Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of the Army Environmental and Natural 

Resources Management Office of the U. S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon

Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination at Building 310 

Underground Storage Tank Area, Fort Gordon, Georgia,

2010–2011

Open-File Report 2012–1136

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
Cover. Site of underground storage tanks at building 310 area, Fort Gordon, Georgia. Photograph by W. Fred Falls, USGS.
Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination at 

Building 310 Underground Storage Tank Area, 

Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011

By Wladmir B. Guimaraes, W. Fred Falls, Andral W. Caldwell, W. Hagan Ratliff, 

John B. Wellborn, and James E. Landmeyer

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of the Army Environmental 

and Natural Resources Management Office of the U.S. Army Signal Center 

and Fort Gordon

Open-File Report 2012–1136

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2012

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U.S. Government.

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Guimaraes, W.B., Falls, W.F., Caldwell, A.W., Ratliff, W.H., Wellborn, J.B., and Landmeyer, J.E., 2012, 

Assessment of soil-gas contamination at building 310 underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, 

Georgia, 2010–2011: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012–1136, 30 p.
iii

Contents

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

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

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................1

Description of the Study Area ............................................................................................................3

Methods...........................................................................................................................................................3

Soil-Gas Survey.....................................................................................................................................3

Results .............................................................................................................................................................3

Soil-Gas Survey.....................................................................................................................................5

Summary........................................................................................................................................................15

Selected References...................................................................................................................................15

Figures

Maps showing:

1. Location of the building 310 underground storage tank area, 

 Fort Gordon, Georgia....................................................................................................................2

2. Soil-gas sampler A, prior to being installed in a shallow borehole; and 

B, following retrieval from a borehole and prior to shipping to the laboratory 

for analysis.....................................................................................................................................3

3. Locations of soil-gas sampling sites, building 310 underground storage 

tank area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011.............................................................................4

4. Total petroleum hydrocarbons mass in soil-gas samplers, building 

310 underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 2011. ...............................6

5. Combined masses of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and total xylenes in 

soil-gas samplers, building 310 underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, 

Georgia, July 2011.........................................................................................................................7

6. Locations of benzene, toluene, and m-, p-zylene mass in soil-gas 

samplers, building 310 underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, 

Georgia, July 2011.........................................................................................................................8

7. Combined masses of undecane, tridecane, and pentadecane in 

soil-gas samplers, building 310 underground storage tank area, Fort 

Gordon, Georgia, July 2011 .......................................................................................................10

8. Undecane mass in soil-gas samplers, building 310 underground storage 

tank area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 2011 ............................................................................11

9. Tridecane mass in soil-gas samplers, building 310 underground storage 

tank area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 2011 ............................................................................12

10. Pentadecane mass in soil-gas samplers, building 310 underground 

storage tank area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 2011..............................................................13

11. Chloroform mass in soil-gas samplers, building 310 underground 

storage tank area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 2011..............................................................14

Table

1. Mass of organic compounds detected in soil-gas samplers, 310 underground

 storage tank, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011 ....................................................................16
iv

Conversion Factors

Inch/Pound to SI

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.)

inch (in.)

foot (ft)

mile (mi)

gallon (gal)

2.54

25.4

 0.3048

1.609

3.785

centimeter (cm)

millimeter (mm)

meter (m)

kilometer (km)

liter (L)

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Selected acronyms and abbreviations:

BTEX Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (total)

mL milliliter

μg microgram

μg/L microgram per liter

MDL Method detection level

MTBE Methyl tert-butyl ether

PAH Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon

PCE Perchloroethylene (also known as tetrachloroethylene)

SVOC Semivolatile organic compound

TCE Trichloroethylene

TPH Total petroleum hydrocarbon

USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

VOC Volatile organic compound
Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination at Building 310 

Underground Storage Tank Area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 

2010–2011

By Wladmir B. Guimaraes,1 W. Fred Falls,1 Andral W. Caldwell,1 W. Hagan Ratliff,2 John B. Wellborn,3 and 

James E. Landmeyer1

____________________ 1

U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia, South Carolina.

2

Environmental Branch, Fort Gordon, Georgia.

3

Environmental and Natural Resources, Fort Gordon, Georgia.

Abstract

Soil gas was assessed for contaminants in the building 

310 underground storage tank area adjacent to the Dwight D. 

Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Ft. Gordon, Georgia, 

from October 2010 to September 2011. The assessment, which 

also included the detection of organic compounds in soil gas, 

provides environmental contamination data to Fort Gordon 

personnel pursuant to requirements of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Part B Hazardous Waste Permit 

process. The study was conducted by the U.S. Geological 

Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of the Army 

Environmental and Natural Resources Management Office of 

the U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon. 

Soil-gas samplers were deployed below land surface at 

37 locations in the building 310 underground storage tank 

area. Soil-gas samplers were deployed in a grid pattern near 

the storage tank area as well as downslope of the tank area 

in the direction of groundwater flow toward an unnamed 

tributary to Butler Creek. Total petroleum hydrocarbons were 

detected in 35 of the 37 soil-gas samplers at levels above the 

method detection level, and the combined mass of benzene, 

toluene, ethylbenzene, and total xylenes were detected above 

their detection levels in 8 of the 37 samplers. In addition, 

the combined masses of undecane, tridecane, and pentadecane were detected at or above their method detection levels 

in 9 of the 37 samplers. Other volatile organic compounds 

detected above their respective method detection levels were 

chloroform, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, and perchloroethylene. 

In addition, naphthalene, 2-methyl naphthalene, and 

1,2,4-trimethylbenzene were detected below the method 

detection levels, but above the nondetection level.

Introduction

Fort Gordon is a U.S. Department of the Army facility located in east-central Georgia, approximately 10 miles 

(mi) southwest of Augusta, Georgia (fig. 1). A cantonment 

(military housing) area is located at the northwestern boundary of Fort Gordon. Underground storage tanks (USTs) are 

located in open area, adjacent to East Hospital Road, near 

the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center (fig. 1). A 

200,000 gallon UST is located directly behind a small powerplant identified as building 310. The tank is currently (2011) 

used for fuel storage. The ground is directly above the UST, 

but slopes away from the tanks to a tributary to Butler Creek 

in the northeast part of the cantonment area at Fort Gordon. 

