Geologic and Hydrologic Data for the 

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, 

U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center 

and Fort Bliss, El Paso County, Texas

By Cynthia G. Abeyta and Peter F. Frenzel

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Open-File Report 99-271

Prepared in cooperation with the

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY,

U.S. ARMY AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY CENTER AND FORT BLISS

Albuquerque, New Mexico 

1999
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Charles G. Groat, Director

The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does 

not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey.

For additional information write to:

District Chief 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Water Resources Division 

5338 Montgomery NE, Suite 400 

Albuquerque, NM 87109-1311

Copies of this report can be purchased 

from:

U.S. Geological Survey 

Branch of Information Services 

Box 25286 

Denver, CO 80225-0286

Information regarding research and data-collection programs of the U.S. Geological Survey is available 

on the Internet via the World Wide Web. You may connect to the Home Page for the New Mexico District 

Office using the URL: http://nm.water.usgs.gov
CONTENTS

Page

Abstract.................................................................................................................................................................................. 1

Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................... 1

Purpose and scope ....................................................................................................................................................... 1

Description of the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility........................................................................................ 3

Geologic data......................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Borehole drilling and completion procedures ............................................................................................................. 6

Soil-sampling procedures............................................................................................................................................ 18

Lithologic description of cores and cuttings................................................................................................................ 19

Geophysical logs.......................................................................................................................................................... 21

Soil-gas and ambient-air data...................................................................................................................................... 21

Soil-chemical data....................................................................................................................................................... 21

Hydrologic data..................................................................................................................................................................^ 21

Physical properties, total organic carbon, andpH of soil and sediment samples........................................................ 22

Soil-water chloride and soil-moisture data.................................................................................................................. 22

Depth to ground water................................................................................................................................................. 23

Ground-water chemical data ....................................................................................................................................... 23

Quality assurance/quality control and review of analytical data....................................................................... 24

Results of analyses............................................................................................................................................. 25

References ............................................................................................................................................................................. 26

PLATE

[Plate is in pocket]

1. Lithologic and geophysical logs, soil-chemical and physical property references, soil-chloride concentrations, and 

volumetric soil moisture of sediments in boreholes BH-3 and MSWLF03.

FIGURES

1 3. Maps showing:

1. Location of U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss military reservation and Municipal

Solid Waste Landfill Facility, Texas and New Mexico................................................................................ 2

2. Location of U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

Facility, El Paso, Texas................................................................................................................................ 4

3. Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility boundary and location of gas-monitoring boreholes,

borehole BH-3, ground-water monitoring well MSWLF03, and landfill-cover sampling sites.................. 5

4 14. Diagrams showing:

4. Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-1.................................................................................................. 7

5. Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-2.................................................................................................. 8

6. Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-3.................................................................................................. 9

7. Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-4.................................................................................................. 10

8. Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-5.................................................................................................. 11

9. Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-6.................................................................................................. 12

10. Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-7.................................................................................................. 13

11. Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-8.................................................................................................. 14

12. Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-9.................................................................................................. 15

iii
Page

13. Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-10............................................................................................... 16

14. Completion of ground-water monitoring well MSWLF03 ............................................................................. 17

15. Chart showing protocol used in naming of unconsolidated sediments.................................................................. 20

TABLES

1. Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-1.............................................................................................................. 27

2. Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-2.............................................................................................................. 28

3. Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-3.............................................................................................................. 29

4. Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-4.............................................................................................................. 30

5. Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-5.............................................................................................................. 31

6. Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-6.............................................................................................................. 32

7. Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-7.............................................................................................................. 33

8. Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-8.............................................................................................................. 34

9. Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-9.............................................................................................................. 35

10. Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-10............................................................................................................ 36

11. Lithology penetrated by borehole BH-3................................................................................................................. 37

12. Lithology penetrated by borehole MSWLF03........................................................................................................ 39

13. Analytical results of soil-gas and ambient-air samples collected at the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, December 1994................. 46

14. Analytical results of soil-gas and ambient-air samples collected at the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, March 1995....................... 47

15. Analytical results of soil-gas and ambient-air samples collected at the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, June 1995.......................... 48

16. Analytical results of soil-gas and ambient-air samples collected at the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, September 1995 ................ 49

17. Soil-chemical results of soil samples collected from borehole BH-3, Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas............................................ 50

18. Data-qualifier codes used to qualify chemical-analytical data............................................................................... 52

19. Analytical methods used for physical properties, total organic carbon, and pH analysis of soil samples

collected from boreholes BH-3 and MSWLF03, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss,

El Paso, Texas.................................................................................................................................................... 54

20. Initial moisture content, dry bulk density, calculated porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, total organic 

carbon, and pH of core samples collected from boreholes BH-3 and MSWLF03, Municipal Solid Waste 

Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas............................... 55

21. Moisture content, measured at various pressure heads, of core samples collected from boreholes BH-3 and 

MSWLF03, Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and 

Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas .................................................................................................................................. 57

22. Van Genuchten alpha and beta coefficients calculated using van Genuchten equations with measured 

values for residual and saturated soil-water content and saturated hydraulic conductivity from core 

samples collected from boreholes BH-3 and MSWLF03, Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, 

U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas ......................................................... 62

23. Air entry value and Brooks and Corey exponent derived for core samples collected from boreholes BH-3 

and MSWLF03, Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and 

Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas .................................................................................................................................. 64

24. Particle-size characteristics of core samples collected from boreholes BH-3 and MSWLF03, Municipal

Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas........... 65

25. Analytical methods used for physical analyses of soil samples collected from the landfill cover,

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss,

El Paso, Texas.................................................................................................................................................... 67

26. Initial moisture content, dry bulk density, and calculated porosity of soil samples collected from the landfill 

cover, Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, 

El Paso, Texas.................................................................................................................................................... 68

IV
Page

27. Moisture content, measured at various pressure heads, of soil samples collected from the landfill cover, 

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, 

El Paso, Texas.................................................................................................................................................... 69

28. Infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity of the landfill cover, Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility,

U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas.......................................................... 70

29. Analytical results of soil-moisture and soil-chloride data for soil samples collected from cores from the 

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, 

El Paso,Texas.................................................................................................................................................... 71

30. Analytical results of ground-water sample collected from well MSWLF03, Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas ............................................ 73

31. Summary of maximum contaminant levels for selected water-quality constituents and properties for public

water-supply systems......................................................................................................................................... 76

CONVERSION FACTORS AND VERTICAL DATUM

Multiply By To obtain

inch

foot

mile

acre

quart

gallon

foot per mile

ounce

25.40

0.3048

1.609

4,047

0.9464

3.785

0.1894

28.35

millimeter

meter

kilometer

square meter

liter

liter

meter per kilometer

gram

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees Fahrenheit (°F) can be converted as follows:

°F=1.8(°C) + 32 

°C = 5/9 (°F - 32)

Sea level: In this report, "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 a geodetic datum derived 

from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of the United States and Canada, formerly called Sea Level Datum of 

1929.
GEOLOGIC AND HYDROLOGIC DATA FOR THE MUNICIPAL SCLID 

WASTE LANDFILL FACILITY, U.S. ARMY AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY 

CENTER AND FORT BLISS, EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS

By Cynthia G. Abeyta and Peter F. Frenzel

Abstract INTRODUCTION

Geologic and hydrologic data for the 

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility on the 

U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort 

Bliss in El Paso County, Texas, were collected by 

the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with 

the U.S. Department of the Army. The 106.03-acre 

landfill has been in operation since January 1974. 

The landfill contains household refuse, Post solid 

wastes, bulky items, grass and tree trimmings from 

family housing, refuse from litter cans, 

construction debris, classified waste (dry), dead 

animals, asbestos, and empty oil cans. The depth 

of the filled areas is about 30 feet and the cover, 

consisting of locally derived material, is 2 to 3 feet 

thick.

Geologic and hydrologic data were 

collected at or adjacent to the landfill during (1) 

drilling of 10 30- to 31-foot boreholes that were 

completed with gas-monitoring probes, (2) 

drilling of a 59-foot borehole, (3) drilling of a 355- 

foot borehole that was completed as a groundwater monitoring well, and (4) in situ 

measurements made on the landfill cover. After 

completion, the gas-monitoring probes were 

monitored on a quarterly basis (1 year total) for 

gases generated by the landfill. Water samples 

were collected from the ground-water monitoring 

well for chemical analysis.

Data collection is divided into two 

elements: geologic data and hydrologic data. 

Geologic data include lithologic descriptions of 

cores and cuttings, geophysical logs, soil-gas and 

ambient-air analyses, and chemical analyses of 

soil. Hydrologic data include physical properties, 

total organic carbon, and pH of soil and sediment 

samples; soil-water chloride and soil-moisture 

analyses; physical properties of the landfill cover; 

measurements of depth to ground water; and 

ground-water chemical analyses. Interpretation of 

data is not included in this report.

The U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and 

Fort Bliss (USAADACENFB) Municipal Solid Waste 

Landfill Facility (MSWLF or "landfill"), established in 

January 1974, is a 106.03-acre landfill located within 

El Paso County, Texas, about 10 miles northeast of 

downtown El Paso, on Federal land administered by 

the USAADACENFB (fig. 1). The USAADACENFB 

is evaluating geologic and hydrologic condition- of the 

MSWLF to implement requirements of Federal and 

State of Texas regulatory programs. In 1994, the U.S. 

Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the 

U.S. Army, initiated a study of the USAADACENFB 

MSWLF to describe geologic and hydrologic 

conditions at the facility. Results of this study vrill be 

used by the U.S. Army to aid in fulfilling regulatory 

requirements at the facility, as specified in Title 40 of 

the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 257 and 258 (40 

CFR 257 and 258), Subtitle D (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 1993), and Part 30 of the Texas 

Administrative Code, Section 330 (30 TAG 330) 

(Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission, 

1993).

Purpose and Scope

This report presents data collected by the USGS 

at the MSWLF during 1994 and 1995. This 

compilation of data will result in a better understanding 

of the geology and hydrology at the MSWLF. Geologic 

and hydrologic data presented in this report were 

collected on and adjacent to the landfill. These data 

were collected during (1) drilling and installation of 10 

gas-monitoring probes (GMPs), (2) drilling of a 59- 

foot borehole that was plugged and abandoned after 

completion, (3) drilling of a 355-foot borehole that was 

completed as a ground-water monitoring well, ?nd (4) 

in situ measurements made on the landfill cover.
U.S. Army Air Defense 

Artillery Center and 

Fort Bliss military 

reservation

Downtown 

El Paso

Ciudad 

Juarez

Municipal Solid Waste 

Landfill Facility

Figure 1 .-Location of U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss military reserva

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facilitv,Texas and New Mexico.
Most of the data were collected in accordance 

with Texas Natural Resources Conservation 

Commission (TNRCC)-approved plans and 

specifications to maintain a consistent data collection 

program. These plans and specifications are described 

in the following documents:

(1) Workplan for methane monitoring network 

at the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill 

Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery 

Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, Final 

(U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., 

November 1994);

(2) Workplan for ground-water monitoring at 

the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, 

U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and 

Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, Final (U.S. 

Geological Survey, written commun., March 

1995); and

(3) Sampling and analysis plan for groundwater monitoring at the Municipal Solid 

Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air 

Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El 

Paso, Texas, Final (U.S. Geological Survey, 

written commun., March 1995). 

In addition to data collected as described above, 

additional data were collected to evaluate the transport 

of solutes from the landfill to the water table.

Data collected by the USGS at the MSWLF 

included lithologic descriptions of cores and cuttings; 

geophysical logs; soil-gas and ambient-air analyses; 

chemical analyses of soil; physical-property, total 

organic carbon, and pH analyses of soil and sediment 

samples; soil-water chloride and soil-moisture 

analyses; physical properties of the landfill cover; 

measurements of depth to ground water; and groundwater chemical analyses. Interpretation of data is not 

included in this report.

Description of the Municipal Solid Waste 

Landfill Facility

The MSWLF, established in January 1974, is 

located northwest of Biggs Army Airfield, 300 feet east 

of the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks, and about 

1,200 feet east of the nearest occupied structure (fig. 2). 

The landfill fill rate is 1-4 acres per year and at this fill 

rate the landfill is expected to reach its capacity by 

2004 (approximately 15 acres of the permitted area will 

not be filled). Types of solid wastes disposed of at the 

MSWLF include household refuse, Post solid wastes,

bulky items, grass and tree trimmings from farrily 

housing, refuse from litter cans, construction debris, 

classified waste (dry), dead animals, asbestos, snd 

empty oil cans (1-quart and 5-gallon sizes). The depth 

of the filled areas is about 30 feet and the cover, 

consisting of locally derived material, is 2 to 3 feet 

thick. Since 1994, the filled area (labeled Subtitle D in 

fig. 3) has been lined with soil and plastic, as required 

under Subtitle D regulations (40 CFR Part 258) 

(Abeyta, 1996, p. 16).

An all-weather road is accessible to the MSWLF 

year round. The MSWLF is surrounded by a fence with 

an unfilled border area between the fence and tH 

landfill that Is about 50 feet wide (fig. 3). An enclosed 

guard shack is located on the facility near the entrance. 

Bladed strips on both sides of the landfill fence serve as 

access roads. The roads are a few inches below the 

surface of the land surrounding the landfill and are 

separated by a small berm at the fence line. The landsurface elevation is about 3,920 feet above sea level 

near the landfill. The landfill rises on a slope of about 3 

percent to about 10 feet above the surrounding terrain. 

The hummocky land surface around the MSWLF 

generally slopes about 20 feet per mile toward the 

south-southwest. No utilities are within the perimeter 

of the MSWLF.

A previous study by Abeyta (1996) presents a 

geohydrologic site characterization of the 

USAADACENFB MSWLF that includes information 

on the (1) boundaries, area, and contents of the 

MSWLF; (2) environmental setting of the MSWLF and 

vicinity, including a description of the physiogr?t)hy, 

climate, and soils; (3) geologic and hydrologic 

characteristics of the unsaturated zone and shallow 

aquifer; and (4) ground-water quality in the vicinity of 

the MSWLF.

GEOLOGIC DATA

Geologic data were collected at or adjacent to the 

MSWLF during the drilling of 12 boreholes. In 

November 1994, 10 30- to 31-foot vertical boreholes 

(GMP-1 through GMP-10) were drilled around the 

perimeter of the landfill (fig. 3). Drill cuttings frcrn the 

boreholes were described and compiled into lithologic 

logs. Permanent gas-monitoring probes were installed 

in the boreholes in accordance with requirements listed 

in 30 TAG 330.56(a)(2). The monitoring network was 

designed to collect representative samples of expMsive 

gases (specifically methane) generated by the facility
106° 25' 106° 23' 1

31° 

53'

31° 

51'

MILITARY 

RESERVATION

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, 1:24,000 quadrangles: 

El Paso, Texas; Fort Bliss SE, Texas; Fort Bliss NE, Texas; 

North Franklin Mountains, Texas. Contour interval 20 feet. EXPLANATION

0.5 1 MILE

0.5 1 KILOMETER

APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY 

OF LANDFILL

950-FOOT-PERIMETER 

BOUNDARYAROUND 

LANDFILL

3,000-FOOT-PERIMETER 

BOUNDARYAROUND 

LANDFILL

W7

1-MILE-PER

BOUNDARY

LANDFILL

EXISTING W

IDENTIFICA

Figure 2.--Location of U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Fa
106 23 50 

31° 

53' 

05"

42 34 26" 106 23 18

55'

45'

31 C 

52 ^ 

35

3,920.9^

'

C

 <

c

c

4^

3,919.8

W3, W3A 0

BENCHMARK: Corps of Engineers 

brass cap N. 

North =77,354.15 \. 

OMDfl East = 59,873.05 ^ 

~ \ ~ - _Elevation_= 3,920.05

ffi ffi

GMP9 LANDFILL 

1 AREA

TYPE IV

FILLED LANDFILL

' AREA 

AREA 

( e GMP10

TYPE I

Subtitle D

-

GAA1

3-A^g~GUARD SHACK

_ 6> GAA4

, GAA3 UNFILLED AREA 

.-.GMP 1 GMP2

I/ /TN

C

(

(

<

^ MSWLF03 <

£ BH-3^

0

2

0 200 400 600 800 FEET

0 50 100 150 200 METERS 

I

e

GMP7 3>

c

c

FILLED LANDFILL AREA

c

<

GMP60

< 

<

(

<

Site 4

Sites one ^x -v OV_x Site5 

' ( / (

^ GMP50

5 Site 2 Q FILLED LANDFILL AREA <

' SltelQ

B GMP3 c 

GMP4 

t e e e e ^ e e A

\s :

3,914.9 3.9

k

n

ng.7

i

__

,

)

)

)

D

\

>

5

i 2

14.1

1 1

FENCE/LANDFILL BOUNDARY

CONTROL POINT - Identification number 

and elevation, in feet above sea level

GROUND-WATER PRODUCTION WELL 

AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

MSWLF03 © GROUND-WATER MONITORING WELL AND 

IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

BOREHOLE AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

EXPLANATION

GAA4°

4 ,

3,919.8

W3, W3A

Sitelo

BH-3 a 

GMP1©

TYPE I

TYPE IV

GAS-MONITORING BOREHOLE 

AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

AMBIENT-AIR METHANE-MONITORING 

SITE AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

LANDFILL-COVER SAMPLING SITE AMD 

IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

STANDARD LANDFILL FACILITY FOR

DISPOSAL OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE

FACILITY AUTHORIZED FOR DISPOSAL

OF BRUSH, CONSTRUCTION-DEMOLITION

WASTE, AND RUBBISH THAT ARE FREE

OF PUTRESCIBLE AND HOUSEHO'.D WASTES

Figure 3.--Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility boundary and location of gas-monitoring 

boreholes, borehole BH-3, ground-water monitoring well MSWLF03, and 

landfill-cover sampling sites.

5
and to monitor whether these gases exceed maximum 

allowable levels as denned in RCRA Subtitle D (40 

CFR 258.23(d) and 30 TAG 330.56(n)(2)). During 

April-May 1995, one 59-foot vertical borehole (BH-3) 

and one 355-foot vertical borehole (MSWLF03) were 

drilled near the southwest corner of the landfill (fig. 3). 

Core samples were collected during drilling of these 

two boreholes and the lithology of the recovered cores 

were described. Samples were collected from selected 

intervals of the recovered cores that were 

representative of the various lithologic units (such as 

clay, sand, and silty sand). These samples were sent to 

various laboratories for physical-property, soil-water 

chloride, soil-moisture, and chemical analysis. 

Geophysical logs were obtained from the mud-filled 

borehole MSWLF03. The 355-foot borehole was 

completed as a ground-water monitoring well in 

accordance with requirements listed in 30 TAG 330 

Subchapter I. Geologic data collected at the MSWLF 

are presented in the following sections.

Borehole Drilling and Completion 

Procedures

Boreholes GMP-1 through GMP-10 and BH-3 

were drilled using a hollow-stem auger. Boreholes 

GMP-1 through GMP-10 were drilled to depths of 30 

to 31 feet below land surface; borehole BH-3 was 

drilled to a depth of 59 feet. Borehole BH-3 was 

plugged and marked with a cement cap. The boreholes 

were 8 3/4 inches in diameter. A 4-inch-diameter core 

was collected at 2- to 5-foot intervals using a 5-footlong split-spoon sampler and continuous flight auger; 

at times a stainless steel catcher was placed in the shoe 

of the split-spoon to achieve better recoveries in 

unconsolidated geologic formations. The sampler was 

pushed into the undisturbed material below the auger, 

withdrawn, and opened. All cores collected were then 

described; at times, cuttings were described when there 

was no recovery of the core. The descriptions of cores 

and cuttings are presented in the "Lithologic 

description of cores and cuttings" section of this report.

Gas-monitoring probes were installed in 

boreholes GMP-1 through 10 immediately after each 

borehole was drilled to total depth; completion 

diagrams are presented in figures 4-13. A 24.55-footlong, 1-inch-diameter, threaded polyvinyl chloride 

(PVC), 0.010-inch slotted screen was inserted into the 

borehole while the auger flights were still in the 

ground; the bottom of the screen was capped. A 7.25- 

foot-long, 1-inch-diameter, threaded PVC riser was 

placed directly above the screen. The top of the riser

was capped with a reducer/coupling, a PVC 1 Ml valve, 

more couplings and reducers, and one-quarter-inch 

polyethylene tubing. The auger flights were withdrawn 

as the annular space of the borehole was filled with a 

three-eighths-inch pea gravel filter pack. The filter 

pack was placed to about 5 feet below land surface; at 

times the annular space in the borehole filled with 

natural backfill when the hole would not rerrain open 

without the auger flights. A 3-linear-foot seal of 

hydrated bentonite pellets was placed above the filter 

pack. The annular space above the bentonite seal was 

filled with concrete to the ground surface. A 3-footsquare concrete surface pad surrounds a lock;ng, steel, 

protective casing that extends 2 to 3 feet above ground 

level and contains the 1 -inch PVC riser and probe. Four 

3-inch-diameter steel guard posts were placed at each 

comer of the surface pad that extend about 3 feet above 

the land surface.

The borehole for ground-water monitoring well 

MSWLF03 was drilled using mud-rotary drilling 

techniques and bentonite mud. A diamond-button corebit was attached to the bottom of the drill string, which 

contained a 10-foot-long, 3.5-inch-diametercore 

barrel; at times a stainless steel catcher was placed in 

the shoe of the core barrel to achieve better recoveries. 

The drill string was rotated while coring to expose the 

core-bit's buttons to the full annular area of the 

undisturbed material at the bottom of the drill string. 

An approximately 3.5-inch-diameter core was 

collected in the stainless steel split-core barrel. The 

core barrel was withdrawn, opened, and the core 

collected and described. The descriptions of cores and 

cuttings are presented in the "Lithologic description of 

cores and cuttings" section of this report.

Prior to completion as ground-water monitoring 

well MSWLF03, the borehole was reamed to a total 

depth of 355 feet. Completion of the well consisted of 

a 3.826-inch-inside-diameter, 4.5-inch-outsidediameter, flush-joint, threaded, schedule 80 PVC sump, 

screen, and riser (fig. 14). A 40-foot-long screen with 

0.010-inch-wide slotted openings was attached to the 

5-foot-long sump; an approximately 307-fooMong 

riser was attached to the screen. The annular space of 

the borehole was gravel packed with 10-20 m^sh clean 

silica sand tremmied from the bottom of the hole to 

about 11 feet above the top of the well screer. A 26- 

foot bentonite-pellet seal was tremmied into place 

above the gravel pack, and a 4-foot section of 20-mesh 

clean silica sand was placed above the bentonite seal. 

