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i MEMORANDUM CALIFORNIA REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD • CENTRAL VALLEY REGION 3443 Routier Road,Suite A Phone: (916)255-3000 Sacramento,CA 95827-3098 CALNET: 8-494-3000 LCI To: Wendy L Cohen From: Polly Lowry Senior WRC Engineer Associate Engineering Geologist Date: 4 October 1996 Signature: Subject: STATUS OF GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORPORATION, TRACY, SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY I have reviewed the files on the Georgia-Pacific Corporation facility in Tracy to determine if further investigation, monitoring, or remediation is needed at the site. The discussion below and the attached table of monitoring well construction data summarize the history of operations at the GP site and the ground water investigation and remediation. Background The Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Chemical Packaging Division (GP) site is at 75 W. Valpico Road in Tracy. The facility occupies approximately 15 acres on historically productive agricultural land about two miles south of the City of Tracy. The facility is bordered to the north by a residential area, to the west and east by farmland, and to the south by commercial and industrial businesses. GP conducted operations at the site from 1978 until 1986. GP produced and packaged bleach, muriatic acid, sulfuric acid, antifreeze, fabric softener, and water-based paint. Plastic bottles were also manufactured at the site. These operations were discontinued when ownership of the facility transferred to Stewart/Walker Company (SW) in 1986. SW began operations at the facility in late 1986 and currently continues manufacturing plastic bottles which it began when it assumed ownership of the property. In 1978, GP constructed a stormwater basin for disposal of stormwater runoff from the GP plant. GP also discharged waste cooling water containing up to 13% or 13,000 mg/1 ethylene glycol to the stormwater basin. The basin was originally approximately 13 feet below grade in an approximately 170 feet by 320 feet fenced enclosure. GP personnel have reported that the basin had continuously contained a pond of water since at least 1980 and possibly before. A complaint of odors from standing water-in the stormwater basin in July 1984 by local residents resulted in an investigation by GP and the Board. GP's analysis showed water from the basin contained ethanol, acetic acid, and hydrogen sulfide. The Board's analysis showed ethylene glycol, isopropyl acetate, and other organics to be present. With approval from the US EPA, GP added 11,000 gallons of 12 percent sodium hypochlorite to the basin to alleviate the odor. The Department of Health Services (DHS) requested GP to wait until results of laboratory analyses assured the addition of sodium hypochlorite would not cause an adverse reaction. GP did not adhere this request and treated the stormwater basin with the sodium hypochlorite on 28 and 29 July 1984. At that time, the odor disappeared.