Site_Visit_Slides_Final_23_Oct_13_ Read-Only .pdf

Fairchild Air Force Base

PBR Site Visit 23 & 24 October 2013

Fairchild Air Force Base

PBR Site Visit 23 & 24 October 2013

•Craig Road Landfill

Site Description

•The Record of Decision (ROD) for the Craig Road Landfill was signed in 1993. There are two main contaminant source areas at the landfill that total 19 acres and are estimated to be 10 to 20 feet deep. It was used for the disposal of miscellaneous sanitary and industrial wastes, demolition and constructions wastes, and coal ash.

•The primary contaminant of concern at the site, Trichloroethylene (TCE), was found to be present in groundwater . The remedies for this site include a RCRA Subtitle D cap and groundwater pump and treat system for which construction was completed in Sep 1995.

•Pump and treat operations were initiated in 1995 and continued continuously until 2007. Since 2007 and continuing to the present, the treatment system has been operated in a batch treatment mode. A soil vapor extraction system was implemented in 2010 as well as In‐Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO) injections in 2011.

LF‐002

•The site consists of two interconnected industrial lagoons that were designed to accept industrial wastewater and stormwater that had been treated by oil/water separators and grit chambers located along the flightline and eastern portions of the base.

•TCE was the primary groundwater contaminant and has migrated at least 600 feet off‐base (eastward) within the shallow alluvial aquifer. No substantial vertical migration of TCE into the lower basalt aquifer system was observed.

•Contaminated soil, likely a groundwater contamination source, was excavated from the site. During this soil removal, a cluster of buried drums containing a wide variety of contaminants were discovered and removed.

•Due to the resulting significant reduction of site contaminants, full‐time pump and treat operations were altered to an as‐needed basis in 2004. The pump and treat operations were operated intermittently since that time to the present; on‐going operation has ceased.

WP‐003

•Industrial Wastewater Lagoons

LF‐001

• Old Base Landfill

Site Description

•The Old Base Landfill is located on the Fairchild AFB active flightline, adjacent to Taxiway B. It was the base’s main disposal area for the from 1949 to 1958.

•The landfill contains approximately 10 to 20 feet of mounded landfill material and is capped with a 1 to 3 foot non‐engineered soil cover.

•TCE in Groundwater was identified as the site CoC.

Previously, groundwater had been regularly monitored at the site.

•Currently, no RA‐O activities are underway. Other activities include Five‐Year Reviews.

SS‐018

• Refueling Pit Area

Site Description

•This site is located on the flightline where a storage tank at refueling/defueling Pit 18 was known to have leaked up to 120 gallons of JP‐4 fuel in 1984. Additionally, a large fuel spill occurred in 1985, leaving approximately 1,000 gallons that may have entered the stormwater system and/or soil. Evidence of groundwater contamination was later detected during drilling activities.

•Benzene and TPH‐D are the primary contaminants of concern in shallow groundwater.

•Benzene was detected in several wells at concentrations exceeding its MCL and petroleum hydrocarbons were detected at concentrations exceeding the MTCA Method A cleanup level. Free product was observed in two monitoring wells in 1991. The selected remedy consists of groundwater monitoring in addition to free product recovery.

SS‐026

• Spill Site ‐ Flightline

Site Description

•This site is located on the flightline. Petroleum odors were noted in July 1982, during runway soil compaction testing near Building 1019. Petroleum vapors were attributed to leaking underlying jet fuel distribution lines.

Site SS026 is used for aircraft parking, maintenance, fueling, and defueling. Historical data indicate that shallow groundwater flows generally to the east northeast, quasi‐parallel to the taxiway and flightline.

• Field investigation activities completed through 1992 indicated that fuel line leaks had impacted groundwater in the vicinity of the releases. TPH and BTEX constituents were detected in monitoring wells located immediately down gradient of the suspected release area. The contaminants were suspected to be limited to the upper alluvial aquifer and had already begun to show declining concentration trends. The selected remedy consists of groundwater monitoring.