The annular space above the sand was tremrried to 

approximately 1 foot below land surface with Volclay 

grout.
GUARDPOST

GROUND 

SURFACE

& 0,

 ^0

NAME AND

NUMBER: Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility 

gas-monitoring probe GMP-1

LOCATION: U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, 

Texas State Plane Coordinates 856,225.6589 north

118,820.9904 east

DATE INSTALLATION COMPLETED: 11-NOV-94 

DRILL METHOD: Hollow-stem auger 

DRILLED BY: U.S. Geological Survey

PROTECTIVE COVER: 4-inch-diameter steel cover 

with locking cap

TUBING: 1/4-inch polyethylene 

REDUCER/COUPLING: 1/2-inch to 1/4-inch brass 

COUPLING: 1/2-inch PVC 

VALVE: 1/2-inch PVC ball valve

REDUCER/COUPLING: 1-inch to 1/2-inch PVC

CONCRETE PAD: 3 feet by 3 feet by 6 inches; 3-<nchdiameter, 4-foot-long steel p^sts 

at each corner

3,923.25 TOP OF BRASS REDUCER/ 

ELEV COUPLING

FASL

3,921 .03 

ELEV 

FASL

3,920.0 

ELEV 

FASL

3,917.0 

ELEV 

FASL

CONCRETE SURFACE

TOP OF SEAL

TOP OF GRAVEL PACK

3,915.30 TOP OF SCREEN 

ELEV 

FASL

3,890.50 BOTTOM OF BOTTOM CAP 

ELEV 

FASL

3,890.0 

ELEV 

FASL

BOTTOM OF HOLE

EXPLANATION:

ELEV = ELEVATION

FACS = FEET ABOVE CONCRETE SURFACE

FBCS = FEET BELOW CONCRETE SURFACE

FASL = FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL

PVC = POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

DIAGRAM NOT TO SCALE

SEAL Bentonite, 1-4 FBCS

-RISER TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 7.25 feet, 1.52 FACS to 5.73 FBCS

-SCREEN TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 24.55 feet, 5.73-30.28 FBCS 

SLOT SIZE: 10 slot (0.010 inch)

-GRAVEL PACK: 3/8-inch pea gravel, 4-31 FBC'

 BOREHOLE DIAMETER: 8 3/4 inches

, BOTTOM CAP: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 0.25 inch, 30.28-30.53 FBCS

.BOTTOM OF HOLE: 31 FBCS

Figure 4.-Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-1.

7
GUARD 

POST

GROUND 

SURFACE

NAME AND

NUMBER: Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility 

gas-monitoring probe GMP-2

LOCATION: U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss,

Texas State Plane Coordinates 856,153.1809 north 119,666.9994 east 

DATE INSTALLATION COMPLETED: 12-NOV-94 

DRILL METHOD: Hollow-stem auger 

DRILLED BY: U.S. Geological Survey

PROTECTIVE COVER: 4-inch-diameter steel cover 

with locking cap

TUBING: 1/4-inch polyethylene 

REDUCER/COUPLING: 1/2-inch to 1/4-inch brass 

COUPLING: 1/2-inch PVC 

VALVE: 1/2-inch PVC ball valve 

REDUCER/COUPLING: 1-inchto 1/2-inch PVC

CONCRETE PAD: 3 feet by 3 feet by 6 inches; 3-inchdiameter, 4-foot-long steel posts 

at each comer

3,924.90 

ELEV 

FASL

3,922.89

ELEV 

FASL

3,921.9 

ELEV 

FASL

3,918.9 

ELEV 

FASL

3,916.95 

ELEV 

FASL

3,892.15 

ELEV 

FASL

3,891.9 

ELEV 

FASL

TOP OF BRASS REDUCER/ 

COUPLING

CONCRETE SURFACE

TOP OF SEAL

TOP OF GRAVEL PACK

TOP OF SCREEN

BOTTOM OF BOTTOM CAP

BOTTOM OF HOLE

EXPLANATION:

ELEV = ELEVATION

FACS = FEET ABOVE CONCRETE SURFACE

FBCS = FEET BELOW CONCRETE SURFACE

FASL = FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL

PVC = POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

DIAGRAM NOT TO SCALE

SEAL Bentonite, 1-4 FBCS

RISER TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 7.25 feet, 1.31 FACS to 5.94 FBCS

-SCREEN TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 24.55 feet, 5.94-30.49 FBCS 

SLOT SIZE: 10 slot (0.010 inch)

-GRAVEL PACK: 3/8-inch pea gravel, 4-31 FBCS

 BOREHOLE DIAMETER: 8 3/4 inches

, BOTTOM CAP: PVC,threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 0.25 inch, 30.49-30.74 FBCS

.BOTTOM OF HOLE: 31 FBCS

Figure 5.--Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-2.

8
NAME AND

NUMBER: Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility 

gas-monitoring probe GMP-3

LOCATION: U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss,

Texas State Plane Coordinates 855,433.8615 north 119,773.4593 east 

DATE INSTALLATION COMPLETED: 17-NOV-94 

DRILL METHOD: Hollow-stem auger 

DRILLED BY: U.S. Geological Survey

, PROTECTIVE COVER: 4-inch-diameter steel cover 

with locking cap

-TUBING: 1/4-inch polyethylene

-REDUCER/COUPLING: 1/2-inch to 1/4-inch brass 

' COUPLING: 1/2-inch PVC 

'VALVE: 1/2-inch PVC ball valve 

REDUCER/COUPLING : 1-inch to 1/2-inch PVC

3,920.38

ELEV 

FASL

3,917.78

ELEV 

FASL

3,916.8

ELEV 

FASL

3,913.8 

ELEV 

FASL

3,912.43

ELEV 

FASL

3,887.63

ELEV 

FASL

3,886.8 

ELEV 

FASL

TOP OF BRASS REDUCER/ 

COUPLING

CONCRETE SURFACE

TOP OF SEAL

TOP OF GRAVEL PACK

TOP OF SCREEN

BOTTOM OF BOTTOM CAP

BOTTOM OF HOLE

EXPLANATION:

ELEV = ELEVATION

FACS = FEET ABOVE CONCRETE SURFACE

FBCS = FEET BELOW CONCRETE SURFACE

FASL = FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL

PVC = POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

DIAGRAM NOT TO SCALE

CONCRETE PAD: 3 feet by 3 feet by 6 inches; 3-<nchdiameter, 4-foot-long steel pests 

at each comer

*-o;£ b'o.°£ o o ^

SEAL: Bentonite, 1-4 FBCS

RISER TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 7.25 feet, 1.90 FACS to 5.35 FBCS

SCREEN TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 24.55 feet, 5.35-29.90 FBCS 

SLOT SIZE: 10 slot (0.010 inch)

-GRAVEL PACK: 3/8-inch pea gravel, 4-27 FBCS 

Natural backfill, 27-31 FBCS

BOREHOLE DIAMETER: 8 3/4 inches

, BOTTOM CAP: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 0.25 inch, 29.90-30.15 FBCS

BOTTOM OF HOLE: 31 FBCS

Figure 6.--Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-3.

9
GUARD 

POST

NAME AND

NUMBER: Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility 

gas-monitoring probe GMP-4

LOCATION: U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss,

Texas State Plane Coordinates 855,289.4306 north 120,638.3589 e*st

DATE INSTALLATION COMPLETED: 16-NOV-94 

DRILL METHOD: Hollow-stem auger 

DRILLED BY: U.S. Geological Survey

PROTECTIVE COVER: 4-inch-diameter steel cover

with locking cap

TUBING: 1/4-inch polyethylene 

REDUCER/COUPLING: 1/2-inch to 1/4-inch brass 

COUPLING: 1/2-inch PVC 

VALVE: 1/2-inch PVC ball valve 

REDUCER/COUPLING: 1-inchto 1/2-inch PVC

CONCRETE PAD: 3 feet by 3 feet by 6 inches; 3-inch - 

diameter, 4-foot-long steel posts

3,917.99 

ELEV 

FASL

3,915.82

ELEV 

FASL

3,914.8 

ELEV 

FASL

3,911.8 

ELEV 

FASL

3,910.04

ELEV 

FASL

3,885.24

ELEV 

FASL

3,884.8 

ELEV 

FASL

TOP OF BRASS REDUCER/ 

COUPLING

CONCRETE SURFACE

TOP OF SEAL

TOP OF GRAVEL PACK

TOP OF SCREEN

BOTTOM OF BOTTOM CAP

BOTTOM OF HOLE

EXPLANATION:

ELEV = ELEVATION

FACS = FEET ABOVE CONCRETE SURFACE

FBCS = FEET BELOW CONCRETE SURFACE

FASL = FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL

PVC = POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

DIAGRAM NOT TO SCALE

SEAL Bentonrte, 1-4 FBCS

RISER TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 7.25 feet, 1.47 FACS to 5.78 FBCS

SCREEN TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 24.55 feet, 5.78-30.33 FBCS 

SLOT SIZE: 10 slot (0.010 inch)

-GRAVEL PACK: 3/8-inch pea gravel, 4-17 FBCS 

Natural backfill, 17-31 FBCS

BOREHOLE DIAMETER: 8 3/4 inches

, BOTTOM CAP: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 0.25 inch, 30.33-30.58 FBCS

BOTTOM OF HOLE: 31 FBCS

Figure 7.--Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-4.

10
NAME AND

NUMBER: Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility 

gas-monitoring probe GMP-5

LOCATION: U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss,

Texas State Plane Coordinates 855,722.2537 north 121,132.8111 east 

DATE INSTALLATION COMPLETED: 16-NOV-94 

DRILL METHOD: Hollow-stem auger 

DRILLED BY: U.S. Geological Survey

PROTECTIVE COVER: 4-inch-diameter steel cover 

with locking cap

TUBING: 1/4-inch polyethylene 

REDUCER/COUPLING: 1/2-inch to 1/4-inch b-ass 

COUPLING: 1/2-inch PVC 

VALVE: 1/2-inch PVC ball valve 

REDUCER/COUPLING: 1-inchto 1/2-inch PV^

CONCRETE PAD: 3 feet by 3 feet by 6 inches; c-inchdiameter, 4-foot-long steel posts 

at each corner

3,918.51 

ELEV 

FASL

3,916.28

ELEV 

FASL

3,915.3

ELEV 

FASL

3,912.3

ELEV 

FASL

3,910.56

ELEV 

FASL

3,885.76

ELEV 

FASL

3,885.7

ELEV 

FASL

TOP OF BRASS REDUCER/ 

COUPLING

CONCRETE SURFACE

TOP OF SEAL

TOP OF GRAVEL PACK

TOP OF SCREEN

BOTTOM OF BOTTOM CAP

BOTTOM OF HOLE

EXPLANATION:

ELEV = ELEVATION

FACS = FEET ABOVE CONCRETE SURFACE

FBCS = FEET BELOW CONCRETE SURFACE

FASL = FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL

PVC = POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

DIAGRAM NOT TO SCALE

SEAL Bentonite, 1-4 FBCS

RISER TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 7.25 feet, 1.53 FACS to 5.72 FBC?

-SCREEN TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 24.55 feet, 5.72-30.27 FBCS 

SLOT SIZE: 10 slot (0.010 inch)

- GRAVEL PACK: 3/8-inch pea gravel, 4-23 FBCS 

Natural backfill, 23-25 FBCS 

3/8-inch pea gravel, 25-30.6 FBCS

 BOREHOLE DIAMETER: 8 3/4 inches

.BOTTOM CAP: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 0.25 inch, 30.27-30.52 FBCS

BOTTOM OF HOLE: 30.6 FBCS

Figure 8.-Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-5.

11
GUARDPOST

GROUND 

SURFACE

NAME AND

NUMBER: Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility

gas-monitoring probe GMP-6 

LOCATION: U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss,

Texas State Plane Coordinates 856,651.3358 north 121,137.8190 eart 

DATE INSTALLATION COMPLETED: 15-NOV-94 

DRILL METHOD: Hollow-stem auger 

DRILLED BY: U.S. Geological Survey

ROTECTIVE COVER: 4-inch-diameter steel cover 

with locking cap

TUBING: 1/4-inch polyethylene 

REDUCER/COUPLING: 1/2-inch to 1/4-inch brass 

COUPLING: 1/2-inch PVC 

VALVE: 1/2-inch PVC ball valve 

REDUCER/COUPLING: 1-inch to 1/2-inch PVC

CONCRETE PAD: 3 feet by 3 feet by 6 inches; 3-incho, o o ^o

3,921.44 

ELEV 

FASL

3,919.24 

ELEV 

FASL

3,918.2 

ELEV 

FASL

3,915.2 

ELEV 

FASL

3,913.49 

ELEV 

FASL

3,888.69 

ELEV 

FASL

3,888.6

ELEV 

FASL

TOP OF BRASS REDUCER/ 

COUPLING

CONCRETE SURFACE

TOP OF SEAL

TOP OF GRAVEL PACK

TOP OF SCREEN

BOTTOM OF BOTTOM CAP

BOTTOM OF HOLE

^<^°'0 ^ 0'>:V diameter, 4-foot-long steel posts 

at each comer

EXPLANATION:

ELEV = ELEVATION

FACS = FEET ABOVE CONCRETE SURFACE

FBCS = FEET BELOW CONCRETE SURFACE

FASL = FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL

PVC = POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

DIAGRAM NOT TO SCALE

I

SEAL Bentonite, 1-4 FBCS

RISER TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 7.25 feet, 1.50 FACS to 5.75 FBCS

SCREEN TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 24.55 feet 5.75-30.30 FBCS 

SLOT SIZE: 10 slot (0.010 inch)

-GRAVEL PACK: 3/8-inch pea gravel, 4-13 FBCS 

Natural backfill, 13-30.6 FBCS

-BOREHOLE DIAMETER: 8 3/4 inches

/BOTTOM CAP: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 0.25 inch, 30.30-30.55 FBCS

BOTTOM OF HOLE: 30.6 FBCS

Figure 9.--Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-6.

12
GUARD 

POST

GROUND 

SURFACE

NAME AND

NUMBER: Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility 

gas-monitoring probe GMP-7

LOCATION: U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss,

Texas State Plane Coordinates 857,522.5243 north 121.085.68P4 east

DATE INSTALLATION COMPLETED: 15-NOV-94 

DRILL METHOD: Hollow-stem auger 

DRILLED BY: U.S. Geological Survey

PROTECTIVE COVER: 4-inch-diameter steel cover

with locking cap

TUBING: 1/4-inch polyethylene 

REDUCER/COUPLING: 1/2-inch to 1/4-inch brass 

COUPLING: 1/2-inch PVC 

VALVE: 1/2-inch PVC ball valve 

REDUCER/COUPLING: 1 -inch to 1/2-inch PVC

CONCRETE PAD: 3 feet by 3 feet by 6 inches; 3 -'nchdiameter, 4-foot-long steel piste 

at each comer

3,924.79 TOP OF BRASS REDUCER/

ELEV 

FASL

3,922.63

ELEV 

FASL

3,921.6

ELEV 

FASL

3,918.6

ELEV 

FASL

3,916.84

ELEV 

FASL

COUPLING 

CONCRETE SURFACE

TOP OF SEAL

TOP OF GRAVEL PACK

TOP OF SCREEN

3,892.04 BOTTOM OF BOTTOM CAP

ELEV 

FASL

3,892.0

ELEV 

FASL

BOTTOM OF HOLE

EXPLANATION:

ELEV = ELEVATION

FACS = FEET ABOVE CONCRETE SURFACE

FBCS = FEET BELOW CONCRETE SURFACE

FASL = FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL

PVC = POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

DIAGRAM NOT TO SCALE

SEAL: Bentonite, 1-4 FBCS

RISER TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 7.25 feet, 1.46 FACS to 5.79 FBCf

-SCREEN TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 24.55 feet, 5.79-30.34 FBCS 

SLOT SIZE: 10 slot (0.010 inch)

GRAVEL PACK: 3/8-inch pea gravel, 4-13 FBC? 

Natural backfill, 13-30.6 FBCS

-BOREHOLE DIAMETER: 8 3/4 inches

^BOTTOM CAP: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 0.25 inch, 30.34-30.59 FBCS

-BOTTOM OF HOLE: 30.6 FBCS

Figure 10.-Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-7.

13
NAME AND

NUMBER: Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility 

gas-monitoring probe GMP-8

LOCATION: U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss,

Texas State Plane Coordinates 857,581.6823 north 120,182.0386 east

DATE INSTALLATION COMPLETED: 14-NOV-94 

DRILL METHOD: Hollow-stem auger 

DRILLED BY: U.S. Geological Survey

PROTECTIVE COVER: 4-inch-diameter steel cover 

with locking cap

TUBING: 1/4-inch polyethylene 

REDUCER/COUPLING: 1/2-inch to 1/4-inch brass 

COUPLING: 1/2-inch PVC 

VALVE: 1/2-inch PVC ball valve 

REDUCER/COUPLING: 1-inchto 1/2-inch PVC

CONCRETE PAD: 3 feet by 3 feet by 6 inches; 3-inch 

diameter, 4-foot-long steel posts 

at each comer

3,927.66

ELEV 

FASL

3,925.37

ELEV 

FASL

3,924.4 

ELEV 

FASL

3,921.4

ELEV 

FASL

3,919.71 

ELEV 

FASL

3,894.91 

ELEV 

FASL

3,894.8

ELEV 

FASL

TOP OF BRASS REDUCER/ 

COUPLING

CONCRETE SURFACE

TOP OF SEAL

TOP OF GRAVEL PACK

TOP OF SCREEN

BOTTOM OF BOTTOM CAP

BOTTOM OF HOLE

EXPLANATION:

ELEV = ELEVATION

FACS = FEET ABOVE CONCRETE SURFACE

FBCS = FEET BELOW CONCRETE SURFACE

FASL = FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL

PVC = POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

DIAGRAM NOT TO SCALE

I

SEAL Bentonite, 1-4 FBCS

 RISER TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 7.25 feet, 1.59 FACS to 5.66 FBCS

-SCREEN TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 24.55 feet, 5.66-30.21 FBCS 

SLOT SIZE: 10 slot (0.010 inch)

-GRAVEL PACK: 3/8-inch pea gravel, 4-17 FBCS 

Natural backfill, 17-30.6 FBCS

-BOREHOLE DIAMETER: 8 3/4 inches

BOTTOM CAP: PVC, threaded, flush joint

DIAMETER: 1 inch

LENGTH: 0.25 inch, 30.21-30.46 FBCS

BOTTOM OF HOLE: 30.6 FBCS

Figure 11 .-Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-8.

14
GUARDPOST

GROUND 

SURFACE

NAME AND

NUMBER: Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility 

gas-monitoring probe GMP-9

LOCATION: U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss,

Texas State Plane Coordinates 857,635.3215 north 119,318.3805 east

DATE INSTALLATION COMPLETED: 13-NOV-94 

DRILL METHOD: Hollow-stem auger 

DRILLED BY: U.S. Geological Survey

PROTECTIVE COVER: 4-inch-diameter steel cover 

with locking cap

TUBING: 1/4-inch polyethylene 

REDUCER/COUPLING: 1/2-inch to 1/4-inch brass 

COUPLING: 1/2-inch PVC 

VALVE: 1/2-inch PVC ball valve 

REDUCER/COUPLING: 1-inch to 1/2-inch PVC

CONCRETE PAD: 3 feet by 3 feet by 6 inches; 3-inchdiameter, 4-foot-long steel posts 

at each comer

3,925.79 TOP OF BRASS REDUCER/ 

ELEV COUPLING

FASL

3,923.86 CONCRETE SURFACE

ELEV 

FASL

3,922.9 

ELEV 

FASL

3,919.9 

ELEV 

FASL

TOP OF SEAL

TOP OF GRAVEL PACK

3,917.84 TOP OF SCREEN

ELEV 

FASL

3,893.04 BOTTOM OF BOTTOM CAP

ELEV 

FASL

3,892.9

ELEV 

FASL

BOTTOM OF HOLE

EXPLANATION:

ELEV = ELEVATION

FACS = FEET ABOVE CONCRETE SURFACE

FBCS = FEET BELOW CONCRETE SURFACE

FASL = FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL

PVC = POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

DIAGRAM NOT TO SCALE

SEAL: Berrtonite, 1-4 FBCS

RISER TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 7.25 feet, 1.23 FACS to 6.02 FBCS

-SCREEN TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 24.55 feet, 6.02-30.57 FBCS 

SLOT SIZE: 10 slot (0.010 inch)

GRAVEL PACK:Natural gravel pack, 4-9 FBCS 

3/8-inch pea gravel, 9-19 FBC^ 

Natural gravel pack, 19-31 FBCS

BOREHOLE DIAMETER: 8 3/4 inches

, BOTTOM CAP: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 0.25 inch, 30.57-30.82 FBCS

-BOTTOM OF HOLE: 31 FBCS

Figure 12.--Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-9.

15
GUARD 

POST

GROUND 

SURFACE

O 0,

NAME AND

NUMBER: Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility

gas-monitoring probe GMP-10 

LOCATION: U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss,

Texas State Plane Coordinates 857,156.4237 north 118,864.2410 eas* 

DATE INSTALLATION COMPLETED: 12-NOV-94 

DRILL METHOD: Hollow-stem auger 

DRILLED BY: U.S. Geological Survey

PROTECTIVE COVER: 4-inch-diameter steel covewith locking cap

TUBING 1/4-inch polyethylene 

REDUCER/COUPLING: 1/2-inch to 1/4-inch brass 

COUPLING: 1/2-inch PVC 

VALVE: 1/2-inch PVC ball valve 

REDUCER/COUPLING :1-inch to 1/2-inch PVC

CONCRETE PAD: 3 feet by 3 feet by 6 inches; 3-inchdiameter, 4-foot-long steel posts 

at each comer

3,925.41 

ELEV 

FASL

3,923.40 

ELEV 

FASL

3,922.4 

ELEV 

FASL

3,919.4

ELEV 

FASL

3,917.46 

ELEV 

FASL

TOP OF BRASS REDUCER/ 

COUPLING

CONCRETE SURFACE

TOP OF SEAL

TOP OF GRAVEL PACK

TOP OF SCREEN

3,892.66 BOTTOM OF BOTTOM CAP 

ELEV 

FASL

3,892.4 

ELEV 

FASL

BOTTOM OF HOLE

EXPLANATION:

ELEV = ELEVATION

FACS = FEET ABOVE CONCRETE SURFACE

FBCS = FEET BELOW CONCRETE SURFACE

FASL = FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL

PVC = POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

DIAGRAM NOT TO SCALE

SEAL: Bentonrte, 1-4 FBCS

RISER TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 7.25 feet, 1.31 FACS to 5.94 FBCS

-SCREEN TYPE: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 24.55 feet 5.94-30.49 FBCS 

SLOT SIZE: 10 slot (0.010 inch)

 GRAVEL PACK: 3/8-inch pea gravel, 4-31 FBCS

BOREHOLE DIAMETER: 8 3/4 inches

/BOTTOM CAP: PVC, threaded, flush joint 

DIAMETER: 1 inch 

LENGTH: 0.25 inch, 30.49-30.74 FBCS

-BOTTOM OF HOLE: 31 FBCS

Figure 13.-Completion of gas-monitoring probe GMP-10.

16
GUARD 

POST

NAMEAND

NUMBER: Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility MSWLF03 

JL-49-05-919

LOCATION: U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss,

31 °52'39.65" north latitude 106023'35.88" west longitude,

Texas State Plane Coordinates 855,377.2772 north 119,715.21?5 east

DATE INSTALLATION COMPLETED: 04-MAY-95

DRILL METHOD: Mud rotary

DRILLED BY: U.S. Geological Survey

PROTECTIVE COVER: 8-inch-diameter steel cover 

with locking cap

WELL CAP: Water-tight cap

CONCRETE PAD: 4 feet by 4 feet by 6 inches; 3-inchdiameter, 4-foot-tong steel posts 

at each comer

3,916.10 GROUND SURFACE/ 

ELEV CONCRETE SURFACE 

FASL

3,651.1 

ELEV 

FASL

3,621.1 

ELEV 

FASL

3,610.1 

ELEV 

FASL

3,606.2

ELEV 

FASL

3,565.1

ELEV 

FASL

3,561.1 

ELEV 

FASL

TOP OF GRAVEL PACK

TOP OF SCREEN

WATER LEVEL 

(May 5,1995, in completed well 

after development and recovery)

BOTTOM OF SUMP

BOTTOM OF HOLE

EXPLANATION:

ELEV = ELEVATION

FAGS = FEET ABOVE GROUND SURFACE

FBGS = FEET BELOW GROUND SURFACE

FASL = FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL

OD = OUTSIDE DIAMETER

ID = INSIDE DIAMETER

PVC = POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

DIAGRAM NOT TO SCALE

RISER TYPE: PVC, schedule 80 

DIAMETER: 4.5 inches (OD), 3.826 inches (ID) 

LENGTH: 307.33 feet, 1.33 FAGS to 306 FBG^

BACKFILL: Volclay grout 1-265 FBGS

Figure 14.--Completion of ground

17

SEAL 20 mesh silica sand, 265-269 FBGS 

Bentonite, 269-295 FBGS

GRAVEL PACK: 10-20 silica sand, 295-355 FP<3S

-SCREEN TYPE: PVC, schedule 80 

DIAMETER: 4.5 inches (OD), 3.826 inches (ID) 

LENGTH: 40 feet, 306-346 FBGS 

SLOT SIZE: 10 slot (0.010 inch)

BOREHOLE DIAMETER: 11 inches

SUMP: 5-foot PVC, schedule 80,346-351 FBGS 

BOTTOM OF HOLE: 355 FBGS

 water monitoring well MSWLF03.
After the Volclay grout was allowed to settle 

overnight, the well was developed by surging it with 

compressed air until the water removed from the well 

was relatively clear and free of sediment 

(approximately 5 hours) and water-quality 

measurements had stabilized. Water samples collected 

during the surging process were measured for pH, 

specific conductance, turbidity, and temperature; these 

measurements are discussed in the "Ground-water 

chemical data" section of this report. The water level 

was measured at 309.9 feet below land surface (3,606.2 

feet above sea level).

