83_FR_36985 83 FR 36838 - National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan; National Priorities List: Partial Deletion of the South Valley Superfund Site

83 FR 36838 - National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan; National Priorities List: Partial Deletion of the South Valley Superfund Site

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 147 (July 31, 2018)

Page Range36838-36844
FR Document2018-16257

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 is issuing a Notice of Intent to Delete Operable Units 1, 2, and 5 of the South Valley Superfund Site (Site) located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from the National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comments on this proposed action. The NPL, promulgated pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The EPA and the State of New Mexico, through the New Mexico Environment Department, have determined that all appropriate response actions at these identified parcels under CERCLA have been completed, other than five- year reviews and operation and maintenance activities. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund. This partial deletion pertains to Operable Units 1, 2, and 5. The remaining Operable Units 3, 4, and 6 will remain on the NPL and are not being considered for deletion as part of this action.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 147 (Tuesday, July 31, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 31, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36838-36844]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16257]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 300

[EPA-HQ-SFUND-1983-0002; FRL-9981-39--Region 6]


National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan; 
National Priorities List: Partial Deletion of the South Valley 
Superfund Site

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 is issuing 
a Notice of Intent to Delete Operable Units 1, 2, and 5 of the South 
Valley Superfund Site (Site) located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from 
the National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comments on this 
proposed action. The NPL, promulgated pursuant to section 105 of the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
(CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and 
Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The EPA and the 
State of New Mexico, through the New Mexico Environment Department, 
have determined that all appropriate response actions at these 
identified parcels under CERCLA have been completed, other than five-
year reviews and operation and maintenance activities. However, this 
deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund. This partial 
deletion pertains to Operable Units 1, 2, and 5. The remaining Operable 
Units 3, 4, and 6 will remain on the NPL and are not being considered 
for deletion as part of this action.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 30, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID no. EPA-HQ-
SFUND-1983-0002, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov . Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot 
be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. The EPA may publish any 
comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any 
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a 
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment 
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA 
will generally not consider comments or comment contents located 
outside of the primary submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or other 
file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA 
public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, 
and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail: Michael A. Hebert, Remedial Project Manager, EPA 
Region 6, Mail Code--6SF-RL, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-
2733.
     Hand delivery:

[cir] Michael A. Hebert, Remedial Project Manager, EPA Region 6, Mail 
Code--6SF-RL, 7th Floor Reception Area, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 
75202-2733.
[cir] Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal 
hours of operation (Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and 
special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed 
information.

    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID no. EPA-HQ-SFUND-
1983-0002. The http://www.regulations.gov website is an ``anonymous 
access'' system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact 
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you 
send an email comment directly to EPA without going through http://www.regulations.gov, your email address will be automatically captured 
and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket 
and made available on the internet. If you submit an electronic 
comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact 
information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you 
submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties 
and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to 
consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special 
characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or 
viruses.

[[Page 36839]]

    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in the hard 
copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either 
electronically in http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at:

Zimmerman Library, Government Information Department, University of New 
Mexico, Albuquerque NM 87131, 505.277.9100, Monday-Thursday--7 a.m.-2 
a.m., Friday--7 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday--10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday--12 p.m.-
2 a.m.
New Mexico Environment Department, Harold Runnels Building, 1190 St. 
Francis Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87505, 505.827.2855, Monday-Friday--8 a.m.-
5 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael A. Hebert, Remedial Project 
Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, Mail Code--
6SF-RL, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas, 75202-2733, (214) 665-8315, 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. NPL Deletion Criteria
III. Deletion Procedures
IV. Basis for Intended Partial Site Deletion

I. Introduction

    EPA Region 6 announces its intent to delete Operable Units 1, 2, 
and 5 of the South Valley Superfund Site (Site), from the National 
Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comment on this proposed 
action. The NPL constitutes Appendix B of 40 CFR part 300 which is the 
National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), 
which EPA promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 
1980, as amended. EPA maintains the NPL as those sites that appear to 
present a significant risk to public health, welfare, or the 
environment. Sites on the NPL may be the subject of remedial actions 
financed by the Hazardous Substance Superfund (Fund). This partial 
deletion of the South Valley Superfund Site is proposed in accordance 
with 40 CFR 300.425(e) and is consistent with the Notice of Policy 
Change: Partial Deletion of Sites Listed on the National Priorities 
List. 60 FR 55466 (Nov. 1, 1995). As described in Sec.  300.425(e)(3) 
of the NCP, a portion of a site deleted from the NPL remains eligible 
for Fund-financed remedial action if future conditions warrant such 
actions.
    EPA will accept comments on the proposal to partially delete this 
site for 30 days after publication of this document in the Federal 
Register.
    Section II of this document explains the criteria for deleting 
sites from the NPL. Section III discusses procedures that EPA is using 
for this action. Section IV discusses Operable Units 1, 2, and 5 of the 
South Valley Superfund Site and demonstrates how the operable units 
meet the deletion criteria.

II. NPL Deletion Criteria

    The NCP establishes the criteria that EPA uses to delete sites from 
the NPL. In accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e), sites may be deleted 
from the NPL where no further response is appropriate. In making such a 
determination pursuant to 40 CFR 300.425(e), EPA will consider, in 
consultation with the State, whether any of the following criteria have 
been met:
    i. Responsible parties or other persons have implemented all 
appropriate response actions required;
    ii. all appropriate Fund-financed response under CERCLA has been 
implemented, and no further response action by responsible parties is 
appropriate; or
    iii. the remedial investigation has shown that the release poses no 
significant threat to public health or the environment and, therefore, 
the taking of remedial measures is not appropriate.
    Pursuant to CERCLA section 121(c) and the NCP, EPA conducts five-
year reviews to ensure the continued protectiveness of remedial actions 
where hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants remain at a 
site above levels that allow for unlimited use and unrestricted 
exposure. EPA conducts such five-year reviews even if a site is deleted 
from the NPL. EPA may initiate further action to ensure continued 
protectiveness at a deleted site if new information becomes available 
that indicates it is appropriate. Whenever there is a significant 
release from a site deleted from the NPL, the deleted site may be 
restored to the NPL without application of the hazard ranking system.

III. Deletion Procedures

    The following procedures apply to deletion of Operable Units 1, 2, 
and 5 of the Site:
    (1) EPA consulted with the State of New Mexico before developing 
this Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion.
    (2) EPA has provided the State of New Mexico 30 working days for 
review of this notice prior to publication of it today.
    (3) In accordance with the criteria discussed above, EPA has 
determined that no further response is appropriate.
    (4) The State of New Mexico, through the New Mexico Environment 
Department, has concurred with the deletion of Operable Units 1, 2, and 
5 of the South Valley Superfund Site, from the NPL.
    (5) Concurrently, with the publication of this Notice of Intent for 
Partial Deletion in the Federal Register, a notice is being published 
in a major local newspaper, the Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com. The newspaper announces the 30-day public comment 
period concerning the Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion of the Site 
from the NPL.
    (6) The EPA placed copies of documents supporting the proposed 
partial deletion in the deletion docket, made these items available for 
public inspection, and copying at the Site information repositories 
identified above.
    If comments are received within the 30-day comment period on this 
document, EPA will evaluate and respond accordingly to the comments 
before making a final decision to delete Operable Units 1, 2, and 5. If 
necessary, EPA will prepare a Responsiveness Summary to address any 
significant public comments received. After the public comment period, 
if EPA determines it is still appropriate to delete Operable Units 1, 
2, and 5 of the South Valley Superfund Site, the Regional Administrator 
will publish a final Notice of Partial Deletion in the Federal 
Register. Public notices, public submissions and copies of the 
Responsiveness Summary, if prepared, will be made available to 
interested parties and included in the site information repositories 
listed above.
    Deletion of a portion of a site from the NPL does not itself 
create, alter, or revoke any individual's rights or obligations. 
Deletion of a portion of a site from the NPL does not in any way alter 
EPA's right to take enforcement actions, as appropriate. The NPL is 
designed primarily for informational purposes and to assist EPA 
management. Section 300.425(e)(3) of the NCP states that the deletion 
of a site from the NPL does not preclude eligibility for future 
response actions, should future conditions warrant such actions.

[[Page 36840]]

IV. Basis for Partial Site Deletion

    The following information provides EPA's rationale for deleting 
Operable Units 1, 2, and 5 of the South Valley Superfund Site from the 
NPL:

