U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Open-File Report 2012–1127

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 the 

17th Street Landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011
Cover photo shows grass-covered surface and the 

double silt fence along the eastern side of the landfill. 

Photo by W. Fred Falls, USGS
Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination at the 

17th Street Landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011 

By W. Fred Falls, Andral W. Caldwell, Wladmir G. Guimaraes, 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 2012–1127

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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reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Falls, W.F., Caldwell, A.W., Guimaraes, W.G., Ratliff, W.H., Wellborn, J.B., and Landmeyer, J.E., 2012, Assessment of soil-gas 

contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012–1127, 

41 p., (also available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/ofr/2012/1127/). 
iii

Contents 

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

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

Purpose and Sope.................................................................................................................................4

Description of Study Area ...................................................................................................................4

17th Street Landfill ........................................................................................................................4

Eastern and Northern Soil-Gas Study Areas ..........................................................................5

Methods...........................................................................................................................................................6

Results .............................................................................................................................................................8

Quality Assurance and Quality Control .............................................................................................8

Eastern Study Area...............................................................................................................................8

Northern Study Area ............................................................................................................................9

Summary........................................................................................................................................................18

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................19

Figures

 1. Map showing the locations of Fort Gordon, the 17th Street landfill, 

the former (prior to 2007) 105th Avenue access to the landfill, and 

groundwater-monitoring wells, Richmond County, Georgia, 2011 .......................................2

 2. Map showing the approximate locations of soil-gas sampling sites 

in the northern and eastern study areas at 17th Street landfill, 

Fort Gordon, Richmond County, Georgia, 2011.........................................................................3

 3. Photographs of the 17th Street landfill showing the gently rolling, 

grass-covered land surface and silt fences along the eastern margin of 

the eastern landfill area; the flat, grass-covered land surface in the 

northern landfill; the perimeter road between McCoys Creek and the 

wooded slope on the eastern side of the landfill; and the detention pond 

in the eastern landfill, Fort Gordon, Richmond County, Georgia, 2011.................................5

 4. Photographs showing soil-gas sampler prior to installation and in air-tight 

vial as received from the laboratory and shipped to the laboratory for analysis ..............6

 5. Photographs showing installation of a soil-gas sampler, including: 

drilling a borehole in the soil with a stainless steel drill bit attached to 

a cordless drill; attaching one end of a string to a sampler and the other 

end to a cork plug; inserting the sampler into the borehole; and sealing 

the borehole with the cork plug to keep out surface contaminants ....................................7

6–13. Photographs and aerial site maps showing locations and 

identification numbers for soil-gas samplers, and: 

 6. Ranges of soil-gas mass for total petroleum hydrocarbons in 

the eastern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 

July 28–August 3, 2011..........................................................................................................10

 7. Ranges for combined soil-gas masses of benzene, toluene, 

ethylbenzene, and xylene in the eastern study area, 

17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 2011.......................................11

 8. Ranges for combined soil-gas mass for undecane, tridecane, and 

pentadecane in the eastern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 

July 28–August 3, 2011 ...............................................................................................................12
iv

 9. Ranges of soil-gas mass less than 0.1 microgram for trichloroethene 

and perchloroethene in the eastern study area, 17th Street landfill, 

Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 2011........................................................................13

10. Ranges of soil-gas mass for total petroleum hydrocarbons in the 

northern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 

August 19–24, 2011......................................................................................................................14

11. Ranges for combined soil-gas masses of benzene, toluene, 

ethylbenzene, and xylene in the northern study area, 17th Street 

landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, August 19–24, 2011 ................................................................15

12. Ranges of combined soil-gas mass for undecane, tridecane, and 

pentadecane in the northern study area, 17th Street landfill, 

Fort Gordon, Georgia, August 19–24, 2011 ..............................................................................16

13. Ranges of soil-gas mass less than 0.1 microgram for trichloroethene 

and perchloroethene in the northern study area, 17th Street landfill, 

Fort Gordon, Georgia, August 19–24, 2011 ..............................................................................17

Tables 

1. Identification numbers and location information for soil-gas 

samplers deployed and recovered in the eastern study area 

from July 28–August 3, and the northern study area from 

August 19–24, 2011, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia.............................................21

2. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and 

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in trip blanks and 

method blanks for the eastern and northern study areas, 

17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 

and August 19–24, 2011............................................................................................................... 22–24

3. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and 

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in soil-gas 

samplers deployed and recovered in the eastern study area, 

17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 2011................................ 25–34

4. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and 

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in soil-gas 

samplers deployed and recovered in the northern study area, 

17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, August 19–24, 2011 ............................................ 35–41
v

Conversion Factors and Datums 

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

acre 4,047 square meter (m2)

acre 0.4047 hectare (ha)

acre 0.4047 square hectometer (hm2) 

acre 0.004047 square kilometer (km2)

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

Soil-gas units

μg microgram

Acronyms and Abbreviations 

bdl below detection level

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

C11, C13, andC15 undecane, tridecane, and pentadecane (total)

MDL method detection level

MTBE methyl tert-butyl ether

PAH polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon

PCE perchloroethene (also known as perchloroethylene and tetrachloroethene)

SVOC semivolatile organic compound

TCE trichloroethene (also known as trichloroethylene)

TPH total petroleum hydrocarbons

USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

VOC volatile organic compound
vi
Abstract 

Assessments of contaminants in soil gas were conducted 

in two study areas at Fort Gordon, Georgia, in July and August 

of 2011 to supplement environmental contaminant data for 

previous studies at the 17th Street landfill. The two study areas 

include northern and eastern parts of the 17th Street landfill and 

the adjacent wooded areas to the north and east of the landfill. 

These study areas were chosen because of their close proximity to the surface water in Wilkerson Lake and McCoys Creek. 

A total of 48 soil-gas samplers were deployed for the 

July 28 to August 3, 2011, assessment in the eastern study 

area. The assessment mostly identified detections of total 

petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), and gasoline- and dieselrange compounds, but also identified the presence of chlorinated solvents in six samplers, chloroform in three samplers, 

2-methyl naphthalene in one sampler, and trimethylbenzene in 

one sampler. The TPH masses exceeded 0.02 microgram (mg) 

in all 48 samplers and exceeded 0.9 mg in 24 samplers. 

Undecane, one of the three diesel-range compounds used to 

calculate the combined mass for diesel-range compounds, was 

detected in 17 samplers and is the second most commonly 

detected compound in the eastern study area, exceeded only 

by the number of TPH detections. Six samplers had detections 

of toluene, but other gasoline compounds were detected with 

toluene in three of the samplers, including detections of ethylbenzene, meta- and para-xylene, and octane. All detections 

of chlorinated organic compounds had soil-gas masses equal 

to or less than 0.08 mg, including three detections of trichloroethene, three detections of perchloroethene, three chloroform detections, one 1,4-dichlorobenzene detection, and one 

1,1,2-trichloroethane detection. Three methylated compounds 

were detected in the eastern study area, but were detected at or 

below method detection levels.

 A total of 32 soil-gas samplers were deployed for the 

August 11–24, 2011, assessment in the northern study area. All 

samplers in the survey had detections of TPH, but only eight 

of the samplers had detections of TPH greater than 0.9 mg. 

Four samplers had TPH detections greater than 9 mg; the only 

other fuel-related compounds detected in these four samplers 

included toluene in three of the samplers and undecane in the 

fourth sampler. Three samplers deployed along the western 

margin of the northern landfill had detections of both dieseland gasoline-related compounds; however, the diesel-related 

compounds were detected at or below method detection levels. 

Seven samplers in the northern study area had detections 

of chlorinated compounds, including three perchloroethene 

detections, three chloroform detections, and one 1,4-dichlorobenzene detection. One sampler on the western margin of the 

landfill had detections of 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene and 1,3,5-trimethylbenene below method detection levels.

Introduction

Fort Gordon is a U.S. Department of the Army facility 

located in east-central Georgia, approximately 10 miles 

southwest of Augusta, Georgia (fig. 1). A cantonment (military housing) area is located in the northeastern part of Fort 

Gordon. Several areas at Fort Gordon have been used for the 

disposal of waste related to the operation of the fort, including 

the 17th Street landfill (also known as Solid Waste Management Unit 24) near the southwestern part of the cantonment 

area (Ecology and Environment, Inc., 1995). Organic compounds have been detected during previous investigations in 

water samples from the five groundwater-monitoring wells on 

the slope between the 17th Street landfill and McCoys Creek 

(fig. 2). A previous soil-gas assessment completed in 2010, 

which was conducted on the wooded slope to the east of the 

17th Street landfill in an area known as the McCoys Creek 

chemical training area, reported total petroleum hydrocarbons 

and gasoline compounds as the most frequently detected volatile organic compounds in the soil gas (Guimaraes and others, 

2011). 