FT‐004

•This site is a former fire training area. From the early 1960s to 1991, fire training exercises were conducted two to three times per month. During these exercises, the bottom of an unlined bermed area was filled with a few inches of water, and JP‐4 jet fuel held in a nearby UST was pumped onto the surface of the water. The ignited fuel was then extinguished using film‐forming foam. Waste oil and solvents also were burned. An oil/water separator discharged into a low area east of the training site.

•TPH and BTEX are the primary contaminants for soils and BTEX is the primary contaminant in shallow alluvial groundwater.

•Air‐sparging and bioventing systems have remediated BTEX‐contaminated groundwater and TPH‐contaminated soil within the influence of the systems which have been placed in standby mode. Groundwater monitoring across the site is continuing.

•Former Fire Training Area

ST‐006

•This site is the main bulk fuel storage facility at the base, comprised of four above‐ground storage tanks that store approximately 3 million gallons of JP‐4 fuel. Three fuel releases have occurred totaling over 6000 gallons.

Additionally, sludge removed from the bottom of the tanks historically was placed in the bermed areas surrounding the tanks.

•Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) is the predominant Contaminant of Concern.

•A bioventing system installed in 1988 has remediated TPH‐contaminated soil within the radius of influence of the system, which was shutdown indefinitely in December 2006. The ROD specified natural attenuation, groundwater monitoring, and land use controls (LUCs) to address TPH contamination in the groundwater. Groundwater monitoring across the site was initiated in 1996 and is expected to continue until remaining contamination is below regulatory action levels.

•Bulk Storage Fuel Area

SS‐009

•This site is locate along the eastern edge of the Wherry Housing Area. Soil and groundwater contamination was caused by uncontrolled heating oil spills from an AST directly to the surface soil and into a dry well. The AST was removed in 1985. Fuel oil contamination was found in the soil and groundwater.

•In 1992, 850 cy of contaminated soils was excavated.

•The COC is TPH‐D in both soil and groundwater. The remedy consists of maintaining institutional controls, and monitoring site and downgradiant groundwater to assess natural degradation and migration of TPH‐D until the state cleanup level is achieved.

•Sampling rounds in 1996 and 1997 revealed that TPH‐D has been reduced to below the cleanup levels. As a result, in1998 with concurrence from EPA and Ecology, it was agreed that cleanup levels in the groundwater for the COC had been achieved, and LTM could be discontinued. Site monitoring wells were decommissioned in 1998.

•Heating Oil Tank Area, Wherry Housing

ST‐010

This site formerly contained two 12,000‐gallon underground storage tanks (USTs), containing No. 6 oil which fueled the two Deep Creek Steam Plant, building 1350, boilers and one 500‐gallon UST containing No. 2 fuel oil for preheating the boilers. Prior to 1982, waste solvents from maintenance activities conducted at the base were added to the No. 6 oil and burned. Contamination is believed to have resulted from overfills and spills, and possibly from tanks or pipes that developed leaks. Base personnel observed fuel and groundwater infiltrating building 1350 through cracks in the foundation over time.

In 1992, the three USTs were removed and 400 cubic yards of petroleum‐contaminated soil were excavated. However, contaminated soil and groundwater were suspected to remain onsite. The remaining amount of contaminated soil is believed to remain within the footprint of the building

• P‐4 Pumphouse 8

SD‐031

•This site is located on flightline. Floor drains inside the building captured liquid wastes and discharged them to an OWS located south of the building which overflowed into an unlined drainage ditch. The discharged materials were most likely lubricating oils and cleaners. During operation as a corrosion control paint shop, it is estimated that personnel discharged more than 6,000 gallons of degreasing solution over about 9 years of operations.

