&EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Solid Waste And Emergency Response (5102G) SUPERFUND: EPA/540/R-93/047 December 1992 PB93-963249 Progress at National Priority List Sites WYOMING 1992 UPDATE Printed on Recycled Paper ------- Publication #9200.5-7496 December 1992 NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST SITES: Wyoming ?'i3S3 Boa'd' 12* Fleet 77 West Jf K|00n654-3590 Chicago, iL ou UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Office of Emergency & Remedial Response Office of Program Management Washington, DC 20460 ------- If you wish to purchase copies of any additional State volumes, contact: National Technical Information Service (NTIS) U.S. Department of Commerce 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161 (703) 486-4650 The complete set of the 49 State reports may be ordered as PB93-963250. ------- TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION A Brief Overview of Superfund v Streamlining Superfund: The Superfund Accelerated Cleanup Model ix How Superfund Works x THE VOLUME How to Use the State Book xi A SUMMARY OF THE STATE PROGRAM .XV THE NPL REPORT Progress to Date xix THE NPL FACT SHEETS i THE GLOSSARY Terms used in the NPL Book G-l ------- INTRODUCTION A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SUPERFUND During the second half of the Twentieth Century, the environmental conse- quences of more than 100 years of industrial- ization in the United States became increas- ingly clear. Authors such as Rachel Carson wrote passionately about the often-hidden en- vironmental effects of our modern society's widespread use of chemicals and other haz- ardous materials. Their audience was small at first, but gradually their message spread. Growing concern turned to action, as people learned more about the environment and be- gan to act on their knowledge The 1970s saw environmental issues burst onto the national scene and take hold in the national consciousness. The first Earth Day was observed in 1970, the year that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was founded. By the end of the 1970s, Love Canal in New York and the Valley of the Drums in Kentucky had entered the popular lexicon as synonyms for pollution and environmental degradation. Superfund Is Established The industrialization that gave Americans the world's highest standard of living also created problems that only a national program could address. By 1980, the U.S. Congress had passed numerous environmental laws, imple- mented by the EPA, but many serious hazard- ous waste problems were slipping through the cracks. Responding to growing concern about public health and environmental threats from uncon- trolled releases of hazardous materials, the U.S. Congress passed the Comprehensive En- vironmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Popularly known as Superfund, CERCLA had one seemingly simple job-—to uncover and clean up hazard- ous materials spills and contaminated sites. A Big Job Few in Congress, the EPA, the environmen- tal community, or the general public knew in 1980 just how big the nation's hazardous ma- terials problem is. Almost everyone thought that Superfund would be a short-lived pro- gram requiring relatively few resources to clean up at most a few hundred sites. They were quite mistaken. As the EPA set to work finding sites and gauging their potential to harm people and the environment, the number of sites grew. Each discovery seemed to lead to another, and today almost 36,000 hazardous waste sites have been investigated as potential haz- ardous waste sites. They are catalogued in the EPA's computerized database, CERCLIS (for the Comprehensive Environmental Re- ------- INTRODUCTION sponse, Compensation, and Liability Informa- tion System). The damage to public health and the environ- ment that each site in CERCLIS might cause is evaluated; many sites have been referred to State and local governments for cleanup. The EPA lists the nation's most serious hazardous waste sites on the National Priorities List, or NPL. (These Superfund sites are eligible for federally-funded cleanup, but whenever pos- sible the EPA makes polluters pay for the contamination they helped create.) The NPL now numbers 1,275 sites, with 50 to 100 added each year. By the end of the century, the NPL may reach as many as 2,100 sites. Superfund faces some of the most complex pollution problems ever encountered by an environmental program. Improperly stored or disposed chemicals and the soil they contami- nate are one concern. More difficult to correct are the wetlands and bays, and the groundwa- ter, lakes, and rivers often used for drinking water that are contaminated by chemicals spreading through the soil or mixing with storm water runoff. Toxic vapors contaminate the air at some sites, threatening the health of people living and working near by. Superfund aims to control immediate public health and environmental threats by tackling the worst problems at the worst sites first. Wherever possible, Superfund officials use innovative treatment techniques—many de- veloped or refined by the EPA—to correct hazardous materials problems once and for all. Many of the treatment techniques they use did not exist when the program was created. The EPA Administrator had challenged Su- perfund to complete construction necessary for cleanup work at 130 NPL sites by the end of the 1992 federal fiscal year. By September 30, 1992, the end of fiscal year 1992, con- struction had been completed at a total of 149 NPL sites. Superfund is well on its way of meeting the Administrator's goal of complet- ing construction at 200 NPL sites by the end of fiscal year 1993, and 650 sites by the end of fiscal year 2000. Quick Cleanup at Non-NPL Sites Long-standing hazardous waste sites are not Superfund's only concern. The EPA also re- sponds to hazardous spills and other emergen- cies, hauling away chemicals for proper treat- ment or disposal. Superfund teams perform or supervise responses at rail and motor vehicle accidents, fires, and other emergencies in- volving hazardous substances. They also evacuate people living and working near by, if necessary, and provide clean drinking water to people whose own water is contaminated. Removal crews also post warning signs and take other precautions to keep people and ani- mals away from hazardous substances. Superfund employee prepares equipment far groundwater treatment. VI ------- INTRODUCTION Quick Cleanups, or Removals, are not limited to emergencies. When cleanup crews at con- taminated sites find hazardous substances that immediately threaten people or the environ- ment, they act right away to reduce the threat or to remove the chemicals outright. As the EPA implements the Superfund Accelerated Cleanup Model (SACM), more and more sites will undergo quick cleanups, and many of these will be cleaned up completely without ever being included on the NPL. (See "Streamlining Superfund: The Superfund Ac- celerated Cleanup Model.") Some of Superfund's most significant gains in public health and environmental protection have been won by the removal program. As of March 31, 1992, the Emergency Response Superfund employee removing drums from a Superfund site. Program had logged more than 2,300 removal completions since Superfund was established. The Public's Role Superfund is unique among federal programs in its commitment to citizen participation. Al- though the EPA is responsible for determin- ing how dangerous a site is and how best to clean it up, the Agency relies on citizen input as it makes these decisions. Community residents are often invaluable sources of information about a hazardous waste site, its current and previous owners, and the activities that took place there. Such information can be crucial to experts evaluat- ing a site and its potential dangers. Residents also comment on EPA cleanup plans by stating their concerns and prefer- ences at public meetings and other forums and in formal, written comments to Agency pro- posals. The EPA takes these comments and concerns seriously, and has modified many proposals in response to local concerns. For, ultimately, it is the community and its citizens that will live with the results of the EPA's de- cisions and actions; it is only fair that citizens participate in the process. A Commitment to Communication The Superfund program is very serious about public outreach and communication. Com- munity relations coordinators are assigned to each NPL site to help the public understand the potential hazards present, as well as the cleanup alternatives. Local information re- positories, such as libraries or other public buildings, have been established near each NPL site to ensure that the public has an op- portunity to review all relevant information and the proposed cleanup plans. The individual State volumes contain sum- mary fact sheets on NPL sites in each State and territory. Together, the fact sheets provide a concise report on site conditions and the progress made toward site cleanups as of March 1992. The EPA revises these volumes periodically to provide an up-to-date record of program activities. A glossary of key terms relating to hazardous waste management and Superfund site cleanup is provided at the back of this book. vii ------- INTRODUCTION Superfund is, of course, a public program, and as such it belongs to everyone of us. This vol- ume, along with other State volumes, com- prises the EPA's report on Superfund progress to the program's owners for the year 1992. VIII ------- INTRODUCTION STREAMLINING SUPERFUND: THE SUPERFUND ACCELERATED CLEANUP MODEL Historically, critics and supporters alike have measured Superfund's progress by the number of hazardous waste sites de- leted from the NPL. Although easy enough to tally, this approach is too narrow. It misses the major gains Superfund makes by reducing major risks at the nation's worst hazardous sites long before all clean-up work is done and the site deleted. It also ignores the Re- moval Program's contributions to meeting Superfund's twin mandates of maximizing public health and environmental protection. Renewing Superfund's commitment to rapid protection from hazardous materials, the EPA is streamlining the program. The Superfund Accelerated Cleanup Model, or SACM, will take Early Actions, such as removing hazard- ous wastes or contaminated materials, while experts study the site. SACM also will com- bine similar site studies to reduce the time re- quired to evaluate a site and its threats to people and the environment. This way, imme- diate public health and environmental threats will be addressed while long-term cleanups are being planned. Emergencies such as train derailments and motor vehicle accidents will continue to be handled expeditiously. Teams of highly trained technicians will swing into action right away, coordinating the cleanup and re- moval of hazardous substances to ensure pub- lic safety as quickly as possible. Breaking With Tradition The traditional Superfund process begins with a lengthy phase of