UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                         WASHINGTON, D.C.  204$o

                              April 15,  1988

                                                               SAB-EEC-88-029
                                                                  OFFiCt OF
                                 ,                             THE ADMINISTRATOR


Honorable Lee M. Thosas
Administrator
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, S, W.
Washington, D. C.  20460

Dear Mr. Thcmas:

    The Science Advisory Board's (SAB) Environmental Engineering Committee
has completed its review of the Underground Storage Tank (UST) Release
Simulation Model developed by the office of Underground Storage Tanks for
the purpose of developing a Regulatory Impact Analysis of the requirements
proposed to regulate underground gasoline storage tanks*  The Coranittee
reviewed the model at a public meeting on May 11, 1987.

     Ihe Cccnmittee's major conclusions and recomnendations include the
following:

     o  The overall structure and design of the model is sound, but only
in the context of substantiating regulatory decisions on underground
gasoline storage  tanks that have been made by other means.

     o  Because the UST model involves such a ccpplex calculation of tank
failures and impacts, it would be useful to compare the model results to
simpler, order-of-magnitude estimates based on a first-order characteri-
zation of tank ages and failure probabilities.  The simplified and full
models should each be compared to data bases on tank failure that are
currently becoming available.

     O  The documentation of the model is not clear, and many of the
model's assumptions are not explicit.  Ihe model code should be
documented to facilitate a wider use.

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                                   -  2  -
     Ihe Committee appreciates  the  opportunity  to conduct  this evaluation
and acknowledges the cooperation o£ EPA staff in  its  review,   Wfe request
that the J^gency formally respond to the scientific  advice  provided in
th is _ report.

                                  Sincerely ,
                                   Norton Nelson
                                   Chairman
                                   Executive  Committee
                                  Raymdrid  loehr
                                  Chairman
                                  Environmental  Engineering  Ccttmittee

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                           SAB-EEC-88-029
            REVIEW OF THE
   UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK  (UST)
      RELEASE SIMULATION MODEL
 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING  COMMITTEE
       SCIENCE ADVISORY  BOARD
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

          Washington,  D.C.

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                             NOTICE


     This report has  been  written as part  of  the activities  of
the Science  Advisory Board,  a public  advisory group providing
extramural scientific information and advice to  the Administrator
and other officials of  the Environental Protection  Agency.  The
Board is  structured to provide  a balanced  expert  assessment of
scientific matters related to  problems  facing  the Agency.  This
report has  not been  reviewed for  approval by the  Agency and,
hence, the contents of  this  report do not  necessarily represent
the views  and policies of the Environmental Protection  Agency,
nor of  other  agencies  in the  Executive Branch  of  the  Federal
government,   nor  does  mention  of  trade  names  or  commercial
products constitute endorsement of recommendation  for  use.

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                       Table of Contents
  I.      EXECUTIVE SUMMARY                                  1

 II.      INTRODUCTION                                       3

III.      REVIEW OF THE TJST RELEASE SIMULATION MODEL
         A.  General Comments                               3
         B.  Responses to Specific Technical Questions      5
         C.  other Potential Uses of the Model              8

 IV.      APPENDICES
         A.  Specific Questions for SAB
         B.  Rosters
         C.  Rough Calculations of UST Leak Volatilization
         D.  References

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

     This report presents the  scientific review of EPA'S Under-
ground Storage Tank  (UST)  Release  Simulation  Model  conducted by
the   Science  Advisory   Board's   Environmental  Engineering
Committee [1] . EP&'s office of  Underground  storage  Tanks developed
this  model   to  support  its  regulatory  decisions.     More
specifically,  the  model  is  the   basis of the UST  Regulatory
Impact Analysis of the  requirements proposed to regulate under-
ground gasoline storage tanks  [2,3].

