4340 SITE-WIDE CHARACTERIZATION REPORT VOLUME 1 OF 5 PART I MARCH 1993 DOE-FN/EPA 400 REPORT 4340 SITE-WIDE CHARACTERIZATION REPORT -- - FERNALD ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROJECT FERNALD, OHIO REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION AND FEASIBILITY STUDY VOLUME 1 of 5 PART I MARCH 1993 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FERNALD FIELD OFFICE FINAL 01 4340 SITE-WIDE CHARACTERIZATION REPORT FERNALD ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROJECT FERNALD, OHIO REMXiIIAL INVESTIGATION AND FEASIBILITY STUDY VOLUME 1 of 5 PART I MARCH 1993 U.S. L;’:WARTMENTOF ENERGY FER NALD FIELD OFFICL FINAL 02 4340 NOTE TO READERS OF SWCR This final Site Wide Characterization Report is the product of several cycles of reviews and revisions, particularly concerning the methodologies used in the calculations of risks for the Preliminary Baseline Risk Assessment (PBRA) for the FEMP. The PBRA characterizes the current and potential threats to human health and the environment that may be posed by contaminants at the entire site. Many statistical and calculational methods, models, guidance documents, exposure scenarios, and pathways are utilized in deriving components of the site-wide risk. The PBRA was prepared in accordance with the Amended Consent Agreement . following the methodologies presented in the Risk Assessment Work Plan Addendum; however, differences in interpretation and application of the methodologies have resulted in departure from current EPA Region V guidance in some areas. The Site Wide Characterization Report fulfills the objective of providing a site-wide assessment of potential human health and environmental risks. As a result of discussions with, and additional guidance from EPA, the Operable Unit-specific Base1 ine Risk Assessments accompanying the Remedial Investigation reports for each OU will be prepared in accordance with the latest DOE/EPA agreements on risk assessment methodology. c 03 4340 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ES-1 0 VOLUME 1 Part I Site Characterization Pane List of Tables viii List of Figures xv xx . - List of Acronyms Distribution List xxiii Part I Summary 5-1 1.0 Introduction 1-1 1.1 Objective and Purpose 1-2 1.2 Project Approach 1-3 1.2.1 RWS Approach 1-3 1.2.2 Removal Actions 1-8 1.2.3 Risk Assessment Approach 1-10 1.2.4 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)/CERCLA Integration 1-12 1.2.5 RCRAKERCLA Integration 1-13 1.3 Report Organization 1-13 2.0 Site Setting 2-1 2.1 Site Background and History 2-1 2.1.1 Production History 2-5 2.1.2 Waste Generation 2-6 2.1.3 Waste Storage Practices 2-9 2.1.3.1 Operable Unit 1 2-10 2.1.3.2 Operable Unit 2 2-12 2.1.3.3 Operable Unit 3 2-14 2.1.3.4 Operable Unit 4 2-14 2.1.4 RCRA Corrective Actions 2-19 2.1.5 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 2-23 2.2 Physical Characteristics of the Study Area 2-25 2.2.1 Meteorology 2-25 2.2.1.1 Prevailing Winds 2-25 2.2.1.2 Precipitation 2-28 2.2.1.3 Temperature 2-28 2.2.2 Topography and Surface Water Hydrology 2-28 2.2.2.1 Storm Sewer Outfall Ditch 2-31 2.2.2.2 Paddys Run 2-31 2.2.2.3 Great Miami River 2-33 i 04 4340 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page 2.2.3 Geology and Hydrogeology 2-33 