Former Kagman Airfield
Background
Kagman Airfield (also known as East Field) was situated at the southeastern end of the island of Saipan on Kagman Peninsula about 4 miles northeast of the Saipan International Airport. A wide and relatively flat limestone platform approximately 200 feet above sea level, the peninsula terminates to the southeast in a hilly headland. The general coordinates of the former airfield's location are 15 degrees, 10 minutes north latitude and 146 degrees, 46 minutes east longitude. The Kagman Airfield dump site is situated within a natural sinkhole that occupies about 4 to 5 acres of a larger rectangular parcel located about 500 feet north-northwest of the former east-west-oriented airfield runway which is now a portion of Kagman Road. The undeveloped parcel was previously utilized as pasture land, but is presently untended and densely vegetated. (Kagman Airfield Proposed Plan, March 2007)
Site History
Kagman Airfield and supporting functions were constructed and utilized by the U.S. military during World War II following the invasion of Saipan by U.S. Armed Forces. The airfield and associated facilities were reportedly abandoned in the 1950s', though an airfield communications station was in operation until the mid-1960s'. At the height of U.S. military operations on Saipan, an estimated 3,000 personnel were stationed at the approximately 700-acre Kagman Airfield to operate the installation as an aircraft fueling and maintenance base. The active airfield consisted of a 5,100-foot-long by 150-foot-wide single-track concrete runway with 223,350 feet of taxiways and hardstands for as many as 120 aircraft. Base administration buildings, command offices, residential housing and other support facilities were located at the southern end of the airfield. Waste materials generated from airfield operation were reportedly discarded in a large sinkhole located about 500 feet north-northwest of the runway.
In the mid-1950s', management of the airfield was relinquished by the Army Air Force to the U.S. Navy. Under naval command, the scope of military activities at Kagman Airfield was reduced to the operation of a communications facility in a series of buildings along the eastern end of the airfield until the 1960s'. Once naval operations ceased, Kagman Airfield was reportedly classified as a "military retention area" before being transferred to the U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in the 1970s'. The Northern Mariana Islands were declared a U.S. Commonwealth on January 9, 1978 and the political entity became self-governing on November 3, 1986. (Kagman Airfield Proposed Plan, March 2007)
The Kagman Peninsula has undergone rapid urban development in recent years with the establishment of a number of homestead sub-divisions, schools, emergency service facilities, and a golf resort. Though utilized previously for cattle grazing, the former dump site remains undeveloped and under the purview of the CNMI Department of Public Lands. (Kagman Airfield Proposed Plan, March 2007)
On July 23, 2007, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began the Limited Excavation and Capping Project of the former Kagman Airfield Dumpsite - Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS). The environmental investigation and clean up of the former Kagman Airfield Dumpsite was performed under the Defense Environmental Restoration Program for Formerly Used Defense Sites (DERPS-FUDS).
The 1st Stage of the project was the excavation of 18 inches of surface soil from the entire site. Large debris found in the soil were removed prior to soil disposal at the Marpi Landfill. The 2nd Stage of the project was the soil sampling using the Multi-Incremental Sampling (MIS) Method. Soil samples collected was then sent to an off-island laboratory for further analysis.
The 3rd Stage involved the use of the X-Ray Fluorescent (XRF) to scan the excavated site, giving immediate results of any contamination that may exist on the excavated site. If any samples show contamination in excess if the CNMI Environmental Screening Levels (ESL) of 200 mg/kg, further excavation will be conducted until contamination levels are below the ESL. The final stage of the project will be the capping of the excavated site using “clean” soil. “Clean” soil was then used to cover the excavated area to restore the site to its natural contour.
As of September 24, 2007, the entire site has been excavated. However, the US Army Corps of Engineers did not purchase soil for the earthen cap. DEQ continues to communicate with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) regarding this project.
Category: Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS)
Coordinates: N-15.20817; E-145.74959
Island: Saipan
Village: Kagman
Response Status: Completed Excavation and Disposal of Lead Contaminated Soil (September 24, 2007 by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
Land Use Restrictions: (RU) Rural; Zoning District (18) (Saipan Zoning Map - July, 15, 2013)
Institutional control: Undetermined
Responsible Party: U.S. Military / Army Corps of Engineers
Enforcement Authority: Division of Environmental Quality
Project Lead: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Property Status: Public Land
Coordinates: N-15.20817; E-145.74959
Island: Saipan
Village: Kagman
Response Status: Completed Excavation and Disposal of Lead Contaminated Soil (September 24, 2007 by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
Land Use Restrictions: (RU) Rural; Zoning District (18) (Saipan Zoning Map - July, 15, 2013)
Institutional control: Undetermined
Responsible Party: U.S. Military / Army Corps of Engineers
Enforcement Authority: Division of Environmental Quality
Project Lead: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Property Status: Public Land