Camp Pendleton clean up efforts use green construction equipment

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency commends the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, for using innovative cleaner-burning construction equipment to remove contaminated soil from the base, a pilot project that supports the EPA’s Cleanup-Clean Air Initiative. 120,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil has been removed using “green” construction equipment.

The Navy and Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton are utilizing clean diesel technologies, retrofitted equipment, ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, and biofuels on six construction vehicles to remove over 120,000 cubic yards of soil contaminated with metals, dioxins/furans, and pesticides, which will be disposed off-base.

"Camp Pendleton is our first federal facility to use clean diesel technology as part of its Superfund cleanup,” said Wayne Nastri, Regional Administrator of EPA's Pacific Southwest region. "We are proud to recognize the Navy and Marine Corps for leading the way in their ground-breaking efforts to reduce their environmental footprint.”

The EPA’s Cleanup – Clean Air is a regional pilot program that encourages diesel emission and greenhouse gas reduction technologies at Superfund sites, emphasizing:

• Clean diesel technologies;
• Alternative fuels;
• Energy efficiency;
• Renewable energy generation;
• Carbon sequestration

By using cleaner burning technology, the Navy and Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton will reduce total PM10 emissions from excavation by 27%, approximately 2.4 pounds per week. Additionally, more than 100,000 cubic yards of excavated soil will be transported for disposal via train instead of truck, keeping 6,250 trucks off Southern California roads.

Camp Pendleton is the Marine Corps’ primary amphibious training center, training over 60,000 soldiers annually. Land uses include airfield operations, maneuver and impact areas, troop and family housing and recreation areas. In 1989, the EPA placed the base on its Superfund list, due to pesticides found in drinking water well, which is undergoing cleanup.

The EPA’s Superfund program identifies, investigates and cleans up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites throughout the United States. For more information, please visit: epa.gov

For more information on the EPA’s Cleanup – Clean Air program, please visit: EPA Clean Up