A concrete seal and 4-foot-square by 6-inchthick concrete surface pad with locking steel protective 

casing was placed on the Volclay grout and around the 

riser. Four 3-inch-diameter, cement-filled steel guard 

posts, which extend about 3 feet above the land surface, 

were placed at each corner of the concrete surface pad 

(fig. 14).

Soil-Sampling Procedures

Soil samples collected during drilling of the BH3 and MSWLF03 boreholes were preserved for 

laboratory analysis of soil chemistry, physical 

properties, soil-water chloride concentration, and soil 

moisture. Soil samples also were collected from the 

landfill cover in the southern area of the landfill (fig. 3).

Soil samples for soil-chemistry analysis were 

collected from borehole BH-3 at depths of 5,20, and 50 

feet below land surface. The stainless steel split-spoon 

sampler was pushed into the undisturbed 2-foot 

interval bracketing the sampling depth. The sampler 

was retrieved and opened, and the soil samples were 

immediately collected. Soil samples for analysis of 

volatile organic compounds and soil moisture were 

collected first, followed by collection of soil samples 

for nonvolatile analysis. The quality-assurance/ 

quality-control (QA/QC) criteria (Sampling and 

analysis plan for ground-water monitoring at the 

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air 

Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, 

Texas, U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., 

March 1995) for the field-sampling and laboratory 

procedures included collection of (1) one equipment 

blank; (2) one duplicate soil sample (collected with the 

soil sample collected at 50 feet); (3) one ambientconditions blank; (4) one trip blank; (5) one matrixspike (MS) sample; and (6) one matrix-spike duplicate 

(MSD) sample. The equipment blank was collected by

running American Society of Testing and Materials 

(ASTM) Type II reagent water through the 

decontaminated split-sampling barrel and catching it in 

the appropriate sampling bottles. The duplicate soil 

sample was collected immediately after collection of 

the environmental sample. The ambient-conditions 

blank was prepared on site using ASTM Type II 

reagent water; a bottle of ASTM Type II water was left 

open at the sampling location and then poured into a 

sample bottle after its respective environmental, 

duplicate, MS, and MSD samples were collected. The 

trip blank was prepared using ASTM Type II reagent 

water shipped to the site with the sample bottles and 

was handled as a sample. The MS/MSD samples were 

collected at the 50-foot sample interval immediately 

after the respective environmental and duplicate 

sample bottles were filled. Collection procedures for 

MS/MSD samples were identical to those for the 

environmental and replicate samples. The filled and 

preserved MS/MSD sample bottles were sent to the 

laboratory where they were spiked with known 

concentrations of analytes. Analytical results of these 

samples are presented in the "Soil-chemical data" 

section of this report.

Soil samples for analysis of physical properties 

were collected at various intervals to 55 feet in 

borehole BH-3 and to 318.5 feet in borehole 

MSWLF03. A total of 27 soil samples from the 

recovered cores were collected for laboratory analysis. 

Twenty-five of the samples were collected frcm the 

unsaturated zone (above 306-foot depth); the lower two 

samples were collected from the saturated zon? (below 

306-foot depth). With the hollow-stem auger drilling 

technique, 6-inch-long by 3.5-inch-diameter stainless 

steel tubes were placed in the split-spoon sampler, and 

the cores (soil samples) were collected directly into the 

tubes. When the split-spoon sampler was brought to the 

surface and opened, the tubes were removed from the 

sampler and plastic end caps were placed on en ch end. 

Electrical tape was wrapped around the cap/tube 

junction to provide a more secure seal to preserve the 

moisture content of the samples. With the mud-rotary 

drilling technique, the core (soil sample) was removed 

from the split-spoon sampler and placed into split PVC 

pipe that was about 6 to 8 inches long and 

approximately the same diameter as the core. The split 

PVC pipe was capped with plastic end caps, ta*>ed with 

fiberglass filament tape to keep the two split halves 

together, and sealed with electrical tape at the cap/PVC 

junction and along split seams to prevent moisture loss.

18
After each soil sample was collected, it was marked 

with identifying information and packed with paper or 

bubble pack in an insulated container to avoid wide 

temperature fluctuations and mechanical damage. Each 

insulated container contained a wet sponge to maintain 

a high humidity and was kept shaded as much as 

possible until delivered to the laboratory. At the 

laboratory, the cores stored in PVC were subsampled 

by pressing smaller brass tubes into the core (Daniel B. 

Stephens and Assoc., Albuquerque, N. Mex., written 

commun., 1995). Analytical results of these samples 

are presented in the "Physical properties, total organic 

carbon, and pH of soil and sediment samples" section 

of this report.

Soil samples for analysis of soil-water chloride 

concentration and soil moisture were collected at 

approximately 1-foot intervals to 55 feet. At times core 

recovery was not 100 percent; in these cases, the lost 

core was assumed to be from the bottom of the interval. 

Samples were taken from the center of the core using a 

stainless steel spoon. The outer part of the core was 

trimmed away to avoid, as much as possible, the effects 

of moisture migration that might result from heat 

produced by the auger bit. The samples were placed in 

4-ounce glass jars with metal screw-on lids with a 

composite rubber seal. After the lids were screwed on 

tightly, plastic electrical tape was wrapped around the 

jar and lid to help prevent moisture loss from the 

sample. The samples were then placed in an insulated 

container with a wet sponge to maintain high humidity 

and kept in the shade. Analytical results of these 

samples are presented in the "Soil-water chloride and 

soil-moisture data" section of this report.

During October 1995, hydraulic conductivity of 

the landfill cover was determined by an infiltrometer 

technique (Ankeny, 1992). Hydrologic properties of 

the landfill cover were measured at five sites (fig. 3). At 

each site, in situ infiltration was measured at two places 

about 50 feet apart. After each infiltration measurement 

was made, a soil core was collected by forcing a brass 

tube into the moistened soil. The brass tubes filled with 

soil were capped, taken to the laboratory, and tested for 

porosity and for percentage of water retained at field 

capacity and wilting point. Analytical results of these 

samples are presented in the "Physical properties, total 

organic carbon, and pH of soil and sediment samples" 

section of this report.

Lithologic Description of Cores and 

Cuttings

The lithology for cores and cuttings from 

boreholes GMP-1 through GMP-10, BH-3, and 

MSWLF03 were described using a standard format that 

allowed consistent, comprehensive recording of the 

data. The format used included:

 Name of unconsolidated sediment (fig. 15)

 Texture

Grain-size distribution (American Geological 

Institute, 1989, data sheet 29.1), particle shape 

(Compton, 1962), sorting (Compton, 1962), 

grading and packing (American Geological 

Institute, 1989, data sheets 23.1 and 23.2), and 

fabric

 Composition of larger grained sediments 

Mineralogy

 Color

Rock-Color Chart (National Research 

Council, 1948)

 Sedimentary structures

Laminations, microfaults, or other diroernible 

structures

 Degree of consolidation and cementation, 

presence of caliche or calcium carborate, 

reaction with 10 percent hydrochloric acid 

(HC1)

Loosely, moderately, or strongly compacted; 

weakly, moderately, or strongly cemented; 

weak, moderate, or strong reaction w: th HC1

 Qualitative moisture content 

Dry, moist, wet, or saturated

 Description of basal contact

Abrupt or gradational basal contact

Lithologic descriptors were limited to those 

readily visible to the eye or with the use of a 10X hand 

lens. Made by a USGS hydrologist trained in lithologic 

description, the descriptions are presented in tables 1- 

12 and plate 1 (all tables are in the back of the report).

In addition to lithologic descriptions, field 

observations were made of depth, core recovery, hole 

collapse and presence of backfill material, fieH or 

drilling conditions that affected the collection of cores 

or cuttings, changes in drilling procedures, and mud 

weight and viscosity.

19
Naming of Unconsolidated Sediments

Greater than 15 percent gravel

Greater than 15 percent sand

Greater than 15 percent silt

Greater than 15 percent clay

5-15 percent gravel

5-15 percent sand

5-15 percent silt

5-15 percent clay

Greater than 15 percent gravel 

plus greater than 15 percent sand

Greater than 15 percent gravel 

plus greater than 15 percent silt

Greater than 15 percent gravel 

plus greater than 15 percent clay

Greater than 15 percent sand 

plus greater than 15 percent silt

Greater than 15 percent sand 

plus greater than 15 percent clay

Greater than 15 percent silt 

plus greater than 15 percent clay

Main partide

Gravel

Gravel

Sandy gravel

Silty gravel

Clayey gravel

Not applicable

Gravel with sand

Gravel with silt

Gravel with clay

Sandy gravel

Silty gravel

Clayey gravel

Silty sandy gravel

Sandy clayey 

gravel

Silty dayey gravel

Sand

Gravelly sand

Sand

Silty sand

Clayey sand

Sand with gravel

Not applicable

Sand with silt

Sand with clay

Gravelly sand

Gravelly silty 

sand

Gravelly clayey 

sand

Silty sand

Clayey sand

Silty clayey sand

Silt

Gravelly silt

Sandy silt

Silt

Clayey silt

Silt with gravel

Silt with sand

Not applicable

Silt with clay

Gravelly sandy 

silt

Gravelly silt

Gravelly sandy 

silt

Sandy silt

Sandy dayey silt

Clayey silt

day

Gravelly day

Sandy day

Silty day

day

day with gravel

day with sand

Clay with silt

Not applicable

Gravelly sandy 

day

Gravelly silty day

Gravelly day

Sandy silty day

Sandy day

Silty day

NOTE: Other combinations are possible when all partide sizes present are greater than 15 percent - - for example, a silty 

clayey gravelly sand. Other possible combinations exist such as a gravelly sand with silt.

Figure 15. Protocol used in naming of unconsolidated sediments.

20
Geophysical Logs

Geophysical logs were obtained from the open, 

mud-filled borehole MSWLF03. Types of logs 

collected include neutron, gamma ray, resistivity (16- 

inch and 64-inch normal), and caliper (three arm). 

Geophysical logs can be used as an exploratory method 

to help describe the lithology of drill cores and cuttings 

where there is little or no recovery and may also be 

useful in identifying the water table. Selected 

geophysical logs are presented on plate 1.

Soil-Gas and Ambient-Air Data

Soil-gas samples were collected from the 10 

GMPs at the MSWLF, and ambient-air samples were 

collected at four locations inside the MSWLF guard 

shack (fig. 3). Samples were collected by the USGS on 

a quarterly basis from December 1994 to September 

1995 (four quarters total). The samples were analyzed 

in the field with a gas-analyzer meter (Landtec model 

GA-90). Precipitation data, measured at the El Paso 

International Airport about 4.5 miles southeast of the 

MSWLF, also were compiled in conjunction with the 

soil-gas and ambient-air data. Soil-gas and ambient-air 

sampling and analysis procedures are documented in 

"Workplan for methane monitoring network at the 

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air 

Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, 

Texas, Final" (U.S. Geological Survey, written 

commun., November 1994).

Prior to sampling and analysis, the gas analyzer 

was calibrated according to manufacturer 

specifications. After the meter was calibrated, 

barometric pressure and air temperature were 

measured. Background ambient-air samples were then 

collected and analyzed for methane, in percent lower 

explosive limit; methane, in percent by volume; carbon 

dioxide, in percent by volume; and oxygen, in percent 

by volume.

After the background measurements were 

completed, the GMPs were purged, and soil-gas 

samples were collected and analyzed directly with the 

gas-analyzer meter. Procedures for sampling each 

GMP included measuring the probe pressure before 

pumping; purging the GMP of three well volumes 

(approximately 20 minutes pumping time at the 

pumping rate of about 700 cubic centimeters per 

minute) or until the gas-analyzer readings stabilized 

(minimum purge of 1 minute); allowing the GMP to

recover; measuring barometric pressure and air 

temperature; and collecting and analyzing the sample. 

Each soil-gas sample was analyzed for methane, in 

percent lower explosive limit; methane, in percent by 

volume; carbon dioxide, in percent by volurr^; and 

oxygen, in percent by volume. Gas temperature also 

was measured during the sampling process.

After the GMPs were sampled and analyzed, 

ambient-air samples were collected and analyzed at 

four locations within the MSWLF guard shacv (fig. 3). 

The ambient-air samples were collected frorr a linear 

scan with the gas-analyzer meter within 5 feet of each 

wall inside the guard shack. These samples were 

analyzed for methane, in percent lower explosive limit; 

methane, in percent by volume; carbon dioxide, in 

percent by volume; and oxygen, in percent by volume. 

Barometric pressure and air temperature also were 

measured. Soil-gas and ambient-air data collected from 

the GMPs and guard shack and precipitation data 

collected at the El Paso International Airport are 

presented in tables 13-16.

Soil-Chemical Data

Soil samples collected from borehole FH-3 at 

depths of 5, 20, and 50 feet below land surface, 

described in the "Soil-sampling procedures" section of 

this report, were submitted to Quanterra Environmental 

Services, Arvada, Colo., for chemical analysK Soilchemical data for soil samples collected from borehole 

BH-3 are presented in table 17; associated da*aqualifier codes are presented in table 18. QA/QC and 

review of analytical data are further discussed in the 

"Quality assurance/quality control and review of 

analytical data" section of this report.

HYDROLOGIC DATA

Hydrologic data were compiled from (1) soil and 

sediment samples collected at or adjacent to the 

MSWLF during the drilling of boreholes BH-3 and 

MSWLF03, (2) samples collected from the landfill 

cover over the older part of the MSWLF, and (3) water 

samples collected from ground-water monitoring well 

MSWLF03. These data are presented in the following 

sections.

21
Physical Properties, Total Organic 

Carbon, and pH of Soil and Sediment 

Samples

Twenty-seven soil and sediment samples 

representative of the 351-foot cored interval adjacent to 

the MSWLF were collected from boreholes BH-3 and 

MSWLF03 and analyzed in the laboratory (Daniel B. 

Stephens and Associates, Inc., Albuquerque, N. Mex.) 

for physical properties, total organic carbon, and pH. 

The 27 samples were analyzed for the following 

physical properties: initial moisture content, dry bulk 

density, porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, 

moisture retention percentages at various suction 

values, calculated parameters for the van Genuchten 

(van Genuchten, 1980) and Brooks-Corey (Brooks and 

Corey, 1966) equations relating hydraulic conductivity 

to saturation, and particle size. Analytical methods 

used to analyze the samples are presented in table 19; 

results of the analyses are presented in tables 20-24. 

The upper 25 samples are representative of the 

unsaturated zone adjacent to the MSWLF; the lower 2 

samples are representative of the saturated zone. 

Sample numbers (tables 20-24) indicate depth, in feet, 

for all samples except numbers MSWLF03-81, 

MSWLF03-318, and MSWLF03-318.5, which were 

collected from depths of 79,316, and 316.5 feet, 

respectively.

Soil samples were collected at five locations on 

the landfill cover (fig. 3). The area where the samples 

were collected is representative of the older part of the 

landfill cover (the filled area outside the Subtitle D 

area), which consists of locally derived materials. Soil 

samples collected from the landfill cover were 

analyzed in the laboratory (Daniel B. Stephens and 

Associates, Inc., Albuquerque, N. Mex.) for the 

following physical properties: initial moisture content, 

dry bulk density, porosity, and moisture retention 

percentages at various suction values.

In situ infiltration rates were measured in the 

landfill cover at the same location where the soil 

samples were collected. Values for saturated and 

unsaturated hydraulic conductivity were derived from 

in situ infiltration rate data. Methods used to analyze 

the landfill-cover samples and in situ measurements are 

presented in table 25; results of the analyses are 

presented in tables 26-28.

Soil-Water Chloride and Soil-Moisture 

Data

Fifty-eight soil samples were collected for soilwater chloride and soil-moisture analysis (tab1 ? 29). 

Samples from 2 to 55 feet were collected from core 

recovered during the drilling of borehole BH-3 using 

hollow-stem auger drilling techniques. Samples from 

92 to 325 feet were collected from core recovered 

during the drilling of borehole MSWLF03 using mudrotary drilling techniques. Samples were taken from 

near the axis of the core using the procedure described 

in the "Soil-sampling procedures" section of this 

report.

In the laboratory, the tape was removed from the 

sample jars, any dirt or adhesive was removed from the 

exterior, and the jars were weighed (sample weight 1) 

immediately. Then the lids were removed and the 

sample, including jar and lid, was oven dried at 105- 

107 degrees Celsius for 24 hours. Some unused 

containers were weighed and oven baked to assure that 

weight loss could not be attributed to changes to the 

rubber seal that might result from the baking. After 

oven drying, the samples were weighed again (sample 

weight 2) and the weight loss was attributed to 

moisture content. A measured weight of deionized 

water (about 60 grams) was then added to eacl jar and 

the jars were agitated for 8 hours (McGurk and Stone, 

1985, p. 15) to redissolve the chloride. The renilting 

solution was extracted and the chloride concentration 

was measured by USGS personnel using a chloride 

electrode (Orion model 95-17B) and the instructions of 

the electrode manufacturer.

Soil-water chloride concentration was calculated

as:

where

C = C Vj'IV

1SW = chloride concentration of soil water,

in milligrams per liter; 

\ext - chloride concentration of extract, in

milligrams per liter; 

^di ~ volume of deionized water added to

the sample, in milliliters; and 

Tsw ~ volume of soil water in the sample,

in milliliters.

After the chloride analyses were completed, the jars 

were emptied and the jars and lids were cleaned and 

tared; tare weights were subtracted from sample weight 

2 to determine dry soil weights. The gravimetric

22
moisture content is equal to the soil-water weight 

divided by the dry soil weight. The volumetric 

moisture content is defined by the following equation:

where SMV - volumetric moisture content, in

grams per cubic centimeter; 

SMg = gravimetric soil moisture, in grams

per gram; 

p5 = bulk density of sample, in grams per

cubic centimeter; and 

pw - density of water, in grams per cubic 

centimeter.

Soil dry bulk density was as reported by Daniel 

B. Stephens for samples collected at the same depth as 

those collected for physical-property analysis. For 

chloride samples collected at intermediate depths, the 

dry bulk density was estimated by interpolation.

Depth to Ground Water

The primary source of ground water in the 

vicinity of the MSWLF is the unconsolidated and 

semiconsolidated sedimentary deposits of the Hueco 

Bolson. Wells completed in the Hueco Bolson supply 

water for the City of El Paso, Ciudad Juarez, Fort Bliss 

Military Reservation (figs. 1-2), private industries, and 

agricultural areas. Wells discharging large amounts of 

water generally are drilled at least 200 feet into wateryielding material. City of El Paso and Fort Bliss 

municipal wells completed in the Hueco Bolson range 

in depth from about 600 to greater than 1,200 feet. 

Hydraulic characteristics of the Hueco Bolson vary 

significantly because of the nonuniform nature of the 

individual beds (Alvarez and Buckner, 1980). On a 

regional scale the Hueco Bolson can be considered a 

single aquifer, but on a local scale the rate and volume 

of water flowing through individual beds probably vary 

considerably. Hydraulic characteristics of the Hueco 

Bolson are presented in Abeyta (1996).

On May 5,1995, depth to water in well 

MSWLF03 after drilling, development, and recovery 

was 309.9 feet. On February 19,1997, depth to water 

in well MSWLF03 was 315.0 feet.

Ground-Water Chemical Data

Well MSWLF03 is located hydraulically 

downgradient from the MSWLF and is assumed to

represent the chemistry of ground water mov:ng 

beneath the MSWLF (Abeyta, 1996, p. 22). A water 

sample was collected from well MSWLF03 (fig. 3) on 

February 19, 1997.

Prior to purging and sampling, a water sample 

from the top of the water column was collected using a 

translucent Teflon bailer to examine for the presence of 

floating hydrocarbons. No visible immiscible layer was 

observed. Prior to sampling, the well was purged with 

a stainless steel submersible piston pump (Bennett 

model 1800-7) with a 500-foot Teflon water-discharge 

line. Prior to purging, the pump and discharge line were 

decontaminated. The outside of the water-discharge 

line of the sample pump was washed with a solution of 

potable water and laboratory-grade detergent. The 

pump and water-discharge line were rinsed with 

deionized water, and allowed to dry. The punrp and 

inside of the water-discharge line were decontaminated 

by pumping approximately 35 gallons of deionized 

water. After decontamination, approximately 8 gallons 

of ASTM Type II reagent water were pumped through 

the water-discharge line, then followed by deionized 

water to allow collection of the ASTM Type II reagent 

water for the equipment blank. Compressed nitrogen 

gas was used to operate the submersible piston pump.

Temperature, turbidity, pH, and specific 

conductance of the purged ground water were 

measured periodically during purging until a rrinimum 

of 3.5 well volumes of water were removed and the 

temperature, turbidity, pH, and specific conductance 

had stabilized.

After purging was completed, the well was 

sampled. Sample bottles for particular analytes were 

filled in the following order: (1) volatile orgarics, (2) 

metals, (3) nitrates and common ions, and (4) field 

properties. Sample bottles were filled from the Teflon 

discharge line and preserved immediately. Duplicate-, 

MS, and MSD sample bottles were filled immediately 

after their respective environmental samples were 

collected.

Chain-of-custody procedures were folk wed to 

ensure that samples were collected, protected, stored, 

handled, analyzed, and disposed of properly by 

authorized personnel (Sampling and analysis plan for 

ground-water monitoring at the Municipal Solid Waste 

Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery 

Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, Final, U.S. 

Geological Survey, written commun., March 1995). 

The USGS team leader who collected the sample in the 

field had initial custody of the samples. The aralytical 

laboratory, Quanterra Environmental Services, Arvada, 

Colo., was the ultimate recipient of the samples.

23
Purged water from the monitoring wells was 

stored in 55-gallon steel drums next to the well, 

classified by USGS personnel according to Title 30 

TAG 335 Subchapter R, and labeled appropriately. The 

analytical data for the samples were received and 

reviewed by USGS staff, and the purged water was 

determined to be uncontaminated. This determination 

was based on comparison of analytes identified to U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-defined 

maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for drinking 

water (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1994). 

The purged water was then properly disposed of by 

USAADACENFB personnel.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control and Review of 

Analytical Data

The objective of QA/QC is to monitor the overall 

sampling program and all environmentally related data 

collection and analysis to ensure that all data produced 

are suitable for evaluation and interpretation of groundwater quality at the MSWLF site. Detailed QA 

objectives and goals for accuracy, precision, 

completeness, representativeness, and comparability 

and QC objectives and goals for production and 

documentation of quality data are defined in the 

Sampling and analysis plan for ground-water 

monitoring at the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill 

Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and 

Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, Final (U.S. Geological 

Survey, written commun., March 1995).

