March Air Force Base

⚠ Superfund · Remedy selected

The March cleanup is divided, for the most part geographically, into five areas, or operable units (OUs): OU-1, on the east side of the base; OU-2, mostly on the west side; OU-3, for the Panero Aircraft Refueling System; OU-4, for sites not included in the previous OUs; and OU-5, Basewide Groundwater.

Location

CityRiverside
CountyRiverside County
StateCalifornia
Coordinates33.90639, -117.25570

Contaminants of concern

Contaminated media

Cleanup timeline

  1. Initial Assessment Completed — 02/01/1987
  2. Proposed to the National Priorities List — 07/14/1989
  3. Finalized on the National Priorities List — 11/21/1989
  4. Remedial Investigation Started — 09/27/1990
  5. Remedy Selected — 06/20/1996
  6. Final Remedy Selected — 04/22/2019
  7. Final Remedial Action Started — 03/05/1996
  8. Construction Completed — Estimated Dec 2025 - Feb 2026
  9. Deleted from National Priorities List — Not Yet Achieved
  10. Most Recent Five-Year Review — 08/23/2024

EPA references

Other Superfund sites in Riverside County

EPA-regulated facilities nearby

Understanding this Superfund site

March Air Force Base is a federal Superfund site in California. 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: Remedy selected. EPA has selected a cleanup remedy but construction has not yet begun. The remedy selection process involves a feasibility study, public comment period, and a Record of Decision documenting the chosen approach.

EPA has identified 10 contaminants of concern at this site, including (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzo[b,e][1,4]dioxin (hpcdd), 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene. Contamination has been detected in soil, soil gas, groundwater.

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.