PB96-964404
                                 EPA/ROD/R08-96/116
                                 October 1996
EPA  Superfund
       Record of Decision:
       Ellsworth Air Force Base,
       Operable Unit 10, Rapid City, SD
       5/10/1996

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                 Final

         Record of Decision for
  Remedial Action at Operable Unit 10
Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
          United States Air Force
          Air Combat Command
          Ellsworth Air Force Base

               April 1996
                          Air Force Project No. FXBM 94-7002

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                                             Final Record of Decision Operable Unit 10
                                               Ellsworth A ir Force Ease, South Dakota
                           TABLE OF CONTENTS
 Chapter       .                                                      Page

 1.0'DECLARATION FOR THE RECORD OF DECISION	1-1
    1.1 SITE NAME AND LOCATION	1-1
    1.2 STATEMENT OF BASIS AND PURPOSE....	1-1
    1.3 DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED REMEDY	1-1
    1.4 DECLARATION STATEMENT	1-1
    1.5 SIGNATURE AND AGENCY CONCURRENCE ON THE REMEDY	1-2

 2.0 DECISION SUMMARY	2-1
    2.1 SITE NAME AND LOCATION	2-1
    2.2 OPERABLE UNIT 10 (OU-10) DESCRIPTION/HISTORY AND
       REGULATORY OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES	2-1
       2.2.1   Description/History	2-1
       2.2.2   Regulatory Oversight Activities	2-2
    2.3 HIGHLIGHTS OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION	2-2
    2.4 SCOPE AND ROLE OF RESPONSE ACTION	2-4
    2.5 SITE CHARACTERISTICS...,	2-4
       2.5.1   Soils	2-4
    2.6 SITE RISK SUMMARY	2-5
    2.7 STATUTORY DETERMINATIONS	2-7
    2.8 DOCUMENTATION OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES	2-7

 3.0 LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS	3-1
                              APPENDICES

Appendix A    Figures
Appendix B    Responsiveness Summary
                            LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 2-1      Area Location Map
Figure 2-2      OU-10 Location Map
Figure 2-3      Operable Unit 10
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                                                    Final Record of Decision Operable Unit 10
                                                      Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
               1.0 DECLARATION FOR THE RECORD OF DECISION

 1.1  SITE NAME AND LOCATION

     •   Operable Unit 10 (OU-10), North Hangar Complex, Ellsworth Air Force Base (EAFB),
         National Priorities List Site.
     •   Meade and Pennington Counties, South Dakota

 1.2  STATEMENT OF BASIS AND PURPOSE

 This decision document describes EAFB's selected remedial action for Operable Unit 10
 (OU-10), in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
 Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and
 Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution
 Contingency Plan (NCP).

 This decision is based on the contents of the Administrative Record for OU-10, EAFB. The
 United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the South Dakota Department of
 Environment and Natural Resources (SDDENR) concur with the selected remedial action.

 1.3  DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED REMEDY

 The selected alternative for OU-10 is No Action. Media affected solely by petroleum
 hydrocarbon contamination will be addressed through State of South Dakota programs for
 Underground Storage Tank removal and/or petroleum contaminated soils.  Ground-water cleanup
 will be addressed as part of the Basewide ground-water operable unit, OU-11.

 1.4  DECLARATION STATEMENT

 Based on the findings of no unacceptable risk to human health and the environment, remediation
 is not warrranted for OU-10. Remediation of soils and/or ground water contaminated by
 petroleum will be performed  under the State of South Dakota regulations.
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                                                   Final Record of Decision Operable L'mt 10
                                                      Ellsworth Air Force Base. South Dakota
1.5  SIGNATURE AND AGENCY CONCURRENCE ON THE REMEDY
 BRETT M. DULA
 Lieutenant General, USAF
 Vice Commander
                                                            Date
 JApC W. MCGRAW
 Acting Regional Administrator
 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8
                                                            Date
NETTIE H. MYERS, Se/retary
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
State of South Dakota
                                                            Date
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                                       1-2
                                                                         April 1996