study and site assessment, but SACM will save time by combining sepa- rate, yet similar, activities. Each EPA Region will form a Decision Team of site managers, risk assessors, community relations coordina- tors, lawyers, and other experts to monitor the studies and quickly determine whether a site requires Early Action (taking less than five years), Long-term Action, or both. While the site studies continue, the Decision Team will begin the short-term work required to correct immediate public health or environ- mental threats from the site. Besides remov- ing hazardous materials, Early Actions in- clude taking precautions to keep contaminants from moving off the site and restricting access to the site. Early Actions could eliminate most human risk from these sites, and Superfund will further focus its public participation and public information activities on site assess- ment and Early Action. Long-Term Solutions While Early Actions can correct many hazard- ous waste problems—and provide the bulk of public health and environmental protection— some contamination will take longer to cor- rect. Cleanups of mining sites, wetlands, estu- aries, and projects involving incineration of contaminants or restoration of groundwater can take far longer than the three to five years envisioned for Early Actions. Under SACM, these sites will be handled much as they are now. Also under SACM, the EPA will continue its pursuit of potentially responsible parties who may have caused or contributed to site con- tamination. Expedited enforcement and procedures for negotiating potentially respon- sible party settlements will secure their par- ticipation. Superfund personnel will continue to oversee clean-up work performed by poten- tially responsible parties. IX ------- INTRODUCTION HOW SUPERFUND WORKS Each Superfund site presents a different set of complex problems. The same haz- ardous materials and chemicals often con- taminate many sites, but the details of each site are different. Almost always, soil is con- taminated with one or more chemicals. Their vapors may taint the air over and around the site. Contaminants may travel through the soil and reach underground aquifers which may be used for drinking water, or they may spread over the site to contaminate streams, ponds, and wetlands. The contaminating chemicals may interact with each other, presenting even more complicated cleanup problems. Superfund's cleanup process is arduous and exacting. It requires the best efforts of hun- dreds of experts in science and engineering, public health, administration and manage- ment, law, and many other fields. The average NPL site takes from seven to ten years to work its way through the system, from discovery to the start of long-term cleanup. Actual cleanup work can take years, decades if contaminated groundwater must be treated. Of course, imminent threats to public health or the environment are cor- rected right away. The diagram to the right presents a simplified view of the cleanup process. The major steps in the Superfund process are: • Site discovery and investigation to iden- tify contaminants and determine whether emergency action is required; • Emergency site work such as removing contaminants for proper treatment or dis- posal, and securing the site to keep people and animals away, if warranted by condi- tions at the site; • Site evaluation to determine how people living and working nearby, and the envi- ronment, may be exposed to site contami- nants; • Detailed studies to determine whether con- ditions are serious enough to add the site to the National Priorities List of sites eligible for federally funded cleanup under Super- fund; • Selection, design, and implementation of a cleanup plan, after a thorough review of the most effective cleanup options, given site conditions, contaminants present, and their potential threat to public health or the environment. • Follow-up to ensure that the cleanup work done at the site continues to be effective over the long term. The Superfund Process From the earliest stages, EPA investigators work hard to identify those responsible for the contamination. As their responsibility is es- tablished, the EPA negotiates with these "re- sponsible parties" to pay for cleaning up the problem they helped create. This "enforce- ment first" policy saves Superfund Trust Fund monies for use in cleanups where the respon- sible parties cannot be identified, or where they are unable to fund cleanup work. ------- THE VOLUME How to Use the State Book • he site fact sheets presented in this book JL are comprehensive summaries that cover a broad range of information. The fact sheets describe hazardous waste sites on the NPL and their locations, as well as the conditions leading to their listing ("Site Description"). The summaries list the types of contaminants that have been discovered and related threats to public and ecological health ("Threats and Contaminants"). "Cleanup Approach" pres- ents an overview of the cleanup activities completed, underway, or planned. The fact sheets conclude with a brief synopsis of how much progress has been made in protecting public health and the environment. The summaries also pinpoint other actions, such as legal efforts to involve polluters responsible for site contamination and community con- cerns. The fact sheets are arranged in alphabetical order by site name. Because site cleanup is a dynamic and gradual process, all site informa- tion is accurate as of the date shown on the bottom of each page. Progress always is being made at NPL sites, and the EPA periodically will update the site fact sheets to reflect recent actions and will publish updated State vol- umes. The following two pages show a ge- neric fact sheet and briefly describe the infor- mation under each section. How Can You Use This State Book? You can use this book to keep informed about the sites that concern you, particularly ones close to home. The EPA is committed to involving the public in the decision making process associated with hazardous waste cleanup. The Agency solicits input from area residents in communities affected by Super- fund sites. Citizens are likely to be affected not only by hazardous site conditions, but also by the remedies that combat them. Site clean- ups take many forms and can affect communi- ties in different ways. Local traffic may be rerouted, residents may be relocated, tempo- rary water supplies may be necessary. Definitive information on a site can help citizens sift through alternatives and make decisions. To make good choices, you must know what the threats are and how the EPA intends to clean up the site. You must under- stand the cleanup alternatives being proposed for site cleanup and how residents may be affected by each one. You also need to have some idea of how your community intends to use the site in the future, and you need to know what the community can realistically expect once the cleanup is complete. The EPA wants to develop cleanup methods that meet community needs, but the Agency only can take local concerns into account if it understands what they are. Information must travel both ways in order for cleanups to be effective and satisfactory. Please take this opportunity to learn more, become involved, and assure that hazardous waste cleanup at "your" site considers your community's concerns. XI ------- THE VOLUME NPL LISTING HISTORY Provides the dates when the site was Proposed, made Final, and Deleted from the NPL. SITE RESPONSIBILITY Identifies the Federal, State, and/or potentially responsible parties taking responsibility for cleanup actions at the site. ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS Summarizes the actions to reduce the threats to nearby residents and the surrounding environment and the progress towards cleaning up the site. SITE NAME EPA REGION XX COUNTY NAME LOCATION STATE EPA ID# ABCOOOOOOO Site Description Site Responsibility: NPL Listing History Proposed XX/XX/XX Final. XX/XX/XX Threats and Contaminants Cleanup Approach Response Action Status XXX XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XX XXXXXXX XXX XXXXXX XX XXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXX XXXXXXXXX Environmental Progress Site Repository xxxxxx xxx: :xx:xx xxxxxx. SITE REPOSITORY Lists the location of the primary site repository. The site repository may include community relations plans, public meeting announcements and minutes, fact sheets, press releases, and other site-related documents. XII ------- THE VOLUME SITE DESCRIPTION This section describes the location and history of the site. It includes descrip- tions of the most recent activities and past actions at the site that have con- tributed to the contamination. Population estimates, land usages, and nearby resources give readers background on the local setting surrounding the site. THREATS AND CONTAMINANTS The major chemical categories of site contamination are noted, as well as which environmental resources are affected. Icons representing each of the affected resources (may include air, groundwater, surface water, soil, and contamination to environmentally sensitive areas) are included in the margins of this section. Potential threats to residents and the surrounding environ- ments arising from the site contamination also are described. CLEANUP APPROACH This section contains a brief overview of how the site is being cleaned up. RESPONSE ACTION STATUS Specific actions that have been accomplished or will be undertaken to clean up the site are described here. Cleanup activities at NPL sites are divided into separate phases, depending on the complexity and required actions at the site. Two major types of cleanup activities often are described: initial, immediate, or emergency actions to quickly remove or reduce imminent threats to the community and surrounding areas; and long-term remedial phases directed at final cleanup at the site. Each stage of the cleanup strategy is presented in this section of the summary. Icons representing the stage of the cleanup process (initial actions, site investigations, EPA selection of the cleanup remedy, engineering design phase, cleanup activities underway, and completed cleanup) are located in the margin next to each activity descrip- tion. SITE FACTS Additional information on activities and events at the site are included in this section. Often details on legal or administrative actions taken by the EPA to achieve site cleanup or other facts pertaining to community involvement with the site cleanup process are reported here. xiii ------- THE VOLUME The "icons," or symbols, accompanying the text allow the reader to see at a glance which envi- ronmental resources are affected and the status of cleanup activities at the site. Icons in the Threats and Contaminants Section Contaminated Groundwater resources in the vicinity or underlying the site. (Groundwater is often used as a drink- ing water source.) Contaminated Surface Water and Sediments on or near the site. (These include lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers.) Contaminated