The half-square-mile American Lake Gardens/McChord AFB site is located about seven miles south of downtown Tacoma, Washington. The site includes two separate areas, the American Lake Garden Tract and the Area D site. The site lies in the southwestern portion of McChord Field, where the Air Force operated several disposal areas from the mid-1940s to the early 1970s. During that time, site operators disposed of unknown amounts of trichloroethylene (TCE) in Area D. These activities contaminated groundwater with hazardous chemicals. Following cleanup, operation and maintenance activities are ongoing.