Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Area

⚠ Superfund · Cleanup underway

The U.S. Navy has divided work at the site between two programs: The Munitions Response Program and the Environmental Restoration Program. All munitions-related work is carried out under the Munitions Response Program. All typical chemical contamination investigations are covered by the Environmental Restoration Program.

Location

CityVieques
CountyVieques County
StatePuerto Rico
Coordinates18.13058, -65.31060

Contaminants of concern

Contaminated media

Cleanup timeline

  1. Initial Assessment Completed — Not Yet Achieved
  2. Proposed to the National Priorities List — 08/13/2004
  3. Finalized on the National Priorities List — 02/11/2005
  4. Remedial Investigation Started — 05/01/2002
  5. Remedy Selected — 09/29/2008
  6. Remedial Action Started — 03/30/2015
  7. Construction Completed — Not Yet Achieved
  8. Deleted from National Priorities List — Not Yet Achieved
  9. Most Recent Five-Year Review — 09/19/2023
  10. Achieved Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Reuse — Not Yet Achieved

EPA references

Understanding this Superfund site

Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Area is a federal Superfund site in Puerto Rico. The Superfund program, created by Congress in 1980, addresses sites where hazardous substances have been released or threaten release into the environment. EPA scores potential sites using the Hazard Ranking System; those that score high enough are placed on the National Priorities List.

Current status: Cleanup underway. Active cleanup is underway, meaning EPA has approved a remediation plan and work is in progress. Cleanup timelines vary widely — some sites take decades depending on contamination depth, groundwater involvement, and funding availability.

EPA has identified 8 contaminants of concern at this site, including 1,2-dichloroethane, 2-methoxy-2-methylpropane (mtbe), 2-methylnaphthalene. Contamination has been detected in groundwater, solid waste.

If you live near this site and have health concerns, your state health department can provide site-specific guidance. EPA maintains a community involvement program for most NPL sites, and site documents — including the Record of Decision, five-year reviews, and public health assessments — are typically available through EPA's Superfund site profile.