Scenario_1_Edna_Camp_SOW.pdf

Solicitation: 1291S8-18-R-0001 Attachment #1

SITE SCENARIO 1

Statement of Work

Edna Mine PA/SI

Plumas National Forest

Feather River Ranger District

Contractor shall conduct Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation (PA/SI) under Activity I, Task 3 of the Regional Environmental Response Contract.

Location and Background

The Forest Service, an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is currently investigating the release of hazardous substances at the Edna Camp Mine Site (hereinafter referred to as the "Site") in the Plumas National Forest. The Site is located on National Forest System lands within the Feather River Ranger District on the Plumas National Forest. Edna Camp Mine is an abandoned mine site located in Sierra County, at the end of Forest Service (F.S.) road number 21N69, 5.58 miles south east of La Porte. To reach the site turn east off of Sierra County road number 511 at La Porte, travel 3.03 miles on F.S. road number 21N28, turn left on to F.S. road number 21N12 travel .8 miles, turn right on to F.S. road number 21N69 travel 1.75 miles then hike approximately 1000 feet. Edna Camp Mine site is located at 4800' elevation in Happy Hollow Ravine in the Canyon Creek Watershed on the southern edge of the Plumas National Forest, adjacent to the Tahoe National Forest.

Happy Hollow Ravine, a perennial stream, runs through the middle of the site, then into Canyon Creek. There is an open adit that drains effluent into Happy Hollow Ravine. The length of the adit is not known, the adit is partially filled with water (effluent). There are no buildings or structures near the adit. This site is covered by conifers and light riparian vegetation. The boundary of this site is estimated at approximately 35 acres. Edna Camp Mine appears to be part of a complex of mines. There are other adits, mining debris, old building platforms, and an abandoned flume in the area of the site.

Canyon Creek and the North Yuba River Basin are used for municipal, industrial and agricultural supply, esthetic enjoyment, navigation, ground water recharge, fresh water replenishment, hydroelectric power generation, and preservation and enhancement of fish, wildlife and aquatic resources. Canyon Creek is used for recreation including fishing. The tributaries of Canyon Creek of which Happy Hollow is included, are spawning habitat for rainbow and brown trout.

Within a 4-mile radius there are documented federally endangered Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs (SNYLF’s). Although there have been no SNYLF sightings recorded in Happy Hollow Ravine or Canyon Creek, the Edna Camp mine is within the elevational range of the SNYLF and would require a site visit to evaluate habitat suitability. This could be a factor of whether or not consultation with The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is necessary should mining actives resume. There are protected areas for the California spotted owl (Strix occidentails occidentalis) and Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) at the Edna Camp Mine location. The owl and goshawk are California state species of concern and Forest Service sensitive species.

The California spotted owl has been petitioned for federal listing on August 19, 2015. The USFWS is currently reviewing the petition and shall return its findings on whether the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information that the petitioned action may be warranted. Within a 2- mile radius of Edna Camp Mine on the Plumas National Forest there are two California spotted owl protected areas and two Northern goshawk protected areas. Although

Solicitation: 1291S8-18-R-0001 Attachment #1 there have been no recent survey efforts, activity within the protected areas has been documented over several decades. Other sightings include rough legged hawk, black bear, bobcat, golden mantle ground squirrel, common and terrestrial garter snake, western toad, pacific tree frog, long toed salamander, aquatic garter snake and fairy shrimp. Primary targets for this site include the fishery, riparian habitat and habitat for sensitive and endangered species.

In surveys done in 1995-96 there was continuous riparian habitat along Happy Hollow Ravine with no aquatic life observed downstream of the mine, according to sampling done during low flow periods.

Location of Edna Camp Mine Features: Lat./Long: 39 39' 54.05", / 120 55' 14.54";

Elevation: 4800'feet above MSL; Legal: Mount Diablo Meridian, T21N, R9E, SE 1/4 of sec 24;

USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle: La Porte, CA

The mine site shown at Happy Hollow Ravine on the MAS/MILS describes it as an" unknown type of operation", a "mineral location" and the point of reference is an "ore body". A reference search of the Plumas County Museum and the MAS/MILS was conducted and no records were found concerning operations at this mine and no potentially responsible parties have been identified. According to Scott Lawson of the Plumas County Museum most of the mining in that area was for gold in auriferous gravels so he thought this adit would have been constructed to reach the base of a gravel deposit. There are waste piles present at the portal of the mine. The

Solicitation: 1291S8-18-R-0001 Attachment #1 waste piles haven't been analyzed as far as the grain size or the extent or depth of the deposits.

The effluent flows over the waste piles causing staining and additional deposition.

