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STATE OF CALIFORNIA-Environmental Prote*Agency • PETE WILSON, Governor CALIFORNIA REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD n CENTRAL VALLEY REGION 3443 Routier Road, Suite A s Sacramento, CA 95827-3098 PHONE: (916) 255-3000 DOD FAX (916) 255.9052 RECE 19 February 1993 FEB 2 3 1993 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERMIT/SERVICES Senator Patrick Johnston 31 East Channel , Room 440 Stockton, CA 95202 RESPONSE TO MR. GLENN ROBERTSON'S LETTER, DEFENSE DISTRIBUTION REGION WEST (DDRW), TRACY, SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY This letter is in response to your Field Representative's, Mr. Clarence Chan, telephone conversation with my staff about Mr. Glenn Robertson's 19 January 1993 letter. During the 5 February 1993 conversation, Mr. Chan requested that my staff respond. Our response to the Roberston letter is being coordinated with the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) . We certainly can understand Mr. Roberton's concerns regarding the domestic use of contaminated ground water. However, there seems to be some misunderstanding of the Board's role which we would like to clarify. As you know, the Board has been actively involved in the ground water investigation and cleanup at DDRW, Tracy since 1984. Since 1990, DDRW, Tracy has been regulated under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) program and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is now the lead agency responsible for the investigation and cleanup of the contamination. The Board has always been an independent party providing oversight for the protection of water quality whether the ground water cleanup proceeded under State or Federal authority. My staff has been involved at the CERCLA Public Meetings to answer questions posed by the public, including those of Mr. Robertson. Mr. Robertson's concerns regarding the contamination in his supply well are due to elevated concentrations of carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) , which were initially discovered in the samples results collected by my and DTSC staff. Concentrations of trichloroethylene (TCE) , the primary ground water contaminant emanating from DDRW, Tracy, have not been detected in samples collected from his well . Currently, we do not know the source of the CCL4. However, the Site-Wide Remedial Investigation (RI) of DDRW, Tracy should help to determine if DDRW, Tracy is a source for the CCL4 ground water contamination. Mr. Robertson's well has been incorporated into the quarterly ground water monitoring program being conducted by DDRW, Tracy. In addition, my staff is conducting a regional well survey which will include the investigation of on- and off-site potential sources of CCL4 ground water contamination. We will inform Mr. Robertson of the results of the Board's regional well survey. However, until the source of the CCL4 contamination is identified, we feel that DDRW, Tracy should not be held accountable for the cleanup of or a permanent alternative water supply for the CCL4 ground water contamination.