Site History
The Camp Swift Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) property is located in Bastrop County, Texas, approximately one mile northeast of Bastrop and 20 miles east of Austin. Former Camp Swift is bordered to the north by Federal Highway 290, to the east by State Highway 21, and to the west by State Highway 95. Lake Bastrop is located within the FUDS boundary. The former Camp Swift FUDS consists of approximately 29,280 acres and was used by the United States Army from 1942 to 1947 as an infantry replacement training camp which was composed of overlapping small arms ranges, grenade courts, mortar range, artillery impact areas, ammunition storage area, training maneuver areas, and a demolition area. The Texas Army National Guard currently occupies approximately 11,700 acres of former Camp Swift.
MRS-2
MRS-2 site is composed of three non-contiguous areas used for small arms training and artillery ranges with total acreage of approximately 264.2 acres (ac).
Land use for the majority of the MRS-2 area is rural residential and agricultural (hay and livestock production). A small portion of MRS-2 is covered in native forest. Surrounding properties and neighboring areas have been developed in moderately dense suburban residential neighborhoods and, as such, land use in the MRS-2 area appears to be changing to suburban residential.
Clean up of the area is to ensure overall protectiveness of the public after completion of the response action by minimizing the potential for site workers and the public. Public utility workers and residence should familiarize themselves with, and follow, the 3Rs of ordnance safety.
MRS-4
MRS-4 is in the eastern portion of the former Camp Swift, approximately 5 miles west of Paige, Texas and consist of 238-acres. The land comprising MRS-4 is privately owned and is used for residential, recreational, and agricultural activities.
Land use in the area is light agriculture (hay meadows and turf farms), and acreage‐style residential development. Current land use is expected to remain the same, with possible residential acreage development in the future.
Clean up of the area is planned to include removal of surface and subsurface MEC to 3-feet (ft). Once MEC removal has been completed upon the access to the land via right-of-entry (ROE), Land Use Controls in the form of the Army’s 3Rs (Recognize, Retreat, Report) signage and public education will be implemented. In the event of denied ROE or inaccessibility (obstructions) are encountered during implementation of the remedy, the remedy will not be applied to those areas. In that event, educating the public through LUCs will limit inadvertent exposure to MEC potentially remaining in those areas.
MRS-5
MRS-5 is in the eastern portion of the former Camp Swift, approximately 3 1/4 miles west of Paige, Texas and consist of 157-acre. Land use is privately owned and is used for residential and recreational activities.
Land use in the area is small scale ranching, light agriculture (hay meadows and turf farms), and acreage‐style residential development. The area is sparsely populated with less than two dozen homes within 1 mile of MRS-5. Current land use is expected to remain the same, with possible residential acreage development in the future.
Clean up of the area is planned to include removal of surface and subsurface MEC to 3-feet (ft). Once MEC removal has been completed upon the access to the land via right-of-entry (ROE), Land Use Controls in the form of the Army’s 3Rs (Recognize, Retreat, Report) signage and public education will be implemented. In the event of denied ROE or inaccessibility (obstructions) are encountered during implementation of the remedy, the remedy will not be applied to those areas. In that event, educating the public through LUCs will limit inadvertent exposure to MEC potentially remaining in those areas.
MRS-6
MRS-6 is in the eastern portion of the former Camp Swift, approximately 3 1/4 miles west of Paige, Texas and consists of 265-acres. The land comprising MRS-6 is privately owned and is used for residential, recreational, and agricultural activities.
Land use in the area is light agriculture (hay meadows and turf farms), and acreage‐style residential development. The area is sparsely populated with less than two dozen homes within 1 mile of MRS-6. Current land use is expected to remain the same, with possible residential acreage development in the future.
Clean up of the area is planned to include removal of surface and subsurface MEC to 3-feet (ft). Once MEC removal has been completed upon the access to the land via right-of-entry (ROE), Land Use Controls in the form of the Army’s 3Rs (Recognize, Retreat, Report) signage and public education will be implemented. In the event of denied ROE or inaccessibility (obstructions) are encountered during implementation of the remedy, the remedy will not be applied to those areas. In that event, educating the public through LUCs will limit inadvertent exposure to MEC potentially remaining in those areas.
MRS-7
MRS 7 Main Artillery Range and Impact Area/Buffer Zone MRS is located in the eastern portion of the Camp Swift property, 3 miles north of Bastrop, Texas and consist of 146-acre. The land comprising the MRS-7 is currently privately owned and used for residential, recreational, agricultural, and industrial activities.
Land use in the area is light agriculture (hay meadows and turf farms), light ranching, and acreage‐style residential development. The area is sparsely populated with about three dozen homes within 1 mile of MRS 7. Current land use is expected to remain the same, with possible residential acreage development in the future.