•TCE concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 56.8 mg/kg were collected from three surface soil samples collected at the oil/water separator in 1991. TCE is the COC for the site. The selected remedy for the sites is maintaining intuitional controls, excavation and off‐site disposal of TCE contaminated soils, and monitoring natural degradation of diesel range petroleum in site soil. In 1996, approximately 140 cubic yards of soil were excavated from the site. Since that time significant investigative activity has been performed at this site.

• Fuel Truck Maintenance Area; Bldg 1060

FT‐032

•The site is an old fire training area used in the 1950s and 1960s. The COC established for the site are TPH‐D in soil and groundwater. The selected remedy for the site per the Priority 2 site ROD consisted of maintain institutional controls until cleanup levels are achieved and monitoring site soil and groundwater until state cleanup levels for soil and groundwater were achieved.

•Long‐term soil treatment was initiated by excavating and land farming impacted soil. A total of approximately 550 cubic yards of soil were land farmed prior to 2006;

cleanup levels were met in March 2006. Land farmed soil was returned to the excavatation. Long‐term groundwater monitoring was initiated in 1996, discontinued n 1997, and re‐established in 2001. From 2001 through 2008, and in 2010, all TPH‐D concentrations in site wells were below the ROD cleanup levels of 1000 μg/L. In Oct 2010, Ecology concurred with the Air Force that a No Further Active Remediation determination was warranted on Oct 2010.

•Old Fire Training Area

DP‐013

The site consists of a park/recreational area. The area served as an aircraft salvage and reclamation facility prior to 1960. Investigation in 1991 included a geophysical survey, test pits, and soil samples. Samples dug around the perimeter of the site contained silver, barium, cadmium, antimony, thallium, zinc, and lead above natural background levels. An assessment of engine valves removed from the excavation concluded the valve present s a potential safety hazard because some contain 10 to 15 grams of elemental sodium which reacts violently if exposed to water. Because there is no exposure to metals contamination, no remedial action to address chemical hazards was identified as being necessary according to the ROD. However, in order to reduce the potential physical hazards at the site, the Air Force covered the site with several inches of topsoil and established turf grass.

Institutional controls are currently in place to restrict site activity to prevent or oversee intrusive activity.

• Former Aircraft Reclamation Yard

SD‐37

•This site consists of media impacts due to releases from oil/water separators (OW/S) at numerous flightline buildings as well as a UST formerly located at Building 2447. Of concern were the potential impacts to the base soil and groundwater from petroleum hydrocarbons, metals, and VOCs. Residual contaminated soil was left in place at most of the buildings when the OW/S were either removed or upgraded. Contaminants of concern (CoC) were petroleum hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds releases from the O/WS. BTEX compounds, metals, TPH, and VOCs have been detected. TCE is the primary CoC at this site. The dominant groundwater flow direction is to the northeast.

•Since the 2000 RI and FS, significant investigative work has been performed at this site to include monitoring well construction, direct push soil borings, and pilot testing

• Basewide Oil/Water Separator Site

SS‐39

•This site was initially identified in 1985 as a result of three separate investigations at sites SD‐31, SD‐05, and SS‐

07. Remedial Investigations in 2002, 2005 and 2006, and 2007 somewhat delineated the extent of contaminants of concern (COCs) in groundwater.

Site SS039 originates at the southwest corner of Fairchild AFB, adjacent to site SD031, extends across the base approximately parallel to the flightline, and may terminate near the northeast Base boundary at Highway 2. Two‐ thirds of the site SS039 groundwater plume underlies industrial buildings along the north side of the flightline.

The distal third of site SS039 underlies two military family housing areas in the northeast section of the base. TCE is the primary contaminant of concern. The dominant groundwater flow direction is to the northeast. A remedy selected as part of the Interim Record of Decision consists of groundwater monitoring in addition to targeted residual source treatment at selected areas of interest.

•Orphan TCE Plumes

SS‐019

Elemental mercury was discovered in the sump of a concrete valve vault located near the MSA Water Tower.

The vault provides access to the sub‐grade drinking water system. The vault’s sump system is designed to pump accumulated water through buried piping to a drainage swale located about 150 feet from the vault.