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                                                  Final Record of Decision Operable Unit 10
                                                    Ellworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
 1.5 SIGNATURE AND AGENCY CONCURRENCE ON THE REMEDY
 BRETf M. DULA                             Date
 Lieutenant General, USAF
 Vice Commander
 JACK W. MCGRAW                           Date
 Acting Regional Administrator
 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8
NETTIE H. MYERS, Secretary                   Date
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
State of South Dakota
F:U>ROJ\6037885\FS&OD.10\FINAL\10FNLROD.WPD       1-2                              April 1996

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                                                      Final Record of Decision Operable Unit 10
                                                         Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
                               2.0 DECISION SUMMARY

 2.1 SITE NAME AND LOCATION

 EAFB is a U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC) installation located 12 miles east of
 Rapid City, South Dakota, and adjacent to the small community of Box Elder (Figure 2-1).

 EAFB covers approximately 4,858 acres within Meade and Pennington counties and includes
 runways and airfield operations, industrial areas, and housing and recreational facilities (Figure 2-
 2).  Open land, containing a few private residences, lies adjacent to EAFB on the north, south,
 and west, while residential and commercial areas lie to the east of the Base.

 2.2 OPERABLE UNIT 10 (OU-10) DESCRIPTION/HISTORY AND REGULATORY
     OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES

 2.2.1    Description/History

 Ellsworth Air Force Base (EAFB) was officially activated in July 1942 as the Rapid City Army
 Air Base, a training facility for B-17 bomber crews. It became a permanent facility in 1948 with
 the 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing as its host unit. Historically, EAFB has been the
 headquarters of operations for a variety of aircraft, as well as the Titan I Intercontinental Ballistic
 Missile, and the Minuteman I and  Minuteman II missile systems.  The Air Force has provided
 support, training, maintenance, and/or testing facilities. Presently, the 28th Bombardment Wing
 (B-1B bombers) is the host unit of EAFB.

 OU-10 is the North Hangar Complex, a 75-acre site located in the central portion of the Base,
 northeast of the primary instrument runway (Figure 2-3).  The North Hangar Complex was
 constructed in the 1950s and is composed of five rows of aircraft repair and maintenance hangars.
 Most of OU-10 is paved with concrete  with some grassy areas between the hanger rows. No
 surface water is present at OU-10: The area contains a system of underground jet-fuel hydrant
 lines that deliver fuel to docking aircraft. The primary source of contamination at OU-10 is the
 fuel distribution system.  Additional contaminant, source areas include the aircraft maintenance
 areas and underground industrial waste lines.  It was reported that waste products used for
 aircraft maintenance may have been washed down floor drains in the maintenance buildings.  The
 remedial investigation focused on  determining if these waste products were then discharged into
 the soil beneath the maintenance area and to determine if contaminants had leaked from the
 underground  industrial waste lines.

 Soil contamination addressed under this investigation, found near the fuel distribution system
 were below concentrations posing a risk to human health or the environment.

 A shallow aquifer has been identified at depths of 10 feet to 50 feet beneath the ground surface.
 This ground water is classified as having a beneficial use as a drinking water supply suitable for
 human consumption (ARSD  Chapter 74:03:15, Groundwater Quality Standards). The shallow
 aquifer may also discharge to the surface.
 Deeper bedrock aquifers also exist beneath EAFB. These deeper aquifers are separated from the
 shallow aquifer by 800 feet of low-permeability clays and silts. In the past, EAFB utilized these

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                                                      Final Record of Decision Operable Unit 10
                                                         Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
 deeper aquifers for its water supply. Presently, EAFB obtains its potable water from the Rapid
 City Municipal Distribution System.

 2.2.2    Regulatory Oversight Activities

 Environmental investigation activities at EAFB were initiated by the Air Force in 1985 through an
 Installation Restoration Program (IRP) Phase I Installation Assessment/Records Search and Phase
 II, Confirmation/Quantification. The Phase I study, dated September, 1985, identified a total of
 17 locations at EAFB where releases involving hazardous substances potentially occurred.

 In Phase II of the IRP investigation, field activities included soil vapor surveys, geophysical
 surveys, surface and subsurface soil sampling, ground-water sampling, ground-water hydrologic
 testing, and ecological investigations.

