City of Tucson Environmental Services

                                                                 Special Projects

Fact Sheet—September 2006

The City‘s Environmental Services Department (ES) assists other City Departments with special projects as needed (see attached figure).  Current projects and ES project contacts are:

·        Former Ore Mill Site, Speedway Blvd. and Silverbell Rd. – City Parks and Recreation had planned to develop a natural desert park on a 29-acre parcel located northwest of Speedway and Silverbell.  Former ore milling activities in the 1940’s have impacted soil surrounding the old mill site with elevated levels of arsenic, cadmium, and lead. The concentrations exceed the State of Arizona Soil Remediation Levels (SRLs) for residential sites, and the City has elected to remediate the site for use as a public park.  As a safety precaution, the site has been fenced off and warning signs have been posted.  A public meeting was held on August 31, 2006 to present the information to the neighborhood.  Representatives from the Ward I Council Office, Parks and Recreation, Tucson Water, Tucson Fire, the Pima County Health Department, and ES presented information about the site and were available to answer questions from citizens and the media.  ES is working with Parks on the next phase of assessment and remedial activities on the site.  Please contact Alison Jones or Richard Byrd at 791-5414 with questions.

·        Former Sahuarita Gunnery Range – The site is a 40 square mile section of land located 6 miles south of Los Reales Rd. and 1.5 miles east of the Old Nogales Highway.  The northernmost 8 square miles of the property are within the City of Tucson limits.  Tucson Water has 13 well sites including active water production and monitoring wells located on the property. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) contacted the City in September to verify the identification and location of City owned parcels on this range, and to initiate acquiring right of access agreements.  The military’s Formally Used Defense Sites (FUDS) program had identified this former bombing range as an area of potential concern.  The Corps contacted the City in order to conduct a Site Assessment on the property to assess soil conditions, possible environmental impacts, and verify the condition and locations of spent military munitions and ordnance.  Several parts of the range were used for bombing practice and could contain unexploded ordnance.  Tucson Water, Real Estate, Tucson Fire Department (TFD), and ES are working with the Corps to expedite this project, and protect human health and the environment. Please contact Alison Jones or Richard Byrd at 791-5414 with questions.

·        Golf Links Sports Park - This Park, located at Craycroft and Golf Links Roads, was once part of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (DMAFB). In 2001, a void opened up in the ground near a soccer field.  Parks and Recreation, TFD, Central Safety Services, and ES worked together to investigate the site. A large metallic object had been buried at the void. It was excavated and surrounding soil was sampled. A piece of an aircraft was removed, and there had been no environmental impacts to the surrounding soil. The void was back-filled and the site was closed.  During the week of September 08, 2006, another void opened up in a low traffic area of the park, relatively close to the earlier void.  The same groups of city departments are working together again, and will follow the same procedures to determine the reason for the void and to remediate the problem. DMAFB staff has also been notified of the void, and its close proximity to the first one. Please contact Richard Byrd or Lynne Birkinbine at 791-5414 with questions.

·        Former COT Silverbell Police Training Academy - At the intersection of Silverbell and Goret Roads is the entrance to the City’s former Police Training Academy.  In the 1990’s Tucson Police Department (TPD) relocated their training facility to Wilmot Road. The old facility and shooting range, (which lie between the north and south cells of the closed Silverbell Landfill) is being leased by the U.S. Border Patrol.  The Border Patrol will begin moving out of the facility in December 2006 and the shooting range can then be temporarily taken off-line for standard cleaning and metals recycling activities. City Community Services, Real Estate, and Urban Planning have been working with the private sector to develop the portion of the property closest to Silverbell Rd. for residential use.  ES has been assisting this effort by assessing the property to ensure there are no environmental concerns associated with the property. The next step will be to have City departments work together find a new and best use for the old training facility, and to recycle all of the metals (lead bullets, copper, brass etc.) at the shooting range before the facility is closed down. ES will continue the soil and groundwater remediation efforts associated with closed Silverbell landfill (SBLF) cells nearby. Please contact Jeff Drumm (SBLF) or Richard Byrd (Shooting Range) at 791-5414 with questions.

·   Former Adkins Steel Tank Property, 5460 E. Fort Lowell Road - In March 2006, the City of Tucson acquired this property through a land swap. The site has historic value associated with Fort Lowell and Native-American artifacts.  ES has cleared the site of tires and other hazardous materials.  The former property owner will be vacating the site by mid-December and shortly after, ES will begin assessment and remedial activities on the site.  Known assessment and remedial activities at this time include the following:

·        Abandonment of a hand dug well

·        Identify location of former “cesspool” and potential soil impacts

·        Removal of 3,500 gallon UST and soil sampling

·        Sample stained areas of soil as well as battery storage locations

·        Asbestos surveys of the structures

·        Removal and investigation of septic tanks

A cost estimate for these activities is being prepared by a consultant. The Pima County Historic Preservation Office is very involved in this project because County bond funds are earmarked for the historical development of this parcel.  It is not clear whether environmental work will be covered by the County bonds although the County has asked that all environmental scopes of work be submitted to them for approval.  Please contact Lynne Birkinbine at 791-5414 with questions.