Corrective measures evaluation report for Tijeras Arroyo groundwater.

Abstract

This Corrective Measures Evaluation report was prepared as directed by a Compliance Order on Consent issued by the New Mexico Environment Department to document the process of selecting the preferred remedial alternative for Tijeras Arroyo Groundwater. Supporting information includes background concerning the site conditions and potential receptors and an overview of work performed during the Corrective Measures Evaluation. The evaluation of remedial alternatives included identifying and describing four remedial alternatives, an overview of the evaluation criteria and approach, comparing remedial alternatives to the criteria, and selecting the preferred remedial alternative. As a result of the Corrective Measures Evaluation, monitored natural attenuation of the contaminants of concern (trichloroethene and nitrate) is the preferred remedial alternative for implementation as the corrective measure for Tijeras Arroyo Groundwater. Design criteria to meet cleanup goals and objectives and the corrective measures implementation schedule for the preferred remedial alternative are also presented. • Research and development of advanced nuclear reactors,• Simulation sources,• Reactor safety,• Energy-related programs, and• Nuclear weapons systems.The Tijeras Arroyo Groundwater (TAG) study area encompasses approximately 40 square miles (mi 2 ) located on the northwest portion of Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB) (Figure 1-1). The name of the area is derived from Tijeras Arroyo, which is the most significant surface-water drainage feature within this area. There are three principal parties potentially responsible for groundwater contamination within the TAG study area: SNL/NM, KAFB, and the City of Albuquerque (COA). This Corrective Measures Evaluation (CME) report addresses groundwater contamination in the SNL/NM area of responsibility (AOR) within the TAG study area, as defined in Section 2.2.Groundwater investigations conducted during the last 10 years by the SNL/NM Environmental Restoration Project have identified trichloroethene (TCE) and nitrate as the contaminants of concern (COCs) in the TAG SNL/NM AOR. The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) issued a Compliance Order on Consent (COOC) (NMED 2004) to the DOE in which TAG was identified as an area of groundwater contamination requiring a CME. The COOC directed that a CME Work Plan be developed to identify and outline a process to evaluate remedial alternatives. The CME Work Plan was formally approved by the NMED in November 2004. Results of activities performed under the TAG CME Work Plan are documented in this CME Report.The purpose of this CME Report is to select a preferred remedial alternative for the SNL/NM AOR based on the results of information gathered during the CME process. The CME was conducted to ascertain which remedial alternative would most effectively meet the project goals and objectives for cleanup within the regulatory framework. The performance and compliance goals and objectives were developed in the TAG CME Work Plan (SNL/NM 2004).This ...