[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 245 (Friday, December 19, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77560-77567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29961]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 300
[EPA-HQ-SFUND-1987-0002; FRL-8753-3]
National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan;
National Priorities List
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion of portions of the
Griffiss Air Force Base Superfund Site from the National Priorities
List.
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SUMMARY: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region
2 Office announces its intent to delete specific properties of the
former Griffiss Air Force Base (GAFB) site located in Rome, New York,
from the National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comment on
this proposed action. The NPL constitutes Appendix B to the National
Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), 40 CFR
part 300, which EPA promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
(CERCLA) as amended. The entire GAFB Site, approximately 3,552 acres,
includes 32 areas of concern located on property currently or formerly
owned by the United States Department of Defense. EPA and the State of
New York, through the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (NYSDEC), have determined that for the specified areas
identified in this Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion (NOIPD), all
appropriate response actions pursuant to CERCLA have been implemented
and, aside from monitoring, operations, maintenance, and Five-Year
Reviews, no further response actions, pursuant to CERCLA, are
appropriate. Moreover, EPA and NYSDEC have determined that the
specified properties at the GAFB Site (i.e., the soil and groundwater
beneath) either pose no significant threat to public health or the
environment or all appropriate response actions have been implemented,
and therefore this NOIPD may proceed. The NOIPD is only for those
properties specified herein and does not include other properties
located at the GAFB Site.
DATES: Comments must be received by January 20, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
SFUND-1987-0002, by one of the following methods:
Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: [email protected].
Fax: To the attention of Douglas M. Pocze at (212) 637-3256.
Mail: To the attention of Douglas M. Pocze, Remedial Project
Manager, Emergency and Remedial Response Division, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region 2, 290 Broadway, 18th Floor, New York, NY
10007-1866.
[[Page 77561]]
Hand Delivery: Superfund Records Center, 290 Broadway, 18th Floor,
New York, NY 10007-1866 (telephone: 212-637-4308). Such deliveries are
only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation (Monday to
Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Special arrangements should be made for
deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-SFUND-
1987-0002. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the Docket without change and may be made available online at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided,
unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider CBI
or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov or via e-
mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous
access'' system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact
information unless you provide it in the body of your comments. If you
send comments to EPA via e-mail, your e-mail address will be included
as part of the comment that is placed in the Docket and made available
on the Web site. If you submit electronic comments, EPA recommends that
you include your name and other contact information in the body of your
comments and with any disks or CD-ROMs that you submit. If EPA cannot
read your comments because of technical difficulties and cannot contact
you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comments.
Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters and any
form of encryption and should be free of any defects or viruses.
Docket: All documents in the Docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy.
Publicly available Docket materials can be viewed electronically at
http://www.regulations.gov or obtained in hard copy at: U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, Superfund Records Center,
290 Broadway, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10007-1866, Phone: 212-637-4308,
Hours: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Griffiss Business
and Technology Park, Information Repository/Administrative File, 153
Brooks Road, Rome, NY 13441, (315) 356-0810.
Hours: Please call to determine hours of operation and whether an
appointment is needed.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Douglas M. Pocze, Remedial Project
Manager, by mail at Emergency and Remedial Response Division, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, 290 Broadway, 18th floor,
New York, NY 10007-1866; Telephone (212) 637-4432, (or) fax at (212)
637-3256, (or) E-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. NPL Deletion Criteria
III. Deletion Procedures
IV. Basis for Intended Partial Site Deletion
I. Introduction
The EPA, Region 2, announces its intent to delete properties at the
GAFB Site, located in Rome, NY, from the NPL, and requests comments on
this action. This proposal for partial deletion pertains to soil and
groundwater at specified areas of the GAFB. The parcel areas listed
below either in their entirety or in portion are proposed for deletion
and should be reviewed with the Partial Deletion map provided (See
Figure 1).
