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Figure 1: Debris Removal Milestones

Figure 1: Debris Removal Milestones

Hangar 1 Debris Removal Monthly Update

May 2025

  • The Navy’s contractor has published a final work plan to address the remaining debris and steel/concrete structures within the North Hangar (Hangar 1) footprint. It was rigorously reviewed by local, state, and federal regulatory agencies for comment and approval. Reviewers included the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board (Santa Ana Region), City of Tustin (City), Orange County Health Care Agency, South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Navy and Marine Corps Force Health Protection Command, and California Department of Resources, Recycling, and Recovery.
  • The Navy has awarded $105.8 million under the Cooperative Agreement with the City for the City’s emergency response. The Navy is continuing to work with the City to bring the response to the Hangar fire to a close.

Fieldwork Progress - May 2025

Navy fieldwork for the abatement and removal of onsite debris began July 8, 2024, and will continue into the second quarter of 2025.

Debris consolidation and removal:
  • Negative pressure containment units (CUs) support the decontamination and consolidation steps of the debris removal from within the Hangar 1 footprint and are built and then moved over work areas to prevent fugitive dust emissions (Photo 1, 6, 7, 8, & 10). The CUs are numbered CU-1 through CU-10 from south to north (Figure 1).
  • Negative pressure within the CU's is tested and confirmed before packaging fire debris and sealing transport bins for off-site disposal. Based on laboratory results, debris will continue to be characterized as non-Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) waste or RCRA waste and then transported for disposal (Photo 4).
  • Work has been completed in (Figure 1 and Photos 1,2,3,7,10, & 14):
    • CU-1
    • CU-2
    • CU-3
    • CU-4 (Photo 14)
    • CU-7
    • CU-8
    • CU-9
    • CU-10
  • These CUs have been deconstructed after passing Certified Asbestos Consultant inspection and laboratory analysis. This equates to ~80% completion of the debris removed within the hangar footprint.
  • Construction and bulk debris removal have begun in CU-5 and CU-6 (Photo 15) and will continue towards completion in June.
  • Air monitoring continues around the Hangar 1 footprint and surrounding community (Photo 5). Results continue to remain below air quality thresholds.
  • Due to the clean-up progress and therefore reduced clean-up footprint, air monitoring will be optimized to remove four monitors from the inter-cardinal wind direction locations around the Hangar 1 footprint. Nine locations will remain – four cardinal wind directions around the hangar, four perimeter locations along Valencia Avenue, and one location within Columbus Square.
Waste Disposal Summary through May 2025:
  • Non-RCRA Waste
    • 2,838.14 tons (501 bins)
  • RCRA Waste
    • 76.71 tons (12 bins)
  • Recycled Scrap Metal
    • 395.53 long tons (22 truck loads)
Hangar 1 Structural Assessments:
  • Structural assessments were completed for the four remaining hangar towers on 15 November 2024. No significant issues were identified, and a report is underway to document the assessment findings.
Selective Deconstruction:
  • Safety hazards (protrusions, items that could fall, etc.) are currently being removed (Photo 16).
  • Look ahead for work starting in June:
    • All guy wires and two metal towers are being planned for removal (Photo 17). This process will involve cutting the guy wires, which will be lowered to the ground utilizing cranes. Next, the metal towers will be cut at the base and allowed to safely fall to the ground. Dust suppression will be performed under a permit from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to mitigate fugitive dust. Air monitoring for dust will also be performed. The small rooms that are located along the sides of the original Hangar 1 structure will be deconstructed utilizing excavator equipment and will be crushed for disposal purposes. This work is also being performed under a AQMD air quality permit.
  Fieldwork Photos at Hangar 1:        
           
  Completed Negative Pressure Containment Units     Debris Consolidation and Decontamination  
  Photo 1 - Completed Negative Pressure Containment Units
(CUs) at South (CU-1) and North (CU-10) ends of Hangar 1
footprint - August 2024		     Photo 2 - Ongoing Debris Consolidation & Decontamination
within the Negative Pressure Containment Units at Hangar 1
- September 2024		  
  Debris in Containment Waste Vessels Staged for Offsite Disposal     Covered Waste Management Vehicle  
  Photo 3 - Hangar 1 Debris in Containment Waste Vessels Staged
for Offsite Disposal - September 2024		     Photo 4 - Enclosed Top Waste Management Vehicle - July 2024  
 
Field Service of Air Monitoring Stations


 
 





