, „, . „ or- AIM Gloria Ramos, P.E. Designated Coordinator Tutu Environmental Investigation Committee (TEIC) G.P.O. Box 4269 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-4269 September 10, 1993 Eng. Caroline Kwan Project Manager New York/Caribbean Superfund Branch II Emergency and Remedial Response Division US Environmental Protection Agency Region II 26 Federal Plaza New York, New York 10278 RE: Tutu Well Site Administrative Order on Consent Index No. II-RCRA-Proceeding 7003 and 9003-92-0401 Monthly Progress Report No. 19 Dear Mrs. Kwan: Attached find the Written Monthly Progress Report for the subject Administrative Order. If you have any question regarding this matter, please contact the undersigned at (809) 749-8943. Very truly yours, Ana Gloria Ramos, P.E. Designated Coordinator AGR/mpt/EPAKWAN Attachments pc: Mr. C. S. Griffith Mr. D. Lee Steve Kirkland, Esq. - Texaco, Inc. Mr. Paul Ryan - Texaco, Inc. Mr. William J. Stack - Exxon Corp. Mr. Jose Font - EPA Caribbean Field Office Mr. Roy E. Adams - Commissioner DPNR-USVI Mr. Leonard Reed/ Mr. Benjamin Nazario - DPNR-USVI Mr. J. C. Agrelot - Soil Tech Mr. T. Danahy - Geraghty & Miller Andrew Prashak, Esq. - USEPA Caribbean Field Office TUT OO6 1353 Telephone: (809) 792-2920 Fax. (809) 793-6555 *64763* 64763 '• MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORT NO. 19 September 9, 1993 RE: Administrative Order on Consent Index No. II - RCRA - Proceeding 7003 & 9003-92-0401 This status report includes the work performed during the period from August 1 through August 31, 1993. WORK COMPLETED DURING PREVIOUS MONTH • Continued data analysis and preparation of the RI Report. • Completed electronic transfer of chemical data to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) subcontractor, CDM Federal Programs, who is currently reviewing the data for a risk assessment. • Participated in a conference call with the USEPA to discuss comments made by the Potentially Responsible Parties' (PRPs') Technical Group in ah August 13, 1993 S~^ letter. WORK TO BE COMPLETED DURING NEXT MONTH • Participate in conference call with PRPs' Technical Group re: data compilation. • Continue data analysis and preparation of the RI Report. • Prepare a letter to the USEPA outlining the schedule required to compile and evaluate additional data to be provided by PRPs. ANA GLORIA RAMOS Attachments: 1. Letter from EPA dated August 9, 1993 addressed to Designated Coordinator - Forwarding comments on Technical Memo II and RI from the Tutu's Technical Group. 2. Letter from EPA dated August 30, 1993 addressed to Mr. fN- A. Gutierrez copy to Designated Coordinator TUT OO6 1334 UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION II JACOB K. JAV1TS FEDERAL BUIL NEW YORK, NEW YORK 1O278-OO12 AUG191993 EXPRESS RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED Ana Gloria Ramos, P.E. Designated Coordinator Tutu Environmental Investigation Committee P.O. Box 364269 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-4269 Re: Comments on Technical Memo II and RI from the Tutu's Technical Group Dear Ms. Ramos: Enclosed please find the above-referenced document. I would like to have your consultant review the contents of this document. A conference call is scheduled for Wednesday, August 25, 1993 at 2:30 pm to discuss the contents of this document. Please dial (202) 260-4276 at 2:30 pm to access the conference line. Please call me if you have any questions. Sincerely yours, Caroline Kv Project Manager New York/Caribbean Superfund Branch Enclosures cc: Sally Odland-CDM Thomas Danahy- G&M TUT 006 1355 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER ........ . . . . - . . _ - . - • • QTGC _ ^^^^^^ J7f*u*Wtm«ftMJ Cj"«4>rthete {****",—^ August 13, 1993 Page 1 of 6 TECHNICAL GROUP COMMENTS ON TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM H AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION The following are a series of comments that are intended to provide the USEPA Region II with recommendations to supplement Technical Memorandum n, thereby establishing a comprehensive Remedial Investigation (RI). The comments were developed by the Technical Group. Our comments relating to Technical Memorandum n are presented in Section A. Section B consists of our recommended objectives for a RI. Work elements which should be completed prior to implementation of Remedial Investigation field work are discussed in Section C. Section D presents a list of work elements and justification which, based on our present knowledge of the site, are required to meet the stated objectives of the RI. Implementation of Section C (below) may show that additional field programs are required. A. General Comment by PRP