The RAB toured various Installation Restoration Program (IRP) sites at the NRU where environmental contractors have recently been collecting soil and surface water samples. The sampling work, outlined in IRP workplans 9 and 12, will help to identify locations and concentrations of hazardous chemicals, if any, at these sites.

Shaw Environmental, an environmental contractor demonstrated sampling techniques and equipment. Mr. Mark Thomas, a Shaw employee used a soil boring—a four foot long tube of dirt that was pulled from the ground with a direct push machine (a special drill-like device) to show RAB members how samples are collected, packaged, and documented before being sent to a laboratory for analysis.

The lab will analyze the soil, sediment and surface water samples for chemicals such as explosives, volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, metals and PCBs. Cost per sample ranges from $2,500 to $3,000. After the samples are analyzed, the information needs to be validated to obtain useable data. The data will then be evaluated by a variety of experts such as geologists, toxicologists, and biologists. The Army and ATK will review their findings and put them in a site report for further review by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Based on this report, the stakeholders will decide on what is the next step.

Mr. McKenna concluded the tour at 8:50 p.m. The next RAB meeting is scheduled for September 19, 2002, when a tour of the Main Manufacturing Area is tentatively planned. 

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