The document summarizes the Air Force's efforts to expand its groundwater treatment system at the former McClellan Air Force Base to contain and clean up contaminated groundwater. Key points:
1) The Air Force is completing installation of six new groundwater extraction wells as part of the Phase III expansion program to fully capture and contain contaminated groundwater within base boundaries.
2) The expanded system will include over 100 extraction wells and be able to treat 2,000 gallons of water per minute when complete.
3) Low-flow pumps are being installed in monitoring wells to improve groundwater sampling, saving both time and money compared to prior methods.
4) The Air Force signed an agreement to transfer nearly 97 acres
Gas Drilling Water Quality and Private Drinking SuppliesBruce Dickson
1) Gas well drilling produces large volumes of wastewater that can potentially contaminate nearby private water supplies if not properly managed. The wastewater contains high levels of salts like sodium and chloride as well as metals and organic compounds.
2) Contamination of private water supplies from gas drilling has occurred but is relatively uncommon, with over 95% of complaints found to be unrelated to drilling activities. A study in Pennsylvania found around 3-5% of private wells near gas drilling operations exceeded standards for certain contaminants.
3) Regulations require gas well operators to obtain permits addressing drilling, construction, and abandonment practices to protect water resources. Strict adherence to regulations has likely reduced contamination risks compared to older drilling methods
This is a 2009 report from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Oil and Gas Management on gas migration from wells in the state. More on fracking http://j.mp/dotfrack and the "gas age" http://j.mp/GasAge on Dot Earth.
A proposed "final" version of changes to PA's Chapter 78 (Conventional) and Chapter 78a (unconvetional/shale) drilling rules and regulations, made by the Dept. of Environmental Protection. Newly elected Gov. Tom Wolf and his Sec. of the DEP John Quigley have reworked what was a final version of the rules to put their own stamp on the drilling industry in the state. The newly revised rules are opposed by the Marcellus industry as unnecessary and overly burdensome.
Duke Study: Methane contamination of drinking water accompanying gas-well dri...Marcellus Drilling News
Study of 68 water wells in Pennsylvania and New York showing a link between shale gas drilling and higher levels of methane in nearby well water supplies.
The Salmon Site in Mississippi contains subsurface nuclear contamination from tests conducted in the 1960s. Major long-term stewardship activities include groundwater monitoring and enforcing restrictions to prevent access to the contaminated subsurface. The site area is 595 hectares and estimated annual costs for long-term stewardship from 2000-2006 were $60,000. The Department of Energy plans to transfer the surface land to the state after remediating surface contamination, while maintaining restrictions and monitoring of the subsurface indefinitely.
The Dewey Loeffel Landfill site in Rensselaer County, New York contains an inactive hazardous waste disposal area that accepted over 46,000 tons of industrial waste from 1952 to 1968. Hazardous substances like VOCs and PCBs have contaminated groundwater, surface water, sediments, and fish. In 2010, the EPA proposed listing the site on the Superfund National Priorities List due to these threats. Since being listed in 2011, the EPA and potentially responsible parties like GE have conducted investigations and begun operating groundwater extraction wells and a leachate collection system to address risks while longer-term remedies are evaluated through the RI/FS process.
This document provides an overview of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) and groundwater programs at the GE - Housatonic River Site. It defines NAPLs as hydrocarbon liquids that do not mix with water, and describes various NAPLs at the site including pyranol, aroclor 1260, 10C insulating oil, and coal tar. It also outlines NAPL performance standards, remediation methods including sheetpile barriers and well recovery, and groundwater monitoring programs to assess contaminant levels and ensure compliance with standards.
The document provides information about two sites in Kentucky - the Maxey Flats Disposal Site and the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. It summarizes that the Maxey Flats site accepted low-level radioactive waste until 1977 and is undergoing remediation expected to be complete by 2003, at which point the Commonwealth of Kentucky will assume long-term stewardship responsibilities. It also summarizes that the Paducah plant has been operating since 1952 to enrich uranium, and that DOE is currently conducting cleanup activities of environmental contamination from plant operations expected to be complete by 2010, along with long-term monitoring and maintenance.
Gas Drilling Water Quality and Private Drinking SuppliesBruce Dickson
1) Gas well drilling produces large volumes of wastewater that can potentially contaminate nearby private water supplies if not properly managed. The wastewater contains high levels of salts like sodium and chloride as well as metals and organic compounds.
2) Contamination of private water supplies from gas drilling has occurred but is relatively uncommon, with over 95% of complaints found to be unrelated to drilling activities. A study in Pennsylvania found around 3-5% of private wells near gas drilling operations exceeded standards for certain contaminants.
3) Regulations require gas well operators to obtain permits addressing drilling, construction, and abandonment practices to protect water resources. Strict adherence to regulations has likely reduced contamination risks compared to older drilling methods
This is a 2009 report from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Oil and Gas Management on gas migration from wells in the state. More on fracking http://j.mp/dotfrack and the "gas age" http://j.mp/GasAge on Dot Earth.
A proposed "final" version of changes to PA's Chapter 78 (Conventional) and Chapter 78a (unconvetional/shale) drilling rules and regulations, made by the Dept. of Environmental Protection. Newly elected Gov. Tom Wolf and his Sec. of the DEP John Quigley have reworked what was a final version of the rules to put their own stamp on the drilling industry in the state. The newly revised rules are opposed by the Marcellus industry as unnecessary and overly burdensome.
Duke Study: Methane contamination of drinking water accompanying gas-well dri...Marcellus Drilling News
Study of 68 water wells in Pennsylvania and New York showing a link between shale gas drilling and higher levels of methane in nearby well water supplies.
