The history of this site begins with Ladd Army Airfield &AAF), established in 1939. In September 1942, LAAF had an important role in the implementation of the wartime lend-lease program as a crew-transfer point for conveying various types of military aircraft to Russia. On September 18, 1947, LAAF was redesignated Ladd Air Force Base. Its early missions were to serve as a resupply and maintenance base for the remote distant early warning sites and an experimental station in the Arctic Ocean.

1960s documentation indicates that 30 CAIS were buried at Ft. Wainwright. Six CAIS were removed as a result of excavation activities sometime during the 1960s and disposed of.

1970s Records indicate that no lethal chemical agents were used at Fort Wainwright; however, several chemical agent identification sets (CAIS) were stored there until the late 1970s. Records also indicate that four CAIS were stored at Ft. Wainwright prior to shipment to Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA) for disposal.

1993 Fort Wainwright is listed as a National Priorities List (NPL) installation with an extensive installation restoration program (IRP), primarily addressing conventional hazardous waste and contamination. The FY93 Army Work Plan identified approximately $8 million in funded IRP projects. The suspect Birch Hill site was fenced and marked with warning signs.

1994 Excavation and remediation of the Birch Hill site was completed in August and no further chemical warfare agent (CWA) were found.