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Acres
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1. Property A1A--Airfield.................................... 1324.45
2. Building 750--Former Air Force Special Investigations..... 4.07
3. Central Heating Plant..................................... 17.78
4. Parcel F1................................................. 61.40
5. Parcel F2................................................. 88.37
6. Electrical Power Substation............................... 3.20
7. Parcel F3A................................................ 75.99
8. Parcel F3B................................................ 14.04
9. Parcel F4A................................................ 107.59
10. Parcel F4C............................................... 56.96
11. Parcel F6A............................................... 52.20
12. Parcel F7NR.............................................. 52.09
13. Parcel F7R............................................... 223.75
14. Parcel F8 Housing........................................ 69.22
15. Parcel F9A............................................... 135.25
16. Parcel F9B............................................... 64.99
17. Parcel F10A.............................................. 11.05
18. Parcel F10B.............................................. 275.82
19. Parcel F11A Housing...................................... 152.56
20. Parcel F11C.............................................. 4.24
21. Parcel F11D.............................................. 45.23
22. Parcel F12A.............................................. 41.82
23. MGC--Mohawk Glen Club.................................... 15.13
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The NPL is set forth at Appendix B of 40 CFR part 300, which is an
appendix to the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution
Contingency Plan (NCP), which EPA promulgated pursuant to section 105
of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended. EPA maintains the NPL as
those sites that appear to present a significant risk to public health,
welfare, or the environment. Sites on the NPL may be the subject of
remedial actions financed by the Hazardous Substance Superfund (Fund).
This partial deletion of certain properties at the GAFB is proposed in
accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e) and is consistent with the Notice of
Policy Change: Partial Deletion of Sites Listed on the National
Priorities List. 60 FR 55466 (Nov. 1, 1995). As described in Sec.
300.425(e)(3) of the NCP, a portion of a site deleted from the NPL
remains eligible for Fund-financed remedial action if future conditions
warrant such actions.
The property proposed for deletion can also be reviewed via the Air
Force's (AF's) Web site http://www.griffiss.com. Property coordinates
for these parcels are identified in Figure 1 and are also defined in
the corresponding transfer documents for each parcel. Transfer
documents (e.g., deeds) and supporting documentation can be viewed
either at the repositories or via the Web site.
To effectively manage the GAFB cleanup and property transfers, the
base has been subdivided into management areas. These management areas
or parcels were evaluated for various environmental concerns. The AF
sets priorities for cleanup in each parcel based on the reuse
priorities of the Local Reuse Authority (LRA). Environmental cleanup
was expedited in some areas so that the property could be transferred
from the AF to the LRA. The areas where cleanup was expedited and where
the property was transferred are considered as candidates for deletion.
While reviewing the properties for deletion, EPA has based its
recommendation for partial deletion upon the Records of Decision
(RODs), Findings of Suitability to Transfer (FOST) and/or Findings of
Suitability for Early Transfer (FOSET) and the Five-Year Review. In
areas where the RODs were issued and the remedy was implemented (e.g.,
the institutional controls in the form of deed restrictions have been
incorporated into a deed), EPA evaluated the area for consideration in
this NOIPD.
As part of the NPL partial deletion process, EPA will accept public
comments concerning this proposed NOID related to portions of the GAFB
for thirty (30) days after publication of this notice in the Federal
Register.
Section II further explains the criteria for deleting sites from
the NPL. Section III discusses procedures that EPA is using for this
action, and Section IV discusses the GAFB Site and demonstrates how it
meets the partial
[[Page 77562]]
deletion criteria. Properties and parcels that meet the criteria for
demonstrating that the releases of hazardous substances pose no
significant threat to human health or the environment, and therefore no
remedial measures are needed, are indicated in Section IV as containing
no CERCLA sites within its boundaries. Properties and parcels that meet
the criteria that all appropriate response actions have been
implemented are also indicated in Section IV as having some removal or
remediation of contamination, and most include land and groundwater use
restrictions in the property deed as required in the ROD.
II. NPL Deletion Criteria
The NCP establishes the criteria that EPA uses to delete sites from
the NPL. In accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e), sites may be deleted
from the NPL where no further response is appropriate. In making this
determination, EPA, in consultation with the State of New York, must
establish whether any of the following criteria have been met:
i. Responsible parties or other persons have implemented all
appropriate response actions required; or
ii. All appropriate Fund-financed responses under CERCLA have been
implemented and no further cleanup by responsible parties is
appropriate; or
iii. The remedial investigation has shown that the release of
hazardous substances poses no significant threat to public health or
the environment and, therefore, taking of remedial measures is not
appropriate.
Pursuant to CERCLA section 121(c) and the NCP, EPA conducts Five-
Year Reviews to ensure the continued protectiveness of remedial actions
where hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants remain at a
site above levels that allow for unlimited use and unrestricted
exposure. EPA conducts such Five-Year Reviews even if a site is deleted
from the NPL. EPA may initiate further action to ensure continued
protectiveness at a deleted site if new information becomes available
that indicates it is appropriate. Whenever there is a significant
release from a site deleted from the NPL, the deleted site may be
restored to the NPL without application of the hazard ranking system.
