Attachment B - Statement of Work EinsteinMine.docx

Attachment B – Statement of Work, Einstein Mine Site Inspection

STATEMENT OF WORK

CERCLA Site Inspection for Einstein Mine, Mark Twain National Forest, Madison County, Missouri

Project Overview The United States Forest Service (USFS) requires a Contractor to perform a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Site Inspection (SI) at the Einstein Mine Site located on the Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF) in Madison County, Missouri.

The Einstein Mine Site is a Forest Service managed abandoned lead/ silver mine from the 1870’s that is believed to contain surface level tailings with high lead (Pb) concentrations. There has been minimal work in the past to evaluate the extent of contamination due to mining activities and any potential release of contaminants.

The purpose of the SI is to determine if onsite soil contamination exists and its extent. The SI activity shall include soil sampling and producing an SI report.

The sampling will include incremental sampling methodology (ISM) soil sample collection, to be processed and analyzed in a laboratory to evaluate an unbiased estimate of the mean concentration of the COCs in soil. The work includes field collection of 29 soil samples along with 12 QA replicates for a total of 41 field samples with 30 aliquots each. Each Decision Unit (DU) will be samples and no less than 20% of the DUs will receive triplicate QA replicates. The DUs will vary in size and shape and will require the investigator to determine the locations of the 30 aliquots to adequately cover the entire DU. The field work will be followed by laboratory processing by drying, disaggregating, sieving, milling, using a COR approved lab SOP and analysis of the resulting samples using SW-846 Methods. There shall also be 4 replicate laboratory QC subsamples along with trip blanks, method blanks, and processing equipment blanks per the laboratory SOP.

All work shall follow Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidance and shall be subject to USFS review and acceptance by the Forest Service On-Scene Coordinator (OSC). Contractor shall utilize analytical methods in USEPA publication SW-846, Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods (SW-846 Methods), adequate for the Cleanup Goal and defensible under CERCLA.

Project Objectives The objective of this project is to perform an SI for the Einstein Mine Site (Einstein Mine or Site). The Site is located on federal lands administered as part of the MTNF in Missouri. The SI shall be consistent with the requirements of the NCP and applicable EPA Guidance, including EPA Guidance for Performing Site Inspections Under CERCLA (1992 or Latest Edition), Improving Site Assessment: Combined PA/SI Assessments (1999 or Latest Edition). Strict coordination and communication with the OSC is required for the success of this project.

The SI will be based on analytical results generated through the ITRC’s Incremental Sampling Methodology (ISM) applied to twenty-seven FS identified DUs.

Project Background The Site consists of 5.65 acres of National Forest System (NFS) land 10 miles west of the town of Fredericktown, Madison County Missouri. This Site was an active silver and lead mine, with prospecting activities starting in 1877. Operations were expanded in 1879, with a dam built across the St Francois River to provide power and numerous other buildings erected. The mine was operational for a few years before being abandoned. There are two adits/ tunnels from which ore was extracted as well as prospecting pits in the area still present. The adits have been blocked with angle iron to restrict access by the public for safety concerns. Multiple tailings piles are present at the Site along with constructed roads, ponds, and concrete pads/ foundations. Past Inventory of Mines, Operations, and Prospects (IMOP) data from 2016 indicate that lead (Pb) levels at portions of the Site may exceed EPA residential safety levels of 400 mg/kg.

The primary sources of information on the Site are the IMOP investigations conducted in 2016, A draft PA conducted in 2022, and archival data from the Missouri Geological Survey in 1894. These will be provided to the contractor after award.

Site Access The site is accessible via a hiking trail and is approximately 0.8 mi from the Silver Mines Campground. A site access map that depicts the site location is attached as Attachment E.

Spatial data, including spatially-referenced data and geospatial data, should be submitted: (a) in the ESRI File Geodatabase format; and (b) as unprojected geographic coordinates in decimal degree format using North American Datum 1983 (NAD83) as the datum. If applicable, submissions should include the collection method(s). Projected coordinates may optionally be included but must be documented. Spatial data should be accompanied by metadata, and such metadata should be compliant with the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata and its EPA profile, the EPA Geospatial Metadata Technical Specification. An add-on metadata editor for ESRI software, the EPA Metadata Editor (EME), complies with these FGDC and EPA metadata requirements and is available at https://edg.epa.gov/EME/.

Overall Project Schedule:

Site Inspection:

The objectives of the SI sampling are to collect data to determine the presence of and concentrations of COCs in Site soil.

Site Inspection Technical Approach The USFS requires that field sampling activities and analytical methods employed be capable of validly differentiating areas above and/or below the background levels of lead (Pb) associated with this geologic area. The soil sampling shall determine whether there’s evidence of a release of Pb from the Einstein Mine Site through use of ITRC’s Incremental Sampling Methodology (ISM).

The field effort planned is to result in statistically valid and defensible data sufficient to complete the Site Inspection. The ability to delineate overall contaminant distribution is critical for subsequent, efficient actions.

The Forest Service has established guideline areas for 29 decision units (DU). Decision units will need to be field delineated prior to sampling. Minor adjustments to DU’s shown in the SOW are allowed to prevent sampling areas that are difficult to access (dense vegetation, impervious surface, ect…). DU’s should not exceed 20,000 sqft. Boundaries of the DU’s will need to be identified on a map as part of the final deliverable. A map of the approximate DU areas will be provided by the Forest Service.