Site Background and History

    The EPA ID for the South Valley Superfund Site is NMD980745558. The 
South Valley Superfund Site is in the southern portion of Albuquerque, 
in Bernillo County, New Mexico, directly across Interstate 25 from the 
Albuquerque International Airport and the University of New Mexico Golf 
Course. The South Valley Superfund Site consists of an area of 
approximately one square mile proximate to the intersection of South 
Broadway Boulevard and Woodward Road and is divided into two 
properties: the former Air Force Plant 83 site and the Univar site. The 
Air Force Plant 83 site is further divided into two parcels located 
north and south of Woodward Road known as North Plant 83 and South 
Plant 83, respectively. Various manufacturing operations occurred at 
the Air Force Plant 83 site from the 1940s until 1967, when the United 
States Air Force took ownership of the property and its contractor, 
General Electric Aircraft Engines (GEA), began manufacturing aircraft 
engine components at the property. GEA purchased the Air Force Plant 83 
in 1983 and continued operations until October 1997, when North Plant 
83 was closed, and until October 2010, when South Plant 83 was closed. 
Groundwater beneath the Site is in the Santa Fe Group which is 
comprised of several layers within the formation. The shallow zone 
aquifer (approximately 175-225 below ground surface [bgs]) beneath the 
North Plant 83 area has a continuous silty clay layer underneath it and 
is therefore primarily perched and does not have a uniform flow 
direction. The shallow groundwater in the South Plant 83 area flows 
east to west. Unlike North Plant 83, the silty clay layer beneath the 
South Plant 83 area is discontinuous and therefore is in hydraulic 
connection with the deeper aquifer zones. The deeper aquifer sand zones 
(approximately 225-355 bgs, 255-415 bgs, and 415-515 bgs) have 
discontinuous silts and clays interbedded within them which are not 
laterally extensive but may limit downward movement through the 
formation. Groundwater flows generally east to west in all the deeper 
aquifer zones.
    Groundwater contamination was first suspected in the late 1970s in 
two municipal wells--San Jose No. 6 and San Jose No. 3. The wells were 
taken out of service after subsequent sampling indicated contamination. 
Groundwater monitoring results in the vicinity of the wells indicated 
the potential for a number of sources, including several industrial 
operations located in close proximity to the contaminated wells. When 
the Site was proposed to the NPL on December 30, 1982, (47 FR 58476), 
it was the number one priority of the State of New Mexico. EPA 
finalized the NPL listing on September 8, 1983, (48 FR 40658).
    The Operable Units at the South Valley Superfund Site are as 
follows:
    Operable Unit 1 (OU1) (included in partial deletion)--OU1 consists 
of the City of Albuquerque San Jose 6 (SJ-6) and San Jose 3 (SJ-3) 
wells, which were contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 
EPA signed the Record of Decision (ROD) for OU1 on March 22, 1985 but 
did not identify a Potentially Responsible Party (PRP). The remedial 
goal was to eliminate the threat to human health posed by introducing 
water from the San Jose 6 and San Jose 3 wells into the City of 
Albuquerque drinking water supply. The objective was achieved by EPA 
replacing wells SJ-6 and SJ-3 with the Burton No. 4 well, which was 
completed in April 1987.
    Operable Unit 2 (OU2) (included in partial deletion)--The remedial 
goals of OU2 were to eliminate the conduit(s) for contaminant migration 
from the shallow to the deeper aquifers and to restrict groundwater use 
under the Site. EPA signed the OU2 ROD on September 30, 1988 and 
identified GEA as a PRP. GEA implemented the remedial action by 
plugging SJ-6 and SJ-3 and any shallow wells that could act as conduits 
for contaminant transport from the shallow to the deeper aquifers, 
restricting groundwater use, and implementing groundwater monitoring. 
GEA integrated the OU2 groundwater monitoring program into Operable 
Unit 6 and continues the monitoring program today.
    Operable Unit 3 (OU3)--The remedial goal of OU3 included reducing 
the concentrations of site-related VOCs in groundwater to acceptable 
levels (aquifer restoration) via a pump-treat-injection system. EPA 
signed the ROD on June 28, 1988 and identified Univar as the 
Potentially Responsible Party. Univar initiated groundwater recovery 
system in April 1992 and a vapor recovery system in November 1999. 
Univar shut off both systems in November 2006. Subsequent monitoring 
has shown that the groundwater and vapor recovery systems reduced the 
dissolved chlorinated VOC concentrations to levels below and compliant 
with applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements as defined in 
the ROD. On June 10, 2014, the EPA acknowledged that Univar completed 
all requirements of the Consent Decree dated March 27, 1990, as they 
relate to the constituents of concern in groundwater identified in the 
ROD and the subsequent Explanation of Significant Differences dated 
September 26, 2006, except for addressing 1,4-dioxane contamination. 
The EPA acknowledged that Univar is addressing 1,4-dioxane in 
groundwater at OU3 pursuant to Section XVI(D) of the above Consent 
Decree.
    Operable Unit 4 (OU4)--OU4 consists of the vadose zone at the 
Univar site. As the PRP, Univar was required to investigate the soil 
around a pit on its property to establish the source of the solvents 
under their plant. The investigation found no evidence in the vadose 
zone that a release occurred at this location. EPA signed the ROD on 
June 28, 1988 and specified No Further Action.
    Operable Unit 5 (OU5) (included in partial deletion)--OU5 consists 
of the unsaturated and saturated portion of the shallow zone aquifer at 
North Plant 83 and South Plant 83. EPA signed the ROD on September 30, 
1988, and identified GEA as the PRP. The remedial goals for this 
operable unit were remediating shallow zone groundwater and eliminating 
source materials via enhanced dewatering, soil flushing, and soil vapor 
extraction (SVE) to result in aquifer restoration. GEA conducted soil 
vapor surveys and collected soil borings in the South Plant 83 area and 
the North Plant 83 area to identify VOC contamination. The result of 
these investigations indicated that the concentrations of VOCs would 
best be remediated using SVE. GEA operated SVE systems at the North 
Plant 83 and South Plant 83 areas in 1992 and 1993. Prior to 
remediation, the groundwater contamination encompassed approximately 
twelve acres at North Plant 83 and approximately seven acres at South 
Plant 83. GEA initiated shallow groundwater recovery systems at the 
North Plant 83 and South Plant 83 areas in May 1994 and completely shut 
down the groundwater recovery systems in July 2010. GEA completed 
compliance groundwater monitoring and on September 22, 2014 requested 
closure of OU5 stating that GEA had satisfactorily completed all 
requirements of the Administrative Order dated July 3, 1989. All wells 
and infrastructure associated with the OU5 groundwater treatment system 
have been plugged and

[[Page 36841]]

abandoned or removed as approved by EPA.
    After the closure of South Plant 83 in October 2010, GEA performed 
additional remedial activities associated with OU5 soils. Specifically, 
GEA performed investigations within the North Plant 83 and South Plant 
83 building footprints and excavated and disposed of hexavalent 
chromium contaminated soil from the East and West Tank Line area in 
South Plant 83. In addition, GEA filed a deed restriction in the 
Bernalillo County records covering areas where semi-volatile organic 
compounds (i.e., polyaromatic hydrocarbons) or hexavalent chromium 
contamination remained above industrial soil screening levels.
    Operable Unit 6 (OU6)--OU6 consists of the deep aquifer at North 
Plant 83 and South Plant 83. EPA signed the ROD on September 30, 1988 
and identified GEA as the PRP. The remedial goals of OU6 are 
hydraulically containing the plume to protect the City of Albuquerque's 
water supply wells and reducing the concentrations of site-related VOC 
compounds in groundwater to acceptable levels (aquifer restoration). 
The original plume was approximately 100 acres in size but as of 2018, 
only two wells have constituents above cleanup levels. The groundwater 
remediation system at OU6 began operation in March 1996. Remedial 
action activities have hydraulically contained the plume and shrunk it 
significantly from its former volume and mass. To date, over 7.5 
billion gallons of contaminated water have been recovered, treated, and 
reinjected back into the deep aquifer.
    The South Valley area of Albuquerque has experienced ongoing 
development and redevelopment for decades. The proposed extension of 
Sunport Boulevard from east of Interstate 25 to west of Interstate 25, 
if constructed, is expected to spur local economic growth and 
redevelopment.

Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study

    Operable Unit 1 (OU1)--Other than the sampling that established 
that San Jose No. 6 and San Jose No. 3 municipal water supply wells had 
been impacted, there was no remedial investigation performed for OU1. 
Upon detection of contamination, the City of Albuquerque discontinued 
use of the water supply wells. Subsequently, the EPA, the City of 
Albuquerque, and other stakeholders conducted several meetings to 
discuss potential sites for a replacement municipal well, which 
culminated in the final design and ultimate installation of a 
replacement municipal water supply well, Burton Well No. 4. In 
addition, a remedial investigation was initiated which provided 
information utilized to develop remedial activities for the remaining 
operable units at the Site.
    Operable Unit 2 (OU2)--GEA conducted a remedial investigation for 
OU2 because of the contamination identified in OU1. As part of the 
remedial investigation, GEA compiled existing investigative information 
and collected additional soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment 
information associated with the one-square-mile boundary area of the 
South Valley Superfund Site. In addition, GEA identified contamination 
associated with several different sources. Based upon the remedial 
investigation data, GEA determined in the feasibility study that 
contaminated groundwater in the shallow zone was potentially migrating 
into the intermediate zone throughout the Site through improperly 
constructed groundwater wells. The contaminants of concern identified 
in the remedial investigation were VOCs, with the main contaminant 
being trichloroethylene (TCE).
    Operable Unit 5 (OU5)--GEA conducted a remedial investigation for 
OU5 because of the contamination identified in OU1. As part of the 
remedial investigation GEA, compiled existing investigative information 
and collected additional soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment 
information associated with the one-square-mile boundary area of the 
South Valley Superfund Site. Further, GEA identified contamination 
associated with several different sources. The contaminants of concern 
identified in the remedial investigation were VOCs, with the main 
contaminant being TCE.
    Based upon the remedial investigation data, GEA determined in the 
feasibility study that OU5 soil contamination occurs in areas 
associated with the two areas, North Plant 83 and South Plant 83, and 
groundwater contamination occurs in the shallow aquifer below portions 
of both the North Plant 83 and South Plant 83 areas. GEA also 
identified groundwater contamination comprising of similar constituents 
of concerns as in OU5 in several other hydrogeological units beneath 
the Site, which are addressed in OU6.
    After the closure of South Plant 83 in October 2010, GEA performed 
additional remedial activities associated with OU5, including soil 
investigations within the North Plant 83 and South Plant 83 building 
footprints. GEA identified 68 separate areas as a potential concern 
with 41 of these locations being identified for investigation. In 
addition, GEA sampled soil borings for VOCs, semi-volatile organic 
compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, and selected metals. GEA did not 
detect VOCs above industrial soil screening levels and did not detect 
any polychlorinated biphenyls. GEA detected semi-volatile organic 
compounds (i.e., polyaromatic hydrocarbons) and hexavalent chromium in 
a few of the 41 locations investigated. In addition, GEA inspected, 
investigated, and cleaned out sanitary sewer lines for both North Plant 
83 and South Plant 83. While GEA detected concentrations of metal 
contaminants in sediments within the sewer lines, it did not identify 
impacts in the soils adjacent and beneath the sewer lines.

Selected Remedy

    Operable Unit 1 (OU1)--EPA signed the ROD for OU1 on March 22, 
1985. The selected remedy was installation of a new water supply well 
to replace the capacity of the contaminated well San Jose No. 6. The 
remedial goal was to eliminate the threat to human health posed by 
introducing water from this well into the City of Albuquerque drinking 
water supply.
    Operable Unit 2 (OU2)--EPA signed the ROD for OU2 on September 30, 
1988. The selected remedy consisted of cleaning out and sealing 
abandoned wells that were acting as conduits for contaminant migration, 
groundwater quality monitoring during and after implementation of any 
remedial action, and the imposition of access restrictions regarding 
well construction specifications and depth of completions through the 
State Engineer's office. The remedial goals were eliminating conduit(s) 
for contaminant migration from the shallow to intermediate aquifers and 
preventing the use of contaminated groundwater in the site area.
    Operable Unit 5 (OU5)--EPA signed the ROD for OU5 on September 30, 
1988. The selected remedy consisted of further investigation to define 
the extent of soil and groundwater contamination, soil remediation 
utilizing SVE on portions of North Plant 83 and South Plant 83, 
groundwater remediation through extraction, treatment with air 
stripping followed by carbon adsorption, and reinjection into the 
aquifer for shallow (OU5) groundwater contaminated zones located under 
portions of North Plant 83 and South Plant 83 along with intermediate/
deep (OU6) groundwater contaminated zones on-site and off-site. The 
remedial goals for OU5 were remediating shallow zone groundwater and 
eliminating source

[[Page 36842]]

materials via enhanced dewatering, soil flushing, and SVE. Further, as 
a result of the investigations performed by GEA after closure of South 
Plant 83 in October 2010, GEA conducted removal of soil proximate to 
the East and West Tank Line area in South Plant 83 in 2011.