Approximately two quarts of mercury was recovered from the sump pit. Flow through the overflow pipe allows contamination from the valve vault to be released into surface soils at the outflow. Mercury contaminated soils were identified above Washington State clean‐up levels.

A removal action was taken at the site in 2012 and removed all known soil contamination at the site. Six groundwater monitoring wells were also installed at this site as part of this effort, and no groundwater contamination was identified above the WDOE Unrestricted Use Cleanup Level in Groundwater for mercury. Residual contamination is still present within the valve vault, even after decontamination.

•Mercury Vault Site

SR‐939

The Machine Gun Range (MGR), is adjacent to the currently operational Small Arms Range. The muzzle of each machine gun was placed inside a concrete tunnel approximately 20 feet in length. The bullet trap system, installed in 2004, is located 25 meters down‐range. Prior to the installation of this system, earthen berms surrounding the sides of the range, (approximately 25 feet in height) were used as the backstop for all MGR firing. All infrastructure that the supported the operation of the MGR is currently still in place, including earthen berms.

The MGR was last used in 2010. Lead core small arms (5.56‐ and 7.62‐mm) were fired at the MGR when it was operational.

In 2011, an ORAP Phase II Quantitative assessment was conducted. Five of the six soil samples collected were above the MTCA Method A soil cleanup level for unrestricted land uses of 250 mg/kg for Lead. The analytical results identified lead concentrations in the six soil samples ranging from 103 mg/kg to13,800 mg/kg.

•Machine Gun Range

RW‐11

•This area is located at the former site of Deep Creek Air Force Station (DCAFS), an Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) facility that is now part of FAFB. The site includes two underground storage tanks (UST), a burial trench, and three interior work areas.

•The work areas were formerly used for conducting routine maintenance on nuclear device components. The UST were designed as contingency for the containment of wash water in the event of an incident involving the accidental release of radioactive materials during component maintenance activities. Investigations provide no evidence to suggest any releases ever occurred at DCAFS. The paper wastes and small amounts of solvent generated during this activity were wrapped in paper and disposed in the burial trench. The tanks have been removed and buried trench thoroughly excavated. A removal action conducted in Dec 2011 removed limited PAH soil contamination to industrial, but not residential cleanup levels. Limited wells have been installed.

•Radiological Waste Disposal Area

WP‐36

•The lagoon was constructed in the late 1950s as a settling pond for effluent from the former Deep Creek Air Force Station sewage treatment facility. The Imhoff Tank at building 1454 is the last remaining structure from the original treatment facility which was used for settling and anaerobic digestion of solids. A trickling filter and primary settling tank originally constructed with the building have been removed. TPH, cadmium and lead was discovered in the lagoon sediments above the MTCA Method A cleanup levels for soil.

• Imhof Tank/Wastewater Lagoons

NFA Sites (Priority 3)

The Priority Three NFA sites consist of four IRP sites, SS‐33, SD‐34, ST‐35, and SD‐38. Dig and haul excavations were perform at each of these sites in 1998. That year, the WA Dept of Ecology stated they had determined that the removal appears to have adequately addressed the contamination previously identified at the sites and Ecology has determined that no further action is necessary. However, a final determination of no further action for the sites will have to undergo the remedy selection process. Also that same year, Region 10 EPA stated that the removal activities undertaken at these sites have adequately addressed contamination at these areas. A final no further action decision for these sites cannot be made officially until the proposed plan and Record of Decision process is completed for the sites.

• SS033, SD034, ST035, and SD038

CRP Sites

There are thirty (30) sites located across the installation, primarily formerly used petroleum storage tank and oil‐ water separator sites, that became an Environmental Restoration Program site when they were no longer actively used. The sites have known or suspected contamination from releases and have been validated as requiring remedial investigation/characterization.

• TU500‐TU506, OW040‐OW58, SS059, OW060, CF061, CF062, OW063