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Restoration
Advisory Board Radford Army
Ammunition
Plant (RFAAP) Meeting Minutes Attendance
Handouts Distributed at Meeting:
Agenda Item #1. Introductory Remarks, Approve Minutes of 16 September 1999 Mr. McKenna convened the meeting at 7:15 p.m. and asked if there were any comments or questions about the 16 September 1999 RAB meeting minutes. There were none, and the minutes were approved as written. Mr. McKenna introduced the new RFAAP commander, Lt. Col. Rodney K. Alston. Mr. McKenna introduced Mr. John Tesner, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Senior Project Engineer. Mr. Tesner will be assisting Mr. McKenna with several Installation Restoration Program (IRP) projects. Agenda Item #2. Installation Restoration Program (IRP) Status Mr. McKenna addressed the Investigative Status Update handout. He reported that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reviewed and commented on the Draft RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI) Reports for Solid Waste Management Units (SWMUs) 31, 39, 48, 49, and 58. RFAAP is going to conduct more fieldwork to address EPA comments. The additional work will be outlined in an addendum to the report (Addendum 9). Mr. McKenna reported that RFAAP completed a Screening Ecological Risk Assessment and will submit it to EPA for review. Mr. McKenna offered a copy of the report to the RAB members, and Mr. Boynton replied that he would like a copy. Mr. McKenna also stated that a copy would be available in the RFAAP information repository at the Christiansburg library. Mr. McKenna reported that a draft closure report for the Former Lead Furnace Area will be provided to the Army in December and that initial characterization activities for Building 4343 were completed in September. He also discussed New River Unit investigative and risk assessment activities. Mr. McKenna explained that RFAAP is currently working on a Corrective Measures Study (CMS) for SWMU 39. They are evaluating treatability studies to determine feasible technologies to address heavy metal contamination. The CMS will also address risks outlined in the investigative report. Mr. McKenna reported that removal actions at SWMU 54 are complete and that the Army is awaiting data validation. During the week of 15 November 1999, site cleanup activities are planned, including the removal and transportation of decontamination water, which has already been tested and determined to be nonhazardous, to a wastewater treatment plant. Mr. McKenna referenced the two map handouts and the RFAAP Project Schedule handout. He explained that they will be conducting a groundwater study—a dye trace study—to get a better understanding of how groundwater flows through the karst area. Mr. Freis asked in what area the study would be conducted. Mr. McKenna replied that the study would be conducted around SWMUs 48 and 49, shown on the Main Manufacturing Facility map. Mr. Freis commented about the variability and unpredictability of karst areas. Mr. McKenna agreed and added that while groundwater flow through a karst area will always be somewhat uncertain, they are trying to get more data to make it a little less uncertain. Ms. Trumbo explained that they have a clear understanding of the groundwater around the SWMUs, but that the regional groundwater study will provide a better understanding of the general area. Mr. Boynton asked about the SWMU boundaries depicted on the New River Unit map. Ms. Trumbo explained that the map indicates the general locations for the SWMUs and that the map is not drawn to scale. Agenda Item #3. IRP Web Page Status Mr. McKenna reported that WPI is working on a RFAAP IRP web site. He referenced the web site outline handout and went over the main bullets that will be included on the web site. RFAAP will present a demo of the web site during a RAB meeting before the web site is uploaded to the Internet. Ms. Phillips asked if the RAB members had any feedback on the draft web site outline. Mr. Freis asked when the web site was going to be available. Ms. Phillips replied that a demo would be presented to the RAB at their January or March 2000 meeting and that the site should be available on the web shortly thereafter. Mr. Boynton asked if the web site would have a "contact us" button, where web users could submit a comment or question. Ms. Phillips replied that web users would be able to submit comments to the webmaster. Mr. Boynton asked who would handle the comments received through the web site. Mr. McKenna explained that he would answer any technical questions about the program himself or direct the question to an appropriate person and that Ms. Phillips would respond to questions related specifically to the web site. LTC Alston asked about the size of the web site (i.e., how much information it will be capable of storing). Ms. Phillips replied that the web site will be fully capable to house as much information as needed, including text, graphics, and photos. Ms. Jake asked about the documents included in the RFAAP information repository. Mr. McKenna replied that the repository houses documents outlined in the RCRA facility permit. Some of the information repository documents will be uploaded to the web site. Mr. Boynton asked if there are fact sheets available about the program. Mr. McKenna replied that a one-page fact sheet on the information repository was distributed to the RAB and that the facility permit requires a fact sheet on each SWMU. Mr. Boynton suggested putting nontechnical, general information such as fact sheets on the web site since the general public might have trouble understanding large, technical documents. The RAB discussed having a list of all the documents available (i.e., a document release schedule) instead of having the actual documents on the web. Mr. Freis asked about having links to related web sites such as Roanoke Times articles. Ms. Phillips replied that the draft web site outline includes having a related links page on the web site. The RAB discussed having links to the EPA, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and U.S. Army web sites. Ms. Barker suggested having a link to the REDMAP environmental program web site. LTC Alston suggested having a link to a site glossary or list of acronyms. Ms. Trumbo stated that she has site photos and a list of acronyms that can be used for the web site. Ms. Jake also suggested highlighting the New River Heritage Group/National Committee for the New River. Agenda Item #4. Closing Remarks, Schedule Next Meeting Mr. McKenna adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m. The next RAB meeting will be held at RFAAP on Thursday, 20 January 2000, at 7 p.m. Mr. Freis commented that he appreciated the email notice sent last week by Mr. McKenna to remind RAB members of the meeting. After the meeting, LTC Alston presented awards to the RAB members in appreciation of their service to RFAAP. Back to RAB Meeting Minutes Archives |
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