Department of Defense
Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS)
Ridgewood Army Weapons
Plant
Site Number: G05OH0156.
Located in East Cincinnati, Ohio. The installation occupies 125 acres of which 50 acres were historically occupied by buildings, storage tanks and fuel distribution lines. Industrial operations have been located at this site since the early 1900's The property, now owned by the city of Cincinnati, was originally acquired in 1942 from the Ridgewood Steel Company. At this time the Cincinnati Gun Plant, known as the Ridgewood Forge Plant, was established. The plant was declared surplus on October 29, 1945, and was designated as part of the National Industrial reserve. The site was reacquired by the Army as the Ridgewood Ordinance Plant in 1962. At this point in time, the mission of the plant was the production of gun tubes and shells. From 1974, through 1981, the property was conveyed in portions to the City of Cincinnati. Since 1981, the mission of the plant has been shifted to compliance and restoration of the property. Buildings were demolished in 1983 and contractors were permitted by the City to place clean demolition fill at the site. The site of the fuel storage tanks and were removed by the Army and BUSTR accepted closure of the USTs in 1996.
An Environmental Site Assessment conducted in 1994 included a review of past investigative studies; delineation of fuel oil contamination plume; records search to determine former activities at the weapons plant; analysis of soil/groundwater; and a report on the recommended alternative for cleanup. The report concluded that the USTs and distribution lines contents may have contributed to soil and water contamination around the area. This contamination includes known and suspected releases of fuel oil, benzene, ethyl benzene, xylenes, lead, arsenic, nickel and other organic and inorganic chemicals into the groundwater. Known and suspected releases to the Mill Creek and area soils include: benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, xylenes ,beryllium, nickel, petroleum hydrocarbons and other organic and inorganic chemicals.
A Removal Action Plan has been approved for the site which incorporates the use of a bioventing system, installed by the City. The Plan calls for the inoculation of the bioventing wells prior to starting up the system. The Corps will operate and monitor the system until regulatory requirements are obtained. At the time cleanup criteria has been met the Corps will abandon the monitoring wells after decommissioning the remediation system.
For environmental queries relating to this site, contact:
Bonnie
Buthker
Ohio EPA/SWDO/OFFO
401 Fifth Street
Dayton, OH 45402-2911
(937) 285-6469
FAX: (937) 285-6404
Formerly Used Defense Sites
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