FINAL

Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field

Pensacola, Florida

Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic 

Acid (PFOA) Impacted Sites

ARNG Installations, Nationwide

June 2020

Prepared for:

Army National Guard Bureau

111 S. George Mason Drive

Arlington, VA 22204

UNCLASSIFIED
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

i

Table of Contents

Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................1

1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................3

Authority and Purpose ..............................................................................................3

Preliminary Assessment Methods .............................................................................3

Report Organization ..................................................................................................4

Facility Location and Description...............................................................................4

Facility Environmental Setting ...................................................................................5

1.5.1 Geology .........................................................................................................5

1.5.2 Hydrogeology .................................................................................................6

1.5.3 Hydrology .......................................................................................................7

1.5.4 Climate ...........................................................................................................7

1.5.5 Current and Future Land Use .........................................................................7

2. Fire Training Areas ...........................................................................................................11

3. Non-Fire Training Areas ...................................................................................................12

Maintenance Bay ....................................................................................................12

Vehicle Staging Area ...............................................................................................12

Satellite Accumulation Area .....................................................................................12

4. Emergency Response Areas ............................................................................................14

5. Adjacent Sources .............................................................................................................15

6. Preliminary Conceptual Site Model ..................................................................................18

7. Conclusions .....................................................................................................................19

Findings ..................................................................................................................19

Uncertainties ...........................................................................................................19

Potential Future Actions ..........................................................................................20

8. References ......................................................................................................................22
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

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Figures

Figure ES-1 Summary of Findings

Figure 1-1 Facility Location

Figure 1-2 Groundwater Features

Figure 1-3 Surface Water Features

Figure 3-1 Non-Fire Training Areas

Figure 5-1 Adjacent Sources

Figure 7-1 Summary of Findings

Tables

Table 7-1: No Suspected Release Areas

Table 7-2: Uncertainties Within the Area

Appendices

Appendix A Data Resources

Appendix B Preliminary Assessment Documentation

B.1 Interview Records

B.2 Visual Site Inspection Checklists

B.3 Conceptual Site Model Information

Appendix C Photographic Log
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

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Acronyms and Abbreviations

°F degrees Fahrenheit

AECOM AECOM Technical Services, Inc.

AFFF aqueous film forming foam

AOI Area of Interest

ARNG

bgs

Army National Guard

Below ground surface

CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

CSM conceptual site model

ECUA Emerald Coast Utility Authority

EDRTM Environmental Data Resources, Inc.TM

FDEP Florida of Department of Environmntal Protection

FL Florida

FLARNG Florida Army National Guard

FTA fire training area

GSA General Service Administration

HA Health Advisory

IED Installations & Environment Division

NAS Naval Air Station

PA Preliminary Assessment

PFAS per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances

PFOA perfluorooctanoic acid

PFOS perfluorooctanesulfonic acid

SI Site Inspection

UCMR 3 Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 3

US United States

USACE United States Army Corps of Engineers

USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency

UST Underground storage tank

VSI visual site inspection
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

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Executive Summary

The Army National Guard (ARNG) is performing Preliminary Assessments (PAs) and Site

Inspections (SIs) for Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)

Impacted Sites at ARNG Facilities Nationwide. A PA for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

(PFAS)-containing materials was completed for the Ellyson Field facility in Pensacola, Florida

(FL), to assess potential PFAS release areas and exposure pathways to receptors. The current

Ellyson Field facility is constructed on a parcel of land owned by Escambia County and leased to

the Florida ARNG (FLARNG). The performance of this PA included the following tasks:

· Reviewed available administrative record documents and Environmental Data Resources,

Inc. (EDR)TM report packages to obtain information relevant to potential PFAS releases, such

as: drinking water well locations, historical aerial photographs, Sanborn maps, and

environmental compliance actions in the area surrounding the facility;

· Conducted a site visit on 31 January 2019 and completed visual site inspections at locations

where PFAS-containing materials were suspected of being stored, used, or disposed; and

· Interviewed current Ellyson Field FLARNG personnel during the site visit and FLARNG

environmental managers and operations staff.

The Ellyson Field facility has been identified as No Suspected Release (Figure ES-1). Prior to

1981, the US Navy operated at the subject property. FLARNG personnel have indicated that the

property came under ARNG control circa 1985. According to available property records, the

subject property was sold to the Pensacola-Escambia Promotion & Development Commission in

1981 (USACE, 2015). Based on the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Unregulated

Contaminant Monitoring Rule 3 (UCMR3) data, it was indicated that PFAS were detected in a

public water system above the USEPA’s lifetime Health Advisories (HAs) (70 parts per trillion for

PFOA and PFOS) within 10 miles of the facility. PFAS analyses performed in 2016 had method

detection limits that were higher than currently achievable. Thus, it is possible that low

concentrations of PFAS were not detected during the UCMR3 but might be detected if analyzed

today. Based upon available information collected during PA interviews, no Areas of Interest

(AOIs) were identified during the PA. Evidence does not indicate that current or former ARNG

activities contributed PFAS contamination to soil, groundwater, surface water, or sediment at the

facility or adjacent areas. The Ellyson Field facility will not move forward in the Comprehensive

Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) process.
Vehicle

Staging Area

Satellite

Accumulation Area

Maintenance

Bay

Vehicle

Staging Area

Former Ellyson Field Site #1 - Former

Building 991, Maintenance Shop

Former Ellyson Field Site #2 - Former

Building 901 A-D, Aviation Gas Tank Farm

Former Ellyson Army Airfield Site #3 - Fuel

Oil Storage Tanks at Former Building 912

Steam Plant - Ellyson

Industrial Park

Former Ellyson Site #6 - Former Aviation Gas

Distribution System and Lube Oil Storage Tanks

Former Ellyson Field Site #4

- Jet Fuel Storage Facility

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12420 Milestone Center Drive

Germantown, MD 20876

Summary of Findings

0 200 400 800

Feet

Legend

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Facility Boundary

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GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics,

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PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

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1. Introduction

Authority and Purpose

The Army National Guard (ARNG)-Installations & Environment Division (IED) is the lead agency 

in performing Preliminary Assessments (PAs) and Site Inspections (SIs) for 

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) at Impacted Sites at 

ARNG Facilities Nationwide. This work is supported by the United States (US) Army Corps of 

Engineers (USACE) Baltimore District and their contractor AECOM Technical Services, Inc. 

(AECOM) under Contract Number W912DR-12-D-0014, Task Order W912DR17F0192, issued 11 

August 2017.

The ARNG is assessing potential effects on human health related to processes at facilities that 

used per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), primarily in the form of aqueous film forming 

foam released as part of firefighting activities, although other PFAS sources are possible. In 

addition, the ARNG is assessing businesses or operations adjacent to the ARNG facility (not 

under the control of ARNG) that could potentially be responsible for a PFAS release. 

PFAS are classified as emerging environmental contaminants that are garnering increasing 

regulatory interest due to their potential risks to human health and the environment. PFAS 

formulations contain highly diverse mixtures of compounds. Thus, the fate of PFAS compounds 

in the environment varies. The regulatory framework at both federal and state levels continues to 

evolve. The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) issued Drinking Water Health 

Advisories (HAs) for PFOA and PFOS in May 2016, but there are currently no promulgated 

national standards regulating PFAS in drinking water. In the absence of federal maximum 

contaminant levels, some states have adopted their own drinking water standards for PFAS. The 

state of Florida does not currently have drinking water standards for PFAS.

This report presents the findings of a PA for PFAS-containing materials at the current Ellyson Field 

facility, Florida (FL), in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 

Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), as amended, the National Oil and Hazardous 

Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Part 300), and 

Army requirements and guidance. 

This PA documents locations where PFAS may have been released into the environment at the 

Ellyson Field facility. The term PFAS will be used throughout this report to encompass all PFAS 

chemicals being evaluated, including PFOS and PFOA, which are key components of AFFF.

Preliminary Assessment Methods

The performance of this PA included the following tasks: 

· Reviewed available administrative record documents and Environmental Data Resources, 

Inc. (EDR)TM report packages to obtain information relevant to potential PFAS releases, such 

as: drinking water well locations, historical aerial photographs, Sanborn maps, and 

environmental compliance actions in the area surrounding the facility;

· Conducted a site visit on 31 January 2019 and completed visual site inspections (VSIs) at 

locations where PFAS-containing materials were suspected of being stored, used, or 

disposed; and

· Interviewed Florida ARNG (FLARNG) personnel including environmental managers and 

operations staff during the site visit.
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

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Report Organization

This report has been prepared in accordance with the USEPA Guidance for Performing 

Preliminary Assessments under CERCLA (USEPA 1991). The report sections and descriptions of 

each are:

· Section 1 – Introduction: identifies the project purpose and authority and describes the 

facility location, environmental setting, and methods used to complete the PA

· Section 2 – Fire Training Areas: describes the FTAs at the facility identified during the site 

visit 

· Section 3 – Non-Fire Training Areas: describes other locations of potential PFAS releases 

at the facility identified during the site visit 

· Section 4 – Emergency Response Areas: describes areas of potential PFAS release at the 

facility, specifically in response to emergency situations 

· Section 5 – Adjacent Sources: describes sources of potential PFAS release adjacent to the 

facility that are not under the control of ARNG 

· Section 6 – Preliminary Conceptual Site Model: describes the pathways of PFAS transport 

and receptors for the Area(s) of Interest (AOIs) and the facility 

· Section 7 – Conclusions: summarizes the data findings and presents the conclusions of the 

PA 

· Section 8 – References: provides the references used to develop this document

· Appendix A – Data Resources

· Appendix B – Preliminary Assessment Documentation

· Appendix C – Photographic Log

Facility Location and Description

The Ellyson Field facility is located off Copter Road, approximately 1.5 miles north of Interstate 

10, off the North Davis Highway exit, in Escambia County, Pensacola, FL, (Figure 1-1). The facility 

is situated on an approximately 5-acre lot and consists of a 1,920 square-foot armory building 

(Escambia County Propert Appraiser, 2019). The parcel is one of multiple parcels in the area 

owned by Escambia County. FLARNG leases the property from the county through the Armory 

Board of the State of Florida. The lease document appears in Appendix A. According to current 

FLARNG personnel with knowledge of the property dating back to 2000, ARNG took possession 

of the property circa 1985 and has operated a maintenance facility since that time. The facility is 

currently developed with one building with ARNG vehicle staging areas to the south and east of 

the building. The Emerald Coast Utility Authority (ECUA) provides potable water and wastewater 

service as well as electricity to the Ellyson Field facility. 

