BILLRICHARDSON Governor



### November4, 2010 NEWMEXICO ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT 

### Office of the Secretary

HaroldRunnels Building 1190 Saint Francis Drive (87505) P.O. Box 5469, SantaFe, NM 87502 Phone: (505) 827-2855 Fax: (505) 827-2836 www.nmenv.state.nm.us RON CURRY Secretary SARAH COTIRELL

Deputy Secretary



### Samuel Coleman, Director Superfund Division, EPA Region 6 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200 Dallas, Texas 75202-2733 RE: Partial Deletion ofthe AT&SF Albuquerque Superfund Site (EPA ill: 

### NMD980622864), in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, from the National Priorities List DearMr. Coleman: As requested in your letter dated September 10, 2010, this letter provides the New Mexico Environment Department's (NMED) concurrence supporting the partial deletion ofthe AT&SF Superfund site (Site) in Bernalillo County from the National Priorities List (NPL), comprising approximately 62 acres ofthe northernmost area ofthe Site. The surface ofthis partial deletion area was historically used for drying treated ties and for storage prior to use. Contaminantreleases to this area were restricted primarily to creosote drippings from treated products. Part ofthe deleted portion ofthe Site is being considered for industrial redevelopment and is intended to contribute to the community's economic vitality and land reuse. NMED has reviewed all plans and reports for the Site and participated in oversight activities and inspections throughout the implementation ofthe remedial investigations and activities. All soils that were identified to contain contaminant concentrations above cleanup levels specified in the Record of Decision (ROD) have been removed from the northern 62-acre parcel and managed within a soil repository ontheremaining southern portion ofthe Site as part ofthe soil remedy specified in the ROD. The excavated areas were backfilled with soils from an offsite source that were tested to comply with all cleanup levels establishedfor the Site. Two institutional controls havebeen implemented for the entire Site thatrestrict land and ground water use for the protection ofhumanhealth, the environment, and all remedial components located onthe

Protecting our Environment, Preserving the EnchantmentSamColeman November4,2010 Page 2 of2

Site. The Site is currently fenced, and will remain under restricted industrial-only land use inperpetuity, due to the presence ofhazardous substances in the soil repository thathas beenbuilton the southern portion ofthe Site. Ground water use is restricted by a temporary moratorium issued by the New Mexico Office ofthe State Engineer to restrict the permitting ofnew wells within the area surrounding the contaminated ground water at the site in orderto protecthumanhealth and prevent interference with the ground waterremediationthat is ongoing on the southern 27-acre parcel. Site inspections for adherence to these land and ground wateruse restrictions and for confirmation that the institutional controls remain in place will be conducted at a minimum ofonce per year. The Site also is subjectto five-year reviews underthe authority ofthe Comprehensive Environmental Response, Liability, and Compensation Act (CERCLA) to ensure the continued protectiveness ofthe remedy. NMED understands that partial deletion ofthe Site does not preclude eligibility for future response actions under CERCLA, should future conditions warrant such actions. In addition, the deleted portion ofthe Site may be returned to the NPL withoutrescoring underthe Hazard Ranking System (HRS) ifa threat to humanhealth orthe environment is discovered at a later date. NMED appreciates EPA's efforts atremediating this site, and looks forward to continuing to work closely with EPA on this and other Superfund sites in New Mexico to ensure the continued protection of humanhealth and environment.

Cc: Katrina Higgins-Coltrain, Remedial ProjectManager, S EPA Region 6 Dana Bahar, Manager, NMED Superfund Oversight Section David L. Mayerson, NMED Superfund Oversight Section