EPA and USACE Finalize Groundwater Cleanup Plan for the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant
Bacteria will accelerate breakdown of contaminants
LENEXA, KAN. (MAY 18, 2026) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released the finalized cleanup plan in a second Record of Decision Amendment (ROD-A) for the contaminated groundwater plume associated with the former Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant in Grand Island, Nebraska.
The cleanup plan – which is also called an amended remedy — is based on the remedial investigation and feasibility study conducted by USACE. A remedial investigation identifies the nature and extent of contamination at a site, while a feasibility study evaluates potential alternatives for cleanup. This amended remedy replaces the groundwater extraction treatment system with native bacteria that can break down the contaminants at an accelerated rate. Using bacteria to clean up contaminants is called bioremediation. A public comment period was conducted in February 2025.
The bioremediation treatment, using blackstrap molasses whey, vegetable oil, and corn steep, will provide a source of carbon for bacteria to consume, producing an environment that will see the deterioration of contaminants in the groundwater.
The overall goal of the amended remedy is the restoration of the groundwater to support that resource’s future unlimited use and unrestricted exposure. USACE also determined that implementing the bioremediation remedy would provide significant cost-savings and speed up the clean-up process while continuing to protect human health and the environment.
EPA Region 7 and the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment (DWEE) reviewed the amended remedy and support its implementation.
Background
The former Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant is a 12,042-acre site near Grand Island, Nebraska. The U.S. Army built the plant in 1942 to produce munitions and provide support functions during World War II. The plant area includes five major production areas where munitions were loaded, assembled and packed: a fertilizer manufacturer; two major storage facilities; sanitary landfills; and burning grounds where materials contaminated with explosives were ignited.
Improper disposal of contaminated wastewater and other plant operations resulted in groundwater contamination on-site and migration beyond the property boundary. USACE is conducting remedial investigations, remedial actions, and continuous groundwater monitoring.
EPA Region 7 and DWEE provide oversight of remedial activities performed at the site pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act’s Federal Facility Agreement (pdf).
Read the final Record of Decision Amendment document for Operable Unit 1 On-Post Explosives Plume (pdf).
Visit the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant Restoration website.
Learn more about the Superfund program at EPA’s Superfund program website.
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