2.2.3.1 Physiographic Province 2-33 2.2.3.2 Geologic History 2-34 2.2.3.3 Site-Wide Hydrogeology 2-36 2.2.3.4 Seismology 246 2.2.4 Soils 246 2.2.5 Ecology 2-59 2.2.5.1 Regional Ecology 2-59 2.2.5.2 Terrestrial Ecology 2-59 2.2.5.3 Aquatic Ecology 2-66 2.2.5.4 Floodplains and Wetlands 2-69 2.2.5.5 Threatened and Endangered Species 2-71 2.2.6 Population and Land Use 2-76 2.2.6.1 Population 2-79 2.2.6.2 Employment and Labor Force 2-87 2.2.6.3 Land Use 2-91 2.2.6.4 Transportation 2-92 2.2.6.5 Utilities and Community Services 2-99 2.2.6.6 Archaeological and Historic Resources 2-108 0 3.0 Investigation and Methods 3-1 3.1 Site Characterization Studies 3-1 3.1.1 Silos 1-4, Drummed Waste, Buildings and Equipment 3-1 3.1.1.1 Annual Environmental Monitoring Reports 3-1 3.1.1.2 "FMPC Sampling and Analysis Report," DOE (1988) 3-6 3.1.1.3 FEMP Remedial InvestigationFeasibility Study 3-10 3.1.1.4 Buildings and Equipment 3-13 3.1.2 Air Quality 3-14 3.1.2.1 "1991 Air Quality Data," southwestern Ohio Air Pollution Control Agency (SWOAPCA) 3-14 3.1.2.2 Annual Environmental Monitoring Reports 3-15 3.1.2.3 FEMP On-Property Meteorological Data 3-18 3.1.3 Surface Water and Sediments 3-18 3.1.3.1 "Interim Report - Air, Soil, Water, and Health Risk Assessment in the Vicinity of the FMPC, Femald, Ohio," IT (1986) 3-18 3.1.3.2 "FMPC Sampling and Analysis Report," DOE (1988) 3-22 3.1.3.3 Annual Environmental Monitoring Reports 3-36 3.1.3.4 "Characterization Investigation Study,'' Weston (1987a-c) 3-46 ii 05 4340 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) PaRe 3.1.3.5 "Addendum to Best Management Practices Plan: Storri~ Water Sampling Program Results," Weston (1988) 349 3.1.3.6 A Compilation of U.S. Geological Survey Water-Quality Data Collected from the Great Miami River Gaging Station at New Baltimore, Ohio for the Years 1985-1990 3-52 3.1.3.7 "Quality Monitor - An Appraisal of Conditions in the Ohio Rivers and Some of Its Tributaries," (quarterly water quality reports), Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) (1989a-d - 1991) 3-53 3.1.3.8 FEMP Remedial InvestigatioWeasibility Study 3-53 3.1:4 Groundwater 3-61 3.1.4.1 "Interim Report - Air, Soil, Water, and Health Risk Assessment in the Vicinity of the FMPC, Femald, Ohio," IT (1986) 3-61 3.1.4.2 Annual Environmental Monitoring Reports 3-64 3.1.4.3 "RCRA Groundwater Monitoring Report, Vol. 1 to 5, Rounds 1-5 Sampling," Dames and Moore 1986(a,b - 1987(a,b,c) 3-75 3.1.4.4 "RCRA Groundwater Monitoring Report, Vol. 6 - Round 6 Sampling," ASI/IT (1988) 3-80 3.1.4.5 "History of FMPC Radionuclide Discharge," NLO (1985a) and Revision, WMCO (1986) 3-87 3.1.4.6 FEMP Remedial InvestigatiodFeasibility Study 3-87 3.1.4.7 RCRA Groundwater Assessment Program 3-101 3.1.5 Surface Soils 3-103 3.1.5.1 "Interim Report, Air, Soil, Water, and Health Risk Assessment in the Vicinity of the FMPC, Femald, Ohio." IT (1986) 3- 103 3.1.5.2 Annual Environmental Monitoring Reports 3-103 3.1 S.3 "Characterization Investigation Study," Weston (1987a-c) 3-107 3.1.5.4 "FMPC Sampling and Analysis Report," DOE (1988) 3-1 15 3.1 S.5 FEMP Remedial InvestigatiodFeasibility Study 3-118 3.1.6 Subsurface Soils 3-128 3.1.6.1 "Characterization Investigation Study," Weston (1987a-c) 3-128 3.1.6.2 "FMPC Sampling and