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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPenney Engineering Inc. - 7/27/1993P Eli N EY ENGINEERING, INC Environmental Engineers July 27, 1993 Mr. Marcel Boelitz DEP - SOUTHEAST REGIONAL OFFICE 20 Riverside Drive Lakeville, MA 02347 (508) 946-2862 RE: Hatheway & Patterson Company, Inc. DEP Site No. 4-0571 Progress Report for June, 1993 Dear Mr. Boelitz: This progress report is intended to update the Department on the activities involved in the performance of the Supplemental Phase II Comprehensive Site Assessment and the Interim Measure assessment being conducted by Penney Engineering at the Hatheway & Patterson site. Interim Measure Assessment A limited test pitting program was conducted in accordance with the February 23, 1993 Interim Measure Proposal by Penney which was conditionally approved by the Department in a letter dated March 10, 1993. A series of test pits were excavated at the site on June 24, 1993 using a backhoe operated by Swanson Excavating Contractors of Walpole, MA under the supervision of Penney personnel. The test pit locations will be plotted on an Interim Measure Plan which will be submitted with the Interim Measure Design report upon completion. The two objectives addressed by the test pitting program were: 1. To assess the extent of free -phase oil floating on the groundwater east of wells MW-6 and MW-12; and 2. To determine whether the plywood barrier installed along the eastern bank of the Rumford River in 1974 is preventing the free migration of floating product to the existing STM. In order to accomplish the first objective, eight test pits (TP-1 through TP-8) were excavated on the southern portion of the site, generally south and east of the bedrock outcrop. Observation wells OW-8, OW-9 and OW-10 were installed in test pits TP-1, 125 High Street, Mansfield, MA 02048 (508) 261-1288 FAX (508) 261-1208 Recycled Paper Mr. Boelitz July 27, 1993 Page 2 TP-7 and TP-8, respectively. The observation wells consisted of ten -foot lengths of four -inch, perforated PVC drain pipe, with a series of 5/8-inch holes placed approximately 1 1/2 inches apart along the length of the pipe. The observation wells were installed in order to measure groundwater elevations and to monitor the presence of any floating oil. Evidence of residual oil contamination was encountered in the subsurface soils below a depth of approximately five feet in test pits TP-1, TP-5, TP-6, TP-7 and TP-8. Shallow bedrock was encountered in TP-3, TPA TP-5 and TP-6, preventing observations of the groundwater at those locations. In order to accomplish the second objective of the test pitting program, three test pits (TP-9, TP-10 and TP-11) were excavated along the eastern side of the Rumford River. Each of the test pits consisted of a trench excavated perpendicular to the suspected location of the plywood barrier. Once the plywood barrier was located, a test pit was excavated on the eastern side of the barrier. A test pit was also excavated on the west side of the barrier at TP-11. Evidence of residual oil contamination on the soil was detected in test pits TP-9 and TP-11. Observation wells OW-11 and OW-12 were installed in TP-9 and TP-11, respectively. No evidence of residual oil contamination was detected in the soils in test pit TP-10 and no floating product was observed on the groundwater at that location. Therefore, no observation well was installed at location TP-10. Upon excavation, the interior of each test pit was measured and observed. The subsurface conditions encountered were logged in the field and soils were described using a modified Unified Soils Classification System. Test pit logs were prepared and will be presented in the Interim Measure Design report. Soil samples were collected at various depths at each location and field screened for the presence of TVOCs using an OVM. The results of field screening were recorded on the test pit logs. During the excavation visibly contaminated soils were segregated from visibly clean soils. Care was taken during backfilling to return the excavated materials to their interval of origin. Observation wells were placed in selected test pit excavations upon completion, and backfilled with the native material. The newly installed observation wells were surveyed for vertical elevation, gauged for water levels and assessed for the presence of free -phase floating product as described in the following sections. The results of those activities are summarized in Table 1. Seven groundwater observation wells (OW-1 through OW-7) were installed on June 22, 1993 by Penney within the wetlands south of MW-12. The wells were composed of approximately five-foot lengths of four -inch, perforated PVC drain pipe and were installed with the aid of a spade and post hole tool to a minimum depth of 24 inches. Perforations consisted of a series of 5/8-inch diameter