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Working crews change the drill head of an industrial auger drill before moving to a new site to continue excavating the area to reduce the trichloroethylene in the area. Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a volatile, colorless liquid organic chemical. TCE does not occur naturally and is created by chemical synthesis. It is used primarily to make refrigerants and other hydrofluorocarbons and as a degreasing solvent for metal equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David Phaff)

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Site managers discuss the day's goals and expectations for the crews while going over long term expectations for the project. This process will take about five months before tests will show a reduction in contamination levels and continue to lower with more treatments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David Phaff)

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A worker seals a barrel full of soil from a digging location before starting the process of pouring zero valent iron into the puncture created by the drill. The soil will be taken to an environmental lab and tested to know exactly what the levels of contamination are. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David Phaff)

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Crews remove soil from the dig site area by moving it into barrels to dispose of once the zero valent iron is applied to the soil. The holes have to be drilled 40 feet in depth before pouring approximately 30 gallons of zero valent iron to begin the remediation process. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David Phaff)

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Contracted crew drill holes in key locations to pour zero valent iron in to help the area recover from past environmental hazards. Zero valent iron is the most commonly used zerovalent metal (ZVM) for environmental remediation. ZVI is typically applied as a reductant and is capable of transforming (degrading) or sequestering a variety of contaminants found in groundwater and soil. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David Phaff)

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Teams remove a drill head and bash clumps of mud and dirt off to better continue drilling into the earth. With this process in about three to four years the Air Force will be able to safely build and expand base resources to this area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David Phaff)

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Environmental protection at Laughlin

Published Nov. 1, 2021
By Senior Airman David Phaff
47th Flying Training Wing public affairs

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Working crews change the drill head of an industrial auger drill before moving to a new site to continue excavating the area to reduce the trichloroethylene in the area. Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a volatile, colorless liquid organic chemical. TCE does not occur naturally and is created by chemical synthesis. It is used primarily to make refrigerants and other hydrofluorocarbons and as a degreasing solvent for metal equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David Phaff)

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