Radioactive Material/Waste Timeline

In the 1940s and 50s, it was standard practice to bury radioactive waste, including radioactive waste generated by nuclear weapons maintenance operations, in unlined pits, until the Air Force implemented Technical Order 00-110N-2 in 1958-59.  Because all activities supporting the Nuclear Defense Program are highly classified to protect national security, the location, material, and amount buried in these radioactive waste sites has not been disclosed to the public or contractors, Federal, State, or local regulators.  Furthermore, Senator John Glenn, the US EPA, and GAO concluded, after numerous investigations, that the Air Force did not know the quantity, material, or location of all of its radioactive waste sites because of inadequate or nonexistent recordkeeping.


US Government Reports, Letters, Personal Accounts, and Newspaper Articles

Radioactive Waste Disposal Site at George AFB SEDA

– George AFB’s Weapons Storage and Assembly Area and Southeast Disposal Area

The Southeast Disposal Area’s RW-09 radioactive disposal site is physically located about a ¼ mile upstream of the Drinking Water Supply Wells for George AFB, Adelanto, CA, several homes, and the former Victor Valley Country Club.  Unfortunately, the groundwater flows northeast from the SEDA, directly toward these drinking water supply wells.  This created a potential exposure to tens of thousands of civilians, and military [Read More…]

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Investigation of the George AFB Radiological Decontamination Centers

1953-06-xx CDPH – Investigation of the George AFB Radiological Decontamination Centers

According to the following documents, (Vera , 2015) (Vera , 2016) (Headquarters Field Command, Armed Force Speical Weapons Project, March ‐ June 1953), there were several instances where aircraft had flown around and through surface nuclear weapons testing zones for imagery and sample collection, and then returned back to George Air Force Base for decontamination. We could not find any documentary evidence that [Read More…]

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Technical Order 00-110A-1 Radioactive Waste Disposal

1956-05-25 AF – Technical Order 00-110A-1 Radioactive Waste Disposal

a. Disposition of Solid Wastes. Solid radioactive wastes may be disposed of by burial in the ground, or at sea. In addition, certain items which contain radium such as luminous instrument dials, may be returned to a radium refining company such as the Canadian Uranium and Radium Corporation or the U. S. Radium Corporation, however, if the amounts of such dials do not [Read More…]

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Radioactive Waste Disposal HQ USAF SCA 71-28

1971-01-19 AF – Radioactive Waste Disposal (HQ USAF SCA 71-28)

In 1971, George AFB was notified by HQ USAF that its radioactive waste burial sites were to be accounted for, fenced off, and clearly marked. They were not. 1. The disposition of solid radioactive waste is strictly controlled in accordance with Technical Order 00-110N-2, “Radioactive Waste Disposal.” The Technical Order provides for the San Antonio Air Material Area to act as the coordinating [Read More…]

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Burial of Radioactive Waste in the USAF

1972-03-15 AF – Burial of Radioactive Waste in the USAF

A. In the early 1950’s, it was common practice in the United States Air Force to bury radioactive waste. This was merely a reflection of the AEC policy of those times. A technical order (T.O. 00-110A-1) specified procedures to be followed, including identification of the burial site location on appropriate maps and fencing to prevent entry of unauthorized personnel (reference Appendix A). Although [Read More…]

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Dr Sabol Radioactive Waste Investigation SEDA GAFB

1979-xx-xx Sabol – Radioactive Waste Investigation Southeast Disposal Area (SEDA)

The Air Force failed to disclose to the ATSDR, contractors, public, and Federal & State regulators that John R. Sabol, J.D., P.E. conducted a radiological assessment of the Southeast Disposal Area (SEDA) where he located 18 to 20 55 gallon drums of radioactive waste in 1979. [Read More…]

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CERCLA §120(h) - Deed Restrictions

1980-12-11 – CERCLA §120(h) Deed Restrictions – Special Nuclear Material

Because all activities supporting the nuclear defense program are highly classified to protect national security Congress included a provision in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) that requires the DOD to withhold information and records about Special Nuclear Material at its Superfund sites.  This requirement creates a unique set of problems for the DOD; Federal, State, and Local regulators when trying [Read More…]

