United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of
Emergency and
Remedial Response
EPA/ROD/R02-93/209
June 1993
PB94-963818
v°/EPA Superfund
Record of Decision:
Naval Air Engineering Center
(Operable Unit 9), NJ
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60872-101
REPORT DOCUMENTATION
PAGE
1. REPORT NO.
EPA/ROD/R02-93/209
3. Recipient's Accession No.
4. Title and Subtitle
SUPERFUND RECORD OF DECISION
Naval Air Engineering Center (Operable Unit 9), NJ
Ninth Remedial Action
5. Report Date
06/21/93
6.
7. Author(s)
8. Performing Organization Rept. No.
9. Performing Organization Name and Address
10 Project Task/Work Unit No.
11. Contract(C) or Orant(G) No.
(C)
(0
12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Address
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
13. Type of Report & Period Covered
800/800
14.
15. Supplementary Notes
PB94-963818 .
16. Abstract (Limit: 200 words)
The Naval Air Engineering Center (Operable Unit 9) site is part of the 7,400-acre Naval
Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division located in Lakehurst, Ocean County, New Jersey,
approximately 14 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean. Land use in the area is
predominantly undeveloped woodlands, open areas, and limited commercial and industrial
areas, with the closest residential area, the Borough of Lakehurst, located southeast
of the facility. The Naval Air Engineering Center " (NAEC),-which lies within the Toms
River Drainage Basin, contains over 1,300 acres of flood-prone areas. The estimated
65,400 people who reside in the vicinity of NAEC, use municipal wells to obtain their
drinking water supply. Some private wells exist, but these are used primarily for
irrigation purposes. In 1916, Eddystone Chemical Company leased the property to
develop an experimental firing range for testing chemical artillery shells. In 1919,
the U.S. Navy assumed control of the property, and it was formally commissioned Naval
Air Station (NAS) Lakehurst in 1921. In 1974, the NAEC was moved from the Naval Base
in Philadelphia to NAS Lakehurst. The NAEC's mission is to conduct research,
development, engineering, testing and systems integration, limited production, and
procurement for aircraft and airborne weapons systems. Historically, various
operations at NAEC have required the use, handling, storage, and occasional onsite
(See Attached Page)
17. Document Analysis a. Descriptors
Record of Decision - Naval Air Engineering Center (Operable Unit 9), NJ
Ninth Remedial Action
Contaminated Medium: None
Key Contaminants: None
b. Identifiers/Open-Ended Terms
c. COSATI Field/Group
18. Availability Statement
19. Security Class (This Report)
None
20. Security Class (This Page)
None .
21. No. of Pages
14
22. Price
(See ANSI-Z39.18)
SM Instructions on Reverse
OPTIONAL FORM 272 (4-77)
(Formerly NTIS-35)
Department of Commerce
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EPA/ROD/R02-93/209
Naval Air Engineering Center (Operable Unit 9), NJ
Ninth Remedial Action
Abstract (Continued)
disposal of hazardous substances. During the operational period of the facility, there
were reported and suspected releases of these substances into the environment. The
Department of Defense's Installation Restoration Program (IRP) has identified 44
potentially-contaminated sites at NAEC, 16 of which have warranted further investigation
to assess potential impacts. IRP investigations revealed potential soil and ground water
contamination at the Recovery Systems Track Sites (Site 2), and the Oil Skimming and
Sewage Disposal Area (Site 38). Site 2 is located approximately 2,990 feet from the
nearest installation boundary and was used from 1967 to 1970 for the operation of
experimental machinery. The machinery was removed, but the concrete foundation pads are
still present. This site is still considered an active test site and was last used in
1983 to test materials for use in remote airfields. Jet fuel, ethylene glycol, and
hydraulic fluid were reportedly used at the site and incidental spills may have occurred.
However, no dumping was reported at the site. In 1981, two patches of oil-stained earth
were observed at the edges of the pads. At that time, 200 yd^ of visually-stained soil
were drummed and disposed of offsite at a hazardous waste disposal facility.' Site 38 is
located 1,500 feet from the installation boundary in a wooded, undeveloped region. The
site is approximately 320,000 ft^ and, from 1966 to 1974, reportedly was used by sewage
pumping contractors to dispose of liquid waste from the holding ponds at the Catapult Test
Facility (Site 6). Materials reportedly disposed of at the site included sewage from
septic tanks and oil waste consisting of hydraulic fluid, lubricating oils, ethylene
glycol, and various organic solvents. An estimated 40,000 gallons of oily waste and an
unknown amount of sewage were disposed of at the site. Subsequent investigations of both
Site 2 and Site 38 revealed no significant contamination in the soil and ground water.
