RFAAP About - Site Photos

Site Photos

Main Manufacturing Area

Solid Waste Management Unit 54
Building 4343

New River Unit

Western Burning Ground
Rail Yard
Northern Burning Ground
Igniter Assembly Area
Building Debris Disposal Trench

Environmental Sampling

Surface Water Sampling
Soil Sampling
Sediment Sampling

Main Manufacturing Area

Solid Waste Management Unit 54

Soil and groundwater samples indicated the presence of metals, volatile organic compounds, and explosives (exceeding permit levels) at Solid Waste Management Unit (SWMU) 54, also known as the Propellant Burning Ash Disposal Area. Lead "hot spots" were removed in 1999.

Building 4343

Building 4343 is located within the Rocket Manufacturing Area, which is situated within the Horseshoe Area.

In 1956, the building was converted from a Fire Water Pump House to support Nike igniter grain cadmium plating operations. Conversion activities included installation of a drying cabinet, cadmium plating baths, and exterior lead catch tank (which discharged to the ground), and an exhaust system.

Surface soil evaluation was performed in 1996 and found cadmium exceeding regulatory limits. A RCRA Facility Investigation was conducted to evaluate potential contamination releases associated with former plating activities. See the Installation Action Plan for information on future activities at these and other sites.

New River Unit

The New River Unit (NRU) is located approximately 6 miles west of the RFAAP Main Manufacturing Area. Between 1940 and 1945, the NRU was used for the loading of propellants and igniter charges and the manufacture of igniter charge bags. Between 1943 and 1945, operations were expanded to include an additional bag-loading line, rolled powder operations, flash-reducer loading lines, and black powder drying facilities. Production ended after World War II, and the plant was officially designated as part of the RFAAP installation. After 1947, some land in the western section of the plant was sold or transferred for other uses.

There is conductive flooring in several buildings. The material is composed of barium, copper, asbestos, and lead. It is exposed to the elements and is leaching to surrounding soil. A remedial investigation sampling effort included the collection of surface soil, sludge, and water samples. Metals have also been detected. The following links are of five areas within NRU that are being investigated:

Western Burning Ground


Geophysical surveying	Collecting soil samples


Western Burning Ground after sampling activities were completed

See the Installation Action Plan for information on future activities at this site.

Rail Yard


Rail Yard	Collecting soil samples

See the Installation Action Plan for information on future activities at this site.

Northern Burning Ground


Northern Burning Ground		Surveying the area


Ash and soot layer (approx. 0.5 ft. below ground surface) discovered in a hole dug during geophysical survey

See the Installation Action Plan for information on future activities at this site.

Igniter Assembly Area


Igniter Assembly Area, which includes eight Igniter Assembly buildings	Degradation of the conductive floor and gray protective paint


Excavating a test pit	Collecting soil samples

See the Installation Action Plan for information on future activities at this site.

Building Debris Disposal Trench


Building Debris Disposal Trench before sampling activities


Removing nonhazardous debris from trench	Melted tar, empty corroded drums, and rocks exposed after building debris was removed from trench


Management and disposal of nonhazardous soil	Installing rip-rap along the trench to control erosion


Wooden beams and poles in trench		Building Debris Disposal Trench after sampling activities were completed