Analysis Report,'' DOE (1988) 3-132 3.1.6.3 FEMP Remedial InvestigatioWeasibility Study 3-132 iii 4340 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 3.1.7 Ecology 3-140 3.1.7.1 Ecological Characterization Studies "Biological and Ecological Characterization of the Feed Materials Production Center," Facemire et al. (1990) 3-141 3.1.7.2 Contaminant Uptake Studies 3-157 3.1.7.3 Toxicity Tests 3-169 3.2 Fate and Transport Modeling 3-179 3.2.1 Groundwater Fate and Transport Modeling 3-179 3.2.1.1 Technical Approach 3-180 3.2.1.2 Development of the Conceptual Model for the Unsaturated (Vadose) Zone 3-182 3.2.1.3 Development of the Conceptual Model for the Saturated Zone 3-185 3.2.1.4 Description of Unsaturated (Vadose) Zone Models 3- 186 3.2.1.5 Saturated Zone Models 3-188 3.2.2 Surface Water Transport 3-190 3.2.2.1 Technical Approach 3-190 3.2.2.2 Conceptual Model for Surface Water 3-191 3.2.2.3 Surface Water Models Selected 3-191 3.2.4 Atmospheric Transport 3-193 3.2.4.1 Technical Approach 3-193 3.2.4.2 Conceptual Model 3-193 3.2.4.3 Air Transport Model 3-194 iv 4341) VOLUME 2 Part I (Continued) Page 4.0 Data Summary 4- 1 4.1 Nature and Extent 'of Contamination 4- 1 4.1.1 Silos 1-4, Drummed Wastes, and Buildings and Equipment 4- 1 4.1.1.1 WMCO (1989). "Feed Materials Production Center Environmental Monitoring Annual Report" 4- 1 4.1.1.2 FEMP Remedial Investigatiofleasibility Study 4-8 4.1.1.3 "FMPC Sampling and Analysis Report," DOE (1988) 4-8 4.1.1.4 Buildings and Equipment 4-8 4.1.2 Air Quality 4-26 4.1.3 Surface Water and Sediments 4-33 4.1.3.1 Great Miami River 4-33 4.1.3.2 Paddys Run 4-62 4.1.3.3 Storm Sewer Outfall Ditch 4-79 4.1.3.4 Waste Pit Area Surface Water Drainage Ditches 4-83 4.1.3.5 Production Area Surface Water Drainage Ditches 4-98 4.1.3.6 Other On-FEMP Waste Disposal Area Surface Drainages 4-103 4.1.4 Groundwater 4-105 4.1.4.1 "Interim Report - Air, Soil, Water, and Health Risk Assessment in the Vicinity of the FMPC, Femald, Ohio," (IT 1986) 4-105 4.1.4.2 Environmental Monitoring Annual Reports 4-107 4.1.4.3 RCRA Detection Program 4-1 19 4.1.4.4 Ongoing RIPS and RCRA Groundwater Monitoring Programs 4-132 4.1.5 Surface Soils 4-188 4.1.5.1 "Interim Report - Air, Soil, Water, and Health Risk Assessment in the Vicinity of the FMPC, Femald, Ohio" (IT 1986) 4-188 4.1 S.2 "Feed Materials Production Center Environmental Monitoring Annual Report for 1984," (NLO 1984) 4-188 4.1.5.3 Westinghouse Materials Company of Ohio, 1985-1990, "Feed Materials Production Center Environmental Monitoring Annual Report" 4-195 4.1 S.4 "Characterization Investigation Study," Volume 3, Weston (1987~) 4-197 4.1 S.5 "FMPC Sampling and Analysis Report," DOE (1988) 4-197 V 4340 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 4.1 S.6 FEMP Remedial Investigatiofleasibility Study 4-202 4.1.6 Subsurface Soils 4-236 4.1.6.1 "Characterization Investigation Study," Volume 2, Weston (1987b) 4-237 4.1.6.2 "FMPC Sampling and Analysis Report," DOE (1988) 4-267 4.1.6.3 FEMP Remedial Investigatiofleasibility Study 4-267 4.1.7 Ecology 4-299 4.1.7.1 Ecological Characterization Studies 4-299 4.1.7.2 - Contaminant Uptake Studies 4-308 4.1.7.3 Toxicity Tests 4-3 18 4.2 Changes Resulting from Completed Removal Actions 4-329 4.3 Data Validation 4-332 4.3.1