Previous 1991 and 1992 RODS addressed OUs 1, 2, 3, and 4, and OUs 5, 6, and 7,
respectively. This ROD addresses any potential contamination at Sites 2 and 38, as OU9.
Other 1993 RODs address OUs 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, and 23. EPA has determined
that the previously implemented removal actions at Site 2 have eliminated the need for
additional cleanup activities at this site. EPA has also determined that previous
disposal activities at Site 38 have not significantly impacted the environment and that no
cleanup activities are needed at this site; therefore, there are no contaminants of
concern affecting Site 2 and 38.
The selected remedial action for this site is no further action. EPA has determined that
previously implemented removal actions have eliminated.the need to conduct additional
remedial actions and the results of the RI indicated that conditions at the site do not
pose unacceptable risk to human health and the environment. There are no costs associated
with this no action remedy.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS OR GOALS:
Not applicable.
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ROD FACT SHEET
SITE
Name :
Location/State :
EPA Region :
HRS Score (date):
NAWC Lakehurst
Lakehurst, New Jersey
II
49.48 (July 22, 1987)
ROD
Date Signed:
Remedy:
Operating Unit Number:
Capital cost: $
Construction Completion:
0 & M in 1993:
1994:
1995:
1996:
Present worth:
June 21, 1993
No Action
OU-9 (Sites 2 and 38)
N/A
N/A
LEAD
Enforcement
Federal Facility
Primary contact
Secondary contact
Main PRP
PRP Contact
Jeffrey Gratz (212) 264-6667
Robert Wing (212) 264-8670
U.S. Navy
Lucy Bottomley (908) 323-2612
WASTE
Type
Medium
Origin
Est. quantity
Metals, Organics
Soil
Assorted spills
N/A
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RECORD OF DECISION
FOR
SITES 2 AND 38
NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER
AIRCRAFT DIVISION
LAKEHURST, NEW JERSEY
17 MARCH 1993
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RECORD OF DECISION
DECLARATION
SITES 2 AND 38
NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER
AIRCRAFT DIVISION
LAKEHURST, NEW JERSEY
FACILITY NAME AND LOCATION
Naval Air Warfare Center
Aircraft Division
Lakehurst, New Jersey 08733
STATEMENT OF BASIS AND PURPOSE
This decision document presents the selected remedial action for
two individual site's (Sites 2 and 38) located at the Naval Air
Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst, New Jersey (NAWCADLKE) .
The selected remedial action was chosen in accordance with the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act (SARA), and the extent practicable, the
National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan.
This decision is based on information contained in the
Administration Record for these sites, which is available for
public review at the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington Street,
Toms River, New Jersey.
Both the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA),
Acting Region II Acting Administrator, and the Commissioner of the
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy
(NJDEPE) concur with the selection remedy.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SELECTED REMEDY
The United States Department of the Navy, the lead agency for this
Site, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency have
selected the "no action" alternative as the appropriate action for
Site 2 in Area H and for Site 38 in Area F.
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DECLARATION STATEMENT
The United States Department of the Navy and the United States
Environmental Protection Agency have determined that no additional
remedial action is necessary at Sites 2 and 38 to ensure protection
of human health and the environment. At Site 2, remedial action
was taken during the original assessment, removing all
contamination at the site, thereby eliminating the need to conduct
additional remedial action. At Site 38, no contamination was
detected that would require remedial action to protect human health
and the environment.
This Record of Decision concerns Sites 2 and 38 only. The
locations of these two sites within NAWCADLKE are shown in
Figure 2. Other areas of concern at NAWCADLKE have been or will be
addressed in separate studies and Records of Decision.
Captain DavidjRaTr^tto (Date)
Commanding Officer
Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division
Lakehurst, New Jersey
with the concurrence of:
William J. .Muszynsk^f P.E. (Date)
Acting Regional Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Region II
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BACKGROUND
The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division (NAWCADLKE) is
located in Jackson and Manchester Townships, Ocean County, New
Jersey, approximately 14 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean.