Historically, the US Navy operated an auxiliary landing field for the Pensacola Naval Air Station 

(NAS) in the surrounding area and encompassing the current Ellyson Field Armory location. The 

entire Navy facility, including easements, consisted of 607.66 acres. Improvements of the Navy 

facility included a magazine, underground fuel pits, above ground fuel storage tanks, a small arms 

range, skeet ranges, a sewage treatment plant, aviation hangars and associated ramp areas, and 

a firefighting training area. By report of excess dated 8 May 1979, the Navy declared the entire 

site and improvements excess, and the General Service Administration (GSA) conveyed the 

entire facility by quitclaim deed dated 24 June 1981 to the Pensacola-Escambia Promotion & 

Development Commission, a public corporation in the state of Florida. Most of the land used by 
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

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the Navy has been sold to private interests, and Escambia County has retained several parcels, 

including the FLARNG Ellyson Field property (USACE, 2015). Based on aerial imagery provided 

in the Environmental Data Resource (EDR)TM report, provided in Appendix A, the FLARNG 

Ellyson Field Facility is located on what was historically part of the former US Navy Airfield flight 

line. The location of the current Ellyson Field facility appears to have been vacant in the aerial 

image taken in 1940 (Appendix C). Aerial images from 1949 to 1983 show the location of the 

current FLARNG facility developed as part of the historical flight line. Based upon aerial images 

provided in the EDRTM report, no discernable features suggesting fire training areas were 

identified at the location of the current Ellyson Field facility. 

Currently, surrounding properties are commercial/industrial. With the exception of remnant Navy 

hangars to the northwest and west of the Ellyson Field facility and the former Navy air traffic 

control tower located to the west of the Ellyson Field facility, most features associated with the 

former Navy airfield have been removed from the area.

Facility Environmental Setting

The Ellyson Field facility is located in northwest Florida, in Escambia County, and is situated in 

the Coastal Plain physiographic province. The topographic relief of the area is relatively great 

when compared to most of Florida, attaining 290 feet in adjacent northern Santa Rosa County. 

Topography in the area is associated with remnants of ancient marine terraces preserved in 

Escambia County as upland plateaus, flat-topped hills, low coastal plains, and benches along the 

rivers and bays (Marsh, 1966). 

1.5.1 Geology

Beneath the facility, undifferentiated Miocene Age coarse clastics and the Pleistocene Age 

Citronelle Formation are often encountered below ground surface (bgs). The Miocene coarse 

clastic sediments are virtually indistinguishable from the overlying Citronelle formation, with the 

exception of an absence of shell fossils in the Citronelle Formation. The Citronelle Formation is 

generally described as light yellowish brown to reddish brown, very fine to very coarse, and poorly 

sorted sand with lenses of clay and gravel. Relatively thin Pleistocene marine terrace deposits 

unconformably overly the Citronelle Formation and generally consist of light tan, fine to coarse 

sand. Together, the Citronelle Formation and overlying terrace deposits range from 30 feet at the 

border in southern Santa Rosa County to about 790 feet thick in northwest Escambia County. The 

variable thickness can be attributed to the irregular base of the Citronelle Formation, as it is an 

unconformity at the top of the terrace deposits, which coincide with an irregular surface 

topography of considerable relief (Marsh, 1966).

In most of the area, undifferentiated Miocene Age coarse clastics conformably overlay Pensacola 

Clay. The Pensacola Clay Formation is generally described as a tough, dark- to light-gray clay. 

The clay is typically silty and contains variable amounts of very fine to very coarse quartz sand. 

Fragments of carbonized wood and plant remains, such as leaves and reeds, are present 

throughout the formation. Mollusk shells and foraminifers are abundant throughout the Pensacola 

Clay (Marsh, 1966).

The Pensacola Clay conformably overlays undifferentiated Upper Oligocene, and Lower Miocene, 

Tampa and Chickasawhay Formations, respectively. In general, these units consist of limestones 

and are characterized as light-gray to grayish-white, hard, with several beds of clay. The 

Chickasawhay Formation tends to be more dolomitic and vesicular when compared to the Tampa 

Formation. The Chickasawhay formation thickens toward the Gulf of Mexico, with thicknesses of 

30 to 40 feet in Northern Escambia County to as much as 130 feet at the coast. The Tampa 

formation seems to only be present in southern Escambia County, having been removed by 
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

6

erosion in northern Escambia County prior to deposition of the Pensacola Clay and

undifferentiated course classics (Marsh, 1966).