Little information is available about the USTs behind building 

310 (310 UST) except that petroleum products were stored in 

the tanks (Hagan Ratliff, Applied Services and Informational 

Systems, Inc., Installation Restoration Program Manager, 

oral commun., November 6, 2009). An initial investigation to 

study the possible contamination of the soil is warranted for 

the 310 UST because no historical information is available 

about the activities and use of the site. Additionally, the site 

is located in the outcrop area for the Cretaceous-age aquifer 

system which is used for drinking water farther downgradient 

(Williams, 2007). Groundwater from the 310 UST area may 

discharge to streams in the area, enabling potential contaminants to be transported off the Fort Gordon property. 

Purpose and Scope

The 310 UST area represents a potential source of 

contamination to the water resources of the area. The U.S. 

Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Department 

of the Army Environmental and Natural Resources Management Office of the U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon, 

Georgia, conducted an assessment of soil gas for contaminants 

at the 310 UST area in July 2011. This assessment was conducted to provide environmental contamination data to personnel at Fort Gordon. A preliminary survey of the area was 
2 Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011

82°8' 82°7'50" 82°7'40" 82°7'30"

33°26'10"

33°26'

33°25'50"

Building

310

Location of

sampling sites

Unnamed trib to

Butler Creek

0 250 500 Feet 125

0 50 100 Meters 25

Dwight D Eisenhower

Army Medical Center

E. Hospital Road

Building

310

Base From ESRI® and AEX Aerials Maps & Data, 2007, 0.5 meter

Albers Equal-Area Conic projection

Standard parallels 29°30’N and 45°30’N

Central meridian –96°00’

Brier

Creek

Sandy Run Creek

Spirit Cree

So

k

uth Prong Creek

Boggy Gut Creek

Base from U.S. Geological Survey Digital Line Graph

1:100,000-scale

Fort Gordon

Cantonment area

EXPLANATION

COLUMBIA CO

MC DUFFIE

CO

MC DUFFIE

CO

RICHMOND CO

JEFFERSON CO

RICHMOND CO

BURKE CO

0

0

5 Miles

5 Kilometers

N

Study

area

Augusta

COASTAL PLAIN

GEORGIA

PIEDMONT

BLUE RIDGE

CUMBERLAND

PLATEAU AND

VALLEY AND RIDGE

Fall Line

88

20 520

1

78

221

223

78

Unnamed

 tributaryBranch

Marcum

Augusta

Hephzibah

32°26’15”

32°18’45”

82°18’45” 82°11’15”

Figure 1. Location of the building 310 underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, Georgia. 
Results 3

conducted in 2010 to identify possible areas of contamination. 

This report provides the results of analyses of these samplers.

Description of the Study Area

Fort Gordon is an Army facility located in east-central 

Georgia, approximately 10 mi southwest of Augusta, Georgia 

(fig. 1). Fort Gordon lies in the northern part of the Coastal 

Plain Physiographic Province and south of the Fall Line. 

Surficial soil and sediments are characterized by unconsolidated sands, indurated sands and semiconsolidated sandstones, and layers of clay that include kaolinite (Gregory and 

others, 2001).

Figure 2. Soil-gas sampler A, prior to being installed in a 

shallow borehole; and B, following retrieval from a borehole 

and prior to shipping to the laboratory for analysis.

Methods

All soil-gas samplers were installed, retrieved, and 

analyzed in July 2011 using standard laboratory practices 

(U.S. Geological Survey, variously dated). The methods were 

selected to provide data to determine the presence or absence 

of contamination in the soil gas. The soil-gas method that was 

used provides results that are qualitative and not quantitative.

Soil-Gas Survey

The passive survey used the GORETM Module (soil-gas 

samplers), a commercially available passive diffusion sampler 

based on GORE-TEX® membrane technology (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1998; W.L. Gore and Associates, Inc., 2004; American Society for Testing and Materials, 

2006). The soil-gas samplers consist of an adsorbent material 

placed inside a shoestring-shaped GORE-TEX® tube (fig. 2A). 

The adsorbent material can adsorb a wide variety of volatile organic compounds (VOC), including solvents such as 

perchloroethylene (PCE; also known as tetrachloroethylene); 

trichloroethylene (TCE); benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and 

xylenes (collectively referred to as BTEX); methyl tert-butyl 

ether (MTBE); semivolatile organic compounds (SVOC); 

total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH); and polycyclic aromatic 

hydrocarbons (PAH), such as naphthalene. The soil-gas samplers were tied to a string, attached to a cork plug to prevent 

the entrance of surface water and ambient surface sources 

of contamination, inserted into a shallow borehole, and later 

removed after 5 to 10 days. After the samplers were removed, 

they were placed in their original 20-milliliter (mL) gas-tight 

vial (fig. 2B) and sent to a commercial laboratory (W.L. Gore 

and Associates, Inc.) for analysis by gas chromatography/mass 

spectroscopy, using a modification of U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (USEPA) method 8260/8270 to include 

thermal desorption of the sample. The laboratory is in compliance with Good Laboratory Practices and ISO Guide 25 

(International Organization for Standardization, 1990). 

A total of 37 soil-gas samplers were deployed in a grid 

pattern to cover the generalized extent of the 310 UST and are 

also installed downgradient toward an unnamed tributary to 

Butler Creek (fig. 3). Each soil-gas sampler was placed in a 

borehole, created by a stainless steel ship auger attached to a 

cordless drill, measuring 0.5 inches (in.) in diameter and 15-in. 

long. The sampling depth is similar to that recommended by 

the USEPA for soil-gas investigations (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1998). The auger was cleaned with 

a paper towel between boreholes. The 37 soil-gas sampler 

modules were installed on July 20, 2011, and were removed 

on July 27, 2011. Five additional soil-gas samplers were used 

as trip blanks and two samplers used as method blanks and 

these were not deployed. The soil-gas contaminant results are 

expressed as mass of contaminant in micrograms.