NAWCADLKE is approximately 7,400 acres and is bordered by Route 547
to the east, the Fort Dix Military Reservation to the west,
woodland to the north (portions of which are within the Colliers
Mill Wildlife Management Area), and Lakehurst Borough and woodland,
including the Manchester Wildlife Management Area, to the south.
NAWCADLKE and the surrounding areas are located within the
Pinelands National Reserve, the most extensive undeveloped land
tract of the Middle Atlantic Seaboard. The ground water at
NAWCADLKE is designated as Class I-PL (Pinelands) by the NJDEPE.
NAWCADLKE lies within the Outer Coastal Plain physiographic
province, which is characterized by gently rolling terrain with
minimal relief. Surface elevations within NAWCADLKE range from a
low of approximately 60 feet above mean sea level in the east
central part of the base, to a high of approximately 190 feet above
mean sea level in the southeastern part of the base. Maximum
relief occurs in the southwestern part of the base because of its
proximity to the more rolling terrain of the inner Coastal Plain.
Surface slopes are generally less than five percent.
NAWCADLKE lies within the Tomes River Drainage Basin. The basin is
relatively small (191 square miles) and the residence time for
surface drainage waters is short. Drainage from NAWCADLKE
discharges to the Ridgeway Branch to the north and to the Black and
Union Branches to the south. All these streams discharge into the
Toms River. Several headwater tributaries to these branches
originate at NAWCADLKE. Northern tributaries to the Ridgeway
Branch include Elisha, Success, Harris and Obhanan Ridgeway
Branches. The southern tributaries to the Black and Union Branches'
include the North Ruckles and Middle Ruckles Branches and the
Manapaqua Brook. The Ridgeway and Union Branches feed Pine Lake;
located approximately 2.5 miles east of NAWCADLKE before joining
the Toms River. Storm drainage from NAWCADLKE is divided between
the north and the south, discharging into the Ridgeway Branch and
Union Branch, respectively. The. Paint Branch, located in the east-
central part of the base, is a relatively small stream which feeds
the Manapaqua Brook.
Three small water bodies are located in the western portion of
NAWCADLKE: Bass Lake, Clubhouse Lake, and Pickerel Pond. NAWCADLKE
also contains over 1,300 acres of flood-prone areas, occurring
primarily in the south-central part of the base, and approximately
1,300 acres of prime agricultural land in the western portion of
the base.
There are 913 acres on the eastern portion of NAWCADLKE that lie
within Manchester Township and the remaining acreage is in Jackson
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Township. The combined population of Lakehurst Borough, Manchester
and Jackson Townships, is approximately 65,400, for an area of
approximately 185 square miles. The average population density of
Manchester and Jackson Townships is 169 persons per square mile.
The areas surrounding NAWCADLKE are, generally, not heavily
developed. The closest commercial area is located near the
southeastern section of the facility in the borough of Lakehurst.
This is primarily a residential area with some shops but no
industry. To the north and south are State Wildlife Management
areas which are essentially undeveloped. Adjacent to, and south
of, NAWCADLKE are commercial cranberry bogs, the drainage from
which crosses the southeast section of NAWCADLKE property.
For the combined area of Manchester and Jackson Townships,
approximately 41 percent of the land is vacant (undeveloped), 57
percent is residential, one percent is commercial and the remaining
one percent is industrial or farmland. For Lakehurst Borough, 83
percent of the land, is residential, 11 percent is vacant, and the
remaining six percent is commercially developed.
In the vicinity of NAWCADLKE, water is generally supplied to the
populace by municipal supply wells. Some private wells exist, but
these are used primarily for irrigation and not as a source of
drinking water. ' In Lakehurst Borough a well field exists
consisting of seven, fifty-foot deep wells, located approximately
two-thirds of a mile south of the eastern portion of NAWCADLKE.
Three of the seven wells (four of the wells are rarely operated)
are pumped at an average rate of 70 to 90 gallons per minute and
supply drinking water for a population of approximately 3,000.
