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Site History of Munition Response Site (MRS) 2 and 4

In 1942, the U.S. Government acquired 52,191 acres and built Camp Swift to train Soldiers destined for the European theater during World War II (Decision Document, Munitions Response Site 2).
Post-war in 1947, the War Assets Administration, declared Camp Swift as “excess” property and the U.S. Army made efforts to remove any remaining unexploded ordnance (UXO). Certificates documenting  surface removal of UXO were issued, but a subsurface removal was not conducted.
Following the declaration of excess and after the surface removal was conducted, the camp was split into smaller parcels and sold to the public. The deeds to some parcels included a recommendation that activities be limited to surface use only (Decision Document, Munitions Response Site 2) to minimize exposure to UXO and at that time, the majority of land was only used for agricultural purposes.
Currently, Munitions Response Site 2 (MRS 2) and Munitions Response Site 4 (MRS 4) are actively being cleaned up under the Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) Program.

 

Site Location

Former Camp Swift is bordered by U.S. highways 95 and 290, 28 miles east of Austin and 7 miles north of Bastrop in Bastrop County Texas.
 
Note: Land was dispersed to the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG) and private property owners from the 1940s through the 1980s.The TXARNG facility, though originally a portion of the historic Camp Swift, is not currently eligible for the Formerly Used Defense Sites program and is not addressed in this effort.

 

MRS 2 Location

MRS 2 is located in the north and northeast portion of the original boundary of the former Camp Swift Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) property, Bastrop County in southeast Texas. MRS 2 is composed of three noncontiguous areas used for small arms training and multiple artillery ranges with total acreage of approximately 264.2 acres. The noncontiguous areas are designated “MRS 2 West” (approximately 221 acres), “MRS 2A East” (approximately 20.1 acres), and “MRS 2B East” (approximately 23.1 acres) to facilitate in-depth discussion of each separate area. All portions of the MRS 2 sites are accessible from public roads.

MRS 2A East and MRS 2B East

MRS 2 West

 

MRS 2 Selected Remedy

The selected remedy for MRS 2 is a combination of:
· Alternative 2 – Land Use Controls
· Alternative 5D – Surface and Subsurface Removal of military munitions and explosives of concern, to a depth of 3 feet, using Advanced Geophysical Classification.
 
*The Selected Remedy was chosen in accordance with CERCLA, 42 U.S. Code § 9601, et seq., as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), and, to the extent practicable, the National Contingency Plan (NCP), 40 CFR, Part 300, et seq., as amended.

MRS 2 Risk Summary

Given the presence of munitions debris in the Munitions Response Site 2 West and Munitions Response Site 2A East and 2B East, the Remedial Investigation concluded that the risk of the potential presence of munitions and explosives of concern represented an unacceptable hazard to current and future site residents, workers, and users (Decision Document, Munitions Response Site 2).

MRS 2 Site Map - Remediation Footprint

Munitions Response Sites 2A East and 2A East

Munitions Response Site 2 West

MRS 4 Location

MRS 4 is located in the east portion of the former Camp Swift Range Complex, approximately 5 miles west of Paige in Bastrop County, southeast Texas and is comprised of 238 acres. During the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study MRS 4 was part of a larger site called “MRS East”. “MRS East” was subdivided into smaller sites, one of which was identified as MRS 2 and is now recognized as MRS 4.

Munitions Response Site 4

MRS 4 Selected Remedy

The Selected Remedy for Munitions Response Site 4 is:
· Alternative 5D: Surface and Subsurface Removal of munitions and explosives of concern to a depth of 3 feet using Digital EMI Systems in conjunction with Advanced Geophysical Classification and Land Use Controls.

MRS 4 Risk Summary

Only munitions debris consisting of mortar and projectile fragments, fuzes, and
unidentifiable munitions debris fragments were documented at Munitions Response Site 4 during the Remedial Investigation. The confirmed presence of munitions and explosives of concern at former Camp Swift and the confirmation of munitions debris, indicate a potential presence of munitions and explosives of concern at Munitions Response Site 4 in areas that have not been previously investigated or cleared to the depth of the Selected Remedy. The Remedial Investigation concluded the historical presence of munitions and explosives of concern represented an unacceptable potential hazard to current and future site residents, workers, and users (Decision Document, Munitions Response Site 4).

MRS 4 Site Map - Remediation Footprint

Munitions Response Site 4

Remedial History, Interim Actions, and Site Inspections

1994: Archive Search Report divided the Camp Swift Range Complex Munitions Response Site into eight areas (Areas A through H) based on historic documents, drawings, maps, aerial photographs, newspaper articles, technical munitions data, real estate records, and other reports.
1995: Archive Search Report Supplement added three more areas (Area I, J, and K) and placed an emphasis on establishing the chemical agent, the type of munitions or container, quantities, and areas of disposal.
2007: Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis was completed at both Munitions Response Sites 2 and 4.
2015: Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Studies and Proposed Plan completed at both Munitions Response Sites 2 and 4.
2016: Revised Inventory Project Report Completed for Munitions Response Site 2.

Documents

Educational Awareness

The cleanup decision for all sites includes education awareness for landowners and any members of the public who could potentially access the sites. Educational awareness includes what to do if you think you may have encountered UXO.
 
Safety is the highest priority!