On April 21, contractors will inspect portions of Section 78 of Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) in which there are no burials.
In July 2024, while conducting burial operations, several canisters were discovered underground that contained an agricultural herbicide banned in the United States in 1985. The canisters were removed in August 2024. This current inspection, which may last a few weeks, is a precautionary measure to determine whether there is evidence of any additional hazardous or non-hazardous materials.
While there has been no evidence of additional materials so far, ANC is initiating this work out of an abundance of caution. During the inspection period, visitors to Section 78 may see equipment and machinery (such as a small excavator and drill rig) and potentially experience some noise pollution in the area. The goal is to complete both phases prior to Memorial Day so visitors may honor service members without the disturbance of equipment and contractors during the holiday weekend. The safety of our visitors and employees is the cemetery’s top priority during this work.
If you have any additional questions, please reach out to the Public Affairs Office at ancpublicaffairs@army.mil.