The field QA/QC program was developed to 

ensure and validate that inconsistencies in protocols 

did not introduce errors into the data-collection 

process. Field QC checks were used to (1) identify 

inconsistencies and (2) minimize the potential for 

interference or introduction of nonenvironmental 

contaminants during sample collection, storage, 

transport, and/or equipment decontamination. 

Applicable QA/QC samples were collected and 

analyzed during all field sampling activities at the 

MSWLF site. The following protocols were followed 

for collection of QA/QC field samples:

Equipment blanks-One was collected per 

sampling event (soil and water sample 

collection) and analyzed for the same 

parameters as the environmental samples. 

These samples were collected by pumping 

ASTM Type II reagent water through the 

sampling equipment (Bennett pump and 

tubing) and into the appropriate sample

bottles. Equipment blanks for soluble 

metals were run through a filtering 

apparatus in the field. 

Field duplicates One was collected pesampling event (soil and water sample 

collection) and analyzed for the same 

parameters as the environmental sample* 

Each field-duplicate bottle was filled 

immediately after its respective 

environmental sample bottle was filled. 

Collection procedures for field duplicates 

were identical to those for the 

environmental samples. 

Matrix spikes and matrix-spike 

duplicates-One pair was collected per each 

sampling event (soil and water sample 

collection). The MS/MSD sample bottles 

were filled immediately after their 

respective field-duplicate sample bottles 

were filled. Collection procedures for MS/ 

MSD sample bottles were identical to those 

for the environmental samples. The fillei 

and preserved MS/MSD sample bottles 

were sent to the laboratory where they were 

spiked with known concentrations of 

analytes. Each MS/MSD pair was analyzed 

for the same parameters as its respective 

environmental sample. 

Trip blanks-One trip blank per samplirg 

event (soil and water sample collection) was 

prepared for analysis of volatile organic 

compounds. It was prepared using AST! 4 

Type II reagent water shipped to the site 

with the sample bottles and handled as a 

sample.

Ambient-conditions blanks One 

ambient-conditions blank per sampling 

event (soil and water collection) was 

collected for analysis of volatile organic 

compounds. It was prepared on site usin^ 

ASTM Type II reagent water. A bottle of the 

ASTM Type II water was left open at the 

sampling location and then poured into its 

respective sample bottle after its respective 

environmental sample, sample duplicate, 

MS, and MSD samples were collected.

The accuracy of laboratory QA/QC program 

analytical data was evaluated by the following:

Standard methods that, whenever 

possible, are recognized and considered as

24
standard by the scientific community. EPA 

methods generally were used. 

Calibration standards obtained from the 

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology EPA repository or other reliable 

commercial sources. 

Audit samples evaluating laboratory 

performance on EPA Water Supply and 

Water Pollution samples to maintain EPA 

certification.

Surrogate spikes for volatile and 

semivolatile organic compounds where 

recovery of organic surrogate analytes 

should be within three standard deviations 

of the laboratory-established average 

recovery of the surrogate analyte. 

Known laboratory control samples where 

recovery of analytes should be within three 

standard deviations of the laboratoryestablished average recovery of the analyte. 

For multiple-analyte samples, 80 percent of 

the analytes should be within control limits. 

In-house control limits were used. 

Recovery of analytes where recovery 

should be within three standard deviations 

of the laboratory-established average 

recovery of the analyte. For multipleanalyte methods, 95 percent of the analytes 

should be within control limits.

The precision of analytical data was evaluated by 

submitting duplicate/environmental, MS, and MSD 

samples. Analytical results for these samples should be 

within established control limits as defined in the 

Sampling and analysis plan for ground-water 

monitoring at the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill 

Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and 

Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, Final (U.S. Geological 

Survey, written commun., March 1995).

Completeness was evaluated by dividing the 

number of valid data obtained by the total number of 

samples analyzed and multiplying by 100 to obtain the 

percentage of analytical data associated with 

acceptable QC criteria. If 95 percent or greater of the 

analytical data were in control, then the sample batch 

was determined to be in control.

Representativeness of field data was evaluated 

by (1) use of standard methods of measurement and 

sample collection; (2) collection of sufficient size or 

amount of sample; (3) documentation of reasons for 

use of nonstandard techniques; and (4) adherence to

chain-of-custody procedures. Representativer^ss of 

laboratory analytical data was evaluated by (I) use of 

preservation techniques to minimize sample 

degradation that may occur between sample collection 

and sample analysis; (2) prescribed holding times; (3) 

field and laboratory blank analyses to determine 

whether samples have been contaminated; and (4) use 

of matrix spikes to determine the presence of matrix 

effects.

Comparability of field and laboratory 

measurements was evaluated by using standard 

methods of measurement and analysis of consistent 

reporting units. Comparability in the laboratory also 

was evaluated by traceable materials for calibration 

andQC.

Upon completion of analyses and review of 

analytical and QA/QC results, the laboratory submitted 

laboratory analytical results reports to the USGS. The 

data were reviewed, and data that did not meet the QA7 

QC criteria were identified. The USGS submitted 

laboratory analytical results and QA/QC datavalidation results to the USAADACENFB. TH 

USAADACENFB reviewed the information and 

submitted laboratory analytical results reports and QA7 

QC data-validation reports to the TNRCC. Th^se 

reports are available to the public at the 

USAADACENFB, Directorate of Environment, El 

Paso, Texas, and at the TNRCC Records Center, 

Austin, Texas.

The QA/QC analytical data collected during 

sampling at the MSWLF site are not presented in this 

report; they may be reviewed at the locations 

mentioned above. Environmental-sample data 

collected February 19, 1997, from the MSWLF 

ground-water monitoring well are presented ir the 

following sections of this report. Environmentalsample data that did not meet the QA/QC criteria are 

still reported in the data table but are qualifiedQualified data are flagged data that may have been 

noncompliant but were usable.

Results of Analyses

Water-quality data collected February 19,1997, 

for MSWLF03 are presented in table 30; associated 

data-qualifier codes are presented in table 18. Comical 

concentrations detected in water for well MSV/rLF03 

were below EPA-identified MCLs (table 31) for public 

drinking-water supplies.

25
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Abeyta, C.G., 1996, Geohydrologic site characterization of 

the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army 

Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, 

Texas: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 95-4217, 36 p.

Alvarez, H.J., and Buckner, A.W., 1980, Ground-water 

development in the El Paso region, Texas, with 

emphasis on the resources of the lower El Paso Valley: 

Texas Department of Water Resources Report 246, 

346 p.

American Geological Institute, 1989, Data sheets for

geology in the field, laboratory, and office: American 

Geological Institute.

American Public Health Association and others, 1985, 

Standard methods for the examination of water and 

wastewater (16th ed.): Washington, D.C., American 

Public Health Association, 1,268 p.

Ankeny, M.D., 1992, Methods and theory for unconfined 

infiltration measurements, in Advances in measurement 

of soil physical properties Bringing theory into 

practice: Soil Science Society of America Special 

Publication 30, p. 123-141.

Ankeny, M.D., Ahmed, M., Kaspar, T.C., and Horton, R., 

1991, A simple field method for determining 

unsaturated hydraulic conductivity: Soil Science 

Society American Journal, v. 55, p. 467-470.

Ankeny, M.D., Kaspar, T.C., and Horton, R., 1988, Design 

for an automated tension infiltrometer: Soil Science 

Society American Journal, v. 52, p. 893-896.

 1989, Design for an automated tension infiltrometer: 

U.S. Patent #4,884,436.

Brooks, R.H., and Corey, A.T., 1966, Properties of porous 

media affecting fluid flow, in Journal of the Irrigation 

and Drainage Division: Proceedings of the American 

Society of Civil Engineers, v. 92, no. IR2, June 1966, 

p. 61-88.

Compton, R.R., 1962, Manual of field geology: New York, 

John Wiley and Sons, 378 p.

Elrick, D.E., Reynolds, W.D., Baumgartner, N., Tan, K.A., 

and Bradshaw, K.L., 1988, In situ measurements of 

hydraulic properties of soils using the Guelph 

permeameter and the Guelph infiltrometer, in 

Proceedings of the Third International Workshop on 

Land Drainage: Columbus, Ohio, December 7-11, 

1987.

Klute, A., ed., 1986, Methods of soil analysis, part 1: 

Madison, Wise., American Society of Agronomy 

(2d ed.).

McGurk, B.E., and Stone, W.J., 1985, Evaluation of 

laboratory procedures for determining soil-water 

chloride: Socorro, New Mexico Bureau of Mines and 

Mineral Resources Open-File Report 215, 33 p.

National Research Council, 1948, Rock-Color Chart:

Geological Society of America, 16 p. 

Perroux, K.M., and White, I., 1988, Designs for disc

permeameters: Soil Science Society American Journal,

v. 52, p. 1,205-1,215. 

Prieksat, M.A., Ankeny, M.D., and Kaspar, T.C., 1991,

Design for an automated single-ring ponded

infiltrometer: Soil Science Society American Journal,

v.56,p. 1,409-1,411. 

Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission, 1993,

30 TAG 330, Municipal solid waste: Texas Register,

Austin, Tex., 194 p. plus updates through December

1993. 

U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Data

Service, 1992, Annual summary, Texas: National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, v. 57, no. 13,

80 p. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1983, Methods for

chemical analysis of water and wastes: U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency Manual 60^/4-79-

020.

 1986a, Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission 

spectrometer method for trace element analysis of 

water and wastes: Federal Register, 40 CFR 261, 

app. C, July 1, 1986.

 1986b, Methods for organic chemical analysis of 

municipal and industrial wastewater: Federal Register, 

40 CFR 136, app. A, July 1, 1986.

 1986c, Test methods for evaluating solid w?ste, 

physical/chemical methods, SW-846 (3d ed.).

 1991, The RETC code for quantifying the 1 ydraulic 

functions of unsaturated soils: EPA/600/2-91/065, 

December 1991.

 1993, Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, 

Environment, Parts 257 and 258, Subtitle D, J"ly 1, 

1993.

 1994, Summary of EPA finalized national primary 

drinking water regulations: U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, July 1994, 7 p.

 1996, Drinking water regulations and health

advisories: Washington, D.C., U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, Office of Water, 11 p. 

van Genuchten, M., 1980, A closed form equation for

predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsatirated

soils: Soil Science Society of America Journal, v. 44,

p. 892-898. 

Wooding, PA., 1968, Steady infiltration from a shallow

circular pond: Water Resources Research, v. 4,

p. 1,259-1,273.

26
Table 1. Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-1

[Color codes are from the Rock-Color Chart (National Research Council, 1948). See figire 15 for

protocol used in naming unconsolidated sediments. <, less than or equal to; <, less than;

%, percent; ft, feet; mm, millimeters; HC1, hydrochloric acid]

Lithologic description

Sandy silt (caliche); sand very fine to fine grained, pebbles approximately 1% and < 35 mm; sand and 

pebbles subangular to subrounded, well sorted; sand quartz with minor feldspar; grayish orange 

(10 YR7/4); loose to slightly compacted from 4 to 4.5 ft, slightly to moderately compacted from 4.5 to 6 ft, 

strong reaction with HC1; dry; gradational basal contact 

Silly sand with caliche; sand-very fine to fine grained, pebbles < 1% at top to 3% at bottom and < 40 mm, 

well sorted at top to poorly sorted toward bottom; sand quartz with minor feldspar; pebbles quartzite, 

granite; moderately to strongly compacted, caliche abundant as blebs, strong to moderate reaction with 

HC1; slightly moist to dry 

No recovery 

Sand; sand-fine to medium grained, pebbles < 3% and < 40 mm; sand-angular, subangular, and 

subrounded; pebbles subangular, subrounded, and rounded, moderately well sorted; sand quartz with 

minor feldspar; pebbles-sandstone, quartzite, granite; loose, moderate reaction with HC1; slightly moist; 

abrupt basal contact 

Clayey sand; sand-very fine grained, very well sorted; moderate-yellowish-brown (10 YR5/4); 

moderately compacted, caliche minor and present as blebs, no reaction with HQ, blebs have strong 

reaction with HC1; slightly moist; abrupt basal contact 

Silly sand; sand very fine grained, very well sorted; dark yellowish orange (10 YR6/6); 1- to 2-mm 

laminations; moderately to slightly compacted, no reaction with HC1; slightly moist; gradational basal 

contact 

Clayey silly sand with caliche; sand-very fine grained, well sorted; clayey zones-moderate brown 

(5 YR4/4); silty sand-moderate-yellowish-brown (10 YR5/4); clay as blebs; moderately compacted, 

caliche as blebs, no to weak reaction with HC1, caliche has strong reaction with HC1; slightly moist; abrupt 

basal contact 

Sand; sand-very fine to fine grained, pebbles < 1% and < 45 mm from 18.1 to 18.6 ft; sand-subangular, 

pebbles subangular to subrounded, very well to moderately well sorted; sand arkosic with abundant 

quartz; pebbles-quartzite, granite; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose, no reaction with HC1; 

slightly moist; gradational basal contact 

Sandy clay; sand-very fine to fine grained, well sorted; moderate brown (5 YR4/4); moderately to 

strongly compacted, friable, caliche present as blebs, very strong reaction with HQ; slightly moist to 

moist; abrupt basal contact 

Sand; fine to medium grained, grading to medium to very coarse grained toward bottom, pebbles < 0.5% 

to < 3% and < 45 mm from 23.5 to 31 ft; sand angular to subangular, very well sorted from 22.3 to 23.5 

ft, well graded from 23.5 to 31 ft; sand arkosic with abundant quartz; moderate yellowish brown 

(10 YR5/4); loose, no reaction with HQ; moist to very moist 

Dipth interval

below land

SMrface (feet)

Sand; fine grained, very well sorted, angular to subangular; arkosic with abundant quartz; light brown 

(5 YR5/6); loose, slight to moderate reaction with HQ; very slightly moist; abrupt basal contact - 0-2

2-6

6-7.2 

7.2-9

9-10.3

10.3-13

13-15.5

15.5-16.8

16.8-21.4

21.4-22.3

22.3-31

27
Table 2.--Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-2

[Color codes are from the Rock-Color Chart (National Research Council, 1948). See figure 15 fc^

protocol used in naming unconsolidated sediments. <, less than or equal to; <, less than;

%, percent; ft, feet; mm, millimeters; HC1, hydrochloric acid; CaCO3 , calcium carbonate]

Lithologic description

Silty sand (caliche); sand very fine to fine grained, pebbles < 0.5% and < 40 mm; sand angular to 

subangular; pebbles subrounded (fractured by drilling), well sorted; sand arkosic with very abundant 

quartz; pebbles quartzite, granite, andesite(?); dark yellowish orange (10 YR6/6), grayish orange 

(10 YR7/4) where caliche is very abundant; moderately to strongly compacted, friable, caliche abundant 

as nodules and as matrix, strong reaction with HQ; dry; gradational basal contact 

Sand; fine to medium grained with zones of medium to very coarse grains from 8.5 to 10 ft, 10 to 14.3 ft 

is very fine grained, pebbles < 0.5% at 8.5 ft to < 8% at 10 ft, pebbles < 35 mm; sand-angular to 

subangular; pebbles subangular to subrounded; sand well graded from 8.5 to 10 ft, very well sorted 

from 8.5 to 14.3 ft; sand-quartz with minor feldspar; pebbles-quartzite, granite, andesite (?); grayish 

orange (10 YR7/4) to moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose to slightly compacted/cemented 

toward bottom, friable, no reaction with HQ; very slightly to slightly moist; abrupt grain size contact at 

10 ft, abrupt basal contact 

Sandy clay with caliche; sand very fine grained; moderate brown (5 YR4/4) with zones of moderateorange-pink (5 YR8/4) and dusky-yellowish-brown (10 YR2/2) iron stains; moderately to strongly 

compacted, caliche abundant as blebs, weak reaction with HC1, caliche has strong reaction with HQ; 

slightly moist; abrupt basal contact 

Sand; very fine to fine grained, subangular, very well sorted; arkosic with abundant quartz; moderateyellowish-brown (10 YR5/4); loose to slightly compacted, friable, no to weak reaction with HC1; slightly 

moist to moist; gradational basal contact 

Silty sand; sand very fine grained, well sorted; sand arkosic with abundant quartz; moderate 

yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); 1- to 3-mm laminations; moderately cemented with CaCOj, friable, strong 

reaction with HQ; slightly moist; abrupt basal contact 

Sand; very fine to fine grained at top to medium to coarse grained with pebbles 1% and < 47 mm from 

approximately 22 ft down; sand angular to subangular, very well sorted at top to well sorted toward 

bottom; sand quartz with minor feldspar; pebbles quartzite, minor granite, andesite (?); grayish 

orange (10 YR7/4) to moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); 25.5- to 27.5-ft zone has 1 to 2 mm CaCO3 

lens; loose, no reaction with HC1, cemented lens has strong reaction with HQ; moist 

Depth interval

below land

surface (feet)

Silty sand; sand very fine to fine grained, angular to subangular, well sorted; sand arkosic with 

abundant quartz; dark-yellowish-orange (10 YR6/6); loose, strong reaction with HC1; moist (due to 

current rainshowers); abrupt basal contact 0-4.2

4.2-8.5

8.5-14.3

14.3-15.7

15.7-18

18-19.2

19.2-30.4

28
Table 3. Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-3

[Color codes are from the Rock-Color Chart (National Research Council, 1948). See figure 15 for

protocol used in naming unconsolidated sediments. <, less than or equal to; <, less than;

%, percent; ft, feet; mm, millimeters; HC1, hydrochloric acid]

Lithologic description

Depth interval

b^low land

surface (feet)

Silty sand; sand very fine to fine grained, subangular to subrounded, well sorted; sand arkosic with 

abundant quartz; dark-yellowish-orange (10 YR6/6); loose, caliche increasing with depth, weak reaction 

with HQ at top to strong reaction with depth; very slightly moist 

Silty sand (caliche); sand very fine to fine grained, well sorted; sand arkosic with abundant quartz; 

dark yellowish orange (10 YR6/6) at top to moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4) toward bottom; 

caliche very pale orange (10 YR8/2); loose (cuttings), moderately to strongly compacted, caliche 

abundant as blebs, nodules, and matrix, strong reaction with HC1; slightly moist to dry; gradational 

basal contact 

Silty sand; sand very fine to fine grained, subangular to subrounded, well sorted; sand arkosic with 

abundant quartz; 7.6-9.9 ft-light brown (5 YR5/6); 9.9-10.4 ft-light brown (5 YR6/4); 9.9-10.4 ft appears 

to contain part of a clay nodule; weakly compacted, friable, moderate reaction with HC1; slightly moist 

Sand with silt; sand very fine grained, well sorted; sand quartz with minor feldspar and mafics; 

grayish orange (10 YR7/4); loose, weak to no reaction with HQ; slightly moist; abrupt basal contact 

Sand; very fine to medium grained, subangular to subrounded, well graded; quartz with minor feldspar 

and mafics, grayish orange (10 YR7/4) to moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose, no reaction with 

HQ; slightly moist to moist 

Sand; very fine to fine grained, subangular to subrounded, very well sorted; quartz with very minor 

feldspar and mafics; grayish orange (10 YR7/4); loose, no reaction with HC1; slightly moist to moist; 

gradational basal contact 

Silty sand; sand-very fine to very coarse grained, pebbles < 1% and < 25 mm; sand and pebblessubangular to subrounded, poorly sorted; sand-quartz with minor feldspar and mafics; pebblesquartzite, granite, obsidian; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); moderately compacted/cemented, 

strong to moderate reaction with HC1; slightly moist to moist; gradational basal contact 

Sand with pebbles; sand-very fine to very coarse grained, pebbles < 2% at top to < 5% toward bottom, 

< 15% in zones and < 50 mm; sand and pebbles subangular to subrounded; some pebbles rounded, 

well graded, very poorly sorted; sand quartz with minor feldspar and mafics; pebbles quartzite, 

feldspar, basalt, sandstone, andesite(?); pale yellowish brown (10 YR6/2) at top to moderate yellowish 

brown (10 YR5/4) toward bottom; loose, no reaction with HC1; moist 

0-2

2-7.6

7.6-10.4

10.4-11.5

11.5-14

14-19.7

19.7-21.2

21.2-30.4

29
Table 4.~Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-4

[Color codes are from the Rock-Color Chart (National Research Council, 1948). See figure 15 fcr

protocol used in naming unconsolidated sediments. <, less than or equal to; <, less than;

%, percent; ft, feet; mm, millimeters; HC1, hydrochloric acid]

Lithologic description

Silty sand (caliche) grading to sandy silt; silt more abundant than at 0 to 2 ft; sand very fine to fine 

grained, subangular to subrounded; well sorted sand-arkosic with abundant quartz and equal but 

lesser amounts of feldspar and mafics; light brown (5 YR6/4); caliche very pale orange (10 YR8/2), 

moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4) near bottom; loose to powdery, slightly compacted toward 

bottom, caliche abundant as nodules, moderate to strong reaction with HC1; slightly moist; gradational 

basal contact 

Silty sand; sand very fine to fine grained, subangular to subrounded, well sorted; sand arkosic with 

abundant quartz; light brown (5 YR5/6); caliche very pale orange (10 YR8/2); moderately compacted, 

caliche abundant as veins and as blebs in lower 1.3 ft, weak reaction with HC1, caliche has strong 

reaction with HC1; slightly moist; gradational basal contact 

Sand; sand-very fine to fine grained to approximately 25 ft, very fine to very coarse grained from 25 to 

30.4 ft, 20 to 25 ft has 02-ft zone with pebbles < 3% and < 40 mm; sand and pebbles-subangular to 

subrounded, very well sorted to 25 ft, well graded from 25 to 30.4 ft; sand quartz, also minor feldspar 

and mafics from 20 to 30.4 ft; pebbles quartzite; 9.9 ft to approximately 20 ft dark yellowish orange 

(10 YR6/6) to moderate yellowish orange (10 YR5/4); 20-25 ft-pale yellowish brown (10 YR6/2); 

25-30.4 ft grayish orange (10 YR7/4); loose, 11 to 12 ft contains some caliche and has moderate to strong 

reaction with HC1, otherwise no to weak reaction with HC1; slightly moist at top to slightly moist to 

moist toward bottom 

Depth interval

below land

surface (fe?t)

Silty sand; sand very fine to fine grained, subangular to subrounded, well sorted; sand arkosic with 

abundant quartz and equal but lesser amounts of feldspar and mafics; moderate yellowish brown 

(10 YR5/4) to light brown (5 YR5/6); loose, moderate to strong reaction with HC1; slightly moist 

0-2

2-4.8

4.8-9.9

9.9-30.4

30
Table 5.~Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-5

[Color codes are from the Rock-Color Chart (National Research Council, 1948). See figure 15 for

protocol used in naming unconsolidated sediments. <, less than or equal to; <, less than;

%, percent; ft, feet; mm, millimeters; HC1, hydrochloric acid]

Lithologic description

Silty sand (caliche); silt more abundant than in previous interval; sand very fine to fine grained, zone 

of pebbles < 2% and < 12 mm at 10 ft, subangular to subrounded, very well to well sorted; sand quartz 

with minor feldspar; 1.3-4 ft-light brown (5 YR5/6); 4-7 ft-dark yellowish orange (10 YR6/6); 7-10.6 

ft-pale-yellowish-orange (10 YR8/6); caliche-very pale orange (10 YR8/2); 1.3-4 ft-loose (cuttings); 

4-10.6 ft moderately compacted, friable, caliche as blebs and matrix, strong to moderate reaction with 

