Book Description

Three sites were investigated at Elelson AFB during the Phse II, Stage 2 field evaluation of the IRP. The sites were the sewage treatment plant spill ponds and treated effluent leaching ponds (Site 32) and two base landfills (Sites 2 and 1). A geophysical survey was performed in the vicinity of the sludge treatment plant to help define areas of high electromagnetic conductivity (i.e., potential contamination) and aid in the placement of monitor wells. Eight monitor wells were installed during Stage 2. Ground water samples from Stage 1 and Stage 2 wells were analyzed for purgeable lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury and silver. Soil samples from the vicinity of one of the landfills (Site 1) were tested for the presence of pesticides. Trace quantities of purgeable halocarbons and petroleum hydrocarbons were detected in the wells from all three sites. Drinking water standards for total trihalomethanes were not exceeded for any of these samples. Arsenic and cadmium were detected in wells at concentrations were elevated in the vicinity of the sewage treatment plant. Only one well, in close proximity to the sewage sludge drying beds, was found to have nitrate, nitrite concentrations above the Primary Drinking Water Standard. A well downgradient from this site had nitrate, nitrite levels below the same standard. Soils at Site 1 contain trace quantities of DDE, DDD, and DDT. No pesticides were detected in groundwater from the monitor well at this site.