The Tampa and Chickasawhay formations are conformably overlain by the Middle Oligocene

Bucatunna Clay Member of the Bryam Formation. This clay unit is generally defined as dark-gray,

soft, silty to sandy, foraminiferal, and carbonaceous. The Bucatunna Clay Member averages 125

feet thick and ranges from 45 feet in northeastern Santa Rosa County to 215 feet thick just north

of Escambia Bay (Marsh, 1966).

Upper Eocene age Ocala Group carbonates unconformably underlay the Tampa and

Chickasawhay formations and is comprised generally of light-gray to chalky-white limestones with

abundant foraminifer fossils. The Ocala group has an average thickness of about 165 feet in

Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, ranging from 90 feet just east of Pensacola to 235 feet in

northeastern Santa Rosa County (Marsh, 1966).

1.5.2 Hydrogeology

The primary aquifer systems beneath Escambia County are the surficial aquifer, also known as

the Sand and Gravel Aquifer, and the deeper Floridan Aquifer System. These two units are

separated by an aquiclude, commonly containing water bearing units, named the intermediate

aquifer/confining unit (Rupert, 1993).

The majority of water wells in Escambia County draw from the Sand and Gravel Aquifer, which is

formed in the porous siliciclastic sediments of the Pleistocene terrace deposits, Citronelle

Formation and undifferentiated Miocene coarse clastics. The Sand and Gravel Aquifer thickness

ranges from ground surface to depths of 200 to 500 feet bgs. Unlike the carbonate aquifer system

used throughout most of Florida, the Sand and Gravel Aquifer has low mineral content due to the

insoluble quartz sand and gravel composition of the water bearing units. For this reason, the Sand

and Gravel Aquifer makes an economical industrial water source for manufacturing processes

requiring low mineral content (Rupert, 1993). Based on the USEPA Unregulated Contaminant

Monitoring Rule 3 data, it was indicated that PFAS were detected in a public water system above

the USEPA’s HA within 10 miles of the facility (Appendix A). PFAS analyses performed in 2016

had method detection limits that were higher than currently achievable. Thus, it is possible that

low concentrations of PFAS were not detected during the UCMR3 but might be detected if

analyzed today.

The Sand and Gravel Aquifer is separated from the Floridan Aquifer System by the intermediate

confining unit made up of the Pensacola Clay Formation. The Pensacola Clay acts as an

aquiclude and effectively isolates the two aquifer systems. The intermediate confining unit ranges

from 380 to 1,000 feet thick. Some water bearing lenses do exist in the Pensacola clay but are

not used as a water source in Escambia County (Rupert, 1993).

The Florida Aquifer System is encountered beneath the Pensacola Clay Formation, in the porous

carbonate rock of the Ocala Group, Chickasawhay, and Tampa Formations. Water in the Florida

Aquifer system has a higher dissolved mineral content than the Sand and Gravel Aquifer. Although

the Floridan Aquifer is used as the primary aquifer system throughout much of Florida, the higher

quality water at shallower depths in the Sand and Gravel Aquifer precludes the need to drill deeper

wells to reach the Floridan Aquifer System (Rupert, 1993).

Regional groundwater flow in the Floridan Aquifer is generally toward the south. Groundwater

monitoring assessment data at the nearby facilities suggests local groundwater is approximately

20 feet bgs, and flow in the Sand and Gravel Aquifer is to the southeast, toward Escambia Bay

(USACE, 2015). Groundwater features surrounding the facility are shown in Figure 1-2.
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

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1.5.3 Hydrology

A well-developed network of waterways drains Escambia County. The Escambia River is the

largest stream in the area and flows south from Alabama and into Escambia Bay (Marsh, 1966).

The Ellyson Field facility is located approximately 0.82 miles west of Escambia Bay. Apparent

surface water drainage is to the northwest toward the drainage ditch on the north side of Copter

Road, which drains to Skinner Mill Creek, which ultimately empties to Escambia Bay. Hundreds

of small ponds dot Escambia County. These ponds are apparently accumulations of rainwater

held up by underlying layers of clay or iron-cemented sandstone commonly referred to as hardpan

(Marsh, 1966). Surface water features surrounding the facility are shown in Figure 1-3.

1.5.4 Climate

The Ellyson Field facility is located in northwest Florida, which has a humid, warm-temperate

climate. Summers are hot and humid, and winters are mild. Thunderstorms of high intensity are

common, and tropical storms and hurricanes occasionally blow in from the Gulf of Mexico (Marsh,

1966). The average annual high temperature is 97 degrees Fahrenheit (°F), and the average

annual low temperature is 60.2 °F (National Weather Service, 2018). The average annual

precipitation in 2018 was 60.52 inches (Florida Climate Center, 2019).

1.5.5 Current and Future Land Use

The Ellyson Field facility is currently owned by Escambia County and leased to FLARNG.

