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Mr Peter MacNicholl <br /> February 21, 2009 <br /> Page 4 <br /> 12.Section 3.2.1 The detection of dieldrin in LM109B should be addressed. Note <br /> also the vertical downwards gradient in the lower zone. The section should be <br /> revised. <br /> 13.Section 3.3.3 It is not clear that the dieldrin is sorbed at all. The observation that <br /> dieldrin is in filterable form does not prove it is sorbed to anything, only that it is <br /> not dissolved. The section should be revised. <br /> 14.The distance that dieldrin can move under pumping gradients is indeed a <br /> function of particle size in the aquifer, and if the observation wells are not <br /> screened in exactly the same channel stringer will yield misleading results. The <br /> Cooper-Jacob straight-line method is inappropriate for these materials, and <br /> yields results that do not match the observed behavior of the plume. The section <br /> should be revised. <br /> 15.Figure 3-1 An overlay of the hydraulic head contours (using TIN) would be useful <br /> on this figure. The figure should be revised <br /> 16.Section 4.1.1 The first sentence obviously contradicts the plume maps. The <br /> extent of the plume can be explained by dieldrin traveling at groundwater <br /> velocities as an unretarded and non degraded particle. Adsorption behavior <br /> would be shown as strong retardation, and this is not observed. Instead, it looks <br /> like dieldrin is simply being filtered out. There is no compelling evidence for <br /> dieldrin being in soluble form or for adsorbing onto carbon or anything else. <br /> Instead, the dieldrin is behaving like a nanoparticle that moves if the velocity is <br /> high enough. The observation that dieldrin can be remobilized by pumping <br /> directly contradicts the statement that it is adsorbed. The conceptual model is <br /> flawed and does not explain the observed movement of the plume. The section <br /> should be revised. <br /> 17.Section 4.4.1 GSU disagrees that sorption is a significant mechanism. Kos is a <br /> measure of partitioning to organic matter, not soil particles which are principally <br /> silica. Dieldirin is not sorbing to soil, if it sorbs to anything, it sorbs to organic <br /> carbon. No organic carbon data has been presented. Revise or remove. <br /> 18.Section 4.4.1 GSU disagrees that volatilization is a significant mechanism. In <br /> any case, unless organic carbon is present, the assumption that sorption is <br /> involved is questionable. Revise or remove. <br /> 19.Please present data for the amount of organic carbon in the aquifer. If data are <br /> available, they should be discussed, and if no data are available, then this must <br /> be considered conjecture. The section should be revised. <br />