5 wing goose bay remediation project

5 WING GOOSE BAY REMEDIATION PROJECT
1.0
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this document is to summarize the status of the 5 Wing Goose Bay Remediation Project
(GBRP). Included is a brief history of the Base, the contaminated sites, and the remediation project.
This information will be used by potential bidders for work at Goose Bay to familiarize themselves with
the types of work that have been completed, the major characteristics of the contaminated sites, and
upcoming work requirements.
2.0
BACKGROUND
CFB 5 Wing Goose Bay is located in central Labrador at the southwestern limit of Hamilton Inlet,
approximately 200 kilometres inland from the Labrador coast, on a flat-lying terrace plateau at an average
elevation of 40 metres above sea level (masl). The Goose River is situated to the north of the site, and the
Churchill River is situated to the south. Terrington Basin (an extension of Hamilton Inlet) borders a
portion of the Base to the north-northeast.
CFB 5 Wing Goose Bay has been actively used as a military base for more than 60 years. It was founded
in 1941 by the Canadian and United States (US) military forces and played an important strategic role
during World War II as a refuelling base for aircraft en route to Europe. Between 1942 and 1945, over
24,000 Canadian and US aircraft landed at Goose Bay on their way to Europe. In 1945, Goose Bay was
the largest airfield in the world. US military activity remained high in the 1950s and 1960s, and at its
peak, over 12,000 personnel were stationed at the Base. The US terminated its strategic air command
operations at Goose Bay in 1976 and ceased all operations in 1991. From 1976 to 1987 Public Works and
Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and Transport Canada (TC) operated the Base on behalf of its
tenants, the Canadian Forces (CF), USAF, and Allied participants. In 1987, Goose Bay became a
Canadian Forces Base (CFB) 5 Wing Goose Bay that continues to support Allied low level flight training.
The Base and associated community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay are relatively remote. Access is
provided by air, road (all weather gravel road from Labrador City), and ocean (Terrington Basin). All
supplies required by the Base arrive by one of these three means. Until relatively recently (i.e., the 1990s)
most of the waste materials generated on the Base were disposed of on Base property (waste is now
disposed of off property at approved disposal facilities). This was commonplace and considered
acceptable at the time. It is these waste disposal activities and miscellaneous releases of a variety of
contaminants (e.g., petroleum hydrocarbons), combined with normal Base operations over the last 60+
years, that are now manifested in the environmental contamination that is documented on the Base. Many
of these issues are currently being addressed by the Department of National Defence (DND) through
investigation, mitigation, and risk management activities.
2.1
GENERAL SITE (5 WING) SETTING
The information in this section is general, for the most part, in that it discusses the 5 Wing Goose Bay
area and not specific contaminated sites. This information is important in that it provides an overview of
the biophysical environment in which the Base is situated. These features will have a direct effect on the
assessment and remediation of the contaminated sites.
Page 1
2.1.1
Climate
The climate of Labrador is more Arctic than Atlantic. Because Labrador is on the eastern side of the
continent, it experiences strong seasonal contrasts in the characteristics and movement of air masses. The
predominant flow of air masses is off the land.
Climate normals from 1971 to 2000 provide the following information:
•
Temperature: Average daily temperatures in Goose Bay range from -18.1C (January) to 15.5C
(July). The average daily temperatures remain below freezing from November to April. The
extreme maximum and minimum temperatures experienced in Goose Bay are 37.8C and -39.4C,
respectively.
•
Precipitation: On average, a total of 949 mm of precipitation falls in Goose Bay, consisting of
560 mm of rain and 459 mm of snow. Rainfall is greatest from June to September, accounting for
almost 400 mm of the total. Snowfall is greatest in December and January. Typically, snow
covers the ground from November to May.
