[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 99 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28317-28322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13602]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 300

[FRL-6101-2]


National Oil and Hazardous Substances Contingency Plan; National 
Priorities List

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of intent to delete Operable Units 100-IU-1 and 100-IU-3 
of the Hanford 100 Area Superfund Site from the National Priorities 
List.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 announces 
its intent to delete portions of the Hanford 100 Area NPL Superfund 
Site. The portions proposed to be deleted are the 100-IU-1 and 100-IU-3 
Operable Units from the National Priories List. The 100-IU-1 and IU-3 
Operable Units are part of the Hanford 100 Area NPL Site located at the 
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hanford Site, located in southeastern 
Washington State. EPA is requesting comment on this action.
    The NPL constitutes Appendix B to the National Oil and Hazardous 
Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), 40 CFR Part 300, which EPA 
promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). This partial 
deletion of the 100-IU-1 and 100-IU-3 Operable Units is proposed in 
accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e) and the Notice of Policy Change: 
Partial Deletion of Sites Listed on the National Priorities List. 60 FR 
55466 (Nov. 1995).
    This proposal for partial deletion pertains to all known waste 
areas located in the 100-IU-1 and 100-IU-3 Operable Units. The waste 
areas in 100-IU-3 were associated with former military sites used to 
defend the Hanford Site during the Cold War. In addition, a 2-4,D 
burial ground is located in the 100-IU-3 Operable Unit. The primary 
waste areas in the 100-IU-1 Operable Unit were associated with 
decontamination of rail cars at the Riverland Railroad Car Wash Pit, a 
munitions cache, a pesticide container area, and a 2-4,D container 
area.

DATES: EPA will accept comments concerning its proposal for partial 
deletion for thirty (30) days after publication of this document in the 
Federal Register and a newspaper of record.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Dennis Faulk, Superfund Site 
Manager, USEPA, 712 Swift #5, Richland, Washington 99352; (509) 376-
8631.
    Information Repositories: Information and the deletion docket is 
available for review at the information repository listed below:

U.S. Department of Energy, Public Reading Room, Washington State 
University, Tri-Cities Consolidated Information Center, Room 101L, 2770 
University Drive, Richland, Washington 99352.
    In addition, the Notice of Intent to Delete can be reviewed at the 
following information repositories: Portland State University, Branford 
Price Millar Library, Science and Engineering Floor, 934 SW Harrison 
and Park, Portland, Oregon; University of Washington, Suzzallo Library, 
Government Publications Room, Seattle, Washington; Gonzaga University, 
Foley Center, East 502 Boone, Spokane, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Faulk; (509)376-8631.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. NPL Deletion Criteria
III. Deletion Procedures
IV. Basis for Intended Partial Site Deletion

I. Introduction

    The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 
announces its intent to delete the 100-IU-1 and 100-IU-3 Operable Units 
from the National Priories List. The 100-IU-1 and IU-3 Operable Units 
are part of the Hanford 100 Area NPL Site located at The U.S. 
Department of Energy(DOE) Hanford Site, located in southeastern 
Washington State. EPA is requesting comment on this action.
    EPA proposes to delete the 100-IU-1 and 100-IU-3 Operable Units 
from the 100 Area NPL because all appropriate CERCLA response 
activities have been completed. The waste areas in the 100-IU-1 and 
100-IU-3 Operable Units were cleaned up by the DOE between 1992 and 
1994 using expedited response actions (ERA). At the Hanford Site, the 
term ERA is used to describe actions taken under CERCLA removal 
authority as described in 40 CFR 300.415. In February 1996, a no 
further action record of decision was signed documenting that previous 
ERA's had removed all contaminants from the waste areas in the 100-IU-1 
and 100-IU-3 Operable Units to below cleanup levels for residential use 
established under the Washington State Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA). 
It should be noted, cleanup activities are continuing at other operable 
units of the Hanford 100 Area NPL Site.
    The NPL is a list maintained by EPA of sites that EPA has 
determined present a significant risk to human health, welfare, or the 
environment. Sites on the NPL may be the subject of remedial actions 
financed by the Hazardous Substance Superfund (Fund). Pursuant to 40 
CFR 300.425(e) of the NCP, any site or portion of a site deleted from 
the NPL remains eligible for remedial actions if conditions at the site 
warrant such action.
    EPA will accept comments concerning its intent for partial deletion 
for thirty (30) days after publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register and a newspaper of record.