holes located approximately 1 PENNEY ENGINEERING, INC Mr. Boelitz July 27, 1993 Page 3 1/21, apart along the length of the pipe. Wells OW-1 through OW-4 were placed immediately surrounding the visibly affected area of oil breakout south of MW-12. Well OW-5 was placed approximately 50 feet downgradient of the breakout area. Well OW- 6 was placed south of well MW-10 to determine groundwater topography in that area. Well OW-7 was placed inside the wetlands edge east of the breakout area. The locations of the observation wells will be plotted on an Interim Measure Plan which will be submitted with the Interim Measure Design report upon completion._ The wells were intended to determine the extent of free -phase oil on the groundwater within the wetlands south of MW-12. Subsequent well gauging conducted on July 21 found all seven observation wells to be dry. Supplemental Phase II Activities Survey An instrument survey was performed on July 2, 1993 in order to determine the elevations of the measuring points for all site monitoring wells, observation wells, piezometers, sumps and river gauging stations. With the exception of MW-1, the elevation of a marked location on the top of the PVC riser pipe in each monitoring well and piezometer was measured. The elevation of MW-1 was measured to the lip of the inner protective gate box. Measuring points were marked on each of the observation wells and sumps. The vertical datum used in the survey was a square chisel cut on the granite bridge abutment at the spillway. The elevation of the benchmark had been previously established by Guerard Survey at 170.99 feet above the National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) of 1929. All elevations have been referenced to the established vertical datum. The elevations, recorded to the nearest 0.01 foot, are presented in Table 1. The survey was completed in a manner which closed on the original benchmark. Well Gauging Well gauging activities were conducted at the site on July 21, 1993. The depth to water was measured relative to the surveyed measuring point of each monitoring well, observation well, piezometer and sump and recorded to the nearest 0.01 foot. The water levels were determined using an electronic water level indicator. Upon completion of the water level measurements, selected locations were assessed for the presence of free -phase floating product. A disposable, polyethylene bailer was lowered to approximately one-half its length into the water table and retrieved for inspection. The results of the water level measurements and floating product assessment are presented in Table 1. PENNEY ENGINEERING, INC Mr. Boelitz July 27, 1993 Page 4 TABLE 1 WELL GAUGING RESULTS Measuring Point Depth to Groundwater Free -Phase Location va io Groundwater Elevation Oil (inches) MW-1 172.00 9.84 162.16 MW-2 175.74 10.82 164.92 sheen MW-3 174.15 11.40 162.75 none MW-4 174.52 10.00 164.52 MW-5A 173.15 10.65 162.50 none MW-513 172.55 10.05 162.50 MW-6 172.76 10.51 162.25 film MW-7A 171.50 11.58 159.92 film MW-713 169.48 9.78 159.70 MW-8A 173.05 13.05 160.00 none MW-86 173.64 13.59 160.05 MW-9A 173.05 13.47 159.58 MW-96 173.05 12.92 160.13 MW-10 165.95 6.45 159.50 MW-11 174.06 9.25 164.81 MW-12 171.73 12.15 159.58 film PW-1 170.25 10.70 159.55 OW-1 162.47 --- OW-2 162.26 --- OW-3 162.55 OW-4 163.86 - - OW-5 162.13 - - OW-6 161.55 -- - OW-7 162.24 - - OW-8 169.12 9.66 159.46 OW-9 170.91 8.95 161.96 film OW-10 170.72 - - OW-11 168.79 9.02 159.77 none OW-12 170.56 11.47 159.09 film P-1 174.44 13.99 160.45 P-2 177.07 13.07 164.00 P-3 170.60 11.35 159.25 none P-4 169.02 9.87 159.15 none P-5 165.21 6.08 159.13 none OSA 165.02 5.87 15915 none OS-2 165.41 6.27 159.14 none STM Recovery Sump 164.97 5.85 159.12 sheen Recovery Well #1 170.50 8.71 161.79 none Recovery Well M-1 171.63 9.06 162.57 film Rumford River #1 171.82 6.79 165.03 Rumford River #2 171.71 7.30 164.41 River Gauge 158.89 0.30 158.59 Mr. Boelitz July 27, 1993 Page 5 Summary During the month of June, 1993, Penney conducted field investigations as part of the Supplemental Phase II Comprehensive Site Assessment and the Interim Measure Assessment required at the site. These activities included the completion of a test pitting program, an instrument survey and a complete round of well gauging. The activities performed relative to the Interim Measure will be fully described in an Interim Measure Design report which will be submitted to the Department shortly. The report will include a plan showing the test pit and observation well locations. We will continue to keep your office informed of the progress of the Phase II assessment and the Proposed Interim Measure activities. Please call us if you have any questions. Yours truly, PENNEY ENGINEERING, INC Paul D. Vigeant Ralph P. Penney, PE Staff Scientist President cc: Hathaway and Patterson Mansfield Board of Health Mansfield Conservation Commission