Response Actions

    Operable Unit 1 (OU1)--The United State Corps of Engineers 
completed a final design for a new municipal water supply well in late 
1986. The remedial action performed at OU1 was the replacement of wells 
SJ-6 and SJ-3 with the Burton No. 4 well, which was completed in April 
1987.
    Operable Unit 2 (OU2)--GEA completed a final design dated July 20, 
1990, that contained plans to install monitoring wells, clean out and 
plug abandoned wells including the SJ-6 well (OU1), and conduct a 
groundwater monitoring program. GEA completed the installation of new 
monitoring wells and the plugging and abandonment of wells that could 
act as conduits for contaminant transport to lower groundwater zones by 
the end of 1992. GEA initiated an OU2 groundwater monitoring program, 
which in 1996 was combined with the OU6 groundwater monitoring program 
to simplify groundwater monitoring and reporting at the Site. The New 
Mexico State Engineer's office issued a restriction concerning 
groundwater well construction within the boundaries of the South Valley 
Superfund Site on December 19, 1988.
    Operable Unit 5 (OU5)--Because the remedial investigation 
identified both soil and groundwater contamination, the response 
actions for OU5 were separated by media into soil and groundwater 
actions. For soils, GEA finalized the remedial design for the SVE 
systems in late 1991, which EPA subsequently approved on January 24, 
1992. GEA installed and operated SVE systems on both the North Plant 83 
and South Plant 83 areas. The North Plant 83 SVE system operated for 
approximately four months from June 1992 to June 1993. The South Plant 
83 SVE system operated for approximately five months from October 1992 
to March 1993. For groundwater, GEA's contractor, Canonie 
Environmental, completed a final design dated July 21, 1993, that 
contained construction details for the remedial systems for the shallow 
zone groundwater remediation on the North Plant 83 and South Plant 83 
areas. The North Plant 83 system initially was comprised of seven 
extraction wells, and the South Plant 83 system was comprised of three 
wells. These systems were augmented through their operational lifetime 
to adapt to changes in groundwater concentrations and flow patterns.
    After the closure of South Plant 83 in October 2010, GEA performed 
additional remedial activities associated with OU5. GEA conducted 
removal of soil proximate to the East and West Tank Line area in South 
Plant 83 in 2011. Approximately 3.5 tons of contaminated soil and 
concrete were removed and transported for final disposal at an off-site 
hazardous waste disposal facility. Following removal, GEA backfilled 
the area with clean fill and capped the area with a five-inch-thick, 
3,000 pounds/square inch layer of reinforced concrete. GEA filed a deed 
restriction in the Bernalillo County records covering areas where semi-
volatile organic compounds (i.e., polyaromatic hydrocarbons) or 
hexavalent chromium contamination remained present above industrial 
soil screening levels. GEA removed approximately 1,750 feet of primary 
4-inch to 8-inch diameter cast iron process sewer lines, 435 feet of 
similar smaller branch lines, and seven manholes and disposed these 
materials at a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act treatment, 
storage, and disposal facility. Finally, GEA cleaned and abandoned in 
place the South Plant 83 sewer system piping and plugged the connection 
to the City of Albuquerque sewer system.

Cleanup Levels

    Operable Unit 1 (OU1)--There were no cleanup levels established for 
OU1, as the remedy was simply replacement of a municipal water supply 
well to replace the capacity lost by the contaminated SJ-6 well.
    Operable Unit 2 (OU2)--There were no cleanup levels established for 
OU2, as the remedy was simply the installation of additional 
groundwater monitoring wells, the plugging and abandonment of wells 
that could act as conduits for contaminant transport to lower 
groundwater zones, the imposition of access restrictions regarding well 
construction specifications and depth of completions through the State 
Engineer's office, and the establishment of a groundwater monitoring 
program to obtain data concerning groundwater contamination.
    Operable Unit 5 (OU5)--The investigations and remediation work for 
OU5 was separated by media into soil and groundwater work. For soil, 
the ROD required the utilization of SVE for soil remediation but did 
not specify cleanup levels. The ROD stated, ``Soils treatment will 
continue until the vapor extraction system ceases to produce volatile 
contaminants and will be followed by sampling to confirm soil 
remediation.'' GEA obtained post remediation soil samples after the SVE 
systems ceased operations and proposed cleanup levels for soils in 
April 1993. The proposed cleanup levels considered soil exposure 
pathways including dermal contact, inhalation, and ingestion (i.e., by 
children ages 2 to 6) as well as the potential for contaminants to 
leach from soil into groundwater that would exceed drinking water 
standards. GEA based the cleanup levels on the assumption of an 
operating manufacturing facility with restricted access but also on the 
worst-case exposure scenario that the site could be converted to 
residential use. During a meeting with GEA on November 2, 1993, EPA 
verbally agreed to the proposed cleanup levels. In a letter dated June 
21, 1994, EPA indicated that the levels of contaminants found in the 
soils were below limits that required removal. In addition, out of an 
abundance of caution, as part of the 2017 Remedial Action Report for 
OU5, GEA performed a comparison of the post remediation soil 
concentrations to the EPA Industrial and Residential Soil Screening 
Levels (November 2015) which indicated all the post soil remediation 
soil concentrations were below the EPA Industrial and Residential Soil 
Screening Levels. For groundwater, the ROD specified that cleanup 
levels would be maximum contaminant limits from the Safe Drinking Water 
Act and levels in the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission 
regulations, whichever was more stringent. These levels were updated in 
an Explanation of Significant Differences dated October 16, 2006, which 
added a level for tetrachloroethylene promulgated under the Safe 
Drinking Water Act in 1992. GEA implemented and conducted a groundwater 
monitoring program throughout the operation of the shallow zone 
groundwater remediation systems. After six years of monitoring 
indicating that none of the off-site wells of the North Plant 83 system 
well network exceeded cleanup levels, EPA approved closure of the off-
site wells and conveyance system. GEA flushed, cleaned, and abandoned 
conveyance piping in place and plugged and abandoned wells in 2010. One 
on-site well associated with the North Plant 83 system remained 
slightly above cleanup levels. In 2010, GEA performed in-situ chemical 
oxidation around this well which subsequent sampling confirmed that 
contaminant concentrations fell and

[[Page 36843]]

remained below cleanup levels. The South Plant 83 system experienced a 
similar history to the North Plant 83 system. By 1999, all wells 
associated with the South Plant 83 system except for two wells were 
below cleanup levels. By 2006, only one well had concentrations above 
cleanup levels. Like the North Plant 83 system, GEA performed in-situ 
chemical oxidation in 2010 around this well, which subsequent sampling 
confirmed that contaminant concentrations fell below cleanup levels 
shortly after the in-situ treatment and remained below cleanup levels 
through 2012.
    After the closure of South Plant 83 in October 2010, GEA performed 
additional remedial activities associated with OU5. Utilizing 
investigations results, GEA completed an assessment of the risk for the 
contaminants identified in the investigation. This assessment indicated 
that hexavalent chromium contamination in deep soils would not pose a 
risk to human health and the environment assuming that an impermeable 
cover remained in place and institutional controls were implemented. 
The assessment also indicated that the semi-volatile organic compounds 
(i.e., polyaromatic hydrocarbons) identified in soils would not pose a 
risk to human health and the environment if the existing concrete cap 
was left in place. GEA removed soil with concentrations of hexavalent 
chromium above 50 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) but did not remove 
soil with hexavalent chromium contamination ranging from 5.6 to 50 mg/
kg at depths between 5 to 14 feet below the existing concrete slab. GEA 
filed a deed restriction in the Bernalillo County records covering 
areas where semi-volatile organic compounds or hexavalent chromium 
contamination remained above industrial soil screening levels.

Operation and Maintenance

    Operable Unit 1 (OU1)--The operation and maintenance concerning the 
Burton No. 4 replacement well is performed by the City of Albuquerque.
    Operable Unit 2 (OU2)--There is no operation and maintenance 
associated with OU2. The restriction concerning groundwater well 
construction within the boundaries of the South Valley Superfund Site 
issued by the New Mexico State Engineer's office on December 19, 1988, 
remains in effect but is now monitored under OU6. This restriction is 
not needed and does not affect the protectiveness of the actions 
performed at OU2.
    Operable Unit 5 (OU5)--Since the soil and groundwater remediation 
systems associated with OU5 have met their associated cleanup levels 
and have been dismantled, there are no operation and maintenance 
activities required or ongoing for the OU5 SVE and groundwater 
remediation systems. In addition, while still in effect, the New Mexico 
State Engineer's restriction concerning groundwater well construction 
is no longer required for the protectiveness of the OU5 remedy because 
groundwater concentrations are below the maximum contaminant limits 
from the Safe Drinking Water Act and levels in the New Mexico Water 
Quality Control Commission regulations. After ceasing operations in 
September 2010 and completing demolition of the South Plant 83 
buildings in May 2011, GEA performed investigations of the South Plant 
83 property which included evaluating soil impacts near any existing 
sub-grade foundation features as well as the North Plant 83 and South 
Plant 83 sewer systems. In addition, GEA cleaned out and abandoned in 
place the sewer systems. Because of the soil investigation, GEA removed 
hexavalent chromium contamination near the location of the East and 
West Tank Line on the South Plant 83 property. Some contamination 
remained in place and, as a result, GEA filed a declaration of 
restrictive covenants on September 9, 2014 in the Bernalillo County 
property records. The declaration identified five areas where semi-
volatile organic compounds or hexavalent chromium contamination exceed 
industrial soil screening levels. The declaration also contained the 
following: Identification of the abandoned sanitary sewer lines and 
existing sewer line locations; restriction that the property use is 
limited to commercial and industrial; restriction that groundwater 
beneath the site cannot be used; and engineered barriers must remain in 
place on portions of the property where semi-volatile organic compounds 
and hexavalent chromium remain above industrial soil screening levels. 
GEA performs normal property maintenance inspections of the North Plant 
83 and South Plant 83 to identify fencing integrity issues and to 
maintain weed control. These inspections also observe the integrity of 
the concrete cap over the East and West Tank Line removal area to 
ensure it is competent. GEA also ensures that the deed restriction 
remains in the Bernalillo County records.

Five Year Review

    Operable Unit 1 (OU1)--A five-year review is not necessary for OU1 
because no hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants remain at 
the site above levels that allow for unlimited use and unrestricted 
exposure.
    Operable Unit 2 (OU2)--A five-year review is not necessary for OU2 
because no hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants remain at 
the site above levels that allow for unlimited use and unrestricted 
exposure. While still in effect, the New Mexico State Engineer's 
restriction concerning groundwater well construction is no longer 
required for the protectiveness of the OU5 remedy because groundwater 
concentrations are below the maximum contaminant limits from the Safe 
Drinking Water Act and levels in the New Mexico Water Quality Control 
Commission regulations. In 1996, the OU2 groundwater monitoring program 
was combined with the OU6 groundwater monitoring program, which is and 
has been the subject of ongoing five-year reviews associated with the 
Site. The next five-year review for the Site is due in July 2020.
    Operable Unit 5 (OU5)--A statutory five-year review is necessary 
for OU5 because hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants 
remain at the site above levels that allow for unlimited use and 
unrestricted exposure. OU5 has been the subject of ongoing five-year 
reviews with the next review due in July 2020. No issues and/or 
recommendations were identified in the 2015 five-year review for OU5.

