U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Huntsville Center
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Huntsville Center
TAG REVIEW DATE: 9 NOVEMBER 1995
INPR RAC: 4
ASR RAC: 1
TAG RAC: 1
SUPPORT DISTRICT (ASR) POC: Ted Moore, Office:CELMS-PM-M,
Telephone: 314-331-8849
ASR/INPR TEAM POC: Jason B. Adams, Office:
CEHNC-OE-DC-D, Telephone: 205-895-1556
3. SITE DESCRIPTION: The former Olathe Naval Air Station is located approximately two miles east of Gardner, Kansas in Johnson County. The air station originally consisted of 2,007.25 acres. The site is currently known as the New Century Air Center and is operated as a general purpose airport and also as an industrial park. The former base housing area is now an apartment complex. There is industrial development under way on the former site, and the area surrounding the old bunkers is used by a local farmer for hay.
The soils in the area are deep, well drained, and moderately sloping to gently sloping. The surface layer is composed of black silty sandy clay about 25cm thick. The subsoil is very dark gray and grayish brown very firm silty clay to a depth of 120cm. The substratum is very dark gray silty clay to a depth of over 150cm. The corrosivity of the soil to uncoated steel is high and concrete is low.
4. SITE HISTORY: The Olathe Naval Air Station was commissioned on October 1, 1942 as U.S. Naval Reserve Air Base, Olathe, Kansas, and was mainly concerned with primary flight training for naval cadets until September 1944. Its function after that was to provide and maintain services, operating , messing and berthing facilities for the Naval Air Transport Squadron Three, transient aircraft, and other activities. In 1951, Olathe was an operating station of the Naval Reserve Training Command, providing facilities for fourteen squadrons of the Naval and Marine Air Reserve. In 1950, the 2472nd Air Force Reserve Training Command became a tenant along with the 130th Air Control & Warning Squadron, U.S. Air Force. In 1954, the 2472nd was transferred and the Air Force established the 738th Air Control & Warning Squadron based on the Naval Air Station. In 1958, the Marine Corps had two fighter groups and on reconnaissance group stationed at Olathe NAS. Olathe Naval Air Station was closed on 30 June 1970.
5. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The former Olathe Naval Air Station originally consisted of 2,007.25 acres located near Gardner, Kansas in Johnson County. The former site has not had a history of public ordnance encounters or incidents and the Archives Search Report performed by St. Louis District in July 1995 stated that there was no confirmed ordnance found on the site. There are six areas of concern located on this site. Two major areas of concern listed in the ASR are the Landfill and Public Works Area. The other four areas of concern are not as significant as these areas.
Area "A"
Size Acres: Unknown
Former Use: Possible Burial Site
Present Use: Undeveloped Land south of the Public Works Site
Probable End Use: Undeveloped land
Confirmed Ordnance: No
Types: N/A
Potential Ordnance: Yes
Types: Unknown
Area "B"
Size Acres: Unknown
Former Use: Landfill
Present Use: The area is being industrialized and a HTRW is being performed
by the Kansas City District.
Probable End Use: Industrial Park
Confirmed Ordnance: No
Types: N/A
Potential Ordnance: Yes
Types: Unknown
Area "C"
Size Acres: Unknown
Former Use: Ammunition Storage
Present Use: Explosives Storage
Probable End Use: Explosives Storage
Confirmed Ordnance: No
Types: N/A
Potential Ordnance: No
Types: N/A
Area "D"
Size Acres: Unknown
Former Use: Skeet Range
Present Use: Undeveloped Land
Probable End Use: Unknown
Confirmed Ordnance: No
Types: N/A
Potential Ordnance: No
Types: N/A
Area "E"
Size Acres: 2 Bunkers
Former Use: Small Arms Ammunition Bunker
Present Use: Industrial Buildings Construction
Probable End Use: Industrial Park
Confirmed Ordnance: No
Types: N/A
Potential Ordnance: No
Types: N/A
Area "F"
Size Acres: Several Piles
Former Use:
Present Use: Construction Debris Piles
Probable End Use:
Confirmed Ordnance: No
Types: N/A
Potential Ordnance: No
Types: N/A
6. CURRENT STATUS: The Archives Search for the former Olathe Naval Air Station was completed in July 1995 by the St. Louis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
7. STRATEGY: The Olathe Naval Air Station has been broken down into six different areas and a strategy for each has been developed below.
Area "A" Just south of the Public Works Storage Area there are two possible burial sites. One has been confirmed that the contents are airplane parts, but the other has unknown contents. It is stated in the ASR that two men formerly stationed at the airfield told of munitions being buried in this area. It is possible that red and white phosphorous may be present due to the fact that 24 MK 25 Marine Markers where stored on site. Due to these facts, it is recommended that there be an EE/CA performed in this area.
Area "B" The landfill is in the Northwestern part of the site and has the possibility of having OE. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District had an active contract to investigate the landfill and, at the time of the ASR investigation, the landfill was being divided into grids. There was no evidence of ordnance found at the landfill area by the ASR team. An EE/CA is recommended for this area based on eyewitness testimony that munitions were buried in this area. No OE has ever been found during the routine mowing operations performed at the former Olathe NAS.
Area "C" The former Ammunition storage area is currently being rented for explosives storage. During the site inspection done by the ASR team, there was no ordnance found in this area. It is recommended that there be no further action performed in this area.
Area "D" The former skeet range is located in the southern part of the site. There was no evidence of ordnance found in this area. It is recommended that there be no further action performed in this area.
Area "E" The Small Arms Ammunition Bunkers mentioned in the ASR were removed for the construction of Industrial buildings. There was no ordnance found in this area. It is recommended that there be no further action performed in this area.
Area "F" There were several debris piles found on the site there was a variety of construction debris but no ordnance found at any of these piles. It is recommended that there be no further action performed in these areas.
8. ISSUES AND CONCERNS: There are known Federally and State listed species occurring in the site area. An on site inspection by appropriate state and federal personnel may be necessary to verify the presence, absence or location of listed species, or natural communities if remedial action is recommended as part of the final Archives Search Report.
The actual acreage for the above listed areas was not found in the Archives Search Report so the St. Louis District will be tasked to determine the actual size of each area.
9. SCHEDULE SUMMARY:
EE/CA
10. FUNDING/BUDGET SUMMARY: For Official Use Only
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