Jackson Township operates one supply well in the Legler area,
approximately one-quarter mile north of NAWCADLKE, which supplies
water to a very small population (probably less than 1,000) in the
immediate vicinity of NAWCADLKE.
The history of the site dates back to 1916, when the Eddystone
Chemical Company leased from the Manchester Land Development
Company property to develop an experimental firing range for the
testing of chemical artillery shells. In 1919, the U. S. Army
assumed control of the site and named it Camp Kendrick. Camp
Kendrick was turned over to the Navy and formally commissioned
Naval Air Station (NAS) Lakehurst, New Jersey on 28 June 1921. The
Naval Air Engineering Center (NAEC) was moved from the Naval Base,
Philadelphia to Lakehurst in December 1974. At that time, NAEC
became the host activity, thus, the new name NAEC. In January
1992, NAEC was renamed the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft
Division Lakehurst, due to a reorganization within the Department
of the Navy.
Currently, NAWCADLKE's mission is to conduct programs of technology
development, engineering, development evaluation and verification,
systems integration, limited manufacturing, procurement, integrated
4
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logistic support management, and fleet engineering support for
Aircraft-Platform Interface (API) systems. This includes terminal
guidance, recovery, handling, propulsion support, avionics support,
servicing and maintenance, aircraft/weapons/ship compatibility, and
takeoff. The center provides, operates, and maintains product
evaluation and verification sites, aviation and other facilities,
and support services (including development of equipment and
instrumentation) for API systems and other Department of Defense
programs. The Center also provides facilities and support services
for tenant activities and units as designed by appropriates
authority.
NAWCADLKE and its tenant activities now occupy more than 300
buildings, built between 1919 and 1992, totalling over 2,845,000
square feet. The command also operates and maintains: two 5,000-
foot long runways, a 12,000 foot long catapult and arrest runway,
one-mile long jet car test track, four one and one-quarter mile
long jet car test tracks, a parachute jump circle, a 79-acre golf
course, and a 3,500-acre conservation area.
In the past, the various operations and activities at the Center
required the use, handling, storage and occasionally the on-site
disposal of hazardous substances. During the operational period of
the facility, there have been documented, reported or suspected
releases of these substances into the environment.
INITIAL INVESTIGATIONS
As part of the DOD Installation Restoration Program and the Navy
Assessment and Control of Installation Pollutants (NACIP) program,
an Initial Assessment Study (IAS) was conducted in 1983 to identify
and assess sites posing a potential threat to human health or the
environment due to contamination from past hazardous materials
operation.
Based on information from historical records, aerial photographs,
field inspections, and personal interviews, the study identified a
total of 44 potential contaminated sites. An additional site,
Bomarc, was also investigated by NAWCADLKE. The Bomarc site is the
responsibility of the U. S. Air Force and is located on Fort Dix,
adjacent to the western portion of NAWCADLKE. A Remedial
Investigation (RI) was recommended to confirm or deny the existence
of the suspected contamination and to quantify the extent of any
problems which may exist. Following further review of available
data by Navy personnel, it was decided that 42 of the 44 sites
should be included in the RI. Two potentially contaminated sites,
an ordnance site (Site 41) and an Advanced Underground Storage
Facility (Site 43) , were deleted from the RI because they had
already been addressed. In 1987, NAWCADLKE was designated as a
National Priorities List (NPL) or Superfund site under the federal
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act (CERCLA).
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Pursuant to the Department of Defense Installation" Restoration
Program, the Navy Assessment and Control of Installation Pollutants
Program, and Section 120 of CERCLA, a RI was implemented at
NAWCADLKE.
ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS
Phase I of the Remedial Investigation (Rl-Phase I) was conducted
from 1985 to 1987 to (a) confirm or refute the existence of
contamination at potentially contaminated sites identified during
previous studies; and (b) develop recommendations for further Phase
II investigations. The results of the Rl-Phase I were presented in
a report issued in 1987.
Phase II of the RI was conducted from June 1988 to January 1989 to:
(a) confirm the results of the Phase I study, specifically the
presence or absence of contamination; (b) identify where
contamination is located; (c) assess the potential for contaminant
migration; (d) define the sources of contamination; and (e) support
a feasibility study and final actions at the sites.
Phase III of the RI was initiated in the summer of 1991 to: a)
further evaluate and, if necessary, modify or finalize the interim
remedial actions; b) perform -a human health and ecological .