Air in the vicinity of the site. (Air pollution usually is periodic and involves contaminated dust particles or hazardous gas emis- sions.) Contaminated Soil and Sludges on or near the site. (This contamination category may include bulk or other surface hazardous wastes found on the site.) Threatened or contaminated Environ- mentally Sensitive Areas in the vicinity of the site. (Examples include wet- lands and coastal areas or critical habitats.) Icons in the Response Action Status Section Initial, Immediate, or Emergency Actions have been taken or are underway to eliminate immediate threats at the site. Site Studies at the site to determine the nature and extent of contamination are planned or underway. Remedy Selected indicates that site investigations have been concluded, and the EPA has selected a final cleanup remedy for the site or part of the site. Remedy Design means that engineers are preparing specifications and drawings for the selected cleanup technologies. Cleanup Ongoing indicates that the selected cleanup remedies for the contaminated site, or part of the site, currently are underway. Cleanup Complete shows that all cleanup goals have been achieved for the contaminated site or part of the site. XIV ------- A SUMMARY OF THE STATE PROGRAM xv ------- Superftmd Activities in Wyoming The State of Wyoming is located within EPA Region 8, which includes the six northern central States extending from the central plains to the Rocky Mountains. The State covers 97,809 square miles. According to the 1990 Census, Wyoming experienced more than a 3 percent decrease in *-*•" population between 1980 and 1990, and has the smallest U.S. population with approximately 453,600 residents. The Wyoming Environmental Quality Act (EQA) of 1987 provides the State the authority to clean up Superfund sites. The EQA requires containment and notification of releases and grants the State the authority to gain site access, issue orders, and seek criminal and civil penalties through the State's Attorney General. In practice, the State notifies polluters of their liability for cleanup activi- ties and ascertains their ability and willingness to perform cleanups. If the polluters are unwilling or unable to clean up the site, the State requests funds from a contingency account of the governor, a trust account maintained by the Department of Environmental Quality, or the Federal Superfund program to conduct cleanup activities itself. No funding was originally appropriated for cleanup activities conducted by the State; however, in 1989 a new provision under the Statute earmarked funds for emergency actions performed with State approval. Interested citizens may bring civil suits against polluters to compel compliance to the extent that such an action could have been brought in Federal district court Also, the public is able to participate in the cleanup process through access to information collected under the EQA. To promote community involvement, the State created two citizen commissions to comment on site activities at the Mystery Bridge and F.E. Warren Air Force Base NPL sites. Currently, three sites in the State of Wyoming have been listed as final on the NPL. No new sites have been proposed for listing in 1992. The Department of Environmental Quality implements the Superfund Program in the State of Wyoming Activities responsible for hazardous waste contamination in the State of Wyoming include: Petroleum and Refining Operations Federal Facilities Railroad Yards Facts about the three NPL sites in Wyoming: Immediate Actions (such as removing hazardous substances or restricting site access) were performed at two sites. No sites endanger sensitive environ- ments. Three sites are located near residential areas. xvii March 1992 ------- WYOMING Most Sites Have Multiple Contaminants and Contaminated Media: Media Contaminated at Sites Air Surface Water Sediments Soil Ground- water 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Percentage of Sites Contaminants Found at Sites Percentage of Sites VOCs Petrochemicals/Explosives Creosotes Acids 67% 67% 33% 33% The Potentially Responsible Party Pays... In the State of Wyoming, potentially responsible parties are paying for or conducting cleanup activities at two sites. For Further Information on NPL Sites and Hazardous Waste Programs in the State of Wyoming Please Contact: « EPA Region 8 Puttie Affairs Branch tr National Response Center * The Department of Environmental Quality: Water Quaftty Division ff EPA Region 8 Hazardous Waste Management Division * EPA Superfund Hotline For information concerning community involvement To report a hazardous waste emergency For information about the State's responsfljilfty in the Superfund Program For Information about the Regional Superfund Program For information about the Federal Superfund Program (303)294-1120 (800} 424-8802 (307) 777-7781 (303} 294-7630 (800) 424-9068 March 1992 xviii ------- THE NPL REPORT PROGRESS TO DATE The following Progress Report lists all sites currently on, or deleted from, the NPL and briefly summarizes the status of ac- tivities for each site at the time this report was prepared. The steps in the Superfund cleanup process are arrayed across the top of the chart, and each site's progress through these steps is represented by an arrow (^>) indicating the current stage of cleanup. Large and complex sites often are organized into several cleanup stages. For example, separate cleanup efforts may be required to address the source of the contamination, hazardous substances in the groundwater, and surface water pollution, or to clean up differ- ent areas of a large site. In such cases, the chart portrays cleanup progress at the site's most advanced stage, reflecting the status of site activities rather than administrative ac- complishments. £> An arrow in the "Initial Response" cate- gory indicates that an emergency cleanup, immediate action, or initial ac- tion has been completed or currently is underway. Emergency or initial actions are taken as an interim measure to pro- vide immediate relief from exposure to hazardous site conditions or to stabilize a site to prevent further contamination. ^> A final arrow in the "Site Studies" cat- egory indicates that an investigation to determine the nature and extent of the contamination at the site currently is on- going or planned. O A final arrow in the "Remedy Selection" category means that the EPA has se- lected the final cleanup strategy for the site. At the few sites where the EPA has determined that initial response actions have eliminated site contamination, or that any remaining contamination will be naturally dispersed without further cleanup activities, a "No Action" rem- edy has been selected. In these cases, the arrows are discontinued at the "Remedy Selection" step and resume in the "Construction Complete" category. O A final arrow at the "Remedial Design" stage indicates that engineers currently are designing the technical specifica- tions for the selected cleanup remedies and technologies. O A final arrow in the "Cleanup Ongoing" column means that final cleanup actions have been started at the site and cur- rently are underway. ^ A final arrow in the "Construction Com- plete" category is used only when all phases of the site cleanup plan have been performed, and the EPA has deter- mined that no additional construction actions are required at the site. Some sites in this category currently may be undergoing long-term operation and maintenance or monitoring to ensure that the cleanup actions continue to pro- tect human health and the environment. / A check in the "Deleted" category indi- cates that the site cleanup has met all human health and environmental goals and that the EPA has deleted the site from the NPL. Further information on the activities and progress at each site is given in the site "Fact Sheets" published in this volume. XIX ------- •o Q) £ .£ 0) +* *r O O 3 TL u u || jjj | 00 ?§) E 8 D) •a aj 1-2 W Q) CC O) o . * >» 2s ^ " CO o Q) CO c7) 0) 0) 0) CO Q. t ft B ft S S § •J CQ Cy Q. .5 .S Z E UH 75 5 33 §• i I s i o ^ I (0 w gas g « O) i O z e u a. ec uo I , 1 _t? • •H SlI-S CA B a § 1 I QQ U. March 1992 XX ------- BAXTER/UNI PACIFIC TIE TREATI WYOMING EPAID#WYD061112470 Site Description EPA REGION 8 Albany County 3/4 miles southwest of Laramfe The Union Pacific Railroad, or its contractor, treated railroad ties at the Baxter/Union Pacific Tie Treating site between 1886 and 1983, using various chemicals including zinc chloride, a mixture of creosote oil and an asphalt-based oil, and pentachlorophenol (PCP). During the operation's first 70 years, workers disposed of process wastes in the Laramie waste collection ponds. Contamination outside these ponds was discovered in 1981 during groundwater monitoring required by the EPA. Approximately 140 acres of the property's 700 acres currently are polluted with oils and wood treating chemicals. The railroad voluntarily ceased operations at the site in 1983. The City of Laramie has a population of 24,000. The public water supply for Laramie is not connected to the site; the city uses a reservoir fed by the Laramie River several miles upriver. Contaminated water beneath the site is not used for drinking, and domestic private wells near the site were sampled and found clean. Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through Federal and potentially responsible parties' actions. NPL USTINQ HISTORY Proposed Date: 12/30/82 Final Date: 09/08/83 Threats and Contaminants ZGJ Groundwater, soil, and sediments contained numerous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including PCP. PCP levels were shown to be higher downgradient, indicating movement of contaminants from the site. The public drinking supply is protected, as it is drawn from above the contamination area; however, direct contact with site contaminants is a possible health threat. March 1992 ------- Cleanup Approach This site is being addressed in two long-term remedial phases focusing on source control and cleanup of the contaminated groundwater and soil. Response Action Status Source Control: The EPA selected an interim remedy to control the source of contamination and to address groundwater cleanup in 1986. The remedy features an isolation system designed to keep contaminated groundwater and soil from moving off site while more permanent remedies are planned. This remedy includes: realigning the Laramie River Channel 150 feet farther west from the site to reduce the chance of contamination; constructing a slurry wall through the soil and bedrock around contaminated areas; draining and pumping groundwater against its natural flow to keep it from seeping off site and through the slurry wall; treating withdrawn groundwater with activated carbon to decontaminate it; discharging this cleaned water into the Laramie River, under State and Federal permits; and monitoring the groundwater to track the effectiveness of the system. All cleanup activities have been completed. Operation and