 On August 30, 1990 (55 Federal Register 35509), EAFB was listed on the U.S. EPA's National
 Priorities List (NPL). A Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA) was signed in January 1992 by the
 Air Force, EPA, and the State of South Dakota (State) and went into effect on April 1, 1992. The
 FFA establishes a procedural framework and schedule for developing, implementing, and
 monitoring appropriate response actions for EAFB in accordance with the Comprehensive
 Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended by
 the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), and the National Oil and
 Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). It also states the oversight procedures
 for EPA and the State to ensure Air Force compliance with the specific requirements. The FFA
 identified 11 site-specific operable units (OUs) and a Base-wide ground-water OU.  The Base-
 wide ground-water OU is primarily used to address contaminated ground water that was not
 addressed during the investigation of a site-specific OU.

 Listing on the NPL and execution of the FFA required the U.S. Air Force to perform a remedial
 investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) to investigate the 12 OUs. In 1993 and 1994, an extensive
 RI field program was conducted to characterize conditions at OU-10. The program included
 drilling and sampling of boreholes, installation of ground-water monitoring wells, ground-water
 sampling, geotechnical analysis of soil samples, ecological evaluation, assessment of human health
 risks, and review and compilation of previous IRP investigations. Collection and laboratory
 analysis of soil and ground-water samples were included in the RI field program.

 2.3  HIGHLIGHTS OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

 Community relations activities that have taken place at EAFB to date include:

     •   FFA process. After preparation of the FFA by the USAF, EPA, and SDDENR, the
        document was published for comment. The FFA became effective April 1,  1992.

     •   Administrative Record. An Administrative Record for information was established in
        Building 8203 at EAFB. The Administrative Record contains information used to
        support USAF decision-making. All the  documents in the Administrative Record are
        available to the public.
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                                                      Final Record of Decision Operable Unit 10
                                                        Ellrivorth Air Force Base, South Dakota
     •   Information repositories. An Administrative Record outline is located at the Rapid City
         Library (public repository).

     •   Community Relations Plan (CRP). The CRP was prepared and has been accepted by
         EPA and the State of South Dakota and is currently being carried out. An update to this
         plan will be prepared in 1996.

     •   Restoration Advisory Board (RAB). The RAB has been formed to facilitate public
         input in the cleanup and meets quarterly.  In addition to USAF, EPA, and South Dakota
         oversight personnel, the RAB includes community leaders and local representatives from
         the surrounding area.

     •   Mailing list. A mailing list of all interested parties in the community is maintained by
         EAFB and updated regularly.

     •   Fact sheet. A fact sheet describing the status of the IRP at EAFB was distributed to the
         mailing list addressees  in 1992.

     •   Open house. An informational meeting on the status of the IRP and other environmental
         efforts at EAFB was held on May 6, 1993. An open house was held November 16,  1995
         in conjunction with the Restoration Advisory Board meeting.  Information on the status
         of environmental efforts at EAFB was provided.

     •   Newspaper articles. Articles have been written for the base newspaper regarding IRP
         activity.

     •   Proposed Plan. The proposed plan on this action was distributed to the mailing list
         addressees for their comments.

A public comment period was held from December 28, 1995 to January 27, 1996, and a public
meeting was held on January 11, 1996. At this meeting, representatives from EAFB answered
questions about the remedial action.  A response to the comments received during this period is
included in the Responsiveness Summary, which is part of this Record of Decision (ROD).

This ROD is based on the contents of the Administrative Record for OU-10, in accordance with
the CERCLA, as amended by SARA,  and the NCP. The RI/FS reports and the Proposed Plan for
OU-10 provide information about OU-10 and the selected remedy. These documents are available
at the Information Repositories at EAFB and the Rapid City Public Library.
2.4 SCOPE AND ROLE OF RESPONSE ACTION

The FFA identified 11 potential source area operable units (OUs) as well as a Base-wide ground-
water operable unit. The 12 operable units are identified as follows:

        OU-1       Fire Protection Training Area
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                                                     Final Record of Decision Operable Unit 10
                                                        Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
         OU-2      Landfills Nos. 1 and 6
       .  OU-3      Landfill No. 2
         OU-4      Landfill No. 3
         OU-5   '   Landfill No. 4
         OU-6      Landfill No. 5
         OU-7      Weapons Storage Area
         OU-8      Explosive Ordnance Disposal Area (Pramitol Spill)
         OU-9      Old Auto Hobby Shop Area
         OU-10     North Hangar Complex
         OU-11      Base-wide Ground Water
         OU-12      HardfillNo. 1

 This ROD is to document the selected remedy for the preferred remedial action (RA) at OU-10.
 The ground water at OU-10 will be addressed as part of OU-11, the Base-wide ground-water
 OU.  Ground-water contamination extends beyond the boundaries of OU-10 and would be more
 efficiently handled in a remediation scheme concurrently addressing the contamination of OU-11.