The Salmon Site in Mississippi contains subsurface nuclear contamination from tests conducted in the 1960s. Major long-term stewardship activities include groundwater monitoring and enforcing restrictions to prevent access to the contaminated subsurface. The site area is 595 hectares and estimated annual costs for long-term stewardship from 2000-2006 were $60,000. The Department of Energy plans to transfer the surface land to the state after remediating surface contamination, while maintaining restrictions and monitoring of the subsurface indefinitely.
The Dewey Loeffel Landfill site in Rensselaer County, New York contains an inactive hazardous waste disposal area that accepted over 46,000 tons of industrial waste from 1952 to 1968. Hazardous substances like VOCs and PCBs have contaminated groundwater, surface water, sediments, and fish. In 2010, the EPA proposed listing the site on the Superfund National Priorities List due to these threats. Since being listed in 2011, the EPA and potentially responsible parties like GE have conducted investigations and begun operating groundwater extraction wells and a leachate collection system to address risks while longer-term remedies are evaluated through the RI/FS process.
This document provides an overview of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) and groundwater programs at the GE - Housatonic River Site. It defines NAPLs as hydrocarbon liquids that do not mix with water, and describes various NAPLs at the site including pyranol, aroclor 1260, 10C insulating oil, and coal tar. It also outlines NAPL performance standards, remediation methods including sheetpile barriers and well recovery, and groundwater monitoring programs to assess contaminant levels and ensure compliance with standards.
The document provides information about two sites in Kentucky - the Maxey Flats Disposal Site and the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. It summarizes that the Maxey Flats site accepted low-level radioactive waste until 1977 and is undergoing remediation expected to be complete by 2003, at which point the Commonwealth of Kentucky will assume long-term stewardship responsibilities. It also summarizes that the Paducah plant has been operating since 1952 to enrich uranium, and that DOE is currently conducting cleanup activities of environmental contamination from plant operations expected to be complete by 2010, along with long-term monitoring and maintenance.
Lake Manzala Engineered Wetland, Port Said, Egypt [IWC4 Presentation]Iwl Pcu
Presentation during the focused learning discussion on Constructed Wetlands at the 4th GEF Biennial International Waters Conference.
Dr. Dia El Din El-Quosy
Project Manager
E-mail: lmewp@menanet.net
Lake Manzala Engineered Wetland Project
In-Situ Contaminant Stabilization and Brownfield RedevelopmentDavid Bausmith
The document summarizes the remediation of a former wood treating site in Port Newark, NJ that was contaminated with arsenic and creosote from its previous industrial use. Approximately 52,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil were treated using both in-situ and ex-situ cement-based solidification/stabilization, immobilizing the contaminants and rendering the site suitable for use as a container storage facility. The remediation reduced construction and disposal costs while meeting regulatory requirements and allowing productive reuse of the brownfield site.
The waterway and erosion management plan at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station organic fields requires improvements. Significant erosion is occurring due to steep slopes and intensive tillage. Some fields exceed the tolerable soil loss rate of 5 tons/acre/year. A HydroCAD model showed the existing waterway can convey 10-year storm flows. Recommendations include strip cropping, terracing problem fields, and diverting flows around a gullying area. Terraces will be installed in two fields to reduce slopes and soil loss to under 5 tons/acre/year.
This document summarizes a study that evaluated water quality in 100 private drinking water wells located near natural gas extraction sites in the Barnett Shale Formation in North Texas. The study found that some wells located within 3 km of active gas wells contained levels of arsenic, selenium, strontium and total dissolved solids that exceeded EPA limits. Lower levels of these constituents were found in wells further than 3 km from gas sites and in areas without gas extraction. Methanol and ethanol were also detected in 29% of samples. Contaminant levels did not show a clear spatial pattern and could be due to various factors like mobilizing of natural materials, changes to the water table, or industrial accidents.
Provide wetland mitigation plans to the town of Guilford, Connecticut regarding a parcel of property with areas of concern regarding presumed filled wetlands.
The Balangero asbestos open pit mine, located 35km NW of Torino (Italy), was the largest operation of this kind in Western Europe. The dry tailings were lifted by a conveyor belt from the mill and dumped over a natural slope with an approximate angle of 25 degrees, progressively reaching a maximum thickness estimated at 80 m.
By the '80s the dump was deeply scarred by various local and large scale instabilities, to the point that houses located at the toe, on the opposite side of the valley, were evacuated.
The award winning restoration project used a multidisciplinary approach including hydraulics, geotechnical, pedological and risk engineering to yield a well balanced and sustainable solution. This paper illustrates the Risk Based Decision Making (RBDM) process used through the feasibility, design and construction follow-up of the environmental restoration of the 60 Mm3 dry Balangero asbestos tailings dump.
The slopes were hit by storm Quinn and Medicane Rolf and came out unscathed. That was after surviving heavy summer storms in 2010 and 2011.
Update on Hydraulic Fracturing:Preparing for Gasland 2Now Dentons
In this presentation, FMC Law's Alex MacWilliam discusses hydraulic fracturing. The presentation covers the hydraulic fracturing process; the legislative and regulatory management of key issues related to hydraulic fracturing; liability issues in fracturing litigation; finally, lessons and trends related to hydraulic fracturing.
Suburban Land Use, Stormwater Best Management Practices, and Receiving Stream...David Govoni
Assessing Implementation of Management Practices and Their Relation to Water Quality. Presentation by Dianna Hogan, Taylor Jarnagin, Keith VanNess, Jennifer St.John, and Rachel Gauza, March 25, 2009
The "Findings Statement" issued by the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation that supplies the faulty thinking and irrational rationale for banning fracking in the Empire State. The ban is temporary--until a new governor and head of DEC are in place (hopefully at the next election). The Findings Statement is a pathetic attempt to paper over political motivations for a frack ban. It contains broad, sweeping and unsubstantiated by any evidence statements that denigrate the miracle of fracking. It is, in a word, pathetic.
