EY B.

mander

FERRO, Colonel, USAF

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

HEADQUARTERS 28TH BOMB WING (ACC)

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE SOUTH DAKOTA

AUG 0 5 2010

MEMORANDUM FOR DISTRIBUTION F & T

FROM: 28 BW/CC

SUBJECT: Land Use Restrictions at Environmental Restoration Sites

In 1990, Ellsworth AFB was placed on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA)

National Priority List because of soil and ground water contamination caused by past work

practices. In 1992, a Federal Facilities Agreement was signed with the EPA and State

Department of Environmental and Natural Resources that divided the base into 12 operable units.

The attachments summarize the existing restrictions and hazards on each of the 12 operable

units on base. A copy of the original Continuing Order with a map indicating the location of

each operable unit on base is at attachment 1. Attachment 2 summarizes the specific restrictions

of each operable unit. Attachment 3 delineates the requirement for construction waivers at all

restoration program sites. Any violation of these restrictions subjects the base to fines and

stipulated penalties.

Please be advised that the attached order continues to be in effect and must be strictly adhered

to by all Ellsworth AFB personnel and contractors.

If there are any questions, please contact Mr. Jerry Styles at extension 385-2677.

Attachments:

28 BW/CV Memo, 27 Aug 97

Operating Unit Restrictions

Construction Waiver Memo, 6 Dec 96

OU8 Action Plan

Grobaf Power EorAmerica
DEPARTMENT OF THE MR FORCE

HEADCLIARTERS 78TH BOMB WING (ACC)

ELLS 3 ORTH MR FORCE BASE, SCUT); DAKOTA

kd;:v7L7

MEMORANDUM FOR DISTRIBUTION F & T

FROM: 28 BW/CV

SUBJECT: Continuing Order, Land Use Restrictions at Environmental Restoration Sites

On 24 January 1992, the United States Air Force, the State of South Dakota, and the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) entered into a Federal Facilities Agreement governing

activities associated with the environmental restoration of Ellsworth Air Force Base. As a part of

that agreement, 12 geographic areas of environmental contamination, known as Operable Units,

were identified for remediation. Cleanup and installation of ground water treatment systems for

those sites will be complete this construction season. Because correcting the environmental

impacts of the past will take many years, the integrity of these Operable Units must be protected.

The attached figure indicates areas where cleanup activities have taken or are taking place.

Specific detailed information concerning the sites is available from the Ellsworth Installation

Restoration Program (IRP) office. Cleanup activities and future land-use practices within the

Operable Units are stated in enforceable Records of Decisions which limit and, in some cases,

forbid construction activity. The IRP office must be consulted prior to construction within an

Operable Unit. The IRP office will review any proposed construction activity and the Record of

Decision to determine if impact to cleanup activities or to existing contaminated media will

occur. The EPA, the state, and Air Combat Command may be consulted to help determine the

feasibility of projects. Proposed construction activities will be accepted, accepted with

modifications, or denied.

3. Failure to comply with the above restrictions could place the Air Force at risk for additional

cleanup work and enforcement actions by the State of South Dakota and the Environmental

Protection Agency. Modifications to this continuing order can only be made with concurrence

from the regulatory agencies. Codification into an Air Force Instruction is pending. Additional

information is available from Mr Dell Petersen at 5-2675.

aryltf,,,,r13

ANTHONY M. EAT, Colonel, USAF

Vice Commander

Attachment:

Site Location Map

6"-

po-c.A-1
WEAPONS

STORAGE

AREA

2 DEBRIS

BURIAL

AREA

UCCONN

HOUSING

AREA

LEMAY BLVD.

DoouTTLE DR. 3 HOUSING I

ARNOLO AREA >-

-

SCHOOL

TE

ASTEWATER

TREATMENT

PLANT

LEGEND

EASEMENT

OPERABI F uNnli

OU - 1 FIRE PROTECTION TRAINING AREA (FT-01)

OU -2 LANDFILLS 1 & 6 (LF - 02)

OU - 3 LANDFILL 2 ( LF - 03)

OU- 4 LANDFILL 3 LF- 04

0 U - 5 LANDFILL 4 IF-05

OU -6 LANDFILL 5 LF- 06

OU - 7 LOW LEVEL RADWASTE BURIAL AREA (RW-07)

PUMPHOUSE 7 (55-08)

HYDRANT UNE LEAKS (ST-10)

OU -8 EOD PRAMITOL SPILL (5S-11)

PUMPHOUSE 6 (ST-14)

