RETURN TO USE INITIATIVE 2011 Demonstration Project SOUTH VALLEY Albuquerque, New Mexico HE S E: The South Valley Superfund site (the Site) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been home to both military and industrial operations for over 50 years. The Site is divided into two distinct areas: the Univar property and the former Air Force Plant 83 property. Historically, the Univar property housed an industrial chemical distributor known as SEC Corporation (SEC) which also sold dry ice, chlorine and ammonia gas. In 1971, SEC sold the industrial chemical portion of its business to Univar and in 1977 AmeriGas acquired the rest of the SEC property. In June 1988, Univar purchased the property from AmeriGas and has since owned and operated the Site. The Air Force Plant 83 property was divided into two separate areas: North Plant 83 Area which was demolished in 1997 and the South Plant 83 Area which ceased operations in 2010 and was demolished in early 2011. Facilities at both areas had been used for manufacturing purposes, first by Eidel Manufacturing, then the Atomic Energy Commission, followed by U.S. Air Force through General Electric, and finally by General ElectricAviation, which began operating at the Site in 1984. In 1978, the City of Albuquerque detected low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in nearby well fields. Subsequent investigations showed a complex Site involving releases of chlorinated solvents from multiple companies which impacted the local aquifers. The Site was divided into six operable units to address replacement of contaminated wells, source control, surface remediation and long-term ground water remediation. Construction of remedial components was completed in 1996 and ground water remediation is ongoing in portions of the Site. HE OPPOR LJNI The South Valley Site is located in an industrial area less than a mile west of the Albuquerque International Airport. For many years, Bernalillo County has hoped to improve access to the airport and to encourage economic and commercial growth in the area. A connector road through the Site property (an extension of the existing Sunport Boulevard PICTURED: A view of the unused South Valley site property, (source: Bernalillo County) BEFORE: Unused property in an industrial area near the Albuquerque International Airport. AFTER: Plans have been developed for the construction of an arterial roadway connection with I-25 and the airport that will cross the Site. The roadway is anticipated to ease area traffic congestion and open up land to attract new businesses to the area. PICTURED: A view of Sunport Boulevard looking west through the existing l-25/Sunport Boulevard interchange toward the potential construction project, (source: Bernaiillo County) BARRIERS: Since remedial activity at the Site was ongoing, the FHWA was concerned that the construction of a new road would disrupt the progress of the remedy. SOLUTION: Bernalillo County prepared an environmental assessment that illustrated how roadway construction could be done in a way that is compatible with ongoing remediation and would not result in any significant impacts to the natural or community environment. United States Environmental Protection Superfund Redevelopment Initiative 1—J § m Agency kAgency September 2011 1 ------- arterial roadway) would ease traffic congestion on nearby arterial roadways and allow potential businesses access to previously unreachable parcels of land. THE BARRIER: While the road extension had been considered by the County for two decades, the on-going Superfund cleanup was seen as a substantial barrier. When notified by EPA that the surface remediation was nearing completion, the County began planning the project. During the environmental assessment process in late 2010, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) voiced concerns to the County and to the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) about locating a roadway on a Superfund site where there were ongoing remedial efforts. FHWA was aware of difficulties previously encountered at a different Superfund site and was concerned that similar issues could arise from the proposed road extension project at the South Valley Site. In addition, the County had to determine how it could construct the new roadway without disrupting the ongoing ground water pump-and-treat remedy. THE SOLUTION: As part of the NMDOT's project development process, the County performed multiple engineering and environmental studies to analyze the positive and negative impacts that could arise from the proposed road project. As a part of these studies, the County developed several alignment alternatives for roadway location and construction. The EPA Remedial Project Manager for the Site met with Bernalillo County and with NMDOT to explain details of the Site's remediation and which aspects of the remedy might be impacted by the construction of a roadway. Through a public-private partnership, Bernalillo County and General Electric, one of the Site's responsible parties, consulted with EPA as well as other parties involved in the Site cleanup. All parties collaborated to determine how the roadway project could be constructed in a way that would ensure the project would not affect ongoing remediation. Plans were developed that identified specific ground water monitoring wells, injection and extraction wells and related water lines which could be safely relocated to permit roadway construction and still achieve remedial goals. The plan also included the addition of a bridge carrying the arterial roadway over a local roadway, allowing for construction along the preferred route but avoiding the potential need to relocate an expensive well, which remains an active part of the remedy. Bernalillo County prepared an environmental assessment for the project that included detailed analysis and discussion of the degree of impacts to the ongoing Site remediation process, as well as to natural and community resources. This was submitted to the NMDOT and FHWA to illustrate how roadway construction could be done in a way that is compatible with ongoing remediation and would create no significant impacts to the environment or the remediation process. THE SITE NOW: In June 2011, NMDOT reviewed and approved the environmental assessment and subsequently forwarded it to the FHWA for review and signature. Once the environmental assessment has been approved by the FHWA and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been issued, final construction documents will be developed and construction on the project will begin in late 2012 or early 2013. Construction is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete. Proposed plans for the roadway have already caught the attention of several interested businesses and the property near the proposed road is being eyed for redevelopment. This project is expected to spur local economic growth around the western side of the airport and bring jobs to the area as potential new businesses locate at the Site. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Mike Hebert, Remedial Project Manager, at (214) 665-8315 or hebert.michael@epa.aov: or Casey Luckett Snyder, Region 6 Superfund Redevelopment Coordinator, at (214) 665-7393 or luckett.casev@epa.aov. &EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Redevelopment Initiative September 2011 2 ------- |