     EPA has  not directly used the  model to  develop regulatory
requirements.   Rather,  it  has  been  used only  to  substantiate
regulatory decisions  that  have been  made through  considering
other factors, and to  conduct the  MIA.   For regulatory support,
the model has been designed to generate estimates of the areal
extent  of  plumes  of  gasoline  in the  unsaturated zone  (i.e.,
floating plumes).   To  generate  estimates  of regulatory benefits
(i.e.,  risk  reductions)  in  the  RIA,  the  model  also  includes
saturated zone transport of benzene,  linked to exposure and dose-
response assumptions.   In this context,   the  Committee believes
that  the overall approach and design of  the  modeling framework
are  scientifically  sound.  However,  the Committee does  have
reservations  concerning  particular  aspects  of  the  current
implementation of  the  modeling framework,  and  was  not  able  to
fully evaluate all aspects of the  model.   These reservations and
limitations are  identified below  and discussed  further  in  this
report.

     The Committee  recommends  several  ways  of   evaluating  the
results of the UST model.  First,  because the model involves such
a  complex  calculation  of  tank  failure and  plume movement,  it
would be useful  to  compare the  model  results  to  simpler,  order-
of-magnitude estimates  based  on a first-order characterization
of tank  ages and failure  probabilities.    Second,  the simplified
and full models should  each be compared to the data bases on tank
failure that are currently becoming available.  Third,  to aid in
the  comparison  of  the  "UST model to  simpler approaches,  the
composite,  system-wide  hazard  function which results from all the
individual failure probabilities in the UST model should be
computed and   plotted.    These  aggregate  plots   will  help
illuminate  the  overall structure and effect of the model's
assumptions.   And  last, because the  theoretical  basis  for
modeling gasoline flows in the unsaturated and saturated zones is
relatively new,  examples of laboratory  and field validation of
the models should be included  as part of the model presentation.

     The incorporation of  two-phase  flows  in  a regulatory model
such  as  the  UST model  represents  an innovative  attempt  to use
state-of-the-art science.   Full review of the technical  details
of the  model's equations  (particularly  the plume  formation and
the transfer process to the aquifer)  requires technical expertise
beyond  the  members of  the present  Science  Advisory  Board  UST

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Subcommittee*    The Committee believes  that  uses other than
support of the RIA would require a more detailed peer review from
scientists currently working in the area of  multiphase  flow.

     As indicated, however,  the Committee  does have  some  reser-
vations about the Model, even in its present context.   These include;

     1»  The documentation of the model is not clear, and many
         the model's assumptions are not explicit.   The code, as
         published  in  the Appendix of  the  report,  is unusable.
         It is a long and complex code, and  contains no comment
         cards or other explanatory statements that  would make
         it useful to anybody but the developers of  the model.
         The code  should be  documented  so  others  can  run the
         model.

     2.  The air pathway  is  inadequately considered.
         Volatilization  of  constituents,   including benzene,
         may well  affect UST releases.   Unless a rationale
         exists for discounting volatilization,  such releases
         and their movement should be considered.

     3.  other potential pathways are also discounted without
         explanation,  including  any surface water effects and
         use of ground water for crop irrigation.  Unless a
         rationale exists for discounting  other  pathways,  they
         should be evaluated.  If such a  rationale does  exist,
         it should be presented and discussed.

     4.  The qualitative review of the uncertainties is a good
         beginning for  characterizing uncertainties.   However,
         it provides no insight into the magnitude of the
         uncertainties and no indication of  which model inputs
         and assumptions most influence the  model's  results.
         A quantitative sensitivity analysis of  the  model should
         be performed to determine the critical  parameters and
         uncertainties.   One  should also know  whether any of
         the assumed inputs could take on  values that would
         result in a change in the cost-benefit  rank ordering of
         the options considered, and whether the selected Option
         II is sensitive to particular parameter uncertainties.
         Until such  an uncertainty analysis is  undertaken, we
         are unable to  determine the degree  of  confidence  that
         should be placed in the current results.

    The  program office anticipates using  the UST model for
similar  analyses  in  future  regulatory  processes  when  new
regulations are written  for presently exempted USTs,  This is an
appropriate  use  of  the  model.     Benzene   will  not  be  an
appropriate surrogate for most chemical USTs, however.

    More site-and area-specific  uses of the model should not
be made until there  is  better documentation  and validation.

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The specific assumptions incorporated into the logic and step-by-
step approach need to  be  clarified for other potential users  of
the model,

II.  INTRODUCTION

      In November 1986, J. Winston Porter, Assistant Administrator
for  Solid Waste and  Emergency  Response,  requested  that the
Science Advisory Board  (SAB) review the Underground Storage  Tank
(UST) Release  Simulation  Model in mid-1987.   The  SAB  Executive
Committee  accepted  the request and  assigned the  review to  the
Environmental Engineering Committee (EEC).