maintenance, as well as monitoring of the remedies are taking place to ensure that cleanup actions continue to be effective. Groundwater and Soil: In 1990, Union Pacific began treatability studies, under EPA monitoring, to determine if bioremediation of contaminated soil and groundwater would be an effective remedy. Other alternatives also are being evaluated. These studies are scheduled to be completed in late 1992. Environmental Progress The cleanup actions to contain the source of contamination have been completed at the Baxter/Union Pacific Tie Treating site. Monitoring to ensure the interim remedies' effectiveness is continuing while groundwater and soil treatability studies are underway. Site Repository Albany County Public Library, 310 South Eighth Street, Laramie, WY 82070 March 1992 2 BAXTER/UNION PACIFIC TIE TREATING ------- F.E. WARREN FORCE BASE WYOMING EPA ID# WY5571924179 Site Description REGION 8 Laramie County Cheyenne The 5,866-acre F.E. Warren Air Force Base site initially began as a U.S. Army cavalry outpost in 1867 and has since served a number of military functions. In 1947, control of the facility was transferred to the U.S. Air Force, and it became a Strategic Air Command base in 1958. Waste generation at the facility has consisted primarily of spent solvents from equipment cleaning and various maintenance operations. The Air Force also maintained an acid well used for spent battery acid disposal. While five landfills are located at the facility and hold various wastes, only one landfill is presently in operation. Two fire protection areas involved extensive use of various fuels and combustible materials for fire training exercises. Initially, 25 areas were identified where hazardous materials might have been used, stored, treated, or disposed. Agricultural lands and industrial and residential developments surround the base. The City of Cheyenne borders the base on the east. Approximately 2,400 people draw drinking water from private deep aquifer wells. These wells lie within a 3 mile radius of hazardous substances on the base. Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through Federal actions. NPL LISTING HISTORY Proposed Date: 07/14/89 Final Date: 02/21/90 Threats and Contaminants ZGJ Contamination from trichloroethylene (TCE), gasoline, oils, hydraulic fluid, ethylene glycol, and battery acid was found in shallow groundwater zones and soils. TCE was found in surface water samples at various locations. Contaminated groundwater, discharging to surface waters (Crow and Diamond Creeks), is believed to be the TCE contamination source. Direct contact with contaminated groundwater, surface water, and soil may adversely affect human health. March 1992 ------- Cleanup Approach This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire site. Response Action Status Initial Actions: In 1986, the Air Force removed an acid disposal well system and an unknown amount of contaminated soil. In 1989, the Air Force removed a building drain sump, 3,000 gallons of contaminated liquid, 300 gallons of contaminated sludge, and 300,000 pounds of contaminated soil from an area known as Spill Site 7. Entire Site: In 1991, a Federal Facility Agreement divided the entire site into seven cleanup areas. These consist of shallow and deep groundwater zones (two separate stages), the acid dry well area, the landfills, the fire training areas, the base firing range, and a munitions detonation area. A draft report from a site investigation conducted under the Installation Restoration Program (IRP) was completed and reviewed by the EPA and the State. Further investigations are needed to determine contamination in deeper groundwater zones. Also, the extent of potential or suspected surface sources needs to be further identified. The Air Force currently is preparing plans to conduct further site investigations at surface sources and to determine deeper groundwater contamination. Work activities are to begin in the acid dry well area in 1992. Site Facts: A Federal Facility Agreement was signed September 26, 1991, defining EPA and State involvement in future site investigations and cleanup actions. The Agreement divides the site into seven cleanup areas. F.E. Warren Air Force Base is participating in the IRP, a specially funded program developed in 1978 by the Department of Defense (DOD) to identify, investigate, and control the migration of hazardous contaminants at military and other DOD facilities. Environmental Progress The initial actions to remove contaminated soil, sludge, and liquids have greatly reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous substances at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base site while further studies are taking place and cleanup activities are being planned. Site Repository Laramie County Public Library, 2800 Central Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82001 March 1992 4 F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE ------- MYSTERY B ROAD/HIGH WYOMING EPA ID# WYD981546005 Site Description EPA REGION 8 Natrona County mile east of Evansville Other Names: Brookhurst The 450-acre Mystery Bridge Road/Highway 20 site is located adjacent to an oil refinery and other industries in the Brookhurst and Mystery Bridge Subdivisions. One area of the site, the KN Energy facility, serves as a natural gas processing operation. There was an unlined waste pond on this area that was used from 1965 until 1984. Another area of the site operated as an oil field service and includes a former toluene storage area, a truck wash drain system, and an abandoned sump. Studies started in 1986 in response to citizen complaints identified the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in area wells and drinking water. The Brookhurst Subdivision was developed during the mid-1970s and consists of about 100 homes, 90 of which are affected by chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination of drinking water wells. Domestic wells in the area tap into shallow groundwater. In 1988, a contaminated groundwater plume moving from the Little America Refining Co. (LARCO), an area adjacent to the Brookhurst property, was also identified. Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through Federal and potentially responsible parties' actions. NPL USTING HISTORY Proposed Date: 06/24/88 Final Date: 08/30/90 Threats and Contaminants Groundwater and soil are contaminated with VOCs, hydrocarbons, and other hazardous substances. Drinking of or direct contact with contaminated groundwater are the greatest health threats to Brookhurst residents. Cleanup Approach This site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial phases focusing on cleanup of the groundwater and remaining subsurface contamination. March 1992 ------- Response Action Status Immediate Actions: In 1987, the EPA provided bottled water to 45 residences as an interim measure until the water distribution system was installed later in the year. Hookups to the drinking water system between Evansville and Brookhurst were completed in 1988. A sedimentation pond and intake structure modifications were constructed at the Evansville water treatment plant. In 1988, KN Energy removed 35 drums of liquid and sludge from the flare pit area and sent the drums off site to a disposal facility. KN Energy also installed a pump and treat system and soil vapor extraction system to mitigate the release of contaminants into the groundwater. In 1988, The Dow Chemical Company and Dowell-Schlumberger removed 420 cubic yards of contaminated soil from the facility and installed a soil vapor extraction system to remove remaining contaminants in the soil. Groundwater: In 1990, Dow, Dowell-Schlumberger, and KN Energy completed an investigation into the nature and extent of contamination at the site. Work performed during the investigation, including the installation of monitoring wells, soil vapor analysis, surface and sediment sampling, and collection of water samples from monitoring wells, was completed in 1989. Three containment plumes were identified in the groundwater. In 1990, the EPA selected a remedy to cleanup the groundwater, which includes: pumping of the first plume, which contains benzene, ethylbenzene, xylenes and toluene and treatment using air stripping; and limited pumping of the second plume, which contains VOCs, and treatment using air stripping and reinjection of clean water into the aquifer. The third plume is being addressed under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Design of the selected remedy began in 1991. Subsurface Contamination: An investigation to address any remaining subsurface contamination and potential impacts on the effectiveness of the groundwater cleanup is currently underway. KN Energy will perform batch leach tests for soil contamination to determine when to discontinue the immediate actions at KN's facility. They also will install a system to accelerate removal of any remaining soil and groundwater contamination beneath its facility. These activities are planned for completion in the fall of 1993. At that time, EPA will determine whether these activities have adequately removed the sources of groundwater contamination with regard to KN Energy and evaluate whether additional cleanup activities are needed. Dow Chemical Company and Dowell- Schlumberger are currently developing a work plan to investigate additional groundwater contamination. Site Facts: In 1988, the EPA issued Consent Orders to three potentially responsible parties, KN Energy, Inc., Dow Chemical Company, and Dowell Schlumberger, Inc., ordering them to clean up two separate suspected sources of groundwater contamination and site contamination. March 1992 6 MYSTERY BRIDGE ROAD/HIGHWAY 20 ------- Environmental Progress The immediate actions to provide bottled water until safe municipal water supplies could be provided and to remove accessible surface contaminants have greatly reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous substances at the Mystery Bridge Road/Highway 20 site while cleanup activities are being completed. Site Repository Natrona County Library, 307 East Second Street, Casper, WY 82601 MYSTERY BRIDGE ROAD/HIGHWAY 20 March 1992 ------- GLOSSARY Terms Used in the NPL Book This glossary defines terms used throughout the NPL Volumes. The terms and abbreviations contained in this glossary apply specifically to work performed under the Superfund program in the context of hazardous waste management. These terms may have other meanings when used in a different context. A table of common toxic chemicals found at NPL sites, their sources, and their potential threats is located on page G-15 Acids: Substances, characterized by low pH (less than 7.0), that are used in chemical manu- facturing. Acids in high concentration can be very corrosive and react with many inorganic and organic substances. These reactions possi- bly may create toxic compounds or release heavy metal contaminants that remain in the environment long after the acid is neutralized. Administrative Order On Consent: A legal and enforceable agreement between the EPA and the parties potentially responsible for site contamination. Under the terms of the Order, the potentially responsible parties (PRPs) agree to perform or pay for site studies or cleanups. It also describes the oversight rules, responsibilities, and enforcement options that the government may exercise in the event of non-compliance by potentially responsible parties. This Order is signed by PRPs and the government; it does not require approval by a judge. Administrative Order [Unilateral]: A legally binding document issued by the EPA, directing the parties potentially responsible to perform site cleanups or studies (generally, the EPA does not issue Unilateral Orders for site studies). This type of Order is not signed by the PRPs and does not require approval by a judge. Aeration: A process that promotes breakdown of contaminants in soil or water by exposing them to air. Agency for Toxic Substances and Dis- ease Registry (ATSDR): The Federal agency within the U.S. Public Health Service charged with carrying out the health-related responsibilities of CERCLA. Air Stripping: A process whereby volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) are removed from contaminated material by forcing a stream of air through the contaminated material in a pressur- ized vessel. The contaminants are evaporated into the air stream. The air may be further treated before it is released into the atmosphere. Ambient Air: Any unconfined part of the atmosphere. Refers to the air that may be inhaled by workers or residents in the vicinity of contaminated air sources. Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements (ARARs): Federal, State, or local laws which apply to Superfund activities at NPL sites. Both emergency and long-term actions must comply with these laws or provide sound reasons for allowing a waiver. ARARs must be identified for each site relative to the characteristics of the site, the substances found at the site, or the cleanup alternatives being considered for the site. G-1 ------- GLOSSARY Aquifer: An underground layer of rock, sand, or gravel capable of storing water within cracks and pore spaces, or between grains. When water contained within an aquifer is of sufficient quantity and quality, it can be tapped and used for drinking or other purposes. The water contained in the aquifer is called groundwater. A "sole source aquifer" supplies 50 percent or more of the drinking water of an area. Artesian (Well): A well made by drilling into the earth until water is reached, which, due to internal pressure, flows up like a fountain. Asbestos: A mineral fiber that can pollute air or water and is known to cause cancer or asbestosis when inhaled. Attenuation: The naturally occurring process by which a compound is reduced in concentra- tion over time through adsorption, degradation, dilution, or transformation. Background Level: The amount of a sub- stance typically found in the air, water, or soil from natural, as opposed to human, sources. Baghouse Dust: Dust accumulated in removing particulates from the air by passing it through cloth bags in an enclosure. Bases: Substances characterized by high pH (greater than 7.0), which tend to be corrosive in chemical reactions. When bases are mixed with acids, they neutralize each other, forming salts. Berm: A ledge, wall, or a mound of earth used to prevent the migration of contaminants. Bioaccumulate: The process by which some contaminants or toxic chemicals gradually collect and increase in concentration in living tissue, such as in plants, fish, or people, as they breathe contaminated air, drink contaminated water, or eat contaminated food. Biological Treatment: The use of bacteria or other microbial organisms to break down toxic organic materials into carbon dioxide and water. Bioremediation: A cleanup process using naturally occurring or specially cultivated microorganisms to digest contaminants and break them down into non-hazardous compo- nents. Bog: A type of wetland that is covered with peat moss deposits. Bogs depend primarily on moisture from the air for their water source, are usually acidic, and are rich in plant residue [see Wetland]. Boom: A floating device used to contain oil floating on a body of water or to restrict the potential overflow of waste liquids from containment structures. Borehole: A hole that is drilled into the ground and used to sample soil or ground-water. Borrow Pit: An excavated area where soil, sand, or gravel has been dug up for use else- where. Cap: A layer of material, such as clay or a synthetic material, used to prevent rainwater from penetrating and spreading contaminated materials. The surface of the cap generally is mounded or sloped so water will drain off. Carbon Adsorption: A treatment system in which contaminants are removed from ground- water and surface water by forcing water through tanks containing activated carbon, a specially treated material that attracts and holds or retains contaminants. Carbon Bisulfide: A degreasing agent formerly used extensively for parts washing. This compound has both inorganic and organic G-2 ------- GLOSSARY properties, which increase cleaning efficiency. However, these properties also cause chemical reactions that increase the hazard to human health and the environment. Carbon Treatment: [see Carbon Adsorp- tion]. Cell: In solid waste disposal, one of a series of holes in a landfill where waste is dumped, compacted, and covered with layers of dirt. CERCLA: [see Comprehensive Environmen- tal Response, Compensation, and Liability Act]. Characterization: The sampling, monitoring, and analysis of a site to determine the extent and nature of toxic releases. Characterization provides the basis for acquiring the necessary technical information to develop, screen, ana- lyze, and select appropriate cleanup techniques. Chemical Fixation: The use of chemicals to bind contaminants, thereby reducing the poten- tial for leaching or other movement. Chromated Copper Arsenate: An insecti- cide/herbicide formed from salts of three toxic metals: copper, chromium, and arsenic. This salt is used extensively as a wood preservative in pressure-treating operations. It is highly toxic and water-soluble, making it a relatively mobile contaminant in the environment Cleanup: Actions taken to eliminate a release or threat of release of a hazardous substance. The term "cleanup" sometimes is used inter- changeably with the terms remedial action, removal action, response action, or corrective action. Closure: The process by which a landfill stops accepting wastes and is shut down under Federal guidelines that ensure the protection of the public and the environment. Comment Period: A specific interval during which the public can review and comment on various documents and EPA actions related to site cleanup. For example, a comment period is provided when the EPA proposes to add sites to the NPL. Also, there is minimum 3-week comment period for community members to review and comment on the remedy proposed to clean up a site. Community Relations: The EPA effort to establish and maintain two-way communication with the public. The goals of community relations programs include creating an under- standing of EPA programs and related actions, assuring public input into decision-making processes related to affected communities, and making certain that the Agency is aware of, and responsive to, public concerns. Specific com- munity relations activities are required in relation to Superfund cleanup actions [see Comment Period]. Comprehensive Environmental Re- sponse, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA): Congress enacted the CERCLA, known as Superfund, in 1980 to respond directly to hazardous waste problems that may pose a threat to the public health and the environment. The EPA administers the Superfund program. Confluence: The place where two bodies of water, such as streams or rivers, come together. Confined Aquifer: An aquifer in which groundwater is confined under pressure that is significantly greater than atmospheric pressure. G-3 ------- GLOSSARY Consent Decree: A legal document, ap- proved and issued by a judge, formalizing an agreement between the EPA and the parties potentially responsible for site contamination. The decree describes cleanup actions that the potentially responsible parties are required to perform, or the costs incurred by the govern- ment that the parties will reimburse, and the roles, responsibilities, and enforcement options that the government may exercise in the event of non-compliance by potentially responsible parties. If a settlement between the EPA and a potentially responsible party includes cleanup actions, it must be in the form of a Consent Decree. A Consent Decree is subject to a public comment period. Consent Order: [see Administrative Order on Consent]. Containment: The process of enclosing or containing hazardous substances in a structure, typically in a pond or a lagoon, to prevent the migration of contaminants into the environment. Contaminant: Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological material or substance whose quantity, location, or nature produces undesirable health or environmental effects. Contingency Plan: A document setting out an organized, planned, and coordinated course of action to be followed in case of a fire, explosion, or other accident that releases toxic chemicals, hazardous wastes, or radioac- tive materials into the environment. Cooperative Agreement: A contract between the EPA and the States, wherein a State agrees to manage or monitor certain site cleanup responsibilities and other activities on a cost- sharing basis. Cost Recovery: A legal process by which potentially responsible parties can be required to pay back the Superfund program for money it spends on any cleanup actions [see Poten- tially Responsible Parties]. Cover: Vegetation or other material placed over a landfill or other waste material. It can be designed to reduce movement of water into the waste and to prevent erosion that could cause the movement of contaminants. Creosotes: Chemicals used in wood pre- serving operations and produced by distilla- tion of tar, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons [see PAHs and PNAs]. Con- taminating sediments, soils, and surface water, creosotes may cause skin ulcerations and cancer through prolonged exposure. Culvert: A pipe used for drainage under a road, railroad track, path, or through an embank- ment Decommission: To revoke a license to operate and take out of service. Degradation: The process by which a chemi- cal is reduced to a less complex form. Degrease: To remove grease from wastes, soils, or chemicals, usually using solvents. Deletion: A site is eligible for deletion from the NPL when Superfund response actions at the site are complete. A site is deleted from the NPL when a notice is published in the Federal Register. De minimis: This legal phrase pertains to settlements with parties who contributed