Chichiltahschool_SOWgp_(1)_2.pdf

Scope of Work

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Navajo Region Clean Closure of Chichiltah Landfill

Chichiltah, New Mexico

INTRODUTION:

In November 2021, the Division of Facilities Management & Construction (DFMC) request the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Navajo Region (NR), Branch of Environmental Management (BEM) for technical assistance with the clean closure of the former landfill located south of the Chichiltah Boarding School. DFMC plans to build a new school and utilize the landfill area as a parking area. To ensure this location can accommodate the proposed parking area for the new school, this will require clean closure of the landfill. The landfill is accessible from the school quarters which passes through an open gate, leading to the landfill just below the water tank.

The site is only accessible during school hours, as the fence surrounding the school is locked after hours. The landfill is located on administratively withdrawn BIA land and the school campus is enclosed by chain-link fence, however no fence exists within proximity of landfill that is accessible by foot or driving, once inside the school compound.

BEM is requesting the services of professional environmental contractor experience in delineating buried waste from recent dumping action and to locate historic episode of waste disposal. Once the delineation and sampling is completed, the clean closure of the landfill will proceed with clean backfill. The landfill area is approximately 0.75 acres and located 150 yards south of the school campus. The landfill site is located on administratively withdrawn BIA acreage. A six-foot chain-link fence encloses the Chichiltah school campus. No fence exists within proximity of the landfill site which is accessible by walking or driving up to the site.

The Chichiltah Boarding school can be reached traveling south on Highway 602 from Gallup, NM and turning west on Route 5, which leads to the school (Figure 1). The GPS coordinates for the landfill are approximately 35° 14’46” north latitude, 108° 54’15” west longitude.

BACKGROUND:

The BIA NR records indicate the Chichiltah landfill was constructed during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, during the period when the former BIA Chilchiltah Boarding school was constructed. The landfill was closed prior to 1993 per 40 CFR 141 Standard, which requires two feet of compacted soil cover. In 2000, a sign was in 2000 landfill inspection stating, “This landfill to Close September 30, 1991.” There was on trench closed at the site, and survey was conducted in 1995. The site visit observations could not substantiate the number, location, or any cells at the landfill site.

The Chilchiltah landfill was visually inspected by BEM contractors in FY2000 and 2005 to identify any subsidence or onsite drainage problems. None were noted in the conclusions in the 2000 report. In 2005, the contractor reported the landfill was in marginal condition with subsidence throughout the site with exposed wastes. There were no signs or prohibited dumping.

In December 2021, BEM staff conducted a site visit and met with Mr. Ray Tom, Chichiltah, School Maintenance personnel. According to Mr. Tom, the landfill was closed prior to his arrival in 1997. Most of the former employees have retired and the school has new staff that are not aware of the school landfill. Mr. Tom informed BEM the previous cook, retired; mentioned the custodians hand carried bags the daily trash collection from classrooms, office and kitchen waste was disposed at the dump site. There was no evidence of recent or new waste dumping.

The waste consists of concrete, glass, metal, tree shrubs and auto parts.

Past site inspections reported vegetative cover averages 35% to 40%, consisting of mixed forbs, grasses, and mixed woody perennials. A small amount of ponding occurred where there is subsidence between one and three feet deep. Five to eight potholes are adjacent to the subsided areas were observed. These do not appear to be stormwater runoff from the landfill. Erosion in the form of minor rills is present along the surrounding berms but has not exposed waste. Within the body of landfill, sheet erosion has exposed some of the waste with a few potholes’ areas, where waste is visible. The surface area is estimated to be approximately 200 cubic yards. There is runoff from the entrance road and some of the surrounding areas.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The period of performance is 90-days from the Notice to Proceed is issued.

The project will require the geophysical, sampling once excavation is done, and disposal of approximately 280 cubic yards of solid waste and restoring the excavation with clean fill and compaction of soil to a 95% proctor density with contouring of the disturbed area to prevent ponding of water on the site. The proposed plan is to utilize the cleaned landfill area will be used for a parking lot. All work will be performed under the aegis of RCRA, Subtitle D. Hazardous waste will be disposed in accordance with RCRA Subtitle C.

Task 1: Pre-Submittals

a) Prepare a Site-Specific Health and Safety Plan (HSP) in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.120., for worker protection and the public. Hazardous materials with the potential to be discovered during work may include lead acid batteries, asbestos containing waste, heavy metals, and PCBs. Include the COVID -19 protocols, inclement weather, equipment, and tripping hazards.

b) Selected geophysical study method in accordance with ASTM D6429-99 (2011) Standard Guide for Surface Geophysical methods. Upon the selection of method, conduct a geophysical study for approximately 0.75-acre site to locate and delineate the vertical, horizontal and width of all buried.

c) Sampling of the landfill for any potential environmental releases.

d) Prepare a Clean Closure Plan/Detailed Work Plan for the clean closure of the site to profile the solid waste for disposal at permitted landfill. Work with utility authorities in the school area and identify permitted disposal landfill that will be used.