______________________

1

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

2

Environmental Branch, Fort Gordon, Georgia.

3

Environmental and Natural Resources Division, Fort Gordon, Georgia.

Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination at the 

17th Street Landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

By W. Fred Falls1, Andral W. Caldwell1, Wladmir G. Guimaraes1, W. Hagan Ratliff2, 

John B. Wellborn3, and James E. Landmeyer1
2 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

0

0

5 MILES

5 KILOMETERS

0 500 1,000 FEET

0 125 250 METERS

N

105TH 

AVENUE 

ACCESS 

ACCESS

ROAD 

22ND STREET

19TH STREET

23RD STREET

19TH STREET EXTENSION

SCOUT LAKE ROAD.

4TH AVENUE

105TH AVENUE

15TH STREET

106TH AVENUE

4TH AVENUE

107TH AVENUE

3RD AVENUE

16TH STREET17TH STREET

105TH AVENUE

104TH AVENUE

103RD AVENUE

106TH AVENUE

107TH AVENUE

108TH AVENUE

109TH AVENUE

EAST

PERIMETER

ROAD 

McCoys Creek

Wilkerson 

Lake

Imagery Date: 2/13/1993

Brier

Creek

n Sa dy Run Creek

S p irit Creek

t Sou h Prong Creek

g Bog y Gut Creek

Base from 1:100,000-scale 

U.S. Geological Survey Digital Line Graph

82°18’45”

32°26’15”

32°18’45”

82°11’15”

EXPLANATION

Fort Gordon

COLUMBIA CO

MC DUFFIE 

CO

MC DUFFIE 

CO

RICHMOND CO

JEFFERSON CO

RICHMOND CO

BURKE CO

Study 

Area

Augusta

Coastal Plain

GEORGIA

Piedmont

Blue Ridge

Cumberland 

Plateau and 

Valley Ridge Fall line

88

20 520

1

78

221

223

78

McCoys 

Creek Marcum

Branch

Augusta

Hephzibah

Cantonment–Housing area 

Approximate location of 

groundwater monitoring well

17th Street Landfill

Figure 1. Locations of Fort Gordon, the 17th Street landfill, the former (prior to 2007) 105th Avenue access to the landfill, 

and groundwater-monitoring wells, Richmond County, Georgia, 2011.
Introduction 3

M c C

o

y s C r e

e k

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 00

Wilkerson Lake

McCoy 

Creek 

chemical 

training 

area

detention 

pond

detention 

pond

open 

drainage 

ditch

east

perimeter

road 

access

road 

access

road 

former 

19th Street 

landfill

northern 

landfill

western

landfill

eastern

landfill

17th STREET LANDFILL

0 200 400 600 800 FEET

0 100 200 METERS

82°09'50" 82°09'40” 82°09'30"

82°09'50" 82°09'40” 82°09'30"

33°24'50"

33°24'40"

33°24'30"

33°24'50"

33°24'40"

33°24'30"

N

Sampling site in northern 

soil-gas study area.

Sampling site in eastern 

soil-gas study area.

EXPLANATION

Figure 2 Figure 2. Approximate locations of soil-gas sampling sites in the northern and eastern study areas at 17th Street landfill, 

Fort Gordon, Richmond County, Georgia, 2011.
4 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

In 2011, soil-gas assessments were conducted in two 

study areas at the 17th Street landfill to provide screening-level 

environmental contamination data to Fort Gordon personnel to 

supplement the data collected during previous environmental 

studies at the landfill (fig. 2). These study areas were chosen 

because they are parts of the landfill and adjacent woodland 

in close proximity to the surface water in Wilkerson Lake and 

McCoys Creek (fig. 1).

The passive soil-gas approach was chosen for the two site 

assessments at 17th Street landfill because the approach is a 

more time, labor, and cost efficient for the rapid collection of 

environmental data for specific organic contaminants, relative 

to the installation, development, and sampling of monitoring 

wells (fig. 2). The two soil-gas assessments at the 17th Street 

landfill provide organic contaminant results for a broad coverage with 80 sampling sites at 17th Street landfill, relative to 

the five monitoring wells installed and sampled by previous 

studies in the study area. The screen-level data for soil-gas 

assessments, however, are semiquantitative, but are considered a good estimate of actual contaminant mass in soil gas 

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1998).

The two investigations that assessed potential environmental effects were warranted, because the 17th Street landfill 

is located in the outcrop area of the Dublin and Midville aquifer systems, which are water-supply sources of drinking water 

wells in the nearby towns of Augusta and Hephzibah (Williams, 2007; fig. 1). The assessments are further warranted, 

because the 17th Street landfill is located adjacent to McCoys 

Creek, wherein contaminants in groundwater, surface water, 

and eroded soil derived from the landfill could affect the local 

ecology and water quality of McCoys Creek and potentially be 

transported from Fort Gordon into the regional surface-water 

drainage system.

Purpose and Scope

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, assessed the presence of 

volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (VOCs, SVOCs), 

and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil gas 

of the shallow subsurface in two separate study areas at the 

17th Street landfill in July and August 2011 (fig. 2). The two 

study areas include northern and eastern parts of the 17th Street 

landfill and the adjacent wooded areas to the north and east 

of the landfill. These areas were chosen because of their close 

proximity to the surface water in Wilkerson Lake and McCoys 

Creek.

This report provides analytical results for the soil-gas 

samples and maps showing the locations of the most commonly detected contaminants identified in the two study areas. 

This report also provides maps showing the locations of two 

less commonly detected chlorinated solvents.

Description of the Study Area

Fort Gordon is located south of the Fall Line in the 

northern part of the Coastal Plain Physiographic Province 

near Augusta, Georgia (fig. 1). Fort Gordon is underlain by 

Cretaceous and Tertiary geologic strata and is characterized 

by surficial soils and sediments of unconsolidated sands and 

semiconsolidated sandstones, and layers of clay that include 

kaolinite (Hetrick, 1992; Gregory and others, 2001).

Average annual precipitation (1942 to 2011) in the 

Fort Gordon/Augusta, Georgia, area is approximately 

43 inches (in.) (Southeast Regional Climate Center website accessed February 17, 2012, for Augusta WSO Airport, 

Georgia station 090495, http://www.sercc.com/). With the 

porous sandy soil, hilly topography, and abundance of rain 

in the study area, perennial creeks and streams received an 

ample supply of year-round groundwater discharge to maintain streamflow (Faye and Mayer, 1990; Atkins and others, 

1996). Flow was always observed in the segment of McCoys 

Creek below Wilkerson Lake adjacent to the 17th Street landfill 

during summer and fall site visits, even with the lower than 

normal annual precipitations in 2010 and 2011 of 28.6 and 

28.2 in., respectively.

17th Street Landfill

The 17th Street landfill is an approximately 50-acre site 

located south of 4th Avenue between 17th Street and McCoys 

Creek (fig. 1). The landfill, opened in 1964 and closed in 1987, 

is unlined and was used as a disposal area for sanitary refuse, 

construction and demolition debris, solvents, paints, plastics, 

and infectious waste (Ecology and Environment, Inc., 1995). 

The landfill was accessible by way of 105th Avenue prior to 

2007, but is now (2012) accessed from the south by way of an 

unpaved road (figs. 1, 2). 

In this report, the 17th Street landfill is informally divided 

into the 20-acre eastern, 20-acre western, and 10-acre northern 

landfills (fig. 2). An open drainage ditch delineates the boundary between the eastern and western landfills. An east-west 

segment of the unpaved access road, which was an extension 

of the original 105th Avenue access road, delineates the boundary between the northern landfill and the two other landfills.

All three landfills are, for the most part, grass covered, in 

contrast to the moderately to heavily wooded areas outside the 

northern, eastern and southeastern boundaries of the 17th Street 

landfill (figs. 2; 3A, B, C). The eastern landfill has a gently 

rolling land surface that generally slopes toward a 1.6-acre 

detention pond along the eastern boundary of the landfill 

(figs. 3A, D). The eastern landfill has two parallel silt fences 

along the full length of its eastern boundary that were installed 

to impede soil erosion from the landfill to the wooded McCoys 

Creek valley (fig. 3A). The northern and western landfills 

are flatter than the eastern landfill (figs. 2 and 3B). Stormwater runoff from the western landfill drains to the east and is 
Introduction 5

intercepted by an open drainage ditch where it is diverted to 

either the 1.6-acre detention pond in the southeastern corner 

of the northern landfill or to a 1.3-acre detention pond at the 

southern end of the open drainage ditch. Stormwater runoff 

from the northern landfill drains to the 1.6-acre detention pond 

in the southeastern corner of the northern landfill.

