U P D A T E O N T H E C L E A N U P O F H U N T E R S P O I N T N A V A L S H I P Y A R D

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1 U P D A T E O N T H E C L E A N U P O F H U N T E R S P O I N T N A V A L S H I P Y A R D Prepared for the Hunters Point Citizens Advisory Committee by the San Francisco Department of Public Health with Treadwell & Rollo February 2012 Hunters Point Shipyard s Past From 1869 to 1986, the Hunters Point Shipyard was the site of various industrial activities that resulted in environmental contamination of portions of the land and buildings. These included a commercial dry dock (1869 to 1939), a United States Navy ( Navy ) shipbuilding facility (1945 to 1974), a Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory (1948 to 1969), and a machine shop (1976 to 1986). Although extensive analysis has shown that the Shipyard in its current state does not present an immediate threat to tenants, visitors, or the surrounding community, it is undergoing the Federally-regulated cleanup process under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act CERCLA to ensure that it can safely support the Hunters Point Shipyard Redevelopment Plan. Cleanup and Reuse The United States Navy is in the process of transferring the Shipyard to the City of San Francisco, which is in turn working with a private master developer, Lennar Urban, to transform the land into a new community with housing, job opportunities, parks and open spaces, and other community benefits. In 2004, the City and the Navy entered into an agreement that requires the Navy to complete a CERCLA remediation of the Shipayrd before transferring the land to the City. CERCLA, also known as Superfund, is a Federal program that funds and regulates the cleanup of abandoned hazardous waste sites. Once the Navy and Federal regulators have approved, completed, and documented the CERCLA process for a parcel, that land is considered safe for the proposed use outlined in the Redevelopment Plan. For phasing purposes, the Shipyard is divided into 12 parcels that can be remediated and transferred independently (rather than waiting for the Navy to clean up the entire Shipyard prior to transfer). The attachments at the end of this newsletter show the location and status of each parcel. As an example, these attachments indicate that Parcel A has completed remediation and been transferred to the City, while on Parcel D-2 the remediation is complete but the property has not yet been officially transferred to the City. All of the other parcels are currently undergoing either the remediation planning process or being actively remediated. What is the status of Shipyard remediation efforts? Preparation for Remediation The Navy has entered the final stage of selecting a remediation strategy for Parcel E. It has completed a report entitled Radiological Addendum to the Draft Final Feasibility Study (FS), which presents the results of an investigation that found that Parcel E s soil requires cleanup in many areas. In the report, the Navy evaluates remedial alternatives for the cleanup of this soil. The Navy is now preparing a Record of Decision (ROD) identifying the selected cleanup alternative. The Navy is preparing to implement several groundwater treatment studies within Parcel C. It has prepared and submitted to the regulatory agencies two work plans, which describe data-gathering activities that will be performed prior to the treatment studies.

2 Remediation Underway Radiological surveys and remediation of utility lines are underway throughout the Shipyard. The Navy is continuing to remove soil and utility lines that contain elevated radiological levels. It is also surveying soil, utilities, and vaults to measure radiological levels. Documentation of these surveys and remediation activities are occurring on a project-specific basis. This radiological remediation work is complete within Parcels B and G. The Navy is continuing the excavation and removal of soil containing elevated levels of chemicals and metals on Parcel E-2. This process, called PCB Hot Spot Time-Critical Removal Action (TCRA), involves excavation of contaminated soil at deeper and wider intervals until clean samples are collected at the bottom and sidewalls of the excavation area, which is then backfilled with clean soil. Excavation, sampling, and backfilling are expected to continue through March Documentation of this project is expected in June 2012 with the release of a Remedial Action Completion Report (RACR). The Navy continues to conduct groundwater monitoring throughout the Shipyard. The purpose of this program is to monitor various sites impacted with contaminants (typically VOCs or petroleum hydrocarbons) and evaluate the location, Excavation at Parcel E-2 PCB hotspot movement, and degradation of the contaminants. Documentation of the Fall, 2011 groundwater monitoring event is expected to be issued in January The next round of groundwater monitoring is scheduled for January and February Documentation of Completed Remediation Parcel E-2 - Draft Sampling and Analysis Plan, Interim Monitoring and Maintenance Program for the Landfill Gas Control System, Parcel E-2 Industrial Landfill, IR- 01/21: This document presents the processes and procedures including sample collection, laboratory analyses, instrument readings, and documentation that the Navy s contractor will follow during the next phase of monitoring the landfill on Parcel E-2. Documentation of Field Work Draft Remedial Action Completion Report for IR Sites 7 and 18 at Parcel B: This report documents the completion of remediation on sites IR 7 and 18. This work included the placement of a 2- or 3-foot soil cover, removal of contaminated soil and shoreline debris, and placement of a rock layer to strengthen the shoreline. Parcel B Draft Petroleum Hydrocarbon Corrective Action Quarterly Monitoring Report, Second Quarter 2011: In 2010 and 2011, the Navy excavated soil on Parcel B to remove oily residue (petroleum) floating on the water table. This document presents results of the Navy s recent groundwater sampling in the vicinity of that excavation, which did not indicate any petroleum concentrations above levels of concern. Groundwater monitoring will continue on a quarterly basis in this location. Page 2