OU - 9 AUTO HOBBY SHOP (OT-15)

70 ROW HANGERS (0T-16)

BASEWIDE UST5 (ST-17)

BADLANDS BOMBING RANGE (OT-18)

OU - 10 NORTH HANGAR COMPLEX (ST-19)

0 u - 1 1 BASEWI DE GROUND WATER

OU - 12 LANDFILL 7 (LF -21)

ABANDONED INDUSTRIAL WWTP (WP -22)

ABANDONED ww11 POL SYSTEM (ST-23)

OU-2 INDUSTRIAL

GATE 

ELLSWORTH

AIR FORCE BASE

SITE LOCATION MAP

DRAWN BY

STAFF

PROJECT NO

60378.95

DATE

OCT 95

SCALE

AS SHOWN
Ellsworth Operable Units

OLT-I

The selected alternative, source area soil and around-water treatment, includes the followin g major

components:

Continued operation of the interim remedial action (IRA) which consisted of contaminated

around-water removal, soil vapor extraction (SVE), and treatment

Installation of additional SVE wells within the historical burn-pit area to be added to the existing

IRA SVE system;

Removal of contaminated around water using additional ground-water wells and collection

trenches to be added to the IRA ground-water recovery system

Treatment of ground water at the existing IRA treatment plant

Institutional controls for the area

Long-term monitoring.

Lon g -term operation and maintenance of equipment

0 - 2

For Landfill No. 1, the selected alternative, an earth cover and institutional controls, includes the

following major components:

Constructin g, an earth cover, capable of sustainin g, perennial vegetation, over those areas of the

landfill that are not adequately covered. Filling in low areas and grading the entire landfill

area to provide for positive drainage off the site

Institutional controls for the landfill area

Long-term ground-water monitoring

Lon g -term maintenance of soil cover

Realignment and lining of the storm-water channel

For Landfill No. 6, the selected alternative, institutional controls, includes the following major

components:

Institutional controls for the landfill area

Lon g -term Around-water monitoring

Lon g -term maintenance of existing cover

16FC

AfcH 2

1
OU-3

The selected alternative, cappin g , includes the followin g, major components:

Placing a soil cover capable of sustainin g perennial vegetation, over the landfill area

A pre-desi g n study to examine the need for landfill gas control measures

Institutional controls for the landfill area

Long -term ground-water monitoring, and long -term maintenance of soil cover

OU-4

The selected alternative for the landfill, soil cover, includes the following major components:

Institutional controls for the landfill area

Placing a soil cover capable of sustainin g perennial ve g etation over the landfill area

Landfill gas monitoring and passive collection system, as necessary

Lon g -term monitoring and maintenance

The selected alternative for the ground water. pump and treat, includes the followin g major components:

Continued operation of the interim remedial action (IRA) which consists of removal and

treatment of contaminated ground water

Installation of recovery trenches and/or additional extraction wells to be added to the existing

IRA ground-water recovery system

Treatment of removed g round water at the treatment plant built for the IRA

Discharg e of treated ground water to a surface water drainage, to the Base wastewater treatment

plant, or by underg round injection

0C-5

The selected alternative, Covering, includes the followin g major components:

• Placing a soil cover capable of sustaining perennial vegetation over the landfill area

• Institutional controls for the landfill area

Long-term ground-water monitoring: and, long-term maintenance of soil cover

OL:-o

The selected alternative, capping , includes the following major components:

Placing a soil cover capable of sustaining perennial vegetation over the landfill area

Modification of storm-water discharge point and drainage

(00 0 E

wicu
Institutional controls for the landfill area

Long-term g round-water, surface-water, and sediment monitoring,

Lon g -term maintenance of soil cover

0C-7

The selected alternative for soils, institutional controls, includes the followin g major components:

Institutional controls for future land use

An extensive records search will be performed that may provide additional information relating

to the burial trenches. A removal action might be used to address waste within the trenches if

the weight of evidence from this record search combined with previous information identifies

and warrants this type of remedial activity.

The selected alternative for ground water, institutional controls with additional monitoring, includes the

following major components:•

Institutional controls for g round water use

Implementin g a long -term g round-water monitoring and maintenance program

0C-3

OU-S is divided into two distinct areas of investigation. Area 1 and Area 2. Area 1 is the area surrounding

the actual EOD Area itself. Area 2 consists of the Debris Burial Area where waste from the EOD Area was

buried. Alternatives for remedial action were evaluated separately for each area.