According to FLARNG personnel with knowledge of the property dating back to 2000, FLARNG

began operations onsite circa 1985, and the facility has been developed with a maintenance

building and ARNG vehicle staging areas. As described in Section 1.4, land surrounding the

facility is used for commercial/industrial purposes. Reasonably anticipated future land use is not

expected to change from the current land use.
Ellyson Field

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12420 Milestone Center Drive

Germantown, MD 20876

Facility Location

^_

Base Map: Sources: Esri, HERE, Garmin, USGS,

Intermap, INCREMENT P, NRCan, Esri Japan, METI,

0 0.5 1 2

Miles

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Facility Boundary

8
&<

!C(

Escambia Bay

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Germantown, MD 20876

Groundwater Features

0 0.125 0.25 0.5

Miles

Legend

Facility Boundary

Water Body

Wetland

Inferred Groundwater Flow

Direction

Geology

Alluvium

Citronelle Formation

Wells

!C( Public Water Supply

&<

Water Supply Well

Base Map: Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe,

GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics,

9
Escambia Bay

WHITE RIVER

Watershed PENSACOLA

BAY

Watershed

GRAVEYARD

BRANCH-BAYOU TEXAR

FRONTAL Watershed

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Surface Water Features

0 0.125 0.25 0.5

Miles

Legend

Facility Boundary

Water Body

Wetland

Surface Water Flow

Direction

Base Map: Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe,

GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics,

10
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

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2. Fire Training Areas

Based on interviews conducted during this PA, FLARNG personnel with knowledge of the property

dating back to 2000 confirmed that no fire training occurred during their occupation of the subject

property. Prior to FLARNG occupation of the subject property, no information was available

regarding FTAs.
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

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3. Non-Fire Training Areas

In addition to FTAs, the PA evaluated areas where PFAS-containing materials may have been 

broadly used, stored, or disposed. This may include buildings with fire suppression systems, paint 

booths, AFFF storage areas, and areas of compliance demonstrations. Information on these 

features obtained during the PA are included in Appendices A and B. Historically, the US Navy 

operated an airfield that encompassed the subject property and the surrounding area from after 

1940 to about 1981, when the property was sold to Escambia County. Storage or use of AFFF 

prior to FLARNG occupation circa 1985 was not known, according to FLARNG personnel. 

FLARNG personnel with knowledge of the Ellyson Field facility dating back to 2000 have 

confirmed that AFFF has not been used or stored at the Ellyson Field facility during FLARNG 

occupation of the subject property. Based upon aerial images provided in the EDRTM report 

(Appendix A), no discernable features suggesting FTAs were identified at the location of the 

current FLARNG facility. Descriptions of these non-FTAs are presented below, and the non-FTAs 

are shown on Figure 3-1, with photographs appearing in Appendix C. 

Maintenance Bay

The maintenance bay is located in the south side of the Armory building, with bay doors opening 

at the southern edge of the building. The geographical coordinates are 30°31'37.8"N; 

87°11'49.6"W. The maintenance bay was constructed with the armory building in 1998 and is used 

for general maintenance on ARNG vehicles. The maintenance bay is not equipped with an 

overhead AFFF fire suppression system. It was noted during the visual inspection that fire 

protection is provided by wall mounted ABC class fire extinguishers. Based on FLARNG 

knowledge of the property dating back to 2000, AFFF was not used or stored in the maintenance 

bay during FLARNG occupation. 

Vehicle Staging Area

ARNG owned vehicles are staged at the south and east side of the Ellyson Field building. The 

geographical coordinates of the southern staging area are 30°31'36.2"N; 87°11'49.5"W. The 

geographical coordinates of the western staging area are 30°31'37.2"N; 87°11'46.9"W. It was 

noted during the visual inspection that fire protection is provided by ABC class fire extinguishers 

mounted on the exterior wall of the Armory building. Based on FLARNG knowledge of the property 

dating back to 2000, AFFF was not used or stored in the maintenance bay during FLARNG 

occupation.

Satellite Accumulation Area

The Satellite Accumulation area is located approximately 80 feet off the southeast corner of the 

Ellyson Field building. The geographical coordinates of the satellite accumulation area are 

30°31'37.3"N; 87°11'48.3"W. This area is used for storing waste associated with ARNG vehicle 

maintenance such as fuel filters and anti-freeze. Fire protection in this area is provided by a wall 

mounted sodium fire extinguisher. Based on FLARNG knowledge of the property dating back to 

2000, AFFF was not used or stored in the maintenance bay during FLARNG occupation. 
Vehicle Staging Area

Satellite Accumulation Area

Maintenance Bay

Vehicle Staging Area

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12420 Milestone Center Drive

Germantown, MD 20876

Non-Fire Training Areas

0 150 300 600

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Facility Boundary

Base Map: Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe,

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PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

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4. Emergency Response Areas

No emergency response areas were identified within the current Ellyson Field facility based upon

information provided in the EDRTM report (Appendix A), dated 12 February 2019, and knowledge

of the facility by FLARNG personnel dating back to 2000.
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

15

5. Adjacent Sources

Historically, the US Navy operated an airfield that encompassed the subject property and the

surrounding area from approximately after 1940 to about 1981, when the property was sold to

Escambia County. The FLARNG Ellyson Field facility makes up approximately 5 acres of the

607.66-acre former US Navy Airfield. Previous assessment reports conducted by USACE and

available in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) public record suggest

that portions of the former US Navy airfield were used for fire training. However, fire training by

the US Navy and the location of the FTAs were not described in these reports and were not known

by FLARNG personnel interviewed as part of this PA.