 The "No Action" alternative is being proposed for the remaining media of concern, soil. No
 action is warranted when a site poses no unacceptable current or future threat to people or the
 environment, when CERCLA does not provide cleanup authority, or when a previous cleanup
 activity eliminates the need for future cleanup.  The low levels of contamination in the soil at OU-
 10, which are discussed in the following section entitled Summary of Site  Risks, do not pose an
 unacceptable current or future threat to people or the environment. Cleanup of petroleum-type
 chemicals will be addressed by State of South Dakota Petroleum-Contaminated Soils regulations.
 Given the above conditions, no action is warranted for soil cleanup at OU-10 under CERCLA.

 2.5 SITE CHARACTERISTICS

 This section describes the presence and distribution of contaminants in environmental media
 retained as part of OU-10.

 2.5.1    Soils

    Organic Compounds

 Organics reported in soil samples from OU-10 include volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
 semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), and jet fuel.  The predominant  VOCs were benzene,
 toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX) associated with fuels. Maximum concentrations ranged
 from greater than 5,000 ug/kg near Row 90 to greater than 15,000 ug/kg  near Row 60.  Fifteen
 SVOCs were also reported in OU-10 samples.  The majority of the reported SVOCs occurred in
 samples near Rows 60 and 80.  Jet fuel was reported in 16 of the 25 soil boring samples collected
 from OU-10. Jet fuel was reported at a maximum concentration of 8,100,000 ug/kg.

    Inorganic Contaminants

Fifteen inorganics were reported in soil samples from OU-10.  These reported inorganics are
considered to be naturally occurring.

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                                                        Final Record of Decision Operable Unit 10
                                                           Ells\vorth Air Force Base, South Dakota
 2.6 SITE RISK SUMMARY

     Human Health Risks

 The assessment of human health risks for this OU considered the following topics:

     (1) Chemicals of concern (COCs) in ground-water and soil samples taken at OU-10;

     (2) Current and future land-use conditions;

     (3) Potential environmental pathways by which populations might be exposed;

     (4) Estimated exposure point concentrations of COCs;

     (5) Estimated intake levels of the COCs;

     (6) Toxicity of the COCs; and

     (7) Uncertainties in the assessments of exposure, toxicity, and general risks.
                                                       t
 Noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were calculated for the following five potential exposure
 groups:

     (1) Current EAFB maintenance personnel  mowing grass on-site;

     (2) The future child/adult living on-site who ingests surface soil;

     (3) The future adult living on-site who ingests and showers with shallow ground water;

     (4) Future adolescents who are exposed to surface water and sediment through wading;.
         and,

    (5)  Future adult construction workers who excavate on-site for building residences.

 A quantitative risk assessment was performed for the ground water, surface water, soil, sediment,
 and air. The risk assessment  evaluated potential effects on human health posed by exposure to
 contaminants within OU-10. Carcinogenic risks were estimated as the incremental probability of
 an individual developing cancer over a lifetime as a result of exposure to a potential cancer-
 causing chemical. The acceptable risk range expressed as a probability is one cancer incident in
 ten thousand people to one cancer incident in a million people. This level of risk is also denoted
 by 1 x 10"4 to 1 x 10"*. Risks within the acceptable risk range may or may not warrant remedial
 action depending upon site-specific circumstances. Risks below this range cannot be differentiated
 from the background occurrence of cancer in human populations. Risks calculated in a risk
 assessment are potential risks and  are excess (i.e., over background) cancer risks due to exposure
 from contaminants at the OU.