Community Involvement

    The major community involvement activities associated with the 
operable units proposed for deletion are as follows:
     Open Houses and Workshops: September 1988; November 1993; 
July 1995; October 1997; September 1998; November 1999, October 2000; 
November 2001; January 2013.
     Original Proposed Plan Fact Sheet and Public Meetings: 
June 1988; July 1988; August 1988; February 1989.
     Public Meetings: October 2000; November 2001.
     Original ROD Fact Sheets: July 1988; November 1988; April 
1989.
     Milestone Fact Sheets: May 1989; March 1990; April 1990; 
June 1990; March 1991; November 1993; June 1995; April 1996; December 
2011; January 2013; June 2015; July 2015; June 2018.
     Citizens on Site Mailing List: 590.
    Other notable community involvement activities are:
     Pre Five-Year Review public notices published in local 
newspapers indicating Five-Year Reviews were being initiated.
     Post Five-Year Review public notices published in local 
newspapers indicating Five-Year Reviews were

[[Page 36844]]

completed and available in the local repository or from the State or 
EPA.
     Monthly site status summaries that were made available to 
the public or more recently, updates to site activities made on the 
site web page available on the internet.
     September 23, 2010, newspaper article in the Albuquerque 
Journal concerning the closure of the General Electric plant.
     Discussion of the site at public meetings associated with 
the Sunport Boulevard Extension from approximately 2010 to the present.
     Fact sheets and public notices have been provided in both 
English and Spanish.

Determination That the Criteria for Deletion Have Been Met

    The implemented remedies have achieved the degree of cleanup or 
protection specified in the OU1, OU2, and OU5 RODs for the portions of 
the Site proposed for deletion. The selected remedial action goals and 
associated cleanup levels for the OU1, OU2, and OU5 portions of the 
Site proposed for deletion are consistent with EPA policy and guidance. 
No further Superfund response for the OU1, OU2, and OU5 portions of the 
Site proposed for deletion are needed to protect human health and the 
environment. The State of New Mexico, in an August 11, 2017, letter 
from the New Mexico Environment Department, concurred with the proposed 
partial deletion of the OU1, OU2, and OU5 portions of the Site from the 
NPL.
    The NCP specifies that EPA may delete a site from the NPL if all 
appropriate response under CERCLA has been implemented and no further 
response action is appropriate. 40 CFR 300.425(e)(1)(ii). EPA, with the 
concurrence of the State of New Mexico, through NMED, believes that 
this criterion for the deletion of the OU1, OU2, and OU5 portions of 
the Site has been met and the OU1, OU2, and OU5 portions of the Site no 
longer pose a threat to public health or the environment. Consequently, 
EPA is proposing to delete the OU1, OU2, and OU5 portions of the Site 
from the NPL. Documents supporting this action are available in the 
Docket.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 300

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Chemicals, 
Hazardous waste, Hazardous substances, Intergovernmental relations, 
Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Superfund, Water 
pollution control, Water supply.

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(d); 42 U.S.C. 9601-9657; E.O. 13626, 
77 FR 56749, 3 CFR, 2013 Comp., p. 306; E.O. 12777, 56 FR 54757, 3 
CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; E.O. 12580, 52 FR 2923, 3 CFR, 1987 Comp., 
p. 193.

    Dated: July 19, 2018.
Arturo Blanco,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2018-16257 Filed 7-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                                 36838                    Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 147 / Tuesday, July 31, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                 Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA). Page                   November 2017 version of the RMP                      any comment received to its public
                                                 33 of the RIA discusses the availability                 database.                                             docket. Do not submit electronically any
                                                 of annual accident data for 2014–2016,                     Dated: July 25, 2018.                               information you consider to be
                                                 and includes a footnote (footnote 32)                    Reggie Cheatham,
                                                                                                                                                                Confidential Business Information (CBI)
                                                 indicating the source of the accident                                                                          or other information whose disclosure is
                                                                                                          Director, Office of Emergency Management.
                                                 data. The footnote states: ‘‘EPA. April                                                                        restricted by statute. Multimedia
                                                                                                          [FR Doc. 2018–16372 Filed 7–30–18; 8:45 am]
                                                 2018. Risk Management Plan (RMP)                                                                               submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
                                                 Facility Accident Data, 2014–2016.                       BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                accompanied by a written comment.
                                                 USEPA, Office of Emergency                                                                                     The written comment is considered the
                                                 Management.’’ This footnote should                                                                             official comment and should include
                                                                                                          ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
                                                 read ‘‘EPA. March 2018. Risk                                                                                   discussion of all points you wish to
                                                                                                          AGENCY
                                                 Management Plan (RMP) Facility                                                                                 make. The EPA will generally not
                                                 Accident Data, 2014–2016. USEPA,                         40 CFR Part 300                                       consider comments or comment
                                                 Office of Emergency Management.’’                                                                              contents located outside of the primary
                                                    The other location is on page 34968                   [EPA–HQ–SFUND–1983–0002; FRL–9981–                    submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or
                                                 of ‘‘Accidental Release Prevention                       39—Region 6]                                          other file sharing system). For
                                                 Requirements: Risk Management                                                                                  additional submission methods, the full
                                                                                                          National Oil and Hazardous
                                                 Programs Under the Clean Air Act;                                                                              EPA public comment policy,
                                                                                                          Substances Pollution Contingency
                                                 Notification of Data Availability and                                                                          information about CBI or multimedia
                                                                                                          Plan; National Priorities List: Partial
                                                 Extension of Comment Period,’’ 83 FR                                                                           submissions, and general guidance on
                                                                                                          Deletion of the South Valley Superfund
                                                 34967, 34968 (July 24, 2018), in the                                                                           making effective comments, please visit
                                                                                                          Site
                                                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.                                                                             http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/
                                                 Column two of this page also discusses                   AGENCY:  Environmental Protection                     commenting-epa-dockets.
                                                 the 2014–2016 accident data, but                         Agency (EPA).                                           • Email: hebert.michael@epa.gov.
                                                 incorrectly indicates that EPA                           ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of intent.                • Mail: Michael A. Hebert, Remedial
                                                 developed the docketed spreadsheet                                                                             Project Manager, EPA Region 6, Mail
                                                 containing these data from the                           SUMMARY:    The Environmental Protection              Code—6SF–RL, 1445 Ross Avenue,
                                                 November 2017 version of the RMP                         Agency (EPA) Region 6 is issuing a                    Dallas, Texas 75202–2733.
                                                 database. The last sentence of the                       Notice of Intent to Delete Operable                     • Hand delivery:
                                                 carryover paragraph at the top of                        Units 1, 2, and 5 of the South Valley                 Æ Michael A. Hebert, Remedial Project
                                                 column two should read: ‘‘EPA                            Superfund Site (Site) located in                        Manager, EPA Region 6, Mail Code—
                                                 developed the latter spreadsheet from                    Albuquerque, New Mexico, from the                       6SF–RL, 7th Floor Reception Area,
                                                 the March 2018 version of the                            National Priorities List (NPL) and                      1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas
                                                 database.’’                                              requests public comments on this                        75202–2733.
                                                    While the facility count information                  proposed action. The NPL, promulgated                 Æ Such deliveries are only accepted
                                                 discussed in the Notification of Data                    pursuant to section 105 of the                          during the Docket’s normal hours of
                                                 Availability was based on the November                   Comprehensive Environmental                             operation (Monday through Friday, 7
                                                 2017 version of the RMP database, EPA                    Response, Compensation, and Liability                   a.m. to 4 p.m.) and special
                                                 extracted the 2014–2016 accident data                    Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is                    arrangements should be made for
                                                 from the March 2018 version of the RMP                   an appendix of the National Oil and                     deliveries of boxed information.
                                                 database, as indicated above. EPA notes                  Hazardous Substances Pollution                          Instructions: Direct your comments to
                                                 that the previously docketed 2014–2016                   Contingency Plan (NCP). The EPA and                   Docket ID no. EPA–HQ–SFUND–1983–
                                                 accident spreadsheet contains an                         the State of New Mexico, through the                  0002. The http://www.regulations.gov
                                                 additional 25 accident records for the                   New Mexico Environment Department,                    website is an ‘‘anonymous access’’
                                                 2014–2016 period that were not                           have determined that all appropriate                  system, which means EPA will not
                                                 available when the November 2017                         response actions at these identified                  know your identity or contact
                                                 version of the database was created. By                  parcels under CERCLA have been                        information unless you provide it in the
                                                 using a later version of the database to                 completed, other than five-year reviews               body of your comment. If you send an
                                                 extract accident records, EPA provided                   and operation and maintenance                         email comment directly to EPA without
                                                 more up-to-date accident information to                  activities. However, this deletion does               going through http://
                                                 support the regulatory record. However,                  not preclude future actions under                     www.regulations.gov, your email
                                                 users who attempt to replicate EPA’s                     Superfund. This partial deletion                      address will be automatically captured
                                                 2014–2016 accident spreadsheet by                        pertains to Operable Units 1, 2, and 5.               and included as part of the comment
                                                 extracting accident data from the                        The remaining Operable Units 3, 4, and                that is placed in the public docket and
                                                 November 2017 version of the RMP                         6 will remain on the NPL and are not                  made available on the internet. If you
                                                 database (which was recently added to                    being considered for deletion as part of              submit an electronic comment, EPA
                                                 the rulemaking docket as EPA–HQ–                         this action.                                          recommends that you include your
                                                 OEM–2015–0725–0989) would not see                        DATES: Comments must be received by                   name and other contact information in
                                                 the additional 25 accident records.                      August 30, 2018.                                      the body of your comment and with any
                                                    EPA has added a memo to the                           ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,                      disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA
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                                                 rulemaking docket dated July 25, 2018,                   identified by Docket ID no. EPA–HQ–                   cannot read your comment due to
                                                 with the subject line: Corrections to                    SFUND–1983–0002, by one of the                        technical difficulties and cannot contact
                                                 References to Risk Management Plan                       following methods:                                    you for clarification, EPA may not be
                                                 Accident Information for 2014–2016.                        • http://www.regulations.gov . Follow               able to consider your comment.
                                                 This memo explains the corrections                       the online instructions for submitting                Electronic files should avoid the use of
                                                 discussed above and includes a list of                   comments. Once submitted, comments                    special characters, any form of
                                                 the 25 accidents that are included in the                cannot be edited or removed from                      encryption, and be free of any defects or
                                                 2014–2016 spreadsheet but not in the                     Regulations.gov. The EPA may publish                  viruses.


