LINE 800 PINKWATER LAGOON - GROUNDWATER LAGOON

 

Site Description

The IRP site consists of the groundwater contamination from past activities.

The Line 800 Pinkwater Lagoon consisted of an unlined, 5 acre impoundment, 4 feet deep, surrounded by an earthen berm. This lagoon was located adjacent to Line 800 (IAAP-011) and an intermittent tributary to Brush Creek. The primary activity at Line 800 was ammunition renovation from 1943 to 1945. The Pinkwater Lagoon was constructed in 1943 for the disposal of pink water effluent from adjacent Line 800 production facilities and sludges trucked in from other line operations within the installation. In 1943 leaching fields associated with the lagoon to include evaporation furrows were constructed. The lagoon also received metal cleaning sludge from Line 3 operations. In the early 1970s this lagoon ceased to be used.

Studies conducted in 1991 through 1998 indicated that primary waste disposed at the site included explosives-contaminated wash water and heavy metals from operations at Line 800 and other production lines. Carbon and fly ash disposal may also have occurred at the site. As a result of the RI sampling 63,236cy of explosives-contaminated soils were excavated from this area during 1997. The supplemental GW RI was completed in July 2001.

High levels of explosives in concentrations of greater than 30 ppm have been found in shallow groundwater (up to 30 feet bgs).  The groundwater discharges into a tributary of Brush Creek.

Phase progress will be tracked at this PBC Site, but funding requirements will be tracked under Site PBC at Iowa.  Post PBC costs will be covered under Site IAAP-020.

Cleanup Strategy

This site is included in the PBC awarded in 2004.  The remedial approach for this site, as well as others in the Brush Creek watershed, will be assessed in the FS.  At present, it is presumed that localized areas of contamination will be remediated.

Status

RRSE RATING: Medium

CONTAMINANTS: Explosives

MEDIA OF CONCERN: Groundwater

COMPLETED IRP PHASE: PA/SI

CURRENT IRP PHASE: RI/FS

FUTURE IRP PHASE: RD, RA(C), RA(O), LTM