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REMEDIAL IN VEST I G A T I O N / F E A S I BI LI T Y S T UD Y Defense Environmental Restoration Program for Formerly Used Defense Sites Across the country, the Department of Defense acquired properties, often during times of war, to use for military training, testing and demonstrations. When no longer needed, many of these properties were cleaned up according to the best practices available at the time and then transferred to other owners such as private individuals or other government entities. These Formerly Used Defense Sites can range from privately owned farms to National Parks. They also include residential, industrial and educational properties. We are committed to protecting people and the environment and improving public safety by cleaning up these properties. The Defense Environmental Restoration Program for Formerly Used Defense Sites was established to evaluate and, if necessary, to remediate Formerly Used Defense Sites. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) manages the program on behalf of the Department of Defense. Congress passed the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, also known as Superfund, in 1980 and the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act in 1986. These laws give the Corps the authority for certain cleanup activities and dictate the process we must follow. We conduct investigations to determine the potential risk to people and the environment from the military’s use of the property. Public involvement and community participation are important components of the process. The Corps partners with stakeholders throughout the process, including congressional representatives, state and local governments, regulatory and environmental agencies, and affected property owners. Background The U.S. government acquired Water Island in 1944 for a coastal defense installation. Water Island is the smallest of the U.S. Virgin Islands and is approximately 1,800 feet from St. Thomas, south of Charlotte Amalie. The Army constructed barracks, gun emplacements, watch towers, underground bunkers, and various other structures, and the installation became known as Fort Segarra. The Army constructed Battery 314 at the top of a hill in the southern portion of the island, but the guns were not installed, and the emplacement was never operational. The Army did install guns at two places associated with the 818th Anti-Motor Torpedo Boat Battery (Druif Point and Providence Point). There were two 37 millimeter guns at both locations and two 90 millimeter guns at Druif Point. With World War II winding down, the Army deactivated the 818th Battery in 1945 and deactivated Fort Segarra in 1946. The Army used Fort Segarra again between 1948 and 1950 for tests associated with the Tropical Test Program. Most of that land comprising this Formerly Used Defense Site is now privately owned. Environmental Investigations The Corps has conducted a number of investigations of the former Fort Segarra over the years, and a removal action to search for and remove any munitions-related items was completed in 2009. In addition to the removal action, the APRIL 2018 FORMERLY USED DEFENSE SITES | Fort Segarra FORMERLY USED DEFENSE SITES | Fort Segarra Project documents are available at the Corps’ website: www.saj.usace.army.mil/FortSegarra U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District Toll-Free 800-710-5184 FUDS.Florida@usace.army.mil www.saj.usace.army.mill For More Information Corps installed signs at the public ferry and deep water docks to make sure the public is aware of the military’s use of the island. The Corps conducted a review in 2012 to see if the remedial action implemented in 2009 is still effective in protecting people from potential risks associated with the military’s use of the island. That led to the Corps replacing the two signs. While no munitions or munitions debris have been identified in more than 20 years, to ensure public safety, the Corps is conducting a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study to determine if anything from the military’s training remains in the area and to identify appropriate future actions. Once the team has analyzed all the available data, they will draft a report and make recommendations. The results will be summarized in a document called a Proposed Plan which will present the alternatives for addressing what, if anything, remains on the site. The alternatives can range from no further action being necessary to educating the public about the site to remedial action. When the Proposed Plan is ready, the Corps will present it, and the public will have at least 30 days to review and submit comments on the plan. The project documents that are used to determine the appropriate response action, known collectively as the Administrative Record, are available for review at the Corps website (http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/FortSegarra/). If you have any questions, please email FUDS.Florida@usace.army.mil or call 800.710.5184. Safety First: Remember the 3Rs While the potential of finding munitions is low, always use caution in areas where the military has trained. Remember and follow the 3Rs of Explosive Safety: Recognize, Retreat, Report. Recognize - The object you found could be dangerous. Retreat - Leave the area without touching or moving the object. Report - Call 911 immediately. Observation Post and Bunker Complex Gun Emplacement