1

Whalen, Marilyn

From: Poentis, Aaron Y CIV NAVFAC HI, EV <aaron.poentis@navy.mil>

Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2014 11:38 AM

To: Richard Takaba (richard.takaba@doh.hawaii.gov); roxanne.kwan@doh.hawaii.gov

Cc: steven.chang@doh.hawaii.gov; Shimabuku, June T. CIV NAVFAC HI, EV4; Kishaba, 

Raelynn I CIV NAVFAC HI, EV4; stuart.yamada@doh.hawaii.gov; Ueda, Jill T CIV NAVFAC 

HI, HIEV4; Watson, Angela C LCDR NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor; Linder, Steven; Pallarino, 

Bob

Subject: RED HILL STATUS REPORT - MARCH 25, 2014

Importance: High

Richard/Roxanne:

Attached is the updated information for the weekly progress report from Navy Region Hawaii, and the Fleet Logistic

Center Pearl Harbor for the week of March 25, 2014.

1. Preliminary Work Plan (due Friday 14 March 2014).

The Preliminary Work Plan was submitted on 14 Mar 2014 as required in your letter of 26 Feb 2014.  A contract vehicle

was identified to contract these efforts.  The performance work statement was provided to you for review/endorsement

and the request for funding package submitted to NAVSUP/DLA Resource sponsor on 14 Mar 2014 (date corrected).   

a.  Item 1‐ Models to estimate downward vertical migration of free product.

There is a lack of models for investigating pure petroleum liquid.  However, we will continue to evaluate the availability

of transport models in basalt.  This is included in the contract mentioned in #1 above.

b. Item 2 ‐ Methods or options for non‐invasive scanning of basalt to determine area and volume of contaminant mass

prior to any drilling investigation.

From our preliminary research, there are no remote sensing (geophysical) applications for non‐invasive scanning of

basalt to determine area and volume of contaminant mass.  There is too much noise and obstructions for approaches

such as seismic, ground penetrating radar (GPR), time‐domain reflectometry (TDR), thermal, etc.  Typical approach

available for near surface contamination would be to use something like laser induced fluorescence (LIF) with a direct

push rig, but since basalt (competent or fractured) is the media, that approach won't work.  The usual approach for

differentiating/delineating the extent of contaminant plumes for saturated and unsaturated is by way of intrusive

methods.  It is likely that the only methods available to determine approximate area and volume of contaminant mass

are soil borings for soil and groundwater sampling.   

c. Item 3 ‐ Methods and locations for borings to most efficiently characterize the extent of contamination.

This is included in the contract mentioned in #1 above.  The tank inspection may yield some information of the location

of the release.  The tank inspection will commence after Tank 5 has been vented.

2. Release Response Action Items (initiate immediately, complete as soon as practicable)

a. Action 1 ‐ Provide a schedule for the ventilation of Tank 5 and an estimated date to commence the investigation of

release point(s) within Tank 5.

The most current schedule is as follows:

‐  Contractor work plan approved by EXWC IOT commence preparation, venting, and equipment installation ‐ 

COMPLETED

‐  Contractor commenced mobilization ‐ COMPLETED

‐  Contractor commenced venting preparations IOT stage and install venting equipment ‐ STARTED

‐  Venting commences ‐ March 20, 2014  

‐  Detailed visual inspection‐ Estimated dates Mar 24 to May 22, 2014
2

No change.

   

b. Action 2 ‐ The rate of vertical migration for the released JP‐8 free product is unknown.  Information from the

previously collected basalt cores could be used for initial modeling of vertical migration.  This information is necessary to

protect drinking water resources from petroleum contamination.  Prepare models for petroleum JP‐8 releases of 10,000,

20,000 and 30,000 gallons from points at 25% intervals from the bottom to the top of Tank 5.  Progress in developing

these models should be included in the preliminary work plan.

Previous borings and monitoring wells were installed in the lower access tunnel, which is located below the tank

bottoms.  In the interest of time, initial models for vertical migration of contaminant mass will assume the geology

around the tanks is similar to the geology below the tanks.

As indicated in #1 above, contracted efforts are being pursued to characterize the situation.   

c. Action 3 ‐ Removal of petroleum free product from the area outside the tank will reduce downward migration of the

released JP‐8 free product.  Characterization of the free product plume and recovery of free product with increased

monitoring are required to address this plume.

As indicated in #1 above, contracted efforts are being pursued to characterize the situation.  During this contracted

effort, an assessment of the feasibility of product recovery will be accomplished and coordinated with the State

Department of Health.  Preliminary indications suggest free product removal from this type of environment (fractured

basalt) may be impractical and unfeasible.  Attempts to recover significant portions of free product may inadvertently

create additional problems by possibly accelerating vertical transport of petroleum product. However, we will continue

to evaluate all viable options.

Although we are evaluating all options, we have had some success in similar projects using a bioventing process.  

Bioventing has shown to be a cost‐ effective remediation option at several petroleum‐contaminated sites underlain by

fractured basalt. The Navy is pursuing this method as a potential treatment technology to apply at Red Hill, depending

on results of the site characterization (#1 above).

No change.

d. Action 4 ‐ Additional studies and procedures are required to address the potential and impact of any future releases

from the USTs within the Complex.  This will require new financial and personnel resources to complete.  Funding for the

preliminary work plan and all necessary following work is critical.

The Navy has received funds from to the Defense Logistics Agency Installation Support Energy Environmental Division

(DS‐FEE) to cover updating the Red Hill Groundwater Protection Plan and to develop models estimating groundwater

flow and capture zones.  DLA and NAVSUP Energy have been included in discussions to facilitate funding commitment

and future processing of funding requests.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.

Vr,

Aaron