III. Deletion Procedures
The following procedures were used for the intended deletion of the
specified properties at the GAFB Site:
(1) EPA has recommended the partial deletion and has prepared the
relevant documents.
(2) EPA consulted with the State before developing this NOIPD.
(3) EPA has provided the State 30 working days for review of this
notice prior to publication of it today.
(4) In accordance with the criteria discussed above, EPA has
determined that no further response is appropriate.
(5) The State of New York through the NYSDEC concurs with this
partial deletion.
(6) Concurrent with this national NOIPD, a notice has been
published in a newspaper of record and has been distributed to
appropriate federal, State, and local officials and other interested
parties. These notices announce a thirty (30) day public comment period
on the partial deletion package, which commences on the date of
publication of this notice in the Federal Register and a newspaper of
record.
(7) EPA has made all relevant documents available at the
information repositories listed previously.
If comments are received within the 30-day comment period on this
document, EPA will evaluate and respond accordingly to the comments
before making a final decision to delete the parcels. If necessary, EPA
will prepare a Responsiveness Summary to address any significant public
comments received. After the public comment period, if EPA determines
it is still appropriate to delete the soil and groundwater portions of
the 23 parcels at the GAFB Superfund Site, the Regional Administrator
will publish a final Notice of Partial Deletion in the Federal
Register. Public notices, public submissions, and copies of the
Responsiveness Summary, if prepared, will be made available to
interested parties and included in the site information repositories
listed above.
Deletion of a portion of a site from the NPL does not itself
create, alter, or revoke any individual's rights or obligations.
Deletion of a portion of a site from the NPL does not in any way alter
EPA's right to take enforcement actions, as appropriate. The NPL is
designed primarily for informational purposes and to assist EPA
management. Section 300.425(e)(3) of the NCP states that the deletion
of a site from the NPL does not preclude eligibility for future
response actions, should future conditions warrant such actions.
IV. Basis for Intended Site Deletion
A. Background
The GAFB NPL Site is comprised of 3,552 acres and is considered
``fence-line'' to ``fence-line''. The mission of the former GAFB varied
over the years. In 1942, the base was activated as the Rome Air Depot
with the mission of storage, maintenance, and shipment of material for
the U.S. Army Air Corps. Upon creation of the AF, the depot was renamed
Griffiss Air Force Base in 1947, and, three years later, it became an
electronics center with a mission of accomplishing applied research,
development, and testing of electronic air-ground systems. Later, the
49th Air Squadron was added, and in June of 1958, the Ground
Electronics Engineering Installations Agency was established to
engineer and install ground communications equipment throughout the
world. On July 1, 1970, the 416th Bombardment Wing of the Strategic Air
Command (SAC) was activated with the mission of maintenance and
implementation of both refueling operations and long-range bombardment
capability. GAFB was designated for realignment under the Base
Realignment and Closure Act in 1993 and 1995, resulting in deactivation
of all AF flying missions. Today, federal agencies such as the Air
Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, the Northeast Air
Defense Sector, and the Defense Finance and Accounting Services remain
in operation at GAFB.
Since 1942 when construction of the base began, various hazardous
and toxic substances were used and hazardous wastes were generated,
stored, or disposed at GAFB. Numerous studies and investigations under
the U.S. Department of Defense Installation Restoration Program (IRP)
have been performed to locate, assess and quantify the past toxic and
hazardous storage, disposal, and spill sites. These investigations
include: records searches; interviews with base personnel; field
inspections; compilation of waste inventory; evaluation of disposal
practices; an assessment to determine the nature and extent of site
contamination; Problem Confirmation and Quantification studies; soil
and groundwater analysis; a base-wide health assessment; base specific
hydrology investigations; and various site specific investigations.
Based upon such studies and information, GAFB was included on the NPL
on July 15, 1987 and on August 20, 1990, the AF entered into a Federal
Facility Agreement (FFA) with EPA and NYSDEC under Section 120 of
CERCLA. Under the terms of the FFA, the AF was required to submit
various reports to NYSDEC and EPA for review and comment. These reports
address response activities required under CERCLA and included: the
identification of Areas of environmental
[[Page 77563]]
Concern (AOCs); a scope of work for Remedial Investigation (RI); a work
plan for the RI, including a sampling and analysis plan and a quality
assurance plan; a baseline risk assessment; a community relations plan;
and an RI report. On December 20, 1996, the AF submitted a draft-final
RI report for regulatory review covering 31 AOCs located throughout the
base.