      On  March  5,  1987,   staff   from  the  Office  of  Underground
Storage Tanks  (OUST)  introduced the  EEC  to the UST model and  to
the UST regulatory program, then under development.   At the  EEC's
May  11  meeting,  the Agency  presented  additional details on  the
model methodology  and results and  requested that  the  Committee
address several specific issues in the review (see Appendix  A)*

      The  EEC formed  a  Subcommittee  to  draft a  report.    The
membership of the Subcommittee and the EEC appears  in Appendix B.
The  Subcommittee *s  findings were discussed  and  accepted by  the
EEC  and subsequently  reviewed  and approved by the  SAB  Executive
Committee.
III.   REVIEW OF THE UST RELEASE SIMULATION MODELS

    A.   GENERAL COMMENTS

     The Committee believes that the overall approach  and  design
of the modeling  framework  is  sound,  but that limitations  in  the
current implementation  are such that it should- be used only  in
the context of substantiating regulatory decisions on underground
gasoline storage tanks  that have  been  made by other means.   For
regulatory support,  the  model has been  designed  to generate
estimates  of the  areal extent of  plumes of  gasoline  in  the
unsaturated zone (i.e., floating plumes).   To generate estimates
of regulatory benefits  (i.e., risk reductions)  in  the  Regulatory
Impact Analysis  (RIA), the  model also  includes saturated  zone
transport of  benzene,  linked to  exposure  and  dose-response
assumptions.  The model's components are logically structured  and
linked,  in general.   Section  B,  below, discusses  some of  the
calculations in more detail.

     Because the UST model  involves such a  complex calculation of
tank failure and impacts,  it would be useful to  compare the model
results to simpler, order-of-magnitude estimates based on a first-
order  characterization  of  tank ages  and failure  probabilities.
The  simplified  and full models should each be compared to  the
data-bases on tank failure that are currently becoming available.

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     To  aid in  the comparison of  the  UST model to  simpler
approaches, the  composite,  system-wide hazard' function that
results from all the individual failure probabilities in the UST
Model should be  computed and plotted.   This would include both
the hazard rate (the probability of failure in a  given year  given
that  a  tank has  survived to that  time)  and  the  survival
distribution (the cumulative failure probability  as  a function  of
age).   These aggregate  plots  will help  illuminate the overall
structure and effect of the model's assumptions.

     The Committee, however, does have some resrvations about the
model, even in its present context.  These include;

     1.  The documentation of the model is not clear, and many  of
         of the model's assumptions are not  explicit. The linkages
         between  components are  not  well  discussed.  The  model's
         code is impenetrable,  as it is presented with no explana-
         tions or comments.  The references used to support the
         risk analysis are too frequently drawn from unpublished
         sources even though better published works  exist.

     2.  The air pathway is inadequately considered.
         Volatilization of constituents,  including benzene,  may
         well affect UST releases (see Appendix C).  Spills  may
         volatilize before they infilitrate to ground water.
         Constituents may also volatilize from the unsaturated
         and saturated zone plumes.  Not only will this mechanism
         affect ground water releases,  but it also creates a new
         pathway for risks.  Unless a rationale exists for discounting
         volatilization, such releases and their movement should
         be considered.

     3.  Other potential pathways are also discounted without
         explanation, including any surface water effects and use
         of gound water for crop irrigation.   Unless rationale
         exists for discounting other pathways, they should  be
         evaluated.

     4.  Monte Carlo Methods;  The  sampling procedure simulating
         multiple tank histories, whereby the tank population is
         divided   into  cohorts representing  tank  types and
         hydrogeologic  settings, appears to  be  appropriate and
         well  thought  out.   It is not  clear   from  page  C~l,
         however,   whether  the  2000,   1000,   or  500   tank
         replications tested are within each cohort  or over  the entire
         tank population.  Also, when testing the model at different
         sample sizes, it is not clear which summary statistics are
         considered.  Presumably, the summary statistics  relate  to
         the  total  plume  acres  and  detection-replacement costs
         for the entire tank population,  but this is not stated in
         the text.   Finally,  the convergance of  the model  at
         "small"  sample  sizes (i.e.,  500 tanks) should  be
         demonstrated graphically  by plotting the summary statistics
         as a function  of sample size.