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 147 / Tuesday, July 31, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                            36839

                                                    Docket: All documents in the docket                   the NCP, a portion of a site deleted from                (2) EPA has provided the State of New
                                                 are listed in the http://                                the NPL remains eligible for Fund-                    Mexico 30 working days for review of
                                                 www.regulations.gov index. Although                      financed remedial action if future                    this notice prior to publication of it
                                                 listed in the index, some information is                 conditions warrant such actions.                      today.
                                                 not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other                  EPA will accept comments on the                       (3) In accordance with the criteria
                                                 information whose disclosure is                          proposal to partially delete this site for            discussed above, EPA has determined
                                                 restricted by statute. Certain other                     30 days after publication of this                     that no further response is appropriate.
                                                 material, such as copyrighted material,                  document in the Federal Register.
                                                 will be publicly available only in the                      Section II of this document explains                  (4) The State of New Mexico, through
                                                 hard copy. Publicly available docket                     the criteria for deleting sites from the              the New Mexico Environment
                                                 materials are available either                           NPL. Section III discusses procedures                 Department, has concurred with the
                                                 electronically in http://                                that EPA is using for this action. Section            deletion of Operable Units 1, 2, and 5
                                                 www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at:                  IV discusses Operable Units 1, 2, and 5               of the South Valley Superfund Site,
                                                 Zimmerman Library, Government                            of the South Valley Superfund Site and                from the NPL.
                                                    Information Department, University of                 demonstrates how the operable units                      (5) Concurrently, with the publication
                                                    New Mexico, Albuquerque NM 87131,                     meet the deletion criteria.                           of this Notice of Intent for Partial
                                                    505.277.9100, Monday–Thursday—7                                                                             Deletion in the Federal Register, a
                                                    a.m.–2 a.m., Friday—7 a.m.–9 p.m.,                    II. NPL Deletion Criteria
                                                                                                                                                                notice is being published in a major
                                                    Saturday—10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sunday—                         The NCP establishes the criteria that              local newspaper, the Albuquerque
                                                    12 p.m.–2 a.m.                                        EPA uses to delete sites from the NPL.                Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com.
                                                 New Mexico Environment Department,                       In accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e),                 The newspaper announces the 30-day
                                                    Harold Runnels Building, 1190 St.                     sites may be deleted from the NPL                     public comment period concerning the
                                                    Francis Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87505,                    where no further response is                          Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion of
                                                    505.827.2855, Monday–Friday—8                         appropriate. In making such a                         the Site from the NPL.
                                                    a.m.–5 p.m.                                           determination pursuant to 40 CFR                         (6) The EPA placed copies of
                                                 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                         300.425(e), EPA will consider, in                     documents supporting the proposed
                                                 Michael A. Hebert, Remedial Project                      consultation with the State, whether any
                                                 Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection                                                                         partial deletion in the deletion docket,
                                                                                                          of the following criteria have been met:              made these items available for public
                                                 Agency, Region 6, Mail Code—6SF–RL,                         i. Responsible parties or other persons
                                                 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas,                                                                               inspection, and copying at the Site
                                                                                                          have implemented all appropriate                      information repositories identified
                                                 75202–2733, (214) 665–8315, email:                       response actions required;
                                                 hebert.michael@epa.gov.                                                                                        above.
                                                                                                             ii. all appropriate Fund-financed
                                                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                               response under CERCLA has been                           If comments are received within the
                                                                                                          implemented, and no further response                  30-day comment period on this
                                                 Table of Contents                                                                                              document, EPA will evaluate and
                                                                                                          action by responsible parties is
                                                 I. Introduction                                          appropriate; or                                       respond accordingly to the comments
                                                 II. NPL Deletion Criteria                                                                                      before making a final decision to delete
                                                 III. Deletion Procedures
                                                                                                             iii. the remedial investigation has
                                                                                                          shown that the release poses no                       Operable Units 1, 2, and 5. If necessary,
                                                 IV. Basis for Intended Partial Site Deletion                                                                   EPA will prepare a Responsiveness
                                                                                                          significant threat to public health or the
                                                 I. Introduction                                          environment and, therefore, the taking                Summary to address any significant
                                                    EPA Region 6 announces its intent to                  of remedial measures is not appropriate.              public comments received. After the
                                                 delete Operable Units 1, 2, and 5 of the                    Pursuant to CERCLA section 121(c)                  public comment period, if EPA
                                                 South Valley Superfund Site (Site), from                 and the NCP, EPA conducts five-year                   determines it is still appropriate to
                                                 the National Priorities List (NPL) and                   reviews to ensure the continued                       delete Operable Units 1, 2, and 5 of the
                                                 requests public comment on this                          protectiveness of remedial actions                    South Valley Superfund Site, the
                                                 proposed action. The NPL constitutes                     where hazardous substances, pollutants,               Regional Administrator will publish a
                                                 Appendix B of 40 CFR part 300 which                      or contaminants remain at a site above                final Notice of Partial Deletion in the
                                                 is the National Oil and Hazardous                        levels that allow for unlimited use and               Federal Register. Public notices, public
                                                 Substances Pollution Contingency Plan                    unrestricted exposure. EPA conducts                   submissions and copies of the
                                                 (NCP), which EPA promulgated                             such five-year reviews even if a site is              Responsiveness Summary, if prepared,
                                                 pursuant to Section 105 of the                           deleted from the NPL. EPA may initiate                will be made available to interested
                                                 Comprehensive Environmental                              further action to ensure continued                    parties and included in the site
                                                 Response, Compensation and Liability                     protectiveness at a deleted site if new               information repositories listed above.
                                                 Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended.                        information becomes available that                       Deletion of a portion of a site from the
                                                 EPA maintains the NPL as those sites                     indicates it is appropriate. Whenever                 NPL does not itself create, alter, or
                                                 that appear to present a significant risk                there is a significant release from a site            revoke any individual’s rights or
                                                 to public health, welfare, or the                        deleted from the NPL, the deleted site                obligations. Deletion of a portion of a
                                                 environment. Sites on the NPL may be                     may be restored to the NPL without                    site from the NPL does not in any way
                                                 the subject of remedial actions financed                 application of the hazard ranking                     alter EPA’s right to take enforcement
                                                 by the Hazardous Substance Superfund                     system.                                               actions, as appropriate. The NPL is
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                                                 (Fund). This partial deletion of the                                                                           designed primarily for informational
                                                                                                          III. Deletion Procedures
                                                 South Valley Superfund Site is                                                                                 purposes and to assist EPA
                                                 proposed in accordance with 40 CFR                         The following procedures apply to                   management. Section 300.425(e)(3) of
                                                 300.425(e) and is consistent with the                    deletion of Operable Units 1, 2, and 5                the NCP states that the deletion of a site
                                                 Notice of Policy Change: Partial                         of the Site:                                          from the NPL does not preclude
                                                 Deletion of Sites Listed on the National                   (1) EPA consulted with the State of                 eligibility for future response actions,
                                                 Priorities List. 60 FR 55466 (Nov. 1,                    New Mexico before developing this                     should future conditions warrant such
                                                 1995). As described in § 300.425(e)(3) of                Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion.                actions.


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                                                 36840                    Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 147 / Tuesday, July 31, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                 IV. Basis for Partial Site Deletion                      San Jose No. 3. The wells were taken out              concentrations to levels below and
                                                   The following information provides                     of service after subsequent sampling                  compliant with applicable or relevant
                                                 EPA’s rationale for deleting Operable                    indicated contamination. Groundwater                  and appropriate requirements as defined
                                                 Units 1, 2, and 5 of the South Valley                    monitoring results in the vicinity of the             in the ROD. On June 10, 2014, the EPA
                                                 Superfund Site from the NPL:                             wells indicated the potential for a                   acknowledged that Univar completed all
                                                                                                          number of sources, including several                  requirements of the Consent Decree
                                                 Site Background and History                              industrial operations located in close                dated March 27, 1990, as they relate to
                                                    The EPA ID for the South Valley                       proximity to the contaminated wells.                  the constituents of concern in
                                                 Superfund Site is NMD980745558. The                      When the Site was proposed to the NPL                 groundwater identified in the ROD and
                                                 South Valley Superfund Site is in the                    on December 30, 1982, (47 FR 58476),                  the subsequent Explanation of
                                                 southern portion of Albuquerque, in                      it was the number one priority of the                 Significant Differences dated September
                                                 Bernillo County, New Mexico, directly                    State of New Mexico. EPA finalized the                26, 2006, except for addressing 1,4-
                                                 across Interstate 25 from the                            NPL listing on September 8, 1983, (48                 dioxane contamination. The EPA
                                                 Albuquerque International Airport and                    FR 40658).                                            acknowledged that Univar is addressing
                                                 the University of New Mexico Golf                           The Operable Units at the South                    1,4-dioxane in groundwater at OU3
                                                                                                          Valley Superfund Site are as follows:                 pursuant to Section XVI(D) of the above
                                                 Course. The South Valley Superfund
                                                                                                             Operable Unit 1 (OU1) (included in                 Consent Decree.
                                                 Site consists of an area of approximately
                                                                                                          partial deletion)—OU1 consists of the                    Operable Unit 4 (OU4)—OU4 consists
                                                 one square mile proximate to the                         City of Albuquerque San Jose 6 (SJ–6)
                                                 intersection of South Broadway                                                                                 of the vadose zone at the Univar site. As
                                                                                                          and San Jose 3 (SJ–3) wells, which were               the PRP, Univar was required to
                                                 Boulevard and Woodward Road and is                       contaminated with volatile organic
                                                 divided into two properties: the former                                                                        investigate the soil around a pit on its
                                                                                                          compounds (VOCs). EPA signed the                      property to establish the source of the
                                                 Air Force Plant 83 site and the Univar                   Record of Decision (ROD) for OU1 on
                                                 site. The Air Force Plant 83 site is                                                                           solvents under their plant. The
                                                                                                          March 22, 1985 but did not identify a
                                                 further divided into two parcels located                                                                       investigation found no evidence in the
                                                                                                          Potentially Responsible Party (PRP). The
                                                 north and south of Woodward Road                                                                               vadose zone that a release occurred at
                                                                                                          remedial goal was to eliminate the
                                                 known as North Plant 83 and South                                                                              this location. EPA signed the ROD on
                                                                                                          threat to human health posed by
                                                 Plant 83, respectively. Various                                                                                June 28, 1988 and specified No Further
                                                                                                          introducing water from the San Jose 6
                                                 manufacturing operations occurred at                                                                           Action.
                                                                                                          and San Jose 3 wells into the City of
                                                 the Air Force Plant 83 site from the                     Albuquerque drinking water supply.                       Operable Unit 5 (OU5) (included in
                                                 1940s until 1967, when the United                        The objective was achieved by EPA                     partial deletion)—OU5 consists of the
                                                 States Air Force took ownership of the                   replacing wells SJ–6 and SJ–3 with the                unsaturated and saturated portion of the
                                                 property and its contractor, General                     Burton No. 4 well, which was                          shallow zone aquifer at North Plant 83
                                                 Electric Aircraft Engines (GEA), began                   completed in April 1987.                              and South Plant 83. EPA signed the
                                                 manufacturing aircraft engine                               Operable Unit 2 (OU2) (included in                 ROD on September 30, 1988, and
                                                 components at the property. GEA                          partial deletion)—The remedial goals of               identified GEA as the PRP. The remedial
                                                 purchased the Air Force Plant 83 in                      OU2 were to eliminate the conduit(s) for              goals for this operable unit were
                                                 1983 and continued operations until                      contaminant migration from the shallow                remediating shallow zone groundwater
                                                 October 1997, when North Plant 83 was                    to the deeper aquifers and to restrict                and eliminating source materials via
                                                 closed, and until October 2010, when                     groundwater use under the Site. EPA                   enhanced dewatering, soil flushing, and
                                                 South Plant 83 was closed. Groundwater                   signed the OU2 ROD on September 30,                   soil vapor extraction (SVE) to result in
                                                 beneath the Site is in the Santa Fe                      1988 and identified GEA as a PRP. GEA                 aquifer restoration. GEA conducted soil
                                                 Group which is comprised of several                      implemented the remedial action by                    vapor surveys and collected soil borings
                                                 layers within the formation. The                         plugging SJ–6 and SJ–3 and any shallow                in the South Plant 83 area and the North
                                                 shallow zone aquifer (approximately                      wells that could act as conduits for                  Plant 83 area to identify VOC
                                                 175–225 below ground surface [bgs])                      contaminant transport from the shallow                contamination. The result of these
                                                 beneath the North Plant 83 area has a                    to the deeper aquifers, restricting                   investigations indicated that the
                                                 continuous silty clay layer underneath it                groundwater use, and implementing                     concentrations of VOCs would best be
                                                 and is therefore primarily perched and                   groundwater monitoring. GEA                           remediated using SVE. GEA operated
                                                 does not have a uniform flow direction.                  integrated the OU2 groundwater                        SVE systems at the North Plant 83 and
                                                 The shallow groundwater in the South                     monitoring program into Operable Unit                 South Plant 83 areas in 1992 and 1993.
                                                 Plant 83 area flows east to west. Unlike                 6 and continues the monitoring program                Prior to remediation, the groundwater
                                                 North Plant 83, the silty clay layer                     today.                                                contamination encompassed
                                                 beneath the South Plant 83 area is                          Operable Unit 3 (OU3)—The remedial                 approximately twelve acres at North
                                                 discontinuous and therefore is in                        goal of OU3 included reducing the                     Plant 83 and approximately seven acres
                                                 hydraulic connection with the deeper                     concentrations of site-related VOCs in                at South Plant 83. GEA initiated shallow
                                                 aquifer zones. The deeper aquifer sand                   groundwater to acceptable levels                      groundwater recovery systems at the
                                                 zones (approximately 225–355 bgs, 255–                   (aquifer restoration) via a pump-treat-               North Plant 83 and South Plant 83 areas
                                                 415 bgs, and 415–515 bgs) have                           injection system. EPA signed the ROD                  in May 1994 and completely shut down
                                                 discontinuous silts and clays                            on June 28, 1988 and identified Univar                the groundwater recovery systems in
                                                 interbedded within them which are not                    as the Potentially Responsible Party.                 July 2010. GEA completed compliance
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                                                 laterally extensive but may limit                        Univar initiated groundwater recovery                 groundwater monitoring and on
                                                 downward movement through the                            system in April 1992 and a vapor                      September 22, 2014 requested closure of
                                                 formation. Groundwater flows generally                   recovery system in November 1999.                     OU5 stating that GEA had satisfactorily
                                                 east to west in all the deeper aquifer                   Univar shut off both systems in                       completed all requirements of the
                                                 zones.                                                   November 2006. Subsequent monitoring                  Administrative Order dated July 3,
                                                    Groundwater contamination was first                   has shown that the groundwater and                    1989. All wells and infrastructure
                                                 suspected in the late 1970s in two                       vapor recovery systems reduced the                    associated with the OU5 groundwater
                                                 municipal wells—San Jose No. 6 and                       dissolved chlorinated VOC                             treatment system have been plugged and