Based on EDRTM information (Appendix A) and the FDEP public record, six areas associated

with US Navy activities at the former Ellyson Airfield were reviewed. Locations of these areas are

depicted on Figure 5-1. An environmental assessment was conducted at each location by

USACE, and these assessments are available in the FDEP public record. Summaries of the six

areas are provided below:

· Steam Plant – Ellyson Industrial Park: The Steam Plant facility was utilized by the US Navy

until 1981, when Ellyson Airfield was sold to Escambia County and private interests. Maps

indicate that at one time, a part of the building also housed the ambulance service and

firehouse for Ellyson Field during occupation by the US Navy (USACE, 2002).

· Former Ellyson Field Site #1 (Former Building 991, Maintenance Shop): The original

building (former Building 991) is identified on a map dated 1971 as the maintenance shop for

airfield support vehicles. According to USACE reports, underground storage tanks (USTs)

east of Building 991 are believed to contain solvents, used oil or kerosene, and were probably

associated with an aircraft wash rack that was located immediately east of this property, in

an area that is now Ely Road (USACE, 2003). The USTs and associated components were

removed prior to 2003 based on reporting by the USACE.

· Former Ellyson Field Site #2 (Former Building 901 A-D, Aviation Gas Tank Farm): The

Former Ellyson Field #2 site is a former aviation gas fuel farm location. Components

associated with the fuel farm were removed from the site prior to 2003. A site rehabilitation

completion order was approved based upon soil and groundwater analytical data collected

up to January 2014 (USACE, 2015).

· Former Ellyson Army Airfield Site #3 (Fuel Oil Storage Tanks at Former Building 912):

Historically, there is a fuel oil storage tank area adjacent to former building 912. Based on

investigations conducted by USACE, building 912 appears on plans for Ellyson Field, dating

1941, as a mess hall for enlisted personnel (USACE, 2006).

· Former Ellyson Field Site #4 (Jet Fuel Storage Facility): Former jet fuel storage facility

currently located at the north edge of the former Ellyson Airfield. Jet fuel was stored at Site 4

in a UST system and delivered to the former flight line via tanker truck until 1978 (USACE,

2006).

· Former Ellyson Field Site #6 – Former Aviation Gas Distribution System and Lube Oil

Storage Tanks: Site 6 encompasses selected components of the Aqua System Network of

gasoline piping, fueling pits, and lubrication service pits that were scattered around the flight

line areas of the former airfield. The system piped high- and low-octane gasoline using water

pressure from the USTs at the aviation gas tank farm (Site 2) to a series of service points that

encircled the east-west and north-south flight line and warm-up pads adjacent to the hangar

areas. Design drawings dating back to 1944 indicate that the system included 65 gasoline

dispensing pits and 22 lube oil dispensing pits with tanks. The total length of the dispensing
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

16

system exceeded 8,700 feet. Many of the dispensing pits that are still in place are currently

flooded with rainwater (USACE, 2003).

AFFF could have been stored at the historical firehouse associated with the Steam Plant location.

AFFF fire extinguishers could have been used at Site 3 (in the former mess hall) and along the

Former Aviation Gas Distribution System (Site #6). Additionally, Navy hangars were likely to have

been equipped with suppression systems and the associated ramp areas along the historic flight

line were likely to have mobile AFFF extinguishers present. However, based on information

provided in the public record, use and storage of AFFF at all of the aforementioned locations could

not be ascertained. Therefore, these areas are not considered adjacent off-facility sources of

PFAS for the FLARNG Ellyson Field Armory.
Former Ellyson Field Site #1 - Former

Building 991, Maintenance Shop

Former Ellyson Field Site #2 - Former

Building 901 A-D, Aviation Gas Tank Farm

Former Ellyson Army Airfield Site #3 - Fuel

Oil Storage Tanks at Former Building 912

Steam Plant - Ellyson

Industrial Park

Former Ellyson Site #6 - Former Aviation Gas

Distribution System and Lube Oil Storage Tanks

Former Ellyson Field Site #4

- Jet Fuel Storage Facility

CLIENT

REVISED

SCALE

ARNG

GIS BY

CHK BY

MS

BM

7/3/2019

7/3/2019

NOTES Preliminary Assessment for PFAS at Ellyson Field, FL

1:4,800

7/3/2019 ­ Figure 5-1 PM RG 7/3/2019

Q:\Projects\ENV\GEARS\GEO\ARNG PFAS\900-CAD-GIS\920-GIS or Graphics\MXD\FL\Ellyson_Field\Fig_5-1_Ellyson_Field_Adjacent_Sources.mxd

12420 Milestone Center Drive

Germantown, MD 20876

Adjacent Sources

0 200 400 800

Feet

Legend

No Suspected Release

Facility Boundary

Water Body

Base Map: Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe,

GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics,

17
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

18

6. Preliminary Conceptual Site Model

Based on the PA findings, no release areas were identified as AOIs at Ellyson Field. A conceptual

site model (CSM) identifies three components necessary for potentially complete exposure

pathways related to a site: (1) source, (2) pathway, and (3) receptor. If any of these elements are

missing, the pathway is considered incomplete. Based on the findings of this PA, there are no

PFAS sources that originate at Ellyson Field facility.
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

19

7. Conclusions

This report presents a summary of available information gathered during the PA on the use and 

storage of AFFF and other PFAS-related activities at the current Ellyson Field facility. The PA 

findings are based on the information presented in Appendix A and Appendix B.