Clean up of the area is planned to include removal of surface and subsurface MEC to 3-feet (ft). Once MEC removal has been completed upon the access to the land via right-of-entry (ROE), Land Use Controls in the form of the Army’s 3Rs (Recognize, Retreat, Report) signage and public education will be implemented. In the event of denied ROE or inaccessibility (obstructions) are encountered during implementation of the remedy, the remedy will not be applied to those areas. In that event, educating the public through LUCs will limit inadvertent exposure to MEC potentially remaining in those areas.
MRS-8
MRS-8 is a 107-acre portion of Camp Swift. MRS 8 is in the eastern portion of the former Camp Swift, approximately 4 3/4 miles west southwest of Paige, Texas. The land comprising MRS-8 is privately owned and is used for residential, recreational, and agricultural activities. There are at least eight residential properties within the MRS-8 boundary and less than three dozen homes within 1 mile.
Land use in the area is small-scale ranching, light agriculture (hay meadows and turf farms), and acreage-style residential development. The area is lightly populated. Current land use is expected to remain the same, with possible residential acreage development in the future.
Clean up of the area is planned to include removal of existing MEC hazards, thus minimizing the risk of injury to site users. Surface and Subsurface Removal of MEC to 3-feet (ft) bgs using Digital Electromagnetic Induction (EMI) Systems in conjunction with Advanced Geophysical Classification (AGC) with Land Use Controls (LUCs). The depth of 3 ft is greater than the 20-in bgs confirmed depth of MD at MRS-8 and will improve confidence that all MEC have been removed. Where bedrock is found to be shallower than 3-ft bgs, the maximum depth of remediation will be to the top of bedrock. MEC removed from MRS-8 will be treated via controlled demolition, satisfying the statutory preference for remedies that include treatment as a principal element. Public utility workers and residence should familiarize themselves with, and follow, the 3Rs of ordnance safety.
MRS-9
MRS-9 is a 495-acre portion of Camp Swift. MRS-9 is in the eastern portion of the former Camp Swift, approximately 5 miles west of Paige, Texas. It is an uninhabited mix of open grassland and light to moderately wooded areas.
Land use in the area is light agriculture (hay meadows and a turf farm), and acreage‐style residential development. The area is sparsely populated. Current land use is expected to remain the same, with possible residential acreage development in the future. While the endangered Houston toad has been observed in Bastrop County, and MRS-9 is within designated critical habitat for the Houston toad, none have been observed in or near MRS-9.
Clean up of the area is planned to include removal of existing munitions and explosives of concern (MEC) confirmed at MRS-9 consisted of mortars, projectiles, rockets, and practice antitank mines to a depth of 20-inches below ground surface (bgs). Clean up of the area is planned to include removal of surface and subsurface MEC to 3-feet (ft), thereby reducing the direct contact threat associated with subsurface MEC to an acceptable level.
MRS-10
MRS‐10 is a 23.7‐acre portion of Camp Swift used for antitank maneuver training. MRS‐10 is on the eastern end of the former Camp Swift, approximately 4 miles northwest of Paige, Texas. It is an uninhabited mix of open grassland and light to moderately wooded areas. There is a one‐ quarter acre surface water impoundment at the eastern end of the site.
The land is used for small‐scale cattle ranching. Recent aerial photography shows a trailer and outbuilding at the site. Current land use is expected to remain the same, with possible residential acreage development in the future. The residual munitions consist of M1B1 practice land mines and associated M1 fuzes (collectively referred to as Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC)) to a depth of one foot below grade.
Clean up of the area is planned to include removal of existing MEC hazards, thus eliminating the risk of injury to site users. The Selected Remedy for MRS‐10 is surface and subsurface clearance to 1.5 Feet Using Digital EMI Systems in conjunction with Advanced Geophysical Classification with Land Use Controls (LUCs). Public utility workers and residence should familiarize themselves with, and follow, the 3Rs of ordnance safety.
MRS-11
MRS-11 is a 69-acre portion of Camp Swift. MRS-11 is located near the geographic center of the former Camp Swift, approximately 8 miles west of Paige, Texas. It is an uninhabited mix of open grassland and light to moderately wooded areas.
Land use in the area is small-scale ranching, light agriculture (hay meadows and turf farms), and acreage‐style residential development. The area is sparsely populated. There are dozens of residences located approximately 2 miles west of MRS-11, and several residential acreage style properties within 1 mile of the site. Current land use is expected to remain the same, with possible residential acreage development in the future.
Clean up of the area is planned to include removal of existing MEC hazards present at MRS-11 by removing the source material (MEC) to a depth of 1.5-ft bgs in accessible areas, thereby reducing the risk of the direct contact threat associated with subsurface MEC to an acceptable level. In the event of denied ROE or inaccessibility (obstruction) are encountered during the implementation of the remedy, educating the public through LUCs will limit inadvertent exposure to MEC potentially remaining in those areas. Public utility workers and residence should familiarize themselves with, and follow, the 3Rs of ordnance safety.