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                                                        Final Record of Decision Operable Unit 10
                                                          Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
 The risk assessment for OU-10 indicated that the risk for the future industrial land-use, which is
 similar to its current use, is. within the acceptable risk range.  For noncarcinogenic risk, the HI was
 0.006, which is acceptable. For carcinogenic risk, the calculated risk value was 2 X 10"6, which
 indicates the risk is.within the acceptable risk range.  Potential risks posed by exposure to shallow
 ground water are being addressed as part of OU-11  and are not being addressed as part of OU-
 10. Because of these conclusions, remediation is not warranted under CERCLA for soil at
 OU-10.

 Ecological Risks

 An ecological risk evaluation of OU-10 was based on a combination of data and literature
 reviews, field and laboratory analyses, analyte evaluation and screening, and preliminary risk
 screening.  The pertinent findings are summarized below.

 Various types of invertebrates, amphibians, birds, and mammals may live, forage, or nest in OU-
 10 habitats. These species, along with terrestrial vegetation and soil faunal communities, do not
 reveal characteristics that indicate chemical-related impacts. This finding is consistent with the
 relatively low levels of contaminants in the soil.

 Because of the altered natural environment at OU-10, rare, threatened, or endangered species are
 unlikely to utilize the area for more than brief, periodic habitat.  Due to the low levels of
 contaminant concentrations, the contaminants do not pose an unacceptable risk to these species.
 In addition, the limited contact these species would have with the OU-10 area ensures
 unacceptable risk to a single individual will not occur.

 Findings of the RI indicate that the contaminants at OU-10 are not altering the ecology to
 noticeable levels.  A Base-wide ecological risk assessment will be conducted as part of OU-11, and
 OU-10 will be included in this Base-wide evaluation  (ARSD Article 74:03).

 2.7 STATUTORY DETERMINATIONS

 Based on the findings of the remedial investigation and the risk assessment, remedial action for
 OU-10 is not warranted at this time. Remediation of-soils and/or ground water contaminated by
 petroleum will be performed under State of South Dakota regulations.

 2.8 DOCUMENTATION OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES

 The-selected action is the same as the preferred alternative presented in the Proposed Plan for
 OU-10 remedial action. There have been no changes relative to the Proposed Plan.
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                                                    Final Record of Decision Operable Unit 10
                                                      Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
                  3.0  LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

 ACC:       Air Combat Command
 ARARs: Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements
 CERCLA:   Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
 CFR:       Code of Federal Regulations
 COC:       Chemicals of Concern
 CRP:       Community Relations Plan
 EAFB:      Ellsworth Air Force Base
 EPA:       Environmental Protection Agency
 FFA:       Federal Facilities Agreement
 FS:         Feasibility Study
 IRP:        Installation Restoration Program
 ug/kg:      Micrograms per kilogram
 NCP:       National Oil and Hazardous Substances Contingency Plan
 NPL:       National Priorities List
 OSHA:      Occupational Safety and Health Administration
 OU:    Operable Unit
 RA:    Remedial Action
 RAB:       Restoration Advisory Board
 RI/FS:      Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study
 ROD:       Record of Decision
 SARA:      Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
 SDDENR:   South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources
 SVOC:      Semivolatile Organic Compound
 USAF:      United States Air Force
 VOC:       Volatile Organic Compound
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April 1996

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                                                           Final Record of Decision Operable Unit 10
                                                             Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
                                        APPENDIX A

                                          FIGURES
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         N
                                                                                MINNESOTA
                                             SOUTH  DAKOTA
                                                                ELLSWORTH AFB
                  Rapid Ctty
                                                Scale in Mllet
                                                APPROXIMATE
           ELLSWORTH
           AIR   FORCE  BASE
 ELLSWORTH AFB
RAPID arr. SOUTH DAKOTA
           AREA LOCATION MAP
RQJECT UCR
             DESIGNED BY
                          DRAWN BY

                              MRG
                                       CHECKED BY
      SCALE
       AS SHOWN
                                                                  DATE
NOV 95
PROJECT NO
  60378.85
                        FIGURE:
2-1

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a.
a
                                                                                       WASTEWATER,
                                                                                        TREATMENT '
                                                                                          PLANT   •
    0    1200   24QO

