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STATE OF CALIFORNIA GEORGE DEUKMEJIAN,Governor CALIFORNIA REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD— CENTRAL VALLEY REGION 3443 ROUTIER ROAD SACRAMENTO,CA 95827-3098 26 July 1989 JUL 281989 E! JIRONiME NTAL HEALTH PEPtXTISERVI Mr. Wes Harris Defense Depot Tracy Tracy, CA 95375 REPORT OF RECENT INSPECTION Enclosed for your information is a copy of a report covering a recent inspection of your waste disposal facilities. Please respond to our concerns discussed in the inspection report regarding the flow meters and the secondary clarifier's solids handling system by 25 August 1989. As noted in the inspection report, designated levels of contaminants were measured in the sludge and liquid within the industrial waste evaporation ponds. We encourage you to continue your efforts in evaluating alternatives to the continued use of these evaporation ponds. If the decision is made to continue using evaporation ponds, they will have to be retrofitted to comply with Subchapter 15 requirements. You have informed us that a supplemental RI/FS will be conducted to study the entire industrial waste system, including the evaporation ponds. The contract for this work was scheduled for 15 July 1989, with project completion by 15 November 1989. Since ground water underlying the ponds is contaminated, and since the proposed interim ground water extraction system will intercept plumes emanating from this area, this schedule appears appropriate. However, we recommend that until the study is complete, the Depot should attempt to locate the sources of the contaminants within the industrial waste system and, if possible, (1) implement source control measures to eliminate the use of those chemicals responsible for the contamination, or (2) dispose of these wastes off- site at an appropriate treatment/disposal facility. One other option that you may consider is to discharge wastewater from the industrial waste line directly into the domestic treatment system. The volatilization occurring within your trickling filters may be sufficient to significantly reduce the concentration of volatile organics. This option would have to be closely monitored and discontinued if either significant levels of contaminants are being discharged into the unlined domestic percolation/ evaporation ponds, contaminants within the sludge approach or exceed designated waste levels, or the trickling filter treatment process is disrupted. If you decide to pursue this option, please contact this office, for we will have to revise waste discharge requirements (WDRs) for the domestic treatment system.