MRS-12
MRS-12 is a 9-acre portion of Camp Swift. MRS 12 is located near the geographic center of the former Camp Swift, approximately 8 miles west of Paige, Texas. It is an uninhabited mix of open grassland and light to moderately wooded areas
Land use in the area is small-scale ranching, light agriculture (hay meadows and turf farms), and acreage‐style residential development. The area is lightly populated with dozens of residences located within 2 miles west of MRS-12, and several residential acreage style properties within 1 mile of the site. Current land use is expected to remain the same, with possible residential acreage development in the future.
Clean up of the area is planned to include removal of existing MEC hazards present at MRS-12 by removing the source material (MEC) to a depth of 1.5-ft bgs in accessible areas, thereby reducing the risk of the direct contact threat associated with subsurface MEC to an acceptable level. In the event of denied ROE or inaccessibility (obstructions) are encountered during the implementation of the remedy, the remedy will not be applied to those areas. In that event, educating the public through LUCs will limit inadvertent exposure to MEC potentially remaining in those areas. Public utility workers and residence should familiarize themselves with, and follow, the 3Rs of ordnance safety.
MRS-13
MRS-13 is a 1-acre portion of Camp Swift. MRS-13 is located near the central western edge of the former Camp Swift, approximately 3 miles north of Bastrop, Texas. The land comprising MRS-13 is currently privately owned and used for residential activities.
Land use in the area is light agriculture (hay meadows and a turf farm), and acreage‐style residential development. There are several dozen homes within 1 mile of the site. The area is light to moderately populated. Current land use is expected to remain the same, with possible residential acreage development in the future.
Clean up of the area is planned to include removal of existing MEC hazards, thus minimizing the risk of injury to site users. The selected remedy for MRS-13 is surface and subsurface removal of MEC to 1.5-feet (ft) bgs using Digital Electromagnetic Induction (EMI) Systems in conjunction with Advanced Geophysical Classification (AGC) with Land Use Controls (LUCs). The depth of 1.5 ft is greater than the 12-in bgs depth of MEC and MD in the vicinity of MRS-13 and will improve confidence that all MEC have been removed in area. Public utility workers and residence should familiarize themselves with, and follow, the 3Rs of ordnance safety.
MRS-14
MRS-14 is a 46-acre portion of Camp Swift. MRS-14 is located near the central western edge of Camp Swift, approximately 3 miles north of Bastrop, Texas. The land comprising MRS-14 is currently privately owned with five residential structures present.
Land use in the area is small-scale ranching, light agriculture (hay meadows and turf farms), and acreage‐style residential development. There are several dozen homes within 1 mile of the site. The area is light to moderately populated. Current land use is expected to remain the same, with possible residential acreage development in the future.
Clean up of the area is planned to include removal of existing MEC hazards, thus minimizing the risk of injury to site users. The selected remedy for MRS-14 is surface and subsurface removal of MEC to 1.5-feet (ft) bgs using Digital Electromagnetic Induction (EMI) Systems in conjunction with Advanced Geophysical Classification (AGC) with Land Use Controls (LUCs). The depth of 1.5 ft is greater than the 12-in bgs depth of MEC and MD in the vicinity of MRS-14 and will improve confidence that all MEC have been removed in area. Public utility workers and residence should familiarize themselves with, and follow, the 3Rs of ordnance safety.
MRS-15
MRS-15 is a 7-acre portion of Camp Swift. MRS-15 is located near the southwestern edge of Camp Swift, approximately 1.25 miles north northeast of Bastrop, Texas. The land comprising MRS-15 is currently owned by the town of Bastrop and is undeveloped.
Land use in the area is small-scale ranching, light agriculture (hay meadows and turf farms), and acreage‐style residential development. There are several dozen homes within 1 mile of the site. The area is light to moderately populated. Although current land use is expected to remain the same, zoning allows for possible residential acreage development in the future.
Clean up of the area is planned to include removal of existing source material (MEC) to a depth of 1.5-ft bgs in accessible areas, thereby reducing the risk of the direct contact threat associated with subsurface MEC to an acceptable level. Any TOI identified deeper than 1.5- ft bgs will be removed in accordance with best practices and USACE policy. There are inaccessible areas at the site in the form of large diameter trees which could interfere with the implementation of the remedy. The remedy will not be applied to those areas. In that event, educating the public through LUCs will limit inadvertent exposure to MEC potentially remaining in those areas. Public utility workers and residence should familiarize themselves with, and follow, the 3Rs of ordnance safety.