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Program Overview

In seven communities surrounding Hill AFB, chemicals from historical practices at the base have contaminated areas of shallow groundwater. Since the groundwater is not used for drinking or other household uses, the only way for the public to be exposed to the chemicals in the groundwater is through a process known as vapor intrusion. Vapor intrusion occurs when chemicals from the groundwater evaporate and move into homes or businesses within the affected area. (Click here to see how vapors may move into homes or businesses.)

Vapor intrusion doesn’t happen in every home or business within the affected area. Hill AFB's Indoor Air Sampling Program focuses on testing locations most likely to have vapor intrusion—those above or close to areas of shallow groundwater contamination. In cooperation with state and federal regulators, the Air Force has established contaminant levels at which it will recommend taking action to prevent vapors from the groundwater from entering the home or business. These levels are called Risk-Based Action Levels, or RBALs. (Click here for more information about RBALs.) All sampling and mitigation actions will be done at no cost to the resident.

Since 2001, Hill has tested the air in more than 3,000 locations in communities surrounding the base affected by groundwater contamination. Less than 10 percent of homes and businesses tested have had vapor levels above an action level. A vast majority of those locations, however, were tested using a 24-hour method that could have missed vapor intrusion. Testing is now done with a 26-day sampler to ensure more accurate results. (Click here for more information about how testing methods have changed to more accurately determine if vapor intrusion is occurring.)

Areas being sampled

The maps linked below show the areas where air sampling is offered to homeowners, tenants, property owners and businesses as outlined by an orange line. Residences, businesses and schools within or touching the orange line are eligible for testing.

Clinton
Layton
Riverdale
Roy
South Weber
South Weber 2
Sunset

COVID-19 Precautions

The Air Force remains committed to the health and safety of the communities in and around Hill Air Force Base during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Air Force and its subcontractors will continue to monitor for chemical vapors in your indoor air to ensure you are not being exposed and will follow the strategies and recommendations of the CDC and OSHA to reduce impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hill AFB’s indoor air sampling program will proceed as usual, with special precautions being taken during the placement and pickup of the sampling device in your home and business.  For a list of the precautions being taken, please view the COVID-19 Precautions card.

Testing your home or business

The Air Force has tested the air in more than 3,100 homes since 2001. Testing is done during the heating season (October through March). Research has shown that this is the best time to detect vapor intrusion.

How the air is tested

Can household products trigger a detection?

Sampling method fact sheet

Preparing your home or business for testing

Gun owners, avoid cleaning your guns inside during  the sampling period and make sure any cloth or brushes used in cleaning are moved and kept outside. Some gun cleaners contain trichloroethene. Cleaning your guns could cause a detection and dirty rags could still emit detectable levels of TCE vapors.

Why we test

Past industrial activities at Hill AFB used a variety of chemicals to clean aircraft parts. Before environmental laws regulated how those chemicals were used and disposed, they were dumped into disposal pits. Over time, those chemicals seeped down into the ground, eventually reaching the shallow groundwater. The groundwater carried those chemicals off base and into the communities surrounding the base. In the early 2000s, the Air Force discovered that vapors from contaminated groundwater could be entering homes or businesses off base. Soon after, the Air Force began testing homes around the base for these chemical vapors. The Air Force expanded sampling to businesses and schools several years ago.

Click here to see how vapors can enter homes.

Points of Contact

Indoor Air Program Manager
Mark Roginske
(801) 775-3651
mark.roginske@us.af.mil

Peifen Tamashiro
(801) 775-6981
peifen.tamashiro@us.af.mil

75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Barbara Fisher
(801) 775-3652
barbara.fisher.1@us.af.mil

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8
Sandra Bourgeois
(303) 312-6666
(800) 227-8917 ext. 312-6666
bourgeois.sandra@epa.gov

Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Craig Barnitz (Project Manager)
(801) 558-7511
cbarnitz@utah.gov

David Allison (Public Involvement)
(385) 391-8143
dallison@utah.gov

2022 Sampling Season

The sampling season for 2022 begins October 2021 and runs through March 2022. If you live in or have a business in an area eligible for testing, you either have or will receive a packet in the mail inviting you to have your home or business tested. Letters will be mailed out in September/October of 2021. If you do not receive a packet, you are not in an area where vapor intrusion is an issue.

If you received a packet, please return the response card in the enclosed self-addressed stamped envelope so we can schedule your home or business for testing. We encourage everyone within the eligible areas to have their home or business tested, even if you've been tested before.

Información en Español

Si desea obtener más información sobre el Programa de Muestreo del Aire Interior de Hill AFB, pero prefiere hablar con alguien en español, comuníquese con Nate Nelson, al 801-775-6232.  Favor de dejar un mensaje si no hay respuesta.