Army Corps of Engineers Project Updates
As a result of U.S. Army operations in Northwest Washington during World War I and the discovery of materials left over from their research and testing, the American University campus has been one of many sites targeted for environmental testing by the Army Corps of Engineers. With assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency and the D.C. Department of Health, the Army Corps has been sampling and testing soil throughout the Spring Valley area.
The University's primary concern throughout this process has been the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and other members of the AU community. We are providing this web site as a reliable, up-to-date source for information about the Army Corps of Engineers Project as it affects AU. This web page is designed to answer questions, give useful information about the Army Corps Project, and post memos routinely sent to the campus community.
During
the sampling and testing of the soil on campus, a few areas were found
to contain higher-than-normal levels of arsenic. Campus activities in
those areas were re-located until the Army Corps removes and replaces
the affected soil, which is an operation now underway. The Child Development
Center (CDC) is temporarily located at Leonard Hall and the intramural
fields are closed until the Army Corps completes its work. However, given
the sampling results from the Army Corps, tests on persons routinely frequenting
the areas, and an assessment provided by our environmental health consultant,
Dr. Paul Chrostowski, there are
no signs that anyone on campus has been or would be affected by exposure
to arsenic in the soil.
Some have asked whether the Army Corps' project has affected the water
supply. AU uses municipal water, as does the surrounding community. According
to DC officials, the municipal water meets EPA's drinking water standards.
The Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) publishes an annual drinking water
quality report, as required by EPA. You may access the report at www.dcwasa.com.
To ensure that students and staff are fully and regularly informed about the Army Corps Project on campus, AU Interim President Cornelius Kerwin has assigned senior members of the University staff to monitor the Army Corps activity and communicate findings and progress to the AU community.
What's New?
Here's the latest information regarding the Army Corps activities in this section.
Archives
Additional
These presentation materials, instructions, and informational flyer for visitors were developed to provide information regarding the Army Corps work along Glenbrook Road, beginning October 29, 2007.
In addition to these memos and fact sheets, articles about the Corps of Engineers project have appeared in the American Weekly on November 28, 2000, January 16, 2001, January 30, 2001, February 6, 2001, and March 6, 2001.
University officials have also held meetings with several interested groups
in the campus community to provide updates about the Army Corps of Engineers
Project. Click here for a list of those meetings.
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