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Final Release LLNL Site 300 (USD®E) level of remediation has been achieved, all further groundwater contamination on-site would be addressed by monitored natural attenuation (DOE 2003). It is important to understand that the EPA National Primary Drinking Water Standard of 5 ppb for TCE—the only contaminant ever detected off-site—will remain unchanged. Comment: The report assumes that the current cleanup activities will continue for the foreseeable future and at present levels. Every year the community is forced to lobby the DOE just to get the necessary funding to continue ongoing cleanup efforts. At the present time it seems unlikely that even the current cleanup activities will continue. Response: See the Response to the Comments under the Remedial Activities—Funding and Timeframe section of Appendix A. Comment: In recent years, the Site has not received much rainfall. There is agreement among the experts that in wet years the water table rises and the unlined waste pits become saturated. The contamination is then spread into the surrounding groundwater and soils. The last few relatively dry years have not allowed the plumes to migrate; therefore current data is skewed due to limited contaminant releases in the last several years. Rainfall totals have been recorded as high as 32 inches at Site 300 but the average rainfall for the last six years has been 10.4 inches. (Draft Site Wide Environmental Impact Statement,DOE 2004). Response: Pursuant to the requirements of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), and under the oversight of the EPA, the California RWQCB, and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, LLNL has conducted environmental sampling and investigations of chemical and radiological contamination both on and off-site areas of Site 300 since 1981. These data are extensive and span times of drought as well as times of heavy rainfall. The maximum annual rainfall at Site 300 was recorded in 1982- 83 when the site received 20.09 inches—the City of Livermore experienced 32.37 inches during this time period (LLNL 1994,DOE 2004). The average annual rainfall at Site 300 is 10.09 inches,based on data from 1965-1992 collected from the Site 300 weather station. Therefore, the average rainfall for the last 6 years, as reported in the Draft Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement(DOE 2004), of 10.4 inches is only slightly (0.31 inches) above the historical average for Site 300. B-3