Findings

No PFAS releases relating to current or historical activities at Ellyson Field were identified during 

this PA. The following areas, which were discussed in Section 3 (Figure 7-1) and are presented 

in Table 7-1 below, were determined to have no suspected release:

Table 7-1: No Suspected Release Areas

No Suspected Release Area Used by Rationale

Maintenance Bay, Vehicle 

Staging Area, and Satellite 

Accumulation Area

FLARNG

Based upon FLARNG personnel with 

knowledge of the site back to 2000, AFFF 

was not stored or used at the subject site 

during FLARNG occupation. Evidence of 

AFFF use was not identified during this PA 

visual inspection. 

Uncertainties

A number of information sources were investigated during this PA to determine the potential for 

PFAS-containing materials to have been present, used, or released at the facility. Historically, 

documentation of PFAS use was not required because PFAS were considered benign. Therefore, 

records were not typically kept by the facility or available during the PA on the use of PFAS in 

training, firefighting, or other non-traditional activities, or on its disposition. 

The conclusions of this PA are based on all available information, including: previous 

environmental reports, EDRsTM, observations made during the VSI, and interviews. Interviews of 

personnel with direct knowledge of a facility generally provided the most useful insights regarding 

a facility's historical and current PFAS-containing materials. Gathered information has a degree 

of uncertainty due to the absence of written documentation, the limited number of personnel with 

direct knowledge due to staffing changes, the time passed since PFAS was first used (1969 to 

present), and a reliance on personal recollection. Inaccuracies may arise in potential PFAS 

release locations, dates of release, volume of releases, and the concentration of AFFF used. 

There is also a possibility the PA has missed a source of PFAS, as the science of how PFAS may 

enter the environment continually evolves.

In order to minimize the level of uncertainty, readily available data regarding the use and storage 

of PFAS were reviewed, current personnel were interviewed, multiple persons were interviewed 

for the same potential source area, and potential source areas were visually inspected.

Table 7-2 summarizes the uncertainties associated with the PA:
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

20

Table 7-2: Uncertainties Within the Area

Area of Interest Source of Uncertainty

Maintenance Bay, 

Vehicle Staging Area, 

and Satellite 

Accumulation Area

Use and storage of AFFF by the US Navy during their 

occupation of the Ellyson Airfield prior to 1981 is 

unknown. There is reason to believe that the US Navy 

conducted fire training at the former airfield. However, the 

location and descriptions of the fire training areas could 

not be ascertained based on available public information. 

There former airfield was comprised of 607.66 acres. The 

FLARNG Ellyson Field facility makes up approximately 5 

acres of the former Ellyson Airfield. Personnel interviewed 

as part of this PA did not have direct knowledge of the site 

when FLARNG began operation in 1985. FLARNG 

personnel had knowledge of the facility was limited to the 

time frame of 2000 to the present. 

Potential Future Actions

Based upon available information, no AOIs were identified during the PA. Evidence does not 

indicate that current or former ARNG activities contributed PFAS contamination to soil, 

groundwater, surface water, or sediment at the facility or adjacent areas. The Ellyson Field facility 

will not move forward in the CERCLA process.
Vehicle

Staging Area

Satellite

Accumulation Area

Maintenance

Bay

Vehicle

Staging Area

Former Ellyson Field Site #1 - Former

Building 991, Maintenance Shop

Former Ellyson Field Site #2 - Former

Building 901 A-D, Aviation Gas Tank Farm

Former Ellyson Army Airfield Site #3 - Fuel

Oil Storage Tanks at Former Building 912

Steam Plant - Ellyson

Industrial Park

Former Ellyson Site #6 - Former Aviation Gas

Distribution System and Lube Oil Storage Tanks

Former Ellyson Field Site #4

- Jet Fuel Storage Facility

CLIENT

REVISED

SCALE

ARNG

GIS BY

CHK BY

MS

BM

7/3/2019

7/3/2019

NOTES Preliminary Assessment for PFAS at Ellyson Field, FL

1:4,800

7/3/2019 ­ Figure 7-1 PM RG 7/3/2019

Q:\Projects\ENV\GEARS\GEO\ARNG PFAS\900-CAD-GIS\920-GIS or Graphics\MXD\FL\Ellyson_Field\Fig_7-1_Ellyson_Field_Summary.mxd

12420 Milestone Center Drive

Germantown, MD 20876

Summary of Findings

0 200 400 800

Feet

Legend

No Suspected Release

Facility Boundary

Base Map: Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe,

GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics,

21
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

22

8. References

Escambia County Propert Appraiser. (2019). Escambia County Propert Appraiser. Retrieved

March 5, 2019, from Escambia County Propert Appraiser:

https://www.escpa.org/cama/Detail_a.aspx?s=031S291002000000

Florida Climate Center . (2019, October 11). Statewide Averages - Precipitation. Retrieved from

Florida Climate Center : https://climatecenter.fsu.edu/products-services/data/statewideaverages/precipitation

Marsh, O. T. (1966). Geology of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, Western Florida

Panhandle. Tallahassee: Florida Geological Survey.