small amounts of hazardous waste to a site. This process allows the EPA to settle with small, or de minimis contributors, as a single group rather than as individuals, saving time, money, and effort Dewater: To remove water from wastes, soils, or chemicals. G-4 ------- GLOSSARY Dike: A low wall that can act as a barrier to prevent a spill from spreading. Dioxin: An organic chemical by-product of pesticide manufacture which is known to be one of the most toxic man-made chemicals. Disposal: Final placement or destruction of toxic, radioactive, or other wastes; surplus or banned pesticides or other chemicals; polluted soils; and drums containing hazardous materials. Disposal may be accomplished through the use of approved secure landfills, surface impound- ments, land farming, deep well injection, or incineration. Downgradient: A downward hydrologic slope that causes groundwater to move toward lower elevations. Therefore, wells downgradi- ent of a contaminated groundwater source are prone to receiving pollutants. Ecological Assessment: A study of the impact of man-made or natural activity on living creatures and their environment Effluent: Wastewater, treated or untreated, that flows out of a treatment plant, sewer, or industrial outfall. Generally refers to wastes discharged into surface waters. Emission: Pollution discharged into the atmosphere from smokestacks, other vents, and surface areas of commercial or industrial facili- ties. Emulsifiers: Substances that help in mixing materials that do not normally mix; e.g., oil and water. Endangerment Assessment: A study conducted to determine the risks posed to public health or the environment by contamination at NPL sites. The EPA or the State conducts the study when a legal action is to be taken to direct the potentially responsible parties to clean up a site or pay for the cleanup. An endangerment assessment supplements an investigation of the site hazards. Enforcement: EPA, State, or local legal actions taken against parties to facilitate settlements; to compel compliance with laws, rules, regulations, or agreements; or to obtain penalties or criminal sanctions for violations. Enforcement procedures may vary, depending on the specific requirements of different environmental laws and related regulatory requirements. Under CERCLA, for example, the EPA will seek to require potentially responsible parties to clean up a Superfund site or pay for the cleanup [see Cost Recov- ery]. Erosion: The wearing away of land surface by wind or water. Erosion occurs naturally from weather or surface runoff, but can be intensified by such land-related practices as farming, residential or industrial develop- ment, road building, or timber-cutting. Ero- sion may spread surface contamination to off- site locations. Estuary (estuarine): Areas where fresh water from rivers and salt water from near shore ocean waters are mixed. These areas may include bays, mouths of rivers, salt marshes, and lagoons. These water ecosys- tems shelter and feed marine life, birds, and wildlife. Evaporation Ponds: Areas where sewage sludge or other watery wastes are dumped and allowed to dry out. Feasibility Study: The analysis of the potential cleanup alternatives for a site. The feasibility study usually starts as soon as the remedial investigation is underway. In this volume, the feasibility study is referred to as a site study [see also Remedial Investigation]. G-5 ------- GLOSSARY Filtration: A treatment process for remov- ing solid (paniculate) matter from water by passing the water through sand, activated carbon, or a man-made filter. The process is often used to remove particles that contain contaminants. Flood Plain: An area along a river, formed from sediment deposited by floods. Flood plains periodically are innundated by natural floods, which can spread contamination. Flue Gas: The air that is emitted from a chimney after combustion in the burner occurs. The gas can include nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, water vapor, sulfur oxides, particles, and many chemical pollutants. Fly Ash: Non-combustible residue that results from the combustion of flue gases. It can include nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, water vapor, sulfur oxides, as well as many other chemical pollutants. French Drain System: A crushed rock drain system constructed of perforated pipes, which is used to drain and disperse wastewater. Gasification (coal): The conversion of soft coal into gas for use as a fuel. General Notice Letter: [See Notice Letter]. Generator: A facility that emits pollutants into the air or releases hazardous wastes into water or soil. Good Faith Offer: A voluntary offer, gener- ally in response to a Special Notice letter, made by a potentially responsible party, consisting of a written proposal demonstrating a potentially responsible party's qualifications and willing- ness to perform a site study or cleanup. Groundwater: Water that fills pores in soils or openings in rocks to the point of saturation. In aquifers, groundwater occurs in sufficient quantities for use as drinking arid irrigation water and other purposes. Groundwater Quality Assessment: The process of analyzing the chemical characteris- tics of groundwater to determine whether any hazardous materials exist. Halogens: Reactive non-metals, such as chlorine and bromine. Halogens are very good oxidizing agents and, therefore, have many industrial uses. They are rarely found by themselves; however, many chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), some volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and dioxin are reactive because of the pres- ence of halogens. Hazard Ranking System (HRS): The principal screening tool used by the EPA to evaluate relative risks to public health and the environment associated with abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. The HRS calculates a score based on the potential of hazardous substances spreading from the site through the air, surface water, or groundwater and on other factors such as nearby popula- tion. The HRS score is the primary factor in deciding if the site should be on the NPL. Hazardous Waste: By-products of society that can pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health and the environment when improperly managed. Hazardous waste possesses at least one of four characteristics (ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxic- ity), or appears on special EPA lists. Heavy Metals: Metallic elements with high atomic weights, such as arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium. Heavy metals are very hazardous even at low concentrations and tend to accumu- late in the food chain. Herbicide: A chemical pesticide designed to control or destroy plants, weeds, or grasses. G-6 ------- GLOSSARY Hot Spot: An area or vicinity of a site contain- ing exceptionally high levels of contamination. Hydrocarbons: Chemical compounds that consist entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrology: The properties, distribution, and circulation of water. Hydrogeology: The geology of groundwater, with particular emphasis on the chemistry and movement of water. Impoundment: A body of water or sludge confined by a dam, dike, floodgate, or other barrier. Incineration: A group of treatment technolo- gies involving destruction of waste by controlled burning at high temperatures, e.g., burning sludge to reduce the remaining residues to a non-burnable ash that can be disposed of safely on land, in some waters, or in underground locations. Infiltration: The movement of water or other liquid down through soil from precipita- tion (rain or snow) or from application of wastewater to the land surface. Influent: Water, wastewater, or other liquid flowing into a reservoir, basin, or treatment plant. Injection Well: A well into which waste fluids are placed, under pressure, for purposes of disposal. Inorganic Chemicals: Chemical sub- stances of mineral origin, not of basic carbon structure. Installation Restoration Program: The specially funded program established in 1978 under which the Department of Defense has been identifying and evaluating its hazardous waste sites and controlling the migration of hazardous contaminants from those sites. Intake: The source from where a water supply is drawn, such as from a river or water body. Interagency Agreement: A written agree- ment between the EPA and a Federal agency that has the lead for site cleanup activities, setting forth the roles and responsibilities of the agencies for performing and overseeing the activities. States often are parties to interagency agreements. Interim (Permit) Status: Conditions under which hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, that were operating when regulations under the RCRA became final in 1980, are temporarily allowed by the EPA to continue to operate while awaiting denial or issuance of a permanent permit. The facility must comply with certain regulations to maintain interim status. Lagoon: A shallow pond or liquid waste containment structure. Lagoons typically are used for the storage of wastewaters, sludges, liquid wastes, or spent nuclear fuel. Landfarm: To apply waste to land or incor- porate waste into the surface soil, such as fertilizer or soil conditioner. This practice commonly is used for disposal of composted wastes and sludges. Landfill: A disposal facility where waste is placed in or on land. Sanitary landfills are disposal sites for non-hazardous solid wastes. The waste is spread in layers, compacted to the smallest practical volume, and covered with soil at the end of each operating day. Secure chemi- cal landfills are disposal sites for hazardous waste. They are designed to minimize the chance of release of hazardous substances into the environment [see Resource Conservation and Recovery Act]. Leach, Leaching [v.t.]: The process by which soluble chemical components are dis- solved and carried through soil by water or some other percolating liquid. G-7 ------- GLOSSARY Leachate [n]: The liquid that trickles through or drains from waste, carrying soluble compo- nents from the waste. Leachate Collection System: A system that gathers liquid that has leaked into a landfill or other waste disposal area and pumps it to the surface for treatment. Liner: A relatively impermeable barrier designed to prevent leachate (waste residue) from leaking from a landfill. Liner materials include plastic and dense clay. Long-term Remedial Phase: Distinct, often incremental, steps that are taken to solve site pollution problems. Depending on the complexity, site cleanup activities can be separated into several of these phases. Long-term Response Action: An action which requires a continuous period of on-site activity before cleanup goals are achieved. These actions typically include the extraction and treatment of groundwater and monitoring actions. Marsh: A type of wetland that does not contain peat moss deposits and is dominated by vegetation. Marshes may be either fresh or saltwater and tidal or