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     5.   Chapter 9  of the RIA presents a qualitative review of
         the uncertainties in the UST model and their possible impli-
         cations.    The  chapter  provides  a good beginning  for
         characterizing uncertainties.    However,  it provides no
         insight into  the magnitude  of  the  uneertainities  and no
         indication  of  which model  inputs  and  assumptions  most
         influence  the results.  A  quantitative sensitivity analysis
         of the model should  be performed to determine  the critical
         parameters and uncertainties.  One should  also know whether
         any of the assumed inputs  could take  on values that would
         result in  a change in the  cost-benefit rank ordering of  the
         options considered,  and whether the selected Option II is
         sensitive  to particular parameter uncertainities.  With
         the current results  it is  difficult to determine which of the
         uncertainities identified  in Chapter  9 are likely to be
         most critical to the regulatory assessment.  Comparison  of
         model  results  (i.e.  the composite damage   function,  the
         number of  leak incidents predicted, etc.)  to other avail-
         able estimates would help  in this assessment,  in addition to
         the recommended sensitivity analysis.


   B.  RESPONSES TO SPECIFIC  TECHNICAL QUESTIONS  fSee Appendix A^

     1.  Transport of gasoline in the unsaturate.d zone and

     2.  Transport of benzene  from floating plume  to  aqueous
           plume

      The characterization of multiphase flow  through ground water
systems  is a  new  area of  research  in  environmental science,
though some technical foundations are available from the field of
petroleum engineering,   As such,  the  incorporation of two~phase
flows in a  regulatory  model  such as the UST  model represents an
innovative attempt  to use state-of-the-art science.  Because the
theoretical basis for modeling gasoline flows in the unsaturated
and saturated zones is relatively new, examples of  laboratory and
field validation of the models should be included  as part of the
model presentation.

      The  general  approach and  components included  in the model
appear to be appropriate.  However, full review of the technical
details  of the  model's equations  requires  technical  expertise
beyond  the members  of the  present  Science   Advisory  Board UST
Subcommittee.   Peer  review from  scientists currently working in
the area of multiphase flow is recommended.

     The plume  formation and the transfer process  to the aquifer
should be more fully described and  subsequently reviewed, possibly
by specialists in these areas. The current descriptions of these
processes left the Committee  with questions  about the  mass
balance  in  the modeling framework.  How is the  mass discharge

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from  a  ruptured  tank accounted  for in  the  formation  of  the
floating  plume  which  is  defined  by  equations  that  yield
volumetric values?  Are these  consistent with the mass discharge
rates?

     The description of  mass transfer from the immiscible to the
dissolved phase on  page  230  of  the  report  (I),  is inadequate.
Note that on page  232, the value  of 5.5 x 10~13 kg/m2/ sec is
a mass transfer rate, not a "diffusion coefficient" as stated in
the text.

     The  degree  to  which  a point source  is  a reasonable
approximation of  the transfer of benzene  from the  lens  to the
ground water should  be further examined, as well  as the benzene
transfer mechanism itself.   The areal extent of the benzene layer
(or lens)  provides a basis  for determining the cost of remedial
action.   In the RIA, the  benzene  is transferred from the
immiscible layer to ground water,  In reality, this input to the
transport model is an area  source rather than a point source.
The implications and errors  introduced by this approximation
should be evaluated.
     3, Transport of aqueous plume to well

     The  equation  used  to  estimate the  concentration of
miscible  (dissolved)  benzene  at  downgradient  monitoring  wells
uses  an accepted  advective  dispersive  model with  sorption and
decay.    The  transport  components  are  described  by  three-
dimensional  advective  flux.   The  differential  equation  ({!}),
p.232)  is  solved in the usual fashion for a  point  source under
steady  conditions in an infinite medium,

     The  final working equation  is  appropriate  for a  slowly
leaking underground tank,  the  rate  of release  from which  is
assumed to exist  for  a sufficiently long  period to  achieve  a
steady-state condition.  The steady-state  equation,  however,  is
not appropriate for time-variable discharges and particularly not
for  relatively  rapid releases, e.g. a  "catastrophic"  event.
Since the  time .variation may be significant  in such conditions,
it would be appropriate  to make  available the solutions for this
case and discuss the situations in which  it may be considered.