2.1.2
Geology
No known drilling programs have encountered bedrock at or in immediate proximity to the site. Bedrock
is estimated to be present at an elevation of 40 metres below sea level. The inferred bedrock lithology is
similar to the metamorphosed granites, monzonites, and monzodiorites of the Dome Mountains that rim
the western end of Terrington Basin. The inferred character of the bedrock is dark, medium-to-coarse
grained massive, competent, and resistant to erosion.
Based on available information, the surficial materials overlying the bedrock consist of glacio-fluvial,
interbedded, stratified sands and silts. Most investigations conducted at the Base characterize the material
as fine-to-medium grained sand with discontinuous silt layers. Low permeability silts and sandy silts are
encountered towards the shoreline and in the northwest corner of the Base. Some clay in small quantities
is reported near Otter Creek, north of the main Base. Peat bogs are found are found in the low-lying areas
surrounding the Base.
2.1.3
Hydrogeology
The aquifer at Goose Bay is defined as an unconfined, unconsolidated fine-grained sand aquifer, with
only minor horizontal anisotropy. Hydraulic conductivities (K) vary somewhat throughout the area, as
summarized in the 1997 Regional Groundwater Flow Model Update (Beatty Franz, 1997). Typical K
values for the various areas on the Base are summarized in Table 1. Based on available information, K
values in the range of 10-2 centimetres per second (cm/s) are common on the upper plateau. The effective
porosity of the sands is in the order of 25 to 30%.
TABLE 1
Location
Main Tank Farm and Survival Tank Farm
Terrington Basin Shoreline
Churchill Falls Road
Upper Tank Farm
RCAF Site (Otter Creek)
Churchill River
Dome Mountain
Toboggan Hill
Typical Hydraulic Conductivity Values
Maximum K
(cm/s)
2.4 (10-2)
5.6 (10-4)
3.0 (10-2)
3.0 (10-2)
6.4 (10-2)
2.2 (10-2)
3.4 (10-2)
5.0 (10-2)
Minimum K
(cm/s)
2.0 (10-5)
-1.0 (10-4)
4.0 (10-6)
2.2 (10-3)
6.2 (10-3)
6.3 (10-3)
8.9 (10-3)
Page 2
The depth to the water table is controlled by topography. The depth to the water table ranges from about
28 metres below ground surface (mbgs) at the edge of the plateau near the South Escarpment to near
ground surface in the low lying areas near Terrington Basin and Spring Gulch. Perched water table
conditions were encountered at a depth of about 12 mbgs at the Upper Tank Farm. A summary of
approximate depths to groundwater is provided in Table 2.
TABLE 2
Location
Main Tank Farm and Survival Tank Farm
Terrington Basin Shoreline
Churchill Fall Road
Upper Tank Farm
RCAF Site (Otter Creek)
Churchill River
Dome Mountain
Toboggan Hill
Typical Depths to Groundwater
Depth to
Groundwater (mbgs)
1 to 4
<3
1 to 4
21 to 28
3 to 16
<3
6 to 13
3 to 28
There is minimal infiltration of precipitation during the winter months due to the frozen ground
conditions. Horizontal groundwater flow through the permeable sands to Terrington Basin and the
Churchill River results in the lowest groundwater levels occurring during March or early-April. Rapid
groundwater recovery occurs during the spring thaw and continues into the fall. The highest groundwater
elevations occur in November. The groundwater flow velocity is in the order of 0.1 to 1.5 metres per day
(m/day), depending on location.
2.1.4
Hydrology
North of the Base, surface drainage is controlled by the Goose River. As the Goose River approaches
Hamilton Inlet, the hydraulic gradient is reduced, resulting in a wide, meandering channel with numerous
boggy areas. South of the Base, surface drainage is controlled by the Churchill River. The Churchill
River flows directly into Hamilton Inlet.
Local drainage on the Base is in two directions, controlled by an apparent watershed divide located on the
main Base area / runways. Nonetheless, surface runoff from the Base area is almost negligible due to the
high permeability of the surficial sand deposits that promote rapid infiltration of rainfall.