non-tidal [see Wetland]. Migration: The movement of oil, gas, con- taminants, water, or other liquids through porous and permeable soils or rock. Mill Tailings: [See Mine Tailings]. Mine Tailings: A fine, sandy residue left from mining operations. Tailings often contain high concentrations of lead, uranium, and arsenic or other heavy metals. Mitigation: Actions taken to improve site conditions by limiting, reducing, or controlling toxicity and contamination sources. Modeling: A technique using a mathematical or physical representation of a system or theory that tests the effects that changes on system components have on the overall performance of the system. Monitoring Wells: Special wells drilled at specific locations within, or surrounding, a hazardous waste site where groundwater can be sampled at selected depths and studied to obtain such information as the direction in which groundwater flows and the types and amounts of contaminates present. National Priorities List (NPL): The EPA's list of the most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites identified for possible long-term cleanup under Super- fund. The EPA is required to update the NPL at least once a year. Natural Attenuation: [See Attenuation]. Neutrals: Organic compounds that have a relatively neutral pH, complex structure and, due to their organic bases, are easily absorbed into the environment. Water is the most commonly known neutral, however, naphtha- lene, pyrene, and trichlorobenzene also are examples of neutrals. Nitroaromatics: Common components of explosive materials, which will explode if activated by very high temperatures or pres- sures; 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a nitroaromatic. Notice Letter: A General Notice Letter notifies the parties potentially responsible for site contamination of their possible liability. A Special Notice Letter begins a 60-day formal period of negotiation during which the EPA is not allowed to start work at a site or initiate enforcement actions against potentially respon- sible parties, although the EPA may undertake certain investigatory and planning activities. G-8 ------- GLOSSARY The 60-day period may be extended if the EPA receives a good faith offer from the PRPs within that period. [See also Good Faith Offer]. On-Scene Coordinator (OSC): The predesignated EPA, Coast Guard, or Depart- ment of Defense official who coordinates and directs Superfund removal actions or Clean Water Act oil- or hazardous-spill corrective actions. Operation and Maintenance: Activities conducted at a site after a cleanup action is completed to ensure that the cleanup or containment system is functioning properly. Organic Chemicals/Compounds: Chemical substances containing mainly carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Outfall: The place where wastewater is discharged into receiving waters. Overpacking: Process used for isolating large volumes of waste by jacketing or encap- sulating waste to prevent further spread or leakage of contaminating materials. Leaking drums may be contained within oversized barrels as an interim measure prior to removal and final disposal. Pentachlorophenol (PCP): A synthetic, modified petrochemical that may be used as a wood preservative because of its toxicity to termites and fungi. It is a common component of creosotes and can cause cancer. Perched (groundwater): Groundwater separated from another underlying body of groundwater by a confining layer, often clay or rock. Percolation: The downward flow or filtering of water or other liquids through subsurface rock or soil layers, usually continuing down- ward to groundwater. Pesticide: A substance or mixture of sub- stances intended to prevent, destroy, or repel any pest. If misused, pesticides can accumulate in the foodchain and contaminate the environment. Petrochemicals: Chemical substances produced from petroleum in refinery operations and as fuel oil residues. These include fluoranthene, chrysene, mineral spirits, and refined oils. Petrochemicals are the bases from which volatile organic compounds (VOCs), plastics, and many pesticides are made. These chemical substances often are toxic to humans and the environment. Phenols: Organic compounds that are used in plastics manufacturing and are by-products of petroleum refining, tanning, textile, dye, and resin manufacturing. Phenols are highly poison- ous. Physical Chemical Separation: The treatment process of adding a chemical to a substance to separate the compounds for further treatment or disposal. Pilot Testing: A small-scale test of a pro- posed treatment system in the field to determine its ability to clean up specific contaminants. Plugging: The process of stopping the flow of water, oil, or gas into or out of the ground through a borehole or well penetrating the ground. Plume: A body of contaminated ground water flowing from a specific source. The movement of the groundwater is influenced by such factors as local groundwater flow patterns, the character of the aquifer in which groundwater is con- tained, and the density of contaminants [see Migration]. Pollution: Generally, the presence of matter or energy whose nature, location, or quantity produces undesired health or environmental effects. G-9 ------- GLOSSARY Poly cyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons or Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): PAHs, such as pyrene, are a group of highly reactive organic compounds found in motor oil. They are a common component of creosotes and can cause cancer. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): A group of toxic chemicals used for a variety of purposes including electrical applications, carbonless copy paper, adhesives, hydraulic fluids, microscope immersion oils, and caulking compounds. PCBs also are produced in certain combustion processes. PCBs are extremely persistent in the environment because they are very stable, non-reactive, and highly heat resistant. Chronic exposure to PCBs is believed to cause liver damage. It also is known to bioaccumulate in fatty tissues. PCB use and sale was banned in 1979 with the passage of the Toxic Substances Control Act Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PNAs): PNAs, such as naphthalene, and biphenyls, are a group of highly reactive organic compounds that are a common component of creosotes, which can be carcinogenic. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): A plastic made from the gaseous substance vinyl chloride. PVC is used to make pipes, records, raincoats, and floor tiles. Health risks from high concentra- tions of vinyl chloride include liver cancer and lung cancer, as well as cancer of the lymphatic and nervous systems. Potable Water: Water that is safe for drink- ing and cooking. Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs): Parties associated with a Superfund site who may be liable for the cost of remedying the release of hazardous substances. This may include owners or operators of the site or trans- porters who disposed of materials at the site. PRPs may admit liability, or liability may be determined by a court of law. PRPs may sign a Consent Decree or Administrative Order on Consent to participate in the site cleanup without admitting liability. Precipitation: The removal of solids from liquid waste so that the solid and liquid portions can be disposed of safely; the removal of particles from airborne emissions. Electro- chemical precipitation is the use of an anode or cathode to remove the hazardous chemicals. Chemical precipitation involves the addition of some substance to cause the solid portion to separate. Preliminary Assessment: The process of collecting and reviewing available information about a known or suspected waste site or release to determine if a threat or potential threat exists. Pump and Treat: A groundwater cleanup technique involving the extracting of contami- nated groundwater from the subsurface and the removal of contaminants, using one of several treatment technologies. Radionuclides: Elements, including radium and uranium-235 and -238, which break down and produce radioactive substances due to their unstable atomic structure. Some are man-made, and others are naturally occurring in the envi- ronment. Radon, the gaseous form of radium, decays to form alpha particle radiation, which cannot be absorbed through skin. However, it can be inhaled, which allows alpha particles to affect unprotected tissues directly and thus cause cancer. Radiation also occurs naturally through the breakdown of granite. RCRA: [See Resource Conservation and Recovery Act]. Recharge Area: A land area where rainwater saturates the ground and soaks through the earth to reach an aquifer. G-10 ------- GLOSSARY Record of Decision (ROD): A public document that explains which cleanup alternative(s) will be used to clean up sites listed on the NPL. It is based on information generated during the remedial investigation and feasibility study and consideration of public comments and community concerns. Recovery Wells: Wells used to withdraw contaminants or contaminated groundwater. Recycle: The process of minimizing waste generation by recovering usable products that might otherwise become waste. Remedial Action (RA): The actual con- struction or implementation phase of a Superfund site cleanup following the remedial design [see Cleanup]. Remedial Design: A phase of site cleanup where engineers design the technical specifi- cations for cleanup remedies and technolo- gies. Remedial Investigation: An in-depth study designed to gather the data necessary to determine the nature and extent of contamina- tion at a Superfund site, establish the criteria for cleaning up the site, identify the prelimi- nary alternatives for cleanup actions, and support the technical and cost analyses of the alternatives. The remedial investigation is usually done with the feasibility study. In this volume, the remedial investigation is referred to as a site study [see also Feasibility Study]. Remedial Project Manager (RPM): The EPA or State official responsible for oversee- ing cleanup actions at the site. Remedy Selection: The selection of the final cleanup strategy for the site. At the few sites where the EPA has determined that initial response actions have eliminated site contamination, or that any remaining con- tamination will be naturally dispersed without further cleanup activities, a "No Action" remedy is selected [see Record of Decision]. Removal Action: Short-term immediate actions taken to address releases of hazardous substances [see Cleanup]. Residual: The amount of a pollutant re- maining in the environment after a natural or technological process has taken place, e.g., the sludge remaining after initial wastewater treatment, or the particulates remaining in air after the air passes through a scrubber. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): A Federal law that established a regulatory system to track hazardous sub- stances from the time of generation to dis- posal. The law requires safe and secure procedures to be used in treating, transport- ing, storing, and disposing of hazardous substances. RCRA is designed to prevent new, uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. Retention Pond: A small body of liquid used for disposing of wastes and containing overflow from production facilities. Some- times retention ponds are used to expand the capacity of such structures as lagoons the store waste. Runoff: The discharge of water over land into surface water. It can carry pollutants from the air and land and spread contaminants from its source. Scrubber: An air pollution control device that uses a spray of water or reactant or a dry process to trap pollutants in emissions. Sediment: The layer of soil, sand, and minerals at the bottom of surface waters such as streams, lakes, and rivers, that absorbs contaminants. G-11 ------- GLOSSARY Seeps: Specific points where releases of liquid, usually leachate, form from waste disposal areas, particularly along the lower edges of landfills. Seepage Pits: A hole, shaft, or cavity in the ground used for the storage of liquids, usually in the form of leachate, from waste disposal areas. The liquid gradually leaves the pit by moving through the surrounding soil. Septage: Residue remaining in a septic tank after the treatment process. Sinkhole: A hollow depression in the land surface in which drainage collects; associated with underground caves and passages that facilitate the movement of liquids. Site Characterization: The technical pro- cess used to evaluate the nature and extent of environmental contamination, which is neces- sary for choosing and designing cleanup mea- sures and monitoring their effectiveness. Site Inspection: The collection of informa- tion from a hazardous waste site to determine the extent and severity of hazards posed by the site. It follows, and is more extensive than, a preliminary assessment. The purpose is to gather information necessary to score the site, using the Hazard Ranking System, and to determine if the site presents an immediate threat that requires a prompt removal action. Slag: The fused refuse or dross separated from a metal in the process of smelting. Sludge: Semi-solid residues from industrial or water treatment processes that may be contaminated with hazardous materials. Slurry Wall: Barriers used to contain the flow of contaminated groundwater or subsurface liquids. Slurry walls are constructed by digging a trench around a contaminated area and filling the trench with an impermeable material that prevents water from passing through it. The groundwater or contaminated liquids trapped within the area surrounded by the slurry wall can be extracted and treated. Smelter: A facility that melts or fuses ore, often with an accompanying chemical change, to separate the metal. Emissions from smelters are known to cause pollution. Soil Gas: Gaseous elements and compounds that occur in the small spaces between par- ticles of soil. Such gases can move through or leave the soil or rock, depending on changes in pressure. Soil Vapor Extraction: A treatment process that uses vacuum wells to remove hazardous gases from soil. Soil Washing: A water-based process for mechanically scrubbing soils in-place to remove undesirable materials. There are two ap- proaches: dissolving or suspending them in the wash solution for later treatment by conven- tional methods, and concentrating them into a smaller volume of soil through simple particle size separation techniques [see Solvent Extrac- tion]. Stabilization: The process of changing an active substance into inert, harmless material, or physical activities at a site that act to limit the further spread of contamination without actual reduction of toxicity. Solidification/Stabilization: A chemical or physical reduction of the mobility of hazardous constituents. Mobility is reduced through the binding of hazardous constituents into a solid mass with low permeability and resistance to leaching. G-12 ------- GLOSSARY Solvent: A substance capable of dissolving another substance to form a solution. The primary uses of industrial solvents are as cleaners for degreasing, in paints, and in Pharmaceuticals. Many solvents are flam- mable and toxic to varying degrees. Solvent Extraction: A means of separating hazardous contaminants from soils, sludges, and sediment, thereby reducing the volume of the hazardous waste that must be treated. It generally is used as one in a series of unit operations. An organic chemical is used to dissolve contaminants as opposed to water- based compounds, which usually are used in soil washing. Sorption: The action of soaking up or attracting substances. It is used in many pollution control systems. Special Notice Letter: [See Notice Let- ter]. Stillbottom: Residues left over from the process of recovering spent solvents. Stripping: A process used to remove volatile contaminants from a substance [see Air Strip- ping]. Sumps: A pit or tank that catches liquid runoff for drainage or disposal. Superfund: The program operated under the legislative authority of the CERCLA and Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) to update and improve environ- mental laws. The program has the authority to respond directly to releases or threatened re- leases of hazardous substances that may endan- ger public health, welfare, or the environment The "Superfund" is a trust fund that finances cleanup actions at hazardous waste sites. Surge Tanks: A holding structure used to absorb irregularities in flow of liquids, including liquid waste materials. Swamp: A type of wetland that is dominated by woody vegetation and does not accumulate peat moss deposits. Swamps may be fresh or saltwater and tidal or non-tidal [see Wetlands]. Thermal Treatment: The use of heat to remove or destroy contaminants from soil. Treatability Studies: Testing a treatment method on contaminated ground water, soil, etc., to determine whether and how well the method will work. Trichloroethylene (TCE): A stable, color- less liquid with a low boiling point. TCE has many industrial applications, including use as a solvent and as a metal degreasing agent. TCE may be toxic to people when inhaled, ingested, or through skin contact and can damage vital organs, especially the liver [see Volatile Organic Compounds]. Unilateral [Administrative] Order: [see Administrative Order]. Upgradient: An upward hydrologic slope; demarks areas that are higher than contaminated areas and, therefore, are not prone to contamina- tion by the movement of polluted groundwater. Vacuum Extraction: A technology used to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from soils. Vacuum pumps are connected to a series of wells drilled to just above the water table. The wells are sealed tightly at the soil surface, and the vacuum established in the soil draws VOC-contaminated air from the soil pores into the well, as fresh air is drawn down from the surface of the soil. G-13 ------- GLOSSARY Vegetated Soil Cap: A cap constructed with graded soils and seed for vegetative growth, to prevent erosion [see Cap], Vitrification: The process of electrically melting wastes and soils or sludges to bind the waste in a glassy, solid material more durable than granite or marble and resistant to leaching. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): VOCs are manufactured as secondary petro- chemicals. They include light alcohols, acetone, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, dichloroethylene, benzene, vinyl chloride, toluene, and methylene chloride. These poten- tially toxic chemicals are used as solvents, degreasers, paints, thinners, and fuels. Because of their volatile nature, they readily evaporate into the air, increasing the potential exposure to humans. Due to their low water solubility, environmental persistence, and widespread industrial use, they are commonly found in soil and groundwater. Waste Treatment Plant: A facility that uses a series of tanks, screens, filters, and other treatment processes to remove pollut- ants from water. Wastewater: The spent or used water from individual homes or industries. Watershed: The land area that drains into a stream or other water body. Water Table: The upper surface of the groundwater. Weir: A barrier to divert water or other liquids. Wetland: An area that is regularly saturated by surface or groundwater and, under normal circumstances, is capable of supporting vegetation typically adapted for life in satu- rated soil conditions. Wetlands are critical to sustaining many species of fish and wildlife. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, and bogs. Wetlands may be either coastal or inland. Coastal wetlands have salt or brackish (a mixture of salt and fresh) water, and most have tides, while inland wetlands are non- tidal and freshwater. Coastal wetlands are an integral component of estuaries. Wildlife Refuge: An area designated for the protection of wild animals, within which hunting and fishing are either prohibited or strictly controlled. G-14 ------- GLOSSARY Some Common Contaminants at NPL Sites Contaminant Category Example Chemical Types Sources Potential Health Threats* Volatile Organic Compounds Creosotes Radiation {RadionuciSdes} Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Cadmium, Cobalt, Copper, Chromium, Lead, Manga- nese, Mercury, Nickel, Silver, Selenium, Zinc Trichloroethylene (TCE), Perchloroethylene (PCE), Acetone, Benzene, Ketone, Methyl chloride, Toluene, Vinyl Chloride, Dichlorethylene Chlordane, DDT 4-4, DDE, Heptachlor, Aldrin, Endrin, Atrazine, Dieldrin, Toxa- phene Polyaromatic hydrocar- bons (PAHs), Polynuclear aromatics (PNAs), Phenolic Tars, Pentachlo- rophenol (PCP) Radium-226, Radon, Uranium-235, Uranium- 238 Electroplating, batteries, paint pigments, photogra- phy, smelting, thermom- eters, fluorescent lights, solvent recovery Solvents and degreasers, gasoline octane enhanc- ers, oils and paints, dry cleaning fluids, chemical manufacturing. Agricultural applications, pesticide and herbicide production Electric transformers and capacitors, insulators and coolants, adhesives, caulking compounds, carbonless copy paper, hydraulic fluids. Wood preserving, fossil fuel combustion Mine tailings, radium products, natural decay of granites Tumors, cancers, and kidney, brain, neurological, bone and liver damage Cancers, kidney and liver damage, impairment of the nervous system resulting in sleepiness and headaches, leukemia Various effects ranging from nausea to nervous disorders. Dioxin is a common by-product of the manufacture of pesti- cides and is both highly toxic and a suspected carcinogen. Cancer and liver damage. Cancers and skin ulcerations with prolonged exposure Cancer Sources: Toxic Chemicals—What They Are, How They Affect You (EPA, Region 5) Glossary of Environmental Terms (EPA, 1988} 'The potential for risk due to these contaminants is linked to a number of factors; for example, the length and level of exposure and environmental and health factors such as age. G-15 * U.S. G.P.O.:1993-341-835:81047 ------- |