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� 1 �. MAY 1 0 1994 -iyUIN LUU1,, . PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 4' Lawrence LiMore National Laboratory ,t. April 26, 1994 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Department of Energy is beginning an interim cleanup to treat soil and ground water contaminated with organic solvents and diesel fuel in one area of Site 300. Dear Community Member, The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory/Department of Energy (LLNL/DOE) continues to work on environmental restoration projects at Site 300, its experimental test site about eight miles southwest of Tracy, California. One area LLNL/DOE is working on right now is a small portion of the designated Building 834 cleanup area (operable unit). Cleanup options for the Building 834 operable unit as a whole are discussed in a Feasibility Study document, a draft of which was submitted to regulatory agencies on January 28, 1994. Copies of the draft document are available in Site 300 information repositories at the LLNL Visitor's Center, the Tracy Public Library and the Stockton Public Library. Some of the soil and shallow ground water near Building 834 (see map) contains trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene (TCE and PCE), organic solvents used in the past to clean machine parts and as a heat transfer fluid in heating and cooling experiments. In addition, the soil and ground water contain some diesel fuel as a result of spills at the site. Minor amounts of other related organic chemicals are also present. The shallow ground water is not used for drinking water, either by people or animals at the site. Moreover, the shallow, contaminated water cannot infiltrate deeper ground water because the two zones are separated by an approximately 280 -foot -thick layer of rock (claystone and sandstone). Nor can it spread down Corral Hollow Canyon because, being ringed by ridges, Site 300's ground water poses no threat to Tracy's drinking water supply. Still, to prevent any further horizontal movement of contaminants within the area, LLNL/DOE wants to begin treating the soil and ground water around Building 834 as soon as possible — and has consulted with the necessary regulatory agencies to plan an interim cleanup of the area. Between 1988 and 1992, LLNL/DOE tested several innovative ground water cleanup technologies at Building 834. Working with the Regional Water Quality Control Board, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and several other regulatory agencies, LLNL/DOE has chosen a treatment technology for this small area. The technology — chosen because it provides an efficient yet inexpensive approach — entails the use of a soil vapor extraction system in combination with a ground water pump - and -treatment system. The soil vapor extraction system consists of a network of pipes and vacuum pumps which extract vapor from the soil. The extracted vapor is then passed through a granular activated carbon filter system which strips contaminants from the vapor before discharging the cleaned vapor to the atmosphere. The soil vapor extraction system for the Building 834 cleanup will operate under a permit issued to LLNL/DOE by the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District. The permit requires LLNL/DOE to operate the system so that air emissions do not exceed levels set by the District. LLNL/DOE will sample emissions regularly and report results to the District. An Equal Opportunity Employer • University of California • P.O. Box 808 Livermore, California 94551 *Telephone (510) 422-1100 • Twx 910-386-8339 UCLLL LVMR