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chromatographs of diesel range organics detected upgradient of the plant, relative to <br /> hydrocarbons from near the source area are inconclusive because of natural degradation. <br /> Groundwater impacts downgradient of the LFC plant probably resulted from migration of <br /> hydrocarbons from the initial release area during the following three periods: <br /> 1. The time between discovery of the release and the initiation of groundwater <br /> remediation. <br /> 2. Plant construction in 1999, when the recovery wells (RW-4 and RW-5) were <br /> inoperative and replacement wells RW-4A and RW-5A were not yet completed. <br /> 3. After plant construction in late 2002, when biofouling significantly reduced recovery <br /> from well RW-5A. <br /> The downgradient hydrocarbon migration may have resulted in residual impacts to vadose-zone <br /> soils, which will leach hydrocarbons to the groundwater during times of elevated water table <br /> conditions. In February 2004, three borings were advanced downgradient of the plant to <br /> determine the extent of off-site impacts. The results of that study were provided to the RWQCB <br /> in the report entitled Downgradient Groundwater Characterization and Monitoring Well <br /> Installation, dated April 6, 2004. Field screening was based on odor, which is the basis for the <br /> 100 ug/L beneficial use level for diesel in groundwater. At the time the borings were advanced <br /> and the wells were installed, diesel odor was not discernable in any soil or groundwater samples <br /> from the three locations. The September 2004 sample from well MW-19, which was installed in <br /> the middle of the three downgradient borings, showed a diesel detection of 1.1 mg/L, in excess <br /> of the diesel beneficial use level. <br /> 2.2 Existing Remediation Systems <br /> To contain the product and potential dissolved phase impacts, LFC contracted GeoTrans to <br /> install a groundwater remediation system. Construction of the new product recovery system at <br /> the site was completed on May 17, 1996 and the system was brought on-line on May 22, 1996. <br /> The system consists of five recovery wells (RW-1, RW-2, RW-3, RW-4A and RW-5A). Wells <br /> RW-4 and RW-5 were abandoned and relocated as RW-4A and RW-5A during the second <br /> quarter of 1999 to accommodate plant expansion. The replacement wells are similar in <br /> construction to the abandoned wells and are located near the original well locations. Operation <br /> of recovery wells RW-1, RW-2 and RW-3 has not been required and could induce movement of <br /> impacts closer to the northern site boundary. To supplement recovery and improve capture of <br /> impacted groundwater, pumping was initiated at well EW-2 (which had previously been used as <br /> a monitoring point) in late October 2002. <br /> Free and dissolved phase hydrocarbons in excess of regulatory standards had not been observed <br /> in monitoring wells near and downgradient of recovery well RW-4A since before March 2000. <br /> GeoTrang <br /> 3 <br />