Group Concerning Geraghty and Miller Technical Memorandum H 1. Tech Memo n made some conclusions that are not supported by information presented in this report. The data presented in the report includes only that from the TEIC wells; and the analyses and conclusions of the report focus on the TEIC well data. It is recommended that the conclusions of the report should be disregarded, except to the extent that conclusions support specific recommendations regarding future field work. The Memorandum should base recommendations upon data included in the document or data which are clearly referenced in other available documents. The data provided in Technical Memorandum n and data collected by the recommended work will not be sufficient for a complete RL B. Provide a list of objectives which should be addressed by a Remedial Investigation for the site The selection of an appropriate set of objectives to assure that a RI/FS achieves the desired goal of supporting a ROD is critical in this effort Since significant additional work has been completed at this site beyond that considered in Tech Memo n and outside the TEIC group, it is necessary to incorporate these data to the extent that they are helpful in developing a RI/FS that can be supported by all PRPs. Based upon our evaluation of the site conditions and the data available to the PRPs, the following remedial responses are possible at the site: TUT 006 1358 August 13, 1993 Page 2 of 6 L Source control/remediation, point of use treatment, no active aquifer restoration program ii Point of use treatment only iii. An integrated source/aquifer remediation program iv. No action Following from the remedial responses presented above, the following objectives for the RI are appropriate: 1. Provide sufficient data to determine the radius of influence of each production and large-diameter monitor wells in or near the contaminant groundwater plume to permit design of point of use treatment 2. Provide sufficient data to predict contaminant concentrations in production wells within the Tutu aquifer to permit design of point of use treatment 3. Examine existing data to determine concentrations of major ions in groundwater to permit prediction of operation and maintenance costs of point of use treatment systems. 4. Provide sufficient data to determine aquifer characteristics, contaminant distribution, exposure pathways, and receptors to permit the development of a defensible risk assessment and an evaluation of remedial alternatives for the site. 5. Provide sufficient data to determine the magnitude and extent of unsaturated zone contamination at each potential source in sufficient detail to design/implement appropriate source control/remediation. 6. Provide sufficient data to determine soil and aquifer characteristics to permit the selection of interim remedial actions, short-term measures or remedial designs for source control/remediation at each potential source. 7. Provide sufficient data to determine contributions from surface runoff, sanitary and storm sewer line leakage. C Suggested work elements which aeed to be conducted prior to any additional field work towards a Remedial Investigation 1. Compile and provide to PRPs a complete bibliography of site information. All published reports, public documents (e.g. submitted to EPA), non-privileged documents (e.g. reports the PRPs are willing to release), depositions, correspondence, and historic aerial photographs, should be included in this bibliography. QGCL TUT OO6 1359 ^ August 13, 1993 Page 3 of 6 2. Compile and synthesize chemical data into a computerized database for the purposes of statistical analyses and map generation. Chemical data reported in dissimilar units (such as ppmv versus ug/L in the soil vapor surveys) must be converted and standardized to the same unit of measurement Data from all PRPs should be included in this database. Geraghty and Miller may already have developed a database which may be expanded to meet the needs of future field work. 3. Develop a computerized base map for the entire area, including all impacted water supply wells. 4. Update the existing well inventory compiled by Geraghty and Miller and also identify locations of all soil borings, soil vapor points, surface soil sampling locations, sump and tank pit sampling locations, monitor wells, production wells and rock outcrops on the base map (item 3, above). This will allow data gaps to be identified. Many sample and soil boring locations, and monitor wells installed by the PRPs are not presented in Technical Memorandum II. 5. Prepare a summary of all lithologic logs and well completion diagrams for wells/borings on site. Hydrogeologic cross sections should be included in this summary. —, 6. Review and analyze all applicable data and analyses based upon a specific set of Data ( Quality Objectives. 