Groundwater discharge provides flow to small streams and bogs located at the toe of the escarpment.
Drainage from the toe of the South Escarpment is west along Spring Gulch Brook to the Churchill River.
Drainage from the North Escarpment is, generally, east towards Terrington Basin. Numerous wet areas
and surface water channels (including roadside ditches and intermittent watercourses) are present in the
Lower Tank Farm and Survival Tank Farm areas.
2.1.5
Land Use
Prior to development of the Base, the area was forested and undeveloped. The community of Happy
Valley-Goose Bay began when the military base was built in the early 1940s. A 30 km2 plateau of sand
called Uncle Bob's Berry Patch was chosen as the site for the air base. The permanent settlement of
Happy Valley began during construction of the Base as workers moved to the area for constructionrelated employment. They were required to build their houses at least 8 km from the Base. Eventually
they settled on the bank of the Hamilton River. The population of the community grew over time to its
present size of about 8,000.
Page 3
The current land use at 5 Wing Goose Bay is predominantly military use (i.e. commercial/industrial) with
some residential (e.g. PMQs). Forest, lakes, streams, and wetlands surround the Base – these areas are
categorized as recreational, as access is unrestricted and can be used for recreational purposes. No
designated wetlands are located in the area. Farms are located south of the Base, between the Trans
Labrador Highway and the Churchill River. A golf course is located immediately southeast, adjacent to
the Base. The Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, originally located 8 kilometres (5 miles) from the
Base, has expanded to the Base boundary. In fact, Town property surrounds the Base on all sides.
2.2
GOOSE BAY REMEDIATION PROJECT
The historical activities associated with operating the Base during the 60+ year period have resulted in
numerous contaminated sites. While contamination at several of the sites is well documented (e.g. type,
location and volume of affected media), environmental concerns at many of the sites are unknown, as
evidenced by the investigation status of various sites (e.g. range from the initial testing phase to full-scale
remediation).
The GBRP will address these issues through the following key objectives:
1. Complete the assessment work and develop a comprehensive Remedial Action Plan; and
2. Implement the Remedial Action Plan through a number of concurrent "child projects" under the
omnibus GBRP.
In specific cases, remediation work may be undertaken concurrent to the options analysis phase to
exercise due diligence.
The purpose of the GBRP is to remediate or risk manage the contamination at 5 Wing Goose Bay to the
extent that it does not pose an immediate or ongoing risk to human health or the environment. The end
point of the GBRP is not to restore a pristine environment at the Base.
Numerous remediation activities will be conducted. Some of these will be very large in their scope;
others will be relatively small. Common to each of these remediation activities is that there will likely be
residual contamination left in the environment that is cost prohibitive to remove or would be difficult to
clean up in the timeframe that exists in a given work season. In these cases, the sites will be managed by
DND to promote long-term remediation and/or to ensure that risks are controlled and do not adversely
affect human health or the environment.
2.2.1
Locations and Contaminants of Concern
The primary contaminant sources/ groups found at 5 Wing Goose Bay include:
•
Petroleum hydrocarbons (BTEX/TPH);
•
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs);
•
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs);
•
Inorganics (metals);
•
Pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); and
•
Non-hazardous and hazardous wastes in waste disposal sites.
The majority of contamination at the Base can be attributed to several sources. Major hydrocarbon
plumes can be attributed to leaking underground and aboveground tanks, leaking or ruptured pipelines,
Page 4
and historical general management and containment practices. Heavy metals and other chemical
contamination (e.g. polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)) are due to historical waste disposal practices and the existence of
numerous dumpsites.
Table 3 provides a full list of the various contaminated sites that have been identified at 5 Wing Goose
Bay. The generalized location of the various contaminated sites is shown in Figure 1.
2.2.2
Project Approach
The GBRP will be undertaken using a phased approach to deal with priority issues first and to allow the
effective and efficient clean-up of the contaminated sites. The information below provides a description
of the overall approach to implementing the GBRP.