This document provides details on the design of a constructed stormwater wetland in Durham, NC. The wetland will treat runoff from a 3.45 acre drainage area. Key aspects of the design include:
- The wetland will have a surface area of 7,459 sq ft and will be composed of a forebay, deep pools, shallow water, shallow land, and upland areas.
- Twelve plant species were selected to create biodiversity within the wetland zones.
- An orifice and weir were designed at the outlet to detain stormwater from a 1-inch storm for 48-72 hours and safely discharge flows from a 1.1-year storm.
The Hallam Nuclear Power Facility in Lancaster County, Nebraska was a former nuclear reactor that operated from 1962 to 1964. It was decommissioned and dismantled in the late 1960s, with some low-level radioactive materials entombed onsite. Current activities involve annual groundwater monitoring to ensure the stability of the entombed reactor. The site is 7.3 hectares and estimated costs for long-term stewardship activities from 1998 to past 2070 are $46,000 annually on average. The primary long-term activity is groundwater monitoring to ensure no contamination has migrated from the buried materials.
Swim Drink Fish Canada submission for relicensing written hearing for the Del...LOWaterkeeper
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) is currently applying to renew its Waste Nuclear Substance Licence for the Deloro site until 2022. The current licence will expire on October 31, 2017. Here's are findings and recommendations on the matter.
Independent Review of Hydrological Issues: Deloro Mine SiteLOWaterkeeper
This document provides a 3-page summary of an independent hydrogeological review of the Deloro Mine Site remediation activities:
- It describes the site location, geology, hydrogeology, and history of mining and contamination by arsenic and low-level radioactive waste.
- It outlines the remediation completed in the Industrial and Mine Area (IMA) and Tailings Area (TA), including waste consolidation and capping. It describes ongoing remediation in the Young's Creek Area (YCA).
- It evaluates the containment of radiological wastes, groundwater monitoring, and the merits of the MOECC's application to amend its nuclear license for ongoing oversight of remediation
The (Conoco) Conquista Site in Texas was formerly used for uranium milling from 1972 to 1982. Remediation activities are being conducted by the site owner, Continental Oil Company (CONOCO), to consolidate contaminated mill tailings, soil, and debris into an onsite disposal cell. In 2002, the U.S. Department of Energy will assume responsibility for long-term stewardship activities at the 243 hectare site, including monitoring of the disposal cell and contaminated groundwater. The estimated annual long-term stewardship cost from 2000 to 2006 is $38,943.
Hydraulic Fracturing - Myths and Maneuvers Cindy Bishop
This document discusses hydraulic fracturing and related issues. It begins with an overview of hydraulic fracturing including what it is, why it is important, and concerns about the process. It then discusses the regulatory framework at both the state and federal levels. The document outlines several myths and studies about hydraulic fracturing and its impacts. It concludes with discussions of recent litigation involving allegations of water contamination from hydraulic fracturing.
Environmental issues arise frequently on construction projects in Alberta. These issues can be complex and can result in regulatory investigations, litigation or significant unwanted publicity for project owners. This seminar by the Blakes Environmental Group will provide an overview of this rapidly changing area of the law and a discussion of best practices.
The document provides information on several long-term stewardship sites in Missouri, including the Kansas City Plant site. The Kansas City Plant site covers 56 hectares and requires long-term groundwater and surface water monitoring and institutional controls for soil contamination. Major remediation activities at the site have included soil removal and treatment of contaminated groundwater. Estimated annual long-term stewardship costs for 2005-2006 were $1.33 million. The Weldon Spring Site requires similar long-term monitoring of surface water, groundwater, and landfill maintenance, and had estimated annual costs of $1 million for 2003-2006.
Range Resources Voluntary Plan to Close Yeager Wastewater Impoundment in SWPAMarcellus Drilling News
A voluntary plan created and submitted by Range Resources to the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection to permanently close (and restore) the Yeager wastewater impoundment (i.e. open pond) site in Amwell Township, located in Washington County, PA. The plan was tweaked by the DEP to require Range to test for certain compounds underneath the two liners in the impoundment--liners that, according to Range, had holes in both layers.
The Salmon Site covers 1,470 acres in Mississippi where the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission conducted two underground nuclear tests in the 1960s, contaminating the subsurface and groundwater. Major long-term stewardship activities include annual groundwater monitoring and enforcing restrictions to prevent access to the contaminated subsurface. Stewardship is estimated to cost $40,000 annually through 2010 and $6.8 million total after 2070, involving monitoring, data analysis, and well maintenance every 25 years. The site is planned to transfer to the state as a demonstration forest after surface contamination decays over 10 years.
Lake Manzala Engineered Wetland, Port Said, Egypt [IWC4 Presentation]Iwl Pcu
Presentation during the focused learning discussion on Constructed Wetlands at the 4th GEF Biennial International Waters Conference.
Dr. Dia El Din El-Quosy
Project Manager
E-mail: lmewp@menanet.net
Lake Manzala Engineered Wetland Project
In-Situ Contaminant Stabilization and Brownfield RedevelopmentDavid Bausmith
The document summarizes the remediation of a former wood treating site in Port Newark, NJ that was contaminated with arsenic and creosote from its previous industrial use. Approximately 52,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil were treated using both in-situ and ex-situ cement-based solidification/stabilization, immobilizing the contaminants and rendering the site suitable for use as a container storage facility. The remediation reduced construction and disposal costs while meeting regulatory requirements and allowing productive reuse of the brownfield site.
The waterway and erosion management plan at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station organic fields requires improvements. Significant erosion is occurring due to steep slopes and intensive tillage. Some fields exceed the tolerable soil loss rate of 5 tons/acre/year. A HydroCAD model showed the existing waterway can convey 10-year storm flows. Recommendations include strip cropping, terracing problem fields, and diverting flows around a gullying area. Terraces will be installed in two fields to reduce slopes and soil loss to under 5 tons/acre/year.
