The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) that had historically been used for military training. One of these sites, Fort Townsend State Park, is located in Jefferson County, near Port Townsend, WA.
The Corps will do the evaluation by conducting a Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP), Site Investigation (SI). The SI will be conducted in the next few months by a Corps contractor, Shaw Environmental. The work to be performed will include access to and a visual inspection of property that was part of the former Fort Townsend. The inspection may also include soil and/or water sampling.
Corps project manager Mike Nelson said, "The SI will be used to determine what future work the Corps may do to clean-up possible munitions related components and chemical constituents used during military activities." The Corps of Engineers inspects and evaluates sites contaminated with hazardous waste, radioactive waste, and/or ordnance according to federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations.
In order to begin the SI the Corps will be contacting the property owners of the former Fort Townsend site and request the owner provide a signed Department of the Army Right of Entry (ROE) for Investigation and Sampling.
Additionally, a public information meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 1, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Fortt Worden State Park, Building 210 - Commons, Company A Room, Port Townsend, Wash., to provide the public an overview of the MMRP, SI process.
Fort Townsend, consisting of 615 acres, was acquired by the War Department in 1859 by Executive Order to provide protection for settlers on the Olympic Peninsula. In 1895 a fire destroyed most of the barracks on the northeast portion of the site and the fort was ordered decommissioned. From the turn of the century until World War II, the fort was in caretaker status. An airfield, used for pilot training, was built on the southwest portion of the fort in the 1920s. In July 1942 the Navy acquired the northeast portion of for X-ray examination of enemy naval mines, torpedoes and other munitions. In 1947 the airfield was conveyed to the county and the Jefferson County International Airport was established. In 1959, the Port of Port Townsend took over airport operations. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission purchased the northeast portion from the government for Old Fort Townsend State Park.
More information about Fort Townsend will be available on Seattle District's website at
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