Although a draft-final RI was submitted, environmental studies at
GAFB did not stop there. Other studies such as the Areas of Interest
study (AOI) evaluated over 300 possible environmental factors, many of
which had not been formally evaluated under previous studies. The AOI
study first collected all available information which was then reviewed
by the AF, NYSDEC, and EPA. Based upon the review, sites were either
recommended for no further action or for further sampling. Based upon
the subsequent sampling, those sites either became no further action
sites, were addressed with removal actions with confirmatory sampling,
or were elevated to AOCs which then proceeded through the more
comprehensive CERCLA cleanup process. The AF has completed its RI for
the only AOI site that was elevated in this manner, AOC 9, and is
currently reviewing possible alternatives for cleanup.
Some sites (e.g., the AOC Landfills) proceeded to presumptive
remedies following the RI. Presumptive remedies are preferred
technologies for common categories of sites based upon historical
patterns of remedy selection and EPA's scientific and engineering
evaluations of performance data on technology implementation. These
sites were evaluated by the AF, NYSDEC, and EPA and, where determined
to be appropriate presumptive remedy candidates based upon site
sampling data and EPA's Presumptive Remedy Guidance for Military
Landfills (dated April 29, 1996), and were proposed to the public.
Following the public comment period where any comments specific to each
landfill site were addressed, these remedies were approved and
subsequently implemented. However, these presumptive remedy sites
(i.e., the landfills) are not proposed for deletion at this time.
In addition to the AOCs, nine source removal sites as listed within
the FFA have undergone cleanup with EPA and NYSDEC oversight. When the
cleanup activities at these sites are completed, these sites will be
closed with regulatory approval of a final remedy documented in a ROD.
Throughout this NOIPD, the term ``CERCLA site'' is used to mean the
AOCs described generally above which have been investigated and, as
necessary, addressed under the FFA.
B. Records of Decision, Remedial Actions and Five-Year Reviews
To date 26 remedies have been selected for various locations
throughout the base. When accounting for all environmental factors
which will necessitate some form of future regulatory approval, 13 of
these sites still remain open. In managing the on-going activities, the
AF has divided the base into various parcels. The periodic Five-Year
Reviews which evaluate the protectiveness of each remedy as required by
law also provides a summary of each parcel and its associated
environmental activities. EPA and NYSDEC reviewed the most recent Five-
Year Review document and provided their concurrence on September 15,
2005. Therefore, that document also was relied upon in the development
of this NOIPD. Based upon that Five-Year Review document, the remedies
as selected in the various RODs, and other documentation, this NOIPD
was prepared with the understanding that only the parcel areas which
meet the criteria of Section 300.425(e)(1) can be proposed for
deletion, namely all appropriate response actions have been implemented
or previous investigations have shown that remedial actions are not
appropriate to protect human health or the environment. The parcels
listed below meet this criteria and a summary of the parcel's
environmental factors have been provided. Additional parcel information
can be found on Figure 1 of this NOIPD and in the deeds via the Web
site (http://www.griffiss.com).
Parcel A1A--The Airfield. This parcel was deeded to Oneida County
via a Public Benefit Conveyance (PBC). It was comprised of 1,337.72
acres and contained two sites addressed under CERCLA. However, of the
two sites located in the parcel, Six Mile Creek (approximately 13.27
acres) will remain on the NPL. Therefore, the area of the parcel that
is proposed for deletion (approximately 1324.45 acres) contains just
one CERCLA site within its boundaries. The following is a summary of
the CERCLA site proposed for deletion:
Fire Demonstration Area. The Fire Demonstration Area is located
north of Building 100. The site was used by the AF for fire
demonstrations from 1987 to 1992. In 1994, an RI was initiated to
characterize the full extent of contamination and determine
potential threats to human health and the environment. Based upon
sampling and analysis and a risk assessment, no further action in
the form of land use restrictions was proposed by the AF as a
remedy. After the public comment period, EPA with the concurrence of
the NYSDEC approved a ROD on September 30, 1999, requiring
institutional controls in the form of land use restrictions. The ROD
required the site be restricted to industrial reuse, groundwater
restrictions be implemented, and the AF to perform Five-Year reviews
to ensure the remedy is protective of human health and the
environment. The recorded deed contains the land and groundwater use
restrictions required in the ROD.