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Efforts To Clean Up DOD-Owned Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites

1985-04-12 GAO – Efforts To Clean Up DOD-Owned Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites

The Air Force has not cited, released, or acknowledged any environmental assessments or remediations performed under the DOD’s Installation Restoration Program. The DOD IRP predates the Air Force IRP by six years. The first report listed in the George AFB Administrative Record is dated 01/01/1982. [Read More…]

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Low-level radioactive dump discovered at George AFB

1985-09-01 News – Low-level radioactive dump discovered at George AFB

Victorville — The existence of a low-level radioactive waste dump near Victorville and the Mojave River was revealed Friday after a telephone tip from an off-road vehicle enthusiast. The dump was apparently unknown to local and county officials, but might be on a state water board list. The approximately one-acre unfenced site is located within the extreme southern boundary of George Air Force [Read More…]

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1988-07-xx News – Ex-officers: Air Force lied about [George AFB] range

According to three retired Air Force officers, the Air Force intentionally misled the 1988 Defense Secretary’s Commission on Base Realignment and Closure hearings that led to a recommendation to close George Air Force Base in California. [Read More…]

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Base Realignments and Closures (BRAC) 1988

1988-12-xx DOD – Base Realignments and Closures

Air Force Base for closure primarily due to degraded training effectiveness, air traffic congestion, and because of excess capacity within the category. The net cost of closure and relocation will be paid back immediately. The Commission expects annual savings to be $70.2 million. The military value of George AFB is lower than other tactical-fighter installations due to its distance to specialized training ranges [Read More…]

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Proposed National Priorities List

1989-07-xx EPA – George AFB Proposed Placement On The National Priorities List

George AFB was proposed as a Superfund site on 07/14/89

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1990-02-21 EPA – George AFB Listed as a Superfund Site

George AFB was proposed as a Superfund site on 07/14/89 and placed on the National Priorities List (NPL) on 02/21/90. George AFB’s Superfund id is EPA ID: CA2570024453.  

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Aerial Photographic Analysis of George Air Force Base

1990-02-xx EPA – Aerial Photographic Analysis of George AFB

This report identifies two, possibly 3, Weapons Storage Areas (WSA) at George AFB. The significance of these WSA has been outlined in the 8 May 2003 Air Force report, titled Buried Radioactive Weapons Maintenance Waste. EPA – Aerial Photographic Analysis of George Air Force Base – February 1990 – Large PDF

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1990-05-23 GAO – The Military Would Benefit From a Comprehensive Waste Disposal Program

Senator John Glen requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examine the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s oversight of the Department of Defense’s use, handling, and disposal of radioactive material. The GAO found that no comprehensive DOD waste disposal program exists, and none of the three services knows the full extent of its low-level radioactive waste disposal problems. As a result, DOD leaves itself open [Read More…]

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George Air Force Base Federal Facility Agreement

1990-10-21 – George Air Force Base Federal Facility Agreement

The DOD/Air Force inserted a provision in the Federal Facility Agreement that allows for the withholding of information and records about radioactive contamination that is the result of the nuclear weapons program. [Read More…]

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Sites Contaminated and Potentially Contaminated With Radioactivity in the United States

1991-02-xx EPA – Sites Contaminated and Potentially Contaminated With Radioactivity in the United States

The Department of Defense (DoD) has 7463 sites in the United States and 952 sites in CA contaminated or potentially contaminated with radioactivity. THIS IS A PRELIMINARY DRAFT (Not Yet Subjected to Peer Review) 2.1.4 Department of Defense (DoD) The U.S. Department of Defense through its Departments of Army (including the Army National Guard), Navy (including the Marine Corps), and Air Force (including the Air National [Read More…]

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1992-04-09 Radiological contamination in the United States

1992-04-09 – Radiological contamination in the United States

The Air Force failed to disclose to the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs that George Air Force Base, CA had several radiological decontamination centers for aircraft and personnel that were involved the nuclear cloud sampling program in the 1950s-60s. [Read More…]