2.2.2.1 Phased Approach to the Remediation Project
Overall the project will be carried out in accordance with the process defined by the ten-step Federal
Approach to Contaminated Sites (see Figure 2). The DND Project Manager, in consultation with the
DND Project Director, shall use all information pertaining to the site to refine project objectives and
improve costing information.
This will include the identification of clean-up protocols and standards, and the development of a cleanup schedule and budget. Options analyses of proven technologies will be used to assist in the selection of
the most appropriate remediation methodology for individual sites, based on factors such as cost,
contaminant type, site conditions, and Treasury Board policy on the management of contaminated sites.
Pilot studies and tests of different technologies may be conducted at various sites and various media (e.g.
free-product, soil, groundwater, sediment) to provide information needed for the options analyses.
The phased approach to remediation at 5 Wing Goose Bay is two-fold:
2.3
•
Individual sites will be addressed by priority ranking, based on various factors such as NCS
and/or FCSAP score, risk to human health and safety, and potential for off-site impacts. This will
help to protect the health and safety of local residents and the environment.
•
Contamination of different media will be approached in a systematic manner (i.e. free-product
will be addressed prior to soil and/or groundwater impacts). This will allow for remedial action
without waiting for specific clean-up standards and criteria to be determined, especially beneficial
at sites where the remedial activity (i.e. free-product recovery) is expected to last over multiple
field seasons.
CHILD PROJECTS
Remediation at 5 Wing Goose Bay will be implemented over a 10 year period beginning in about 2011.
The overall strategy for tendering the remediation work is to combine the various contaminated sites into
larger “child projects” for which tenders will be awarded. The composition of the child projects will be
based on various characteristics such as physical location, hydrogeology, contaminants, and proximity.
Page 5
TABLE 3
PRIN #
Site
South Escarpment
S-10519
SES
Site Name
1010
1020
1030
1040
1050
1060
1070
1080
1090
1100
1110
Loring Place Landfill
Toboggan Hill Landfill
Central/Eastern Refuse Area
Spring Gulch Road Landfill
Drum Dump
Western Landfill
Stillwater #1
Stillwater #4
Stillwater #2
Stillwater #3
Outpost Landfill
Lower Tank Farm
2010
2020
2030
2040
2050
2060
2070
2080
2090
2100
2110
S-10550
LTF
2120
2130
2140
2150
2160
2170
2180
2190
2200
2210
2220
Survival Tank Farm
3010
3020
3030
3040
3050
S-10517
STF
3060
3070
3080
3090
3100
3110
Bldg 77, Old CHPP
Tank 1511
Tank 1519
Bldg 1020
Tank 1526
Pipeline
Pipeline Gate 41
Tank 1515
Tank 1520
Tank 1531
Tanks 1535/1537
Shell Spill
Tank 1539
Irving Tanks 1540/1541
Former Pipeline
Tank 1516
Tank 1517
Tank 1518
Tank 1534
Tank 1536
Tank 1509
LTF Tank 83
Tank 1525
Tank 1513
Tank 1514
Tank 1527
Tank 1528
Tank 1529
Tank 1532
Tank 1533
Tank 1512
Pipeline