      SCALE IN FEET




            LEGEND

         OPERABLE UNITS

OU-1    FIRE PROTECTION TRAINING AREA
OU-2    LANDFILLS 1 &  6
OU-.3    LANDFILL 2
OU-4    LANDFILL 3
OU-5    LANDRLL 4
OU-6    LANDFILL 5
OU-7    LOW LEVEL RADIATION  WASTE  BURIAL AREA
OU-B    EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE  DISPOSAL AREA k  PRAMITOL SPILL
OU-9    OLD AUTO HOBBY' SHOP  AREA
OU-10  NORTH HANGAR COMPLEX
OU-11   BASEWIDE  GROUND WATER
OU-12  HARDFIU. NO. 1
o-
a
a.
                EL.L.SWORTH
                AIR   FORCE  BASE
                                                ELLSWORTH AFB
                                              RAPID arr, SOUTH DAKOTA
          OU-10  LOCATION MAP
     30JECT MCR
                 DESIGNED BY
                              DRAWN BY

                                  STAFF
                                           CHECKED BY
                                                    SCALE
                                                     AS SHOWN
                                                                      DATE
NOV  95
PROJECT NO
  60378.85
                                                                                                FIGURE:
2-2

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33
             LEGEND:
       	SURFACE  DRAJNAGE
       -*«•— TOPOGRAPHIC ELEVATION
             ABOVE MSL
          CONTOUR  INTERVAL = 10'
     600'
                                 600*
               EUUSWORTH
               AIR   FORCE  BASE
 ELLSWORTH AFB
RAPID CITY. SOUTH DAKOTA
          OPERABLE UNIT  10
    ROJECT MCR
                DESIGNED
                            DRAWN Br
                               STAFF
                                        CHECKED BY
     SCALE
      AS SHOWN
                                                                 DATE
NOV 95
PROJECT NO
  60378.85
                                                                                          rICURE
2-3

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                                                       Final Record of Decision Operable Unit 10
                                                         Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
                                      APPENDIX B

                            RESPONSIVENESS SUMMARY
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                                                     Final Record of Decision Operable Unit 10
                                                       Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
                               Responsiveness Summary
                        - Remedial Action at Operable Unit Ten
                        Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
 1.   Overview

 The United States Air Force (USAF) established a public comment period from December 28,
 1995 to January 27, 1996 for interested parties to review and comment on remedial alternatives
 considered and described in the Proposed Plan for Operable Unit  10 (OU-10).  The Proposed
 Plan was prepared by the USAF in cooperation with the U.S.  Environmental Protection Agency
 (USEPA) and the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (SDDENR).

 The USAF also held a public meeting at 7:30 p.m. on January 11, 1996 in the 28th Bomb Wing
 Auditorium at Ellsworth Air Force Base (EAFB) to outline the proposed remedy to reduce risk
 and control potential hazards at the Operable Unit (OU).

 The Responsiveness Summary provides a summary of comments and questions received from the
 community at the public meeting and during the public comment period as well as the USAF's
 responses to public comments.

 The Responsiveness Summary is organized into the following sections:

    •   Background on Community Involvement

    •   Summary of Comments and Questions Received During the  Public Comment Period and
        USAF Responses

    •   Remaining Concerns

 The ground water at OU-10 will be addressed as part of OU-11, the Base-wide ground-water
 OU. Ground-water contamination extends beyond the boundaries of OU-10 and would be more
 efficiently handled in a remediation scheme concurrently addressing the contamination of OU-11.

 The "No Action" alternative is being proposed for the remaining media of concern, soil.  No
 action is warranted when a site poses no unacceptable current or future threat to people or the
 environment,  when CERCLA does not provide cleanup authority, or when a previous cleanup

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                                                      Final Record of Decision Operable Unit 10
                                                         Ellr>vorth Air Force Base, South Dakota
 activity eliminates the need for future cleanup.  The low levels of contamination in the soil at OU-
 10 do not pose an unacceptable current or future threat to people or the environment. Cleanup of
 petroleum-type chemicals will be addressed by State of South Dakota Petroleum-Contaminated
 Soils regulations.  Given the above conditions, no action is warranted for soil cleanup at OU-10
 under CERCLA.

 2.   Background on Community Involvement

 On August 30, 1990 EAFB was listed on the USEPA's National Priorities List (NPL). A Federal
 Facilities  Agreement (FFA) was signed in January 1992 by the Air Force, EPA, and the State and
 went into effect on April  1, 1992.  The FFA establishes a procedural framework and schedule for
 developing, implementing, and monitoring appropriate response actions for EAFB.