The wooded land between the 17th Street landfill and 

McCoys Creek/Wilkerson Lake is accessible by way of an 

unpaved road, designated the east perimeter road in figures 1 

and 2. Land surface between the boundary of the landfill and 

the east perimeter road is steep, compared with the generally 

flatter land surface between the perimeter road and McCoy 

Creek (fig. 3C) 

Eastern and Northern Soil-Gas Study Areas

Passive soil-gas samplers were deployed in two study 

areas to assess the presence of VOCs and SVOCs inside and 

outside the 17th Street landfill in close proximity to McCoys 

Creek and Wilkerson Lake (fig. 2). The study areas are designated the eastern and northern study areas. Each study area 

included a part of the 17th Street landfill and an adjacent part 

of the wooded land outside the landfill in the McCoy Creek/

Wilkerson Lake valley.

The 48 soil-gas samplers deployed in the eastern study 

area included 38 samplers deployed along the eastern boundary of the eastern landfill and in the woodlands to the east of 

the eastern landfill. The other 10 soil-gas samplers also were 

deployed along the southern and western edges of the eastern 

landfill.

A B

C D

Figure 3. The 17th Street landfill showing: A, the gently rolling, grass-covered land surface and silt fences along the eastern margin of 

the eastern landfill area; B, the flat, grass-covered land surface in the northern landfill; C, the perimeter road between McCoys Creek 

and the wooded slope on the eastern side of the landfill; and D, the detention pond in the eastern landfill, Fort Gordon, Richmond County, 

Georgia, 2011. 
6 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

The 32 soil-gas samplers deployed in the northern study 

area consisted of a grid of 16 samplers in approximately the 

northern half of the northern landfill and 16 samplers on the 

wooded slope to the north and east of the landfill. The six 

southernmost soil-gas samplers on the wooded slope to the 

east of the landfill were deployed in the northwestern part of 

the McCoys Creek chemical training area.

Methods

Soil-gas sampling is a semiquantitative approach for a 

rapid environmental assessment of the presence of particular 

organic compounds in a study area, relative to the time- and 

labor-intensive approach of installing, developing, and sampling monitoring wells. The results do not, however, reveal if 

the detection was derived from contaminants as nonaqueousphase liquids (free product), residual-phase compounds 

adsorbed on soil particles, vapors in the unsaturated zone, or 

the dissolved compound in shallow and deep groundwater 

(unless the passive soil-gas sampler is deployed in direct 

contact with water). In unsaturated soil, higher soil-gas mass 

in a sampler tends to be related to the presence of residual 

compounds or free product that is close to the land surface 

where the soil-gas sampler is located. If such source material 

is located at greater depths, however, the soil-gas mass generally will be lower. A lower value near known sources may be 

due to various attenuation processes that affect the soil-gas 

mass prior to detection. In both cases, however, the passive 

soil-gas samplers help to indicate the presence or absence of 

contaminants.

Sample collection for the two soil-gas assessments was 

conducted at the 17th Street landfill by using the GORETM 

passive soil-gas sampler, a commercially available soil-gas 

sampler based on GORE-TEXTM membrane technology (U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 1998; W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., 2004). Prior to the assessments, the passive soil-gas 

approach was approved for use at sites on Fort Gordon 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). The soil-gas sampler consists 

of proprietary adsorbent medium that is wrapped in a GORETEXTM membrane (fig. 4A). The proprietary medium can 

adsorb a wide variety of VOCs, SVOCs, and PAHs.

All soil-gas samplers were deployed in the unsaturated 

zone of the soil in the northern and eastern study areas at the 

17th Street landfill during July and August 2011. The samplers 

were collected for assessments of VOCs, SVOC, and PAHs 

in the soil gas of the landfill and the adjacent McCoys Creek/

Wilkerson Lake valley. The adsorption of contaminants on the 

sampler is dependent on the duration of exposure to soil gas 

in the soil; so the best application of the soil-gas approach is 

to deploy all samplers in a study area during the same time 

period. 

In the eastern study area, sample sites for the soil-gas 

sampler were created with a stainless steel bit attached to 

a cordless drill (fig. 5). The bit was used to drill a 0.5-indiameter vertical borehole in the soil at a depth of 15 in. A 

string was attached to a cork plug at one end and the passive 

soil-gas sampler at the other end, and was used to lower and 

suspend the sampler in the borehole. The cork plug was used 

to seal the borehole at land surface to prevent surface water 

and ambient land-surface material from entering the borehole. 

The depth of 15 in. is similar to the depth recommended by the 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for soil-gas 

investigations (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1998). 

All soil-gas samplers in the eastern study area were deployed 

on July 28 and recovered on August 3, 2011, after 6 days 

(144 hours) of exposure to the soil gas.

In the northern study area, sample sites for the soil-gas 

samplers were created in the sandy soil of the wooded slope 

to the east and north of the landfill with a stainless steel bit 

attached to a cordless drill (fig. 5). Sample sites were created 

in the hard-packed soil of the northern landfill with a 1-indiameter stainless steel ship-auger bit attached to a generatorpowered drill. The vertical boreholes on the wooded slope 

and in the grass-covered landfill had diameters of 0.5 in. and 

1 in. respectively, and were drilled to a depth of approximately 

15 in. All samplers in the northern study area were deployed 

on August 19 and recovered on August 24, 2011, after 5 days 

(120 hours) of exposure to the shallow soil gas.

Each soil-gas sampler was recovered in the field, 

was placed in its original 20-milliliter (mL) air-tight vial 

(fig. 4B), and sent to a commercial laboratory (W.L. Gore 

& Associates, Inc.) for analysis. Some of the samplers were 

kept in the air-tight vials during the deployment and recovery 

of environmental samplers, and were shipped back to the 

laboratory with the environmental samplers as trip blanks. 

A B

Figure 4. Soil-gas sampler A, prior to installation and B, in 

air-tight vial as received from the laboratory and shipped to the 

laboratory for analysis.
Methods 7

Soil-gas samplers were analyzed by USEPA-verified 

technologies at the W.L .Gore & Associates Laboratory in 

Elkton, Maryland, in September 2011 (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 1998; W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., 2004; 

American Society for Testing and Materials, 2006; table 1, 

at end of report). All samplers were processed and analyzed 

at the laboratory by using a modification of USEPA method 

8260/8270 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006). 

Prior to analysis, each sampler was processed in an automated 

thermal desorption unit to produce a VOC/SVOC gas sample. 

The gas sample was analyzed by a gas chromatograph 

equipped with mass-selective detectors. The laboratory 

analyzed a method blank of contaminant-free gas after every 

set of 30 environmental samplers and trip blanks for quality 

assurance and was in compliance with good laboratory 

practices and ISO Guide 25 (International Organization 

for Standardization, 1990). Results are expressed as mass 

(micrograms, mg) for all passive soil-gas samplers.

The laboratory results provided screening-level data for 

the assessment of 31 organic compounds. In addition, results 

of individual compounds were summed to calculate values for 

gasoline-range aliphatic compounds such as benzene, toluene, 

ethylbenzene, and xylenes (collectively referred to as BTEX); 

diesel-range aliphatic compounds such as undecane, tridecane, 

and pentadecane (collectively referred to as C11, C13, and 

C15); 1,2,4- and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene as trimethylbenzene; 

trans- and cis-1,2-dichloroethene as 1,2-dichlorothene; 

and naphthalene and 2-methyl naphthalene. The laboratory 

provided method detection levels (MDL) for each of the 

31 organic compounds, but does not provide MDLs for the 

five combined masses, because individual compounds in the 

combined mass may have more than one MDL. A combined 

mass is considered estimated (E) if the measureable mass for 

at least one of the individual compounds is summed with a 

mass reported as below detection level for at least one of the 

other individual compounds in the combined mass. A value 

of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) 

is reported for a combined mass if none of the individual 

compounds summed in the combined mass were detected 

above MDLs and at least one of the individual compounds 

was reported as below detection level. Total petroleum 

hydrocarbons (TPH) is one of the 31 organic analytes 

reported by the laboratory and is a laboratory-derived estimate 

based on the area under the chromatogram for all aliphatic 

hydrocarbons, including all gasoline-range (C4 to C10) and 

diesel-range (C10 to C20) compounds.

