HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --
Hurlburt Field leadership recently announced
entering the next phase of construction with their local housing partner in a
memo to base residents.
This phase includes demolishing the older homes and replacing them with
new homes. When demolishing older homes, precautions are taken due to materials
used during the era they were constructed.
From 1948 to 1988, pesticides containing a chemical called chlordane
were commonly used to treat for termites in foundations of homes. Recently compiled reports show these pesticides
have remained in some of the soil at Hurlburt from when they were first applied.
The remaining
pesticide levels, undisturbed, do not present immediate concerns for our
families. However, because soil
disruption will take place during demolition of the older homes, the Air Force
and Corvias, in close collaboration with the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (FDEP), developed a soil management plan, following
all state and federal regulations, to maximize safety precautions.
“The 1st Special Operations
Wing’s goal is to protect the health and safety of our Airmen and families, and
to ensure construction activities do not impact installation and supporting
communities’ access to safe soil and water,” said Col. Thomas Palenske,
commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing. “There is not an immediate threat
to families currently living in these houses and we will ensure community
members remain informed.”
The soil remediation process will begin over the next few months and
consists of removing soil from the site and treating it through a thermal
process that will remove the remaining pesticides. Following soil remediation, construction will
begin in Pine Shadows this summer, then in Soundside Manor.
During the soil remediation process, follow these suggested safety
guidelines:
-
Please stay clear of the construction site and
direct your family to do the same.
-
In the older
homes, out of an abundance of caution, avoid digging up areas in your yard to
plant shrubbery, flowers, etc. (Does not
apply to new construction housing).
-
As always,
vegetable gardens should be accomplished via raised gardening boxes or planting
pots.
“We are committed to taking extraordinary measures to ensure
the safety and health of Airmen and the community,” said Stan Morehead,
business director for Corvias Military Living. “That is why we have undergone
such thorough testing and analysis measures, including the mapping of all
houses within the construction area, to ensure appropriate safety precautions
are taken.”
For further questions about housing, please feel free to
contact Julie Crowell, 850-344-0221 or Julie.Crowell@corvias.com.