HC1; slightly moist; gradational basal contact 

Sand; very fine to very coarse grained from 10.6 to 11.5 ft, fine to medium grained toward bottom, 

pebbles < 3% and < 45 mm from 10.6 to 14.1 ft; sand subangular to subrounded; pebbles subrounded 

to rounded, well graded from 10.6 to 11.5 ft, well sorted toward bottom; sand quartz with minor 

feldspar and mafics; pebbles quartz, metagranite, minor amounts of basalt; moderate yellowish brown 

(10 YR5/4); loose, no reaction with HC1; slightly moist from 10.6 to 14.1 ft, moist toward bottom 

No recovery

Sand; fine to medium grained, subangular to subrounded, well sorted; quartz with minor feldspar and 

mafics; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose, no reaction with HC1, moist, moisture increasing 

toward basal contact; abrupt basal contact 

Sandy day; sand very fine to fine grained, pebbles < 5% and < 18 mm, angular to subrounded; sandquartz; pebbles quartz, metagranite, ultramafics; moderate brown (5 YR4/4) to moderate brown 

(5 YR3/4); moderately compacted, no reaction with HC1; moist 

No recovery

Sand with pebbles; sand-very fine to very coarse grained, pebbles < 10% and < 55 mm, very poorly 

sorted; sand quartz with minor feldspar and mafics; pebbles quartz, quartzite, metagranite, and 

metavolcanics; sand-light brown (5 YR5/6) to dark yellowish brown (10 YR4/2); pebbles-variegated 

color; loose, no reaction with HC1; moist 

No recovery

D:pth interval

below land

s-xrface (feet)

Silty sand; sand-very fine to fine grained; subangular to subrounded, very well sorted; sand-arkosic 

with abundant quartz; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4) to light brown (5 YR5/6); loose, moderate 

to strong reaction with HC1; slightly moist 0-1.3

1.3-10.6

10.6 -17.5 

17.5-20

20-22

22-22.5 

22.5-25

25-26.2 

26.2-30

31
Table 6.--Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-6

[Color codes are from the Rock-Color Chart (National Research Council, 1948). See figure 15 for

protocol used in naming unconsolidated sediments. <, less than or equal to; <, less than;

%, percent; ft, feet; mm, millimeters; HC1, hydrochloric acid]

Lithologic description

Silty sand (caliche); silt more abundant than above section; sand very fine to fine grained, sand 

subangular to subrounded, very well to well sorted; sand arkosic with abundant quartz; light brown 

(5 YR6/4) to moderate orange pink (5 YR8/4); caliche-very pale orange (10 YR8/2); loose (cuttings) to 

moderately compacted, friable, caliche as blebs, strong to moderate reaction with HC1; slightly moist; 

abrupt basal contact 

(Caliche) silty sand; sand very fine to fine grained; sand subangular to subrounded, very well to well 

sorted; sand-arkosic with abundant quartz; very pale orange (10 YR8/2) to grayish orange (10 YR7/4); 

moderately compacted, caliche dominant as large blebs, strong reaction with HC1; slightly moist; abrupt 

basal contact 

Silty sand; sand very fine to fine grained, very well sorted; sand quartz with minor feldspar and 

mafics; pale yellowish orange (10 YR8/6) to dark yellowish orange (10 YR6/6); loose, moderate to 

strong reaction with HC1; slightly moist; gradational basal contact 

Qayey sand; sand very fine to fine grained; sand subrounded to rounded, very well sorted; sandquartz with feldspar; grayish orange (10 YR7/4) to light brown (5 YR6/4); moderately compacted, 

friable, moderate reaction with HC1; slightly moist; abrupt basal contact 

Sand; very fine to fine grained, pebbles < 2% and < 40 mm from 14 to 19.5 ft, subangular to subrounded; 

pebbles subrounded to rounded; sand very well sorted; pebbles poorly sorted; sand quartz with 

minor feldspar and mafics, feldspar decreasing toward bottom while mafics increase; pebbles quartzite, 

granite, sandstone; grayish orange (10 YR7/4) to dark yellowish orange (10 YR6/6); loose, weak to no 

reaction with HC1; moist 

Depth interval

below land

surface (feet)

Silty sand; sand-very fine to fine grained with < 2% coarse grains; sand-subangular to subrounded, 

very well sorted; sand arkosic with abundant quartz; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4) to light 

brown (5 YR5/6); loose, moderate to strong reaction with HC1; slightly moist 0-1.5

1.5-5.4

5.4-7.8

7.8-11.3

11.3-11.9

11.9-30

32
Table 7.-Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-7

[Color codes are from the Rock-Color Chart (National Research Council, 1948). See figure 15 for 

protocol used in naming unconsolidated sediments, ft, feet; HC1, hydrochloric acid]

Lithologic description

(Caliche) silly sand; sand-very fine to fine grained, subrounded to subangular, moderately well sorted; 

sand-arkosic with abundant quartz; dark yellowish orange (10 YR6/6), where caliche is abundant-very 

pal orange (10 YR8/2); caliche is dominant in lower 1.9 ft and sand occurs as veins; moderately 

compacted to strongly compacted where caliche is more abundant, caliche as blebs, moderate to strong 

reaction with HC1; slightly moist (recent rain showers) 

Silly sand; sand very fine to fine grained, subangular to subrounded, well sorted; sand quartz with 

minor feldspar; light brown (5 YR5/6); loose to slightly compacted, friable, caliche minor as blebs, 

moderate to strong reaction with HC1; slightly moist; gradational basal contact 

Silly sand (caliche); sand very fine to fine grained, subangular to subrounded, well sorted; sandquartz with minor feldspar; grayish orange (10 YR7/4); caliche-very pale orange (10 YR8/2); 

moderately to strongly compacted, caliche as large and medium blebs, and as matrix, strong reaction 

with HC1; dry; gradational basal contact 

Sand with silt; sand very fine to fine grained, subangular to subrounded, well sorted; sand quartz

with minor feldspar and mafics; pale yellowish orange (10 YR8/6) to dark yellowish orange

(10 YR6/6); moderately compacted, friable, no reaction with HC1; slightly moist; fairly abrupt contact 

Clayey sand; sand very fine to fine grained; sand angular to subangular, moderately well sorted; 

sand-quartz with minor mafics; light brown (5 YR5/6) to moderate brown (5 YR4/4); iron stains dusky 

yellowish brown (10 YR2/2); clay contains iron staining; moderately to strongly compacted, slight 

reaction with HC1; slightly moist 

No recovery

Sand; very fine to very coarse grained, sand becomes fine to medium grained from 25 to 30 ft, 

subrounded to angular, poorly sorted from 15 to 25 ft, well sorted from 25 to 30 ft; quartz with minor 

feldspar and mafics; grayish orange (10 YR7/4) to dark yellowish orange (10 YR6/6); loose, weak to 

moderate reaction with HQ, weak reaction from 25 to 30 ft; slightly moist 

D:pth interval

below land

surface (feet)

Silly sand; sand very fine to fine grained; sand subrounded to subangular, well sorted; sand arkosic 

with abundant quartz; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4) to dark yellowish orange (10 YR6/6); 

loose (mostly cuttings), strong reaction with HC1; slightly moist (recent rain showers); gradational basal 

contact 0-5.3

5.3-7.5

7.5-9.5

9.5-12.3

12.3-13

13-13.4 

13.4-15

15-30

33
Table 8.~Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-8

[Color codes are from the Rock-Color Chart (National Research Council, 1948). See figure 15 for

protocol used in naming unconsolidated sediments. <, less than or equal to; <, less than;

%, percent; ft, feet; mm, millimeters; HC1, hydrochloric acid]

Lithologic description

Silty sand (caliche); sand-very fine to fine grained, pebbles < 1% and < 10 mm toward bottom; sandsubangular, moderately well sorted; sand arkosic with abundant quartz; grayish orange (10 YR7/4); 

caliche very pale orange (10 YR8/2); strongly to moderately compacted, friable, strong reaction with 

Hd;dry 

Sand; very fine to very coarse grained, pebbles approximately 1% and < 43 mm; sand-subangular to 

subrounded, well graded, moderately well sorted coarse to very coarse grains in bottom 1.2 ft; sandquartz with minor feldspar and mafics; pebbles quartzite, granite, andesite(?), magnetite(?), iron 

abundant; pale yellowish brown (10 YR6/2) to moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose, strong 

reaction with HC1; dry; abrupt basal contact 

Silly sand (caliche); sand very fine to fine grained, well sorted; sand quartz with minor feldspar and 

mafics; grayish orange (10 YR7/4), very pale orange (10 YR8/2) where caliche is more abundant; 1- to 3- 

mm lamination zones; moderately to very strongly compacted, loose in zones where less caliche, caliche 

as blebs, veins, and matrix, moderate to strong reaction with HQ; dry where caliche is abundant, 

slightly moist where more sandy; abrupt basal contact 

Sandy clay with caliche; sand-very fine grained; moderate brown (5 YR4/4) to moderate brown 

(5 YR3/4); caliche very pale orange (10 YR8/2); iron stains/organic matter dusky yellowish brown (10 

YR2/2); organic matter abundant (roots); strongly compacted, caliche as blebs, veins, and matrix, friable, 

strong reaction with HC1; dry to slightly moist 

Depth interval

below land

surface (feet)

Silty sand; sand very fine to fine grained, subangular to subrounded, moderately well sorted; sand 

arkosic with abundant quartz; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose, strong reaction with HC1; 

dry; abrupt basal contact 

No core recovery; cuttings-Sand 

No core recovery; cuttings Sand

0-3.4

3.4-7

7-12.7

12.7-15.6

15.6-16.5 

16.5-25 

25-30.4

34
Table 9.~Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-9

[Color codes are from the Rock-Color Chart (National Research Council, 1948). See figure 15 for

protocol used in naming unconsolidated sediments. <, less than or equal to; <, less tHu;

%, percent; ft, feet; mm, millimeters; HC1, hydrochloric acid; CaCO3, calcium carbonate]

Lithologic description

Sandy silt (caliche); sand-very fine grained, minor medium grains, well sorted; sand-arkosic; very 

pale orange (10 YR8/2); loose, powdery, strong reaction with HC1; dry; gradational basal contact 

Silty sand (caliche); sand very fine to fine grained, pebbles < 1% and < 12 mm; sand subangular; 

pebbles subangular to subrounded; sand quartz with minor feldspar and mafics; pebbles quartzite, 

sandstone; grayish orange (10 YR7/4); caliche-very pale orange (10 YR8/2); moderately to strongly 

compacted, friable, caliche abundant as blebs, becoming less abundant toward bottom, strong reaction 

with HC1; dry 

Sand; fine to medium grained, pebbles < 1% and < 25 mm; sand-subangular, pebbles-subrounded to 

rounded, well graded; sand-arkosic with abundant quartz; pebbles-sandstone, quartzite; moderate 

yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose, no reaction with HC1; slightly moist; abrupt basal contact 

Sandy clay; sand-very fine to fine grained; sand-subangular; sand-arkosic; moderate brown 

(5 YR4/4); caliche blebs-grayish orange (10 YR7/4); iron stains-dusky yellowish brown (10 YR2/2); 

moderately to strongly compacted, friable, caliche as blebs; clay no to weak reaction with HQ; calichestrong reaction with HQ; slightly moist 

No recovery 

Sand; very fine to fine grained, angular to subangular, very well sorted; quartz with minor feldspar and 

mafics; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); iron stains-dusky yellowish brown (10 YR2/2); loose, no 

to weak reaction with HC1; slightly moist to moist; gradational basal contact 

Clayey sand; sand approximately 85% and very fine to medium grained, subangular, well graded; 

sand quartz with minor feldspar and mafics; light brown (5 YR5/6); moderately compacted/cemented, 

CaCOs cement, friable, CaCO$ as blebs and cement, moderate to strong reaction with HQ, slightly 

moist; abrupt basal contact 

Sand; very fine to very coarse grained, angular, subangular, and subrounded, well graded; quartz with 

minor feldspar and mafics; pale yellowish brown (10 YR6/2) to moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); 

loose, moderate reaction with HQ, strong reaction from 29 to 30.4 ft; slightly moist, slightly moist to 

moist from 29 to 30.4 ft 

Deoth interval

b-»low land

surface (feet)

Silty sand; sand-very fine to fine grained; sand-subangular, well sorted; sand-arkosic; light brown 

(5 YR5/6); loose, moderate reaction with HQ; slightly moist (from overnight rain showers); abrupt basal 

contact 0-2.5

2.5-4.4

4.4-9

9-12.4

12.4-12.8 

12.8-14.6

14.6-17.3

17.3-17.9

17.9-30.4

35
Table 10.~Lithology penetrated by borehole GMP-10

[Color codes are from the Rock-Color Chart (National Research Council, 1948). See figure 15 for

protocol used in naming unconsolidated sediments. <, less than; %, percent; ft, feet;

mm, millimeters; HC1, hydrochloric acid]

Lithologic description

Silty sand (caliche); sand very fine to fine grained, angular to subangular, minor subrounded, well 

sorted; sand arkosic with abundant quartz; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); moderately to 

strongly compacted toward bottom, caliche abundant as nodules, blebs, and matrix, strong reaction with 

HC1; dry; gradational basal contact 

Silty sand; sand very fine to fine grained in upper 1.6 ft with approximately 5% medium grains; lower 

1J5 ft-fine to medium grained, angular to subangular; sand-quartz with minor feldspar; upper 1.6 ftlight brown (5 YR5/6); lower 1.5 ft-moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose; upper 1.6 ft-strong 

reaction with HC1; lower 1.5 ft-no reaction with HC1; slightly moist 

No recovery 

Sand; fine to medium grained, angular to subangular, well sorted; quartz with minor feldspar and 

mafics; pale yellowish brown (10 YR6/2) to moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose, no reaction 

with HC1; slightly moist; abrupt basal contact 

Sandy day; sand approximately 40% and very fine grained, well sorted; moderate brown (5 YR4/4), 

dusky-yellowish-brown (10 YR2/2) iron stains; strongly compacted, friable, no reaction with HC1; 

slightly moist; abrupt basal contact 

Sand; very fine to fine grained, angular to subangular, well sorted; quartz with minor feldspar and 

mafics; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose, no reaction with HC1; slightly moist; abrupt basal 

contact 

Clayey sand with caliche; sand-very fine to fine grained, well sorted; moderate brown (5 YR4/4) where 

clayey to dark yellowish orange (10 YR6/6) where caliche abundant; 1- to 4-mm laminations at bottom 

of interval; moderately to strongly compacted, caliche as blebs and as matrix toward bottom; weak 

reaction with HC1 where clayey (day decreases toward bottom), strong reaction where caliche is 

abundant; slightly moist 

Sand; very fine to fine grained, grading to fine to medium grained below 22.5 ft, 0.4-ft pebbles zone 

between 22.5 and 24.2 ft with pebbles 20% and 11 to 49 mm, pebbles < 1% and 10 to 63 mm from 27.5 to 

30.4 ft; sand-angular to subangular; pebbles-subrounded to rounded, very well to well sorted; pebbles 

zone moderately sorted; sand-quartz with minor feldspar and mafics; pebbles-quartzite, granite; 

moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4) to pale yellowish brown (10 YR6/2); loose, no reaction with HC1; 

slightly moist to moist from 18.6 to 21.5 ft, moist from 21.5 to 30.4 ft 

Depth interval

below land

surface (feet)

Silty sand; sand-very fine to fine grained, angular to subangular, minor subrounded, well sorted; 

sand arkosic with abundant quartz; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose, strong reaction with 

HC1; moist (due to rain showers) 0-4.3

4.3-8

8-11.1 

11.1-12.5

12.5-14

14-14.7

14.7-15.5

15.5-18.6

18.6-30.4

36
Table 11. Lithology penetrated by borehole BH-3

[Color codes are from the Rock-Color Chart (National Research Council, 1948). See figure 15 for

protocol used in naming unconsolidated sediments. <, less than or equal to; <, less than;

%, percent; ft, feet; mm, millimeters; HC1, hydrochloric acid; CaCO3, calcium carbonate;

SiO2, silica]

Lithologic description

Silty sand and caliche; sand-very fine to fine grained, subangular to subrounded, very well sorted; 

sand quartz, minor feldspar, and mafics; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4), moderately to strongly 

cemented, CaCO$ cement, caliche abundant as matrix and blebs, strong reaction with HC1; slightly 

moist; abrupt basal contact 

Clay and caliche with sand; sand < 15% and very fine to fine grained, very minor medium grains, well 

sorted; sand quartz; clay moderate brown (5 YR4/4) to moderate brown (5 YR3/4); caliche pinkish 

gray (5 YR8/1); moderately to strongly compacted, caliche as matrix, blebs, and nodules, clay has weak 

reaction with HO, caliche, and some matrix has strong reaction; slightly moist-dried out quickly; 

organic material (roots) abundant; abrupt basal contact 

Sand; very fine to fine grained, <3% medium grains, pebbles < 1% and < 38 mm, 0.4-ft zone near 18.4 ft 

has very fine to very coarse grains with < 10% pebbles, < 38 mm; sand subangular to subrounded; 

pebbles-subrounded, well sorted, 0.4-ft zone is well graded; sand-quartz, very minor feldspar and 

mafics; pebbles-quartzite; pale yellowish brown (10 YR6/2); loose; no reaction with HC1; slightly moist

No recovery

Sand; very fine to very coarse grained, pebbles < 1% and < 23 mm, 0.5-ft zone with pebbles 

approximately 10% near 32.5 ft, one 70-mm cobble near top of section; sand-subangular to subrounded, 

well graded; sand-quartz, minor mafics; pebbles-quartzite, basaltf?); cobble-conglomerate; loose, no 

reaction with HC1; moist 

Sand; medium to very coarse grained, pebbles < 2% and < 10 mm, subangular to subrounded, well 

sorted; quartz, moderate feldspar, and mafics; pale yellowish brown (10 YR6/2); loose to slightly 

compacted; no reaction with HC1; moist; abrupt basal contact 

Sand; very fine to fine grained, subangular to subrounded, very well sorted; quartz, minor feldspar, and 

mafics; loose to slightly compacted, no reaction with HC1; moist; gradational basal contact 

Depth interval

below land

surface (feet)

Silty sand; sand-very fine to fine grained, approximately 5% medium grains in upper 3 ft; sand 

subangular to subrounded, very well sorted; sand-quartz, minor mafics, and feldspar; moderate 

yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose to slightly compacted, caliche present in minor zones as matrix and 

blebs from 3 to 8 ft, moderately cemented in caliche zones, moderate reaction with HC1, strong reaction 

in caliche zones; slightly moist 0-12.3

12.3-143

14.3-16.1

16.1-20 

20-23

23-38

38-39

39-40.3

37
Table 1 l.-Lithology penetrated by borehole BH-3~Concluded

Depth interval

below land 

Lithologic description surface (fee*:)

Sand with pebbles; sand very fine to very coarse grained, pebbles < 8% and < 30 mm, subangular to

subrounded, well graded; sand-quartz, minor feldspar, and mafics; pebbles-quartzite, andesite(?); pale

yellowish brown (10 YR6/2); one approximately 55-mm decomposingC?) pebble, CaCO3 cemented

conglomerate, strong reaction with HC1 at about 45 ft; loose to slightly compacted, zones of weakly

cemented sand from 41 to 48 ft, SiO2(?) cement, no reaction with HC1; moist 40.3-48

Sand; fine grained, subangular to subrounded, very well sorted; quartz with minor feldspar and mafics;

pale yellowish brown (10 YR6/2); loose; no reaction with HC1; moist 48-52

Sand; very fine to very coarse grained, pebbles < 3% and < 15 mm, some clay present as blebs, sand 52-53.4 

subangular to subrounded; pebbles subrounded, well graded; sand quartz with minor feldspar and 

mafics; pebbles-quartzite; sand-pale yellowish brown (10 YR6/2); day-moderate yellowish brown (10 

YR5/4); loose to slightly compacted, slight to moderate reaction with HC1; moist 

Sand; very fine to fine grained, some clay present as blebs; sand-subangular to subrounded, well 53.4-56 

sorted; sand quartz with minor feldspar and mafics; sand pale yellowish brown (10 YR6/2); daymoderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose to slightly compacted, no reaction with HC1; moist 

38
Table 12.-Lithology penetrated by borehole MSWLF03

[Color codes are from the Rock-Color Chart (National Research Council, 1948). See figure 15 for

protocol used in naming unconsolidated sediments. <, less than or equal to; <, less than;

%, percent; ft, feet; mm, millimeters; HC1, hydrochloric acid; CaCO3 , calcium carbonate]

Lithologic description

E-'tJth interval

below land

surface (feet)

For description of 0-56 ft see table 11.