National Weather Service. (2018, April 30). National Weather Service Forcast Office. Retrieved

from NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data:

https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=mob

Rupert, F. R. (1993). The Geomorphology and Geology of Escambia County, FLorida.

Tallahassee: Florida Geological Survey.

United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). 1991. Guidance for Performing

Preliminary Assessments under CERCLA. September

U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. (2002). Site Assessment Report Former Steam Plant. Savannah:

U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. (2003). Site Assessment Report for Site Assessment at Former

Ellyson Field Sites 1,2,3, and 6. Savannah: U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. (2015). Sixth Quarter Natural Attenuation Monitoring Report and

Site Rehabilitation Competion Report Former Ellyson Field Site#2 - Gray Property, FDEP

Facility ID No. 179800543 Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida FUDS Project No.

I04FL098102. Jacksonville: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Atlantic Division.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2006). Phase II Site Assessment Report for Sites 2,3, and 4 at

Former Ellyson Field (FEF) Naval Air Station. Savannah: U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

Data Resources
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

Data resources will be provided separately on CD. Data resources for Ellyson Field include:

Ellyson Field Leases, Licenses, and Permits

· 1993 Armory Board, State of Florida Lease No. 30-1983 located at Ellyson Field, Florida

· 1993 OMS, State of Florida Lease (Insert lease #) located at Ellyson Field, Florida

Environmental Data Resources, Inc.TM Geocheck Report

· 2019 Environmental Data Resources, Inc.TM Geocheck Report for Ellyson Field

Miscellaneous Data Resources

· 2002 Site Assessment Report, Former Steam Plant

· 2003 Site Assessment Report for Former Ellyson Field Sites 1,2,3 and 6.

· 2006 Phase II Site Assessment Reports for Former Ellyson Field Sites 2,3 and 4

· 2015 Sixth Quarter Natural Attenuation Monitoring Report and Site Rehabilitation

Completion Order for Former Ellyson Field Site #2.

Ellyson Field UCMR3 Data Set

· Tabulated UCMR3 Data Set
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

Appendix B

Preliminary Assessment Documentation
PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

Appendix B.1

Interview Records






PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

Appendix B.2

Visual Site Inspection Checklists






PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

Appendix B.3

Conceptual Site Model Information



PFAS Preliminary Assessment Report

Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida

Appendix C

Photographic Log
Preliminary Assessment Report

Pensacola Ellyson Field

Perfluorooctane-Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) and 

Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Impacted Sites

ARNG Installations, Nationwide

APPENDIX C – Photographic Log

Army National Guard, Preliminary 

Assessment for PFAS Ellyson Field Pensacola, Florida

Photograph No. 1

Description:

Unknown direction of photo. 

Maintenance bay inside 

Ellyson Field building

Photo date 1/31/19

Photograph No. 2

Description:

Unknown direction of photo.

Floor drain inside 

maintenance bay

Photo Date: 1/31/19
Preliminary Assessment Report

Pensacola Ellyson Field

Perfluorooctane-Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) and 

Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Impacted Sites

ARNG Installations, Nationwide

APPENDIX C – Photographic Log

Army National Guard, Preliminary 

Assessment for PFAS Ellyson Field Pensacola, Florida

Photograph No. 3

Description:

Looking north toward the 

front of the building. ABC fire 

protection in maintenance bay

Photo Date: 1/31/19

Photograph No. 4

Description:

Looking south. Vehicle 

staging area south of the 

Ellyson Field building

Photo Date: 1/31/19
Preliminary Assessment Report

Pensacola Ellyson Field

Perfluorooctane-Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) and 

Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Impacted Sites

ARNG Installations, Nationwide

APPENDIX C – Photographic Log

Army National Guard, Preliminary 

Assessment for PFAS Ellyson Field Pensacola, Florida

Photograph No. 5

Description:

Looking east. Vehicle staging 

area east of the Ellyson Field 

building

Photo Date: 1/31/19

Photograph No. 6

Description:

Looking north. ABC fire 

protection used at the vehicle 

staging areas. 

Photo Date: 1/31/19
Preliminary Assessment Report

Pensacola Ellyson Field

Perfluorooctane-Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) and 

Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Impacted Sites

ARNG Installations, Nationwide

APPENDIX C – Photographic Log

Army National Guard, Preliminary 

Assessment for PFAS Ellyson Field Pensacola, Florida

Photograph No. 7

Description:

Looking east. Sodium fire 

extinguisher at the satellite 

accumulation area. 

Photo Date: 1/31/19