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OUR <br /> The technician arrived at the Site at approximately 2:45 pm. Upon arriving at the Site, the <br /> technician noted that the rain had stopped and that the bermed secondary containment area <br /> surrounding the treatment system was filled nearly to capacity (less than 0.5-inch of freeboard <br /> remaining). The two sump pumps within the bermed area, which work independently of the <br /> GWETS to drain fluids from the secondary containment area, were pumping the water out of the <br /> drainage sumps and into the surge tank. The sump pumps were re-circulating a mixture of <br /> rainwater, untreated groundwater, and treated groundwater, which was then spilling over the top of <br /> the surge tank into the surrounding bermed area. The overflowing water from the surge tank <br /> splashed into the water within the bermed area adjacent to the tank, over the top of berm, and onto <br /> the asphalt immediately adjacent to the berm. <br /> The exact volume of water that splashed outside of the berm is unknown. Based on the observations <br /> of our technician at the Site and on the duration of the system upset, that the amount of water that <br /> splashed over the berm likely is de minimis (on the order of several gallons) and likely would not <br /> have reached the storm drain. In the event that any water did reach the storm drain—and there is <br /> no evidence to suggest that it did—such water would have contained very low concentrations of <br /> chemicals as a result of volatilization and mixing with rainwater. It is LFR's opinion that such <br /> water would not constitute a threat tq human health or the environment. <br /> Once the system upset had been assessed, the technician restored and rebooted the treatment system <br /> in order to pump out the excess water from the berm and tank. This water was fully treated prior <br /> to being discharged to the storm drain. The technician obtained samples of the combined mixture <br /> of untreated groundwater, treated groundwater, and rainwater from the surge tank and the GWETS <br /> effluent. The GWETS was then shutdown pending further investigation into the cause of the upset. <br /> The results of these analyses are attached to this letter. <br /> Remedial and Follow-un Actions Taken <br /> LFR notified the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), Lincoln Properties Ltd., and <br /> San Joaquin County (SJC) Department of Public Works of the system upset on December 2, 1998. <br /> At the request of the RWQCB (on December 3, 1998), LFR also notified the Department of Toxic <br /> Substances Control (DTSC) and SJC Public Health Services Environmental Health Division on <br /> December 3, 1998. The GWETS remained shutdown so that repairs could be made and a full <br /> systems check could be conducted. The following modifications will be made to the GWETS <br /> before the system is restarted: <br /> • Additional interlocks will be installed into the computer operating system that will shut off the <br /> well pumps in case a treatment plant alarm is activated, including the alarms for pumps P-1 and <br /> P-2. <br /> • A dual-contact run configuration will be established for each of the well pumps, requiring two <br /> independent electrical contacts to start and stop the well pumps. <br /> GWETS Upset:TA6 2 <br />