WORK PLANS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Site Investigation Work Plan-Second Revision Raymond Investment Corporation Former Helena Chemical Facility Page 2 2.0 PROJECT BACKGROUND Condor prepared this work plan for an investigation and assessment to determine if potential pollutants associated with historic Site activities, including agricultural chemicals,petroleum hydrocarbons,and metals which may be present in the soil and groundwater at the Site. 2.1 OPERATIONAL HISTORY The CVRWQCB evaluated the findings from a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment(ESA). The ESA indicated that the Site has been occupied by various tenants for commercial; and light industrial uses, including a beverage distribution facility, agricultural supplies (chemicals, fertilizers, and pesticides) storage and distribution facility, tractor repair facility, battery sales/recycling facility, and various contractor storage facilities. Liquid fertilizers were reported to have been stored in three above ground storage tanks (ASTs), formerly located in the northwest comer of the Site. The owner and operator of the battery facility reported that he has been a tenant at the Site since it was constructed. He reported that the facility has only been used for battery sales and has not been used for battery manufacturing or recycling. He also reported that the pond located at the southeast comer of the property was part of the original construction, and that no structures were built in the northeast comer of the property. Current uses for the Site are for metal pipe sales and distribution(Bakersfield Pipe) and battery sales(American Battery).The current owner of the Site reported that they have no plans to change the use of the Site in the future. 2.2 PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS/REGULATORY INVOLVEMENT San Joaquin County Environmental Health Department (SJCEHD) file records documented several incidents of improper storage and handling of hazardous chemicals, spills,and the presence of stained soil at the Site. Site investigations conducted in 2001 and 2002 found elevated levels of Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), ammonia, and nitrate in soil samples. A Phase II ESA conducted in 2013 also showed that soil and groundwater contained TKN, ammonia, and nitrate. SJCEHD subsequently placed the Site on their local "Contaminated Site List" and referred the case to the CVRWQCB for further review and evaluation. The CVRWQCB evaluated the data and found that the Phase I ESA cited analytical results for soil samples collected from a former hazardous materials storage area, without specifying the location of the former hazardous material storage area. The soil sample analytical results indicated that the samples contained TKN concentrations as high as 7,700 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), and ammonia concentrations as high as 2,200 mg/kg. Soil samples were collected from the former AST locations over at least two sampling events. Those samples contained TKN up to 5,200 mg/kg; nitrate up to 2,740 mg/kg; and ammonia up to 2,500 mg/kg. Groundwater samples collected from the former AST locations contained TKN up to 0.441 milligrams per liter(mg/L), ammonia up to 0.34 mg/L, and nitrate up to 968 mg/L. Condor reviewed the reports available on the CVRWQCB's GeoTracker website and noted the following: the underground storage tanks (USTs) were operated by Northwestern Equipment & Supply; the USTs were located north of the northwest comer of the product warehouse; the tanks were 1,000 and 2,000 gallons in capacity and used to store gasoline and diesel fuel and were removed in 1986 under SJCEHD oversight, SJCEHD indicated that there were that no signs of unauthorized release observed, and laboratory analytical results from Canonie Engineers, and addressed to J. H. Kleinfelder, indicated that soil hydrocarbon concentrations were below the detection limits (Table C, Appendix B), SJCEHD indicated that the case was closed in a letter written prior to February 9, 1994 (Pages 188-201 of second half Phase I PDF). w �.� CONDO