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 147 / Tuesday, July 31, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                           36841

                                                 abandoned or removed as approved by                      water supply well, Burton Well No. 4.                 investigation. In addition, GEA sampled
                                                 EPA.                                                     In addition, a remedial investigation                 soil borings for VOCs, semi-volatile
                                                   After the closure of South Plant 83 in                 was initiated which provided                          organic compounds, polychlorinated
                                                 October 2010, GEA performed                              information utilized to develop                       biphenyls, and selected metals. GEA did
                                                 additional remedial activities associated                remedial activities for the remaining                 not detect VOCs above industrial soil
                                                 with OU5 soils. Specifically, GEA                        operable units at the Site.                           screening levels and did not detect any
                                                 performed investigations within the                        Operable Unit 2 (OU2)—GEA                           polychlorinated biphenyls. GEA
                                                 North Plant 83 and South Plant 83                        conducted a remedial investigation for                detected semi-volatile organic
                                                 building footprints and excavated and                    OU2 because of the contamination                      compounds (i.e., polyaromatic
                                                 disposed of hexavalent chromium                          identified in OU1. As part of the                     hydrocarbons) and hexavalent
                                                 contaminated soil from the East and                      remedial investigation, GEA compiled                  chromium in a few of the 41 locations
                                                 West Tank Line area in South Plant 83.                   existing investigative information and                investigated. In addition, GEA
                                                 In addition, GEA filed a deed restriction                collected additional soil, groundwater,               inspected, investigated, and cleaned out
                                                 in the Bernalillo County records                         surface water, and sediment information               sanitary sewer lines for both North Plant
                                                 covering areas where semi-volatile                       associated with the one-square-mile                   83 and South Plant 83. While GEA
                                                 organic compounds (i.e., polyaromatic                    boundary area of the South Valley                     detected concentrations of metal
                                                 hydrocarbons) or hexavalent chromium                     Superfund Site. In addition, GEA                      contaminants in sediments within the
                                                 contamination remained above                             identified contamination associated                   sewer lines, it did not identify impacts
                                                 industrial soil screening levels.                        with several different sources. Based                 in the soils adjacent and beneath the
                                                   Operable Unit 6 (OU6)—OU6 consists                     upon the remedial investigation data,                 sewer lines.
                                                 of the deep aquifer at North Plant 83                    GEA determined in the feasibility study
                                                 and South Plant 83. EPA signed the                       that contaminated groundwater in the                  Selected Remedy
                                                 ROD on September 30, 1988 and                            shallow zone was potentially migrating                   Operable Unit 1 (OU1)—EPA signed
                                                 identified GEA as the PRP. The remedial                  into the intermediate zone throughout                 the ROD for OU1 on March 22, 1985.
                                                 goals of OU6 are hydraulically                           the Site through improperly constructed               The selected remedy was installation of
                                                 containing the plume to protect the City                 groundwater wells. The contaminants of                a new water supply well to replace the
                                                 of Albuquerque’s water supply wells                      concern identified in the remedial                    capacity of the contaminated well San
                                                 and reducing the concentrations of site-                 investigation were VOCs, with the main                Jose No. 6. The remedial goal was to
                                                 related VOC compounds in groundwater                     contaminant being trichloroethylene                   eliminate the threat to human health
                                                 to acceptable levels (aquifer restoration).              (TCE).                                                posed by introducing water from this
                                                 The original plume was approximately                       Operable Unit 5 (OU5)—GEA                           well into the City of Albuquerque
                                                 100 acres in size but as of 2018, only                   conducted a remedial investigation for                drinking water supply.
                                                 two wells have constituents above                        OU5 because of the contamination                         Operable Unit 2 (OU2)—EPA signed
                                                 cleanup levels. The groundwater                          identified in OU1. As part of the                     the ROD for OU2 on September 30,
                                                 remediation system at OU6 began                          remedial investigation GEA, compiled                  1988. The selected remedy consisted of
                                                 operation in March 1996. Remedial                        existing investigative information and                cleaning out and sealing abandoned
                                                 action activities have hydraulically                     collected additional soil, groundwater,               wells that were acting as conduits for
                                                 contained the plume and shrunk it                        surface water, and sediment information               contaminant migration, groundwater
                                                 significantly from its former volume and                 associated with the one-square-mile                   quality monitoring during and after
                                                 mass. To date, over 7.5 billion gallons                  boundary area of the South Valley                     implementation of any remedial action,
                                                 of contaminated water have been                          Superfund Site. Further, GEA identified               and the imposition of access restrictions
                                                 recovered, treated, and reinjected back                  contamination associated with several                 regarding well construction
                                                 into the deep aquifer.                                   different sources. The contaminants of                specifications and depth of completions
                                                   The South Valley area of Albuquerque                   concern identified in the remedial                    through the State Engineer’s office. The
                                                 has experienced ongoing development                      investigation were VOCs, with the main                remedial goals were eliminating
                                                 and redevelopment for decades. The                       contaminant being TCE.                                conduit(s) for contaminant migration
                                                 proposed extension of Sunport                              Based upon the remedial investigation               from the shallow to intermediate
                                                 Boulevard from east of Interstate 25 to                  data, GEA determined in the feasibility               aquifers and preventing the use of
                                                 west of Interstate 25, if constructed, is                study that OU5 soil contamination                     contaminated groundwater in the site
                                                 expected to spur local economic growth                   occurs in areas associated with the two               area.
                                                 and redevelopment.                                       areas, North Plant 83 and South Plant                    Operable Unit 5 (OU5)—EPA signed
                                                                                                          83, and groundwater contamination                     the ROD for OU5 on September 30,
                                                 Remedial Investigation and Feasibility                   occurs in the shallow aquifer below                   1988. The selected remedy consisted of
                                                 Study                                                    portions of both the North Plant 83 and               further investigation to define the extent
                                                   Operable Unit 1 (OU1)—Other than                       South Plant 83 areas. GEA also                        of soil and groundwater contamination,
                                                 the sampling that established that San                   identified groundwater contamination                  soil remediation utilizing SVE on
                                                 Jose No. 6 and San Jose No. 3 municipal                  comprising of similar constituents of                 portions of North Plant 83 and South
                                                 water supply wells had been impacted,                    concerns as in OU5 in several other                   Plant 83, groundwater remediation
                                                 there was no remedial investigation                      hydrogeological units beneath the Site,               through extraction, treatment with air
                                                 performed for OU1. Upon detection of                     which are addressed in OU6.                           stripping followed by carbon
                                                 contamination, the City of Albuquerque                     After the closure of South Plant 83 in              adsorption, and reinjection into the
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                                                 discontinued use of the water supply                     October 2010, GEA performed                           aquifer for shallow (OU5) groundwater
                                                 wells. Subsequently, the EPA, the City                   additional remedial activities associated             contaminated zones located under
                                                 of Albuquerque, and other stakeholders                   with OU5, including soil investigations               portions of North Plant 83 and South
                                                 conducted several meetings to discuss                    within the North Plant 83 and South                   Plant 83 along with intermediate/deep
                                                 potential sites for a replacement                        Plant 83 building footprints. GEA                     (OU6) groundwater contaminated zones
                                                 municipal well, which culminated in                      identified 68 separate areas as a                     on-site and off-site. The remedial goals
                                                 the final design and ultimate                            potential concern with 41 of these                    for OU5 were remediating shallow zone
                                                 installation of a replacement municipal                  locations being identified for                        groundwater and eliminating source


