: consultation letter,
AL/OE-CL-1997-0191, site visit to support the PHA at Luke AFB, AZ. October 15, 1997.