Task 2: Statement of Work BEM is requesting the services of an professional environmental contractor to clean close the Chichiltah landfill. Services to be rendered under this contract are, but not limited to, the following:

a) Geophysical investigation of landfill to determine the extent of the debris at the site,

b) Prepare a sampling plan of the landfill area for approval by BIA, to identify any potential environmental contamination. Submit water and soil samples to certified NVLAP laboratory.

c) Contractor shall prepare a sampling plan to conduct a waste characterization of the buried debris for potentially hazardous wastes. Samples are to be taken at the bottom of the trench (landfill) to assure that no hazardous constituents leached into the soil or groundwater.

d) Cultural and Biological Forms/Categorical Exclusions, if required.

All work will be performed under the aegis of RCRA, Subtitle D. Hazardous waste will be disposed in accordance with RCRA Subtitle C. Change orders to reduce, or increase, the scope of work may require, and response must be rapid and precise.

a) When the plan(s) are approved, the contractor shall conduct work in accordance with the plan(s).

b) Mobilize equipment to the site.

c) Contact utility company in this area (Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA), Continental Divide to identify buried or overhead utility.

d) Delineate excavated area; segregate waste; metals, batteries and hazardous items.

Segregate large metals, load and transport to recycler. Segregate any concrete determined for recycling, if any concrete contains ACM.

e) Discovery of hazardous items, segregate hazardous waste, drums of unknowns, batteries and profile for disposal at permitted landfill.

f) The landfill shall be excavated to characterize the buried waste for quantity and determine the proper disposal of the debris. Waste removed from the cells shall be placed on 6-mil poly, berm and covered to prevent migration of any hazardous constituents from the site. Profiling of the solid waste for disposal at landfill shall be conducted and identify the transporter. The solid waste shall be transported to permitted landfill. .

g) Conduct water sampling in accordance with SDWA owned BIA-owned wells downgradient and SW846 protocol under the cells and for heavy metals, asbestos, or petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soils to determine if contamination has been released into soil and groundwater because of the dumping and to determine volume of the soils which will need to be disposed as contaminated waste. The contractor shall also review existing data for the drinking water wells to determine if any contamination has impacted the wells and to identify any target analytes not sampled under the SDWA protocol. Soil samples shall be taken at the bottom of excavated area.

h) The contractor shall backfill for all voids with clean fill and compact the area to 90% proctor density; grade and contour the area to prevent ponding or subsidence and meet the existing grade elevations contours.

i) Prepare final report with hazardous waste manifests or weight tickets to document disposal of waste at permitted landfill.

Task 3: Change Order

a) In the event other waste beyond the 0.75 the contractor shall provide a cost estimate for waste disposal at permitted landfills, to include the costs of the special waste preparation, permit/notifications, waste profiles and disposal manifests and hauling costs. Any additional new waste that is discovered during the geophysical study shall be reported to CO and COR, before any work is initiated.

Task 4: Reports:

The final report for this work shall be submitted and include, but is not limited to the following information:

a) Contractor shall prepare a draft and final report on the work accomplished. The draft will be reviewed by NRO BEM within 10 days.

b) Contractor shall prepare 5 sets of read only CDs in Microsoft Word of the plan for NRO, DFMC, BIE Facility Manager, NRO Property, NRO Facility Management and one set of writable CDs in MS word, all copies shall be mailed to BIA, Branch of Environmental Management, Post Office Box 1060, Gallup, New Mexico, 87301.

c) Upon receipt of the information plus the final reports, final payment shall be made to the contractor.

d) Volume and Weight of recycled items with weight tickets.

e) Volume and Weight of solid waste debris disposed in a permitted landfill with waste disposal manifests.

f) Signature of Project Manager and Environmental Professional certifying the recycling and solid waste disposal was done in accordance with environmental regulations 40 CFR.

Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Contractors Special Conditions

a) Any damages to property of the BIA or employees shall be repaired or paid by the contractor if caused by the company or their employees.

b) Chichiltah School is a closed campus. Contractor employees shall not come into contact with students, staff or tenants of the school without prior approval from BIA or BIE.

c) No drugs, alcohol or smoking is permitted on campus.

d) If there are questions on the project activities, it should be deferred to Navajo Region, Branch of Environmental Management at (505) 863-8434. No information will be released by the contractor to the public, private or regulatory agencies and shall be made through BIA

BEM.

e) Contractor shall work with BIE School Facility Maintenance or designated POC at the school.

The contractor will adhere to all applicable federal and tribal laws and regulations and payment of tribal taxes.

The contractor shall be required to furnish electrical and procure water to perform the work.

The Contractor is responsible for any utilities that are damaged during the course of the work and shall repair them immediately at no cost to the Government.