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                                                 36842                    Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 147 / Tuesday, July 31, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                 materials via enhanced dewatering, soil                  These systems were augmented through                  extraction system ceases to produce
                                                 flushing, and SVE. Further, as a result                  their operational lifetime to adapt to                volatile contaminants and will be
                                                 of the investigations performed by GEA                   changes in groundwater concentrations                 followed by sampling to confirm soil
                                                 after closure of South Plant 83 in                       and flow patterns.                                    remediation.’’ GEA obtained post
                                                 October 2010, GEA conducted removal                         After the closure of South Plant 83 in             remediation soil samples after the SVE
                                                 of soil proximate to the East and West                   October 2010, GEA performed                           systems ceased operations and proposed
                                                 Tank Line area in South Plant 83 in                      additional remedial activities associated             cleanup levels for soils in April 1993.
                                                 2011.                                                    with OU5. GEA conducted removal of                    The proposed cleanup levels considered
                                                                                                          soil proximate to the East and West                   soil exposure pathways including
                                                 Response Actions                                         Tank Line area in South Plant 83 in                   dermal contact, inhalation, and
                                                    Operable Unit 1 (OU1)—The United                      2011. Approximately 3.5 tons of                       ingestion (i.e., by children ages 2 to 6)
                                                 State Corps of Engineers completed a                     contaminated soil and concrete were                   as well as the potential for contaminants
                                                 final design for a new municipal water                   removed and transported for final                     to leach from soil into groundwater that
                                                 supply well in late 1986. The remedial                   disposal at an off-site hazardous waste               would exceed drinking water standards.
                                                 action performed at OU1 was the                          disposal facility. Following removal,                 GEA based the cleanup levels on the
                                                 replacement of wells SJ–6 and SJ–3 with                  GEA backfilled the area with clean fill               assumption of an operating
                                                 the Burton No. 4 well, which was                         and capped the area with a five-inch-                 manufacturing facility with restricted
                                                 completed in April 1987.                                 thick, 3,000 pounds/square inch layer of
                                                    Operable Unit 2 (OU2)—GEA                                                                                   access but also on the worst-case
                                                                                                          reinforced concrete. GEA filed a deed                 exposure scenario that the site could be
                                                 completed a final design dated July 20,                  restriction in the Bernalillo County
                                                 1990, that contained plans to install                                                                          converted to residential use. During a
                                                                                                          records covering areas where semi-
                                                 monitoring wells, clean out and plug                                                                           meeting with GEA on November 2,
                                                                                                          volatile organic compounds (i.e.,
                                                 abandoned wells including the SJ–6                                                                             1993, EPA verbally agreed to the
                                                                                                          polyaromatic hydrocarbons) or
                                                 well (OU1), and conduct a groundwater                                                                          proposed cleanup levels. In a letter
                                                                                                          hexavalent chromium contamination
                                                 monitoring program. GEA completed                                                                              dated June 21, 1994, EPA indicated that
                                                                                                          remained present above industrial soil
                                                 the installation of new monitoring wells                                                                       the levels of contaminants found in the
                                                                                                          screening levels. GEA removed
                                                 and the plugging and abandonment of                                                                            soils were below limits that required
                                                                                                          approximately 1,750 feet of primary 4-
                                                 wells that could act as conduits for                                                                           removal. In addition, out of an
                                                                                                          inch to 8-inch diameter cast iron
                                                 contaminant transport to lower                                                                                 abundance of caution, as part of the
                                                                                                          process sewer lines, 435 feet of similar
                                                 groundwater zones by the end of 1992.                    smaller branch lines, and seven                       2017 Remedial Action Report for OU5,
                                                 GEA initiated an OU2 groundwater                         manholes and disposed these materials                 GEA performed a comparison of the
                                                 monitoring program, which in 1996 was                    at a Resource Conservation and                        post remediation soil concentrations to
                                                 combined with the OU6 groundwater                        Recovery Act treatment, storage, and                  the EPA Industrial and Residential Soil
                                                 monitoring program to simplify                           disposal facility. Finally, GEA cleaned               Screening Levels (November 2015)
                                                 groundwater monitoring and reporting                     and abandoned in place the South Plant                which indicated all the post soil
                                                 at the Site. The New Mexico State                        83 sewer system piping and plugged the                remediation soil concentrations were
                                                 Engineer’s office issued a restriction                   connection to the City of Albuquerque                 below the EPA Industrial and
                                                 concerning groundwater well                              sewer system.                                         Residential Soil Screening Levels. For
                                                 construction within the boundaries of                                                                          groundwater, the ROD specified that
                                                 the South Valley Superfund Site on                       Cleanup Levels                                        cleanup levels would be maximum
                                                 December 19, 1988.                                          Operable Unit 1 (OU1)—There were                   contaminant limits from the Safe
                                                    Operable Unit 5 (OU5)—Because the                     no cleanup levels established for OU1,                Drinking Water Act and levels in the
                                                 remedial investigation identified both                   as the remedy was simply replacement                  New Mexico Water Quality Control
                                                 soil and groundwater contamination,                      of a municipal water supply well to                   Commission regulations, whichever was
                                                 the response actions for OU5 were                        replace the capacity lost by the                      more stringent. These levels were
                                                 separated by media into soil and                         contaminated SJ–6 well.                               updated in an Explanation of Significant
                                                 groundwater actions. For soils, GEA                         Operable Unit 2 (OU2)—There were                   Differences dated October 16, 2006,
                                                 finalized the remedial design for the                    no cleanup levels established for OU2,                which added a level for
                                                 SVE systems in late 1991, which EPA                      as the remedy was simply the                          tetrachloroethylene promulgated under
                                                 subsequently approved on January 24,                     installation of additional groundwater                the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1992.
                                                 1992. GEA installed and operated SVE                     monitoring wells, the plugging and                    GEA implemented and conducted a
                                                 systems on both the North Plant 83 and                   abandonment of wells that could act as                groundwater monitoring program
                                                 South Plant 83 areas. The North Plant                    conduits for contaminant transport to                 throughout the operation of the shallow
                                                 83 SVE system operated for                               lower groundwater zones, the                          zone groundwater remediation systems.
                                                 approximately four months from June                      imposition of access restrictions                     After six years of monitoring indicating
                                                 1992 to June 1993. The South Plant 83                    regarding well construction                           that none of the off-site wells of the
                                                 SVE system operated for approximately                    specifications and depth of completions               North Plant 83 system well network
                                                 five months from October 1992 to March                   through the State Engineer’s office, and              exceeded cleanup levels, EPA approved
                                                 1993. For groundwater, GEA’s                             the establishment of a groundwater                    closure of the off-site wells and
                                                 contractor, Canonie Environmental,                       monitoring program to obtain data                     conveyance system. GEA flushed,
                                                 completed a final design dated July 21,                  concerning groundwater contamination.                 cleaned, and abandoned conveyance
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                                                 1993, that contained construction                           Operable Unit 5 (OU5)—The                          piping in place and plugged and
                                                 details for the remedial systems for the                 investigations and remediation work for               abandoned wells in 2010. One on-site
                                                 shallow zone groundwater remediation                     OU5 was separated by media into soil                  well associated with the North Plant 83
                                                 on the North Plant 83 and South Plant                    and groundwater work. For soil, the                   system remained slightly above cleanup
                                                 83 areas. The North Plant 83 system                      ROD required the utilization of SVE for               levels. In 2010, GEA performed in-situ
                                                 initially was comprised of seven                         soil remediation but did not specify                  chemical oxidation around this well
                                                 extraction wells, and the South Plant 83                 cleanup levels. The ROD stated, ‘‘Soils               which subsequent sampling confirmed
                                                 system was comprised of three wells.                     treatment will continue until the vapor               that contaminant concentrations fell and


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 147 / Tuesday, July 31, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                          36843

                                                 remained below cleanup levels. The                       associated with OU5 have met their                    levels that allow for unlimited use and
                                                 South Plant 83 system experienced a                      associated cleanup levels and have been               unrestricted exposure.
                                                 similar history to the North Plant 83                    dismantled, there are no operation and                   Operable Unit 2 (OU2)—A five-year
                                                 system. By 1999, all wells associated                    maintenance activities required or                    review is not necessary for OU2 because
                                                 with the South Plant 83 system except                    ongoing for the OU5 SVE and                           no hazardous substances, pollutants, or
                                                 for two wells were below cleanup                         groundwater remediation systems. In                   contaminants remain at the site above
                                                 levels. By 2006, only one well had                       addition, while still in effect, the New              levels that allow for unlimited use and
                                                 concentrations above cleanup levels.                     Mexico State Engineer’s restriction                   unrestricted exposure. While still in
                                                 Like the North Plant 83 system, GEA                      concerning groundwater well                           effect, the New Mexico State Engineer’s
                                                 performed in-situ chemical oxidation in                  construction is no longer required for                restriction concerning groundwater well
                                                 2010 around this well, which                             the protectiveness of the OU5 remedy                  construction is no longer required for
                                                 subsequent sampling confirmed that                       because groundwater concentrations are                the protectiveness of the OU5 remedy
                                                 contaminant concentrations fell below                    below the maximum contaminant limits                  because groundwater concentrations are
                                                 cleanup levels shortly after the in-situ                 from the Safe Drinking Water Act and                  below the maximum contaminant limits
                                                 treatment and remained below cleanup                     levels in the New Mexico Water Quality                from the Safe Drinking Water Act and
                                                 levels through 2012.                                     Control Commission regulations. After                 levels in the New Mexico Water Quality
                                                    After the closure of South Plant 83 in                ceasing operations in September 2010                  Control Commission regulations. In
                                                 October 2010, GEA performed                              and completing demolition of the South                1996, the OU2 groundwater monitoring
                                                 additional remedial activities associated                Plant 83 buildings in May 2011, GEA                   program was combined with the OU6
                                                 with OU5. Utilizing investigations                       performed investigations of the South                 groundwater monitoring program,
                                                 results, GEA completed an assessment                     Plant 83 property which included                      which is and has been the subject of
                                                 of the risk for the contaminants                         evaluating soil impacts near any                      ongoing five-year reviews associated
                                                 identified in the investigation. This                    existing sub-grade foundation features                with the Site. The next five-year review
                                                 assessment indicated that hexavalent                     as well as the North Plant 83 and South               for the Site is due in July 2020.
                                                 chromium contamination in deep soils                     Plant 83 sewer systems. In addition,                     Operable Unit 5 (OU5)—A statutory
                                                 would not pose a risk to human health                    GEA cleaned out and abandoned in                      five-year review is necessary for OU5
                                                 and the environment assuming that an                     place the sewer systems. Because of the               because hazardous substances,
                                                 impermeable cover remained in place                      soil investigation, GEA removed                       pollutants, or contaminants remain at
                                                 and institutional controls were                          hexavalent chromium contamination                     the site above levels that allow for
                                                 implemented. The assessment also                         near the location of the East and West                unlimited use and unrestricted
                                                 indicated that the semi-volatile organic                 Tank Line on the South Plant 83                       exposure. OU5 has been the subject of
                                                 compounds (i.e., polyaromatic                            property. Some contamination remained                 ongoing five-year reviews with the next
                                                 hydrocarbons) identified in soils would                  in place and, as a result, GEA filed a                review due in July 2020. No issues and/
                                                 not pose a risk to human health and the                  declaration of restrictive covenants on               or recommendations were identified in
                                                 environment if the existing concrete cap                 September 9, 2014 in the Bernalillo                   the 2015 five-year review for OU5.
                                                 was left in place. GEA removed soil                      County property records. The
                                                 with concentrations of hexavalent                        declaration identified five areas where               Community Involvement
                                                 chromium above 50 milligrams per                         semi-volatile organic compounds or                      The major community involvement
                                                 kilogram (mg/kg) but did not remove                      hexavalent chromium contamination                     activities associated with the operable
                                                 soil with hexavalent chromium                            exceed industrial soil screening levels.              units proposed for deletion are as
                                                 contamination ranging from 5.6 to 50                     The declaration also contained the                    follows:
                                                 mg/kg at depths between 5 to 14 feet                     following: Identification of the                        • Open Houses and Workshops:
                                                 below the existing concrete slab. GEA                    abandoned sanitary sewer lines and                    September 1988; November 1993; July
                                                 filed a deed restriction in the Bernalillo               existing sewer line locations; restriction            1995; October 1997; September 1998;
                                                 County records covering areas where                      that the property use is limited to
                                                                                                                                                                November 1999, October 2000;
                                                 semi-volatile organic compounds or                       commercial and industrial; restriction
                                                                                                                                                                November 2001; January 2013.
                                                 hexavalent chromium contamination                        that groundwater beneath the site
                                                                                                                                                                  • Original Proposed Plan Fact Sheet
                                                 remained above industrial soil screening                 cannot be used; and engineered barriers
                                                                                                                                                                and Public Meetings: June 1988; July
                                                 levels.                                                  must remain in place on portions of the
                                                                                                                                                                1988; August 1988; February 1989.
                                                                                                          property where semi-volatile organic
                                                 Operation and Maintenance
                                                                                                          compounds and hexavalent chromium                       • Public Meetings: October 2000;
                                                    Operable Unit 1 (OU1)—The                             remain above industrial soil screening                November 2001.
                                                 operation and maintenance concerning                     levels. GEA performs normal property                    • Original ROD Fact Sheets: July
                                                 the Burton No. 4 replacement well is                     maintenance inspections of the North                  1988; November 1988; April 1989.
                                                 performed by the City of Albuquerque.                    Plant 83 and South Plant 83 to identify                 • Milestone Fact Sheets: May 1989;
                                                    Operable Unit 2 (OU2)—There is no                     fencing integrity issues and to maintain              March 1990; April 1990; June 1990;
                                                 operation and maintenance associated                     weed control. These inspections also                  March 1991; November 1993; June 1995;
                                                 with OU2. The restriction concerning                     observe the integrity of the concrete cap             April 1996; December 2011; January
                                                 groundwater well construction within                     over the East and West Tank Line                      2013; June 2015; July 2015; June 2018.
                                                 the boundaries of the South Valley                       removal area to ensure it is competent.                 • Citizens on Site Mailing List: 590.
                                                 Superfund Site issued by the New                         GEA also ensures that the deed                          Other notable community
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                                                 Mexico State Engineer’s office on                        restriction remains in the Bernalillo                 involvement activities are:
                                                 December 19, 1988, remains in effect                     County records.                                         • Pre Five-Year Review public notices
                                                 but is now monitored under OU6. This                                                                           published in local newspapers
                                                 restriction is not needed and does not                   Five Year Review                                      indicating Five-Year Reviews were
                                                 affect the protectiveness of the actions                   Operable Unit 1 (OU1)—A five-year                   being initiated.
                                                 performed at OU2.                                        review is not necessary for OU1 because                 • Post Five-Year Review public
                                                    Operable Unit 5 (OU5)—Since the soil                  no hazardous substances, pollutants, or               notices published in local newspapers
                                                 and groundwater remediation systems                      contaminants remain at the site above                 indicating Five-Year Reviews were