 
     East Side CU Construction To Support Debris Removal & Prevent Fugitive Dust  
  Photo 5 - Field Service of Air Monitoring Stations - August 2024     Photo 6 - East Side CU Construction to Support Debris
Removal & Prevent Fugitive Dust - November 2024		  
  Completed CU-10 (debris cleared space in front) and newly constructed CU-9 (foreground)     Reinforced barrier around the perimeter of Hangar 1 Footprint  
  Photo 7 - Completed CU-10 (debris cleared space in front) and
newly constructed CU-9 (foreground) - December 2024		     Photo 8 - Reinforced barrier around the perimeter of Hangar 1
Footprint – December 2024		  
  Hangar 1 perimeter wall and CU-2 damage following Santa Ana winds     Deconstruction of CU-9 after debris removal  
  Photo 9 - Hangar 1 perimeter wall and CU-2 damage following
Santa Ana winds - January 2025		     Photo 10 - Deconstruction of CU-9 after debris
removal - January 2025		  
  Scaffold Frame Construction of Containment Unit 08     CU-3 waste truck pick up of consolidated bulk debris removal staged in green waste bins.  
  Photo 11 - Scaffold Frame Construction of Containment Unit 08
- February 2025		     Photo 12 - CU-3 Waste Truck Pick Up of Consolidated Bulk
Debris Removal Staged in Green Waste Bins  - March 2025		  
  CU-4 waste truck pick up of consolidated bulk debris removal staged in green waste bins     Completed CU-4 prior to breaking down containment  
  Photo 13 - CU-4 Waste Truck Pick Up of Consolidated Bulk
Debris Removal Staged in Green Waste Bins - April 2025		     Photo 14 - Completed CU-4 Prior To Breaking Down Containment - May 2025  
  CU-5 Waste Field, Completed CU-4 & Partially Constructed CU-6     Hazard Removal  
  Photo 15 - CU-5 Waste Field (Center); Completed CU-4 (Left)
& Partially Constructed CU-6 (Right) - May 2025		     Photo 16 - Hazard Removal - May 2025  
  Guy Wires & Metal Tower        
  Photo 17 - Guy Wires & Metal Tower - May 2025        

 

 

Scope Of Work

Collapse All Expand All
Expand List item 1403Collapse List item 1403  Debris Consolidation, Stabilization, Characterization, and Disposal
  • Various media will be sampled such as plywood planks, paint chips, asbestos, mixed debris including burned ash material, fire damaged wood, and others.
  • Analytical laboratory data will help identify contaminants present in the debris and properly characterize the waste for offsite disposal.
Expand List item 1411Collapse List item 1411  Abatement and Demolition of Steel Hangar Doors
  • The Navy will evaluate and collect samples from the steel hangar doors to identify any contaminant risks (such as asbestos or lead). The doors will be broken down, debris will be consolidated based on the specific materials, and the waste will be characterized and disposed or recycled.
Expand List item 1412Collapse List item 1412  Structural Evaluation
  • After debris has been removed, four concrete towers and side structures will be assessed for fire damage, safety, and current structural integrity to determine what structures require demolition versus remaining in place.
Expand List item 1413Collapse List item 1413  Dust Suppression and Air Monitoring
  • To protect the community, containment units (CU) will be constructed utilizing negative pressure and reinforced flame-retardant poly to stage and store debris. The CUs will be built over work areas to prevent fugitive dust. As areas are cleared, the CUs will be moved to the next area for debris management.
  • Additionally, the Navy will utilize dust control and suppression techniques while debris removal activities are conducted.
  • The Navy will continue air monitoring daily in and around the Hangar 1 footprint and in the Columbus Square Community using 19 DustTrak stations (Photo 5).

Hangar 1 Background

Collapse All Expand All
Expand List item 1414Collapse List item 1414  A fire was reported in the North Hangar (Hangar 1) ...
  • A fire was reported in the North Hangar (Hangar 1) at former MCAS Tustin on Tuesday November 7, 2023. Due to the potential health risks, cleanup activities within the community began promptly and are ongoing. The Navy and the City of Tustin (City) entered into a Cooperative Agreement for the City’s emergency response and community cleanup services on November 11, 2023.
Expand List item 1415Collapse List item 1415  Debris from the fire consisted of numerous types of building materials ...
  • Debris from the fire consisted of numerous types of building materials, including asbestos and lead-based paint as a result of the age of the construction. The Navy has deconstructed and removed the hangar doors and is in the process of removing the fire debris within the Hangar 1 footprint. After cleanup, remaining hangar structures will be evaluated and removed if unsafe. A report documenting field activities and waste disposal documentation will follow (see milestone figure for approximate timeline).

Frequently Asked Questions

Collapse All Expand All
Expand List item 1418Collapse List item 1418  What will I see and what will be happening?
  • Workers wearing safety gear, heavy equipment, waste hauling trucks, large tented work areas, and spraying of water and/or tackifier to prevent fugitive dust.
  • Waste hauling trucks entering the site at the intersection of Victory Ave. and Armstrong Ave.
  • Air monitoring equipment on tripods at various locations at and around the perimeter of the site.
  • 24/7 security guards and lights at night to maintain site security.
Expand List item 1419Collapse List item 1419  What safety measures are being taken to protect the community?
  • ​Work will occur within tented structures under negative pressure (vacuum) to prevent dust from escaping in accordance with South Coast Air Quality Management District District Rule 1403 for asbestos abatement and under a site-specific Health and Safety Plan prepared in accordance with California Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines.
  • 24/7 real-time outdoor air monitoring for dust will be conducted continuously at the site and nearby neighborhoods to ensure dust does not escape into the community. Based on monitoring reports, additional measures could be made, including, but not limited to, stopping work.
  • Waste will be consolidated into sealed containers for offsite disposal, and trucks will be decontaminated before leaving the site.

Who To Contact

For questions or concerns about the abatement and removal of onsite debris at Hangar 1 you may contact the Navy and your local stakeholder representatives here: click this link

Administrative Record: click this link

Helpful Links:
Final Work Plan, Hangar 1 Debris Removal, Tustin CA: click this link
DTSC work notice: click this link
City of Tustin Fire Response Page: click this link

 
Website Updated: 12 May 2025

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