Building 750--Former Air Force Special Investigations. This 4.07
acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an Economic Development
Conveyance (EDC) agreement. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST
was submitted by the AF and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments
were addressed. The parcel contains no CERCLA sites within its
boundaries.
Central Heating Plant. This 17.78 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA
via an EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by
the AF and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. A
petroleum spill which is not regulated by CERCLA exists within the
boundary (Spill 8903144); however, this area was remediated,
and the AF is awaiting final closure approval from NYSDEC Spills
Program. The parcel contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
Parcel F1. This 64.90 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an EDC.
However, because the property contained CERCLA sites undergoing
cleanup, a Finding of Suitability for Early Transfer (FOSET) was
required. A FOSET allows property to be transferred prior to cleanup
with EPA and the Governor's approval, provided appropriate restrictions
are in-place and the AF provides an assurance to complete cleanup the
property. The transfer of this parcel received the Governor's
concurrence on February 8, 1999, and was approved by EPA on April 2,
1999. As part of the assurances provided, the AF was required to
address the CERCLA sites within the parcel. However, only those CERCLA
sites which have remedies operating properly and successfully or which
require no further action can be considered for deletion. The parcel
contains four CERCLA sites within its boundaries (See Figure 1). Of the
four sites located in the parcel, one site known as the Coal Yard
Storage Area (approximately 3.50 acres) will remain on the NPL.
Therefore, the area of the parcel that is proposed for deletion
(approximately 61.40 acres) contains
[[Page 77564]]
three CERCLA sites within the proposed partial NPL deletion area. The
following is a summary of only the CERCLA sites in areas of Parcel F1
proposed for deletion:
Building 20. The Building 20 site, located in Parcel F1, was
used as a locomotive roundhouse to service diesel locomotives.
During operation, lubricants, diesel parts, and hydraulic fluids
were stored, used, and at times spilled in the area. An initial soil
investigation was performed in 1985, and soil was removed at the
northwest corner of Building 20. However, during the investigation
an oily liquid was encountered. Subsequent soil and groundwater
investigations continued and additional soil and liquid
contamination was removed. In 1994, an RI was initiated to
characterize the full extent of contamination and determine
potential threats to human health and the environment. In 1998, an
interim remedial action was performed to remove contaminated soil
beneath the floor near the northwest corner of the building. Based
upon sampling and analysis, previous removal actions, and a risk
assessment, the AF developed a plan for public comment proposing
institutional controls. EPA with the concurrence of the NYSDEC
approved a ROD on September 27, 2001, requiring institutional
controls in the form of land use restrictions. The ROD required the
site area be restricted to commercial/industrial reuse, groundwater
restrictions be implemented and the AF to perform Five-Year Reviews
to ensure the remedy is protective of human health and the
environment. The recorded deed does contain the institutional
controls/land and groundwater use restrictions required in the ROD.
T-9 Storage Area. The T-9 Storage Area (T-9), also located in
Parcel F1, was reportedly an open lot used to store heavy equipment,
herbicides, and petroleum based paving products. At one time,
Building 9, which no longer exists, was used as a motor pool
facility. In the mid 1980s, soil and groundwater studies were
conducted which detected contaminants of concern above background
and guidance values, and, as a result, in 1994, an RI was performed
to evaluate the potential threats to human health and the
environment. In 1998, an interim response action was performed at
the T-9 Storage Area at three locations. These locations were
identified based on soil contamination data from previous
investigations including the RI. Based upon sampling and analysis,
previous removal actions, and a risk assessment, no further action
in the form of land use restrictions was proposed by the AF as a
remedy. After the public comment period, EPA with the concurrence of
the NYSDEC approved a ROD on September 27, 2001, requiring
institutional controls in the form of land use restrictions. The ROD
required that the site be restricted to commercial/industrial reuse,
groundwater restrictions be implemented, and the AF to perform Five-
Year Reviews to ensure the remedy is protective of human health and
the environment. The recorded deed does contain the land and
groundwater use restrictions required in the ROD.
Lot 69--Former Haz Waste Storage Yard. Lot 69 is located in the
south central industrialized portion of the former Griffiss AFB
base. The site contains a Vehicle Maintenance Facility, including
Buildings 11 and 15, and an asphalt-covered vehicle parking and
storage area. From 1965 to 1982, this site was used as an
unrestricted interim drum storage area for containers of liquid and
solid hazardous wastes generated on the base. In 1994, an RI was
initiated to characterize the full extent of contamination and
determine potential threats to human health and the environment.