Results

Passive survey results can indicate the presence of particular contaminants. The results do not, however, reveal if the 

detection was derived from a free product, a residual-phase 

adsorbed material, vapors in the unsaturated zone, or from the 

dissolved phase in shallow and deep groundwater. In general, 

higher mass of a compound in a sampler tends to be related to 

the presence of residual contamination or free product that is 

close to the land surface where the sampler is located. If such 

source material were located at greater depths, however, the 

contaminant mass generally would be lower. A lower mass of 

a compound near known sources of contaminants could be due 

to various attenuation processes that affect the mass prior to 

detection. In both cases, however, the soil-gas samplers help 
4 Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011

662399

662398

662397

662396

662395

662394

662393

662392

662391

662390

662389

662388

662387

662386

662385

662384

662383

662382

662381

662380

662379

662378

662377

662376

662375

662374

662373

662372

662370 662369

662368

662366

662365

662364

662363

662371

662367

82°7'44" 82°7'36"

33°26'8"

33°26'

33°25'52"

EXPLANATION

Soil-gas sampling site and identifier

Base from US Army, 2010

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 17

662384

Unnamed trib to

Butler Creek

Preliminary Data Only

0 125 250 500 FEET

0 25 50 100 METERS

Figure 3. Locations of soil-gas sampling sites, building 310 underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, 

Georgia, 2010–2011.
Results 5

to rapidly indicate the presence or absence of contaminants. 

The passive approach was approved for use at the 310 UST 

area by the Hazardous Waste Management Branch, Georgia 

Environmental Protection Department (William Powell, P.E., 

Environmental Engineer, Department of Defense Remediation 

Unit, oral commun., December 10, 2008).

Soil-Gas Survey

A total of 35 of the 37 soil-gas samplers deployed at the 

310 UST area detected TPH mass greater than the method 

detection level (MDL) of 0.02 microgram (μg) (fig. 4, 

table 1; table 1 shown on p. 16); the other 2 samplers detected 

TPH below its MDL but above the nondetection level. The 

highest soil-gas TPH mass was 34.89 μg and was located in 

sampler number 662373. The TPH mass ranged from 0.02 to 

34.89 μg. Two of the highest detected masses of TPH were 

detected downslope near an unnamed tributary to Butler 

Creek (sampler numbers 662381 and 662385). One trip 

blank (sampler number 662359) detected TPH mass at 0.08 

μg, which is above the 0.02 μg MDL. Two other trip blanks 

(sampler numbers 662358 and 662360) detected the presence 

of TPH at levels below the MDL, but above its nondetection 

level. Censoring of soil-gas results can be difficult because the 

results are not quantitative, but they do indicate the presence 

of the constituent. For TPH, the mass in the soil-gas samples 

detected below the level of the 0.08-μg mass detected in one 

trip blank is considered questionable. TPH mass at two times 

greater than the mass detected in the trip blank, or 0.16 μg, 

is considered likely to be an environmental sample, and TPH 

mass greater than 8 μg, or 10 times than the value detected 

in the trip blank, is very likely to be representative of environmental conditions. The only other constituents detected 

in the trip blanks were undecane, tridecane, and pentadecane 

which were detected below their respected MDLs, but above 

the nondetection levels. The detected mass for undecane, 

tridecane, and pentadecane generally were many times greater 

than the mass detected in the trip blanks; therefore, the results 

for the mass of undecane, tridecane, and pentadecane are 

considered to represent environmental conditions. BTEX was 

detected in 8 of the 37 samplers in the 310 UST area above 

each respective MDLs (fig. 5, table 1). Benzene and toluene 

were the main components of the BTEX mass detected above 

their MDL in 7 samplers. Benzene was detected in 3 samplers 

(sampler numbers 662367, 662384, and 662395; fig. 6, table 

1) and toluene was detected in 4 samplers (sampler numbers 

662373, 662377, 662381, and 662385; fig. 6, table 1). Benzene and toluene were detected downslope near the unnamed 

tributary to Butler Creek (sampler numbers 662381, 662384, 

and 662385). The compound m-, p-xylene was detected at one 

location (sampler 662363; fig. 6, table 1). 
6 Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011

662399

662397

662392

662386

662380

662378

662371

662369

662368

662364

662370

662365

662398

662396

662394

662391

662390

662389

662388

662387

662384

662382

662376

662375

662363

662367

662395

662393

662383

662379

662374

662372

662366

662385

662381

662377

662373

82°7'44" 82°7'36"

33°26'8"

33°26'

33°25'52"

Preliminary Data Only

662370

662380

662382

662379

662381

Base from US Army, 2010

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 17

EXPLANATION

Total petroleum hydrocarbons mass,

in micrograms, and identifier

Below detection level

< 0.1

0.1 to 1

1 to 10

> 10

Unnamed trib to

Butler Creek

0 125 250 500 FEET

0 25 50 100 METERS

Figure 4. Total petroleum hydrocarbons mass in soil-gas samplers, building 310 underground storage tank area, 

Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 2011.
Results 7

662399

662398

662397

662396

662394

662393

662392

662391

662390

662389

662388

662387

662386

662383

662382

662380

662379

662378

662376

662375

662374

662372

662370

662369

662368

662366

662365

662364

662371

662385

662384

662381

662363

662395

662373

662367

662377

82°7'44" 82°7'36"

33°26'8"

33°26'

33°25'52"

Preliminary Data Only

Base from US Army, 2010

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 17

Unnamed trib to

Butler Creek

EXPLANATION

Combined masses of benzene, toluene,

ethylbenzene, and xylenes, in

micrograms, and identifier

No detection

< 0.1

0.1 to 1

662386

662385

662377

0 125 250 500 FEET

0 25 50 100 METERS

Figure 5. Combined masses of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and total xylenes in soil-gas samplers, building 

310 underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 2011.
8 Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011

662399

662398

662397

662396

662394

662393

662392

662391

662390

662389

662388

662387

662386

662383

662382

662380

662379

662378

662376

662375

662374

662372

662371

662370 662369

662368

662366

662365

662364

662395

662384

662367

662385

662381

662377

662373

662363

82°7'44" 82°7'36"

33°26'8"

33°26'

33°25'52"

Preliminary Data Only

Base from US Army, 2010

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 17

Unnamed trib to

Butler Creek

EXPLANATION

Benzene, toluene, and xylenes

location, and identifier

No detection

Benzene

Toluene

Xylene

662386

662385

662363

662384

0 125 250 500 FEET

0 25 50 100 METERS

Figure 6. Locations of benzene, toluene, and m-, p-zylene mass in soil-gas samplers, building 310 underground 

storage tank area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 2011.
Results 9