A B

C D

Figure 5. Installation of a soil-gas sampler, including: A, drilling a borehole in the soil with a stainless steel drill bit 

attached to a cordless drill; B, attaching one end of a string to a sampler and the other end to a cork plug; C, inserting the 

sampler into the borehole; and D, sealing the borehole with the cork plug to keep out surface contaminants.
8 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

Results

The results are discussed separately for each of the two 

study areas because the deployment conditions in the northern 

study area potentially were not the same as in the eastern study 

area. The samplers in the northern study area were deployed 

for 1 day less than those deployed in the eastern study area and 

were deployed 16 days after the eastern study area samplers 

were recovered (table 1). Therefore, this section describes the 

results for quality-assurance and quality-control samplers, 

environmental samplers 667448 to 667495 as the eastern 

study area assessment, and environmental samplers 667500 

to 667512 and 667519 to 667537 as the northern study area 

assessment (tables 2, 3, 4, at end of report).

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Results for the method and trip blanks were used to select 

the mass detection ranges plotted in figures 6–13 (table 2). The 

method blank results apply to both assessments, because the 

trip-blank and environmental samplers were not segregated 

by study area during the laboratory analysis period from 

September 9 to 13, 2011 (table 1). Trip blanks and MDLs also 

were considered in the selection of mass detection ranges in 

figures 6–13.

All masses and combined masses for organic compounds 

were reported as nondetects (nd) in each of the four method 

detection blanks, except for one TPH mass of 0.09 mg and 

one TPH mass reported as below the MDL of 0.02 mg for 

TPH (table 2). The TPH mass of 0.09 mg in the method blank 

analyzed on September 9, 2011, exceeded the largest TPH 

masses detected in the trip blanks, which included 0.02 mg 

in trip blank 667496 from the eastern study area and 0.05 mg 

in trip blank 667540 from the northern study areas (table 2). 

Therefore, the lowest mass detection range chosen for TPH 

in the explanations on figures 6 and 10 is for detections with 

masses of less than 0.9 mg. The value of 0.9 mg was calculated 

by multiplying the highest TPH mass detected in the blanks 

(0.09 mg) by 10 (one order of magnitude). A TPH mass of 

0.9 mg or greater is presumed to represent a detection of 

an environmental TPH source with little or no effects from 

other contaminant TPH sources. An environmental sampler 

with a TPH mass of less than 0.9 mg has a greater likelihood 

of representing the effect of TPH sources other than an 

environmental source in the study area.

Excluding the TPH detections in the trip blanks, all 

masses and combined masses for organic compounds in the 

eight trip blanks are reported as nondetects, except for the 

detection of toluene with a mass of 0.02 mg in trip blanks 

667497 for the eastern study area (table 2). The combined 

mass for BTEX includes toluene, so BTEX also is reported 

as 0.02 mg in trip blank 667497. Therefore, the lowest mass 

detection range chosen for BTEX in the eastern study area is 

for detections less than 0.2 mg (one order of magnitude greater 

than the detection reported in the trip blank). The lowest 

mass detection range chosen for BTEX in the northern study 

area also is for detections less than 0.2 mg, because other 

organic compounds used to calculate BTEX mass, including 

ethylbenzene and meta- and para-xylene, have MDLs of 

0.02 mg.

Eastern Study Area

A total of 48 soil-gas samplers were deployed from 

July 28 to August 3, 2011, in the eastern study area (fig. 2). 

The survey mostly identified detections of TPH, and gasolineand diesel-range compounds, but also identified the presence 

of TCE, PCE, chloroform, 2-methyl naphthalene, and 

trimethylbenzene (table 3).

TPH masses exceeded the MDL of 0.02 mg in all 

48 samplers and exceeded 0.9 mg in 24 samplers, including 

5 of the 10 samplers deployed along the southern and western 

edges of the eastern landfill (fig. 6). TPH mass exceeded 

9 mg in three samplers deployed east of the perimeter road 

near McCoys Creek (72.11 mg in sampler 667484; 9.31 mg 

in sampler 667485; 11.70 mg in sampler 667486) and two 

samplers deployed high on the wooded slope near the eastern 

margin of the landfill (75.09 mg in sampler 667476; 17.50 mg 

in sampler 667477). Almost 70 percent of the TPH mass 

in sampler 667476 consists of diesel-related compounds, 

including the highest detections of undecane, tridecane, 

and pentadecane in the eastern study area; no other specific 

compounds were detected in this sampler (table 3). Less 

than 1 percent of the TPH mass in sampler 667484 consists 

of gasoline-related compounds, which included the highest 

detections of toluene in the eastern study area; but no other 

fuel-related compounds were identified except for meta- and 

para-xylene. 

All six samplers with BTEX detections had detections 

of toluene, but other BTEX compounds were detected with 

toluene in three of the samplers (fig. 7, table 3). The BTEX 

detections exceeding 0.2 mg had BTEX soil-gas masses of 

0.55 mg in sampler 667484 near the bank of McCoys Creek 

and 0.27 mg in sampler 667463 near the access road along 

the western side of the eastern landfill. Toluene did not 

exceed a mass of 0.2 mg in sampler 667463, but it included 

an ethylbenzene detection of 0.18 mg that resulted in a 

BTEX mass greater than 0.2 mg. Toluene was the only BTEX 

compound detected in samplers 667448, 667459, and 667473 

and had soil-gas masses ranging from 0.02 to 0.12 mg for 

toluene. Other BTEX compounds identified with toluene in 

the eastern study area included detections of ethylbenzene 

(0.06 mg) and meta- and para-xylene (bdl) in sampler 667471, 

and a detection of meta- and para-xylene (0.05 mg) in sampler 

667484 (table 3). Octane, a gasoline-related compound not 

included in the calculation of BTEX, also was detected in the 

eastern study area in two samplers (667463 and 667471) with 

BTEX and one sampler (667488) without BTEX.
Results 9

Diesel-range organic compounds were detected in 

17 samplers, including two samplers on the western side of the 

eastern landfill and 15 samplers in the wooded area between 

the eastern margin of the landfill and McCoys Creek (fig. 8). 

Diesel-range compounds exceeded a soil-gas mass of 1 mg in 

samplers 667476 (52.13 mg) and 667478 (3.91 mg) which are 

deployed high on the wooded slope near the eastern margin of 

the eastern landfill. Undecane, one of the three diesel-related 

compounds used by the laboratory to calculate the combined 

mass reported as diesel, was detected in all 17 samplers and 

is the second most commonly detected analyte in the eastern 

study area, exceeded only by the number of TPH detections. 

Other diesel-range compounds detected in the 17 samplers 

included tridecane detections in seven samplers and 

pentadecane detections in two samplers.

All detections of chlorinated organic compounds had 

soil-gas masses equal to or less than 0.08 mg and were 

detected in only 8 of the 48 samplers in the eastern study area 

(table 3). The three detections of TCE and the three detections 

of PCE consisted of detections along the southern margin of 

the landfill and in the wooded area to the east and north of the 

eastern landfill (fig. 9). In addition to PCE, sampler 667459, 

located along the southern margin of the landfill, had the only 

detection of 1,4-dichlorobenzene and the only chloroform 

detection to coexist with other chlorinated compounds in 

the eastern study area (table 2). In addition to TCE, sampler 

667486 had the only detection of 1,1,2-trichloroethane (bdl) in 

the eastern study area. Two of the three chloroform detections 

occurred in samplers 667488 and 667490 deployed in the 

wooded area southeast of the landfill with no other detections 

of chlorinated compounds.

Three methylated compounds were detected in the eastern 

study area, but were detected at or below MDLs (table 3). 

Sampler 667463 along the access road on the western side of 

the landfill had detections of 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene (0.01 mg) 

and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (bdl). Excluding TPH, the soilgas mass of 0.01 mg for 2 methyl naphthalene was the only 

compound detected in sampler 667480 which is located in the 

wooded area east of the landfill near McCoy Creek.

Northern Study Area

A total of 32 soil samplers were deployed from 

August 19–24, 2011, in the northern study area (fig. 2). 

As in the eastern study area, all samplers in the survey 

identified detections of TPH, but less than 35 percent of the 

samples had detections of specific gasoline- and (or) dieselrange compounds. The survey also identified the presence 

of chlorinated solvents, chloroform, and trimethylbenzene 

compounds (table 4).

