Sharpe Army Depot

Sharpe Army Depot is a former Army supply and maintenance installation located near Lathrop, California, in San Joaquin County, roughly nine miles south of Stockton. The site was established in 1941 as a wartime holding and reconsignment point and was later named Sharpe General Depot in 1948 in honor of Major General Henry G. Sharpe. For most of its history the installation stored, packaged, and shipped general supplies and maintained equipment, with earlier missions that included the repair and reconditioning of vehicles, helicopters, and aircraft. In 1997 the facility transitioned to the Defense Logistics Agency and was renamed, and portions of the mission were later reorganized under the Army. Industrial maintenance operations conducted on site over several decades generated chemical wastes that were disposed of locally, affecting soil and groundwater.

Because of these long running maintenance and disposal activities, the depot has been associated with several environmental contaminants that have prompted concerns about potential exposure for workers, residents, and veterans who served at or near the installation.

1. TCE (trichloroethylene) is a chlorinated solvent that was widely used as a degreaser for metal parts and equipment. At Sharpe Army Depot, TCE was among the volatile organic compounds detected in soil and groundwater, and a portion of the soil remedy involved vapor extraction to address TCE contamination. Exposure to this solvent has been associated in some studies with concerns about kidney, liver, and immune system effects.
2. Solvents and other volatile organic compounds, including tetrachloroethylene (PCE), toluene, and xylenes, were used in cleaning and maintenance operations at the depot. These compounds migrated into the groundwater, which contributed to the federal cleanup designation. Concerns have been raised about potential health effects from long term exposure to such solvents.
3. Heavy metals, including lead, hexavalent chromium, and arsenic, were documented in soil and debris at the site, reflecting industrial maintenance and disposal practices. Certain metals contaminated soils were excavated and disposed of off site as part of the remedy. Exposure to heavy metals has been associated with concerns about a range of health effects depending on the metal and degree of exposure.
4. Asbestos, a fibrous mineral once common in construction materials and equipment, was listed among the inorganic substances of concern at the installation. Asbestos fibers, when disturbed and inhaled, have been associated with concerns about respiratory conditions and certain illnesses that may appear many years after exposure.
5. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of persistent man made chemicals associated with firefighting foams and other industrial products. A preliminary assessment and site inspection completed in 2022 confirmed the presence of PFAS in on site soil and groundwater, and the facility is listed by the California Water Board among military sites under PFAS investigation. Researchers continue to study possible health concerns linked to PFAS exposure.

Sharpe Army Depot was placed on the EPA National Priorities List (the federal Superfund list) in 1987 after metals, pesticides, and solvents were found in soil and groundwater. Extraction and treatment of groundwater to remove volatile organic compounds began that same year, with an additional interim system established in 1990, and the long term remedy uses air stripping and carbon treatment. Construction of the remedy is reported complete, while operation, maintenance, and monitoring of the soil and groundwater systems remain ongoing, and PFAS investigation work has continued in recent years.

Veterans who served at Sharpe Army Depot and have questions about possible exposure are encouraged to stay informed as cleanup efforts continue. Speaking with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs about health resources and any benefits for which you may be eligible can be a helpful step.