This document summarizes a study that evaluated water quality in 100 private drinking water wells located near natural gas extraction sites in the Barnett Shale Formation in North Texas. The study found that some wells located within 3 km of active gas wells contained levels of arsenic, selenium, strontium and total dissolved solids that exceeded EPA limits. Lower levels of these constituents were found in wells further than 3 km from gas sites and in areas without gas extraction. Methanol and ethanol were also detected in 29% of samples. Contaminant levels did not show a clear spatial pattern and could be due to various factors like mobilizing of natural materials, changes to the water table, or industrial accidents.
Provide wetland mitigation plans to the town of Guilford, Connecticut regarding a parcel of property with areas of concern regarding presumed filled wetlands.
The Balangero asbestos open pit mine, located 35km NW of Torino (Italy), was the largest operation of this kind in Western Europe. The dry tailings were lifted by a conveyor belt from the mill and dumped over a natural slope with an approximate angle of 25 degrees, progressively reaching a maximum thickness estimated at 80 m.
By the '80s the dump was deeply scarred by various local and large scale instabilities, to the point that houses located at the toe, on the opposite side of the valley, were evacuated.
The award winning restoration project used a multidisciplinary approach including hydraulics, geotechnical, pedological and risk engineering to yield a well balanced and sustainable solution. This paper illustrates the Risk Based Decision Making (RBDM) process used through the feasibility, design and construction follow-up of the environmental restoration of the 60 Mm3 dry Balangero asbestos tailings dump.
The slopes were hit by storm Quinn and Medicane Rolf and came out unscathed. That was after surviving heavy summer storms in 2010 and 2011.
Update on Hydraulic Fracturing:Preparing for Gasland 2Now Dentons
In this presentation, FMC Law's Alex MacWilliam discusses hydraulic fracturing. The presentation covers the hydraulic fracturing process; the legislative and regulatory management of key issues related to hydraulic fracturing; liability issues in fracturing litigation; finally, lessons and trends related to hydraulic fracturing.
Suburban Land Use, Stormwater Best Management Practices, and Receiving Stream...David Govoni
Assessing Implementation of Management Practices and Their Relation to Water Quality. Presentation by Dianna Hogan, Taylor Jarnagin, Keith VanNess, Jennifer St.John, and Rachel Gauza, March 25, 2009
The "Findings Statement" issued by the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation that supplies the faulty thinking and irrational rationale for banning fracking in the Empire State. The ban is temporary--until a new governor and head of DEC are in place (hopefully at the next election). The Findings Statement is a pathetic attempt to paper over political motivations for a frack ban. It contains broad, sweeping and unsubstantiated by any evidence statements that denigrate the miracle of fracking. It is, in a word, pathetic.
This document provides details on the design of a constructed stormwater wetland in Durham, NC. The wetland will treat runoff from a 3.45 acre drainage area. Key aspects of the design include:
- The wetland will have a surface area of 7,459 sq ft and will be composed of a forebay, deep pools, shallow water, shallow land, and upland areas.
- Twelve plant species were selected to create biodiversity within the wetland zones.
- An orifice and weir were designed at the outlet to detain stormwater from a 1-inch storm for 48-72 hours and safely discharge flows from a 1.1-year storm.
The Hallam Nuclear Power Facility in Lancaster County, Nebraska was a former nuclear reactor that operated from 1962 to 1964. It was decommissioned and dismantled in the late 1960s, with some low-level radioactive materials entombed onsite. Current activities involve annual groundwater monitoring to ensure the stability of the entombed reactor. The site is 7.3 hectares and estimated costs for long-term stewardship activities from 1998 to past 2070 are $46,000 annually on average. The primary long-term activity is groundwater monitoring to ensure no contamination has migrated from the buried materials.
Swim Drink Fish Canada submission for relicensing written hearing for the Del...LOWaterkeeper
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) is currently applying to renew its Waste Nuclear Substance Licence for the Deloro site until 2022. The current licence will expire on October 31, 2017. Here's are findings and recommendations on the matter.
Independent Review of Hydrological Issues: Deloro Mine SiteLOWaterkeeper
This document provides a 3-page summary of an independent hydrogeological review of the Deloro Mine Site remediation activities:
- It describes the site location, geology, hydrogeology, and history of mining and contamination by arsenic and low-level radioactive waste.
- It outlines the remediation completed in the Industrial and Mine Area (IMA) and Tailings Area (TA), including waste consolidation and capping. It describes ongoing remediation in the Young's Creek Area (YCA).
- It evaluates the containment of radiological wastes, groundwater monitoring, and the merits of the MOECC's application to amend its nuclear license for ongoing oversight of remediation
The (Conoco) Conquista Site in Texas was formerly used for uranium milling from 1972 to 1982. Remediation activities are being conducted by the site owner, Continental Oil Company (CONOCO), to consolidate contaminated mill tailings, soil, and debris into an onsite disposal cell. In 2002, the U.S. Department of Energy will assume responsibility for long-term stewardship activities at the 243 hectare site, including monitoring of the disposal cell and contaminated groundwater. The estimated annual long-term stewardship cost from 2000 to 2006 is $38,943.
Hydraulic Fracturing - Myths and Maneuvers Cindy Bishop
This document discusses hydraulic fracturing and related issues. It begins with an overview of hydraulic fracturing including what it is, why it is important, and concerns about the process. It then discusses the regulatory framework at both the state and federal levels. The document outlines several myths and studies about hydraulic fracturing and its impacts. It concludes with discussions of recent litigation involving allegations of water contamination from hydraulic fracturing.