Eight of the samplers had detections of TPH greater 

than 0.9 mg (fig. 10). Four of the eight samplers have TPH 

detections greater than 9 mg and were deployed on the wooded 

slope to the east and northeast of the northern landfill margin. 

The four samplers with TPH detections ranging from 0.9 to 

less than 9 mg include two samplers along the western margin 

of the northern landfill and two on the wooded slope near the 

southeastern margin of the northern landfill. Toluene was the 

only fuel-related compound detected in three of these samplers 

(667526, 667527, and 667533) deployed in the wooded area to 

the northeast of the northern landfill (fig. 11). Sampler 667526 

was deployed in approximately the same location as a sampler 

in the McCoy Creek Chemical Training area study (2010) and 

confirmed the presence of toluene as the only gasoline-related 

compound and the absence of diesel-related compounds 

(Guimaraes and others, 2011). The only fuel-related compound 

detected in four samplers in the wooded area east of the 

northern landfill was undecane, a diesel-related compound 

found in three samplers (667522, 667523 and 667537) with 

TPH detections greater than 0.9 mg and one sampler 667524 

with TPH less than 0.9 mg (fig. 12). Undecane also was the 

only fuel-related compound detected in sampler 667529 which 

had a TPH mass of 0.73 mg and was deployed in the wooded 

area to the north of the landfill. The two samplers (667500 and 

667502) with TPH detections greater than 0.9 mg and sampler 

667501 with a TPH detection of 0.44 mg, deployed along the 

western margin of the northern landfill, have detections of 

both diesel- and gasoline-related compounds; however, the 

diesel-related compounds were detected at or below an MDL 

of 0.01 mg (table 4).

Seven samplers in the northern study area had detections 

of chlorinated compounds (table 4). Detections of PCE include 

a mass of 0.08 mg in sampler 667504 and a bdl in sampler 

667508 along the northern margin of the landfill and 0.14 mg 

in sampler 667527 in the wooded area north of the northern 

landfill (fig. 13). The only detection of 1,4-dichlorobenzene 

in the northern study area is below the MDL of 0.01 mg in 

sampler 667503, which also is along the northern margin of 

the landfill. The three detections of chloroform in the northern 

study area have masses of 0.01 mg in sampler 667523 and 

0.04 mg in samplers 667524 and 667525 in the wooded area 

east of the landfill margin.

The only methylated PAHs detected in the northern 

study area were in sampler 667501 on the western 

margin of the landfill (table 4). The compounds include 

1,2,4-trimethylbenzene and 1,3,5-trimethylbenene and were 

detected below MDLs of 0.01 and 0.02 mg, respectively.
10 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

667495

667494

667493

667492

667491

667490

667489

667488

667487

667486

667485

667484

667483

667482

667481

667480

667479

667478

667477

667476

667475

667474

667473

667472

667471

667470

667469

667468

667467

667466

667465

667464

667463

667462

667461 667460

667459

667458

667457

667456

667455

667454

667453

667452

667451

667450

667449 667448

Soil-gas sampler locations, range 

of TPH mass in micrograms

Detections less than 0.9

0.9 to less than 9

EXPLANATION

9 to less than 90

82°09’48”

33°24’48”

33°24’42”

33°24’36”

33°24’30”

33°24’42”

33°24’36”

33°24’30”

82°09’41” 82°09’34”

82°09’48” 82°09’41”

McCoys

Creek

0 100 200 300 400 500 FEET

0 25 50 75 100 METERS

Base from U.S. Army 

Albers equal-area conic projection 

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

Central meridian -96°00’00”

N

Figure 6. Locations and identification numbers for soil-gas samplers, and ranges of soil-gas mass for total 

petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH; in micrograms) in the eastern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 

July 28–August 3, 2011. Method detection level is 0.02 microgram.
Results 11

McCoys

Creek

667495

667494

667493

667492

667491

667490

667489

667488

667487

667486

667485

667484

667482 667483

667481

667480

667479

667478

667477

667476

667475

667474

667473

667472

667471

667470

667469

667468

667467

667466

667465

667464

667463

667462

667461 667460

667459

667458

667457

667456

667455

667454

667453

667452

667451

667450

667449

667448

Soil-gas sampler locations, range 

of BTEX mass in micrograms

Non detections

Detections less than 0.2

EXPLANATION

0.2 to less than 2

82°09’48” 82°09’41” 82°09’34”

33°24’48”

33°24’42”

33°24’36”

33°24’30”

Base from U.S. Army 

Albers equal-area conic projection 

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

Central meridian -96°00’00”

33°24’42”

33°24’36”

33°24’30”

82°09’48” 82°09’41”

0 100 200 300 400 500 FEET

0 25 50 75 100 METERS

N

Figure 7. Locations and identification numbers for soil-gas samplers, and ranges for combined soil-gas masses 

of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX, gasoline-range aromatic compounds; mass, in micrograms) 

in the eastern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 2011. 
12 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

McCoys

Creek

667495

667494

667493

667492

667491

667490

667489

667488

667487

667486

667485 667484

667482 667483

667481

667480

667479

667478

667477

667476

667475

667474

667473

667472

667471

667470

667469

667468

667467

667466

667465

667464

667463

667462

667461 667460

667459

667458

667457

667456

667455

667454

667453

667452

667451

667450

667449

667448

Soil-gas sampler locations, range 

of diesel mass in micrograms

Non detections

Detections less than 1.0

EXPLANATION

1.0 to less than 60

82°09’48” 82°09’41” 82°09’34”

33°24’48”

33°24’42”

33°24’36”

33°24’30”

Base from U.S. Army 

Albers equal-area conic projection 

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

Central meridian -96°00’00”

33°24’42”

33°24’36”

33°24’30”

82°09’48” 82°09’41”

0 100 200 300 400 500 FEET

0 25 50 75 100 METERS

N

Figure 8. Locations and identification numbers for soil-gas samplers, and ranges of combined soil-gas mass for 

undecane, tridecane, and pentadecane (C11, C13, and C15; diesel mass, in micrograms) in the eastern study area, 

17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 2011.
Results 13

667495

667494

667493

667492

667491

667490

667489

667488

667487

667486

667485

667484

667483

667482

667481

667480

667479

667478

667477

667476

667475

667474

667473

667472

667471

667470

667469

667468

667467

667466

667465

667464

667463

667462

667461 667460

667459

667458

667457

667456

667455

667454

667453

667452

667451

667450

667449 667448

Soil-gas sampler locations, range 

of TCE and PCE mass in micrograms

No detections

TCE detections less than 0.1

EXPLANATION

PCE detections less than 0.1

82°09’48”

33°24’48”

33°24’42”

33°24’36”

33°24’30”

82°09’41” 82°09’34”

McCoys

Creek

Base from U.S. Army 

Albers equal-area conic projection 

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

Central meridian -96°00’00”

33°24’42”

33°24’36”

33°24’30”

82°09’48” 82°09’41”

0 100 200 300 400 500 FEET

0 25 50 75 100 METERS

N

Figure 9. Locations and identification numbers for soil-gas samplers, and ranges of soil-gas mass less than 0.1 

microgram for trichloroethene (TCE) and perchloroethene (PCE) in the eastern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort 

Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 2011. Method detection levels for each chlorinated solvent is 0.02 microgram.
14 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

McCoys Creek

667537 667536

667535

667534

667533

667532 667531

667530 667529 667528

667527

667526

667525

667524

667523

667522

667521

667520

667519

667512

667511

667510

667509

667508

667507

667506

667505

667504 667503

667502

667501

667500

Soil-gas sampler locations, range 

of TPH mass in micrograms

Detections less than 0.9

0.9 to less than 9

EXPLANATION

9 to less than 29

0 100 200 300 FEET

0 20 40 60 80 METERS

Base from U.S. Army 

Albers equal-area conic projection 

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

Central meridian -96°00’00”

82°09’55” 82°09’48”

82°09’55”

33°24’54”

33°24’48”

33°24’54”

33°24’48”

N

Figure 10. Locations and identification numbers for soil-gas samplers, and ranges of soil-gas mass for total 

petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH; in micrograms) in the northern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 

August 19–24, 2011. Method detection level is 0.02 microgram.
Results 15

McCoys Creek

667537 667536

667535

667534

667533

667532 667531

667530 667529 667528

667527

667526

667525

667524

667523

667522

667521

667520

667519

667512

667511

667510

667509

667508

667507

667506

667505

667504 667503

667502

667501

667500

Soil-gas sampler locations, range 

of BTEX mass in micrograms

Non detections

0.02 to less than 0.2

EXPLANATION

0.2 to less than 2

0 100 200 300 FEET

0 20 40 60 80 METERS

Base from U.S. Army 

Albers equal-area conic projection 

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

Central meridian -96°00’00”

