Cardin Urges Speed on Fort Detrick Cleanup

Sen. Ben Cardin is urging the Army to move quickly in investigating and cleaning up environmental contamination at Fort Detrick in Frederick.

The Maryland Democrat urged Army Assistant Secretary Katherine Hammack on Monday to reach an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency by Dec. 1 on a legally binding framework for the project.

Beside the installation's long-standing problems with groundwater contamination from industrial chemicals, Cardin said he's concerned about Veteran Administration reports indicating the Army tested the chemical defoliant Agent Orange outdoors at Fort Detrick in the 1940s and 50s.

Cardin said the Army should thoroughly examine all potential pathways of contamination.

The EPA added Fort Detrick groundwater contamination to its Superfund list of the nation's most polluted places last year.


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