Questions Answers Amend 0002 FINAL.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS for Combined Synopsis/Solicitation W911N2-26-Q-A018

Q1. Is it appropriate to assume that the sampling work for the Open Burn/Open Detonation (OBOD) and Ammonium Perchlorate Rocket Motor Destruction (ARMD) CLINS can be within a single mobilization?

A1: Yes, the OBOD and ARMD sampling can be accomplished within a single mobilization. Note that stormwater run-off testing requires specific environmental conditions and therefore a separate mobilization may be required.

Q2. Are duplicate, Matrix Spike/Matrix Spike Duplicate (MS/MSD), and field blank sampling required as part of the OB/OD sampling effort? The sampling plan does not call out these as required samples.

A2. Yes. The Government requires the inclusion of duplicate, MS/MSD, and field blank samples as part of the OB/OD sampling effort.

Q3. Is it appropriate to assume that perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) analysis is not required as part of this OBOD groundwater scope, considering this testing was performed at the onset of the groundwater monitoring program?

A3. Yes. The Government confirms that PFAA analysis is not required for the current OBOD groundwater sampling scope, as this baseline testing was completed at the onset of the monitoring program.

Q4. What level of data validation is required (e.g. EPA Stage 2B)?

A4. The Government requires EPA Stage 2B data validation for all sampling activities consistent with the facility’s current permit and established environmental protocols. The approved Environmental Sampling plan for the ARMD Facility discusses statistical evaluation of the data in Section 10.0, Data Analysis and Reporting, which references 40 CFR §264.97(h).

Q5. Can depth to water data be provided for the monitoring wells be provided?

A5. If this question is asking for the most recent measurement, then the Government is providing historical depth to water data for the monitoring wells, as recorded in the most recent available sampling report (2023).

Please refer to the table below:

Q6. What statistical evaluation is required for the macroinvertebrate data analysis, and what criteria have been established for the Habitat Assessment?

A6. Per the Permit description, “Benthic macroinvertebrate and habitat assessment data from each of the stream reaches will be tabulated in a benthic macroinvertebrate community analysis. A variety of statistical and index methods will be reported including taxa richness, diversity, similarity, and other community indices.

These will include the six core metrics of total taxa richness, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) richness, Beck’s Index, Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI), Shannon diversity, and Percent Sensitive Individuals used in the PADEP [Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection] wadeable freestone riffle-run stream IBI [Index of Biotic Integrity] scoring.” For Habitat assessment it should be done with the Department of Environmental Protection - Rapid Bioassessment Protocol (DEP-RBP) habitat assessment 12 parameter methodology. The OBOD/Flash Furnace Env Sampling Plan requirements of data evaluation are included in Section 8 of the Plan (with some related discussion at the end of Section 7 (Macroinvertebrate Sampling)).