Building 1035
Contaminated Sites Identified at 5 Wing Goose Bay
PRIN #
Site
Upper Tank Farm
S-10516
UTF
4010
4020
4020
4020
4020
4020
4030
Site Name
PRIN # Site
RCAF Landfill
Former USAF FFTA
Main Plume
T1524S Plume
Eastern Plume
Northwestern Plume
Southwestern Plume
Biopile - TPH Contaminated Soil
10010 RCAF Subsurface Landfill
10020 RCAF Surface Landfill
10030 Otter Creek Tank Farm
Canadian Side Sites
S-9771
11010 Canadian FFTA
-11020 Old CHP
S-10546
11030 Old Canadian Hospital
CDN
S-9825
11040 Building 58 - Incinerator
S-10555
-Oil Change Pit
S-10557
-EOD Range
Camp Sites (Crooks and No Name Lake)
S-18
CAM 12010 Garbage Island
S-10609 CAM 12020 Crooks Lake
Main Base Sites
S-9809
14010 Bldg 199, Old CHPP
S-9811
14020 Bldg 301, Cardlock
S-9812
14030 Bldg 370, CHPP Tanks
S-9814
14040 Canex UGST
S-9815
14050 Glycol Tanks
S-9816
14060 Hangar 5
BAS 14070 Rifle Range
S-9817
S-9787
14080 PMQ AGSTs
S-9788
14090 QRA (Bldg 826) AGST
S-10544
14100 Dry Cleaning Plant - Base
S-10547
14110 Goose Hilton
S-10610
14120 Transmitters - Various
S-10548
14130 Melville Hospital
-HAP 15010 Old Rifle Range - Valleyview Dr
S-10552
-POL Dump - B272
BAS
S-10491
-Building 345 UGST Leak
Main Gate, Hamilton River Road and Pipelines
16010 Pipeline Outside of Base Fenceline
16020 Main Gate Pipeline (Gate 39)
S-10515 UPL
16030 Former Junction
16040 North of T1522
North Escarpment
S-9785
5010 North Escarpment Fuel Tanks
S-9786
5020 North Escarpment Plume
NES
S-10549
-Shallow Buried Waste- North Side
S-10680
-Area D
HAZMAT Area
S-9823
6010 Historic Hazmat Storage Area
6030 Ordinance Storage Depot
HAZ
S-9833
6020 Bunker 1095
S-10553
-Car Dump - East of UTF
Civil Aviation Area
7010 Bldg 165 NF Forestry
7030 Hangar 15 Lab Air
S-9794
7050 Hangar 14 / 7 GW Contamination
7090 Irving Spill
-Spilled POLs - B170
CIV 7020 Bldg 47 Northern Lights
S-9795
7040 Hangar 11 Woodwards
7060 MW 97-218 GW Contamination
S-9800
7070 MW 97-222 GW Contamination
S-9803
7080 Hangar 8 RAF Fuel Spills
S-10554
-Dry Cleaners (T-76)
Dome Mountain
S-9770
8010 Alexander Lake
8020 Dome Mountain Landfill
MTN
S-9772
8040 Pinetree Asphalt Plant
S-10512
8030 Pinetree Radar - Dome Mountain
Heavy Bomber, Transport Hydrant & Fighter Hydrant Area
9020 Heavy Bomber Hydrant Area
9030 Medium Bomber Hydrant Area
S-9822
HYD
9040 Transport Hydrant Area
9050 Fighter Hydrant Area
S-9790
Site Name
OTT
Page 7
Figure 2 – Federal Approach to Contaminated Sites
Page 8
Legend
±
Main Gate / Hamilton River Road
Upper Tank Farm
Survival Tank Farm
Lower Tank Farm
South Escarpment Dump Sites
10
South Escarpment Stillwaters
Civil Aviation Area / Main Base Sites / HAZMAT Area
5 WING GOOSE BAY
Former Hydrant Areas
CROOKS LAKE
NO NAME LAKE
TE
Pipelines / North Escarpment / Canadian Side Sites
Royal Canadian Air Force Landfill / Camp Sites (Crooks Lake and No Name Lake) / Dome Mountain
RR
IN G T O N
S
BA
IN
9
4
9
9
7
3
10
1
10
8
8
7
7
2
10
5
5 5
5
5
6
7
5
CHURCHILL RIVER
Sub-Project Schedule
ASSISTANT DEPUTY MINISTER (INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENVIRONMENT)
SOUS-MINISTRE ADJOINT (INFRASTRUCTURE ET ENVIRONNEMENT)