Environmental issues arise frequently on construction projects in Alberta. These issues can be complex and can result in regulatory investigations, litigation or significant unwanted publicity for project owners. This seminar by the Blakes Environmental Group will provide an overview of this rapidly changing area of the law and a discussion of best practices.
The document provides information on several long-term stewardship sites in Missouri, including the Kansas City Plant site. The Kansas City Plant site covers 56 hectares and requires long-term groundwater and surface water monitoring and institutional controls for soil contamination. Major remediation activities at the site have included soil removal and treatment of contaminated groundwater. Estimated annual long-term stewardship costs for 2005-2006 were $1.33 million. The Weldon Spring Site requires similar long-term monitoring of surface water, groundwater, and landfill maintenance, and had estimated annual costs of $1 million for 2003-2006.
Range Resources Voluntary Plan to Close Yeager Wastewater Impoundment in SWPAMarcellus Drilling News
A voluntary plan created and submitted by Range Resources to the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection to permanently close (and restore) the Yeager wastewater impoundment (i.e. open pond) site in Amwell Township, located in Washington County, PA. The plan was tweaked by the DEP to require Range to test for certain compounds underneath the two liners in the impoundment--liners that, according to Range, had holes in both layers.
The Salmon Site covers 1,470 acres in Mississippi where the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission conducted two underground nuclear tests in the 1960s, contaminating the subsurface and groundwater. Major long-term stewardship activities include annual groundwater monitoring and enforcing restrictions to prevent access to the contaminated subsurface. Stewardship is estimated to cost $40,000 annually through 2010 and $6.8 million total after 2070, involving monitoring, data analysis, and well maintenance every 25 years. The site is planned to transfer to the state as a demonstration forest after surface contamination decays over 10 years.
The Kansas City Plant in Missouri has soil and groundwater contamination from previous industrial activities that requires long-term stewardship. Groundwater monitoring and treatment will likely continue for hundreds of years to address volatile organic compounds and dense non-aqueous phase liquids. Surface water and sediment near the site also contain PCB contamination from historical spills. The site will require long-term monitoring of soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment, as well as maintenance of institutional controls and groundwater treatment systems. Estimated costs for long-term stewardship activities at the site are $1-2 million annually through 2070. The Department of Energy plans to use the site for the foreseeable future.
The document discusses three sites in Nevada - the Central Nevada Test Area, Nevada Test Site and Tonopah Test Range, and Project Shoal. For the Central Nevada Test Area:
- One subsurface nuclear test was conducted in 1968, with ongoing groundwater monitoring and access restrictions required.
- Surface remediation of contaminated soil pits will be complete by 2001, with long-term monitoring and controls over residual subsurface contamination indefinitely.
- Annual costs for long-term stewardship are estimated at $37,000.
The Central Nevada Test Area covers 1,036 hectares and was the site of one underground nuclear test, Faultless, in 1968. Major long-term stewardship activities include groundwater monitoring and enforcing access restrictions due to subsurface contamination. Two mud pits containing contaminated soils were capped. Long-term costs are estimated at $40,000 annually through 2015, increasing periodically due to activities like monitoring well replacement. The site is expected to remain open space managed by the Department of Interior into the future.
The Kansas City Plant site covers 56.4 hectares and requires long-term stewardship activities including groundwater and surface water monitoring, as well as maintaining institutional controls for soil contamination. Groundwater treatment and monitoring will need to continue indefinitely due to DNAPLs in the aquifer. Estimated annual costs for long-term stewardship activities at the site are $1.3 million.
The Kansas City Plant site has soil and groundwater contamination from previous industrial operations. Long-term stewardship activities include monitoring of groundwater and surface water, maintaining caps and treatment systems, and enforcing land-use restrictions. These activities are expected to continue indefinitely due to contaminants entering the groundwater that are difficult to remove. Estimated long-term costs average around $1.3 million annually through 2070 due to long-term groundwater monitoring and treatment requirements.
The document describes long-term stewardship activities at several sites in Missouri impacted by historical DOE operations. It provides details for the Kansas City Plant site, including:
- Groundwater and surface water monitoring and institutional controls are ongoing to address soil contamination from historical operations.
- Over $1 million per year is spent on long-term stewardship activities like groundwater treatment and monitoring.
- Surface and groundwater remediation has been ongoing since the 1990s and is expected to continue indefinitely to reduce contaminants to regulatory limits.
The (Conoco) Conquista Site is a former uranium milling site in Karnes County, Texas encompassing 243 hectares. Continental Oil Company (CONOCO) operated the mill from 1972-1982. Remediation efforts encapsulated contaminated soils and mill tailings in an onsite 101-hectare disposal cell. Groundwater is contaminated with radionuclides. In 2002, responsibility will transfer to the US Department of Energy for long-term stewardship activities including groundwater monitoring and disposal cell inspections costing an estimated $38,943 annually.
The document summarizes long-term stewardship activities at two sites in Oregon - the Lakeview Mill site and the Lakeview Site. At the Lakeview Mill site, activities include groundwater monitoring and enforcing deed restrictions to restrict groundwater use. At the Lakeview Site, activities involve monitoring the disposal cell that contains contaminated materials relocated from the Lakeview Mill site and maintaining institutional controls such as fencing and signage. The estimated average annual cost for long-term stewardship activities from 2000-2006 was $47,000 for the Lakeview Mill site and $111,000 for the Lakeview Site.
The document provides information on two sites in Kentucky - the Maxey Flats Disposal Site and the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. It summarizes that the Maxey Flats site accepted radioactive waste from 1963-1977 and is undergoing remediation to be completed by 2003, after which the Commonwealth of Kentucky will assume responsibility for long-term stewardship. It also notes that the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant enriches uranium on a 1,385 hectare site owned by the DOE, with current activities including engineered caps, monitoring, and maintenance expected to continue in perpetuity.