The selected alternative for Area 1 I EOD Area), ve g etative soil cover and institutional controls, includes the

followin g major components:

Constructin g an earth cover over a portion of the EOD Area

Institutional controls for the EOD Area

Lon g -term sediment sampling

Lon g -term maintenance of earth cover

The selected alternative for Area 2 (Debris Burial Area), vegetative soil cover and institutional controls,

includes the following major components:

Constructing an earth cover over the Debris Burial Area

Institutional controls for the Debris Burial Area and long -term maintenance of earth cover

OU-9

Based on the findings of the risk assessment, unacceptable risk to human health and the environment does

not exist and remediation is not warranted for 0C-9. Presently, a corrective action plan (under the State

petroleum release program) is underway to address fuel components in the ground water in the southern
portion of OU-9. Remediation of other areas where soil and'or ground water is contaminated b y petroleum

will be performed in compliance with State of South Dakota regulations.

OU-10

Based on the findin g s of no unacceptable risk to human health and the environment, remediation is not

warrranted for OLD -10. Remediation of soils andor g round water contaminated by petroleum will be

performed under the State of South Dakota regulations.

OL:- 1 1

0C-11 has been divided into two areas. Area 1 is the South Docks Study Area, and Area 2 is the BG04

and BGO5 Study Areas.

The selected alternative for Area 1, Ground-Water Extraction and Treatment with Containment, includes

the following major components:

Ground-water removal and treatment in the South Docks Study Area

On-base containment of ground water containing contaminants at concentrations above Federal

Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and State of South Dakota Ground-Water Quality

Standards

Institutional controls and lon g -term monitoring

The selected alternative for Area 2, Ground-Water Containment'Extraction and Treatment, includes the

following major components:

Ground-water removal and treatment alon g the northeast base boundary and at areas of high

contaminant concentrations on-base

Natural attenuation of low contaminant concentration areas, primarily off-base

Alternative water supply to residents affected by contamination coming from the base

Additional investigation to determine the eastern extent of off-base ground-water

contamination

Institutional controls and lon g -term monitoring

OL--12

The selected alternative, cappin g , includes the following major components:

Placing a soil cover capable of sustainin g perennial vegetation over the hardfill area

Pre-design study to identify the source of methane and examine the need for hardfill gas control

measures, and evaluate the need for erosion control measures alon g the stream adjacent to the

hardfill areas

Institutional controls for the hardfill areas

Long-term monitoring

4
• Long-term maintenance of soil cover

Implementation of the remedies will reduce the future risk to human health and the environment to acceptable

levels.

CHECKLIST

Access

Allowed

Excavation

Allowed Contamination Remarks

OU-1 No No Groundwater/Soil Call 5-2677 for access

OU-2 No No Groundwater/Soil Call 5-2677 for access

OU-3 No No Groundwater/Soil Call 5-2677 for access

OU-4 No No Groundwater/Soil Call 5-2677 for access

OU-5 No No Soil Call 5-2677 for access

OU-6 No No Soil Call 5-2677 for access

OU-7 Yes With Approval Groundwater Call 5-2677 for access

OU-8 No No Groundwater/Soil Call 5-2677 for access

OU-9 Yes With Approval Groundwater/Soil Call 5-2677 for access

OU-10 Yes With Approval Groundwater/Soil Call 5-2677 for access

OU-11 Yes With Approval Groundwater Call 5-2677 for access

OU-12 No No Soil Call 5-2677 for access

October 1999

5
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

AIR COMBAT COMMAND CIVIL ENGINEER SQUADRON

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, VIRGINIA

6 DEC 19S6

MEMORANDUM FOR DISTRIBUTION

FROM: HQ ACC/CEV

129 Andrews Street Ste 102

Langley AFB VA 23665

SUBJECT: Construction Waiver Requests for Installation Restoration

Program (IRP) Sites

Reference: Air Force Instruction (AFI) 32-1021, 12 May 94,

Planning and Programming of Facility Construction Projects.

This letter is to provide clarification of the ACC policy

regarding construction on IRP sites. Even though AFI 32-1021

primarily addresses MILCON projects, the waiver described below

should be used for any type of construction activity on or near IRP

sites. The waiver process is designed to ensure risks to human

health and the environment are considered before the start of

construction projects.

A problem developed recently when a request for waiver was

approved for an FY96 MILCON project based on the assumption the site

should be remediated before the actual start of construction. This

conditional approval gave the construction agency the go-ahead to

continue design and contracting actions. Unfortunately, the MILCON

project was moved forward to FY95, while the IR? project slipped a

year. The result was the MILCON was ready to go out on the street

for bids and the Ia p cleanup was not under contract (in fact, the

Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) had not started).