 Community relations activities that have taken place at EAFB to date include:

     •   FFA process.  After preparation of the FFA by the USAF, EPA, and SDDENR, the
        document was published for comment. The FFA became effective April 1, 1992.

     •   Administrative  Record.  An Administrative Record for  information was established in
        Building 8203 at EAFB.   The Administrative Record  contains  information used  to
        support USAF decision-making.  All the documents in the  Administrative Record are
        available to the public.

     •   Information  repositories.  An Administrative Record outline is  located at the Rapid
        City Library (public repository).

     •   Community Relations Plan (CRP). The CRP was prepared and has been accepted by
        EPA and the State of South Dakota and is currently being carried out.  An update to this
        plan will be prepared in 1996.

     •   Restoration Advisory Board (RAB).  The RAB has been formed to facilitate public
        input in the cleanup and meets quarterly. In addition  to USAF, EPA, and South Dakota
        oversight personnel, the RAB includes community leaders and local representatives from
        •the surrounding area.

     •   Mailing list.  A  mailing list of all interested parties in the community is maintained by
       . EAFB and updated regularly.

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                                                       Final Record of Decision Operable Unit 10
                                                         Ells\vorth Air Force Base, South Dakota
     •   Fact sheet.   A fact sheet describing the status of the IRP at EAFB was distributed to
         the mailing list addressees in 1992.

     •   Open  house.   An  informational  meeting on the status  of the  IRP  and other
         environmental efforts at  EAFB was held on May 6, 1993.  An open house was held
         November 16, 1995  in  conjunction  with the Restoration Advisory  Board meeting.
         Information on the status of environmental efforts at EAFB was provided.

     •   Newspaper articles.  Articles have been written for the base newspaper regarding IRP
         activity.

     •   Proposed Plan.The Proposed Plan for this remedial action was distributed to the mailing
         list addressees for their comments.

 Additional copies of the Proposed  Plan were available at the January 11, 1996 public meeting.  A
 transcript of comments,  questions  and responses provided  during  the public meeting was
 prepared.

 3.   Summary  of Comments and Questions  Received During the Public Comment Period
     and USAF Responses

         Part I - Summary and Response to Local Community Concerns

 Review of the written transcript of the public meeting did not  indicate community objections  to
 the proposed remedial action.  No written comments were received during the public comment
 period.

 The two comments received during the public meeting were questions about funding of cleanup
 under State  corrective action plans and the risk of contaminated soils beneath concrete slabs.
 Representatives  of the USAF were  available  to provide answers to the questions and also
 provided an overview presentation  during the meeting to describe the proposed actions.
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                                                        Final Record of Decision Operable Unit JO
                                                           Ell&vorth Air Force Base, South Dakota
         Part n - Comprehensive Response to Specific Technical, Legal and Miscellaneous
         Questions

 The comments  and  question below are in the order they appear in'the written transcript of the
 January 11, 1996 public meeting.

 Comment 1. Janice Deming

     Asked if the corrective action plans were part of the Base cleanup even if they aren't under
     Superfund and whether there was funding available for these corrective action plans.

 Response:    The corrective action plans are being pursued as aggressively and in parallel with the
              designated Superfund sites.  State corrective action plans at EAFB  are fully funded
              through the Installation Restoration Program. Addressing certain areas under state
              corrective action plans is generally more  cost effective because cleanup.can begin
             sooner. Also, the type of contaminants addressed under corrective action plans are
             generally easier to deal with.

 Comment 2. Gary Stuard

     Asked whether  the contaminants (jet fuel) present in the soil beneath concrete slabs were
     above risk levels or were risk levels low because of the presence of the concrete above the
     contamination.

 Response:   When calculating health risks, both the contaminated  media and the potential for
             exposure to the contaminated media are considered.  Since the contaminated media
             are beneath two feet of concrete, the likelihood of human contact with these soils is
             low.  Consequently, the calculated human health risk  from these soils  is low  and
             action under CERCLA is not required. There are soils at OU-10 contaminated with
            jet fuel above state cleanup  levels and these soils will be addressed through a
             corrective action plan.
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