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Mr. Brian Miller • - 2 - • 2 June 2006 <br /> observed in all of the carbon-based amendments. Zero valent iron began degrading <br /> the nitrate and chlorinated organic compounds within the first week, and degrading the <br /> sulfate within the first month. Ammonium concentrations increased in the zero valent <br /> iron treatment. <br /> Pilot Study Proposal and Revisions <br /> Applying the results of the treatability study, in the Pilot Test Work Plan Western Farm <br /> Service proposed a one-year in-situ pilot study to compare two zero valent iron <br /> amendments: zero valent iron without amendments in one application area; and <br /> ERCTM' which is zero valent iron combined with a slow-release carbon source, in an <br /> adjacent application area. Following a 1 February 2006 meeting between Ms. Carolyn <br /> Kneiblher of GeoSyntec Consultants and Regional Water Board staff, GeoSyntec <br /> provided an 8 March 2006 Memorandum that provided additional information on the <br /> EHCTm amendment. <br /> Regional Water Board staff is concerned about the generation of ammonium in the <br /> bench test that evaluated zero valent iron. Ammonium is a constituent of concern at <br /> the site, as are chlorinated compounds such as 1,2,3-TCP. In the area of the proposed <br /> pilot tests, extraction/monitoring well E-1 has contained 1,200 mg/I of ammonium, 250 <br /> mg/I of nitrate (as nitrogen) and 95 ug/I of 1,2,3-TCP. The bench test with zero valent <br /> iron clearly showed that iron rapidly degraded 1,2,3-TCP and other chlorinated <br /> compounds, but it also converted nitrate to ammonium. Whereas the bench tests with <br /> carbon amendments did not conclusively remove chlorinated compounds, they did <br /> remove nitrate without an increase in ammonium, and the carbon amendments <br /> additionally appeared to accelerate the removal of ammonium. In response to a <br /> 22 March 2006 telephone conversation whith Ms. Kneiblher during which Regional <br /> Water Board staff expressed concern about ammonium increases resulting from zero <br /> valent iron reactions, GeoSyntec provided a revised injection layout plan in the 25 April <br /> 2006 Semi-Annual Monitoring Report. For reference, this revised layout is attached to <br /> this letter as Figure 1. <br /> The revised injection layout plan proposes to conduct the pilot test exclusively with <br /> EHCTM, and to not conduct the pilot test proposed with unamended zero valent iron. <br /> The EHC'm injection area is expanded laterally to encompass the area formerly <br /> proposed for unamended zero valent iron. The EH CTM will be mixed as an aqueous <br /> slurry and hydraulically injected into the A-zone using Direct Push Technology through <br /> cone-penetrometer test rods. The application area will consist of two rows of about <br /> seven injection points each, spaced about five feet apart. GeoSyntec estimates that <br /> about 2,600 pounds of EHCT will be placed in the treatment area. <br /> Pilot Study Monitoring Wells <br /> Two pilot study performance monitoring wells (PM-1 and PM-2) will be installed about <br /> 10 and 20 feet downgradient of the proposed injection area. The work plan for the <br /> construction of these wells is contained within the Pilot Study Work Plan, and the <br /> placement of the wells is shown on the attached Figure 1. Existing monitoring wells <br /> located nearby in the A-zone are MW-8, about 70 feet downgradient of the treatment <br /> areas, and E-1, about 10 feet upgradient of one end of the injection area. <br />