Title : Water under floor of laboratory Type : Antarctic EAM NSF Org: OD / OPP Date : June 27, 1990 File : opp93010 DIVISION OF POLAR PROGRAMS OFFICE OF SAFETY, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH 202/357-7766 MEMORANDUM Date: June 27, 1990 From: Environmental Officer, DPP Subject: Analysis of Water Under Floor of Eklund Biological Center To: Head, Safety, Environment and Health Implementation Team, DPP Environmental Engineer, DPP The attached excerpt of a message from Naval Support Force Antarctica, Detachment McMurdo (NSFA) identifies a potential environmental, safety and health problem: the occurrence of possibly contaminated water under the floor of the Eklund Biological Center at McMurdo Station. While the source of the water is uncertain, there is the possibility that it might contain unspecified levels of organic solvents, acids, or radionuclides, all of which may be hazards. The message calls for Antarctic Support Associates (ASA) to arrange for analysis of samples of the water. Two important parts of this analysis will be sample collection technique and appropriate containment of samples for transport to an analytical laboratory. The following procedures should be adhered to in taking samples: o Individual taking sample should wear gloves and eye protection; o At least six 1000 milliliter samples should be taken with a new, clean laboratory glassware beaker; o Each 1000 milliliter sample should be deposited in a new, clean 1000 milliliter laboratory glassware bottle (Amber glass, narrow mouth with PTFE-lined cap--do not attach cap liners with adhesives) to fill leaving no meniscus; o If beaker and sample bottles are not certified as clean, they should be cleaned as follows: - laboratory soap (e.g., ALCONOX); - hot water; - purified water; - bake at 100ψC for 1 hour (except plastic part of cap). o The filled sample bottles should then be kept at 4ψC and analyzed within 14 days of sampling. ASA should be advised that any reputable chemical analysis laboratory may be tasked to do the required analyses. It is my preference, however, that they engage the services of the Chemistry Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Affairs, Christchurch, New Zealand. Our contact there is Mr. C. J. Nokes (Telephone: 516-019). ASA should work with the NSF Representative, New Zealand in this respect. Samples should be analyzed for: o pH; o cadmium; o mercury; o lead; o silver; o xylene; o toluene; o benzene; o carbon tetrachloride; o glycol; o radionuclide scan for ΰ- and α-emitters; o radionuclide scan for η radiation; The analysis laboratory may be able to suggest others after being advised of the situation. Please notify the NSF Representative, New Zealand, NSFA and ASA of these determinations and keep me advised of your progress in accomplishing this testing for potential hazards. Sidney Draggan cc: Safety, Environment and Health Officer, DPP NSF Representative, New Zealand SDRAGGAN:sd:DPP:June 27, 1990:x7766 DPP File: S.7.1 {e:\wpdoc\wastes\subfloor.ebc} DPP Reading Draggan Reading OSEH Reading ATTACHMENT 1 R RUWFSGG3142 1760450 NS-WCAB R 250450Z JUN 90 ZYB FM NAVSUPPFORANTARCTICA DET MCMURDO AY TO AIG NINE NINE THREE ZERO RUWFPAA/COMNAVSUPPFORANTARCTICA INFO ZEN/MCMURDO STATION AY ACCT NS-WCAB UNCLAS //N03100// [EXCERPTED] SUBJ: DEEP FREEZE SITREP 90-18 FOR 161201Z JUN 90 THRU 231200Z JUN 90 "I. BIO-LAB FLOOR: A LARGE QUANTITY OF WATER (ESTIMATED IN EXCESS OF 1,300 GALLONS) WAS DISCOVERED UNDER THE FLOOR OF A LAB AT THE BIO-LAB, WHEN INITIAL REPAIR EFFORTS WERE STARTING TO CORRECT AN UNEVEN FLOOR. THE SOURCE OF THE WATER IS UNKNOWN BUT APPEARS TO BE MELTED WIND-DRIVEN SNOW INFILTRATION AND WATER RUNOFF. IT IS ALSO UNKNOWN WHEN THE WATER STARTED TO ACCUMULATE UNDER THE FLOOR, HOWEVER THE BUILDING MANAGER REPORTS THAT THE FLOOR HAS BEEN SAGGING FOR THE LAST TWO SEASONS. THE BUILDING MANAGER ALSO REPORTS THAT THE EXTENT OF THE SAGGING HAS ACCELERATED IN THE RECENT PAST AND THAT THE DAMAGE IS NOW EFFECTING OTHER SECTIONS OF THE STRUCTURE. THE (WOOD) FLOOR STRUCTURE FOR THE LAB (APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET BY 50 FEET) HAS FAILED AND SLOPES SO THAT FLOOR IN THE CENTER OF THE ROOM IS APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES LOWER THAN THE SURROUNDING STRUCTURE. ADDITIONALLY, NUMEROUS OTHER STRUCTURAL CRACKS ARE VISIBLE THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. THE CURRENT PLAN OF ACTION CALLS FOR ANTARCTIC SUPPORT ASSOCIATES TO CONTINUE THE SCHEDULED FLOOR REPAIRS (ALTHOUGH MORE EXTENSIVE THAN PREVIOUSLY PLANNED), A WATER SAMPLE TO BE SENT OUT FOR TESTING AT WINFLY, AND FOR THE WATER TO BE LEFT IN PLACE UNTIL RECEIPT OF THE TEST RESULTS. THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH CONTAINMENT DRUMS, AVAILABLE IN MCMURDO TO CONTAIN ALL OF THE WATER IN TEMPORARY STORAGE (UNTIL THE TEST RESULTS ARE RECEIVED) OR TO RETROGRADE THE WATER IF THE TEST RESULTS SHOULD INDICATE THAT THIS IS REQUIRED. LOCAL DISPOSAL OF THE WATER INTO THE ROSS SEA, WITH OUT TEST RESULTS IS BELIEVED AN UNACCEPTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL/POLLUTION RISK. UPON RECEIPT OF THE TEST RESULTS, A PROPER PLAN OF ACTION MAY BE MORE THOROUGHLY DEVELOPED." DIVISION OF POLAR PROGRAMS OFFICE OF SAFETY, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH 202/357-7766 MEMORANDUM Date: October 4, 1990 From: Environmental Officer, DPP Subject: Disposition of Water Collected Below Floor of Eklund Biological Laboratory To: Field Projects Manager, DPP Environmental Engineer, DPP Following instruction in my memorandum of June 27, 1990, (Subject: Analysis of Water Under Floor of Eklund Biological Center), samples of water discovered under the laboratory floor were collected and analyzed by the Chemistry Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Zealand. The remainder of the water under the laboratory was collected and retained while analyses were performed. Parameters measured and concentrations estimated are shown in Table 1 (see reverse). The analyses indicated that only two elements were estimated to approach the Federal Drinking Water Standard. Mercury exceeded the standard by 0.001 ppm; cadmium could not be detected below the sensitivity of the analysis (<0.01 ppm). The Federal Drinking Water Standard was used for interpretation as it represents a very conservative exposure index, and due to the fact that the applicability of such standards as the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System to the Program's antarctic operations has not been determined. The Environmental Officer requested the civilian contractor's Environmentalist to independently determine whether discharge of the residual water to marine environments would be permissible in the U.S. The Environmentalist consulted with the Region VIII Office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. They believed that the USEPA would allow discharge of the residual as the standards were barely breached. This conculsion agrees with that of the Environmental Officer. Finding: The residual water collected from beneath the Eklund Biological Laboratory may be disposed of, on-site at McMurdo Station. -2- Should you have further questions do not hesitate to contact me. Sidney Draggan TABLE 1 ώΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝώ ANALYSES OF WATER SAMPLES UNDERFLOOR EKLUND BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY Date: September 1990 Analyst: Chemistry Division/DSIR, NZ Parameters: Shown in Left Column Below. --------------------------------------------------------------- Conc. Units Federal DW Std. ppm --------------------------------------------------------------- pH | 7.9 | | | | | | | Alpha activity | 0.1 | | Bq/l | 15 Beta activity | 1.0 | | Bq/l | Gamma activity | NONE | | Bq/l | --------------------------------------------------------------- carbon tetra- | <0.3 | mg/m3 | ppb | .005 chloride | | | | benzene | <0.002 | g/m3 | ppm | .005 toluene | <0.001 | g/m3 | ppm | xylene |NOT DONE | - | ppm | glycol | <20.0 | mg/m3 | ppb | --------------------------------------------------------------- mercury | 0.003 | g/m3 | ppm | 0.002* silver | <0.01 | g/m3 | ppm | 0.05 cadmium | <0.01 | g/m3 | ppm | 0.01* lead | 0.021 | g/m3 | ppm | 0.05 --------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: Bq=becquerel, 1 decay/second. 1 Bq = 27 picoCuries * = at or above Federal Drinking Water Standard ώΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝώ cc: Safety, Environment and Health Officer, DPP Posted: Tue, Oct 2, 1990 2:13 PM EDT Msg: AGJA-4417-8771 From: ASA.DENVER To: ANTARCTIC.OPS Subj: IDENTIFICATION OF USEPA STAFF FM: ASAHQ@ATSVAX TO: ANTARCTIC.OPS SUBJ: IDENTIFICATION OF USEPA STAFF CONTRACT NO: DPP 89-22832 FILE NO: 70I-441191-O 02 OCTOBER 90 PASS TO DR. DRAGGAN REFERENCE: #AGJA-4411-7285 1. IN RESPONSE TO YOUR MESSAGE ASKING FOR IDENTIFICATION OF USEPA STAFF WHO ASSISTED ME IN DETERMINING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CONCENTRATION OF SUBSTANCES IN THE EBC SUBFLOOR WATER SAMPLES, THEY ARE: PAT DURHAM AND LON HESLA DRINKING WATER BRANCH WATER MANAGEMENT DIVISION U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION VIII 999 18TH STREET 4TH FLOOR DENVER, CO 80002 (303) 293-1413 MS. DURHAM IS MY POINT OF CONTACT THERE, AND MR. HESLA IS THE STAFF MEMBER WHO REVIEWED THE RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS. IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL ME. REGARDS, JOHNSON