3 Parcel D-2 - Final Radiological Removal Action Completion Report: This report summarizes and documents all field activities related to the removal of potentially contaminated utility lines from Parcel D-2. These activities include surface scanning, soil and utility line removal, sample collection, excavation backfilling, and off-site disposal of soil and debris. Page 3

4 Parcel E-2 - Draft Action Memorandum, Time-Critical Removal Action for the Experimental Ship Shielding Range: This memorandum describes all of the field activities that are anticipated to occur when the Navy undertakes a time-critical removal action (TCRA) of a one-acre area of at the former Experimental Ship Shielding Range, which is located in the panhandle area of Parcel E-2. The range was used by the Navy to conduct small-scale experiments to evaluate ways of protecting ships from the effects of radiation. The TRCA will primarily consist of excavation and off-site disposal of any contaminated soils that are found. Low-flow Sampling Equipment at Monitoring Well Page 4

5 Land plan and program summary for integrated Hunters Point Shipyard/Candlestick Point development Page 5

6 Who is working on the Shipyard cleanup? The Shipyard s remediation and remediation monitoring team includes the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), the California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), and the San Francisco Department of public Health. This section contains brief descriptions of each agency s role in the cleanup process, as well as each agency s contact information. U.S. Navy: The U.S. Navy is the lead government agency responsible for cleanup of the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. NOTE: Historical information about the shipyard, upcoming meeting dates, and other information can be found on the Navy BRAC PMO website: 5&state=California&name=hps Keith Forman BRAC Environmental Coordinator Hunters Point Shipyard Southwest Division Naval Facilities Engineering Command 1455 Frazee Road, Suite 900 San Diego, CA (916) keith.s.forman@navy.mil U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: The U.S. EPA oversees all aspects of the U.S. Navy s efforts at Hunters Point Shipyard in order to ensure compliance with Federal Law governing the investigation, cleanup, and closure of contaminated sites. Craig Cooper Superfund Project Manager U.S. EPA Region 9 (415) Cooper.Craig@epamail.epa.gov California Department of Toxic Substances Control: The California DTSC oversees all aspects of the U.S. Navy s efforts at Hunters Point Shipyard in order to ensure compliance with California State law governing the investigation, cleanup, and closure of contaminated sites. Ryan Miya Senior Hazardous Substances Scientist Brownfields and Environmental Restoration Program Berkeley Office Department of Toxic Substances Control 700 Heinz Avenue Berkeley, CA (510) RMiya@dtsc.ca.gov NOTE: Documents pertaining to HPS can be found on the DTSC s ENVIROSTOR website: Page 6