82°09’55” 82°09’48”

33°24’54”

33°24’48”

82°09’55”

33°24’54”

33°24’48”

N

Figure 11. Locations and identification numbers for soil-gas samplers, and ranges for combined soil-gas masses 

of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX, gasoline-range aromatic compounds; mass, in micrograms) 

in the northern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, August 19–24, 2011.
16 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

McCoys Creek

667537 667536

667535

667534

667533

667532 667531

667530 667529

667528

667527

667526

667525

667524

667523

667522

667521

667520

667519

667512

667511

667510

667509

667508

667507

667506

667505

667504 667503

667502

667501

667500

Soil-gas sampler locations, range 

of diesel mass in micrograms

Non detections

Detections less than 0.1

EXPLANATION

0.1 to less than 1.0

0 100 200 300 FEET

0 20 40 60 80 METERS

Base from U.S. Army 

Albers equal-area conic projection 

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

Central meridian -96°00’00”

82°09’55” 82°09’48”

33°24’54”

33°24’48”

82°09’55”

33°24’54”

33°24’48”

N

Figure 12. Locations and identification numbers for soil-gas samplers, and ranges of combined soil-gas mass for 

undecane, tridecane, and pentadecane (C11, C13, and C15; diesel mass, in micrograms) in the northern study area, 

17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, August 19–24, 2011.
Results 17

McCoys Creek

667537 667536

667535

667534

667533

667532 667531

667530 667529

667528

667527

667526

667525

667524

667523

667522

667521

667520

667519

667512

667511

667510

667509

667508

667507

667506

667505

667504

667503

667502

667501

667500

Soil-gas sampler locations, range 

of PCE mass in micrograms

Non detections

PCE detections less than 0.15

EXPLANATION

0 100 200 300 FEET

0 20 40 60 80 METERS

Base from U.S. Army 

Albers equal-area conic projection 

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

Central meridian -96°00’00”

82°09’55” 82°09’48”

33°24’54”

33°24’48”

82°09’55”

33°24’54”

33°24’48”

N

Figure 13. Locations and identification numbers for soil-gas samplers, and ranges of soil-gas mass less than 

0.1 microgram for trichloroethene (TCE) and perchloroethene (PCE) in the northern study area, 17th Street landfill, 

Fort Gordon, Georgia, August 19–24, 2011. Method detection levels for each chlorinated solvent is 0.02 microgram. 
18 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

Summary

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, assessed the presence of volatile 

and semivolatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs) 

and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil gas 

of the shallow subsurface in two separate study areas at the 

17th Street landfill in July and August, 2011. The two study 

areas include the northern and eastern parts of the 17th Street 

landfill, and the adjacent wooded areas to the north and east of 

the landfill and were chosen because of their close proximity 

to surface water in Wilkerson Lake and McCoys Creek. 

A total of 48 soil-gas samplers were deployed from 

July 28 to August 3, 2011, in the eastern study area. The 

assessment mostly identified the presence of total petroleum 

hydrocarbons (TPH), and gasoline- and diesel-range 

compounds, but also identified the presence of chlorinated 

solvents in six samplers, chloroform in three samplers, 

2-methyl naphthalene in one sampler, and trimethylbenzene in 

one sampler. The TPH masses exceeded the method detection 

level of 0.02 microgram (mg) in all 48 samplers and exceeded 

0.9 mg in 24 samplers. The TPH mass exceeded 9 mg in three 

samplers deployed near the bank of McCoys Creek and 

two samplers deployed high on the wooded slope near the 

eastern margin of the landfill. Toluene was identified in all six 

samplers with BTEX detections, but was not the only BTEX 

compound detected in three of those samplers. Other BTEX 

and gasoline-related compounds identified in the eastern study 

area included detections of ethylbenzene, meta- and paraxylene, and octane. Diesel-range compounds were detected 

in 17 samplers, including 2 samplers on the western side 

of the eastern landfill and 15 samplers in the wooded area 

between the eastern margin of the landfill and McCoys Creek. 

Undecane, one of the three diesel-range compounds used to 

calculate the combined mass for diesel-range compounds, was 

detected in all 17 samplers and is the second most commonly 

detected compound in the eastern study area, exceeded only 

by the number of TPH detections. All detections of chlorinated 

organic compounds had soil-gas masses equal to or less than 

0.08 mg and were detected in only eight samplers in the eastern 

study area, including three detections of trichloroethene 

and three detections of perchloroethene. Other chlorinated 

compounds identified in the eastern study area include three 

chloroform detections, one detection of 1,4-dichlorobenzene, 

and one detection of 1,1,2-trichloroethane. Three methylated 

PAHs were detected in the eastern study area, but were 

detected at or below method detection levels.

 A total of 32 soil-gas samplers were deployed from 

August 19–24, 2011, in the northern study area. All samplers 

in the assessment identified detections of TPH, but only 

eight of the samplers had detections of TPH greater than 

0.9 mg. Four samplers deployed on the wooded slope to the 

east and northeast of the northern landfill margins had TPH 

detections greater than 9 mg. Toluene was the only fuelrelated compound detected in three of the samplers deployed 

in the wooded area to the northeast of the northern landfill 

with TPH detections greater than 9 mg. Undecane was the 

only fuel-related compound detected in the fourth sampler 

that had a TPH detection greater than 9 mg. Three samplers 

deployed along the western margin of the northern landfill had 

detections of both diesel- and gasoline-related compounds; 

however, the diesel-related compounds were detected at 

or below method detection levels. Seven samplers in the 

northern study area had detections of chlorinated compounds, 

including three perchloroethene detections, three chloroform 

detections, and one 1,4-dichlorobenzene detection. One 

sampler on the western margin of the landfill had detections 

of 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene and 1,3,5-trimethylbenene below 

method detection levels.
References Cited 19

References Cited

Atkins, J.B., Journey, C.A., and Clarke, J.S., 1996, Estimation of ground-water discharge to streams in the central 

Savannah River basin of Georgia and South Carolina: 

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report 96-4179, 36 p.

American Society for Testing and Materials, 2006, Standard 

guide for soil gas monitoring in the vadose zone: West 

Conshohocken, Pa, ASTM D5314-92, 36 p.

Ecology and Environment, Inc., 1995, Phase I RFI report for 

twenty-two SWMUs at Fort Gordon Military Reservation, 

Fort Gordon, Georgia: Volumes I, section 6, October 1995, 

prepared for United States Army Corps of Engineers by 

Ecology and Environment, Inc., Lancaster, New York, 24 p.

Faye, R.E. and Mayer, H.C., 1990, Ground-water and 

stream-aquifer relations in the northern Coastal Plain of 

Georgia and adjacent parts of Alabama and South Carolina: 

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report 88-4143, 83 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.

Guimaraes, W.B., Falls, W.F., Caldwell, A.W., Ratliff, W.H., 

Wellborn, J.B., and Landmeyer, J.E., 2011, Assessment of 

hyporheic zone, flood-plain, soil-gas, soil, and surface-water 

contamination at the McCoys Creek Chemical Training 

Area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2009-2010: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 2011-1267, 48 p.

Hetrick, J.H., 1992, A geologic atlas of the Wrens-Augusta 

area: Georgia Geologic Survey Geologic Atlas no. 8, 2 pls.

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, accessed September 1, 2010, at 

http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/std/etv/pubs/01_vr_gore.pdf.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006, The method 

of evaluating solid waste – Physical chemical methods 

(3d ed.), final update IV of SW-846, accessed March 22, 

2010 at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WASTE/2008/

January/Day-03/f25575.htm.

