There are 2 federal facilities/base closures in Arkansas. To learn more about each location, click on the headings below:

• Eaker Air Force Base, Blytheville, AR
  

  Eaker Air Force Base is located approximately 3 miles northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas, on Interstate 55 between St Louis and Memphis. Eaker AFB was selected for closure under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round of 1991. The base closed in December 1992 and has re-opened as a general aviation/commercial airport and industrial park known as the Arkansas Aeroplex.

  Background

  Constructed on former agricultural land, Eaker AFB was activated as an Army Airfield in 1942. After WWII the airfield was deactivated and transferred to the City of Blytheville. In 1955, the land was reactivated as Blytheville Air Force Base (AFB) and renamed Eaker AFB in 1988.

  Site Status

  Following base closure, the site underwent successive stages of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) corrective action program to address impacts to environmental media that occurred during base operations. To date, 3 Solid Waste Management Units and 1 Area of Concern are still undergoing successful corrective actions for groundwater contamination. All other SWMUs and AOCs have been closed in accordance with federal and state regulations.

  All 3,401 acres of BRAC property has been transferred. The former base is currently used by a variety of businesses, federal agencies, several non-profit organizations, and by the community. Now called the Arkansas Aeroplex, it is a multi-modal transportation facility that includes the Arkansas International Airport. The Arkansas Aeroplex has utilized many of the former base structures and facilities, including the runway. The military still makes use of the Arkansas International Airport in flight training maneuvers, and as a landing site to pick up and drop off local National Guard Troops.

  EPA Contact

  Noel Bennett (bennett.noel@epa.gov)
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200
  Mail Code 6PD-F
  Dallas , Texas 75202-2733
  (214) 665-8514 FAX (214) 665-7263

  State Contact

  Jim Rigg (rigg@adeq.state.ar.us)
  Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
  5301 Northshore Drive
  North Little Rock, AR 72118-5317
  (225) 219-3038

  BRAC contact

  Mark K. Davis (mark.davis.5@us.af.mil)
  AFRPA-EXC
  2261 Hughes Ave., Suite 121
  San Antonio, TX 78236-9821
  (210) 395-8271

• Fort Chaffee, Fort Smith, AR
  

  Fort Chaffee is a 71,273-acre Army training reservation located east of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Fort Chaffee was selected for closure under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round of 1995. Past operations of environmental significance included equipment maintenance, disposal of municipal type waste, incineration of municipal type waste, usage of lead-based paint, detonation and deactivation of munitions, large and small arms training facilities and storage of munitions. Under the BRAC cleanup process, 49 contaminated sites were addressed. Five FOSTs (Findings of Suitability to Transfer) were completed for the transfer of 7,192 acres to the public. A Ready-for-Reuse (RfR) certificate was issued in February 2004. All BRAC property has been transferred.

  EPA Contact

  Noel Bennett (bennett.noel@epa.gov)
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200
  Mail Code 6PD-F
  Dallas , Texas 75202-2733
  (214) 665-8514
  FAX (214) 665-7263

  State Contact

  Dianna Kilburn (kilburn@adeq.state.ar.us)
  Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
  Hazardous Waste Division
  5301Northshore Drive
  North Little Rock, AR 72118-5317
  (501) 682-0844
  FAX (501) 682-0565

  Facility Contact

  Rose M. Zeiler (rose.zeiler@us.army.mil)
  BRAC Environmental Coordinator
  Fort Chaffee Base Transition Team
  P.O. Box 220
  Ratcliff, Arkansas 72951
  (479) 635-0110

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