Former Carswell Air Force Base, Fort Worth, TX
Federal Facility
Federal Facility
Cleanup Objectives: Biodegrade subsurface volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through reductive dechlorination and control contaminant migration
Green Remediation Strategy: Planted 660 cottonwood trees across 4,000 square meters in 1996 to:
- Establish root biomass promoting activity of indigenous microbes
- Enhance transpiration of ground water through the trees, helping to control hydraulic gradient and downgradient migration of VOCs
Results:
- Produced virtually no process residuals
- Reduced VOC concentrations in ground water approximately 65% within first four years
- Increases treatment efficacy over time according to plant growth
- Incurred $193,200 in capital costs including $2,100 for plants, $10,000 for irrigation, and $90,000 for monitoring wells
- Incurred average annual maintenance costs of $252,000 for extensive monitoring of ground water (plume control), vegetation, climate and other site parameters affecting the (federal interagency) demonstration
- Supported transfer of property to community as part of base realignment and closure, without disruption to ongoing activities
- Provided remediated land for use as a community golf course
Property End Use: Recreation
Point of Contact: Greg Harvey, U.S. Air Force Aeronautical Systems Center
Update: February 2008
