Navy gets final clearance at crash site

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - WAVY.com has learned that the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has given the Navy a final clearance letter at the crash site at the Mayfair Mews Apartment Complex. The Navy was waiting on that letter to give owners the final go-ahead to allow people to move back in.

The owners, however, are not allowing tenants back in until Friday, May 11.

Tenant Pat Kavanaugh told WAVY.com, "I'm just happy to know that I can move back in tomorrow. We've been told tomorrow is the move-in day and I am surprised that it has happened so quickly."

Sheriff's department deputies are still at the site at the request of the owners.

According to a press release by the Navy, the following remediation work was performed at the site:

• 27 units/10 buildings condemned by the City of Virginia Beach were demolished by the Navy’s remediation company HEPACO. Demolition was completed April 17.
• Debris removal was completed April 21.
• Soil remediation, which included removal of contaminated soil, was completed April 23.
• Final Site remediation was completed May 7.
• There were 37 undamaged units. These units were professionally cleaned, which included solid surface wipe down, as well as vacuuming of the carpet and ductwork.

The Navy says approximately $166,000 was distributed in claims for affected families for the first two weeks after the crash. A second distribution was also given totaling more than $100,000 for those who could not re-enter their homes.

Residents still have up to two years to file a claim. They are available online by following this link .