7. Evaluate existing aquifer test data to determine adequacy of tests. Tests conducted by Caribbean Hydro-Tech may be sufficient to characterize certain portions of the site. Aquifer test data presented in Technical Memorandum n are of limited application toward a RI due to the documented logistical problems associated with the tests. D. Work elements required as part of a Remedial Investigation to be incorporated into imminent field work currently scheduled to be performed in 1993 1. Survey all wells to a common datum within the investigation area; establish a site coordinate system. This will permit creation of complete and accurate potentiometric surface maps. 2. Those monitor wells where analytical results were compromised due to elevated detection limits, or where other problems have affected anah/te identification should be re-sampled. Detection limits must equal or surpass drinking water standards for the anah/tes of concern. 3. A single-event water quality analysis program should be performed on all wells in the area. Field analysis of dissolved oxygen and disserved carbon dioxide should be included in this program. Samples for analysis of known or suspected contaminants should be f***^'- collected and these data used to determine protocol for future regular sampling as needed. TUT 006 1360QTGCL /*""N August 13, 1993 Page 4 of 6 4. Additional shallow and deep wells are necessary to fully define the pattern of groundwater contamination. However, we strongly urge that the items listed in Section C must be completed before any additional field work is done. Notwithstanding our unanimous opinion that the items in Section C must be completed before specific well locations can be evaluated or recommended in a technically-defensible manner, we offer the following comments on Geraghty & Miller's recommendations for additional wells as shown on Figure 7-1 of Tech Memo n. • MW-15: The proposed location for this well should be moved approximately 50 feet west-northwest to ensure that the well does not tie close to locations of documented releases. The new location should be hydraulically equivalent to the original MW-15 location. • MW-16: Provided site conditions are appropriately dealt with such that the underground storage tank at this location can be removed without jeopardizing the integrity of the well. Examples of additional wells that were discussed by the Technical Group and may be useful in the delineation of groundwater contamination are as follows: f N • An additional shallow well should be located equidistant between MW-9 and proposed MW-18 to further define the down-gradient extent of organic contamination. • A monitoring well should be installed up-gradient of the O'Henry laundry. This should be located 100 feet north-northeast of existing well MW-2 on the O'Henry property. • Monitoring wells should be installed 300 feet due east of existing well MW-7 and 200 feet due east of MW-10 and -10D, adjacent to Highway 382. • Several wells should be installed down-gradient of the Harvey well. • A monitoring well should be installed at the fence line between Ramsay Motors and Antilles Motors directly south of the original proposed location of MW-15. Justifications for these additional wells will be provided in subsequent communications upon EPAs request 5. With respect to recommendations for additional soil borings, the PRP Group has examined the proposed recommendations from Geraghty & Miller. Although those recommended locations may indeed provide useful additional information, the group feels that without the systematic completion of the items included in Section C it is not //*~N prepared to individually comment on the soil boring locations suggested by Geraghty & Miller. 4NJGCL TUT OO6 1361 e /•*N August 13, 1993 Page 5 of 6 6. An evaluation of contaminant migration pathways arising from sanitary and storm sewers is necessary. The potential for these features to act as sources has not been investigated; therefore, appropriate measures should be taken to examine the potential for these sources. The process by which any additional field investigations should take place is described below: • Complete items included in Section C • Evaluate need for additional field work, recommend and design additional field work • Implement additional field work • Complete data evaluation • Complete RI/FS _ The PRP Group feels that it is important, in order to arrive at a defensible RI for the site, f that the data included as part of Section C activities be thoroughly considered in the development of the final RI/FS. E. Preliminary