Endangerment Assessment (EA) evaluating the need for remedial
actions to eliminate threats to human health and the environment,
and to develop compliance criteria on a site specific basis; and c)
perform a feasibility study if necessary to identify, evaluate and
select remedial alternatives for those sites where remediation is
required.
The Navy determined in the spring of 1992 that it had sufficient
data to propose a Remedial Action Plan at Area F-Site 38, Oil
Skimming and Sewage Disposal Area and Area H-Site 2, Recovery
Systems Track Sites where contamination had not been detected at
elevated levels which could pose a threat to human health or the
environment.
Site contamination concentrations summarized in the RI report did
not exceed action or clean-up levels promulgated by Federal, State
or other regulatory agencies.
SITE DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY
Area E-Site 2, Recovery Systems Track sites
Site 2 is located approximately 2,990 feet from the nearest
NAWCADLKE property boundary and approximately 850 feet west of the
launching end of Recovery System Track Sites (RSTS) Track No. 2,
between Tracks 1 and 2 (Figures 2 and 5). Ground water depth at
the site ranges from approximately 12 to 14 feet. The nearest
surface body of water, the Manapagua brook, is located
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approximately 2,250 feet southeast (downgradient) of the site.
The site was used for the operation of experimental machinery
during the period 1967 to 1970. The machinery was subsequently
removed, but the concrete foundation pads are still present. This
site is still considered an active test site, used on an as needed
basis. It was last used in 1983 for testing materials for use in
remote airfields. Various aircraft runway materials were blasted
with jet engine exhaust to determine which could best stand up to
jet blast effects. Jet Track two, which is adjacent to Site 2, has
been used for testing laser systems during 1992.
At the edges of the pads, two patches of oil-stained earth were
observed during the Initial Assessment Study (IAS) of 1981, one was
approximately 10 by 20 feet and the other 15 by 15 feet. This soil
was removed during the IAS. It was reported that jet fuel,
hydraulic fluid and ethylene glycol were used at the site. Jet
fuel used at this site was stored in an Underground Storage Tank
(UST) at Site 32 (Site 32 is the subject of a separate study) while
the hydraulic fluid and ethylene glycol were stored in drums at the
site. It was reported that thirty drums containing hydraulic fluid
and' ethylene glycol were kept at the site. No dumping was reported
at the site.
Approximately 200 cubic yards of visually stained soil was removed
from the drainage swale adjacent to the site in 1981, under the
direction of NAWCADLKE. The soil removed was stained with a
viscous black "oil-like" substance probably resulting from an
unreported spill. The soil was drummed and disposed of by a
contractor at a hazardous waste disposal site.
Area F-Site 38/ Oil Skimming and Sewage Disposal Area
Site 38 is located within Area F, in the north-central portion of
NAWCADLKE (Figures 2, 3 and 4). The NAWCADLKE property boundary
forms the northwestern boundary of the Area F (Site 38 is located
approximately 1500 feet from the property boundary). There are no
major buildings or structures present: the area is essentially a
wooded region transected by a network of several dirt roads, with
a large grass field at Site 38. The depth to ground water at this
site varies from 24 to 31 feet below the ground surface. The
general direction of groundwater flow at Site 38 is to the
northeast.
It was reported that this site, which measures approximately 400
feet.by 800 feet, was used by sewage pumping contractors for the
disposal of liquid wastes from the holding ponds at the Catapult
Test Facility (Site 6) (Site 6 is the subject of a separate
study). This site was a former quarry or gravel pit. This waste
disposal operation was reportedly conducted during the period
between approximately 1966 and 1974. Use of the site as a disposal
area ceased in 1974. The area is currently partially tree covered
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and used as wildlife habitat and there is a trap range on it.
Currently the trap range is seldom used.
Materials disposed of at Site 38 reportedly included sewage from
septic tanks and oily waste consisting of: hydraulic fluid,
lubricating oils, ethylene glycol, and various organic solvents.
It is estimated that up to 5,000 gallons per year of the oily waste
components may have been disposed of over an eight year period.
This could have resulted in the disposal of up to 40,000 gallons of
oily waste, in addition to an unknown amount of sewage.
ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION SUMMARY
Area H-Site 2, Recovery Systems Track sites
November 1985 - January 1986: RI - Phase I. Analysis of a
groundwater sample collected from one monitoring well installed at
the site (DF) revealed no contamination.
August - December 1988: RI - Phase II. Two rounds of groundwater
samples were collected from monitoring well DF at the site. The
only compound detected in the analysis of these samples was
ethylene glycol, which was detected in the second round sample
only. The analysis of soil samples collected from one soil boring
and one test pit (at one of the previously stained soil locations)
did not reveal any contaminants at concentrations exceeding USEPA
acceptable risk range or NJDEPE soil clean-up criteria.
July 1991 - April 1992: RI - Phase III. Groundwater samples were
collected from monitoring well DF at the site and two downgradient
wells, DE and GD, located at Site 32, and analyzed for glycol. No
ethylene glycol was detected.
Area F-Site 38, Oil Skimming and Sewage Disposal Area
November 1985 - January 1986: RI - Phase I. Three monitoring
wells (EC, ED, EE) were installed at the site. Analysis of
groundwater samples collected from these wells revealed no
contamination.
May - June 1988: A soil gas screening survey conducted at the site
revealed no evidence of either petroleum or chlorinated
hydrocarbons in the 21 soil gas samples collected.
August - December 1988: RI - Phase II. Two additional monitoring
wells, FY and GQ, were installed immediately downgradient of the
site. Analysis of groundwater samples collected from the five
wells at the site confirmed the absence of significant groundwater
contamination. The only contaminants detected at levels exceeding
ARARs in the analysis of unfiltered samples were the metals
chromium and lead in well FY and chromium and selenium in well GQ.
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July - August 1990: RI - Phase II Addendum. Both unfiltered and
filtered groundwater samples were collected from monitoring wells
FY- and GQ to confirm or deny the presence of metals detected
previously, during the phase II investigation, at levels exceeding
ARARs. Samples from monitoring well FY were analyzed for chromium
and lead. Both metals were detected at levels below ARARs in
duplicate unfiltered samples. Neither metal was detected in
duplicate filtered samples indicating that the metals were not
dissolved in groundwater, but attributable to sediment present in
the samples collected. Samples from monitoring well GQ were
analyzed for chromium and selenium. Selenium was not detected in
the filtered or unfiltered sample. Chromium was detected in the
unfiltered sample at a concentration of 59.5 ug/1 and not detected
in the filtered sample. There are no records or evidence to
suggest that these contaminants were disposed of at Site 38.
July - April 1992: RI - Phase III. Seven test pits were excavated
at Site 38 and soil samples were collected from two of the pits.
Analysis of one soil sample showed no contamination while the other
revealed low concentrations of contaminants, semi-volatile organic
compounds (SVOCs) and Pesticides (see Table 1.), none of which are
above the USEPA acceptable risk range or NJDEPE soil clean-up
criteria.
SITE SUMMARY
Area H-Site 2, Recovery Systems Track Sites
Past reported activities at Site 2 do not appear to have had any
significant impact on soil or groundwater at the site. (See
Table 1.) Visually contaminated soil which had been observed at
the site was removed by NAWCADLKE in 1981, prior to initiation of
the RI. Analysis of soil and groundwater samples collected during
the three phases of the RI have not revealed the presence of any
significant contamination at or emanating from site 2.
Area F-site 38, Oil Skimming and Sewage Disposal Area
This site was named as a possible site of contamination through a
series of interviews conducted of personnel who formerly worked at
NAWCADLKE. Individuals pointed out that this site was used as a
dumping area for products which could potentially pose.a threat to
the environment or to human health.
Groundwater
During the RI (Phase II) , three metals were detected in ground
water at levels exceeding ARARs. Subsequent analysis of filtered
and unfiltered samples taken during the Phase II Addendum confirmed
the presence of these metals, below previously detected
concentrations. Resampling of groundwater during the Phase II
Addendum made use .of filtered samples which also indicated that the
metals were not dissolved in groundwater, but attributable to
sediment present in the samples collected and not due to a
widespread or systematic release related to past site activities.
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This has been determined by comparing samples as taken from
unfiltered groundwater samples against samples that had the
sediments filtered out of them (See Table 1). If the metals were
present due to dumping or other human activity the metals would
have shown up in test wells throughout the area and the results
would have been reproducible.