No recovery (few lumps of clay with abundant black organic matter left in barrel from 49- to 59-ft 

drilling interval) 

day; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); very slick, shinny organic matter visible but not very 

abundant; very strongly compacted, caliche present as nodules, no to weak reaction with HC1, nodules 

have strong reaction with HC1; moist 

No recovery 

day; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); pebbles below clay; moderately compacted, no to weak 

reaction with HQ; moist 

Sand and pebbles; only pebbles recovered, pebbles < 40 mm, subrounded to rounded; pebblesquartzite, andesite, and granite 

Clayey silty sand; sand-very fine to fine grained, subangular, very well sorted; sand-quartz with 

minor feldspar and marks; clay moderate brown (5 YR4/4); sand moderate yellowish brown 

(10 YR5/4); clay present as matrix, lenses, and blebs, grayish-black (N2) organic matter as veins and 

blebs abundant in clay; moderately to strongly compacted, sand has weak to moderate reaction with 

HQ, clay has no reaction; moist 

No recovery 

Silty sand with day; sand very fine grained, very well sorted; sand quartz; pale yellowish brown 

(10 YR6/2) to moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4) where clayey; clay minor and in zones as lenses 

with grayish-black (N2) organic matter as blebs between laminated clay lenses; loosely compacted, 

moderately compacted in the presence of clay, caliche present as matrix and minor as veins broken in the 

presence of clay, moderate to strong reaction with HC1; moist 

Sand; upper approximately 4 ft-very fine to fine grained with silt; lower approximately 1.4 ft-fine to 

medium grained with approximately 3% medium to very coarse grains and < 0.5% pebbles < 35 mm; 

sand subangular to subrounded; pebbles subrounded to rounded; upper approximately 4 ft very well 

sorted; lower approximately 1.4 ft-moderately well sorted to moderately well graded; sand-quartz, 

feldspar, and minor mafics; upper approximately 4 ft-moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); lower 

approximately 1 ft-pale yellowish brown (10 YR6/2); upper 4 ft-moderately compacted, no reaction 

with HC1; lower 1.4 ft-slightiy compacted/weakly cemented(?), moderately cemented when dried out, 

CaCO3 cement, weak to moderate reaction with HC1 when wet, strong reaction when dried out; upper 4 

ft moist; lower 1 ft very moist to wet 

No recovery 

0-56 

56-66

66-67.2 

67.2-69

69-70

70-72

72-79.4 

79.4-91.4

91.4-92

92-97.4 

97.4-102

39
Table 12.--Lithology penetrated by borehole MSWLF03--Continued

Lithologic description

No recovery (driller reported 102- to 108-ft interval as approximately 4 ft sand, then approximately 1.5 ft 

clay(?) and 0.5 ft(?) sand) 

Silty sand; sand very fine to fine grained; sand subangular, very well sorted; sand quartz, minor 

marks toward bottom; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); minor clay stringers-moderate brown (5 

YR4/4), pale yellowish brown (10 YR6/2) and moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4) toward bottom; 

slightly compacted, friable in lower 0.4 ft, no reaction with HC1,3-inch CaCO3 cemented sand lens at 118 

ft is very strongly cemented and has strong reaction with HC1; moist 

Sandstone; CaCO$ cemented sand lens; very strongly cemented, strong reaction with HC1 

No recovery (driller reported soft drilling from 123 to 133 ft, probably sand, pebbles at top of 133- to 

136.6-ft interval < 38 mm; subrounded to rounded; andesite, cross-bedded fine-grained sandstone) 

Silty sand; sand very fine grained, well sorted; sand quartz; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4) 

with pale-brown (5 YR5/2) clay zones at top to dark yellowish orange (10 YR6/6) at middle to moderate 

yellowish brown (10 YR5/4) toward bottom; moderately to strongly compacted, stronger where clay is 

present, caliche as matrix, nodules, and blebs in clay zones have strong reaction with HC1, otherwise no 

reaction with HC1; moist 

No recovery 

Silty clay; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); organic matter-grayish black (N2); caliche very pale 

orange (10 YR8/2); clay laminated around caliche nodules; very strongly compacted caliche present as 

nodules < 30 mm, day has no reaction with HC1, nodules have strong reaction; moist; gradational basal 

contact 

Sand with silt; sand-very fine to fine grained, very well sorted; sand-quartz with minor mafics, 

moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); slightly compacted, moderate reaction with HC1; moist; 

gradational basal contact 

Clayey sand; sand very fine grained, well sorted; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); moderately to 

strongly compacted, weak reaction with HC1; moist; gradational basal contact 

Clay; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); organic veins grayish black (N2); 1- to 2-mm laminations, 

shiny clay; strongly compacted, caliche present as stringers; clay weak reaction with HC1; calichestrong reaction; moist; gradational basal contact 

Depth interval

below land

surface (feet)

Silty sand with clay; sand very fine to fine grained; sand subangular, well sorted sand; sand quartz 

with minor feldspar and mafics; sand moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); clay moderate brown 

(5 YR4/4); clay present mostly as lenses blebs, pebbles at bottom of recovery < 35 mm, subrounded to 

rounded, quartzite, andesite, dacite(?); moderately compacted, moderate reaction with HC1, grayish 

black (N2) organic matter present in some day zones; moist 102-102.4

102.4-108

108-118.4 

118.4-118.6

118.6-133

133-136.6 

136.6-143

143-143.4

143.4-143.7

143.7-144.2

144.2-144.9

40
Table 12,-Lithology penetrated by borehole MSWLFOS-Continued

Lithologic description

Sandy silty day; sand very fine grained; moderate brown (5 YR4/4); strongly compacted/cemented, 

caliche as matrix and nodules < 30 mm, weak to strong reaction with HC1 (nodules have strong 

reaction); moist; gradational basal contact 

Silty sand; sand very fine to fine grained, well sorted; sand quartz with minor mafics; dark yellowish 

orange (10 YR6/6) to moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); moderately compacted/cemented, CaCO$ 

cement, friable when dry; moist 

No recovery (driller reported sand and gravel for interval) 

Clayey silty sand; sand very fine grained, well sorted; dark yellowish orange (10 YR6/6) to moderate 

yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); strongly compacted caliche present as matrix and as nodules, moderate to 

strong reaction with HC1; moist; gradational basal contact 

Silty clay; moderate brown (5 YR4/4) with grayish-black (N2) organic blebs and stringers; some 

laminations, shiny in zones; moderately to strongly compacted, no to weak reaction with HC1, moist; 

abrupt basal contact 

Sandstone (lens); sand medium grained, subangular, well sorted; quartz with minor mafics and 

feldspar; pale yellowish brown (10 YR6/2); very strongly cemented, CaCC>3 cement, strong reaction with 

HO; moist 

Clayey silty sand; sand very fine grained, well sorted; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); 

moderately compacted/cemented, CaCC>3 cement, somewhat friable when dry, moderate reaction with 

HC1; moist; gradational basal contact 

Clay; very fine grained sand stringers; moderate brown (5 YR4/4) with grayish-black (N2) organic blebs 

and stringers; day is shiny in zones and somewhat laminated; strongly compacted, caliche present as 

nodules < 10 mm, clay has no reaction with HC1, caliche has strong reaction; moist; abrupt basal contact

Silty sand; sand very fine grained, very well sorted; sand quartz with minor feldspar; moderate 

yellowish brown (10 YR5/4) with zones of light-brown (5 YR5/6) stains(?); no reaction with HC1, 

slightly compacted; moist, gradational basal contact 

Silty day; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4) with stringers of light-brown (5 YR5/6) stains; 

moderately compacted, CaCC>3 present as matrix, moderate reaction with HC1,1-mm white (N9) veins 

have no reaction with HC1; moist abrupt basal contact 

Silty sand; sand very fine grained, very well sorted; sand quartz; moderate yellowish brown 

(10 YR5/4) to dark yellowish orange (10 YR6/6); slightly compacted/cemented, soft and somewhat 

friable, CaCC>3 cement, weak to moderate reaction with HC1; moist; gradational basal contact 

Drpth interval

below land

surface (feet)

Clayey silty sand; sand very fine grained, very well sorted; sand quartz with minor feldspar and 

mafics; dark yellowish orange (10 YR6/6) to moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); strongly 

compacted, no reaction with HC1; moist; gradational basal contact 144.9-145.7

145.7-147.5

147.5-151.2 

151.2-160.5

160.5-161.5

161.5-162.3

162.3-162.7

162.7-164.3

164.3-165.1

165.1-166.3

166.3-166.7

166.7-167.3

41
Table 12.-Lithology penetrated by borehole MSWLF03-Continued

Lithologic description

Silty sand with day zones; sand-very fine to fine grained, subangular, moderately well sorted; sandquartz with minor feldspar and mafics; sand moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); day moderate 

brown (5 YR3/4); day as 20-mm lens with 3-mm white (N9) vein; weakly to moderately compacted; 

somewhat friable, minor CaCOs cementing, day has no reaction with HC1 and is strongly compacted, 

sand has no, weak, and moderate reaction with HC1; moist 

Silty sand; sand very fine to fine grained, subangular, well sorted; sand quartz, minor feldspar, and 

mafics; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); moderately compacted/cemented, somewhat friable 

when dried out, CaCOs cement, moderate reaction with HC1; moist; abrupt basal contact 

Sand; very fine to medium grained with <3% coarse to very coarse grains, pebbles < 1% and < 5 mm; 

sand subangular, some subrounded; pebbles subrounded to rounded, well graded; sand quartz with 

minor feldspar and mafics; slightly compacted, no to weak reaction with HC1; moist to very moist in 

bottom 0.5 ft; abrupt basal contact 

Qay with sand; sand present as stringers, stringers silty, very fine grained sand and very fine to finegrained sand, well sorted; sand quartz; day moderate brown (5 YR4/4); moderately to strongly 

compacted, caliche present as matrix and nodules < 15 mm, day has no to weak reaction with HC1, 

stringers have moderate to strong reaction, caliche nodules have strong reaction; moist; abrupt basal 

contact 

Silty sand; sand very fine grained, very well sorted; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); moderately 

compacted, moderate reaction with HC1; moist; abrupt basal contact 

Silty day; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); zones of lamination; moderately compacted, no to 

weak reaction with HC1; moist 

No recovery 

Silty day; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); zones of lamination, grayish-black (N2) organic 

matter as blebs and veins; moderately compacted, no to weak reaction with HC1; moist; gradational 

basal contact 

Silty sand; very fine grained, well sorted; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); moderately 

compacted/cemented, moderate to strong reaction with HC1, friable when dry, moist; gradational basal 

contact 

Silty day; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4) to moderate brown (5 YR4/4); moderately to strongly 

compacted, no reaction with HC1; moist 

Depth interval

below land

surface (fe?t)

Qay; moderate brown (5 YR4/4); shiny in zones, somewhat laminated; strongly compacted, caliche 

present as nodules, clay has no reaction with HC1, nodules have strong reaction; moist; abrupt basal 

contact 167.3-167.5

167.5-16F

168-172.9

172.9-178.5

178.5-179.1 

179.1-179.8

179.8-180.6 

180.6-187

187-187.7

187.7-188.7 

188.7-190

42
Table 12.--Lithology penetrated by borehole MSWLFOS-Continued

Lithologic description

D?pth interval

below land

surface (feet)

Silty sand; sand very fine to fine grained, < 1% coarse to very coarse grains, subangular to subrounded,

well sorted; sand quartz with minor feldspar an mafics; light brown (5 YR5/6) to moderate brown

(5 YR4/4); loose, no reaction with HC1; very moist; gradational basal contact 

Sand; very fine to medium grained, more medium grained toward bottom of interval, subangular to 

subrounded, moderately graded/moderately sorted; quartz, minor feldspar, and mafics; loose, no 

reaction with HC1; wet, very wet at approximately 195 ft 

No recovery (probably wet sand) 

Sand; medium to very coarse grained, pebbles < 1% and < 10 mm, subangular to subrounded; pebblesrounded, moderately sorted/graded; quartz with minor feldspar and mafics; pale yellowish brown 

(10 YR6/2) to moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose, no reaction with HC1; wet to very wet; 

abrupt basal contact -- -

day nodule; moderate brown (5 YR4/4); organic material-grayish black (N2); organic matter as blebs, 

clay shiny; moderately compacted, friable when dry, no reaction with HC1; moist; abrupt basal contact

Sand; fine to medium grained, subangular to subrounded, moderately sorted/graded; pale reddish 

brown (10 YR6/2) to moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose, no reaction with HC1; very wet/wet; 

abrupt basal contact 

day; lens, laminated, organic matter abundant; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); organic 

matter grayish black (N2); strongly compacted, caliche as matrix, moderate reaction with HC1, moist; 

abrupt basal contact 

Sand; medium grained, < 2% very coarse grains, subangular to subrounded, well sorted; quartz with 

minor feldspar and mafics; loose, no to weak reaction with HQ; very wet to wet -- 

No recovery 

Sand; medium grained, < 2% very coarse grains, subangular to subrounded, well sorted; quartz with 

minor feldspar and mafics; loose, some CaCO^ cementing at bottom, no to weak reaction with HC1, 

bottom has strong reaction with HC1; very wet to wet 

Silty clay; moderate brown (5 YR4/4); moderately compacted, friable when dry, moderate reaction with 

HQ; moist; abrupt basal contact 

Silty sand; sand fine grained, very well sorted; sand quartz with minor feldspar and mafics; light 

brown (5 YR5/6) to moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); weakly compacted, no reaction with HC1; 

moist 

No recovery 

Silty sand with clay; sand very fine grained, sand is well sorted; sand quartz with minor feldspar and 

mafics; moderate brown (5 YR4/4) to light brown (5 YR5/6); moderately compacted, no reaction with 

HC1; moist; abrupt basal contact 

190-191.2

191.2-200 

200-205.8

205.8-206.7 

206.7-206.9

706.9-208.6

208.6-208.8

208.8-210.5 

210.5-218.8

218.8-219.8 

219.8-220.8

220.8-222.5 

222.5-226

226-228.9

43
Table 12.--Lithology penetrated by borehole MSWLF03--Continued

Lithologic description

Depth interval 

below land 

surface (feet)

Sand; fine grained, subangular to subrounded, very well sorted; quartz with minor feldspar and mafics; 

pale yellowish brown (10 YR6/2) to moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose, no reaction with HC1; 

wet 

No recovery

Silty sandy clay; sand very fine grained, sand is well sorted; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4) to 

moderate brown (5 YR4/4); caliche present as matrix and nodules < 30 mm, strongly compacted, some 

cementing, moderate to strong reaction with HC1; moist; abrupt basal contact 

Sand; fine grained, subangular to subrounded, very well sorted; quartz with minor feldspar and mafics; 

pale yellowish brown (10 YR6/2) to moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); iron stringers < 10 mm thick 

at top and bottom of section (strong magnetic reaction); weakly compacted, no reaction with HC1; very 

moist; abrupt basal contact 

Silty sandy clay; sand-very fine grained; sand-well sorted; moderate brown (5 YR4/4) to moderate 

yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); moderately to strongly compacted moist 

No recovery 

day; moderate brown (5 YR4/4); very tight, shiny and compacted, very minor zones of caliche nodules 

< 10 mm and minor organics as blebs, clay has no reaction with HC1; moist 

No recovery 

Sand with silt; sand fine to very fine grained, subangular, well sorted; sand quartz with minor 

feldspar and mafics; moderate brown (5 YR4/4); loose, no reaction with HC1; moist 

No recovery 

Sand; fine to very fine grained, pebbles < 3% and < 35mm; pebbles subrounded, sand coarser toward 

bottom of interval, subangular, well sorted; sand quartz with minor feldspar and mafics; pebbles 

quartzite, granite; moderate brown (5 YR4/4); silty day laminations 3 to 15 mm thick scattered 

throughout section; loose, no reaction with HC1, moist 

Clayey sand; very fine grained, angular, well sorted; quartz with minor feldspar and mafics; light brown 

(5 YR5/6); compacted, no reaction with HQ; moist; abrupt basal contact 

Silty clay; moderate brown (5 YR4/4); compacted, moderate reaction with HC1; dry; abrupt basal 

contact 

Silty sand; subangular to subrounded, well sorted; quartz with minor feldspar and mafics; moderate 

yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose, no reaction with HC1; wet; abrupt basal contact 

No recovery (driller reported mostly sand and some clay) 

228.9-237.3 

237.3-242.5

242.5-243.2

day with silt; moderate brown (5 YR4/4); strongly compacted, weak reaction with HC1; moist; 

gradational basal contact 

243.2-244.1

244.1-246 5 

246.5-255.4

255.4-260 

260-280

280-286.2 

286.2-290

290-294.7 

294.7-295,7 

295.7-297.2

297.2-299.8 

299.8-309.7

309.7-310

44
Table 12. Lithology penetrated by borehole MSWLF03 Concluded

Lithologic description

Sand; very fine to fine grained, subangular to subrounded, well sorted; quartz with mafics and minor 

feldspar; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); weakly compacted to loose, no reaction with HCI; very 

moist/wet 

No recovery 

Silty sandy clay; sand very fine grained; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4) to moderate brown 

(5 YR4/4); strongly compacted, caliche as matrix and blebs, clay has no to weak reaction with HCI, 

moderate to strong reaction where sandy and silty; moist; gradational basal contact 

Silty sand with day; sand-very fine grained, well sorted, moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4), 

moderate brown (5 YR4/4) where more clayey; moderately to strongly compacted, caliche present as 

matrix and nodules in upper 4.2 ft, no to weak reaction with HCI, caliche zones (minor) have moderate 

to strong reaction with HCI; moist in upper 4.2 ft to slightly moist to moist toward bottom; gradational 

basal contact 

Silty day; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4) to moderate brown (5 YR7/4); caliche minor as blebs 

and stringers; clay has no reaction with HCI, caliche has moderate to strong reaction with HCI; slightly 

moist 

Silty sand; sand very fine grained; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); weakly to moderately compacted, two strongly cemented CaCOs sand zones near base, CaCO$ present as matrix and nodules in 

zones, no to weak reaction with HCI, strong reaction where caliche; moist 

Sand; very fine to fine grained with zones of medium grains < 1% pebbles, subrounded, well sorted; 

quartz with minor mafics and feldspar; moderate yellowish brown (10 YR5/4); loose, no reaction with 

HCI; wet 

No recovery (hole reamed to a total depth of 355 feet) 

Depth interval

l x ?low land

surface (feet)

Silty sand; sand very fine to fine grained, well sorted; quartz with minor mafics; moderate yellowish 

brown (10 YR5/4); moderately compacted clay laminations 2 mm to 6 mm thick, moderate reaction with 

HCI; moist to very moist 310-310.4

310.4-316.7 

H6.7-321.2

c2l.2-321.7

c2l.7-329.6

329.6-331

331-333.5

333.5-351 

351-355

45
Table 13.-Analytical results of soil-gas and ambient-air samples collected at the Municipal Solid Waste 

U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, December 1994

[See figure 3 for sampling locations. H2O, water; Hg, mercury; F, Fahrenheit; %, percent; LEL, lower-explosiv

CC>2, carbon dioxide; C>2, oxygen; N/A, not applicable]

Site 

number

GMP-1

GMP-2

GMP-3

GMP-4

GMP-5

GMP-6

GMP-7

GMP-8

GMP-9

GMP-1 0

GAA1

GAA2

GAA3

GAA4

Date

06DEC94

06DEC94

06DEC94

06DEC94

06DEC94

06DEC94

06DEC94

06DEC94

06DEC94

06DEC94

06DEC94

06DEC94

06DEC94

06DEC94

Time

1045

1330

1450

1520

1405

1555

1625

1655

1220

1130

1252

1257

1258

1259

Probe 

pressure 

(inches H2O)

26.2

26.1

26.1

26.0

26.1

26.0

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.2

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Barometric 

pressure 

(inches Hg)

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.0

26.1

26.0

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

Air 

temperature 

(degrees F)

60

63

68

64

67

65

63

62

64

63

64

64

64

64

Gas 

temperature 

(degrees F)

60

63

70

66

69

68

66

65

66

63

64

64

64

64

Methane 

(%by 

volume)

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.9

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Methane 

(% LEL)

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

18

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

METEOROLOGICAL DATA:

Cumulative precipitation, in inches, 3 months prior to this initial sampling event: 2.54 Location of precipitation measurement site: El P

Date of last measurement: Q6SEPT94 Date of current measurement: 06DEC94 Number of cumulative days for cumulat

COMMENTS: LANDTEC GA-90 meter (serial number GA1.1 975) calibrated on 06DEC94 at 1000. Although carefully calibrated, mete

manv fe«l ww from w^js. «/qs steb!« at 20.3% for «*!! sit^_____________________________
Table 14.~Analytical results of soil-gas and ambient-air samples collected at the Municipal Solid Wast

U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, March 1995

[See figure 3 for sampling locations. H2O, water; Hg, mercury; F, Fahrenheit; %, percent; LEL, lower-explosi

CO2, carbon dioxide; O2, oxygen; N/A, not applicable]

Site 

number

GMP-1

GMP-2

GMP-3

GMP-4

GMP-5

GMP-6

GMP-7

GMP-8

GMP-9

GMP-1 0

GAA1

GAA2

GAA3

GAA4

Date

08MAR95

08MAR95

08MAR95

08MAR95

08MAR95

08MAR95

08MAR95

08MAR95

08MAR95

08MAR95

08MAR95

08MAR95

08MAR95

08MAR95

Time

0856

0935

1018

1110

1146

1227

1304

1336

1424

1506

1520

1523

1522

1521

Probe 

pressure 

(inches H2O)

26.4

26.4

26.4

26.3

26.3

26.3

26.3

26.3

26.3

26.3

26.3

26.3

26.3

26.3

Barometric 

pressure 

(inches Hg)

26.3

26.4

26.4

26.5

26.3

26.3

26.3

26.3

26.3

26.3

26.3

26.3

26.3

26.3

Air 

temperature 

(degrees F)

42

55

53

56

67

60

69

62

71

66

67

67

66

66

Gas 

temperature 

(degrees F)

56

60

59

60

66

63

68

63

72

65

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Methane 

(%by 

volume)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2.4

0

0

0

0

Methane 

(% LEL)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

48

0

0

0

0

Location of precipitation measurement 

of cumulative day

METEOROLOGICAL DATA:

Cumulative precipitation in inches since last sampling event:_215______

Date of last measurement: 06DEC94_ Date of current measurement: 08MAR95_

COMMENTS: LANDTEC GA-90 meter (serial number GA1.1 975) calibrated on 08MAR95 at 0800. Note: meter reading of % Q2 in bac

immediately after calibration. This slight discrepancy from the the accepted value of 20.9% is characteristic of the meter._______

Sunlight appeared to have an effect on gas temperature.________________________________________
Table 15. Analytical results of soil-gas and ambient-air samples collected at the Municipal Solid Waste 

U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, June 1995

[See figure 3 for sampling locations. H2O, water; Hg, mercury; F, Fahrenheit; %, percent; LEL, lower-explosiv

CO2, carbon dioxide; O2, oxygen; N/A, not applicable]

Site 

number

GMP-1

GMP-2

GMP-3

GMP-4

GMP-5

GMP-6

GMP-7

GMP-8

GMP-9

GMP-1 0

GAA1

GAA2

GAA3

GAA4

Date

15JUNE95

15JUNE95

15JUNE95

15JUNE95

15JUNE95

15JUNE95

15JUNE95

15JUNE95

15JUNE95

15JUNE95

15JUNE95

15JUNE95

15JUNE95

15JUNE95

Time

1046

1116

1130

1142

1153

1202

1213

1223

1234

1253

1101

1102

1103

1104

Probe 

pressure 

(inches H2O)

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Cumulative precipitation, in inches, since last sampling event: 

Date of last measurement: 08MAR95 Date of current r

Barometric 

pressure 

(inches Hg)

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

26.0

0.39

neasurement:

Air

temperature 

(degrees F)

98

101

101

98

100

97

96

101

95

101

98

98

98

98

Gas

temperature 

(degrees F)

95

100

98

98

100

98

101

96

96

105

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Methane 

(%by 

volume)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1.4

0

0

0

0

Location of precipitation measurement site: 

1 5JUNE95 Number of cumulative davi

Methane 

(% LEL)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

28

0

0

0

0

El Paso Internat

s for cumulative 

COMMENTS: LANDTEC GA-90 meter (serial number GA1.1 975^ calibrated on 15JUNE95 at 1015. Note: meter reading of % Q; in back

immediately after calibration. This slight discrepancy from the accepted value of 20.9% is characteristic of the meter. Sunlight appeared 

temrjeratuie,_________________________________________________________
Table 16. Analytical results of soil-gas and ambient-air samples collected at the Municipal Solid Wast

U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, September 199

[See figure 3 for sampling locations. H2O, water; Hg, mercury; F, Fahrenheit; %, percent; LEL, lower-explosi

CC>2, carbon dioxide; O2, oxygen; N/A, not applicable]

Site 

number

GMP-1

GMP-2

GMP-3

GMP-4

GMP-5

GMP-6

GMP-7

GMP-8

GMP-9

GMP-10

GAA1

GAA2

GAA3

GAA4

Date

21SEPT95

21SEPT95

21SEPT95

21SEPT95

21SEPT95

21SEPT95

21SEPT95

21SEPT95

21SEPT95

21SEPT95

21SEPT95

21SEPT95

21SEPT95

21SEPT95

Time

1320

1333

1350

1403

1415

1430

1444

1455

1502

1512

1525

1526

1527

1528

Probe 

pressure 

(inches H2O)

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Barometric 

pressure 

(inches Hg)

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

26.1

Air 

temperature 

(degrees F)

87

86

87

86

90

91

88

90

87

86

86

86

86

86

Gas 

temperature 

(degrees F)

89

92

85

89

88

88

88

88

88

88

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Methane 

(% by 

volume)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1.3

0

0

0

0

Methane 

(% LEL)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

26

0

0

0

0

METEOROLOGICAL DATA:

Cumulative precipitation in inches since last sampling event: 5.79______

Date of last measurement: 15JUNE95_ Date of current measurement: 21SEPT95

Location of precipitation measurement site: 

Number of cumulative davs fo

COMMENTS: LANDTEC GA-90 meter (serial number GA1.1 975^ calibrated on 21SEPT95 at 1300 with 15% CO2.15% methane calibr

gas. Note: O2 measurements for background atmospheric 0% ranged from 18.9% to 19.4%: therefore, reported values for O2 need to
Table 17. Soil-chemical results 1 of soil samples collected from borehole BH-3, Municipal 

Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El

Paso, Texas

[Qualifier codes are identified in table 18. , no data; ASL, above sea level; mg/kg, milligramr

per kilogram; ND, not detected]

Parameter and units

Date

Tune

USGS sample number

Laboratory sample number

Sample depth, elevation, feet ASL

Volatile organic compounds:

Acetone, mg/kg

Acrolein, mg/kg

Acrylonitrile, mg/kg

Benzene, mg/kg

Bromodichloromethane, mg/kg

Bromoform, mg/kg

Bromomethane, mg/kg

Carbon disulfide, mg/kg

Carbon tetrachloride, mg/kg

Chlorobenzene, mg/kg

Chloroethane, mg/kg

Chloroform, mg/kg

Chloromethane, mg/kg

Dibromochloromethane, mg/kg

Dibromomethane, mg/kg

Dichlorodifluoromethane, mg/kg

Ethanol, mg/kg

Ethylbenzene, mg/kg

Ethyl methacrylate, mg/kg

lodomethane, mg/kg

Methylene chloride, mg/kg

Styrene, mg/kg

Tetrachloroethene, mg/kg

Volatile organic compounds Continued:

Toluene, mg/kg

Trichloroethene, mg/kg

Trichlorofluoromethane, mg/kg

Vinyl acetate, mg/kg

Vinyl chloride, mg/kg

Xylenes (total), mg/kg

cis-13-Dichloropropene, mg/kg

Method 

number2

-

-

-

-

-

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

Reporting 

limit

-

-

-

-

0.1

0.10

030

0.20

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

-

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.30

0.10

0.10

0.10

Soil sample from 

5 feet below land 

surface 

result/qualifier

25APR95

1330

MSWLF0302

041760-0002-SA

3,911.1

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND/c

ND

ND

ND

0.0077/j

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

Soil sample from 

20 feet below 

land surface 

result/qualifier

25APR95

1655

MSWLF0303

041760-0003-SA

3,896.1

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND/c

ND

ND

ND

0.0072/j

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

Soil sample frcm 

50 feet below 

land surface 

result/qualifier

26APR95

0958

MSWLF03W

041760-0004-SA

3,866.1

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND/c

ND

ND

ND

0.0078/j -

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

50
Table 17.~Soil-chemical results 1 of soil samples collected from borehole BH-3,1 lumcipal 

Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El

Paso, Texas Concluded

Parameter and units

trans-13-Dkhloropropene, mg/kg

trans-l,4-Dichloro-2-butene, mg/kg

1,1,1-Trichloroethane, mg/kg

1,1^-Tetrachloroethaneong/kg

1,1,2-Trichloroethane, mg/kg

1,1-Dichloroethane, mg/kg

1,1-Dichloroethene, mg/kg

1,23-Trichloropropane, mg/kg

1,2-Dichloroethane, mg/kg

1,2-Dichloroethene (total), mg/kg

1,2-Dichloropropane, mg/kg

2-Butanone, mg/kg

2-Chloroethyl vinyl ether, mg/kg

2-Hexanone, mg/kg

4-Methyl-2-pentanone, mg/kg

Metals:

Arsenic, total, mg/kg

Barium, total, mg/kg

Cadmium, total, mg/kg

Chromium/ total, mg/kg

Cobalt, total, mg/kg

Metals-Continued

Copper, total, mg/kg

Lead, total, mg/kg

Nickel, total, mg/kg

Selenium, total, mg/kg

Nitrite as nitrogen, total, mg/kg

Nitrate plus nitrite as nitrogen, total, 

mg/kg

Soil moisture, percent

Total petroleum hydrocarbons, mg/kg

Method 

number2

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW8240

SW6010

SW6010

SW6010

SW7191

SW6010

SW6010

SW6010

SW6010

SW6010

E354.1

E353.2 

modified

D2216

SW3550/ 

418.1

Reporting 

limit

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.20

0.50

0.10

0.10

30

10.0

2.0

4.0

4.0

3.0

20.0

4.0

40.0

0.050

0.50

0.10

20.0

Soil sample from 

5 feet below land 

surface 

result/qualifier

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

51.3

ND

3.2/j

2.5/j

3.2

5.9/j

4.3

ND/C,J,M

ND/M

ND/M

5.1

ND

Soil sample from 

20 feet below 

land surface 

result/qualifier

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

64.8

ND

0.87/j

1.7/j

1.2/j

ND

2.7/j

ND/C,J,M

ND/M

ND/M

3.4

ND

Soil s=wnple from 

50 feet below 

lard surface 

resu't /qualifier

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

31.4

ND

1.1/j

1.5/j

1.3/j

3.6/j

3.0/j

ND/C,J,M

ND/M

ND/M

4.2

ND

1Analyses performed by Quanterra Environmental Services, Arvada, Colorado 

2Method numbers preceded by SW are from:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1986c 

Method numbers preceded by E are from:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1983,1986a, b 

Method numbers preceded by D are from: 

American Society for Testing and Materials, 1919 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

51
Table 18. Data-qualifier codes used to qualify chemical-analytical data 

[TIC, tentatively identified compound]

Dataqualifier 

code Definition

A Reported results may be less than the actual value or possibility of a false non-detect 

because the sample was extracted or analyzed after the required analytical holdingtime limits1 .

B Associated surrogate-recovery sample results did not meet the frequency or qualitycontrol acceptance criteria.

b Compound also is detected in the blank (laboratory qualifier code).

«

C Reported results did not meet the project-reporting limits .

c Reporting limit was not reported by the laboratory.

D Associated field-duplicate sample results did not meet the frequency (discussed in the 

Quality assurance/quality control and review of analytical data section of this report) 

or quality-control acceptance criteria3 .

E Associated equipment blank results did not meet the frequency or quality-control 

acceptance criteria.

F Associated ambient-conditions blank results did not meet the frequency or quality-control criteria.

G Associated trip blank results did not meet the frequency or quality-control criteria.

g Reporting limit raised due to matrix interference (laboratory qualifier code).

H Reported value may be biased high because the quality-control results are substantially 

greater than the quality-control limits4.

I Reported value may be biased low because the quality-control results are substantially 

less than the quality-control limits.

J Associated laboratory duplicate-control sample results did not meet the frequency or 

quality-control acceptance criteria.

j Result is detected below the reporting limit or is an estimated concentration Gaboratory 

qualifier code).

K Associated laboratory single-control sample results did not meet the frequency or quality-control acceptance criteria.

L Associated method blank results did not meet the frequency or quality-control acceptance criteria.

M Associated matrix spike or matrix-spike duplicate sample results did not meet the frequency or quality-control acceptance criteria.

N Instrument tuning, calibration, internal standards, or performance results did not meet 

the frequency or quality-control acceptance criteria.

O Problems with inductively coupled plasma analysis such as interelemental interferences or serial dilution. (This qualifier is to be used only with inorganic data.)

P Reported result was more than the highest calibration of method limits or exceeded the 

instrument's linear range.

Q Reported result was less than the lowest calibration, target-detection, reporting, or 

method limits or was below the instrument's linear range.

R Problems in the sampling or analysis process such as field or laboratory contamination 

of a sample.

S The sample result (positive or not detected) is considered conditionally rejected

because of serious deficiencies in the ability to analyze the sample, or the quality-control acceptance criteria were substantially outside the required limits. Resampling or 

reanalysis may be necessary to verify the presence or absence of the constituent.

52
Table 18. Data-qualifier codes used to qualify chemical-analytical data-Concluded

Dataqualifier 

code Definition

T The reported positive sample result is considered not reliable because of substantial

contamination in the associated blanks on the basis of the following criteria: (1) concentration of analyte that is a common laboratory organic contaminant has a concentration 

less than 10 times the concentration in the associated blank or (2) other analytes have 

concentrations less than 5 times the concentration in the associated blank.

t Sample diluted because of the concentration of target compounds (laboratory cualifier 

code).

U The reported positive sample result is considered an estimated quantity or questionable because: (1) there were analysis problems, (2) the quality-control or confirmation 

acceptance criteria were not met, or (3) the amount reported is less than or mor » than 

the calibration or method-detection limits5'6.

V The reported not-detected (ND) sample result is questionable because of analyrfs problems or unmet quality-control acceptance criteria.

W The identification of a TIC is questionable and the reported positive result for th? TIC is 

strictly an estimated value because normal analysis and quality-control acceptance criteria do not apply directly for the reported TIC result. (This data-qualifier code is to be 

used only with TIC data.)

X The identification of a TIC is questionable and the reported positive result is considered 

not reliable because this TIC was also detected in an associated quality-control blank. 

(This data-qualifier code is to be used only with TIC data.)

Y The identification of a TIC is questionable and the reported positive result is considered 

as conditionally rejected because this TIC is considered a common laboratory contaminant. (This data-qualifier code is to be used only with TIC data.)

Z This data qualifier code is used for specific analytical results that have data-quality

problems not covered or represented in this list. If this code is used, some explanation 

________is needed to describe the specific data-quality problem.__________________

folding time - period of time during which a sample can be stored after collection and preservation. 

Holding-time limits are listed in table 1.5.2.1 of the Sampling and Analysis Plan for Ground-Water 

Monitoring at the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and 

Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, Final (U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., March 1995)

2Project-reporting limit - the minimum signal level required to quantitatively identify a specific analyte by a 

specific procedure at a confidence level that is greater than 97 percent. Limits are listed in table 1.8.2.1 of 

the Sampling and Analysis Plan for Ground-Water Monitoring at the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill 

Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, Final (U.S. Geological 

Survey, written commun., March 1995)

3Quality-control acceptance criteria - predefined requirements established to monitor that the data generated 

are precise and accurate. Criteria are listed in table 1.8.3.1 of the Sampling and Analysis Plan for GroundWater Monitoring at the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center 

and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, Final (U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., March 1995)

4Quality-control limits - limits for assessing accuracy through the use of matrix-spike and matrix-spike 

duplicate samples. Limits are listed in table 1.13.2.1 of the Sampling and Analysis Plan for Ground-V7ater 

Monitoring at the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and 

Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, Final (U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., March 1995)

Calibration limit - the frequency of calibration and calibration verification and the concentration of 

calibration standards are determined by the manufacturer's guidelines, the analytical method, or the 

requirements of special contracts

6Method-detection limit - minimum concentration of a substance that can be measured and reported us:ng a 

specific method

53
Table 19.~Analytical methods used1 for physical properties, total organic carbon, and

pH analysis of soil samples collected from boreholes BH-3 and MSWLF03, U.S.

Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas

Parameter and unit Method number or reference2

Moisture content, percent

Bulk density, grains per cubic centimeter

Porosity, percent

Saturated hydraulic conductivity, centimeters per second 

Constant head 

Falling head

Total organic carbon, milligrams per kilogram 

pH, standard units

Moisture retention characteristics, 

Pressure head, per centimeter water 

Moisture content, percent by volume

Hanging column

Pressure plate extractor

Thermocouple psychrometer

Saturated salt-equilibration

Calculated parameters (relating hydraulic conductibity to 

saturation) 

van Genuchten 

Brooks and Corey

Particle-size characteristics 

Sieve 

Hydrometer

ASTMD 2216-90 

Klute (1986, p. 363-367) 

Klute (1986, p. 444-445)

ASTMD 2434-68(74) 

Klute (1986, p. 700-703)

DISC-860 (c-analyzer)

EPA 600/2-78-054 Method 3.2.17

Klute (1986, p. 637-639)

ASTM D 2325-68(81)

Klute (1986, p. 597-618), Operators' manual for the SC-10A thermocouple psychrometer sample chamber 

(manufactured by Decagon Devices, 

Inc., Pullman, Wash.)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(1991)

van Genuchten (1980) 

Brooks and Corey (1966)

ASTMD 422-63(90) 

ASTMD 422-63(90)

1 Analyses performed by Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc., Albuquerque, N. Mex. 

2Method numbers preceded by ASTM D are from:

Annual Book of ASTM Standards, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM),

1919 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

54
Table 20.--Initial moisture content, dry bulk density, calculated porosity, saturated hydraulic condu

and pH of core samples collected from boreholes BH-3 and MSWLF03, Municipal Solid Waste L

Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas

[g/g, gram per gram; cm3/crn3 , cubic centimeter per cubic centimeter; g/cm3 , gram per 

cm/sec, centimeter per second; mg/kg, milligram per kilogram]

Initial moisture content

Sample number

MSWLF03-14

MSWLF03-16

MSWLF03-29

MSWLF03-45

MSWLF03-65

MSWLF03-72

MSWLF03-81

MSWLF03-92

MSWLF03-93

MSWLF03-109

MSWLF03-140

MSWLF03-147

MSWLF03-151

MSWLF03-164

MSWLF03-180

Depth 

(feet below 

land surface)

14

16

29

45

65

72

79

92

93

109

140

147

151

164

180

Gravimetric 

(percent, g/g)

8.4

21.7

1.5

2.0

25.5

25.1

14.8

22.0

15.2

14.8

10.0

19.8

11.5

21.1

27.5

Volumetric 

(percent, 

cm3/ cm3)

12.1

33.8

2.2

3.3

39.8

40.6

26.8

34.9

26.4

25.9

18.2

33.6

21.4

34.5

42.2

Dry bulk 

density 

(g/cm3)

1.45

1.55

1.49

1.68

1.56

1.62

1.80

1.59

1.73

1.75

1.83

1.70

1.85

1.63

1.53

Calculated 

porosity 

(percent)

45.3

41.4

43.7

36.7

41.2

39.0

31.9

40.2

34.6

33.9

31.1

35.9

30.1

38.4

42.1

Saturated

hydraulic 

conductivity1 

(cm/ sec)

3.7xlO'5(a)

1.9xlO'8(a)

2.3xlO"2(b)

2.5xlO'2(b)

8.4xlO-10(c)

1.6xlO"9(a)

1.6xlO'7(a)

2.9xlO'6(a)

6.0xlO'5(b)

1.9xlQ-6(a)

2.5xlO'6(a)

7.6xlO'8(a)

1.6xlO'6(b)

2.8xlO'9(a)

1.8xlO'8(c)
Table 20.--Initial moisture content, dry bulk density, calculated porosity, saturated hydraulic conducti

and pH of core samples collected from boreholes BH-3 and MSWLF03, Municipal Solid Waste Lan

Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas Concluded

Initial moisture content

Sample number

MSWLF03-199

MSWLF03-220

MSWLF03-233

MSWLF03-236

MSWLF03-245

MSWLF03-259

MSWLF03-284

MSWLF03-289

MSWLF03-294

MSWLF03-298

MSWLF03-318

MSWLF03-318.5

Depth 

(feet below 

land surface)

199

220

233

236

245

259

284

289

294

298

316

316.5

Gravimetric 

(percent, g/g)

18.0

31.2

38.5

23.6

17.5

27.7

15.3

19.0

26.7

19.7

22.1

18.1

Volumetric 

(percent, 

cm3 /cm3)

28.2

45.9

39.8

36.8

31.7

42.5

25.2

31.4

41.1

29.9

36.1

29.9

Dry bulk 

density 

(g/cm3)

1.56

1.47

1.03

1.56

1.81

1.54

1.65

1.66

1.54

1.52

1.63

1.65

Calculated 

porosity 

(percent)

41.0

44.5

61.0

41.3

31.7

42.0

37.9

37.5

41.9

42.8

38.5

37.7

Saturated

hydraulic 

conductivity1 

(cm /sec)

4.4xlO'3(b)

4.7xlO'9(a)

2.0xlO'4(b)

5.5xlO'4(b)

l.lxlO-7(c)

9.5xlO-10(c)

6.3xlO'4(b)

1.9xlO-3(b)

4.2xlO'7(a)

2.7xlO'3(b)

2.4xlO'3(b)

1.2xlO-4(b)

To

'Method of analysis for saturated hydraulic conductivity:

(a) Constant head,

(b) Falling head, or

(c) Modified constant head method with pressure-assisted saturation and flux of water through test specimen
Table 21. Moisture content, measured at various pressure heads, of core samples collected

from boreholes BH-3 and MSWLF03, Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility,

U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas

Sample number

MSWLF03-14

MSWLF03-16

MSWLF03-29

MSWLF03-45

MSWLF03-65

MSWLF03-72

Depth 

(feet below Pressure head l 

land surface) (per centimeter water)

14 0(a)

34(a)

107(a)

347(b)

1040(b)

17449(c)

861134(d)

16 0(a)

54(a)

108(a)

1020(b)

3059(b)

23731(c)

861134(d)

29 0(a)

15(a)

35(a)

92(a)

224(b)

1020(b)

18540(c)

861134(d)

45 0(a)

15(a)

32(a)

70(a)

1020(b)

15093(b)(c)

861134(d)

65 0(a)

57(a)

107(a)

861134(d)

72 0(a)

57(a)

102(a)

846(b)

3059(b)

28585(c)

861134(d)

Moisture content 

(percent by volume, 

cubic centimeter per 

cubic centimeter)

47.3

44.5

41.0

31.4

21.2

11.2

4.0

49.5

46.6

45.1

42.1

40.2

32.5

11.4

35.5

3*.8

19.5

7.0

5.8

4.1

:.o

0.4

260

2?.l

11.4

4.7

4.1

:.4

1.2

51.7

5C-4

5CM

12.2

47.0

46,3

46,2

4:,8

4C,4

29.7

1?,2

57
Table 21. Moisture content, measured at various pressure heads, of core samples collected

from boreholes BH-3 and MSWLF03, Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, 

U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas Continued

Sample number

MSWLF03-81

MSWLF03-92

MSWLF03-93

MSWLF03-109

MSWLF03-140

MSWLF03-147

Depth 

(feet below Pressure head l 

land surface) (per centimeter water)

79 0(a)

28(a)

130(a)

540(b)

979(b)

17632(c)

853025(d)

92 0(a)

43(a)

144(a)

530(b)

1020(b)

15093(b)(c)

861134(d)

93 0(a)

23(a)

59(a)

134(a)

551(b)

28809(c)

853025(d)

109 0(a)

43(a)

160(a)

347(b)

1040(b)

27188(c)

861134(d)

140 0(a)

28(a)

128(a)

520(b)

846(b)

14848(c)

853025(d)

147 0(a)

51(a)

105(a)

1050(b)

17071(c)

853025(d)

Moisture content 

(percent by volume, 

cubic centimeter per 

cubic centimeter)

35.2

34.8

33.8

32.1

30.8

22.1

7.0

39.4

38.1

31.4

21.8

19.9

15.4

3.2

34.9

33.3

30.3

20.3

13.9

7.8

2.1

31.9

30.1

25.7

23.4

19.4

11.2

2.8

31.9

31.0

29.4

22.7

21.3

13.7

5.7

42.4

38.9

38.3

36.0

29.9

9.8

58
Table 21.-Moisture content, measured at various pressure heads, of core samples colhcted

from boreholes BH-3 and MSWLF03, Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, 

U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas-Continued

Sample number

MSWLF03-151

MSWLF03-164

MSWLF03-180

MSWLF03-199

MSWLF03-220

MSWLF03-233

Depth 

(feet below Pressure head 1 

land surface) (per centimeter water)

151 0(a)

26(a)

130(a)

520(b)

846(b)

14838(c)

853025(d)

164 0(a)

55(a)

104(a)

846(b)

3059(b)

14685(c)

861134(d)

180 0(a)

51(a)

106(a)

1020(b)

3080(b)

15103(c)

853025(d)

199 0(a)

13(a)

45(a)

61(a)

224(b)

1020(b)

20661(c)

861134(d)

220 0(a)

54(a)

105(a)

846(b)

3059(b)

18061(c)

861134(d)

233 0(a)

23(a)

37(a)

131(a)

551(b)

25536(c)

853025(d)

Moisture cortent 

(percent by volume, 

cubic centimeter per 

cubic centimeter)

34.3

31.4

28.7

24.7

23.8

14.9

4.2

38.7

37.7

37.5

35.1

31.3

22.6

7.0

49.2

46.1

45.3

42.1

40.0

26.1

8.1

34.6

32.3

28.2

19.7

11.5

8.3

3.9

1.7

50.6

48.2

47.7

46.6

45.2

39.8

12.1

57.7

56.0

48.4

33.0

20.9

7.5

2.6

59
Table 21. Moisture content, measured at various pressure heads, of core samples collected

from boreholes BH-3 and MSWLF03, Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, 

U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas Continued

Sample number

MSWLF03-236

MSWLF03-245

MSWLF03-259

MSWLF03-284

MSWLF03-289

MSWLF03-294

Depth 

(feet below Pressure head l 

land surface) (per centimeter water)

236 0(a)

28(a)

48(a)

224(b)

1020(b)

28554(c)

861134(d)

245 0(a)

28(a)

128(a)

510(b)

1020(b)

17908(c)

853025(d)

259 0(a)

53(a)

105(a)

861134(d)

284 0(a)

24(a)

45(a)

224(b)

1020(b)

21732(c)

861134(d)

289 0(a)

13(a)

38(a)

73(a)

203(a)

21742(c)

853025(d)

294 0(a)

22(a)

129(a)

551(b)

1050(b)

22619(c)

853025(d)

Moisture content 

(percent by volume, 

cubic centimeter per 

cubic centimeter)

39.9

38.3

33.1

27.5

21.5

2.8

1.2

34.9

33.5

32.0

31.1

30.4

17.6

5.3

49.4

46.3

45.6

13.5

37.3

33.3

21.9

14.8

11.9

2.6

1.5

37.3

36.1

32.2

10.2

6.6

2.6

0.9

50.1

48.1

45.4

43.7

42.6

33.9

12.1

60
Table 21. Moisture content, measured at various pressure heads, of core samples collected

from boreholes BH-3 and MSWLF03, Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, 

U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas-Concluded

Moisture content

Depth (percent by volume, 

(feet below Pressure head 1 cubic centimeter- per 

Sample number land surface) (per centimeter water) cubic centimeter)

MSWLF03-298 298 Ofe)353

12(a) 34.1

41(a) 30.4

70(a) 14.6

204(b) 10.6

1020(b) 10.0

22599(c) 1.9

861134(d) 0.9

MSWLF03-318 316 0(a) 39.7

15(a) 38.2

43(a) 35.2

73(a) 15.4

1020(b) 8.7

15093(b)(c) 5.9

861134(d) 1.3

MSWLF03-318.5 316.5 0(a) 35.4

22(a) 33.9

47(a) 27.9

136(a) 17.1

530(b) 14.3

17153(c) 3.5

________________________________853025(d)_____________1.0

Method of analysis:

(a) Hanging column;

(b) Pressure plate extractor;

(c) Thermocouple psychrometer; or

(d) Saturated salt equilibration

61
Table 22.--Van Genuchten alpha and beta coefficients calculated using van Genuchten1 equations with measure

saturated soil-water content and saturated hydraulic conductivity from core samples collected from borehole

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, E

[0P residual soil-water content; 0S , saturated soil-water content; K^, saturated hydraulic conductivity; cm, c

cm3/cm3 , cubic centimeter per cubic centimeter; cm/sec, centimeter per second; --, no da

Alpha 

(per cm)

Beta 

(dimensionless)

95% confidence limits

Sample number

MSWLF03-14

MSWLF03-16

MSWLF03-29

MSWLF03-45

MSWLF03-65

MSWLF03-72

MSWLF03-81

MSWLF03-92

MSWLF03-93

MSWLF03-109

MSWLF03-140

MSWLF03-147

MSWLF03-151

MSWLF03-164

MSWLF03-180

MSWLF03-199

Depth (feet 

below land 

surface)