Two PAHs, naphthalene (sampler numbers 662366) 

and 2-methyl-napthalene (sampler number 662373), were 

detected below their MDL, but above the nondetection level 

(table 1). The combined masses of the alkanes, undecane, 

tridecane, and pentadecane (C11, C13, and C15), were detected 

at or above their MDLs in 9 of the 37 samplers (fig. 7, table 1) 

and below their MDLs, but above the nondetection levels in 

7 of the 37 samplers (table 1). Undecane was detected above 

its MDL in 5 samplers (sampler numbers 662366, 662372, 

662379, 662381, and 662387; fig. 8, table 1) with 3 samplers 

located downslope near the unnamed tributary to Butler Creek 

(sampler numbers 662379, 662381, and 662387). Tridecane 

was detected above its MDL in 4 samplers (sampler numbers 

662366, 662372, 662373, and 662381; fig. 9, table 1) with 

one sampler located downslope near the unnamed tributary to 

Butler Creek Sampler number 662381). In addition, pentadecane was detected above its MDL in 4 samplers (sampler 

numbers 662376, 662377, 662381, 66293; fig.10, table 1) with 

1 sampler located downslope near the unnamed tributary to 

Butler Creek (sampler number 662381). Other VOCs detected 

in the soil-gas survey above their MDL included chloroform in 

sampler numbers 662381, 662382, 662386, 662387, 662390, 

662391, 662393 and 662394 (fig. 11, table 1), 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene in sampler number 662363, and PCE in sampler 

number 662382 (table 1). Most of the chloroform detected was 

downslope near the unnamed tributary to Butler Creek.
10 Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011

662398

662397

662396

662394

662392

662391

662390

662389

662388

662386

662384

662382

662378

662375

662371

662370 662369

662368

662365

662364

662363

662399

662395

662385

662383

662380

662374

662367

662393

662387

662377

662376

662373

662379

662372 662366

662381

82°7'44" 82°7'36"

33°26'8"

33°25'52"

33°26'

Base from US Army, 2010

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 17

Preliminary Data Only

Unnamed trib to

Butler Creek

EXPLANATION

Combined masses of undecane, tridecane,

and pentadecane, in micrograms,

and identifier

No detection

Below detection level

< 0.1

0.1 to 1

>10

662382

662380

662393

662379

662381

0 125 250 500 FEET

0 25 50 100 METERS

Figure 7. Combined masses of undecane, tridecane, and pentadecane in soil-gas samplers, building 310 

underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 2011.
 11

662399

662398

662397

662396

662395

662394

662393

662392

662391

662390

662389

662388

662386

662385

662384

662382

662380

662378

662377

662376

662375

662374

662373

662371

662370

662369

662368

662365

662364

662363

662367

662383

662387

662379

662372 662366

662381

33°26'

82°7'44" 82°7'36"

33°26'8"

33°25'52"

Preliminary Data Only

662384

662383

662387

662379

662381

Base from US Army, 2010

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 17

Unnamed trib to

Butler Creek

EXPLANATION

Undecane mass, in micrograms,

and identifier

No detection

Below detection level

< 0.1

0.1 to 1

>10

0 125 250 500 FEET

0 25 50 100 METERS

Figure 8. Undecane mass in soil-gas samplers, building 310 underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 

July 2011.
12 Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011

662399

662398

662397

662396

662395

662394

662393

662392

662391

662390

662389

662388

662387

662386

662385

662384

662383

662382

662380

662379

662378

662377

662376

662375

662374

662371

662370 662369

662368

662365

662364

662363

662367

662373

662372 662366

662381

33°26'

82°7'44" 82°7'36"

33°26'8"

33°25'52"

Preliminary Data Only

662385

662372

662381

Base from US Army, 2010

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 17 0 125 250 500 FEET

0 25 50 100 METERS

Unnamed trib to

Butler Creek

EXPLANATION

Tridecane mass, in micrograms,

and identifier

No detection

< 0.1

0.1 to 1

Figure 9. Tridecane mass in soil-gas samplers, building 310 underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 

July 2011.
 13

662398

662397

662396

662394

662392

662391

662390

662389

662388

662387

662386

662384

662383

662382

662379

662378

662375

662373

662371

662370 662369

662368

662366

662365

662364

662363

662399

662395

662385

662380

662374

662372

662367

662393

662377

662376

662381

33°26'

82°7'44" 82°7'36"

33°26'8"

33°25'52"

Preliminary Data Only

662386

662393

662381

662385

Unnamed trib to

Butler Creek

EXPLANATION

Pentadecane mass, in micrograms,

and identifier

No detection

Below detection level

< 0.1

0.1 to 1

Base from US Army, 2010

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 17 0 125 250 500 FEET

0 25 50 100 METERS

Figure 10. Pentadecane mass in soil-gas samplers, building 310 underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, 

Georgia, July 2011.
14 Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011

Figure 11. Chloroform mass in soil-gas samplers, building 310 underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, 

Georgia, July 2011.

662399

662398

662397

662396

662395

662392

662389

662388

662385

662384

662383

662380

662379

662378

662377

662376

662375

662374

662373

662372

662371

662370 662369

662368

662366

662365

662364

662363

662367

662394 662394

662390

662387

662386

662382

662381

662393

662391

82°7'44" 82°7'36"

33°26'8"

33°25'52"

Preliminary Data Only

662385

662387

662393

662390

Base from US Army, 2010

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 17 0 125 250 500 FEET

0 25 50 100 METERS

Unnamed trib to

Butler Creek

EXPLANATION

Chloroform mass, in micrograms,

and identifier

No detection

< 0.01

0.01 to 0.1

0.1 to 1
Selected References 15

Summary

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the 

Environmental and Natural Resources Management Office 

of the U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon, Georgia, 

assessed soil gas for contaminants near the building 310 

underground storage area near the Dwight D. Eisenhower 

Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon, Georgia, from October 2010 to September 2011. The assessment included the 

detection of organic compounds in soil gas. The assessment 

was conducted to provide environmental contamination data 

to Fort Gordon personnel pursuant to requirements of the 

Resource Conservation and Resources Act Part B Hazardous 

Permit process.

