0

Buckley Annex

Location

Background

  • From 1937 through 1966, the bulk of the Buckley Annex property was a runway apron used for aircraft parking and maintenance.
    • During airfield operations, the southern half of the property was undeveloped and vacant.
    • Other historic uses of the property included equipment storage and administrative activities.
  • Between 1968 and 1976, after the airfield operations ceased, the runway apron was decommissioned and most of the buildings north of the runway apron demolished.
    • In 1975 and 1976, Building 444 and several smaller associated buildings (407, 409, 445, 446, and 449) were constructed.
    • During construction activities, Runway No. 1 was converted into a roadway (Archer Place), while the main area of the runway apron was converted into an employee parking lot, access roadway and landscaped areas.
    • The western end of the runway apron was converted into tennis and basketball courts.
  • The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) began operation at Lowry Air Force Base in 1976.
    • When Lowry Air Force Base closed in 1994, most of the base was transferred to the Lowry Economic Development Authority, also known as the Lowry Redevelopment Authority (LRA).
    • The Buckley Annex parcel remained in Air Force control as the Defense Finance and Accounting Service facility and assigned to Buckley Air Force Base for management purposes.
    • Buckley Annex was added to the Base Realignment and Closure 2005 list as part of a Department of Defense effort to consolidate Defense Finance and Accounting Service functions around the country.
    • The site was ultimately closed and the property is currently under redevelopment.
  • Map of historical building locations.
  • In 2003, following a series of discoveries of previously unknown contamination on the closed portion of the base, we issued an RCRA Compliance Order for the entire Lowry Air Force Base property, including the Buckley Annex parcel.
    • This order included all historical boundaries of the base and required the Air Force to complete a thorough RCRA Facility Assessment.

Environmental concerns

In July 2000, the Air Force conducted a Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation (PA/SI) at the Buckley Annex property. The investigation included five types of environmental concerns:
  • Munitions and explosives.
  • Asbestos-containing material.
  • Lead-based paint.
  • Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
  • Water quality:
    • Drinking water.
    • Groundwater.
    • Storm water.
    • Surface water.

​Records review​

Contact