Data collected from wells throughout the base, where it has been
established that there is no contamination, were reviewed to
establish what the background levels are for metals on the
NAWCADLKE (See Table 2) . The "background level" is the amount of
each metal which occurs naturally in the ground water without being
disturbed by human activity. Background levels were established
for chromium and lead. The background level for selenium was
established to be below the limit of detection used during the
investigation. Nearly all samples where selenium showed up were
footnoted by the laboratory - estimated values below the reporting
limit.
Detected levels of chromium fall within the established background
level for this facility. During the phase II investigation lead
was detected at a level slightly above MCLs in an unfiltered sample
during the second round of sampling. Follow up investigations
detected lead within background levels from the same well.
Selenium showed up a single time in one well during the Phase II.
When a comparison is made between findings at NAWCADLKE and
findings at other sites in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, including
the BOMARC Site at McGuire Air Force Base and the McDonalds Branch
of the Rancocas Creek, we find that the average levels of metals
found are very similar. The average for detected levels of
analytes in unfiltered samples proved to be similar or lower than
those detected at the BOMARC Site at the McGuire Air Force Base
(see Table 3). A comparison of filtered samples taken from the
McDonalds Branch in the Lebanon State Forest, with filtered samples
taken at NAWCADLKE, shows the level for lead detected at NAWCADLKE
to be lower than that found in the McDonalds Branch. Chromium and
Selenium were not targets of investigation in the McDonalds Branch,
therefore no comparison can be made for these metals.
Soil
Low levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds and
two pesticides were detected in one soil sample collected at the
site (see Table 1). In addition, there is no indication that the
presence of these compounds has impacted groundwater quality at
Site 38. The results of the investigation indicate localized, low
concentrations of these compounds. These compounds have low
solubility in water.
Based on the results of the investigations conducted to date at
Site 38, there does not appear to be any significant soil or
groundwater contamination associated with reported past activities
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at the site which would pose unacceptable risk to human health or
the environment.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
The Proposed Plan for Sites 2 and 38 was issued to concerned
parties on 4 December 1992, a list of concerned parties is provided
as Appendix B. A newspaper .notification, inviting public comment
on the Proposed Plan and to attend a public meeting, scheduled for
15 December 1992, appeared in The Asburv Park Press. The Ocean
County Observer on 7 and 8 December 1993, and in The Advance News
on 9 December 1992. The comment period was held open for the
period from 15 December 1992 through 12 January 1993. The news
paper also identified the Ocean County Library as the location of
the Information Repository.
A public meeting was held on 15 December 1992. At this meeting
representatives from the Navy, USEPA and NJDEPE were available to
answer questions about Sites 2 and 38. A list of attendees is
attached to this Record of Decision (ROD) as Appendix A. Comments
received and responses provided during the public meeting are
included in the official transcript of proceedings, which is
included as Appendix C. No written comments were received during
the public comment period.
This decision document presents the selected remedial action
selected for these two sites, the no action alternative, chosen in
accordance with CERCLA, as amended by SARA and, to the extent
practicable, the National Contingency Plan (NCP). The decision for
these two sites is based on information found in the Administrative
Record which is available for public review at the Ocean County
Library, 101 Washington Street, Toms River, New Jersey.
SCOPE AND ROLE OF RESPONSE ACTION
The available data indicate that conditions at Sites 2 and 38 pose
no unacceptable risks to human health or the environment. There is
no action necessary for these two sites. Other areas of concern at
NAWCADLKE have been or will be the subject of separate studies and
response actions.
SUMMARIES OF SITE CHARACTERISTICS
The locations of these two sites are shown on Figure 2. Figure 3
shows a closeup of Site 38 and Figure 5 shows a closeup of Site 2.
The entire NAWCADLKE is underlain by the Cohansey Formation, a
water-table sand aquifer. The general direction of groundwater
flow at NAWCADLKE is to the east-northeast. Chemicals detected in
soil are provided in Table 1.
SUMMARIES OF SITE RISKS
The results of the Remedial Investigation and the analysis provided
in Tables 2 and 3 indicate that conditions at Sites 2 and 38 pose
no unacceptable risks to human health and the environment.
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