Based upon sampling and analysis and a risk assessment, the AF
developed a plan for public comment proposing institutional
controls. EPA with the concurrence of the NYSDEC approved a ROD on
March 17, 2005, requiring institutional controls in the form of land
use restrictions. The ROD required the site area be restricted to
commercial/industrial reuse, groundwater restrictions be
implemented, and the AF to perform Five-Year Reviews to ensure the
remedy is protective of human health and the environment. The
recorded deed does contain the institutional controls/land and
groundwater use restrictions required in the ROD.
Parcel F2. This 93.11 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an EDC.
However, because the property contained CERCLA sites undergoing
cleanup, a FOSET was required. This early transfer received the
Governor's concurrence on February 23, 2000, and was approved by EPA on
May 10, 2000. As part of the assurances provided, the AF was required
to address the CERCLA sites within the parcel. However, only those
CERCLA sites which have implemented remedies operating properly and
successfully or which require no further action can be considered for
deletion. Subsequent to the transfer of the property, the AF completed
all the required actions at one of the two sites located in parcel F2.
The Building 775 site, comprised of 4.75 acres, is not proposed for
deletion and will remain on the NPL. As a result, 88.37 acres of the
Parcel F2's 93.11 acres are proposed for deletion, and it is within
these 88.37 acres that the other CERCLA site which has been remediated
is located. A summary of the CERCLA site is provided as follows:
Building 112. The Building 112 site, located in the central
industrial area of the base, serves as the High Power Laboratory.
The CERCLA site was comprised of four areas: A drywell; a rooftop
transformer spill; the loading dock area; and the polychlorinated
biphenyl (PCB) dump area. Beginning in the early 1980s, various
studies were conducted in the Building 112 area. In 1994, soil
sampling, groundwater sampling, and a risk assessment were performed
as part of the RI investigation. In conjunction with the RI, the AF
performed excavation of several areas containing elevated levels of
PCBs. Based upon the RI and the removal of the PCB contaminated
material, the AF developed a plan for public comment proposing no
further action with land use restrictions. EPA, with the concurrence
of the NYSDEC, approved the ROD on September 27, 2001, requiring
institutional controls in the form of land use restrictions. The ROD
required the site be restricted to commercial/industrial reuse, soil
relocation restrictions, groundwater restrictions be implemented,
and the AF to perform Five-Year Reviews to ensure the remedy is
protective of human health and the environment. The recorded deed
contains the land and groundwater use restrictions required in the
ROD.
Parcel Electrical Power Substation. This parcel is comprised of 3.2
acres and contains one site addressed under CERCLA. The parcel was
deeded to LRA via an EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST
was submitted by the AF and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments
were addressed. A summary of the CERCLA site proposed for deletion is
provided as follows:
Electric Power Substation (EPS). The EPS is located in the
south-central portion of the base along the southern margin of the
industrial complex. Since the start of operations at Griffiss AFB in
the 1940s, the EPS has served as an electrical unit to relay power
to various facilities throughout the base. Prior to conversion, some
of the transformers contained polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
dielectric fluids. Dielectric fluids have reportedly been drained
from the transformers directly onto the ground surface over an
extended period of time. A transformer rupture reportedly occurred
in 1987 at Transformer No. 1, during which PCB fluids were released
on the east side. In 1994, soil sampling, groundwater sampling, and
a risk assessment were performed as part of an RI.
In conjunction with the RI, the AF performed excavation of
several areas containing elevated levels of PCBs. In 1998, the AF
conducted a removal action by excavating soil and disposing the PCB
contaminated soil off-site. Based upon the RI and the removal
actions, the AF developed a plan for public comment proposing no
further action with land use restrictions. EPA with the concurrence
of the NYSDEC, approved the ROD on March 17, 2005, requiring
institutional controls in the form of land use restrictions. The ROD
required the site be restricted to commercial/industrial reuse, soil
relocation restrictions, groundwater restrictions be implemented,
and the AF to perform Five-Year Reviews to ensure the remedy is
protective of human health and the environment. The recorded deed
contains the land and groundwater use restrictions required in the
ROD.
