EPA Superfund Site

ALABAMA ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT

AL | EPA ID AL6210020008

About this site’s exposure pathways: As of June 2025, the Alabama Army Ammunition Plant (ALAAP) site is considered "Insufficient Data to make a Human Exposure Evaluation” because of a newly identified exposure concern from potential impacts of asbestos to surface soil and building materials across the site. As a result developers, maintenance workers, trespasser could be exposed potential asbestos-containing materials in on-site media. The site was previously categorized as Human Exposure Under Control (HEUC).

EPA uses this Human Exposure Status when there is a lack of evidence that suggest that actual or reasonably anticipated human exposures are occurring and that those exposures are above acceptable risk-based screening levels. The planned activities to collect sufficient information to evaluate this new exposure pathway and/or contaminants include establishing a new operable unit for asbestos and address asbestos under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) process using EPA’s Framework for Investigating Asbestos-Contaminated CERCLA Sites, Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM) Directive No, 9200.0-90. This process will prioritize active or occupied areas of ALAAP first. The Army currently anticipates that there will be sufficient data to make a Human Exposure Evaluation by December 2030 because of the extent of potential contamination.

In addition, the Army previously completed an internal "housekeeping" investigation in 2018. Portions of the visual asbestos were removed, however, the remaining surface, subsurface and invisible asbestos has yet to be characterized. Since that time, progress toward a final cleanup has stalled due to a dispute between the EPA and Army on acceptable actions to meet the CERCLA cleanup objectives. This informal dispute was resolved in September 2022. Out of an abundance of caution, if you live near this site contact the Army or the EPA with any questions or additional information regarding potential exposures. This does not necessarily mean that unacceptable exposures are occurring, however.