     The basic equation is  solved for a conservative substance,
for which  case the retardation effect is  eliminated  in a steady
state   solution.     For  the   analysis   of  non-conservative
constituents  and  time-variable  releases,  the  retardation
coefficient is retained in  the  final solution.  Although  it is
recognized in  the  description  of the model that  these cases may
be  important, they  are  not  specifically  addressed  in  the
documents, and the degree  to which they can be  included  in the
model is not specified.

     Fundamentally, the plume  equation and  the  ground  water
equations compose a  two-phase systen and should  be  solved

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simultaneously.   The  Committee  appreciates  that the  system  is
complex and all  the mechanisms  not fully understood, much  less
quantified.   In  spite of  these  recognized limitations,  the
fundamental   relations  should be   explicitly  expressed   in
differential  form  including both  state,  as  well as mass,
equations.   The  necessary approximations and empiricisms  may then
be introduced,

     The Committee recognizes  the difficulty of assigning
dispersion coefficients representative of regional areas  based on
soil classification.   To evaluate the effect of a plume on a well
supply in relatively close proximity to the source/ however,  it
may not be necessary to incorporate three demensional dispersion.
The analysis may be greatly simplified,  yet  remain equally valid
using  the  one-dimensional-dispersion condition.    In some
instances (short distances and  higher ground  water velocities),
no significant error is introduced  if dispersion is eliminated in
all dimensions.

     4. Assumptions  about well locations

     The rationale presented (in chapter 3  {Section D) and
Appendix F)  for determining  well  locations and  populations  at
risk from leaking USTs appears to be sound  and clearly shows  the
association between  USTs  and population density.    The inverse
association between population centers and  shallow  ground water
use, especially private wells, is also fully considered.   For the
purposes  of generating supporting  evidence for the  RIA,  the
methodology employed should suffice since,  on a community basis,
adequately conservative estimates  are generated.    Such generic
assumptions,  however, are  not  applicable to  site-specific
analysis,

     5. Calculations of benzene  risk

     The standard method  used  for  calculations  of benzene
risk  is  sufficiently comprehensive and  conservative  for  a  RIA.
Benzene toxicity is largely characterized by carcinogenic effects
having typically  long  latency  periods  requiring  lifetime
exposures.  The exposure times modeled for  leaking USTs  seem to
be  unlikely to  approach those needed to  create carcinogenic
results.   It  may be worthwhile to  select  another compound  with
acute short-term effects,  if possible,  for  a check on  the
exposure risks,

     6.  Use..of benzene as  a surrogate for gasoline

     Use  of  any  single compound  as a  surrogate  for  a
mixture  as  complex  as gasoline is an  oversimplication raising
some concern.   Gasoline is  made up of a variety of compounds of
highly variable  chemical nature  and behaviors  aliphatic  and
cycloparaffinic hydrocarbons; benzenoid compounds  like  benzene,

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toluene, xylene,  and crnnene,*  compounds with  two or  more  ring
structures and a wide variety  of subsequent groups;  and a  broad
and variable  assortment  of  other  compounds  containing sulfur,
nitrogen, or oxygenated groups.

     The chemical behaviors  of  each of  these groups greatly
affect  their  transport  through the  soil!  their  solubility  in
water, and thus  their  transport in ground  water.   The range  of
properties is  so  great  that representative substances  from each
group ought to be evaluated in the model  to  at least  establish
the range of exposures that could result.

C*  OTHER POTENTIAL USES OF THE MODEL

     The program office anticipates using  the UST  model  in
future regulatory processes when new  regulations are written for
presently  exempted  USTs.   This  is  an  appropriate  use  of  the
model.   Benzene will not be  an  appropriate  surrogate for most
chemical USTs, however.

     More site™ and  area-specific  uses  of  the model should not
be made until  there  is better  documentation and validation.   The
specific assumptions incorporated into the  logic and  step-by-step
approach need  to  be clarified for  other potential  users of  the
model.