Parcel F3A. This 87.90 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. Of the
87.90 acres, only 75.99 acres are proposed for deletion. Within these
75.99 acres, there
[[Page 77565]]
are three CERCLA sites; however, the RODs for these sites were issued
and the remedies implemented prior to the property being transferred.
Therefore, the transfer was not considered an early transfer. Within
the remaining 11.91 acres there are three sites known as Drywell 211,
Washrack 222, and Building 255 Drywell which are individual area
parcels and shall remain on the NPL (See Figure 1). A summary of the
CERCLA sites is provided as follows:
Building 214. Building 214 is located in the west-central
portion of the base. Adjacent to Building 214 are several other
industrial buildings that form the area on base known as ``Tin
City.'' Building 214 was a former vehicle maintenance shop, and
solvents and petroleum were reported to have been released in a
gravel-covered parking area adjacent to the building. In addition,
an Underground Storage Tank (UST) was reported to have overflowed
during past operations, and two drywells were reported to have
existed at the southeast and southwest corners of the building.
Beginning in the mid 1980s, various studies were conducted in this
area, and thereafter soil sampling, groundwater sampling, and a risk
assessment were performed as part of the RI in 1993. Based upon the
RI, the AF developed a plan for public comment proposing no further
action with land use restrictions. EPA, with the concurrence of the
NYSDEC, approved the ROD on September 30, 1999, requiring
institutional controls in the form of land use restrictions. The ROD
required the site be restricted to commercial/industrial reuse,
groundwater restrictions be implemented, and the AF to perform Five-
Year Reviews to ensure the remedy is protective of human health and
the environment. Following the approval of the ROD, groundwater
monitoring continued, and based upon this monitoring EPA approved an
Explanation of Significant Difference (ESD) on September 26, 2003,
which found that the constituents sampled as part of a groundwater
long-term monitoring program were below acceptable standards. The
recorded deed contains land and groundwater use restrictions
required in the ROD.
Building 219. The Building 219 site is located in the west-
central portion of the base. This building and several other
buildings form the Tin City area. The building was used as an
Electric Power Production Shop, and based upon previous history a
drywell existed south of the building. Liquid waste spills,
neutralized battery acids, ethylene glycol, and shop wash-water may
have been disposed in the drywell during the 1970s while the
building was in operation. In 1994, an RI was performed to determine
the nature and extent of contamination. Based upon the RI and a risk
assessment, the AF developed a plan for public comment proposing no
further action with land use restrictions. EPA, with the concurrence
of the NYSDEC, approved the ROD on September 30, 1999, requiring
institutional controls in the form of land use restrictions. The ROD
required the site be restricted to commercial/industrial reuse,
groundwater restrictions be implemented, and the AF to perform Five-
Year Reviews to ensure the remedy is protective of human health and
the environment. Following the approval of the ROD, groundwater
monitoring continued, and based upon this monitoring EPA approved an
ESD on September 26, 2003, which found that the constituents sampled
as part of a groundwater long-term monitoring program did not exceed
acceptable standards. The recorded deed contains land and
groundwater use restrictions required in the ROD.
Building 222. The Building 222 site, located in the west-central
portion of the base, is also part of the Tin City area. The building
was used as a truck maintenance facility and entomology laboratory,
and based upon previous history a battery acid disposal pit existed
inside the building. The pit had an opening approximately 2 square
feet in the floor and was covered with a steel grate. From 1940
until 1984, neutralized battery acids were discharged into the pit.
In 1994, an RI was performed to determine the nature and extent of
contamination. In 1998, and interim response action was performed to
remove contaminated soil beneath the floor in the area of the
battery acid disposal pit. Based upon the RI and the risk
assessment, the AF developed a plan for public comment proposing no
further action with land use restrictions. EPA, with the concurrence
of the NYSDEC, approved the ROD on September 27, 2001, requiring
institutional controls in the form of land use restrictions. The ROD
required the site be restricted to commercial/industrial reuse,
groundwater restrictions be implemented, and the AF to perform Five-
Year Reviews to ensure the remedy is protective of human health and
the environment. Following the approval of the ROD, groundwater
monitoring continued, and based upon this monitoring EPA approved an
ESD on September 26, 2003, which found that the constituents sampled
as part of a groundwater long-term monitoring program did not exceed
acceptable standards. The recorded deed contains land and
groundwater use restrictions required in the ROD.
