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Mr. Russell Chapin
<br /> 1766 W.Monte Diablo Avenue
<br /> Page 3 of 5
<br /> 2001, and groundwater extraction (GWE)was initiated in April 2002. As of September 30,
<br /> 2003, 2,459,704 gallons of groundwater had been extracted, yielding a recovered benzene
<br /> mass of 5.69 pounds and TPH-g mass of 140 pounds. As of the fourth quarter of 2004, AGE
<br /> estimates that 6.46 pounds of benzene and 178.7 pounds of TPH-g have been recovered.
<br /> Since the site was placed in LOP, the EHD has met with Mr. Chapin on numerous occasions
<br /> and has discussed the site several times with CVRWQCB staff. The LOP staff meets monthly
<br /> to discuss general and site-specific issues; the meetings are attended by CVRWQCB staff. On
<br /> October 15, 2003, an LOP staff meeting was held, which was attended by Brian Newman and
<br /> Jim Barton of CVRWQCB. At the conclusion of this staff meeting, Bill Little of AGE, Mr.
<br /> Chapin's consultant, met informally with the EHD and CVRWQCB staffs to discuss Mr. Chapin's
<br /> site. According to Mr. Little, Mr. Chapin was aware of the meeting. It was not the intention of
<br /> either the EHD or CVRWQCB staff to exclude Mr. Chapin from the meeting or to issue
<br /> directives affecting his site, but was to discuss the value of continuing the GWE effort. Mr.
<br /> Newman noted the persistent contaminant concentrations in the extracted groundwater and was
<br /> concerned that soil washing may be occurring. Approval was given for Mr. Little to turn off the
<br /> GWE system for 30 days and consider the results. When tested a month after shutting down
<br /> the GWE, concentrations had rebounded, so the system operation was restarted.
<br /> On December 19, 2003, the EHD met with Mr. Chapin and his consultants (AGE
<br /> representatives, Bob Marty and Bill Little, and ATC Associates Inc. representative, Drew Van
<br /> Allan) to discuss the site status and closure requirements. Margaret Lagorio, Nuel Henderson
<br /> and Harlin Knoll represented the EHD. Jim Barton representing the CVRWQCB was also
<br /> present. At this meeting, Mr. Chapin presented a history of the site investigation and requested
<br /> closure consideration. The AGE representatives presented the results of the soil investigation
<br /> under the building and the last quarterly groundwater monitoring results. The EHD informed Mr.
<br /> Chapin that his consultant must submit a report of the work done and give recommendations for
<br /> closure or future monitoring, etc., for the site. By the end of the meeting, both ATC and AGE
<br /> recommended that the pump and treat system should be operated until the closure report had
<br /> been prepared.
<br /> During the December 19, 2003, meeting, Nuel Henderson, R.G., of the EHD described what
<br /> would be necessary to produce a model demonstrating that the site merited closure
<br /> consideration while leaving a large mass of contaminants in place. Included in such a model
<br /> would be a hydrogeological site model, a reliable updated estimate of dissolved and sorbed
<br /> contaminant masses and their distribution, the contaminant flux rate between sorbed and
<br /> dissolved states, and the groundwater seepage rate. These components would be a necessary
<br /> part of the overall model in order to develop a reliable fate and transport model for the site.
<br /> On August 13, 2004, the EHD received the Closure Report dated August 10, 2004, prepared by
<br /> ATC. ATC had utilized the Modflow program to develop a hydrogeological model and the MT31D
<br /> program to model contaminant fate and transport. Based on the conclusions drawn from the
<br /> model results, ATC recommended immediate site closure with no further groundwater
<br /> monitoring. The EHD carefully reviewed the ATC model, testing each statement, model
<br /> component and reasoning.
<br /> On October 4, 2004, EHD issued a comment letter on the August 10, 2004, Closure Report.
<br /> The EHD could not concur with the request for closure or for immediate cessation of
<br /> groundwater monitoring, due to weaknesses EHD identified in the model and detailed in the
<br /> comment letter.
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