     The code,  as published in  the Appendix of  the report,  is
unusable (1).   It is a long and complex code,  and contains no
comment cards or other explanatory statements  which would make it
useful to users of the model.  The code should be documented so
others can run the model.  The Committee suggests that  the model
be run by an independent contractor who can evaluate  the code
itself.  This independent evaluation may also  point out
weaknesses of the model in the support'of the  regulations.

     The present  Subcommittee  did not feel competent to provide
an in-depth review of all aspects of this very complex  model.   If
uses  other than  support of the  RIA is made of the  model,  we
suggest that a more detailed peer review be conducted.

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                                     APPENDIX	A


                 UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                               WASHINGTON, D.C. 204<0
                                     APR   3 1987
                                                                     Off»C£ Of
                                                           SOLID WASTE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
 MEMORANDUM
 SUBJECT!      tlST Release Simulation Model - Areas foe Science Advisory
              Board  (SAB) Review
                                      YV
 FROM:         Sammy K. Ng
              Office of Underground /Storkq* Tanks

 TO 5           Eric Malls
              Science Advisory Board
     As requested by  the Environmental Engineering Committee of the SAB, we have
considered the areas  of the Underground Storage Tank  (UST) Release simulation
Model  ("Model") that  might be appropriate for the Committee'* review.

     The (1ST Model is composed of three main routines:   the failure routine* the
release routine, and  the transport routine.  In the failure routine, the model
determines the tine and location of failure within an OST  facility) the release
routine calculates the time to detection of the release, the total volume of
product released, and the oast of repairing or replacing the facility*  The
transport routine determines the travel time of the release from the facility to
its point of detection*  It then calculates the are*  of  the floating plume that
results if the release reaches groundwater and computes  the discounted cost of
any corrective action necessary to clean up the release  and the plume*

     We believe that  the most productive manner in which the Committee might
participate in the review of the Model would be to focus on one or more fairly
broad, but technically complex and sensitive areas of the  analysis in which the
special expertise of  the Committee reviewers are particularly strong.  Our
suggestion is that the Committee focus on the transport-* to-exposure aspect of
the Model,  We believ* that the Committee's review of the  assumptions,
computational procedures, and data associated with the estimated risks of UST
failures would be a particularly helpful conterpart  to  the review  that we
are currently conducting.

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 page 2
      The  following list provides some of  the issues in which the Committee may
 be  interested  in pursuing}

      o  modelling of  transport of gasoline  in  the  onsaturated zone,

      o  modelling of  the  transfer of benzene from  the  floating  plum*  to  the
        aqueous plume And its transport  through groundwater to  the wells,

      o  well locations and  the population exposure to  benzene in drinking
        water, and

      o  risks  resulting from exposure to  the benzene component  of gasoline,

      If you have any questions, please give me a call  at 392-7903*   I
forward to working with you and the Committee  On this  project.
ccs  Louise wise, OUST

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                                   APPENDIX B

 EEC UST Subcommittee

 Dr. leros Cartwrigtit  (Chair)
 IL State Geological Survey

 Dr. William Haun
 General Mills  (retired)

 Dr. Donald O'Connor
 Environmental  Engineering Science Program
 Manhattan College

 Dr. Thomas  Shen
 NY State Dept. of Environmental Conservation

 Dr. Mitchell Small
 Department  of  Civil Eagineering
 Carnegie-Mellon University

 Dr. Herb Ward
 Dept, of Environmental Science and Engineering
 Rice University

 Remainder of EEC

 Dr.  Maywond Loehr (EEC Chairman)
 Civil Engineering Department
 University of Texas (Austin)

 Dr.  Joan Berkowitz
 Risk Science International

 Mr.  Richard Conway
 Union Carbide Corporation

 Dr.  Ben  Ewing
 Institute for Environmental Studies
 University of  Illinois (Champaign-Urbaaa)

 Dr. William Glaze
 Dept. of  Environmental Science and Engineering
 University of California (Los Angeles)

Mr. George Green
 Public Service Conpany of Colorado

Dr. Joseph Ling                                                        *
3M  Company

Dr. Charles O'Melia                                      Executive Secretary
Dept. of Geography and Environmental Engineering
The Johns Hopkins University                             Mr. Eric Males

Dr. Paul Roberts                                         Staff Secretary
Department of Civil Engineering
Stanford University                                      Mrs. Marie Miller

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                                  APPENDIX C

                 Rough Calculation of UST Leak Volatilization


Volatilization Estimation:

     Ei - Di CSi A P 4/3 VL

Where i can be benzene, EDB, alcohol, or other constituents.