A total of 37 passive soil-gas samplers were deployed 

above and near the underground storage tanks near building 

310, and downslope toward a tributary to Butler Creek. Of the 

37 samplers, 35 samplers detected the presence of total petroleum hydrocarbons greater than its method detection level 

(MDL). Combined masses of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, 

and total xylenes (BTEX) were detected above their MDLs in 

8 of the 37 samplers. The combined masses of undecane, tridecane, and pentadecane were detected above their MDLs in 9 

of the 37 samplers. Other volatile organic compounds detected 

above their respective MDLs in the soil-gas survey included 

chloroform, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, and perchloroethylene. 

Selected References

American Society for Testing and Materials, 2006, Standard 

guide for soil gas monitoring in the vadose zone: ASTM 

D5314-92, 36 p.

Gregory, M.B., Stamey, T.C., and Wellborn, J.B., 2001, Ecological characterization of streams, and fish-tissue analysis 

for mercury and lead at selected locations, Fort Gordon, 

Georgia, June 1999 to May 2000: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 01–203, 14 p.

International Organization for Standardization, 1990, ISO 

Guide 25: General requirements for the competence of 

calibration and testing laboratories (3d ed.): New York, 

American National Standards Institute.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1998, Innovative 

technology verification report soil gas sampling technology: 

EPA/600/R-98/095.

U.S. Geological Survey, variously dated, National field manual for the collection of water-quality data: U.S. Geological 

Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 

9, chaps. A1-A9, available online at http://pubs.water.usgs.

gov/twri9A. Accessed March 26, 2012.

Williams, L.J., 2007, Hydrogeology and potentiometric 

surface of the Dublin and Midville aquifer systems in 

Richmond County, Georgia, January 2007: U.S. Geological 

Survey Scientific Investigations Map 2982, 1 sheet.

W.L. Gore and Associates, Inc., 2004, Surveys for environmental site assessment: Accessed March 19, 2010, 

at http://www.gore.com/MungoBlobs/239/659/surveys_

environmental_brochure.pdf.
16 Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011

Table 1. Mass of organic compounds detected in soil-gas samplers, 310 underground storage tank, Fort 

Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011.—Continued

[TPH, total petroleum hydrocarbons; μg, micrograms; BTEX, summation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and total 

xylene; m, meta; p, para; o, ortho; MDL,method detection level; nd, not detected; bdl, below detection level; 662358,662359, 

662360, 662361, and 662362 are trip blanks; MTBE, methyl tert-butyl ether; C11,C13, C15, combined masses of undecane, 

tridecane, and pentadecane; DCA dichloroethane; TCA, trchloroethane; TCE, trichloroethylene; PCE, perchloroethylene; c, 

cis; t, trans; DCE, dichloroethylene; CCL4, carbon tetrachloride; DCB, dichlorobenzene. All units in micrograms per liter]

Sampler 

number TPH BTEX Benzene Toluene Ethlybenzene m-,p-xylene o-xylene

MDL= 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.01

Environmental Samples

662363 0.23 0.02 nd nd nd 0.02 nd

662364 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662365 bdl nd nd nd nd nd nd

662366 3.11 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662367 0.22 0.03 0.03 nd nd nd nd

662368 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662369 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662370 bdl nd nd nd nd nd nd

662371 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662372 2.01 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662373 34.89 0.05 nd 0.05 nd nd nd

662374 6.47 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662375 0.11 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662376 0.61 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662377 27.26 0.41 nd 0.41 nd nd nd

662378 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662379 3.04 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662380 0.09 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662381 30.55 0.04 nd 0.04 nd nd nd

662382 0.20 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662383 1.35 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662384 0.69 0.02 0.02 nd nd nd nd

662385 10.78 0.03 nd 0.03 nd nd nd

662386 0.07 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662387 0.26 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662388 0.43 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662389 0.20 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662390 0.16 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662391 0.40 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662392 0.09 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662393 3.70 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662394 0.38 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662395 2.95 0.07 0.07 nd nd nd nd
Summary 17

Table 1. Mass of organic compounds detected in soil-gas samplers, 310 underground storage tank, Fort 

Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011.—Continued

[TPH, total petroleum hydrocarbons; μg, micrograms; BTEX, summation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and total 

xylene; m, meta; p, para; o, ortho; MDL,method detection level; nd, not detected; bdl, below detection level; 662358,662359, 

662360, 662361, and 662362 are trip blanks; MTBE, methyl tert-butyl ether; C ,C , C , combined masses of undecane, 11 13 15

tridecane, and pentadecane; DCA dichloroethane; TCA, trchloroethane; TCE, trichloroethylene; PCE, perchloroethylene; c, 

cis; t, trans; DCE, dichloroethylene; CCL , carbon tetrachloride; DCB, dichlorobenzene. All units in micrograms per liter] 4

Sampler 

number TPH BTEX Benzene Toluene Ethlybenzene m-,p-xylene o-xylene

MDL= 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.01

Environmental Samples—Continued

662396 0.53 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662397 0.07 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662398 0.53 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662399 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd nd

Trip Blanks

662358 bdl nd nd nd nd nd nd

662359 0.08 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662360 bdl nd nd nd nd nd nd

662361 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662362 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

method blank bdl nd nd nd nd nd nd

method blank nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

Maximum 34.89 0.41 0.07 0.41 0.00 0.02 0.00

Standard 

deviation 8.55 0.07 0.01 0.07 0.00 0.00 0.00

Mean 3.56 0.02 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00
18 Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011

Table 1. Mass of organic compounds detected in soil-gas 

samplers, 310 underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, 

Georgia, 2010–2011.—Continued

[TPH, total petroleum hydrocarbons; μg, micrograms; BTEX, summation of 

benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and total xylene; m, meta; p, para; o, ortho; 

MDL,method detection level; nd, not detected; bdl, below detection level; 

662358,662359, 662360, 662361, and 662362 are trip blanks; MTBE, methyl 

tert-butyl ether; C11,C13, C15, combined masses of undecane, tridecane, and 

pentadecane; DCA dichloroethane; TCA, trchloroethane; TCE, trichloroethylene; 