7 California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), San Francisco Bay Region: The California RWQCB oversees all aspects of the U.S. Navy s efforts at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in order to ensure compliance with California State law governing protection and cleanup of bodies of water, such as underground aquifers and the San Francisco Bay. Ross A. Steenson, PG, CHG Engineer Geologist San Francisco Bay Regional Ground Water Quality Control Board Groundwater Protection Division 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1400 Oakland, CA (510) rsteenson@waterboards.ca.gov City and County of San Francisco, Department of Public Health: The City and County of San Francisco intends to receive ownership of the property at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard and will assume responsibility for the continued safety of future residents and other occupants of the site. As the future property owner, the City and County of San Francisco oversees the U.S. Navy s efforts at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. Amy Brownell, PE San Francisco Health Department 1390 Market Street, Suite 410 San Francisco, CA (415) Amy.brownell@sfdph.org Glossary BCT: Base Closure Team CERCLA: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act Enacted in 1980 and nicknamed Superfund, this law provides the authority through which the Federal government can compel people or companies responsible for creating hazardous waste sites to clean them up. (EPA) DTSC: (California) Department of Toxic Substances Control. An agency of the State of California with the mission to protect California's people and environment from harmful effects of toxic substances through the restoration of contaminated resources, enforcement, regulation and pollution prevention. (DTSC) EPA: Environmental Protection Agency A federal agency, created in 1970, that sets and enforces rules and standards that protect the environment and control pollution. (Dictionary.com) FS: Feasibility Study. Analysis of the practicability of a proposal; e.g., a description and analysis of potential cleanup alternatives for a site such as one on the National Priorities List. The feasibility study usually recommends selection of a cost-effective alternative. It usually starts as soon as the remedial investigation... is underway; together, they are commonly referred to as the "RI/FS." (EPA) HPS: Hunters Point Naval Shipyard NAPL: non-aqueous phase liquid. Contaminants that remain undiluted as the original bulk liquid in the subsurface, e.g., spilled oil. (EPA) PCB: polychlorinated biphenyl. A compound derived from biphenyl and containing chlorine that is a hazardous pollutant. Use: in electrical insulators, flame retardants, plasticizers. (Encarta dictionary) Page 7

8 RACR: Remedial Action Completion Report RG: Remedial Goal ROD: Record of Decision. A ROD is a legal, technical, and public document that explains which cleanup alternative will be used at a Superfund NPL site. The ROD is based on information and technical analysis generated during the remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS) and consideration of public comments and community concerns. (EPA) What s coming up next? Upcoming Significant Submittals Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) anticipated Spring Final Finding of Suitability for Transfer (FOST) for Parcel D-2 anticipated February Draft Record of Decision (ROD) for Parcel E-2 anticipated March RWQCB: Regional Water Quality Control Board. An arm of the State Water Resources Control Board, created by the California State Legislature in 1967, protects water quality by setting statewide water policy. (SWRCB) SFPDH: San Francisco Department of Public Health TCRA: Time-Critical Removal Action Upcoming Events February 22: Navy Community Meeting, Bayview YMCA Topic: Major Activities at Parcel E-2 February 23, 201 Base Closure Team (BCT) Meeting, Navy trailers at Hunters Point Shipyard April 11: Navy Community Meeting Location: SECC, Alex L. Pitcher Room Time: 6:00 pm 8:00 pm Topic: Draft Parcel E-2 ROD July 28 (tentative): Bus Tour Location: HPS; Time: Various Topic: Tour of Cleanup Sites The Hunters Point Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is committed to ensuring that residents and businesses of Bayview Hunters Point and San Francisco have access to independent and rigorous technical analysis of the Navy s proposed remedial actions for the cleanup of the Hunters Point Shipyard. This newsletter is designed to provide timely and clear information on the progress toward completing the clean-up of the Shipyard. This newsletter is coordinated by the City of San Francisco Department of Public Health with technical analysis provided by Treadwell & Rollo. Treadwell & Rollo, a Langan Company, is a certified Bay Area Green Business, providing environmental engineering and analysis services to the CAC. As a member of Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Treadwell & Rollo, has access to nationwide technical expertise in environmental science, surveying and 3D scanning, geotechnical analysis, natural resources and permitting, and sustainable design. Page 8