Parcel F3B. This 14.04 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
Parcel F4A. This 107.59 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
Parcel F4C. This 56.96 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
Parcel F6A. This 55.40 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. Of the
55.40 acres only 52.20 acres are proposed for deletion. There are no
CERCLA sites within these acres. The one remaining site known as
Building 301 Drywell is an individual area and will remain on the NPL
(See Figure 1).
Parcel F7NR. This 52.09 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
Parcel F7R. This 223.75 acre parcel was deeded to Oneida County via
a deed reversion clause. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was
submitted by the AF and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were
addressed. The parcel contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
Parcel F8--Housing. This 69.22 acre parcel was offered to the LRA,
but it decided not to take ownership of the property. The FOST,
however, was submitted and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments
were addressed and the property was disposed by Government Services
Agency via a public auction. The parcel contains no CERCLA sites within
its boundaries.
Parcel F9A. This 135.25 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
Parcel F9B. This 64.99 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
Parcel F10A. This 11.05 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
Parcel 10B. This 281.44 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an
EDC, and of these acres, 275.82 acres are proposed for deletion. Prior
to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF and
reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC.
[[Page 77566]]
All comments were addressed. Four CERCLA sites are located within the
parcel. Three of these sites known as Drywell 842, Drywell 846, and AOC
9 are individual areas and will remain on the NPL. Therefore, the
parcel contains just one CERCLA site within its boundaries that is
proposed for deletion (See Figure 1). A summary of the CERCLA site is
provided as follows:
Suspected Fire Training Area. The Suspected Fire Training Area
was located on the eastern boundary of the base. It was investigated
as part of an RI in 1994. Based upon the RI, a ROD was proposed to
the public for No Further Action. After the public comment period,
EPA with the concurrence of the NYSDEC, approved the ROD on
September 30, 1999. No reuse restrictions are required for the area.
Parcel F11A Housing. This 152.56 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA
via an EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by
the AF and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The
parcel contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
Parcel F11C. This 4.24 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
Parcel F11D. This 45.23 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
Parcel F12A. This 45.83 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. A small
portion of parcel F12A (4.01 acres) contains groundwater contamination.
This area of contamination is currently being addressed and will not be
deleted from the NPL. Therefore, 41.82 acres of the parcel which are
proposed for deletion contain no CERCLA sites within its boundaries
(See Figure 1).
MGC--Mohawk Glen Club. This 15.13 acre parcel which was originally
the Officer's Club was deeded to Oneida County via a deed reversion
clause. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the
AF and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The
parcel contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
C. Community Involvement
The AF published its first Community Relations Plan in May 1991 and
created a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) to facilitate participation
of and input from the public throughout the CERCLA cleanup process. The
RAB acts as a focal point for the exchange of information between the
AF and the local community, and it enables the early communication of
information, concerns, and needs between them. In addition, each
decision document at the Site has been made available for public
comment, discussed at public meetings, and placed in the information
repository before the decision document is finalized.
D. Deletion Action Determination
EPA, with the concurrence of the State of New York dated August 7,
2008, has determined that all appropriate responses under CERCLA have
been completed and that no further response actions under CERCLA, other
than O&M and Five-Year Reviews, are necessary or that an investigation
has shown a release poses no significant threat to public health or the
environment and, therefore, no response action is appropriate.
Therefore, EPA is deleting the properties and parcels described above
from the NPL. While EPA does not believe that any future response
actions in the areas identified above will be needed, if future
conditions warrant such action, the proposed deletion area of GAFB
remains eligible for future response actions. Furthermore, this partial
deletion does not alter the status of the remaining areas of GAFB which
are not proposed for deletion and remain on the NPL. Likewise, this
deletion does not alter the status of any other cleanup activities
occurring under other federal and state programs (e.g., many of the
parcels proposed for deletion include cleanup under New York State
authorities such as the New York State Spills Program which addresses
releases of petroleum products to the environment).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 300
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Chemicals,
Hazardous waste, Hazardous substances, Intergovernmental relations,
Natural resources, Oil pollution, Penalties, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Superfund, Water pollution control, Water
supply.
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(c)(2); 42 U.S.C. 9601-9657; E.O.
12777, 56 FR 54757, 3 CFR 1991 Comp., p. 351; and E.O.12580, 52 FR
2923, 3 CFR 1987 Comp., p. 193.
Dated: November 28, 2008.
Alan J. Steinberg,
Regional Administrator--Region 2.
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[FR Doc. E8-29961 Filed 12-18-08; 8:45 am]
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