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Better Data Needed for Radioactively Contaminated Defense Sites - GAO

1994-08-24 GAO – Better Data Needed For Radioactively Contaminated Defense Sites

On December 22, 1992, Senator John Glenn requested that the General Accounting Office (GAO) investigate whether the Department of Defense (DOD) has accounted for all of its radiologically contaminated sites.  The GOA found that the DOD could NOT identify the location, isotopes, or amount of radioactive material disposed of at its bases.  1994-08-24 GAO – Better Data Needed For Radioactively Contaminated Defense Sites (PDF, [Read More…]

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Nuke Waste Toughens Closings

1994-09-30 News – Nuke Waste Toughens Closings

The military could run into difficulty in closing bases because a poor job was done keeping track of radioactive waste, Sen. John Glen (D-OH) said yesterday.  DOD does not know how much or what kind of radiation is contaminating American bases, according to a GAO report.  GAO examined DOD’s inventory of 420 low- level radioactive sites on military land but found some sites [Read More…]

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What's contaminated Services can not say for sure

1994-10-16 Army Times – What’s contaminated? Services can’t say for sure

WASHINGTON – The Department of Defense is unable to clean up radioactive contamination on military bases because it doesn’t have accurate records of where the waste is, according to congressional investigators. The services have reported 420 sites with low levels of radioactive waste. But investigators from the General Accounting Office said the lists are outdated, inaccurate and incomplete because some sites have been [Read More…]

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Criteria for the Certification and Re-Certification of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

1996-01-xx EPA – Lost Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Records

Lost AEC Records Another recent example of the failure of records to maintain knowledge of waste burial operations pertains to low level nuclear waste buried on U.S. Air Force controlled land under the authority and purview of the AEC.22  This example in no way establishes or suggests that the sites in question pose an immediate or long term risk to human health or [Read More…]

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Buried Radioactive Weapons Maintenance Waste

2003-05-08 AF – Buried Radioactive Weapons Maintenance Waste

Air Force acknowledged that it routinely withheld information and records about radioactive waste from Federal, State and Local regulators, contractors, and the public. [Read More…]

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U.S. Air Force Investigates Radiological Waste Burial

2003-06-02 WSJ – U.S. Air Force Investigates Radiological Waste Burial

The U.S. Air Force is investigating whether radioactive waste is buried at more than 80 former and current air bases across the country, including the site of a new federal prison in central California. Air Force health experts believe the radioactive material, generated by nuclear-weapons maintenance in the 1950s and 1960s, [Read More…]

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DOD Can Improve Its Response to Environmental Exposures on Military Installations

2012-05-02 GAO – DOD Can Improve Its Response to Environmental Exposures on Military Installations

DOD has no policy guiding services and their installations on appropriate actions to address health risks from past exposures, which DOD attributes to the Superfund law not specifically requiring responsible parties to address such risks. [Read More…]

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Low-level radiological contamination found inside Fort Bliss bunker

2013-07-xx News – Radioactive Waste Biggs AFB, TX

Biggs Airfield/Fort Bliss, TX – In 1966, the Air Force transferred a contaminated WSA and radioactive waste burial site to the Army but did not warn them of potential radiation risk. The radioactive contamination at the site is from the maintenance of nuclear weapons from the 1950s and 1960s. The specific quantity of maintenance waste buried is not known due to incomplete records. According to the Air Force, it disposed of the radioactive waste in accordance with the Atomic Energy Commission and Air Force procedures at the time.
[Read More…]

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Technical Guidebook to Permitting, Investigations, and Remedial Actions on Air Force Section 91b Radiological Sites

2017-07-01 AF – Technical Guidebook to Permitting, Investigations, and Remedial Actions on Air Force Section 91b Radiological Sites

Headquarters, Air Force Safety Center, Weapons Safety Division, has the responsibility to permit Air Force organizations possessing Section 91b of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 radioactive materials. The primary radioactive materials involved are residuals from: a) nuclear weapons accidents, b) buried nuclear weapons wastes, c) interior surfaces of nuclear weapon storage and maintenance structures, d) AF nuclear reactors, and e) airborne sampling [Read More…]

