Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division
Peterson Air Force Base
Location
Peterson Air Force Base is located at an altitude of 6,035 feet
on the east side of Colorado springs near the junction of highways US 24 and
Colorado 94. The Base covers approximately 1,278 acres. Peterson Air
Force Base is considered a joint-use installation because the airfield is owned
and operated by the city of Colorado Springs, and collectively used by military
and civilian aircraft. Other military installations in the area include:
Map
History
Peterson Air Force Base traces its roots to the Colorado Springs
Army Air Base, established in April 1942 at the Colorado Springs Municipal
Airport. The base carried out photo reconnaissance training under the
auspices of the Photo Reconnaissance Operational Training Unit. The base
is named after 1st Lt. Edward J. Peterson, an Operations Officer and native of
Colorado who crashed while attempting to take off from the airfield on
August 8, 1942.
Maintenance crew works on a Lockheed F-5 "Photo Lighting" at Peterson Field in
1943
(U.S. Air Force photo)
In October 1943, the mission at "Peterson Field," as it was then
called, changed to heavy bomber combat crew training. In April 1945,
Peterson Field was assigned to Continental Air Forces. The base mission
changed again with the location of the Army Air Forces Instructors School at the
base. On December 31, 1945, the Army inactivated the base, turning the
property over to the City of Colorado Springs.
In September 1947, the newly formed United States Air Force
reactivated the base from September 1947 to January 1948, and again from
September 1948 into 1949. In January 1951, the Air Force activated
Peterson Field once more and on March 1, 1976, Peterson Field was renamed
Peterson Air Force Base. Strategic Air Command assumed control of the base
on October 1, 1979, and United States Air Force officials activated
Air Force Space Command at Peterson in
September 1982.
Today, the 21st Space Wing is host at Peterson Air Force Base.
The Wing commands and supports sensor units located throughout the world.
Its primary mission is to provide management, training and evaluation for
assigned missile warning, space surveillance, intelligence and communication
sites. Peterson Air Force Base is also responsible for providing support
functions for Schriever Air Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station,
Headquarters North American Radar Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), Northern
Command (NORTHCOM) and Headquarters Air Force Space Command (HQ AFSPC).
Building 365 under construction in early 1943. This building still stands
today, as do the hangars in the background.
(U.S. Air Force photo)
Environmental Issues
Land use at Peterson Air Force Base consists of a combination of
administrative, industrial, special space mission, residential, community,
recreational and aircraft operations. Industrial operations have generally
be associated with aircraft and vehicle maintenance such as engine repair,
aircraft systems maintenance and painting.
The Phase I study identified past operations at Peterson Air
Force Base that generated hazardous waste, the types of wastes generated, and
where the wastes ended up. A summary of this information is found in the
Remedial Investigation Report (Hazardous Waste Remedial Action Program,
September 1989). The landfills, Former Fire Training Area and Industrial
Area Storm Sewer/Leach Field were estimated to have received the majority of
hazardous waste generated during Base activities.
Site Summaries
Site 3-LF005: Southeast Landfill
Site 6-SD008: The Industrial Storm Sewer
Site 7-ST007: The Fuel Tank Yard
Site 8-FT003: The Fire Training Area, Rapier Area 6 (FTA/DA)
Rapier Property-TM009: The Rapier Site
Rapier Small Arms Range- SR501
Site 1-LF004: East Fork Sand Creek Landfill 1
Site 2-WP006: East Boundary Leach Field
Site 4-WP001: Building 104 Industrial Waste Drain Line
Site 5-FT002: The Former Firefighter Training Area
Trap and Skeet Range
Administrative Record and Information Repositories
Documents related to the environmental cleanup and Military
Munitions Response Program (MMRP) activities at Peterson Air Force Base can be
found at the following locations:
F.E. Warren Air Force Base
Cheyenne, WY
307-773-4147 telephone
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division Records Center
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO
303-692-3331 telephone
Colorado Springs
Electronic versions of all final documents can be found in
the two libraries listed below:
Colorado Springs Penrose Library - Special Collections
20 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
719-531-6333
Hours of operation: Monday -
Thursday 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Friday and Saturday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Colorado Springs East Library branch
5550 North Union Blvd
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
719-531-6333
Hours of operation: Monday - Thursday
10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Friday and Saturday
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
For Additional Information, Contact:
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP) Contact:
Tracie White
State Remedial Project Manager
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246-1530
303-692-3452
1-888-569-1831 ext 3452
comments.hmwmd@state.co.us
include "T. White" in the subject line
Installation Restoration Program (IRP) contact:
Lee Pivonka
State Remedial Project Manager
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246-1530
303-692-3453
1-888-569-1831 ext 3453
comments.hmwmd@state.co.us
include "Pivonka" in the subject line
Community Involvement contact:
Ms. Marilyn Null
State Community Involvement Specialist
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246-1530
303-692-3304
1-888-569-1831 ext 3304
comments.hmwmd@state.co.us
include "Null" in the subject line
F.E. Warren Air Force Base
John Wright
USAF AFSPC 90 SW/EM
F.E. Warren AFB
Cheyenne, WY
307-773-4147
john.wright@warren.af.mil
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