PCE, perchloroethylene; c, cis; t, trans; DCE, dichloroethylene; CCL4, carbon 

tetrachloride; DCB, dichlorobenzene. All units are in micrograms per liter]

Sampler 

number Naphthalene 2-MethylNaphthalene MTBE Octane

MDL= 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.02

662363 nd nd nd nd

662364 nd nd nd nd

662365 nd nd nd nd

662366 bdl nd nd nd

662367 nd nd nd nd

662368 nd nd nd nd

662369 nd nd nd nd

662370 nd nd nd nd

662371 nd nd nd nd

662372 nd nd nd nd

662373 nd bdl nd nd

662374 nd nd nd nd

662375 nd nd nd nd

662376 nd nd nd nd

662377 nd nd nd nd

662378 nd nd nd nd

662379 nd nd nd nd

662380 nd nd nd nd

662381 nd nd nd nd

662382 nd nd nd nd

662383 nd nd nd nd

662384 nd nd nd nd

662385 nd nd nd nd

662386 nd nd nd nd

662387 nd nd nd nd

662388 nd nd nd nd

662389 nd nd nd nd

662390 nd nd nd nd

662391 nd nd nd nd

662392 nd nd nd nd

662393 nd nd nd nd

662394 nd nd nd nd

662395 nd nd nd nd

662396 nd nd nd nd

662397 nd nd nd nd
Summary 19

Table 1. Mass of organic compounds detected in soil-gas 

samplers, 310 underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, 

Georgia, 2010–2011.—Continued

[TPH, total petroleum hydrocarbons; μg, micrograms; BTEX, summation of 

benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and total xylene; m, meta; p, para; o, ortho; 

MDL,method detection level; nd, not detected; bdl, below detection level; 

662358,662359, 662360, 662361, and 662362 are trip blanks; MTBE, methyl 

tert-butyl ether; C ,C , C , combined masses of undecane, tridecane, and 11 13 15

pentadecane; DCA dichloroethane; TCA, trchloroethane; TCE, trichloroethylene; 

PCE, perchloroethylene; c, cis; t, trans; DCE, dichloroethylene; CCL , carbon 4

tetrachloride; DCB, dichlorobenzene. All units are in micrograms per liter]

Sampler 

number Naphthalene 2-Methyl-Naphthalene MTBE Octane

MDL= 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.02

662398

662399

662358

662359

662360

662361

662362

method blank

method blank

Maximum

Standard 

deviation

Mean

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

0.00

0.00

0.00

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

0.00

0.00

0.00

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

0.00

0.00

0.00

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

0.00

0.00

0.00
20 Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011

Table 1. Mass of organic compounds detected in soil-gas samplers, 310 underground 

storage tank area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011.—Continued

[TPH, total petroleum hydrocarbons; μg, micrograms; BTEX, summation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and total xylene; m, meta; p, para; o, ortho; MDL,method detection level; nd, not detected; 

bdl, below detection level; 662358,662359, 662360, 662361, and 662362 are trip blanks; MTBE, 

methyl tert-butyl ether; C11,C13, C15, combined masses of undecane, tridecane, and pentadecane; DCA 

dichloroethane; TCA, trchloroethane; TCE, trichloroethylene; PCE, perchloroethylene; c, cis; t, trans; 

DCE, dichloroethylene; CCL4, carbon tetrachloride; DCB, dichlorobenzene. All units are in micrograms 

per liter]

Sampler 

number C11, C13, C15 Undecane Tridecane Pentadecane

MDL= 0.01 0.01 0.01

662363 nd nd nd nd

662364 nd nd nd nd

662365 nd nd nd nd

662366 0.24 0.21 0.02 nd

662367 bdl nd nd bdl

662368 nd nd nd nd

662369 nd nd nd nd

662370 nd nd nd nd

662371 nd nd nd nd

662372 0.67 0.64 0.03 bdl

662373 0.02 nd 0.02 nd

662374 bdl nd nd bdl

662375 nd nd nd nd

662376 0.02 nd nd 0.02

662377 0.04 nd nd 0.04

662378 nd nd nd nd

662379 0.12 0.12 nd nd

662380 bdl nd nd bdl

662381 19.03 16.63 1.45 0.95

662382 nd nd nd nd

662383 bdl bdl nd nd

662384 nd nd nd nd

662385 bdl nd nd bdl

662386 nd nd nd nd

662387 0.01 0.01 nd nd

662388 nd nd nd nd

662389 nd nd nd nd

662390 nd nd nd nd

662391 nd nd nd nd

662392 nd nd nd nd

662393 0.01 nd nd 0.01

662394 nd nd nd nd

662395 bdl nd nd bdl

662396 nd nd nd nd

662397 nd nd nd nd

662398 nd nd nd nd
Summary 21

Table 1. Mass of organic compounds detected in soil-gas samplers, 310 underground 

storage tank area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011.—Continued

[TPH, total petroleum hydrocarbons; μg, micrograms; BTEX, summation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and total xylene; m, meta; p, para; o, ortho; MDL,method detection level; nd, not detected; 

bdl, below detection level; 662358,662359, 662360, 662361, and 662362 are trip blanks; MTBE, 

methyl tert-butyl ether; C ,C , C , combined masses of undecane, tridecane, and pentadecane; DCA 11 13 15

dichloroethane; TCA, trchloroethane; TCE, trichloroethylene; PCE, perchloroethylene; c, cis; t, trans; 

DCE, dichloroethylene; CCL , carbon tetrachloride; DCB, dichlorobenzene. All units are in micrograms 4

per liter]

Sampler 

number C , C , C 11 13 15 Undecane Tridecane Pentadecane

MDL= 0.01 0.01 0.01

662399 bdl nd nd bdl

662358 nd nd nd nd

662359 bdl bdl bdl bdl

662360 nd nd nd nd

662361 nd nd nd nd

662362 nd nd nd nd

method blank nd nd nd nd

method blank nd nd nd nd

Maximum 19.03 16.63 1.45 0.95

Standard 

deviation

3.13 2.73 0.24 0.16

Mean 0.54 0.48 0.04 0.03
22 Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011

Table 1. Mass of organic compounds detected in soil-gas samplers, 310 underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, 

Georgia, 2010–2011.—Continued

[TPH, total petroleum hydrocarbons; μg, micrograms; BTEX, summation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and total xylene; m, meta; p, para; 

o, ortho; MDL,method detection level; nd, not detected; bdl, below detection level; 662358,662359, 662360, 662361, and 662362 are trip blanks; 

MTBE, methyl tert-butyl ether; C11,C13, C15, combined masses of undecane, tridecane, and pentadecane; DCA dichloroethane; TCA, trchloroethane; TCE, trichloroethylene; PCE, perchloroethylene; c, cis; t, trans; DCE, dichloroethylene; CCL4

, carbon tetrachloride; DCB, dichlorobenzene. 