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 & Associates, Inc., 2004, GORETM surveys for site 

assessment & monitoring: Accessed February 24, 2011, 

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

environmental_brochure.pdf.
20 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

Tables 1–4

________________________________________________
Tables 1–4 21

Sampler 

identification 

number

Latitude, 

decimal 

degrees

Longitude, 

decimal 

degrees

Date 

analyzed

Sampler 

identification 

number

Latitude, 

decimal 

degrees

Longitude, 

decimal 

degrees

Date 

analyzed

Eastern study area Eastern study area—Continued

667448 33.411500 82.161389 09/10/2011 667495 33.411306 82.161306 09/13/2011

667449 33.411417 82.161083 09/13/2011 667496 Trip blank Trip blank 09/09/2011

667450 33.411083 82.160917 09/13/2011 667497 Trip blank Trip blank 09/10/2011

667451 33.410694 82.160917 09/13/2011 667498 Trip blank Trip blank 09/10/2011

667452 33.410333 82.161056 09/09/2011 667499 Trip blank Trip blank 09/13/2011

667453 33.409889 82.161111 09/13/2011 Northern study area

667454 33.409500 82.161250 09/13/2011 667500 33.408889 82.166000 09/10/2011

667455 33.409278 82.161500 09/10/2011 667501 33.408556 82.166000 09/10/2011

667456 33.408889 82.161889 09/13/2011 667502 33.408083 82.166000 09/09/2011

667457 33.408556 82.162333 09/13/2011 667503 33.408722 82.165972 09/12/2011

667458 33.408083 82.162667 09/12/2011 667504 33.408556 82.165667 09/12/2011

667459 33.408722 82.162500 09/10/2011 667505 33.408639 82.165639 09/10/2011

667460 33.408556 82.163028 09/10/2011 667506 33.409000 82.165583 09/12/2011

667461 33.408639 82.163417 09/10/2011 667507 33.409500 82.165583 09/10/2011

667462 33.409000 82.163861 09/10/2011 667508 33.409944 82.165417 09/10/2011

667463 33.409500 82.163861 09/13/2011 667509 33.410556 82.165306 09/10/2011

667464 33.409944 82.164056 09/12/2011 667510 33.411056 82.165222 09/13/2011

667465 33.410556 82.164167 09/09/2011 667511 33.411750 82.165111 09/09/2011

667466 33.411056 82.164028 09/09/2011 667512 33.412139 82.165056 09/10/2011

667467 33.411750 82.163778 09/13/2011 667519 33.413167 82.164917 09/12/2011

667468 33.412139 82.163222 09/10/2011 667520 33.413222 82.164833 09/10/2011

667469 33.413167 82.163139 09/13/2011 667521 33.412583 82.164667 09/13/2011

667470 33.413222 82.162778 09/10/2011 667522 33.412278 82.164333 09/10/2011

667471 33.412583 82.162361 09/13/2011 667523 33.411972 82.164389 09/10/2011

667472 33.412278 82.162139 09/13/2011 667524 33.411750 82.164583 09/10/2011

667473 33.411972 82.162083 09/10/2011 667525 33.411472 82.164667 09/13/2011

667474 33.411750 82.161861 09/13/2011 667526 33.411611 82.164778 09/13/2011

667475 33.411472 82.161778 09/10/2011 667527 33.411861 82.165028 09/13/2011

667476 33.411611 82.162139 09/10/2011 667528 33.412167 82.165278 09/13/2011

667477 33.411861 82.162333 09/10/2011 667529 33.412528 82.165639 09/10/2011

667478 33.412167 82.162361 09/10/2011 667530 33.411806 82.166028 09/09/2011

667479 33.412528 82.162639 09/09/2011 667531 33.411528 82.165972 09/10/2011

667480 33.411806 82.161222 09/10/2011 667532 33.411028 82.165611 09/10/2011

667481 33.411528 82.160944 09/13/2011 667533 33.410972 82.165111 09/13/2011

667482 33.411028 82.160444 09/12/2011 667534 33.410583 82.164861 09/10/2011

667483 33.410972 82.160083 09/12/2011 667535 33.410639 82.164444 09/09/2011

667484 33.410583 82.160278 09/13/2011 667536 33.410111 82.164556 09/10/2011

667485 33.410639 82.160583 09/10/2011 667537 33.409278 82.164028 09/13/2011

667486 33.410111 82.160500 09/10/2011 667538 Trip blank Trip blank 09/10/2011

667487 33.409278 82.161111 09/12/2011 667539 Trip blank Trip blank 09/10/2011

667488 33.408722 82.161333 09/10/2011 667540 Trip blank Trip blank 09/09/2011

667489 33.408611 82.161639 09/13/2011 667541 Trip blank Trip blank 09/10/2011

667490 33.408167 82.162111 09/13/2011 Laboratory

667491 33.409361 82.161611 09/13/2011 Method blank — — 09/09/2011

667492 33.409722 82.161361 09/10/2011 Method blank — — 09/10/2011

667493 33.410139 82.161250 09/13/2011 Method blank — — 09/12/2011

667494 33.410917 82.161056 09/13/2011 Method blank — — 09/12/2011

Table 1. Identification numbers and location information for soil-gas samplers deployed and recovered in the eastern study 

area from July 28–August 3, and the northern study area from August 19–24, 2011, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia. 
22 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

Table 2. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in trip blanks 

and method blanks for the eastern and northern study areas, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 

and August 19–24, 2011.

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667496, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below 

detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate 

the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual 

compounds included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl]

Organic compound MDL 

(μg)

Trip blanks for eastern study area

667496 667497 667498 667499

Date analyzed N/A 9/09/2011 9/10/2011 9/10/2011 9/13/2011

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 0.02 bdl nd nd

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A nd 0.02 nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 nd 0.02 nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A nd nd nd nd

Undecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Tridecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd
Tables 1–4 23

Organic compound MDL 

(μg)

Trip blanks for northern study area

667538 667539 667540 667541

Date analyzed N/A 9/10/2011 9/10/2011 9/09/2011 9/10/2011

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 bdl bdl 0.05 bdl

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A nd nd nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A nd nd nd nd

Undecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Tridecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Table 2. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in trip blanks 

and method blanks for the eastern and northern study areas, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 

and August 19–24, 2011.—Continued

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667496, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below 

detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate 

the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual 

compounds included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl]
24 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

Organic compound MDL 

(μg)

Method 

blank

Method 

blank 

Method 

blank 

Method 

blank

Date analyzed N/A 9/09/2011 9/11/2011 9/11/2011 9/12/2011

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 0.09 bdl nd nd

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A nd nd nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A nd nd nd nd

Undecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Tridecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1 Combined mass of two or more compounds with no method detection level provided by laboratory.

Table 2. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in trip blanks 

and method blanks for the eastern and northern study areas, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 

and August 19–24, 2011.—Continued

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667496, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below 

detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate 

the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual 

compounds included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl]
Tables 1–4 25

Table 3. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in soil-gas samplers 

deployed and recovered in the eastern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 2011.

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667448, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual compounds 

included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl] 

Organic compound 

MDL 

(μg)

Sampler

667448 667449 667450 667451 667452

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 1.38 0.87 0.85 0.53 3.52

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A 0.03 0.22 0.02 0.04 0.54

Undecane 0.01 0.03 0.21 0.02 0.04 0.53

Tridecane 0.01 nd 0.01 nd nd 0.01

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd 0.05

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd
26 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

Organic compound 

MDL 

(μg)

Sampler

667453 667454 667455 667456 667457

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 0.93 1.72 2.07 0.99 0.39

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A nd 0.12 0.07 nd nd

Undecane 0.01 nd 0.12 0.07 nd nd

Tridecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Table 3. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in soil-gas samplers 

deployed and recovered in the eastern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 2011.—Continued

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667448, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below 

detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate 

the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual 

compounds included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl] 
Tables 1–4 27

Organic compound 

MDL 

(μg)

Sampler

667458 667459 667460 667461 667462

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 2.94 3.79 0.61 0.32 1.47

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A nd 0.12 nd nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 nd 0.12 nd nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A nd nd nd nd 0.02

Undecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd 0.02

Tridecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd bdl nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd 0.04 nd nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd 0.04 nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd 0.07 nd nd nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Table 3. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in soil-gas samplers 

deployed and recovered in the eastern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 2011.—Continued

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667448, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below 

detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate 

the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual 

compounds included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl] 
28 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

Organic compound 

MDL 

(μg)

Sampler

667463 667464 667465 667466 667467

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 5.83 0.88 0.14 0.41 1.84

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A 0.27 nd nd nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 0.09 nd nd nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 0.18 nd nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A 0.00 nd nd nd nd

Undecane 0.01 bdl nd nd nd nd

Tridecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 bdl nd nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A E0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 bdl nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Table 3. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in soil-gas samplers 

deployed and recovered in the eastern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 2011.—Continued

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667448, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below 

detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate 

the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual 

compounds included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl] 
Tables 1–4 29

Organic compound 

MDL 

(μg)

Sampler

667468 667469 667470 667471 667472

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 1.81 0.34 3.78 4.78 0.03

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A nd nd nd E0.14 nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 nd nd nd 0.08 nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd 0.06 nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd nd bdl nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A nd nd nd 0.07 nd