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91(B) RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL (RAM)

The term “91(b)” refers to highly classified radioactive material (RAM) covered under Section 91(b) of the Atomic Energy Act (AEA) of 1954 associated with current nuclear weapons material, legacy nuclear weapons maintenance wastes, residuals from nuclear weapons accident/incidents, some residuals from atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, and residuals from nuclear reactor operations. 1.2.3. Installations located in the United States that possess residual 91(b) [Read More…]

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BRAC Logo

Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) – radioactive material (RAM)

Fourteen of the forty Air Force bases that were closed and transferred or are in the process of being transferred to the public are potentially contaminated with highly classified 91 (b) radioactive material (RAM), and seven are in CA. Forty-six Air Force bases reported having radioactive disposal sites and nine of these Air Force bases were former Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) sites. “Burial [Read More…]

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George AFB’s Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Testing Decontamination Centers

If you worked or lived next to the west side of George AFB, worked at an engine test cell or the weapons test bunker, you were probably exposed to unsafe levels of fission byproducts (radioactive dust) from the decontamination of aircraft and equipment used in the nuclear bomb test at Nevada Test Site (NTS).  Aircraft from George AFB participated in the US Atmospheric Nuclear [Read More…]

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George AFB HTRW Sites Lahontan RWQCB

George AFB’s Hazardous Toxic and Radioactive Waste Sites

Potential Contaminants of Concern at the former George Air Force Base, CA, “EPA Superfund ID: CA2570024453” Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM), Aviation [Avgas], Benzene, Chlordane, Diesel, Explosives (UXO, MEC) [Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) / Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC)], Gasoline, Heating Oil / Fuel Oil, MTBE / TBA / Other Fuel Oxygenates, Munitions Debris (MD), Nitrate, Other Insecticides [Dieldrin] / Pesticide / Fumigants / Herbicides, Other [Read More…]

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RAM Contamination vs Exposure

Is the VA defrauding atomic veterans of medical care and compensation for their SC injuries

Is the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) defrauding atomic veterans and their families of medical care and compensation for the veteran’s service-connected (SC) injuries? Over one hundred thousand military personnel and veterans were exposed to highly classified radioactive material from the Department of Defense’s (DoD) nuclear reactors or nuclear weapons or subjected to DoD or VA’s radiation research. See: military personnel and veterans [Read More…]

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Dr. John R. Sabol

John R. Sabol, J.D., P.E.

John Richard Sabol, J.D., P.E. (21 December 1932 – 3 August 2000) was the Chief Environmental & Contracting Programming / Community Planner / Construction Engineer for George Air Force Base, CA from June 1976 to February 1981. Dr. Sabol Letter # 1 “Dear Frank, In accordance with our past discussions, this letter should serve to summarize the work that I did at George Air [Read More…]

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January-June 1963 Inspections of Nuclear Activities at Manned Interceptor Squadrons

Nuclear Weapons at George AFB

George AFB was one of 35 bases that had Fighter Interceptor Squadrons with low-yield nuclear weapons for stopping enemy bomber attacks.  Because the early nuclear weapons (non-sealed pit) required regular onsite maintenance, a considerable amount of radioactive contamination/waste would be generated during the polonium-beryllium (Po-Be) initiators replacement operation.  The Air Force has repeatedly denied that there were any nuclear weapons at George AFB.  [Read More…]

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OOcean Dumping of Radioactive Waste

Ocean Dumping of Radioactive Waste

Burial of Radioactive Waste in the USAF Page 26, section (2), refers to burial of radioactive waste at sea in 2 locations. 1. 72° 43” west longitude: 38° 40” north latitude, 2. 123° 6” west longitude: 37° 40” north latitude “(2) Burial at Sea Burial of radioactive wastes at sea has been authorized. Burial in inland lakes is prohibited. Disposition of considerable quantities of radioactive wastes must [Read More…]

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Caution Radioactive Material