All units are in micrograms per liter]

Sampler 

number

Trimethylbenzenes1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene1,3,5,-Trimethylbenzene 1,1-DCA Chloroform 1,1,1-TCA 1,2-DCA

MDL= 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01

662363 0.02 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

662364 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662365 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662366 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662367 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662368 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662369 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662370 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662371 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662372 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662373 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662374 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662375 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662376 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662377 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662378 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662379 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662380 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662381 nd nd nd nd 0.05 nd nd

662382 nd nd nd nd 0.06 nd nd

662383 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662384 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662385 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662386 nd nd nd nd 0.04 nd nd

662387 nd nd nd nd 0.08 nd nd

662388 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662389 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662390 nd nd nd nd 0.09 nd nd

662391 nd nd nd nd 0.11 nd nd

662392 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662393 nd nd nd nd 0.10 nd nd

662394 nd nd nd nd 0.04 nd nd

662395 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd
Summary 23

Table 1. Mass of organic compounds detected in soil-gas samplers, 310 underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, 

Georgia, 2010–2011.—Continued

[TPH, total petroleum hydrocarbons; μg, micrograms; BTEX, summation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and total xylene; m, meta; p, para; 

o, ortho; MDL,method detection level; nd, not detected; bdl, below detection level; 662358,662359, 662360, 662361, and 662362 are trip blanks; 

MTBE, methyl tert-butyl ether; C ,C , C , combined masses of undecane, tridecane, and pentadecane; DCA dichloroethane; TCA, trchloroeth- 11 13 15

ane; TCE, trichloroethylene; PCE, perchloroethylene; c, cis; t, trans; DCE, dichloroethylene; CCL , carbon tetrachloride; DCB, dichlorobenzene. 4

All units are in micrograms per liter]

Sampler 

number

Trimethylbenzenes1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene1,3,5,-Trimethylbenzene 1,1-DCA Chloroform 1,1,1-TCA 1,2-DCA

MDL= 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01

662396 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662397 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662398 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662399 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662358 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662359 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662360 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662361 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

662362 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

method blank nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

method blank nd nd nd nd nd nd nd

Maximum 0.02 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.11 0.00 0.00

Standard 

deviation 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.00

Mean 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00
24 Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011

Table 1. Mass of organic compounds detected in soil-gas samplers, 310 underground storage 

tank area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010– 2011.—Continued

[TPH, total petroleum hydrocarbons; μg, micrograms; BTEX, summation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, 

and total xylene; m, meta; p, para; o, ortho; MDL,method detection level; nd, not detected; bdl, below detection 

level; 662358,662359, 662360, 662361, and 662362 are trip blanks; MTBE, methyl tert-butyl ether; C11,C13, C15, 

combined masses of undecane, tridecane, and pentadecane; DCA dichloroethane; TCA, trchloroethane; TCE, 

trichloroethylene; PCE, perchloroethylene; c, cis; t, trans; DCE, dichloroethylene; CCL4, carbon tetrachloride; 

DCB, dichlorobenzene. All units are in micrograms per liter]

Sampler 

number TCE PCE c,t-1,2-DCE t-1,2-DCE c-1,2-DCE

MDL= 0.02 0.02 0.05 0.02

662363 nd nd nd nd nd

662364 nd nd nd nd nd

662365 nd nd nd nd nd

662366 nd nd nd nd nd

662367 nd nd nd nd nd

662368 nd nd nd nd nd

662369 nd nd nd nd nd

662370 nd nd nd nd nd

662371 nd nd nd nd nd

662372 nd nd nd nd nd

662373 nd nd nd nd nd

662374 nd nd nd nd nd

662375 nd nd nd nd nd

662376 nd nd nd nd nd

662377 nd nd nd nd nd

662378 nd nd nd nd nd

662379 nd nd nd nd nd

662380 nd nd nd nd nd

662381 nd nd nd nd nd

662382 nd 0.03 nd nd nd

662383 nd nd nd nd nd

662384 nd nd nd nd nd

662385 nd nd nd nd nd

662386 nd nd nd nd nd

662387 nd nd nd nd nd

662388 nd nd nd nd nd

662389 nd nd nd nd nd

662390 nd nd nd nd nd

662391 nd nd nd nd nd

662392 nd nd nd nd nd

662393 nd nd nd nd nd

662394 nd nd nd nd nd

662395 nd nd nd nd nd
Summary 25

Table 1. Mass of organic compounds detected in soil-gas samplers, 310 underground storage 

tank area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010– 2011.—Continued

[TPH, total petroleum hydrocarbons; μg, micrograms; BTEX, summation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, 

and total xylene; m, meta; p, para; o, ortho; MDL,method detection level; nd, not detected; bdl, below detection 

level; 662358,662359, 662360, 662361, and 662362 are trip blanks; MTBE, methyl tert-butyl ether; C ,C , C 11 13 15, 

combined masses of undecane, tridecane, and pentadecane; DCA dichloroethane; TCA, trchloroethane; TCE, 

trichloroethylene; PCE, perchloroethylene; c, cis; t, trans; DCE, dichloroethylene; CCL , carbon tetrachloride; 4

DCB, dichlorobenzene. All units are in micrograms per liter]

Sampler 

number TCE PCE c,t-1,2-DCE t-1,2-DCE c-1,2-DCE

MDL= 0.02 0.02 0.05 0.02

662396 nd nd nd nd nd

662397 nd nd nd nd nd

662398 nd nd nd nd nd

662399 nd nd nd nd nd

662358 nd nd nd nd nd

662359 nd nd nd nd nd

662360 nd nd nd nd nd

662361 nd nd nd nd nd

662362 nd nd nd nd nd

method blank nd nd nd nd nd

method blank nd nd nd nd nd

Maximum 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00

Standard 

deviation 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Mean 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
26 Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011

