MAIN GATE ROUTE#547
The Naval Air Engineering Station (NAES) site covers 7,382 acres and has been used continuously for various research, maintenance, firefighter training, testing, and disposal activities conducted by the U.S. Navy since the 1920s. Although the size of the Lakehurst facility and its operations have changed over the years, its major function always has been development and testing of fleet support systems. On the basis of historical records, aerial photographs, field inspections, and personnel interviews, the Navy identified 44 potentially contaminated areas at NAES. The 44 areas included landfills, open pits, unlined lagoons, and drainage ditches, several of which are near freshwater wetlands. The Navy reports that fuels, oils, metals, solvents, and various other organic compounds were disposed of on the facility property. In 1988, the EPA and the NAES agreed that 42 areas at the facility should be subject to further investigation. The Fort Dix Military Reservation, agricultural lands, woodland, Lakehurst Borough, and a State wildlife refuge area are adjacent to the site. The NAES and the surrounding area are located within the Pinelands National Reserve. The facility makes up a major portion of the Toms River drainage basin, and several headwater tributaries originate on site, including Manapaqua Brook, Obhanan Ridgeway Branch, Harris Branch, and North Ruckels Branch. Several ponds, both natural and excavated, are on the site. The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure legislation directed the Department of Defense to realign 26 installations into 12 joint base installations, recommending that Fort Dix and Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst installation support functions be relocated to McGuire Air Force Base. The Vice Chiefs of Staff signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Agreement between the three installations establishing Initial Operational Capability for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB MDL) as of April 10, 2009, with Full Operational Capability beginning October 1, 2009. JB MDL is uniquely capable of projecting air, land and sea power to support national defense. JB MDL-Lakehurst employs 4,800 people, and 1,370 people live on base. Most of these residents are trainees who leave after about 6 months. Water supplies within a 3-mile radius of the site are from public wells; the system serves approximately 7,100 people. The closest well is about 200 feet from the site. Monitoring has not detected any well contamination. Local surface water is used for recreation and irrigation. Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed by the Air Force, through Federal actions
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