M12 PM Remediation
Monday, 14 November 2005: 1:50 PM - 5:30 PM in 345-346

(PAT-1118-077765) Evaluation of Remedial Scenarios for Metal Exposures at Small Arms Firing Ranges in Central California.

Pattanayek, M¹, DeShields, B¹, DiMundo, G¹, Navarro, N², ¹ Blasland Bouck and Lee (BBL) Inc., Petaluma, CA, USA² U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), CA, USA

ABSTRACT- A study was conducted at the Impact Area at Fort Ord, California to evaluate the uptake of antimony, copper, and lead into plants, insects, lizards, and small mammals and assess ecological risks in support of remedial planning efforts. Site-specific tissue data along with data for over 3000 soil samples collected across the 8,000 acre site were used along with data on habitat quality to assess risks associated with remedial scenarios designed based on an evaluation of different habitats (low, moderate, high, and very high quality). Parameters used to determine habitat quality included degree of vegetative cover, species composition, including degree of occurrence of non-native invasive species, and the presence/absence of special-status species and critical habitat. Area-weighted exposure point concentrations (Thiessen polygons) were used to assess the spatial nature of the risks. Data were used to estimate baseline risks to ecological receptors and to develop alternate exposure scenarios. Alternative exposure scenarios were developed to evaluate risk reduction associated with removal of soil from areas with the highest lead concentrations focused on the lowest amount of habitat destruction. Remedial scenarios ranged from soil removal in only low quality habitat areas up to removal of soil in very high quality habitat areas. The objective of developing alternate exposure scenarios was to evaluate remedial options as a decision making tool in the remedial planning effort for the site.

Key words: small arms, lead, remedial