ITRC’s ISM soil composite samples of 30 aliquots shall be used within each of the 29 DUs. Additionally, triplicate soil composite samples of 30 aliquots shall be collected at 6 DU’s for a total of 41 composite soil samples containing 30 increments each. The investigator will determine the locations of each of the 30 aliquots to adequately cover the entire area consistent with ISM protocol. The surface duff will be cleared away and the samples will be taken of the surface soils 0-2 inches. Include 1 trip blank if recommended by laboratory. Contractor shall coordinate with the laboratory for appropriate sample containers, sample size, and any preservatives required. The field work is followed by laboratory analysis of the soil samples by using appropriate SW-846 Methods. The laboratory shall have previous experience processing ISM samples and shall be approved by the COR before the field work begins.

The COCs which will be sampled for include:

1) TAL Metals SW-846 Method 6010D Contractor must remain cognizant of land ownership patterns since USFS will not obtain permission to enter upon non-NFS lands. Field locations of soil samples and Decision Units shall be documented with a GPS receiver to a post-field corrected accuracy of 3 feet.

Site Inspection Project Tasks and Deliverables The SI activity includes developing and implementing soil sampling and analysis for COCs. SI activity also includes analyzing the data and reporting the results along with previous Site information.

Schedule, Line 1., 2., 4., and 6. - Field Sampling Services Field sampling is defined to include: A project phone kickoff meeting including the contractor PM, laboratory PM, and the COR shall take place prior to any onsite work to ensure project coordination. The proposed sample processing SOP’s will be discussed and approved by the COR prior to the start of field work. Meeting will also discuss planned work and timing, obtaining samples as determined in the technical approach section in this scope of work; field documentation; and associated field preparation, mobilization/demobilization, travel, and investigation-derived waste (such as excess soil) handling and disposal.

Field documentation shall include a field description of samples relevant to future data interpretation, location logging, and digital photographs showing relevant sample location characteristics.

Field notes documentation shall include:

· field log, noting field observations of conditions and features;

· basic description of samples;

· Sampling event photos, with description of each photo, including cardinal direction in which the viewer is looking and GPS coordinates of the photo location or field feature location;

· Resource or mapping-grade GPS locations of all sampling locations and significant field features, including photo points and mapping; and

· Chain of custody forms for samples.

Collect data to prepare map(s) of soil sample locations/areas and significant Site features, including roads and trails, other features, and delineating non-forested areas.

Deliverables – Pre-work conference call, sample collection and field notes, and post-work conference call to summarize the field work. The DUs have been divided into three priority areas as described in Appendix 1.

Schedule, Lines 3.,5.,7 and 8. - Laboratory Analytical Services The USFS requires analytical Methods SW-846 6010 to evaluate COC concentrations. One hundred percent of the laboratory analytical data shall undergo third party EPA Level 3 data validation following relevant, current EPA guidance. Final, validated data shall be included and evaluated in the SI Report.

Contractor and/or analytical laboratory shall be responsible for handling and disposal of any investigation-derived lab waste.

Deliverables - Preliminary unvalidated results, to include draft validated data spreadsheet (including draft lab data) in format proposed for final report; map of sampled locations, including off-site locations; draft map of photo numbers/locations, and associated spreadsheet with GPS location including elevation, and photo descriptions. These can all be included in the draft SI report.

Schedule, Lines 9. and 10. - Site Inspection Report Produce final Site Inspection Report with data presentation, including maps of various soil concentrations as appropriate, specifically including the known Site COCs at a minimum. Report shall include:

· Final versions of prior maps, as appropriate, and discussion;

· Contractor deductions or inferences based on examination of the data and other site-related materials;

· Contractor present all lab results/data with respect to presence of COC’s compared to relevant federal, state or Tribal soil criteria and background;

· MS Excel file that includes DU number, sample analytical results, and 95% UCL of that result. The coefficient of variance (CV) will be calculated for each triplicate. Even though the use of a 30 aliquot composite assists in approaching practical normality, both the Student-t (normal distribution) and Chebyshev (non-parametric) error band will be calculated for each 30 aliquot sample.

· Level 4 Laboratory data package including all raw data and copies of the sample chains of custody.

· Level 3 data validation report (third party).

· GIS layers containing the field-verified locations tied to the corresponding data corresponding with USFS requirements as well as approximate boundaries for each DU, if it makes sense. Maps and field GPS located photos also shall be referenced to each location or encountered feature.

· Documentation of the methods used, general observations, and lessons learned from the field work.

Deliverables – Draft Report will be submitted within 30 days of receiving the final laboratory data, the Forest Service will review the draft and submit comments to Contractor. Contractor will submit another draft to the Forest Service to ensure comments were addressed. Once the Forest Service accepts the draft report and the revisions, Contractor will submit the Final versions Site Inspection Report and final GIS layers within 14 days of Forest Service acceptance.

Schedule The SI Report will be done as Draft and Final documents. Electronic text submittals shall be in both Word and Adobe Acrobat, analytical results shall be in Excel, and figures and maps shall be in Adobe Acrobat with (ArcGIS) geospatial layers included with the Final Report deliverable. is encouraged to establish and use an Internet-based file sharing site for electronic submittals.

Maps The parcel labeled “USA” is defined as the Einstein Mine site owned by the United States and managed by the Mark Twain National Forest.

t

6 | Page image2.jpg image1.jpg