II. NPL Deletion Criteria

    The NCP establishes the criteria that EPA uses to delete sites from 
the NPL. In accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e), sites may be deleted 
from the NPL where no further response is appropriate to protect human 
health or the environment. In making such a determination pursuant to 
Sec. 300.425(e), EPA will consider, in consultation with the State, 
whether any of the following criteria have been met:
    Section 300.425(e)(1)(I). Responsible parties or other persons have 
implemented all appropriate response actions required; or
    Section 300.425(e)(1)(ii). All appropriate response actions under 
CERCLA have been implemented under DOE's removal authority, and no 
further response action is deemed necessary; or
    Section 300.425(e)(1)(iii). The remedial investigation has shown 
that the release poses no significant threat to human health or the 
environment and, therefore, taking of remedial measures is not 
appropriate.
    Deletion of a portion of a site from the NPL does not preclude 
eligibility for subsequent remedial actions at the area deleted if 
future site conditions warrant

[[Page 28318]]

such actions. Section 300.425(e)(3) of the NCP provides that remedial 
actions may be taken at sites that have been deleted from the NPL. A 
partial deletion of a site from the NPL does not affect or impede EPA's 
ability to conduct CERCLA response activities at areas not deleted and 
remaining on the NPL. In addition, deletion of a portion of a site from 
the NPL does not affect the liability of responsible parties or impede 
agency efforts to recover costs associated with response efforts.

III. Deletion Procedures

    Deletion of a portion of a site from the NPL does not itself 
create, alter, or revoke any person's rights or obligations. The NPL is 
designed primarily for information purposes and to assist Agency 
management.
    The following procedures were used for the proposed deletion of the 
100-IU-1 and 100-IU-3 Operable Units:
    (1) EPA Region 10 has recommended the partial deletion and has 
prepared the relevant documents.
    (2) The State of Washington, through the Washington Department of 
Ecology, concurs with this proposed partial deletion.
    (3) Concurrent with this national Notice of Intent for Partial 
Deletion, a notice has been published in a newspaper of record and has 
been distributed to appropriate federal, State, and local officials and 
other interested parties. These notices announce a thirty (30) day 
public comment period on the deletion package, which commences on the 
date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register and 
newspaper of record.
    (4) EPA has made all relevant documents available at the 
information repositories listed previously.
    This Federal Register document, and a concurrent notice in a 
newspaper of record, announce the initiation of a thirty (30) day 
public comment period and the availability of the Notice of Intent of 
Partial Deletion. The public is asked to comment on EPA's proposal to 
delete the operable units from the NPL. All critical documents needed 
to evaluate EPA's decision are included in the Deletion Docket and are 
available for review at the information repository previously listed.
    Upon completion of the thirty (30) day public comment period, EPA 
will evaluate all comments received before issuing the final decision 
on the partial deletion. EPA will prepare a Responsiveness Summary for 
comments received during the public comment period and will address 
concerns presented in the comments. The Responsiveness Summary will be 
made available to the public at the information repository previously 
listed. Members of the public are encouraged to contact EPA Region 10 
to obtain a copy of the Responsiveness Summary. If, after review of all 
public comments, EPA determines that the partial deletion from the NPL 
is appropriate, EPA will publish a final notice of partial deletion in 
the Federal Register. Deletion of the operable units does not actually 
occur until the final Notice of Partial Deletion is published in the 
Federal Register.