14

16

29

45

65

72

79

92

93

109

140

147

151

164

180

199

Calculated 

value

0.00808

0.00064

0.03480

0.03827

--

0.00029

0.0076

0.01386

0.02065

0.00942

0.00584

0.00009

0.00828

0.00039

0.00046

0.02572

Lower

0.0049

-0.0007

0.0199

0.0260

--

-0.0001

-0.0006

-0.0045

-0.0004

0.0004

0.0012

-0.0002

-0.0035

0.0000

-0.0001

0.0120

Upper

0.0112

0.0020

0.0497

0.0505

--

0.0006

0.0021

0.0323

0.0417

0.0184

0.0105

0.0004

0.0201

0.0007

0.0010

0.0395

Calculated 

value

1.40075

1.30687

2.28173

3.59149

--

1.41448

1.32059

1.27251

1.39086

1.25907

1.30876

1.77791

1.24713

1.44875

1.44497

1.58902

95% confidence limits

Lower

1.3108

0.9875

1.5134

1.2385

-

1.1325

1.0735

1.1194

1.1451

1.1493

1.1870

-1.1650

1.0999

1.1811

1.0750

1.3459

Upper

1.4908

1.6263

3.0501

5.9445

-

1.6965

1.5677

1.4257

1.6367

1.3689

1.4305

4.7208

1.3943

1.71634

1.8149

1.8322

er

(%, cm3 / 

cm3)

4.0

11.4

0.4

1.2

--

13.1

7.0

3.2

2.1

2.8

5.7

9.8

4.2

7.0

8.1

1.7
Table 22. Van Genuchten alpha and beta coefficients calculated using van Genuchten1 equations with measur

saturated soil-water content and saturated hydraulic conductivity from core samples collected from borehole

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso

Alpha 

(per cm)

Beta 

(dimensionless)

95% confidence limits

Sample number

MSWLF03-220

MSWLF03-233

MSWLF03-236

MSWLF03-245

MSWLF03-259

MSWLF03-284

MSWLF03-289

MSWLF03-294

MSWLF03-298

MSWLF03-318

MSWLF03-318.5

Depth (feet 

below land 

surface)

220

233

236

245

259

284

289

294

298

316

316.5

Calculated 

value

0.00006

0.02177

0.01088

0.00098

-

0.05208

0.01914

0.00167

0.02173

0.01638

0.02634

Lower

0.0000

0.0106

-0.0037

-0.0002

-0.0081

0.0148

-0.0024

0.0063

0.0119

0.0045

Upper

0.0001

0.0329

0.0254

0.0022

~

0.1122

0.0235

0.0057

0.0371

0.0209

0.0482

Calculated 

value

1.79263

1.45340

1.34953

1.35407

-

1.38087

4.39817

1.24202

2.04670

5.07106

1.42609

95% confidence limits

Lower

0.3316

1.2997

1.1116

1.1341

~

1.1493

1.9757

1.0042

1.0181

-0.0394

1.2045

Upper

3.2537

1.6071

1.5874

1.5740

~

1.6125

6.8207

1.4799

3.0753

10.1815

1.6477

er

(%, cm3/ 

cm3)

12.1

2.6

1.2

5.3

--

1.5

0.9

12.1

0.9

1.3

1.0

'van Genuchten (1980)
Table 23. Air entry value and Brooks and Corey exponent derived for core samples collected

from boreholes BH-3 and MSWLF03, Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army

Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas

[--, no data]

Sample number

MSWLF03-14

MSWLF03-16

MSWLF03-29

MSWLF03-45

MSWLF03-65

MSWLF03-72

MSWLF03-81

MSWLF03-92

MSWLF03-93

MSWLF03-109

MSWLF03-140

MSWLF03-147

MSWLF03-151

MSWLF03-164

MSWLF03-180

MSWLF03-199

MSWLF03-220

MSWLF03-233

MSWLF03-236

MSWLF03-245

MSWLF03-259

MSWLF03-284

MSWLF03-289

MSWLF03-294

MSWLF03-298

MSWLF03-318

MSWLF03-318.5

Depth 

(feet below land 

surface)

14

16

29

45

65

72

79

92

93

109

140

147

151

164

180

199

220

233

236

245

259

284

289

294

298

316

316.5

Air entry value 

(per centimeter)

124

1,563

29

26

-

3,448

1,316

72

48

106

171

11,111

121

2,564

2,174

39

16,667

46

92

1,020

-

19

52

599

46

61

38

Brooks and Corey1 

exponent

0.40075

0.30687

1.28173

2.59149

-

0.41448

0.32059

0.27251

0.39086

0.25907

0.30876

0.77791

0.24713

0.44875

0.44497

0.58902

0.79263

0.4534

0.34953

0.35407

-

0.38087

3.39817

0.24202

1.04670

4.07106

0.42609

'Brooks and Corey (1966)

64
Table 24.~Particle-size characteristics of core samples collected from boreholes BH-3 and MSWLF03

Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, T

[--, no data; 

particle

mm, millimeter; d10, 10th percentile; d 16, 16th percentile; d30, 30th percentile; d50, 50th per

diameter; d^o, 60th percentile; d§4, 84th percentile; Cu, uniformity coefficient; Cc , coefficien

Particle diameter (mm)

Sample number

MSWLF03-14

MSWLF03-16

MSWLF03-29

MSWLF03-45

MSWLF03-65

MSWLF03-72

MSWLF03-81

MSWLF03-92

MSWLF03-93

MSWLF03-109

MSWLF03-140

MSWLF03-147

MSWLF03-151

MSWLF03-164

MSWLF03-180

MSWLF03-199

MSWLF03-220

MSWLF03-233

Depth 

(feet below 

land surface) dio

14 0.0078

16 ~4

29 0.16

45 0.24

65

72 --4

79 --4

92 0.044

93 0.079

109 0.058

140 0.075

147 -4

151 0.042

164 --4

180 --4

199 0.13

220 -4

233 0.014

die

0.020

-4

0.20

0.31

--

-4

-4

0.057

0.097

0.087

0.088

~4

0.089

-4

-4

0.15

..4

0.046

d30

0.038

-4

0.27

0.46

--

~4

0.0033

0.087

0.14

0.13

0.12

-4

0.14

0.0048

-4

0.20

-4

0.13

d50

0.096

0.0014

0.33

0.74

--

-4

0.10

0.15

0.21

0.19

0.18

0.012

0.21

0.022

0.0044

0.29

-«

0.22

d60

0.16

0.0022

0.36

0.95

--

0.0021

0.16

0.19

0.24

0.22

0.21

0.035

0.25

0.045

0.0070

0.34

0.0014

0.29

d84

0.36

0.0095

0.43

3.0

--

0.044

0.41

0.36

0.41

0.35

0.36

0.073

0.47

0.094

0.017

0.61

0.0036

0.77

C 1

20

-5

2.2

4.0

-

..5

-5

4.3

3.1

3.7

2.8

-5

5.9

-5

-5

2.7

..5

20
Table 24.~Particle-size characteristics of core samples collected from boreholes BH-3 and MSWLF03, 

Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas C

Particle diameter (mm)

Sample number

MSWLF03-236

MSWLF03-245

MSWLF03-259

MSWLF03-284

MSWLF03-289

MSWLF03-294

MSWLF03-298

MSWLF03-318

MSWLF03-318.5

Depth 

(feet below 

land surface)

236

245

259

284

289

294

298

316

316.5

d!0 d!6

0.13 0.14

-.4 __4

--

0.15 0.18

0.13 0.15

..4 ..4

0.12 0.13

0.11 0.12

0.076 0.11

d30

0.17

0.0082

-

0.26

0.19

-4

0.16

0.15

0.15

d50

0.22

0.046

-

0.34

0.26

0.0019

0.20

0.20

0.20

d60

0.24

0.073

-

0.38

0.31

0.0041

0.22

0.22

0.23

d84

0.36

0.20

-

0.62

0.42

0.061

0.33

0.33

0.36

Cy1

1.9

-5

-

2.6

2.4

~5

1.9

2.0

3.0

2Cc = [(d30)2 /(d10 xd60)] 

3Mean particle diameter = [(d16+d5o+d84)/3] 

Value not reached with test specified 

5Value dependent on lOth-percentile particle diameter 

6Value not calculated because one or two of the dependent particle-diameter values (16th and 50th percentiles) were not reached
Table 25. Analytical methods used1 for physical analyses of soil samples collected from the 

landfill cover, Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery

Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas

Parameter and unit Method number or reference2

Moisture content, percent

Bulk density, grams per cubic centimeter

Porosity, percent

Moisture retention characteristics, 

Pressure head, per centimeter water 

Moisture content, percent by volume 

Pressure plate extractor 

Thermocouple psychrometer

Infiltration rate, centimeters per second

Hydraulic conductivity (calculated from unconfined 

infiltration data), centimeters per second

ASTMD 2216-90 

Klute (1986, p. 363-367) 

Klute (1986, p. 444-445)

ASTMD 2325-68(81)

Klute (1986, p. 597-618), Operator's 

manual for the SC-10A thermocouple psychrometer sample chamber 

(manufactured by Decagon Defaces, 

Inc., Pullman, Wash.)

Perroux and White (1988) 

Elrick and others (1988) 

Ankeny and others (1988; 1989) 

Prieksat and others (1991)

Wooding (1968) 

Ankeny and others (1991) 

Elrick and others (1988)

1 Analyses performed by Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc., Albuquerque, N. Mex.

2Method numbers preceded by ASTM D are from:

Annual Book of ASTM Standards, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), 

1919 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

67
Table 26.~Initial moisture content, dry bulk density, and calculated porosity of soil samples

collected from the landfill cover, Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army

Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas

[g/g, gram per gram; cm3/cm3 , cubic centimeter per cubic centimeter; 

g/cm3 , gram per cubic centimeter]

Sample number

Initial moisture content

Volumetric

Gravimetric (percent, 

(percent, g/g) an3 /an3)

Dry bulk 

density

(g/an3)

Calculated 

porosity 

(percent)

Site 1, Rep 1

Site 1, Rep 2

Site 2, Rep 1

Site 2, Rep 2

Site 3, Rep 1

Site 3, Rep 2

Site 4, Rep 1

Site 4, Rep 2

Site 5, Rep 1

Site 5, Rep 2

14.4

12.5

11.7

8.2

16.6

10.5

17.7

17.7

13.8

12.2

25.1

22.3

20.5

13.8

29.4

18.0

29.7

28.9

23.2

21.4

1.74

1.79

1.75

1.68

1.77

1.71

1.68

1.63

1.68

1.76

34.4

32.5

34.0

36.6

33.3

35.5

36.5

38.4

36.8

33.6

68
Table 27.~Moisture content, measured at various pressure heads, of soil samples

collected from the landfill cover, Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility,

U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas

[cm, centimeter; cm3/cm3 , cubic centimeter per cubic centimeter]

Sample number

Site 1, Rep 1

Site 1, Rep 2

Site 2, Rep 1

Site 2, Rep 2

Site 3, Rep 1

Site 3, Rep 2

Site 4, Rep 1

Site 4, Rep 2

Site 5, Rep 1

Site 5, Rep 2

Pressure head1 

(per cm water)

0(a) 

337(a) 

26617(b)

0(a) 

337(a) 

17643(b)

0(a) 

337(a) 

24781(b)

0(a) 

337(a) 

21092(b)

0(a) 

337(a) 

18662(b)

0(a) 

337(a) 

21518(b)

0(a) 

337(a) 

15195(b)

0(a) 

337(a) 

15909(b)

0(a) 

337(a) 

19682(b)

0(a) 

337(a) 

16725(b)

Moisture 

content 

(percent, 

cm3/cm3)

35.0 

20.0 

9.1

35.2 

20.2 

9.8

33.8 

20.3 

9.3

28.3 

12.7 

8.7

41.7 

29.1 

11.0

31.7 

15.8 

8.6

41.0 

27.8 

10.0

33.5 

18.6

7.7

25.0 

12.0 

8.1

32.5 

16.7 

6.1

Method of analysis:

(a) Pressure plate extractor or

(b) Thermocouple psychrometer

69
Table 28. Infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity of the landfill cover, Municipal Solid 

Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas

[cm/sec, centimeter per second]

Infiltration rate 1

Sample number

Site 1, Rep 1

Site 1, Rep 2

Site 2, Rep 1

Site 2, Rep 2

Site 3, Rep 1

Site 3, Rep 2

Site 4, Rep 1

Site 4, Rep 2

Site 5, Rep 1

Site 5, Rep 2

Saturated3 

(xlO"3 cm/sec)

2.63

2.73

2.25

1.98

3.38

2.61

3.5

3.56

5.00

6.75

Unsaturated4 

(xlO'3 cm/sec)

1.42

1.65

1.27

1.02

1.52

1.10

2.01

1.89

1.15

1.79

Hydraulic conductivity2

Saturated3 

(xlO'3 cm/sec)

1.16

1.09

0.96

0.92

1.69

1.35

1.46

1.59

3.12

4.09

Unsaturated4 

(xlO~3 cm/sec)

0.63

0.65

0.54

0.47

0.76

0.57

0.84

0.85

0.72

1.09

'in situ measurements of the landfill cover

2Values derived from in situ infiltration data

3Saturated measurements made with 0.5-centimeter ponded water head

4Unsaturated measurements made at 3-centimeter tension

70
Table 29.--Analytical results of soil-moisture and soil-chloride data for soil samples collected

from cores from the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense

Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas

[--, not determined]

Depth 

(feet below 

land surface)

2

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

19

20

24

25

26

28

29

30

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

42

Soil 

water in 

sample1 

(grams)

3.0

3.6

2.3

1.8

2.9

3.3

2.8

2.7

3.0

4.2

2.8

6.9

7.6

2.0

3.2

1.6

1.7

2.4

2.5

1.4

1.4

1.9

3.2

1.7

3.4

3.3

1.7

2.2

2.5

3.3

2.1

Dry soil 

in sample 

(grams)

121.8

82.9

48.6

52.7

41.4

63.5

35.1

45.5

46.7

66.0

51.0

52.1

47.4

117.9

176.2

129.5

141.5

162.5

146.6

144.4

129.5

146.6

141.0

133.7

157.7

121.8

128.1

112.1

124.2

140.6

138.9

Bulk 

density 

of soil 

(grams per 

cubic 

centimeter)

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.45

1.55

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.49

1.5

1.5

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.7

Volumetric 

moisture 

content 

(fraction)

0.037

0.065

0.071

0.051

0.105

0.078

0.120

0.089

0.096

0.095

0.082

0.192

0.249

0.025

0.027

0.019

0.018

0.022

0.026

0.015

0.016

0.019

0.034

0.020

0.034

0.043

0.021

0.031

0.032

0.038

0.026

Soilwater 

chloride 

concentration2 

(milligrams per 

liter)

151.5

54.2

26.8

91.5

33.7

77.3

71.8

135.8

84.9

60.5

77.3

19.5

45.7

42.3

41.0

90.8

1,812.6

903.0

1,563.1

2,605.9

836.2

732.6

642.8

1,909.4

1,148.2

910.6

388.2

393.4

263.0

366.1

345.1

Soil 

chloride 

content 

(micrograms 

p^r cubic 

centimeter)

5.596

3.532

1.904

4.688

3.542

6.028

8.588

12.086

8.178

5.775

6.362

3.744

11.348

1.076

1.116

1.682

32.665

20.005

39.984

37.897

13.470

14.243

21.883

38.845

39.609

39.476

8.244

12.353

8.471

13.747

8.871

71
Table 29.~Analytical results of soil-moisture and soil-chloride data for soil samples collected

from cores from the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense

Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas-Concluded

Depth 

(feet below 

land surface)

43

44

45

46

48

49

51

52

55

92

94

109

118

120

143

151

164

176

199

233

236

245

284

290

298

316

325

Soil 

water in 

sample1 

(grains)

2.5

2.9

5.3

2.7

3.0

3.6

3.0

3.1

2.6

15.0

15.9

14.1

8.9

12.8

8.5

10.5

14.0

7.2

18.4

13.8

14.5

10.5

20.2

15.2

13.4

21.7

11.8

Dry soil 

in sample 

(grams)

145.7

158.4

172.4

157.5

126.5

111.4

152.3

164.7

135.5

73.0

109.3

94.6

69.8

62.8

74.5

92.5

74.7

93.0

103.4

62.7

68.5

59.8

103.2

81.4

103.6

104.1

44.7

Bulk 

density 

of soil 

(grams per 

cubic 

centimeter)

1.7

1.7

1.68

1.7

1.7

1.7

1.7

1.7

1.7

1.59

1.73

1.75

1.8

1.8

1.83

1.85

1.63

1.6

1.56

1.03

1.56

1.6

1.65

1.66

1.52

1.63

1.6

Volumetric 

moisture 

content 

(fraction)

0.029

0.031

0.052

0.029

0.040

0.055

0.033

0.032

0.033

0.327

0.252

0.261

0.230

0.367

0.209

0.210

0.305

0.124

0.278

0.227

0.330

0.281

0.323

0.310

0.197

0.340

0.422

Soilwater 

chloride 

concentration2 

(milligrams per 

liter)

316.2

518.1

471.1

610.0

762.5

732.2

853.3

985.5

1,358.5

-

~

-

-

-

-

-

-

~

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Scil 

chkride 

content 

(micrograms 

per cnbic 

centimeter)

9.223

16.125

24.332

17.777

30.742

40.225

28.575

31.533

44.315

14.567

19.595

21.696

4.376

29.479

71.232

3.455

8.421

10.173

31.137

11.330

30.162

10.899

25.131

20.197

26.673

32.741

5.658

aAn increase in soil water was observed in samples collected from core recovered using mud-rotary 

drilling compared with samples collected from core recovered using hollow-stem auger drilling

^il-water chloride concentration not determined for samples collected from core recovered using mudrotary drilling because of possible influence of moisture from drilling mud on soil water in soil sample

72
Table 30.--Analytical results 1 of ground-water sample collected from well MSVTLF03, 

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Certer and

Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas

[Qualifier codes are identified in table 18. , no data; NTUs, nephelometric turbidity

units; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; mg/L, milligrams

per liter; mg/L, micrograms per liter; ND, not detected!

Reporting Well MSWLF03 

Parameter and unit Method2 limit result/qualifier

Date

Time

USGS sample number

Laboratory sample number

Water-level elevation, feet above sea level, prior 

to pumping

Amount purged prior to sampling, 

gallons

Depth sampled, feet below land surface 

Field properties:

Temperature, degrees Celsius

Turbidity, NTUs

pH

Specific conductance, uS/cm 

Alkalinity, total, mg/L 

Alkalinity, bicarbonate, mg/L 

Alkalinity, carbonate, mg/L 

Alkalinity, hydroxide, mg/L 

Dissolved solids, mg/L 

Common ions:

Chloride, total, mg/L

Fluoride, total, mg/L

Nitrate as nitrogen, total, mg/L

Ammonia as nitrogen, total, mg/L

Orthophosphate as phosphorus, total, mg/L

Sulfate, total, mg/L

Calcium, dissolved, mg/L

Magnesium, dissolved, mg/L

Potassium, dissolved, mg/L

0.01

19-Feb-97

1515

MSWLF0310

053820-0001-SA

3,601.! 0

110

325

E170.1

E180.1

E150.1

E120.1

E310.1

E310.1

E310.1

E310.1

E160.1

E300

E300

E300

E350.1

E300

E300

SW6010

SW6010

SW6010

0.1

1

0.1

10.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

10.0

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.10

0.50

0.50

5.0

5.0

5.0

21.3

4.07

8.10

521

136

136

ND

ND

327

38.6

0.79

2.0

ND

ND

48.6

17.4

5.5

9.0

73
Table 30.~Analytical results 1 of ground-water sample collected from well MSWLF03, 

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and

Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas Continued

Parameter and unit

Common ions Continued:

Sodium, dissolved, mg/L

Volatile organic compounds:

Acetone, mg/L

Benzene, mg/L

Bromodichloromethane, mg/L

Bromoform, mg/L

Bromomethane, mg/L

Carbon disulfide, mg/L

Carbon tetrachloride, mg/L

Chlorobenzene, mg/L

Chloroethane, mg/L

Chloroform, mg/L

Chloromethane, mg/L

Dibromochloromethane, mg/L

Ethylbenzene, mg/L

Methylene chloride, mg/L

Styrene, mg/L

Tetrachloroethene, mg/L

Toluene, mg/L

Trichloroethene, mg/L

Vinyl chloride, mg/L

Xylenes (total), mg/L

cis-l,3-Dichloropropene, mg/L

trans-l,3-Dichloropropene, mg/L

1,1,1-Trichloroethane, mg/L

l,l,2,2-Tetrachloroethane,mg/L

Method2

SW6010

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

Reporting 

limit

5.0

10

1.0

1.0

1.0

2.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

2.0

1.0

2.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

2.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

Well MSWLFO? 

result/qualifier

77.0

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

74
Table 30.--Analytical results 1 of ground-water sample collected from well MSV<TLF03, 

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Cer+er and

Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas-Concluded

Parameter and unit

Volatile organic compounds Continued:

1,1,2-Trichloroethane, mg/L

1,1-Dichloroethane, mg/L

1,1-Dichloroethene, mg/L

1,2-Dichloroethane, mg/L

1,2-Dichloroethene (total), mg/L

1,2-Dichloropropane, mg/L

2-Butanone (MEK), mg/L

2-Hexanone, mg/L

4-Methyl-2-pentanone, mg/L

Metals:

Arsenic, dissolved, mg/L

Barium, dissolved, mg/L

Cadmium, dissolved, mg/L

Chromium, dissolved, mg/L

Cobalt, dissolved, mg/L

Copper, dissolved, mg/L

Iron, dissolved, mg/L

Lead, dissolved, mg/L

Nickel, dissolved, mg/L

Selenium, dissolved, mg/L

Method2

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW8260

SW6010

SW6010

SW6010

SW6010

SW6010

SW6010

SW6010

SW6010

SW6010

SW7740

Reporting 

limit

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

0.010

0.10

0.0050

0.030

0.040

0.030

0.040

0.0040

0.040

0.010

Well MSV\HLF03 

result/qualifier

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND/g

ND

ND/g

1 Analyses performed by Quanterra Environmental Services, Arvada, Colorado

2Method numbers preceded by E are from:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1983; I986a,b) 

Method numbers preceded by SW are from: 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1986c)

75
Table 31. Summary of maximum contaminant levels for selected water-quality constituents and

properties for public water-supply systems 1

[--, no data; mg/L, milligrams per liter]

Constituent Maximum contaminant level2

Secondary maximum 

contaminant level3

pH (standard units)

Dissolved solids

Chloride, total

Fluoride, total

Nitrate as nitrogen, total

Sulfate, total

Arsenic, total

Barium, total

~

~

~

4.0 mg/L

10 mg/L

-

0.05 mg/L

2 mg/L

6.5-8.5

500 mg/L

250 mg/L

2.0 mg/L

-

250 mg/L

-

~

Cadmium, total 

Chromium, total 

Copper, total 

Iron, total 

Nickel, total 

Selenium, total

0.005 mg/L 

0.1 mg/L

0.1 mg/L 

0.05 mg/L

1.0 mg/L 

0.3 mg/L

1 Public water-supply system A system for the provision of piped water to the public for human consumption, if 

such system has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days 

of the year

2Maximum contaminant level Maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water that is delivered to the 

free-flowing outlet of the ultimate user of a public water system. Maximum contaminant levels are those levels 

set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1994) in the national primary drinking water regulations. 

These regulations deal with contaminants that may have a substantial direct impact on the health of the 

consumer and are enforceable by Federal law

3Secondary maximum contaminant level Advisable maximum level of a contaminant in water that is delivered 

to a free-flowing outlet of the ultimate user of a public water system. Secondary maximum contaminant levels 

are those levels proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1996) in the national secondary 

drinking water regulations These regulations deal with contaminants that may not have a substantial direct 

impact on the health of the consumer, but their presence in excessive quantities may affect the aesthetic qualities 

of the water and may discourage the use of a drinking-water supply by the public

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