The Lakeview Site in Oregon contains a disposal cell that received approximately 722,000 cubic meters of contaminated materials from the nearby Lakeview Mill uranium processing site. The U.S. Department of Energy is responsible for long-term stewardship activities at the site, including monitoring the disposal cell and maintaining institutional controls. Annual inspections evaluate the condition of surface features and groundwater monitoring assesses initial disposal cell performance. Estimated annual long-term stewardship costs are $111,000 through at least 2070 to ensure protection of human health and the environment.
The daily progress report provides updates on several ongoing projects at a waste management facility. Work is continuing on assessing the liner material in Cell E6 and removing protective stone. For the western storm water diversion project, forms are being completed for the final wall pour and work is focusing on the box culvert transition structure. Pumping of water and mud from the area south of Cell E6 is ongoing to allow work on riser connections. Over 61,500 gallons of storm water was pumped from the sedimentation basin for treatment. No analytical data or anticipated problems were reported for the period.
The Burrell Site and Canonsburg Site summaries are as follows:
Burrell Site:
- Major activities include disposal cell and groundwater monitoring and access restrictions
- Site size is 28 hectares
- Estimated average annual cost from FY2000-2006 is $51,600
Canonsburg Site:
- Major activities include disposal cell monitoring, groundwater/surface water monitoring, access restrictions, and inspections
- Site size is 14 hectares
- Estimated average annual cost from FY2000-2006 is $148,000
The daily progress report summarizes work completed on various projects at a waste management facility on February 15th. Cell 6 assessment and repairs to the liner system continued, with contaminated material being removed and replaced. Stormwater was also pumped from Cell 6 and the sediment basin. Construction of the western stormwater diversion project neared completion. Excavation around the Cell 6 leachate risers resumed in preparation for reconnecting them. Testing of temporary piezometers found no groundwater. No problems were anticipated.
The Hallam Nuclear Power Facility site in Lancaster County, Nebraska entombed residual radioactive materials onsite after decommissioning a sodium-cooled nuclear reactor in the 1960s-1970s. Current activities include annual groundwater monitoring to ensure containment of contaminants. The 7.3 hectare site is estimated to require groundwater monitoring and maintenance from 1998 to past 2070 at an average annual cost of $46,000.
The document discusses coal conservation, utilization, and research and development in India. It covers topics such as coal conservation through maximum recovery from mines, use of mechanized opencast mining, and longwall mining methods. It also discusses sand stowing, mine fire control, and subsidence problems in Jharia and Raniganj coalfields. Major recommendations include shifting settlements from unstable areas, banning new construction in unsafe zones, and forming separate executing agencies to implement mitigation measures.
South east kowloon development kai tak approach channel reclamation.FelixGao
The document provides project details for the South East Kowloon Development - Kai Tak Approach Channel Reclamation project. It involves reclaiming approximately 28 hectares of land from the Kai Tak Approach Channel to accommodate planned development. Key aspects of the project include remediating contaminated sediments, extending drainage systems, and constructing advance portions of road tunnels. The project is expected to take approximately 5 years to complete and could interact with other nearby development projects.
The document provides information on two sites in Pennsylvania - the Burrell Site and the Canonsburg Site. For the Burrell Site, it summarizes that the major activities are disposal cell and groundwater monitoring with access restrictions. The site size is 28 hectares and the estimated annual cost from 2000-2006 was $51,600. For the Canonsburg Site, it summarizes the major activities are disposal cell monitoring, groundwater and surface water monitoring, and access restrictions, with a site size of 14 hectares and estimated annual cost from 2000-2006 of $148,000.
1. Environmental Action
McClellan
Environmental
August 2004 Update
A Quarterly Newsletter About Environmental Activites at McClellan
Air Force Expands Groundwater Treatment System
The Air Force is on track to reach a major
Newsletter
milestone late this fall in its efforts to contain
and clean up the groundwater at the former
McClellan Air Force Base. Workers are
currently completing the installation of six new
groundwater extraction wells. This is part of the
Phase III Groundwater Expansion program.
“Phase III is the final stage in our efforts
to completely capture and contain the
groundwater that is contaminated with volatile Contractors dig trenches for conveyence
organic compounds,” said Diane Kiyota, pipelines for new extraction wells.
McClellan’s groundwater program manager.
“We strategically place extraction wells The groundwater treatment network also
around the base to act as a barrier, keeping the includes more than 500 monitoring wells.
contamination from moving off base, as well Monitoring wells are used for sampling the
as pulling contamination back that has moved groundwater to determine the locations and
outside the base property boundaries.” levels of contamination, as well as to monitor
cleanup progress.
The Air Force currently has about 58 extraction
wells in continuous operation. The water is Phase III is being implemented in two efforts:
pumped and transported through above and off-base and on-base. Six “off-base” wells
below ground pipelines to a groundwater are focused on contamination that has already
treatment plant. This system treats about 1,100 moved outside the base boundaries. These
gallons of water per minute. Water is cleaned wells are currently being installed. The “on-
to levels better than drinking water standards. base” wells are designed to completely contain
Clean water is then released into Magpie Creek contamination within the base boundaries.
and Beaver Pond, on the west part of the former The Air Force expects to install about 46 “on-
base. Continued on page 2
Inside this issue...
CS10 repairs and New pumps installed in Off-base well Property
soil removal monitoring wells restrictions transfer
page 2 page 3 page 4 page 5
1
2. Continued from page 1
base” groundwater extraction wells by the end of 2005.
“So far things are going great,” Kiyota said. “We set a
relatively aggressive schedule and are right on track to
complete construction on time.”