IV. Basis for Intended Partial Site Deletion

    The following provides EPA's rationale for deletion of the 100-IU-1 
and 100-IU-3 Operable Units of the Hanford 100 Area NPL Site and EPA's 
finding that the criteria in 40 CFR 300.425(e) are satisfied.

Background

    The Hanford 100 Area Site was added to the NPL in November 1989. 
EPA Region 10 is proposing deletion of portions of the Hanford 100 Area 
NPL Site. Specifically the 100-IU-1 Operable Unit and 100-IU-3 Operable 
Unit. The 100-IU-1 Operable Unit is a 13 square mile area with 
boundaries of Washington State Route 240 on the east, Washington State 
Highway 24 on the south, Hanford Site boundary on the west, and the 
Columbia River on the north. The 100-IU-3 Operable Unit is a 140 square 
mile area located at the northern most extent of the Hanford 100 Area 
NPL Site, north of the Columbia River.

100-IU-1 Operable Unit

    Based on past disposal practices two waste areas; the Army 
Munitions Burial Site (munitions cache) and the Riverland Railroad Car 
Wash Pit were included as subunits in the 100-IU-1 Operable Unit. In 
addition, during investigations a pesticide container disposal area and 
a 2-4,D container area were also discovered and included as part of the 
operable unit.
    The Riverland Railroad Car Wash Pit operated from 1943 until 1956 
and was used to decontaminate railcars. Radioactive decontamination was 
required before railroad maintenance personnel could work on the 
railcars and locomotives.
    An operable unit visual inspection found one homestead area 
containing a pile of empty pesticide containers. Characterization 
activities identified aldrin and dieldrin as contaminants of concern in 
the soil. Aldrin and dieldrin are carcinogenic and relatively immobile 
in soils. The chemicals were produced for about 10 years, from the 
early 1950s to early 1960s.
    A 2-4,D container area was discovered in July 1994 during an 
archaeological survey performed by Pacific Northwest Laboratories. Two 
5-gallon containers were found on the surface among some sage brush. In 
addition, nine 5-gallon containers, with just the pour spouts exposed, 
were found buried among the sage brush. Partial container markings 
indicated that the containers may have contained 2-4,D.
    The munitions cache received various military explosives in the 
1970s. The explosives were remnants left from various military 
exercises in the area. The area consisted of a wooden box placed in a 
hole in the ground about 0.6 m by 0.9 m by 0.6 m (2 ft by 3 ft by 2 ft) 
deep. On May 22, 1986, the box with contents went to the Yakima Firing 
Range for destruction.
    Characterization activities confirmed the presence of diesel fuel 
contamination in the concrete and soil at the Riverland Railroad Car 
Wash Pit and pesticide soil contamination at the pesticide container 
area. Characterization of the 2-4,D container area did not find any 
contaminated soil around or beneath the containers. Based on results of 
sampling at the 2-4,D container area, the empty containers were 
designated nonregulated. At the pesticide container area, sampling 
indicated the primary hazardous constituents of concern were aldrin and 
dieldrin contaminated soils. The munitions cache was sampled and no 
contamination was present.
    There is no known groundwater contamination associated with the 
100-IU-1 Operable Unit. There are two shallow depth groundwater 
monitoring wells within the Operable Unit. One well is located down 
gradient of the Riverland Railroad Car Wash Pit and the second well is 
located down gradient and to the northwest. Sample analysis data from 
as far back as 1971 do not show groundwater contamination.
    EPA and Ecology issued an action memorandum to DOE in June, 1993 
requiring the removal of all pesticide contaminated soils, filling in 
the munitions cache hole, performing an explosive ordnance survey, and 
cleaning up the diesel contaminated concrete and soils at the Riverland 
Railroad Car Wash Pit.
    The munitions cache hole was filled in on July 27, 1993. The 
Riverland Ordnance Survey was part of the Hanford Site-wide ordnance 
and explosive waste (OEW) archive search conducted by the U. S. Army 
Corps of Engineers. This search indicated that