Undecane 0.01 nd nd nd 0.01 nd

Tridecane 0.01 nd nd nd 0.06 nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd nd 0.06 nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Table 3. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in soil-gas samplers 

deployed and recovered in the eastern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 2011.—Continued

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667448, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below 

detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate 

the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual 

compounds included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl] 
30 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

Organic compound 

MDL 

(μg)

Sampler

667473 667474 667475 667476 667477

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 0.12 0.05 0.25 75.09 17.50

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A nd nd nd 52.13 nd

Undecane 0.01 nd nd nd 47.98 nd

Tridecane 0.01 nd nd nd 0.70 nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd 3.45 nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd 0.08

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Table 3. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in soil-gas samplers 

deployed and recovered in the eastern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 2011.—Continued

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667448, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below 

detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate 

the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual 

compounds included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl] 
Tables 1–4 31

Organic compound 

MDL 

(μg)

Sampler

667478 667479 667480 667481 667482

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 5.31 0.57 0.19 0.19 0.63

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A 3.91 nd nd nd nd

Undecane 0.01 3.83 nd nd nd nd

Tridecane 0.01 0.09 nd nd nd nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd 0.01 nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd 0.01 nd nd

Table 3. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in soil-gas samplers 

deployed and recovered in the eastern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 2011.—Continued

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667448, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below 

detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate 

the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual 

compounds included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl] 
32 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

Organic compound 

MDL 

(μg)

Sampler

667483 667484 667485 667486 667487

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 4.48 72.11 9.31 11.70 0.71

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A nd 0.55 nd nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 nd 0.50 nd nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd 0.05 nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A E0.75 nd 0.05 E0.21 0.02

Undecane 0.01 0.71 nd 0.05 0.21 0.02

Tridecane 0.01 0.04 nd nd bdl nd

Pentadecane 0.01 bdl nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd bdl nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd bdl nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Table 3. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in soil-gas samplers 

deployed and recovered in the eastern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, July 28–August 3, 2011.—Continued

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667448, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below 

detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate 

the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual 

compounds included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl] 
Tables 1–4 33

Organic compound 

MDL 

(μg)

Sampler

667488 667489 667490 667491

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 1.11 0.89 0.49 1.95

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A nd nd nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A 0.05 nd nd nd

Undecane 0.01 0.05 nd nd nd

Tridecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 bdl nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 0.05 nd 0.02 nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Table 3. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected 

in soil-gas samplers deployed and recovered in the eastern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 

July 28–August 3, 2011.—Continued

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667448, example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not 

applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the 

masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format 

of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual compounds included in the combined mass were not 

detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl] 
34 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

Organic compound 

MDL 

(μg)

Sampler

667492 667493 667494 667495

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 0.69 0.24 2.02 0.39

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A nd nd nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A nd nd nd nd

Undecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Tridecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd 0.05 nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd

Table 3. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected 

in soil-gas samplers deployed and recovered in the eastern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 

July 28–August 3, 2011.—Continued

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667448, example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not 

applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the 

masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format 

of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual compounds included in the combined mass were not 

detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl] 

1

Combined mass of two or more compounds with no method detection level provided by laboratory.
Tables 1–4 35

Organic compound MDL 

(μg)

Sampler

667500 667501 667502 667503 667504

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 1.15 0.44 1.04 0.53 0.42

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A 0.02 E0.34 nd nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 0.02 0.28 nd nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd bdl nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd 0.03 nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd 0.03 nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A E0.01 0.00 0.00 nd nd

Undecane 0.01 bdl bdl nd nd nd

Tridecane 0.01 0.01 nd bdl nd nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd 0.00 nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd bdl nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd bdl nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd bdl nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd 0.08

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Table 4. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in soil-gas samplers 

deployed and recovered in the northern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, August 19–24, 2011.

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667500, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below 

detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate 

the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual 

compounds included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl]
36 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

Organic compound MDL 

(μg)

Sampler

667505 667506 667507 667508 667509

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 0.06 0.39 0.40 0.44 0.27

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Undecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Tridecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd nd bdl nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Table 4. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in soil-gas samplers 

deployed and recovered in the northern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, August 19–24, 2011.—Continued

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667500, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below 

detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate 

the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual 

compounds included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl]
Tables 1–4 37

Organic compound MDL 

(μg)

Sampler

667510 667511 667512 667519 667520

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 0.25 0.05 0.18 0.30 0.36

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Undecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Tridecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Table 4. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in soil-gas samplers 

deployed and recovered in the northern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, August 19–24, 2011.—Continued

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667500, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below 

detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate 

the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual 

compounds included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl]
38 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

Organic compound MDL 

(μg)

Sampler

667521 667522 667523 667524 667525

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 0.32 2.92 6.34 0.56 0.15

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A nd 0.04 0.03 0.02 nd

Undecane 0.01 nd 0.04 0.03 0.02 nd

Tridecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd 0.01 0.04 0.04

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Table 4. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in soil-gas samplers 

deployed and recovered in the northern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, August 19–24, 2011.—Continued

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667500, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below 

detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate 

the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual 

compounds included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl]
Tables 1–4 39

Organic compound MDL 

(μg)

Sampler

667526 667527 667528 667529 667530

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 11.52 23.44 0.31 0.73 0.46

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A 0.06 0.68 nd nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 0.06 0.68 nd nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A nd nd nd 0.06 nd

Undecane 0.01 nd nd nd 0.06 nd

Tridecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd 0.14 nd nd nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Table 4. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in soil-gas samplers 

deployed and recovered in the northern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, August 19–24, 2011.—Continued

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667500, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below 

detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate 

the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual 

compounds included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl]
40 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

Organic compound MDL 

(μg)

Sampler

667531 667532 667533 667534 667535

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 0.26 0.24 25.27 0.66 0.35

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A nd nd 0.34 nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Toluene 0.01 nd nd 0.34 nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Undecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Tridecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd nd nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd nd nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd nd nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd nd nd nd

Table 4. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in soil-gas samplers 

deployed and recovered in the northern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, August 19–24, 2011.—Continued

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667500, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below 

detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate 

the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual 

compounds included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl]
Tables 1–4 41

Organic compound MDL 

(μg)

Sampler

667536 667537

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.02 0.82 15.97

BTEX (gasoline)1 N/A nd nd

Benzene 0.01 nd nd

Toluene 0.01 nd nd

Ethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd

meta- and para-Xylene 0.02 nd nd

ortho-Xylene, 0.01 nd nd

C11, C13, and C15 (diesel)1 N/A nd 0.53

Undecane 0.01 nd 0.53

Tridecane 0.01 nd nd

Pentadecane 0.01 nd nd

Octane 0.02 nd nd

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 0.03 nd nd

Trimethylbenzene1 N/A nd nd

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.01 nd nd

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.02 nd nd

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.01 nd nd

Chlorobenzene 0.03 nd nd

Chloroform 0.01 nd nd

cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene1 N/A nd nd

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.05 nd nd

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.02 nd nd

Trichloroethene (TCE) 0.02 nd nd

Perchloroethene (PCE) 0.02 nd nd

1,1-Dichloroethane 0.02 nd nd

1,2-Dichloroethane 0.01 nd nd

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.01 nd nd

1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.02 nd nd

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.02 nd nd

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.01 nd nd

Carbon tetrachloride 0.03 nd nd

Naphthalene and 2-Methyl naphthalene1 N/A nd nd

Naphthalene 0.01 nd nd

2-Methyl naphthalene 0.01 nd nd

Table 4. Mass of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in soil-gas samplers 

deployed and recovered in the northern study area, 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, August 19–24, 2011.—Continued

 [Raw data rounded to the second decimal place as provided by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; MDL, method detection level; μg, micrograms; Sampler 667500, 

example of unique identification number assigned by W.L. Gore & Associates to each soil-gas sampler; N/A, not applicable; nd, not detected; bdl, below 

detection level; E, the reported value for a combined mass should be considered estimated if the masses of any of the individual compounds used to calculate 

the combined mass were reported as bdl; a value of 0.00 (reporting format of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.) is reported for a combined mass if the individual 

compounds included in the combined mass were not detected above method detection levels and at least one of the individual compounds was reported as bdl]

1

Combined mass of two or more compounds with no method detection level provided by laboratory.
42 Soil-gas contamination at the 17th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011

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

W. Fred Falls and others—Assessment of Soil-Gas Contamination at the 17th Street Landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011—OFR 2012–1127