Previous Investigations:

In 1998 the Plumas National Forest (PNF), completed a Preliminary Assessment (PA) at the abandoned Edna Camp Mine in Sierra County, California. The purpose of that investigation was to collect information concerning conditions at the Edna Camp Mine sufficient to assess the threat posed to human health and the environment and to determine the need for additional CERCLA/SARA or other appropriate action.

The scope of the investigation included review of available file information, a comprehensive target survey and an on-site reconnaissance. The Forest Service contracted with the Bureau of Mines in 1995-96 to conduct a site investigation including: collection of water, sediment and waste rock samples for chemical analysis and to perform benthic studies. Sampling, testing and a summary document were coordinated and written by Jerry Olson, Project Geologist, Bureau of Mines.

Initial field evaluation was performed by Forest Service personnel. The evaluation included water temperatures, 45F, water pH ranged from 3.0 - 7.5, soil pH ranged from 4.3 to 6.5, iron tests showed areas > 20mg/l, sulfides >200mg/l and visual indicators such as lack of vegetation and aquatic life were noted.

The piles were sampled by the Bureau of Mines. These piles contain iron and marginally elevated amounts of mercury. The water flowing from the adit contains cobalt, nickel and zinc.

Stream sediment sampling contains antimony, iron, chromium, vanadium, and possibly nickel and zinc and a more significant release of mercury was found downstream.

Description of Work

Conduct a combined Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection (PA/SI) for the Edna Camp Mine Site.

Conduct a combined Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection (PA/SI) on the Site as per Activity I, Task 3 of the Region 5 Environmental Response Contract. The combined PA/SI shall include maps delineating sources of hazardous substances and sampling locations in accordance with the requirements of the Regional IDIQ SOW. The combined PA/SI shall also include sample data and analysis of the data.

The PA/SI report shall include recommendations of further actions or conclusions, including the completion of a narrative report in accordance with EPA’s latest guidance documents, including but not limited to:

1. Guidance for Performing Preliminary Assessments Under CERCLA, EPA Publication 9345.0-01A, September 1991.

2. Guidance for Performing Site Inspections Under CERCLA, EPA Publication 9345.1-05, September 1992.

3. Improving site assessment: Combined PA/SI Assessments, EPA-540-F-98-038, October

Solicitation: 1291S8-18-R-0001 Attachment #1

The contractor shall furnish personnel, services, materials, and equipment required to support/conduct combined PA/SI assessment activities. The combined PA/SI assessment integrates activities typically performed during the PA ( information gathering, site reconnaissance) with activities typically performed during the SI (review of data, development of field work plans, field sampling, filling data gaps) to achieve one continuous site investigation.

Activities performed pursuant to this requirement shall be consistent with the NCP.

In the performance of this task, the Contractor shall use existing data to the maximum extent practicable. Note, that the focus of the investigation is not to collect data for the generation of a HRS score, but to document releases and human health and environmental receptors and exposure. The recommended sample locations and numbers of samples listed in this statement of work are suggestions only. The Contractor shall provide clear technical justification for the type and number of samples. For remote sites such as abandoned mine lands HRS scoring is not completely applicable. Work activities under this task include, but are not limited to the items listed in Activity 1, Task 3 of the Region 5 Environmental Response Contract.

A Field Sampling Plan shall be prepared and approved by the FS, prior to sampling. Water and sediment samples shall be collected at the portal of the mine adit, outside the portal in the waste piles, at various locations in the drainage below the mine (Happy Hollow Ravine), and into Canyon Creek. The length of the drainage is about 2300 ft from the adit to Canyon Creek. It is recommended that at least 15 water and 10 sediment samples be collected. It is ultimately up to the Contractor to propose the number, type and location of environmental samples they feel is necessary in order to adequately characterize the site to meet objectives.

In addition, there are possible mill sites that may require soil sampling. These potential mill areas shall be assessed for sampling needs by the Contractor. Soil samples shall be collected if any potential tailings or mine waste are identified.

Solicitation: 1291S8-18-R-0001 Attachment #1

Sample collecting will require foot travel over uneven, steep terrain. There is no road access to the site. Due to very wet winter conditions, access to the site may not be possible until June.

The Contractor is expected to conduct the optimal sampling necessary to achieve the objective of site characterization. The combined PA/SI shall include maps delineating the mine location in the watershed, mine features within the site, and sampling locations. The combined PA/SI shall also include field notes, sample data and analysis, lab work, recommendations for further actions, conclusions, and the QA/QC information.

Performance Period

Not applicable.

Government Supplied Property

None.

Solicitation: 1291S8-18-R-0001 Attachment #1

Site Scenario Deliverables. For this scenario, please submit the following:

Technical and price proposal.

Conceptual PA/SI work plan that the firm has prepared (can be a plan from another site).

Example PA/SI Report that the firm has prepared.