In another recent instance, a chain link fence was constructed

across an IRP site. The fence must now be removed to accomplish an

IRP remedial action. The project was not coordinated through the

environmental flight.

5. Written waiver for construction requests on an IRE site should be

sent from the Base Civil Engineer to HQ ACC/CEV, copy ACC CES/ES.

Waiver requests should be submitted for closed IRP sites as well as

active sites. The waiver request should include the following

information:

A description of the proposed construction.

The IRE site number.

c.. The expected imp act of the proposed construction on the

site.

d. Information regarding whether or not regulatory agencies have

been contacted regarding the proposed construction.

CCobal- Tower (For America
A description of the plan to dispose of soil or groundwater

which is to be removed from the site during construction.

A description of potential conflicts between the project and

ongoing or planned IRP projects at the site. The request should

explain what will be done if unexpected contamination is found.

Once the request for waiver is reviewed by HQ ACC/CEV, it will be

either approved, disapproved or returned for additional information.

The HQ ACC/CEV response will include an explanation of the action

taken. If additional information is required, a request will be

issued from ACC CES/ESV. Most waiver, requests are approved and

should be submitted early enough in the programming process to avoid

delays in construction activities. Coordination with the Restoration

Element at the installation should help avoid this type of siting

issue.

Installations should use discretion in their application for

waivers by keeping in mind that the goal of the waiver process is to

control reasonably foreseeable impacts to human health or the

environment. Construction activities on an IRP site which implement

the site remediation as part of the IRE, do not require a waiver (e.g.

installation of wells, piping, pump-houses, etc.) In addition, minor

activities on IRP sites which can be , demonstrated to have negligible

risk and will not otherwise interfere with IRE activities at the site

may not need a waiver. Sound technical judgment should be exercised

by the installation in identifying such cases.

8. Please direct questions to your ACC IRE' Program Manager or

Mr. Norman Guenther, ACC CES/ESVE at DSN 574-3680.

Attachment:

Distribution list

Ccion,....1, USAF

PrCrrpms

cc:

HQ ACC/CEPD/CEPH/CEPR

ACC CES/ESPE/ESPW °

P9 zof z

pick 3
OU-8 ACTION PLAN

Strategy: To restore the Operable Unit (OU) 8 site quickly to its original configuration

under the approval of South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the

Environmental Protection Agenc y (EPA), ensuring safety to the site and personnel. To

implement a program that wilt ensure all Restoration sites on base comply with the Record of

Decision (ROD) as signed by the Win g Commander.

Status: On 26 August 99, 16 pieces of dynamite that were exuding nitroglycerin were

destroyed on the old Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Range, creating 2 pits approximately

8 feet in diameter, and 3 feet deep. Later, two more emergency detonations occurred, on

26 Au g,- 99 to destroy additional leakinL, dynamite, and on 28 Sep 99, a ground burst projectile

simulator and an M-18 smoke grenade that dud fired during a training exercise. The detonations

damaged the landfill cap that is part of OU8. Late on 5 Oct 99, CEV identified the craters and

immediately began notifications up the chain of command. ACC, EPA and state officials were

notified on 6 Oct 99.

3. Action Items:

Repair Site

3.1 Obtain funding and contract to restore site

3.2 Develop sampling plan and repair plan

3.3 Collect samples of site and restore to original design condition

Improvement Process

3.4 Construct fence around OU-S boundary, limitin g all future access

3.4.1 Survey fence location

3.4.2 Obtain digging permit

3.4.3 Submit work request

3.4.4 Install fence

3.5 Install signs on OU8 fence similar to those on other OU's that state,

"Closed, No Access, Contact 385-2680"

3.6 Preidentify a location on base for emergency disposal of ordnance

3.7 Update EOD Team Chief Checklist to include notification requirements and a map

of approved disposal area

3.8 Update CEV Spill Binder to include checklist that identifies notification requirements

and a map of approved disposal area

3.9 Redistribute copy of standing order

3.9.1 Redistribute original copy of standing order with cover letter by Col P.

3.9.2 Redistribute standing order with updated policy letters with every new WG/CC

3.10 Provide training to all 28 CES Flight Chiefs, 28 CES/CEO Superintendents, and 28 CES

heavy equipment operators

3.11 Provide awareness trainimg to all "On-Scene Commanders"

Cal 4