     $1  * diffusion coefficient of benzene - 0.08708 em^/sec @ 20%

     C * » saturated concentration *  _p_M " 3.73 x 78   - 0.016 g/cm3 @ .20*0
                                      RT   62.3 x 293
       p - vapor pressure (mm tig)

       M - molecular weight

       T » temperature (K°)

       R *• Universal gas constant (am Hg-cm^/lC^-iaole)

     P   - soil porosity - 0.4

     Mj  - weight of benzene in gasoline * 10%

     L   * depth of benzene to ground level   LI -  10 a (to  coae  center of mass)
                                              I»2 -  14 a

                                                 2  *-**
     A   - exposed area of benzene   Ai - 1,037 m~  ( t( rs)
                                     Aj - 7,500 a2

     BA1 - 0.08708 x 0.016 x 1. 6 x 1Q7 x 0.4 4^3 ic  0.1/1000  •* 0.658  g/sec.

     I12 - 0.08708 x 0.016 x 7.5 x 107 it 0.295 x 0.1/1400  -  0.220 g/sec.

Assume

  Average rate of leaching downward -» 0.5 is/day

  Average rate of spreading with ground water velocity -  1.0 in/day
                                                       (0.1  to  5.0}

     ti - Lj/tj_ - 8/0.5 • 16 days

     t2 - &2/t2 * 250/1.0 » 250 days
?olatlHzatlon Amount:

    Case 1:   0.658  g/sec. x  8640 sec. /day x 16 days - 90,962 grams
     (from the unsatu rated zone  floating plume, spreading cone)

    Case 2:   0.220 x 8640 x 250 - 475,000 grans
     (from the ground water, dissolved plume)

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    Case 1 loss to air:   90,962/1.01 x 10s - 0,068* of total



    Case 2 loss to air;  475,000/6,75 x 106 - 7*0403! of total




                                              7.1081 of gasoline loot to air



Note;  The gasoline vapor can migrate to basements via pipeline trenches.






Assumptions:




     vj^ « leaching downward velocity «• 0.5 m/day




     vj - ground water flow velocity - 1.0 m/day (0.1 to 5.0 n/day)






     AI - downward spreading area - iTrs - 1,037 a^ - 10*37 x 10^ cn^



                                                   2          A   9
     Aj * plume spreading in ground water - 7,500 in  - 75 x 10  en






     VL -lTr2H/3 -   <225)(l2)/3 - 2,827 a3 - 2.8 x 109 cm3




     V2 - 7500 m2 x O.OOto - 75m3 - 75 x 106 ca3






     Mx - 2.8 x 109 cm3 x 0.9 g/cm3 x 0.1   x   0.4   - l.Ql x 108 gran

                          (density) (conc'n) (porosity)




     M  - 75 x 106 cm3 x 0.9 x 0.1 - 6.75 x 106 gram

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          Rough Calculation of UST Leak Volatilization
                             (not to scofe)
        A1
Ground level

i i-mm
L < I vifi
/ _\l4m
2m '
L2=14m
12m


Drinking
Water Well
        VI =2,827m
                           (side view)
                                       V2=75m3
12m
                 A1= 1,037m

                   S=22m (curved)
                                  250m

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                                APPENDIX D

                                REFERENCES

1. U.S. EPA, Office of Underground Storage Tanks*  "Final Report Underground
   Storage Tank Model," submitted by Pope-Reid Associates, December Ii86.

2. U.S. EPA, Office of Underground Storage Tanks. "Regulatory Impact Analysis
   for Proposed Technical Standards for Underground Storage Tanks,* March 30,
   1987.

3. "Underground Storage Tanks;  Proposed Rules," 52 PR 12662, April 17, 1987,

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