Sacramento Army Depot

Sacramento Army Depot (SAAD) was a United States Army installation located about seven miles southeast of downtown Sacramento, California. Activated in 1941, the depot occupied roughly 485 acres and served for decades as a repair and overhaul facility for military electronics, including night vision equipment, electronic circuit boards, and radium-dial instrumentation. Industrial work at the site involved metal plating, degreasing, and other operations that relied heavily on solvents and metals. Following recommendations of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, the depot was deactivated and officially closed on March 3, 1995. Portions of the former depot have since been transferred and redeveloped for commercial and industrial reuse, while environmental cleanup and monitoring continue.

Because of the industrial and plating operations conducted on the property, soil and groundwater at the former depot were found to contain a range of chemical and, in some areas, radiological contaminants. Several of these substances have been studied in connection with potential health effects, and concerns about potential exposure have led to ongoing investigation and monitoring at the site.

1. TCE (trichloroethylene): A chlorinated solvent widely used for degreasing metal parts and equipment. At Sacramento Army Depot, TCE was among the volatile organic compounds detected in soil and groundwater, and it was a primary target of the depot's cleanup standards. Exposure to TCE has been associated in some studies with concerns about kidney, liver, and other health effects.
2. PCE (tetrachloroethylene): A solvent related to TCE and commonly used in degreasing and cleaning operations. PCE was identified at the depot alongside other volatile organic compounds in contaminated soil and groundwater. Long term exposure to PCE has been associated with concerns about potential effects on the nervous system and other organs.
3. Other volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Additional solvents, including 1,2-dichloroethylene, were detected at the site and addressed under the depot's soil cleanup standards. These compounds can migrate through soil and into groundwater, which is why exposure pathways at the site have been monitored over time.
4. Heavy metals: Plating and industrial processes contributed to detections of metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and lead in site soils. These metals do not break down in the environment, and exposure to certain heavy metals has been associated with concerns about a variety of long term health effects.
5. Radiation (radium): Because the depot repaired radium-dial instrumentation, radium-226 and related radiological materials were associated with parts of the facility. Radium contamination was addressed under the federal cleanup process, and concerns about potential exposure to radioactive materials have been part of the site's evaluation.

Sacramento Army Depot was added to the EPA National Priorities List on July 22, 1987, designating it a Superfund site. In 1988, the U.S. Army, the EPA, and the State of California entered into a Federal Facilities Agreement, with the Army as the lead agency for environmental response. A Record of Decision signed in 1991 called for treatment of contaminated soil using soil vapor extraction and related methods, and the EPA has reported that human exposure and groundwater migration are under control and that construction of the remedy is complete, with the site considered ready for anticipated reuse. Long term monitoring continues.

Veterans who served at Sacramento Army Depot and who have questions about possible exposure are encouraged to stay informed as cleanup and monitoring information is updated. Speaking with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) about service history and any related health concerns can help individuals understand available resources and benefits. This page is informational only and is not medical or legal advice.