For several years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been conducting environmental investigations and cleanup activities on and around the AU campus. This stems from the U.S. government’s use of the AU campus and surrounding area during World War I for training troops and weapons testing.
The current environmental work will continue in the coming weeks as the Army Corps undertakes arsenic-containing soil cleanup activities just north of Hughes Hall. Since arsenic can cause harm only if ingested, the soil does not present a hazard while it is in place. It is being removed to protect university staff or contractors, who may need to dig in that area in the future. The Army has vast experience in this type of soil removal, since it has been present on the campus and surrounding residential properties for several years. The D.C. Department of the Environment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency review all of the Army’s plans and monitor the work. Additionally, the university is actively monitoring these activities in order to protect the health and safety of the campus community.
This soil removal work was identified a few years ago as a limited operation that would be scheduled at a time convenient for campus and before the Army Corps completes its work in the Spring Valley area.
The work will consist of mechanical and hand digging, placing the soil in barrels, transporting the barrels off campus, and periodic testing of soil. When the removal is completed, clean soil will be brought in and the area will be restored. Surveying and marking the site began this week. The digging is expected to start in late July and be completed before fall semester begins. As work progresses, please be aware of truck and construction traffic around the site.
Additional information about the Army Corps of Engineers’ project is available on the university’s Web site, http://www.american.edu/usace. If you have questions about this work or any aspect of the Army Corps project, please call 202-885-2020.