Table 1. Mass of organic compounds detected in soil-gas samplers, 310 underground storage tank area, 

Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011.—Continued

[TPH, total petroleum hydrocarbons; μg, micrograms; BTEX, summation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and total xylene; m, 

meta; p, para; o, ortho; MDL,method detection level; nd, not detected; bdl, below detection level; 662358,662359, 662360, 662361, 

and 662362 are trip blanks; MTBE, methyl tert-butyl ether; C11,C13, C15, combined masses of undecane, tridecane, and pentadecane; 

DCA dichloroethane; TCA, trchloroethane; TCE, trichloroethylene; PCE, perchloroethylene; c, cis; t, trans; DCE, dichloroethylene; 

CCL4, carbon tetrachloride; DCB, dichlorobenzene. All units are in micrograms per liter]

Sampler 

number CCl4 1,4-DCB (μg) 1,1,2-TCA Chlorobenzene 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane

1,1,2,2-Tetrachlorethane 

MDL= 0.03 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.01

662363 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662364 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662365 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662366 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662367 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662368 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662369 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662370 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662371 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662372 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662373 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662374 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662375 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662376 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662377 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662378 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662379 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662380 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662381 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662382 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662383 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662384 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662385 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662386 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662387 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662388 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662389 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662390 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662391 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662392 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662393 nd nd nd nd nd nd
Summary 27

Table 1. Mass of organic compounds detected in soil-gas samplers, 310 underground storage tank area, 

Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011.—Continued

[TPH, total petroleum hydrocarbons; μg, micrograms; BTEX, summation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and total xylene; m, 

meta; p, para; o, ortho; MDL,method detection level; nd, not detected; bdl, below detection level; 662358,662359, 662360, 662361, 

and 662362 are trip blanks; MTBE, methyl tert-butyl ether; C ,C , C , combined masses of undecane, tridecane, and pentadecane; 11 13 15

DCA dichloroethane; TCA, trchloroethane; TCE, trichloroethylene; PCE, perchloroethylene; c, cis; t, trans; DCE, dichloroethylene; 

CCL , carbon tetrachloride; DCB, dichlorobenzene. All units are in micrograms per liter] 4

Sampler 

number CCl4 1,4-DCB (μg) 1,1,2-TCA Chlorobenzene 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane

1,1,2,2-Tetrachlorethane 

MDL= 0.03 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.01

662394 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662395 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662396 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662397 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662398 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662399 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662358 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662359 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662360 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662361 nd nd nd nd nd nd

662362 nd nd nd nd nd nd

method 

blank nd nd nd nd nd nd

method 

blank nd nd nd nd nd nd

Maximum 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Standard 

Dev. 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Mean 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
28 Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011

Table 1. Mass of organic compounds detected in soil-gas 

samplers, 310 underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, 

Georgia, 2010–2011.—Continued

[TPH, total petroleum hydrocarbons; μg, micrograms; BTEX, summation of 

benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and total xylene; m, meta; p, para; o, ortho; 

MDL,method detection level; nd, not detected; bdl, below detection level; 

662358,662359, 662360, 662361, and 662362 are trip blanks; MTBE, methyl 

tert-butyl ether; C11,C13, C15, combined masses of undecane, tridecane, and 

pentadecane; DCA dichloroethane; TCA, trchloroethane; TCE, trichloroethylene; 

PCE, perchloroethylene; c, cis; t, trans; DCE, dichloroethylene; CCL4, carbon 

tetrachloride; DCB, dichlorobenzene. All units are in micrograms per liter]

Sampler 

number 1,3-Dichlorobenzene 1,2-Dichlorobenzene

MDL= 0.01 0.01

662363 nd nd

662364 nd nd

662365 nd nd

662366 nd nd

662367 nd nd

662368 nd nd

662369 nd nd

662370 nd nd

662371 nd nd

662372 nd nd

662373 nd nd

662374 nd nd

662375 nd nd

662376 nd nd

662377 nd nd

662378 nd nd

662379 nd nd

662380 nd nd

662381 nd nd

662382 nd nd

662383 nd nd

662384 nd nd

662385 nd nd

662386 nd nd

662387 nd nd

662388 nd nd

662389 nd nd

662390 nd nd

662391 nd nd

662392 nd nd

662393 nd nd

662394 nd nd

662395 nd nd

662396 nd nd

662397 nd nd
Summary 29

Table 1. Mass of organic compounds detected in soil-gas 

samplers, 310 underground storage tank area, Fort Gordon, 

Georgia, 2010–2011.—Continued

[TPH, total petroleum hydrocarbons; μg, micrograms; BTEX, summation of 

benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and total xylene; m, meta; p, para; o, ortho; 

MDL,method detection level; nd, not detected; bdl, below detection level; 

662358,662359, 662360, 662361, and 662362 are trip blanks; MTBE, methyl 

tert-butyl ether; C ,C , C , combined masses of undecane, tridecane, and 11 13 15

pentadecane; DCA dichloroethane; TCA, trchloroethane; TCE, trichloroethylene; 

PCE, perchloroethylene; c, cis; t, trans; DCE, dichloroethylene; CCL , carbon 4

tetrachloride; DCB, dichlorobenzene. All units are in micrograms per liter]

Sampler 

number 1,3-Dichlorobenzene 1,2-Dichlorobenzene

MDL= 0.01 0.01

662398

662399

662358

662359

662360

662361

662362

method blank

method blank

Maximum

Standard Dev.

Mean

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

0.00

0.00

0.00

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

0.00

0.00

0.00
Prepared by:

USGS Publishing Network

Raleigh Publishing Service Center

3916 Sunset Ridge Road

Raleigh, NC 27607

For additional information regarding this publication, contact:

 USGS South Carolina Water Science Center

 Stephenson Center, Suite 129

 720 Gracern Road

 Columbia, SC 29210-7651

Or visit the USGS South Carolina Water Science Center Web 

site at:

 http://sc.water.usgs.gov

Guimaraes and others—Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2010–2011—Open-File Report 2012–1136