[[Page 28319]]

the potential for ordnance in 100-IU-1 was minimal and, therefore, no 
further action was required regarding ordnance.
    The pesticide container area cleanup activities started on July 6, 
1993. On-site immunoassay field screening was used to monitor cleanup 
activity success. Drums containing crushed pesticide containers and 
drums containing aldrin and dieldrin contaminated soils were sent to an 
appropriate disposal facility located in the 200 Area of Hanford. The 
pesticide area was backfilled on September 1, 1993 after laboratory 
sample results confirmed that the soil contamination levels were below 
2 parts per million (pmm) which is the cleanup level for aldrin and 
dieldrin as specified by the MTCA.
    The Riverland Railroad Wash Car Pit cleanup activities started on 
July 12, 1993 when the soil covering the shop concrete pad was removed. 
The entire cleanup action was monitored with immunoassay field 
screening kits that detected diesel (TPH) concentrations at or above 
200 ppm. Demolition of the concrete pad began on September 21, 1993 and 
diesel contaminated soil removal started on September 27, 1993. The 
contaminated material consisted of soils beneath the concrete pad, clay 
drain pipes and associated soils, and drainage ditch soils. A total of 
430 cubic yards of material were removed and hauled to a bioremediation 
facility onsite. Bioremediation activities were completed in 1996. 
Sample results indicated that all soils were below the MTCA cleanup 
level of 200 ppm for TPH. All excavations were backfilled with clean 
soil.

