Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
February 09, 2009
4. Water Quality -
Plant 42 system to remove groundwater contaminants
The
By Allison Gatlin
PALMDALE - Officials are preparing to install a system for removing contaminants from groundwater in one area of Air Force Plant 42, part of an ongoing process of environmental clean-up at the facility.
An update on the process was presented Wednesday to the Plant 42 Restoration Advisory Board, a committee of community members that meets quarterly to oversee the clean-up program.
Site 29, located at what is now The Boeing
Trichloroethylene is a solvent and a degreaser commonly used during the '50s and '60s.
The chemical was found in the groundwater in small amounts in the area around Building 150, believed to be the source of the chemical contamination.
Groundwater samples are taken every spring and fall from the 13 monitoring wells at the site. The most recent round of testing showed a gradual increase in the level of TCE at one well, said James Laws, chemical engineer for contracting consultant CH2M Hill.
The state Department of Toxic Substances Control recently approved the plan to install the extraction-injection system.
"We want to get out there and install a treatment system as soon as possible," Laws said.
The system will extract the contaminated groundwater, treat it to remove the TCE, then inject the treated water back into the aquifer.
"The Air Force is doing a good job," board co-chairman Desmond Kester said. "It's not very contaminated, but on the other hand, I'd like pristine water."
The board also received reports on field studies of concrete rubble piles south of the existing east-west runway at the center of Plant 42.
The piles were created during an earlier runway demolition and reconstruction project.
Trenches were cut into each pile and samples were taken to determine their make-up, Laws said.
The samples, analyzed for "a large number" of contaminants, did not show dangerous levels of anything, he said.
Before the sampling was performed, biologists conducted four surveys to determine if any animals, particularly endangered species such as burrowing owls, were present in the area.
A third site, a former fire training circle, was cleared of three areas of paint chips, Laws reported.
Officials profiled samples of the soil beneath the paint chips to determine contaminations, then the top six inches of dirt were scraped off and disposed of elsewhere.
Samples were taken of the remaining soil to ensure it was clean after the topsoil was removed, Laws said.#
http://www.avpress.com/n/07/0207_s7.hts
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