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                                                 36844                    Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 147 / Tuesday, July 31, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                 completed and available in the local                       Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(d); 42 U.S.C.             restricted by statute. Multimedia
                                                 repository or from the State or EPA.                     9601–9657; E.O. 13626, 77 FR 56749, 3 CFR,            submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
                                                                                                          2013 Comp., p. 306; E.O. 12777, 56 FR 54757,
                                                   • Monthly site status summaries that                                                                         accompanied by a written comment.
                                                                                                          3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; E.O. 12580, 52
                                                 were made available to the public or                                                                           The written comment is considered the
                                                                                                          FR 2923, 3 CFR, 1987 Comp., p. 193.
                                                 more recently, updates to site activities                                                                      official comment and should include
                                                 made on the site web page available on                     Dated: July 19, 2018.                               discussion of all points you wish to
                                                 the internet.                                            Arturo Blanco,                                        make. The EPA will generally not
                                                   • September 23, 2010, newspaper                        Acting Regional Administrator, Region 6.              consider comments or comment
                                                 article in the Albuquerque Journal                       [FR Doc. 2018–16257 Filed 7–30–18; 8:45 am]           contents located outside of the primary
                                                 concerning the closure of the General                    BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or
                                                 Electric plant.                                                                                                other file sharing system). For
                                                   • Discussion of the site at public                                                                           additional submission methods, the full
                                                 meetings associated with the Sunport                     ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                              EPA public comment policy,
                                                 Boulevard Extension from                                 AGENCY                                                information about CBI or multimedia
                                                 approximately 2010 to the present.                                                                             submissions, and general guidance on
                                                                                                          40 CFR Part 300                                       making effective comments, please visit
                                                   • Fact sheets and public notices have
                                                 been provided in both English and                        [EPA–HQ–SFUND–2002–0001; FRL–9981–                    http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/
                                                 Spanish.                                                 51—Region 4]                                          commenting-epa-dockets.
                                                                                                                                                                   • Email: URQUHART-
                                                 Determination That the Criteria for                      National Oil and Hazardous                            FOSTER.SAMANTHA@EPA.GOV.
                                                 Deletion Have Been Met                                   Substances Pollution Contingency                         • Mail: Samantha Urquhart-Foster,
                                                                                                          Plan; National Priorities List: Deletion              Remedial Project Manager, Remediation
                                                    The implemented remedies have                                                                               and Site Evaluation Branch, Superfund
                                                 achieved the degree of cleanup or                        of the Reasor Chemical Company
                                                                                                          Superfund Site                                        Division, U.S. Environmental Protection
                                                 protection specified in the OU1, OU2,                                                                          Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW,
                                                 and OU5 RODs for the portions of the                     AGENCY:  Environmental Protection                     Atlanta, Georgia 30303–8960.
                                                 Site proposed for deletion. The selected                 Agency (EPA).                                            • Hand delivery: U.S. Environmental
                                                 remedial action goals and associated                     ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of intent.              Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth
                                                 cleanup levels for the OU1, OU2, and                                                                           Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303–8960.
                                                 OU5 portions of the Site proposed for                    SUMMARY:    The Environmental Protection
                                                                                                                                                                Such deliveries are only accepted
                                                 deletion are consistent with EPA policy                  Agency (EPA) Region 4 is issuing a                    during the Docket’s normal hours of
                                                 and guidance. No further Superfund                       Notice of Intent to Delete the Reasor                 operation, and special arrangements
                                                 response for the OU1, OU2, and OU5                       Chemical Company Superfund Site                       should be made for deliveries of boxed
                                                 portions of the Site proposed for                        (site) located in Castle Hayne, New                   information.
                                                 deletion are needed to protect human                     Hanover County, North Carolina, from                     Instructions: Direct your comments to
                                                 health and the environment. The State                    the National Priorities List (NPL) and                Docket ID no. EPA–HQ–SFUND–2002–
                                                 of New Mexico, in an August 11, 2017,                    requests public comments on this                      0001. The http://www.regulations.gov
                                                 letter from the New Mexico                               proposed action. The NPL, promulgated                 website is an ‘‘anonymous access’’
                                                 Environment Department, concurred                        pursuant to section 105 of the                        system, which means EPA will not
                                                 with the proposed partial deletion of the                Comprehensive Environmental                           know your identity or contact
                                                 OU1, OU2, and OU5 portions of the Site                   Response, Compensation, and Liability                 information unless you provide it in the
                                                 from the NPL.                                            Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is                  body of your comment. If you send an
                                                    The NCP specifies that EPA may                        an appendix of the National Oil and                   email comment directly to EPA without
                                                 delete a site from the NPL if all                        Hazardous Substances Pollution                        going through http://
                                                 appropriate response under CERCLA                        Contingency Plan (NCP). The EPA and                   www.regulations.gov, your email
                                                 has been implemented and no further                      the State of North Carolina, through the              address will be automatically captured
                                                 response action is appropriate. 40 CFR                   North Carolina Department of                          and included as part of the comment
                                                 300.425(e)(1)(ii). EPA, with the                         Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), have                   that is placed in the public docket and
                                                 concurrence of the State of New Mexico,                  determined that all appropriate                       made available on the internet. If you
                                                 through NMED, believes that this                         response actions under CERCLA have                    submit an electronic comment, EPA
                                                 criterion for the deletion of the OU1,                   been completed. However, this deletion                recommends that you include your
                                                 OU2, and OU5 portions of the Site has                    does not preclude future actions under                name and other contact information in
                                                 been met and the OU1, OU2, and OU5                       Superfund.                                            the body of your comment and with any
                                                 portions of the Site no longer pose a                    DATES: Comments must be received by                   disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA
                                                 threat to public health or the                           August 30, 2018.                                      cannot read your comment due to
                                                 environment. Consequently, EPA is                        ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,                      technical difficulties and cannot contact
                                                 proposing to delete the OU1, OU2, and                    identified by Docket ID no. EPA–HQ–                   you for clarification, EPA may not be
                                                 OU5 portions of the Site from the NPL.                   SFUND–2002–0001, by one of the                        able to consider your comment.
                                                 Documents supporting this action are                     following methods:                                    Electronic files should avoid the use of
                                                 available in the Docket.                                    • http://www.regulations.gov. Follow               special characters, any form of
                                                                                                          the online instructions for submitting                encryption, and be free of any defects or
                                                 List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 300
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                          comments. Once submitted, comments                    viruses.
                                                   Environmental protection, Air                          cannot be edited or removed from                         Docket: All documents in the docket
                                                 pollution control, Chemicals, Hazardous                  Regulations.gov. The EPA may publish                  are listed in the http://
                                                 waste, Hazardous substances,                             any comment received to its public                    www.regulations.gov index. Although
                                                 Intergovernmental relations, Penalties,                  docket. Do not submit electronically any              listed in the index, some information is
                                                 Reporting and recordkeeping                              information you consider to be                        not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other
                                                 requirements, Superfund, Water                           Confidential Business Information (CBI)               information whose disclosure is
                                                 pollution control, Water supply.                         or other information whose disclosure is              restricted by statute. Certain other


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Document Created: 2018-11-06 10:30:24
Document Modified: 2018-11-06 10:30:24
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule; notice of intent.
DatesComments must be received by August 30, 2018.
ContactMichael A. Hebert, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, Mail Code-- 6SF-RL, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas, 75202-2733, (214) 665-8315, email: [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 36838 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Air Pollution Control; Chemicals; Hazardous Waste; Hazardous Substances; Intergovernmental Relations; Penalties; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Superfund; Water Pollution Control and Water Supply

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