Designated Site Annual Status Report FY 17/18 Attachment a Page 2
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SITE DESIGNATION - STATUS REPORT For information on completing and submitting this status report, refer to the instructions on reverse. Date: 08/09/18 Lead Agency: Department of Toxic Substances Control Office of Geology Site Name/Address: Project Manager Name: PG&E Topock Compressor Station Aaron Yue Needles, CA Resolution Number: 03/03 Project Manager Phone Number: (714) 484-5439 1. Date(s) of Consultative Meeting(s) and List of Attendees (Agency): The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the Consultative Work Group (CWG) conducted face-to- face meetings and teleconference calls as frequently as the project warranted. During FY 17/18, face-to-face meetings were held on July 19, 2017, October 18, 2017, February 28, 2018, and May 16, 2018. The Geo/Hydro Technical Subcommittee (TWG) of the CWG also meets periodically. During FY 17/18, a face-to-face TWG meeting was held on August 16, 2017. The Clearinghouse Task Force (CTF) held face-to-face meetings on July 18, 2017, August 15, 2017, October 17, 2017, February 27, 2018, March 13, 2018, April 17, 2018, May 15, 2018, and June 19, 2018. In addition, the CTF also held a phone conference on September 19, 2017 Participants at the CWG meetings included members of local, state and federal government stakeholder agencies, as well as representatives of the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe (CIT), Cocopah Indian Tribe, Colorado River Indian Tribe (CRIT), Fort Mojave Indian Tribe (FMIT), and Hualapai Indian Tribe. Each meeting agenda and significant issues from previous consultative meetings were provided to all participants. A list of attendees of face-to-face meetings held during FY 17/18 is provided as Attachment A. A list of all CWG Members and Tribal Representatives notified and invited to attend the CWG and TWG meetings is provided as Attachment B. A list of everyone notified and invited to attend Sub-Committee meetings, such as the Clearinghouse Task Force, is provided as Attachment C. 2. Recent Public Comment/Participation: Information Repositories and Topock Website DTSC maintains three project repositories in California at Needles, Havasu Lake (within the Chemehuevi Indian Reservation), and Cypress. In addition, DTSC maintains three duplicate repositories in Arizona at Golden Shores, Lake Havasu, and one in Parker (within the Colorado River Indian Tribes Library). DTSC previously also maintained a repository at the Parker public library. However, due to lack of interest and use, it was closed during the annual visit in October 2017. Information repository compact discs (cds) were prepared and delivered each quarter during FY 17/18 containing the previous quarter’s information. DTSC added a visitor log to the “welcome binder” with instructions for use in the information repositories with the 1st quarter updates. This included instructions for contacting DTSC’s public outreach specialist for document requests or access issues. The annual Topock information repositories audit occurred during October 2017. Items identified as missing were replaced. During each quarter of FY 17/18, DTSC also updated the DTSC Topock Project website with documents from the previous quarter. DTSC updated the project website during the 4th Quarter of FY 17/18 in anticipation of the release of the Final Subsequent Environmental Report (SEIR) in April 2018. Community Outreach On May 4, 2018, a Fact Sheet “Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) Topock Compressor Station, Environmental Investigation Update” and SEIR certification were mailed to all interested parties and stakeholders. Two Open Houses were held in April 2018, in Needles California on April 17, 2018 and Golden Shores, Arizona on April 18, 2018. The Open Houses provided information to communities on anticipated construction at the site. Three Orientation classes for people new to the project were held on May 8-10, 2018 and attended by approximately 45 people. On June 27, 2018, a project initiation meeting for the Groundwater Remedy Phase I Construction Mobilization was held in Golden Shores, Arizona. Tribal Outreach On July 18, 2017, DTSC met with Tribal representatives from Fort Mojave, Chemehuevi, Hualapai and Cocopah Indian Tribes. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the proposed communication strategy/protocol flow chart for Future Activity Allowance in the SEIR. On August 14, 2017, DTSC Executive Staff met with Tribal representatives from Fort Mojave, Chemehuevi, and Cocopah Indian Tribes. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss DTSC responses to tribal comments on the Draft SEIR prior to finalization of the document. On August 15, 2017, DTSC/DOI held a meeting with the Fort Mojave, Cocopah, Chemehuevi, Colorado River and Hualapai Indian Tribes on issues observed during annual archaeological site assessments. PG&E, Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Land Management representatives also attended. On August 19-20, 2017, DTSC met with representatives from the Chemehuevi, Cocopah, Colorado River, Fort Mojave, and Hualapai Indian Tribes to discuss tribal comments on draft SEIR mitigation measures. On September 13, 2017, DTSC/DOI met with representatives of the Fort Mojave, Colorado River, Chemehuevi, Cocopah, and Hualapai Indian Tribes to discuss development of a protocol for consultation during construction. Additional meetings was held on October 17, 2017, December 6, 2017, February 7, 2018, and April 3, 2018. On December 4, 2017, DTSC met with a Hualapai Indian Tribe representative in response to the Tribal request letter dated August 18, 2017 to revisit the final remedial technology using Pump and Treat in lieu of the selected groundwater remedy. DTSC concluded that there were no legal basis or technical advantage to change the adopted in-situ remedy. On December 5, 2017, DTSC met with the Fort Mojave, Colorado River, Chemehuevi, and Hualapai Indian Tribes regarding the mitigation measures of the SEIR. On January 17, 2018, DTSC met with Fort Mojave Indian Tribe regarding consultation/settlement legal issues as it pertains to the SEIR. On January 30, 2018, DTSC held a follow-up meeting with the Fort Mojave, Chemehuevi, Colorado River, and Hualapai Indian Tribes regarding the mitigation measures of the Groundwater Final Remedy and SEIR. On February 21, 2018, Fort Mojave Indian Tribe leaders met with DTSC leadership to resolve specific concerns with the mitigation measures for the Groundwater Final Remedy/SEIR. On May 16, 2018, DTSC held a clarification meeting with tribes on DTSC’s direction to PG&E on the Human Health Risk Assessment. Representatives from the Chemehuevi, Cocopah, Colorado River, Fort Mojave and Hualapai Indian Tribes attended, as well as DOI and USFWS. On June 20, 2018, DTSC and Tribal representatives from Chemehuevi, Cocopah, Colorado River, Fort Mojave, and Hualapai Indian Tribes met to coordinate the implementation of several SEIR Mitigation Measures for PG&E Topock Groundwater Remediation. Topock Site Mailing List Update DTSC continued to maintain the mailing list throughout FY 17/18 by updating it with new information as needed. A comprehensive update of the mailing list was conducted in preparation for the Fact Sheet mailing in April 2018. 3. Describe the Potential or Known Areas of Concern: DTSC continues to oversee PG&E in evaluating what is needed to protect the beneficial uses of the Colorado River. From 1951 to 1964, untreated wastewater containing hexavalent chromium was discharged into an area known as the Bat Cave Wash (a dry streambed near the Colorado River). This resulted in a plume of hexavalent chromium contamination in the groundwater beneath the facility which now extends beneath the floodplain adjacent to the Colorado River. The groundwater plume extends under federal property, managed and overseen by the Department of Interior. In addition, there are localized areas within or around the Topock Compressor Station (TCS) where chromium, hexavalent chromium, and other compounds (such as other metals, semi-volatile organic compounds, asbestos), have been found in soils. These occurrences are related to disposal and handling practices when chromium was used at the site. DTSC anticipates that these localized areas of soil contamination will be addressed in the soil Corrective Measures Study (CMS) and final remedy. The majority of the potential and known areas of concern are situated on lands either owned by PG&E or DOI (managed by the BLM and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Some Native American Tribes have significant cultural and religious affiliations with the landscape. The entire project area has been designated by BLM as a Traditional Cultural Property of the Mohave people. The project site also includes habitat that supports a diverse biological ecology including several fully protected species. 4. Current Phase of Action: Groundwater Remedy • Coordination continued throughout the fiscal year with the Moabi Regional Park concessionaire in regard to the informational Outreach Trailer, and with CalTrans, California State Lands Commission, and BNSF Railways on access for remedy implementation. On September 5, 2017, DTSC, DOI and PG&E met with the State Lands Commission to discuss access to disputed land for remedy implementation. • BLM/BOR reviewed the Cultural Impact Mitigation Program (CIMP) and provided clarification comments to DTSC for federal requirement reconciliation on August 29, 2017. DTSC, BLM, BOR and PG&E will collaborate on the necessary CIMP revisions. • At DTSC’s and BLM’s direction, PG&E revised the Draft Cultural and Historic Properties Treatment Plan (Treatment