The first two phases of the groundwater expansion
were completed in 1995 and 1999. Phase III expansion
carries out agreements made between the Air Force and
regulatory agencies, which are explained in the Basewide
Groundwater Interim Record of Decision (IROD).
Phase III began in 2002 with workplans, sampling and Workers drill an extraction well on McClellan as part
analysis plans, designs, regulatory agency review and of the Phase III Groundwater Expansion program.
data gap investigation. Data gaps are areas where the Air
Force needs more sampling data to determine the extent Kiyota said. “We’ve also just finished up the preliminary
of contamination. This is accomplished by installing design for the on-base portion and plan to be out in the
more groundwater monitoring wells. field this winter to drill the wells.”
“We just finished installing the off-base wells, and are When the Phase III expansion is complete, the groundwater
digging the trenches for the pipeline. We are working treatment system at McClellan will consist of more than
closely with state and federal regulatory agencies to 100 extraction wells and be able to treat 2,000 gallons of
have these six new wells up and running in December,” water per minute.
CS10 Soil Removal
The Air Force will soon remove part of the excavated The CS 10 disposal pit exceeded the original estimate
soil that remains staged in the Confirmed Site (CS) 10 of 33,000 cubic yards. The Air Force stopped disposing
weatherization tent at the former McClellan Air Force of the soil in November 2002 and began to stage the
Base. remainder of the soil inside the tent, awaiting additional
funds to remove the soil.
Excavation of the soil at CS 10 began in January 2002
and was completed in September 2003. A total of about The Air Force has recently received funding to pay for
52,000 cubic yards of soil at CS 10 were excavated. disposal of the 192 cubic yards of soil that remain staged
About 28,000 cubic yards of soil have been removed from in the tent. The Air Force anticipates that they will begin
the site and disposed of at licensed facilities in Idaho and to remove the soil in September 2004.
Utah.
“We will be removing the last of the soil that is
contaminated with fission products, which in this case
CS10 REPAIRS: Air Force contractors are in the process of is cesium,” said Dave Green, the radiological program
replacing the portion of the southern end of the weatherization tent manager at McClellan. “The rest of the soil that remains
that was damaged during an intense February 2004 storm. Portions in staging piles inside the tent is contaminated with radium
of the aluminum frame and fabric are being replaced. Clean soil is and metals, such as lead, cadmium and chromium.”
being brought in to level the area to help prevent future wind damage.
The damage had no impact on the contaminated soil staged in the tent.
The soil will be transported by truck, using the standard
Monitoring showed the public was not exposed to the contaminants.
procedures that have been used for removing soil from CS
10. Soil will be loaded into a bin at CS 10 and transported
to the soil staging area. Soil samples will be analyzed
in a certified lab, which takes 30 to 60 days. The results
of the samples characterize the waste and verify the level
of contamination prior to shipment. Then the bins will
be trucked, using an approved transportation plan, to a
2 licensed hazardous waste disposal facility in Utah.
3. Low-flow pumps improve groundwater sampling
Cleaning up contamination takes time and costs money. One Dale Anderson of URS Corp. oversees the sampling
of the biggest priorities for Air Force project managers is process. He said that the low-flow pumps replaced the
finding ways to achieve cleanup cheaper, faster and better. more time-consuming sampling method called “purge and
This includes keeping up with the newest technology. bail.” Purge-and-bail is a traditional sampling method that
involves removing large volumes of water from the wells
The Air Force is currently taking steps to improve its before a sample can be collected. A submersible pump
groundwater sampling program, is lowered into a well and pumps out
saving valuable time and money. the volume of water that has filled
the well. Then a sample is collected
McClellan has a vast groundwater
from the well.
monitoring and treatment system that
includes more than 500 monitoring “Sometimes we have removed
wells located on and off the former between 100 and 600 gallons of well
McClellan base boundaries. water. Then we have to haul that water
Collecting periodic water samples across the base to the treatment plant.
from these wells helps the Air Force That takes a lot of time,” Anderson
determine the location and extent of explained. “Plus, sometimes we
the contamination in the groundwater, pump a well dry, which adds to the
as well as the effectiveness of the problem because if the well doesn’t
treatment system. refill quickly, we need to come back
later to collect the sample.”
In January, workers began installing
low-flow pumps into the monitoring Anderson said that using the purge-
wells. These pumps will be used to and-bail method four people could
collect samples. Pumps will replace sample about seven wells a day.
the currently used and less efficient Using the low-flow pumps, two
“purge-and-bail” method. The people can sample at least ten wells
low-flow pumps consist of a Teflon a day.
balloon inside a tube about 2 inches Jeff Nelson, an environmental
in diameter. The balloon fills with technician, lowers a low-flow The low-flow pumps also need much
groundwater. To take a sample from pump into a monitoring well at less maintenance. Anderson said the
McClellan.
that well, compressed gas is forced low-flow pumps are very durable
down a plastic tube, which in turn and the only other equipment needed
brings water up to a valve at the is the compressed gas, which is
ground surface. Samples are sent to relatively cheap.
laboratories for analysis.
In addition to saving time and money, the low-flow
Diane Kiyota, the Air Force groundwater program manager pumps are practical for McClellan. The Air Force has
at McClellan, said that these low-flow pumps are already recently begun testing for other potential contaminants
saving the Air Force money. She expects the cost-savings such as 1,4-dioxane, hexavalent chromium, other metals,
to continue. radionuclides and perchlorates.
“We conduct sampling of various wells on a quarterly Unlike some equipment, low-flow pumps allow samples
basis. During the most recent round of sampling alone, to be collected for any type of chemical analysis.
we saved about $12,000. I expect that in 2005, we will
save more than $88,000,” Kiyota said. By the end of the year, the Air Force will have installed
about 450 low-flow pumps in monitoring wells.