recommendations for additional work required for a complete Remedial Investigation 1. Complete additional sofl vapor surveys and obtain additional sofl samples as necessary to define extent and magnitude of unsaturated zone contamination at each potential source area. 2. Agree to a single sampling and analysis protocol (including Data Quality Objectives) for the RI and any sampling conducted for subsequent interim remedial actions, tank removals, etc. Sofl samples at all sites should be evaluated for solvents and other organic contaminants using standardized sampling and analytical techniques which wfll optimize the recovery and analysis of representative samples. Air permeability, bulk density, sofl moisture, sofl clay and organic content, and grain-size distribution measurements at specific locations may be appropriate if sofl venting techniques are to be considered for contaminant control and source remediation at each potential source area. The method for determining the depth to bedrock in borings and wells must be standardized. 3. Obtain quarterly water level measurements on an wells identified in the area. TUT 006 August 13, 1993 Page 6 of 6 4. Develop adequate conceptual models of the hydrogeologic system, contaminant distribution, contaminant transport pathways and controlling fate mechanisms. This memorandum was developed by the following Technical Group: John T. Burkart, R.G., REA - Cooper Environmental, Ramsay Motors, Inc. Ivan A. Cooper, P.E. - Cooper Environmental, Ramsay Motors, Inc. Stephen Dubyk - H*GCL, Inc., Texaco Caribbean, Inc. Donald P. Gafya, P.E. - ENSR Consulting and Engineering, Western Auto, Inc. Brace K. Green - Caribbean Hydro-Tech, Inc., Four Winds Plaza Partnership Randall T. Hicks - H*GCL, Inc., Texaco Caribbean Inc. David E. Langseth • Arthur D. Little, Inc., Andreas Gal & Paul Lazare Kenneth L. Loy - Internationa] Technology Corporation, L/Henri, Inc. Thomas F. Maquire, CPG - Blasland & Bouck Engineers, P.C., Esso, S.A Belinda K. Price, MS, RPG - International Technology Corporation, LUenri, Inc. S41S3/RESPONS4.LTR QfGCL 006 1363 "~ August 30, 1993 EXPRESS MAIL- RETURK RECEIPT REQUESTED Mr. Alberto A. Gutierrez, CPG Coordinator, Technical Group for the Tutu Wells Site H+GCL 505 Marguette NW, Ste. 1100 Albuquerque, NM 87102 Re: Review of August 13. 1993 Technical Group Comments on Technical Memorandum II and RIf Tutu Wells Site. USVI Dear Mr. Gurtierrez: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed the reviewed of the August 13, 1993 letter submitted by HGCL on behalf of the Tutu Wells Site Technical Group presented by the following companies: 1) Ramsay Motors, Inc., 2) Texaco Caribbean, Inc., 3) Western Auto, Inc., 4) Four Winds Plaza Partnership, 5) Andreas Gal & Paul Lazare, 6) L'Henri, Inc., and 7) Esso, S.A.. This letter addresses the Group's comments on Technical Memorandum II (prepared by Geraghty and Miller for the Tutu Environmental Investigation'Committee - TEIC, as required by the Administrative Order on Consent with EPA) and offers recommendations for the remedial investigation (RI) of the Tutu Site in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. This HGCL letter does not offer many specific comments on Technical Memorandum II, other than to states that in reference to Technical Memorandum II, "some conclusions are not supported by information presented in this report" and that "the data provided in Technical Memorandum II and data collected by the recommended work will not be sufficient for a complete RI". The letter then provides a list of data objectives which the Technical Group believes must be addressed by the RI and suggests work which it feels must be completed prior to any additional field work. The Group then suggests specific field work it would like included in the upcoming field season and recommends additional work it believes is required for a complete RI. TUT 006 1364 Comments on Section At General Comment by PRP Group Concerning Geraghty & Miller Technical Memorandum II As stated in the Revised Technical Memo II report dated May 1993 , the purposes of the Technical Memo II are to evaluate the adequacy of the monitoring wells system and to develop recommendations regarding sampling and analytical procedures for the second round of ground-water sampling and if additional field works need to be implemented prior to the finalization of the RI. EPA agrees that conclusions should not be drawn in Technical Memorandum II Report without reviewing all existing data. EPA also agrees that it is not the intent of this report to make definite conclusions except to the extent that the conclusions support specific recommendations regarding future field work. Comments on