The Toxic Legacy: 7 Shocking Facts About The San Jacinto Ordnance Depot And Its Ongoing Superfund Cleanup
The San Jacinto Ordnance Depot (SJOD) is far more than a forgotten World War II relic; it is a critical, ongoing environmental battleground in Texas, currently undergoing a massive, multi-agency cleanup effort that is directly tied to the health of the Houston Ship Channel. As of December 2025, the former military site remains a stark example of a Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) where the dangers of unexploded ordnance (UXO) are compounded by the presence of a notorious adjacent Superfund site, the San Jacinto River Waste Pits (SJRWP).
The history of this 4,954-acre reservation, once a vital ammunition storage and shipment hub, is now overshadowed by a complex and costly remediation project involving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The fate of the land, which borders the Old River and the San Jacinto River, is intrinsically linked to the industrial expansion of Harris County and the safety of the surrounding communities near Houston, making its current status a matter of significant public interest.
The San Jacinto Ordnance Depot: A WWII Powerhouse and Its Evolving Biography
The San Jacinto Ordnance Depot was established during a crucial period in American history, serving as a key logistical node for the U.S. military. Its strategic location and massive scale made it a powerhouse for the war effort, a legacy that now presents a unique environmental challenge.
- Official Designation: San Jacinto Ordnance Depot (SJOD)
- Location: Approximately fifteen miles south of Houston, Texas, situated on the north bank of the Houston Ship Channel (HSC) and bordering the San Jacinto River and Old River.
- Acreage: The original military reservation covered 4,954 acres (about 2,000 hectares).
- Operational Period: November 1941 to 1964.
- Primary Function: A major U.S. Army ammunition depot responsible for receiving, storing, inspecting, and shipping all classes of ammunition (excluding smoke) destined for the Army and Navy during World War II and the Korean War.
- Strategic Importance: Built farther inland than other facilities due to fears of potential attacks from German U-boats or warships off the shores of Galveston and New Orleans.
- Post-Military Use: Phased out of activity between 1945 and 1950, with the land sold to the Houston Channel authority in 1964 for over $10 million.
- Current Status: Designated as a Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) under the purview of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
- Current Land Use: The land is now primarily used for industrial purposes, including a Dredged Material Placement Area (DMPA) for the Beltway 8 expansion project, and is part of the larger Houston Ship Channel Expansion Channel Improvement Project.
- Remaining Structures: Some original World War II-era ammunition bunkers (magazines) and other structures still stand on the site.
The Hidden Dangers of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and DMM
The most immediate and physical danger remaining from the depot’s military past is the widespread presence of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and Discarded Military Munitions (DMM). This legacy places the site in a high-risk category for future development and public safety.
The USACE, through the Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) program, is the lead agency responsible for investigating and cleaning up potential contamination and munitions hazards at the former depot. This process is complex because the depot was not a firing range, but a storage and transshipment facility, meaning the UXO is often a result of improper disposal or accidental loss.
Historical records indicate that the military’s decommissioning plan for the site noted a significant problem. It is estimated that approximately 1.5 million rounds of ammunition did not detonate upon impact at nearby training areas, and an additional 3 million pounds of chemical and explosive waste were discarded in the surrounding waters and land. While the SJOD itself was a depot, the presence of these materials in the general vicinity highlights the regional danger of military waste.
The UXO contamination poses a serious threat to construction workers, dredging operations, and the public, especially as the Houston Ship Channel Expansion Channel Improvement Project continues to develop the area. The discovery of munitions during dredging or excavation work can halt multi-million dollar industrial projects and require specialized Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams to safely remove or detonate the items.
The Toxic Neighbor: San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site
The environmental profile of the former depot is dramatically worsened by its direct proximity to one of the nation's most notorious toxic sites: the San Jacinto River Waste Pits (SJRWP). While technically a separate cleanup, the two sites are often discussed together due to their shared location on the San Jacinto River and their combined impact on East Harris County.
The SJRWP was designated a Superfund site due to massive contamination from highly toxic dioxin and other hazardous wastes. This contamination originates from waste pits created in the 1960s containing paper mill sludge contaminated with dioxin, a persistent environmental pollutant known to cause serious health and ecological issues.
The latest updates, as of late 2025, show significant progress but also indicate the cleanup is far from over. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the final cleanup plan submitted by the responsible companies. This plan mandates the complete removal of the toxic waste from the northern impoundment waste pit and the placement of a cap over the southern impoundment.
Crucially, the Remedial Design (RD) process for the northern impoundment is currently ongoing, and the Second Phase Pre-Design Investigation (PDI-2) field work is scheduled to begin. This phase involves extensive testing and engineering to prepare for the physical removal of the toxic material from the riverbed, a massive undertaking that will finally address a decade-long environmental and health threat to local residents.
The Intersection of History, Industry, and Environmental Remediation
The former San Jacinto Ordnance Depot is a microcosm of the complex challenges facing modern industrial development in areas with a military past. The land is highly valuable due to its location on the Houston Ship Channel, making it desirable for industrial expansion and port operations.
The USACE is balancing its FUDS cleanup mandate with the Houston Ship Channel Expansion Channel Improvement Project, which aims to deepen and widen the channel for larger vessels. The dredging and construction work required for this expansion directly interacts with the former depot land, which is now a Dredged Material Placement Area (DMPA). This overlap necessitates careful coordination to ensure that UXO is not inadvertently disturbed or spread by dredging activities.
The legacy of the depot also includes its connection to the initial inclusion of Houston in the plans for what would become the Johnson Space Center (NASA), further cementing its role in the region's historical development.
In conclusion, the San Jacinto Ordnance Depot is a site of profound historical significance, but its current story is dominated by a dual environmental crisis. The successful remediation of both the UXO/DMM contamination under the USACE FUDS program and the dioxin contamination at the adjacent SJRWP Superfund Site—a process that is actively in the Remedial Design and Pre-Design Investigation phases in late 2025—is essential for securing the long-term safety, ecological health, and industrial future of the Houston Ship Channel region.
Detail Author:
- Name : Bradly Steuber
- Username : xcarter
- Email : danielle27@hotmail.com
- Birthdate : 1986-12-31
- Address : 77506 Alexanne Glen Apt. 192 Port Rosalyn, SD 26763-3293
- Phone : +1 (559) 272-3704
- Company : Gerlach Inc
- Job : Geography Teacher
- Bio : Maiores labore saepe facilis nihil expedita. Nam ad eos atque amet aut. Dolore doloremque illum quod alias vitae sunt. Cupiditate id ut architecto autem.
Socials
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/mustafa_xx
- username : mustafa_xx
- bio : Dolor tempore unde animi nemo voluptatem quia.
- followers : 3560
- following : 1448
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/mustafa.cruickshank
- username : mustafa.cruickshank
- bio : Est adipisci numquam aut non aut. Soluta accusantium voluptatem quis non reiciendis. Eaque molestiae quo quis culpa deleniti. Eos id repudiandae labore aut.
- followers : 4624
- following : 1036
instagram:
- url : https://instagram.com/cruickshankm
- username : cruickshankm
- bio : Ipsam ut architecto quos dolores harum. Sed iusto magni molestiae.
- followers : 3702
- following : 2761