Radioactive Material/Waste Timeline

In the 1940s and 50s, it was standard practice to bury radioactive waste, including radioactive waste generated by nuclear weapons maintenance operations, in unlined pits, until the Air Force implemented Technical Order 00-110N-2 in 1958-59.  Because all activities supporting the Nuclear Defense Program are highly classified to protect national security, the location, material, and amount buried in these radioactive waste sites has not [Read More…]

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SAIC logo

SAIC Admits To Falsifying Radiological Testing Results At George AFB

In 1991, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) pleaded guilty to defrauding the government by falsifying testing of samples at DoD Superfund sites.  SAIC was responsible for the radiological testing done at George AFB’s Weapons Storage and Assembly Area (WSA) and radioactive disposal site (RW-09). Air Force acknowledged that it routinely withheld classified information and records about Buried Radioactive Weapons Maintenance Waste at its [Read More…]

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USS Reagan – Fukushima Radiation – News

Judge: Sailors’ class-action suit can proceed over alleged radiation … Stars and Stripes-Oct 30, 2014 Judge: Sailors’ class-action suit can proceed over alleged radiation … for a variety of ailments from radiation exposure following a nuclear … Two US Sailors Dead After Fukushima Radiation Exposure Center for Research on Globalization-4 hours ago Proper medical care for the victims of radiation exposure [is needed, [Read More…]

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Logo BOP No Deed – Transfer Document Is Not Public Information

Victorville Federal Correctional Complex

If you’ve got nothing to hide, you’ve got nothing to fear. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) requires the Air Force to make full disclosure of known and suspected contaminants when the property is transferred.  Why are the Department of Defense (DoD), Air Force (AF), and Bureau of Prisons (BOP) blocking the release of the Deed Restrictions for Parcel K? Victorville [Read More…]

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Old Posts


  • I (Frank Vera) had an accidental radiation exposure “with inhalation/ingestion of the hot particles” in the Southeast Disposal Area (SEDA)  – September 1973  Supporting documents, and timeline 

“There’s something going on here other than a fair and equitable evaluation of what should and shouldn’t happen to the taxpayers’ money.” former fighter pilot Col. Maurice Long said.
Long. Lt Col Vernon R Lee and Capt. William McDaniel, all retired fighter pilots, contend Air Force officials intentionally misled the Defense Secretary’s Commission on Base Realignment and Closure during 1988 hearings.
The Secretary of Defense announced that George Air Force Base was selected for closure. 29 December 1988
This article might explain why the Air Force went from a fighter base (George AFB) with 360 days of flying weather to Idaho with 100 good days of good weather (Mountain Home AFB). Fighter Pilots need lots of training and lots good weather. I understand doing winter training to be prepared, but not moving a whole base from one of the top areas with great weather and low population.

In 1990 I won the medical side of a Compensation and Pension Exam with diagnoses of probable radiation myocarditis. This was done with the help of the medical staff at VA Bay Pines Medical Center and the research librarians at Stetson University of Law Gulfport, FL. Unfortunately, I lost the Compensation and Pension case with the Veterans Affairs because the DoD would neither confirm nor deny the presence of the radioactive material at George AFB, CA.

  • Congressman George E. Brown request that the Air Force investigate my radiation exposure – July 1990
    “Mr. Vera opted for an honorable discharge versus the medical discharge, that was recommended by his superiors, when he separated from the military. Mr. Vera’s military records indicated that he was exhibiting the same symptoms that are indicative of exposure to nuclear radiation (radiation myelitis). The fact that it was not diagnosed accurately, while Mr. Vera was in the military, does not prove that he was not suffering from radiation myelitis.” 

A number of former airmen have indicated that nuclear weapons were present on the base in the 1960s and 1970s.”
“some radioactive materials had been buried in the southeast disposal area as well as on the base grounds behind the alert hangar.”

 

I am not a doctor, Veterans Service Officer (VSO), or attorney; therefore, I cannot provide medical or legal advice.

If you, a friend, or a loved one have been injured or have passed away due to exposure to contamination at a DOD Superfund Site, please follow the steps outlined on the "Get Help" page.

The views and opinions expressed on this website belong solely to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency of the U.S. government.

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