Section C; Suggested work elements which need to be conducted prior to any additional field work towards a Remedial Investigation . We would hope that the Technical Group (which also presented by Texaco and Esso ) has not done this already. EPA agrees that it would be useful to have a compilation of all available background materials Much of the information requested here (bibliography of site information, computerized database of chemical data, computerized base map, summary of lithologic logs and well completion diagrams) should already have been compiled by Texaco 's and Esso's contractor, Geraghty and Miller, for the TEIC investigation. The newly identified potentially responsible parties (PRPs) and L'Henri must provide data not previously available to EPA or TEIC concerning their own independent investigations. The Technical Group must designate a contractor who will perform the compilation of this information. EPA strongly recommends that the database should be compile by the Group and for the Group to reach a consensus identifying data gaps and additional required field work by October 1, 1993. Comments on Section D; Work elements required as part of a Remedial Investigation to be incorporated into field work currently scheduled to be performed in 1993 1. Survey all wells to a common datum; establish a site coordinate system. This has probably already been done by Geraghty and Miller. The Group should share any additional information with each other and establish one site coordinate system. 2. Those monitor wells where analytical results were compromised "~* due to elevated detection limits, or where other problems have n affected analyte identification should be re-sampled. Detection o limits must equal or surpass drinking water standards for the ° analytes of concern. EPA agrees problem wells should be resampled, and they will be in the upcoming season. EPA also agrees that low-concentration ^x—v methods are necessary to determine if groundwater samples meet ' drinking water standards. However, EPA disagrees that low-concentration methods should be used in all cases. Low-concentration methods are appropriate at locations where low levels of contamination are expected. Wells in the heart of the plume, such as MW-5 on the Tillet property have high concentrations of organic compounds. High concentration samples are difficult to analyze using low-concentration methods because they must be diluted until the concentrations are within the sensitivity range of the instrument. This results in significantly elevated detection limits, which can mask the presence of many compounds. This issue was discussed with TEIC during review of their work plan, where it was decided to use low-concentration methods only after the first groundwater sampling round, and then only in wells near or beyond the plume edge to better define the plume boundary. Low-concentration analyses will also be required to ascertain the effectiveness of remediation (whether point-of-use or aquifer treatment is selected), once implemented. 3. A single-event water quality analysis program should be performed on all wells in the area. Field analysis of dissolved oxygen and dissolved carbon dioxide should be included in this program. Samples for analysis of known or suspected contaminants should be collected and these data used to determine protocol for future regular sampling as needed. f" EPA agrees that all available wells should be sampled in a single round. EPA and Geraghty and Miller had previously agreed that chemical data from all TEIC monitor wells and accessible public supply wells would be considered together in the RI to determine the nature and extent of the groundwater plume. The Group must ensure that it makes other wells (installed by L1Henry and Caribbean Hydrotech etc.) available for the second round of groundwater sampling. The Group has not made clear whether it is requesting conventional water quality parameters, such as total dissolved solids, nitrates, sulfates, chlorides, etc. be analyzed along with the target compound list of organic contaminants. Such analyses could certainly be incorporated into the upcoming field work. Field analyses of dissolved oxygen and dissolved carbon dioxide could be performed at the same time as sampling for laboratory analyses. The field determination of Eh and the oxidation state of iron (+2 or +3) would also provide information to determine whether the groundwater conditions are aerobic or anaerobic. 4. Additional shallow and deep wells are necessary to fully define the pattern of groundwater contamination. However, we strongly urge that the items listed in section C must be completed before ^ any additional field work is done....