100-IU-3

    In April of 1992, Ecology and the EPA recommended that the 100-IU-3 
Operable Unit be investigated and remediated using a non-time critical 
ERA. Results of field work which commenced in the summer of 1992 
indicated that full scale hazard mitigation and the proper abandonment 
of water wells needed to be performed. Field work also indicated 
investigation and remediation of the 100-IU-3 military landfills was 
warranted. The H-O6-L landfill, considered to be the largest and 
suspected to contain the most hazardous waste, would be fully 
characterized (i.e., anomalous areas identified within the landfill 
boundaries would be fully excavated to undisturbed or natural horizons; 
excavated materials would be field screened, sampled and analyzed if 
necessary). Materials identified as hazardous or regulated would be 
stockpiled for treatment or off-site disposal.
    Additional characterization and remediation of the other landfills 
would be dependent on the amounts and types of wastes found at the H-
O6-L landfill. It was reasoned that because the military areas were 
under the same command, similar operating practices would be in place 
for each. Therefore, using an analogous approach, environmental waste 
found at the H-O6-L landfill would be expected to be present at the 
other landfills. Similarly, if no environmental waste was discovered at 
the H-O6-L landfill, the expectation was that the other landfills would 
also be free of contamination.
    The Action Memorandum also required that DOE investigate the 
possible presence of ordnance in the 100-IU-3 Operable Unit. Ordnance, 
if found, was to be handled and disposed of in accordance with current 
U.S. Army regulations. An ordnance and explosive waste (OEW) record 
search was initiated in November of 1993. The search consisted of a 
records review and site visit, ordnance and explosive waste 
contamination analysis, and an archives search. The search concluded 
that there is a very small potential for the presence of OEW. Given the 
expanse of the 100-IU-3 Operable Unit, the likelihood of finding any 
ordnance through a field search would be minimal, and the costs would 
be great. Therefore, no further action was recommended.
    Decommissioning of water wells began in June 1994 and was concluded 
in October 1994. In all, 9 water supply wells and one monitoring well 
were decommissioned in accordance with requirements set forth by the 
Washington State Department of Ecology. Localized contamination was 
discovered in three 100-IU-3 Operable Unit water supply wells. The 
contamination appeared to have been a result of vandals dumping oil and 
other debris down the well casing. In each case the contamination was 
contained within the casing. The oil and contaminated water were 
successfully purged from each well and the casings were steamed 
cleaned. Follow up water sampling and testing was conducted to confirm 
cleanup.
    Full characterization and remediation at the H-06-L landfill began 
on April 19, 1994. Activities conducted consisted of geophysical 
investigations, excavation and field screening of buried wastes, 
sampling and analysis of suspect wastes, and segregation of confirmed 
hazardous or contaminated materials. Geophysical investigations 
employed electromagnetic profiling and magnetic techniques to locate 
buried metallic and non-metallic waste materials. Areas exhibiting 
anomalous geophysical response were marked in the field for subsequent 
excavation.
    Excavated wastes were field screened using several criteria 
including visual observation, direct-reading instruments, and analyte-
specific field analytical kits. Suspect wastes were sampled for 
characterization by an off-site laboratory under a quick turn-around 
schedule. Materials confirmed as hazardous were segregated pending 
determination of proper waste designation and disposition. Excavations 
were backfilled with clean material and graded to original conditions.
    Approximately 600 cubic yards of DDT contaminated soil were 
discovered at the H-O6-L landfill. This material was disposed of at an 
off-site permitted landfill. Also, 200 cubic yards of petroleum 
contaminated soil was found and disposed of at an approved off-site 
facility. Six drums of soil contaminated with metals and soil from 
beneath several pesticide cans were disposed at an off-site facility. 
No ordnance or explosive waste was discovered.
    The remaining 100-IU-3 military landfills received limited 
characterization and remediation that required excavation at each 
identified geophysical anomaly. Full excavations would only be required 
when field screening indicated the possible presence of contaminants. 
Characterization and remediation of 100-IU-3 landfills concluded on 
August 11, 1994.
    In July of 1994, four exploratory holes were drilled under the 
buried tanks at the 2,4-D burial ground. The tanks were first located 
using a magnetometer. The holes were drilled at an incline in order to 
obtain samples from directly beneath the tanks. Eighteen samples were 
taken and no samples detected 2,4-D. In 1997, new information led to a 
re-investigation of the 2,4-D burial ground. Laboratory data showed 
elevated levels of 2,4-D and dioxin. The site was excavated and soils 
containing 2, 4-D and dioxin were shipped off-site for disposal. A 
portion of the soil was contaminated with 2,4-D only and was 
bioremediated onsite.

Community Involvement

    Public participation activities for the cleanup of the 100-IU-1 and 
100-IU-3 Operable Units were conducted as required under CERCLA Section 
113(k), 42 U.S.C. 9613(k) and Section 117, 42 U.S.C. 9617. Public 
review included the following activities:
    Public comment on the removal cleanup plan for 100-IU-1 from May 3 
through June 9, 1993.
    Public comment was accepted from November 8, 1993 through January 
8,

[[Page 28320]]

1994 for the 100-IU-3 removal cleanup plan. A public meeting was held 
in Mattawa, Washington on December 14, 1993 for the 100-IU-3 Operable 
Unit.
    Public comment was held from June 25 through August 9, 1995 
regarding the proposed plan for 100-IU-1 and 100-IU-3 Operable Units.

Current Status

    In February 1996, a no further action record of decision was signed 
documenting that previous removal actions done in 1993 and 1994 removed 
all contaminants to below the Washington Administrative Code (WAC), WAC 
173-340 Washington State Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) and that these 
areas do not pose a threat to human health or the environment.
    The State of Washington, through the Department of Ecology, concurs 
with EPA's final determination regarding this proposed partial 
deletion.

    Dated: May 15, 1998.
Charles E. Findley,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 10, Environmental Protection 
Agency.

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

[[Page 28321]]

Appendix--Map of USDOE Hanford 100 Area
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP22MY98.000



[[Page 28322]]


[FR Doc. 98-13602 Filed 5-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-C