Kiyota said the major reason for the cost-savings is from
labor. Sampling low-flow pumps is quicker. “We think these low-flow pumps are a dream to work with.
I have the highest confidence in the quality of the samples
and they save us a lot of time,” Anderson said. 3
4. Water Well Prohibition Areas
Do you live or work in the prohibition area (check the map below)? Permits are required before digging, repairing,
or modifying wells. In most cases, new wells are not allowed. Abandoned wells must be destroyed.
City of Sacramento
Code 13.04.680 is on the City’s website at
www.cityofsacramento.org/clerk/General/codes.htm
• Digging or drilling new water wells is PROHIBITED.
• Existing wells need to be either:
1. Abandoned (following County regulations), or
2. Disconnected from buildings so they are not used
for domestic purposes (install backflow prevention
devices).
Sacramento County
Codes 6.28.025. 6.28.020, and 6.28.030 are on the
County’s website at
http://municipalcodes.lexisnexis.com/codes/sacramento_
co/ N
• Digging or drilling new water wells is
PROHIBITED.
• A County permit is required before constructing,
modifying, repairing, inactivating or destroying any
well or well pump.
It is unlawful for the property owner to allow a nuisance
or abandoned well to exist on the property.
The Air Force held a public meeting on July 21 to solicit community
feedback on the Groundwater VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)
Proposed Plan. During the meeting, held at the Sacramento Regional Public Safety
Training Center on McClellan, the Air Force explained the Proposed Plan and presented
the alternative the Air Force prefers for cleanup of VOCs in the groundwater at McClellan.
Members of the public had an opportunity to ask questions about the alternatives
presented during the meeting. At the end of the meeting, community members were
provided an opportunity to provide official comments on the Proposed Plan and the
cleanup options presented. Members of the community could also provide written or
email comments on the Proposed Plan throughout the comment period, which ended
on Aug. 4. In all, the Air Force received 13 comments from the community. The Air
Force and regulatory agencies will consider these comments during the final decision-
making process. The Air Force will also formally respond to each of the comments in
Paul Brunner, McClellan environmental coordinator, talks the Responsiveness Summary portion of the Groundwater VOC Record of Decision,
to members of the community at the public meeting. which is scheduled to be completed in Spring of 2005.
4
5. Air Force to transfer nearly 97 acres to local community
Air Force officials recently signed a Finding of Suitability Approximately 78% of McClellan’s 2,856 acres are being
to Transfer (FOST) that clears the way for the local reused, including 275 acres that were previously deeded
community to acquire 96.62 acres of land at the former to Sacramento County. Once transfer paperwork is
McClellan Air Force Base. complete, 93.77 acres will be transferred to Sacramento
County and 2.85 acres will go to the Rio Linda Union
A FOST describes the environmental conditions and any School District.
restrictions that go into the deed transfer. The document
is required before the Department of Defense can transfer The Air Force conducted an extensive review of the
any McClellan property. The actual transfer is expected to environmental condition of the property. Federal and state
be completed by early August. environmental regulatory agencies were involved in the
entire process.
The FOST involves six parcels of land on the east and
west sides of the former base. In addition to land, the
parcels include basketball and tennis courts, the former
family lodging facility, residential and chapel facilities, a
N
hotel, a restaurant and warehouse facilities.
According to Paul Brunner, McClellan’s Base Realignment
and Closure (BRAC) Environmental Coordinator, “The
FOST’s signing is great news. This property is clean; so
it’s prime real estate for reuse by Sacramento County and
its developer, McClellan Park. We’re making progress in
getting reusable property to the County quickly.”
Paul Hahn, Director of Economic Development for
Sacramento County said, “This transfer marks the
beginning of a new era at McClellan. As the Air Force
and County work together to expedite and privatize
environmental cleanup, the transfer of property will attract
more businesses and employers.”
McClellan Environmental
Cleanup Scoreboard
As of July 1, 2004:
1,259,692
Pounds of volatile organic compound contamination
removed from soil and groundwater.
5
6. Environmental Action
Update
AFRPA/DD
3411 Olson Street
McClellan, CA 95652
For more information about
McClellan’s Installation
Restoration Program, please call:
Brian Sytsma
AFRPA,
Community Relations
(916) 643-1250 Ext. 257
brian.sytsma@afrpa.pentagon.af.mil
Kris Escarda
Cal-EPA/DTSC,
Public Participation Specialist
(916) 255-6683
kescarda@dtsc.ca.gov
Viola Cooper
U.S. EPA,
Community Involvement Coordinator
(415) 972-3243
(800) 231-3075
cooper.viola@epa.gov
www.afrpa.hq.af.mil/mcclellan
Have an Influence on Decisions regarding Environmental Cleanup at
and around the former McClellan Air Force Base
The Air Force is seeking members of the community surrounding McClellan to join the McClellan Restoration
Advisory Board (RAB). The RAB is an advisory group comprised of community members, regulatory agencies and
Air Force personnel coming together to discuss and participate in the environmental cleanup program at McClellan.
The McClellan RAB currently has two volunteer positions available:
• a representative from the Rio Linda community and
• a representative from the religious community.
RAB Members:
• Ensure greater community involvement in the environmental cleanup of the former Air Force Base
• Attend meetings, interact with other RAB members and the general public, and provide input about the ongoing
cleanup
• Provide comments and advice to the Air Force, as well as act as a liaison with his/her community to encourage more
participation from the community
For more information about the RAB and to receive an application, please contact McClellan Community
Relations at (916) 643-1250, ext. 257, or send an email to brian.sytsma@afrpa.pentagon.af.mil. Information and
applications are also available at http://www.afrpa.hq.af.mil/mcclellan. Please return the completed application to:
AFRPA Community Relations - 3411 Olson Street - McClellan, CA 95652
6
Next Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) Meeting: November 2004