Addressing Abandoned and Leaking Underground

“Addressing Abandoned and Leaking
Underground Storage Tank Sites on the
Navajo Nation”
Henry Haven, Geologist
Leaking UST Program Navajo EPA
Cross Canyon TP, Arizona
I am Hona’gha’ahnii (One that walks around you-mother’s side)
Born for To’dich’i’i’nii (Bitter Water - father’s side)
Ta’chii’nii (Red Water - materal grandfather)
Ma’ii Deeshgiizhnii (Coyote Pass - Paternal side Nali)
Navajo Nation Underground Storage Tank and
Leaking Underground Storage Tank Program
P.O. Box 339 Window Rock, Arizona
Phone No. (928) 871-7993
Stephen Etsitty, Executive Director, Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency
Arlene Luther, Director Waste Regulatory Compliance
Henry Haven, Geologist, Warren Roan, ES
I want to introduce the Navajo people, their traditional
beliefs on the environment, report on the UST and
LUST programs on the Navajo Nation, and end with
Issues and Concerns
San Juan River Bluff, Utah
We were given the name “Navajo” by the Spaniards,
but we call ourselves “Diné.” Diné means “The
People”
Window Rock
Navajo traditions and cultural values
Window Rock, Navajo Nation
Our lands – Nihi keyah
(under our feet)
According to our history,the Holy people, we were placed
in the midst of the four sacred Mountains. We were
given ceremonies to keep healthy, maintain balance
with the living world and prosper. The sacred
Mountains are alive and our guardians.
Tsisnajini – Blanco Peak
Tsoodzil- Mount Taylor
Dook’o’osliid –San Francisco Peak
Dibe Ntsaa – Mount Hesperus
San Francisco Peaks
Flagstaff, AZ.
Water – To’
All healing ceremonies use water.
Waste or disrespect of water is
discouraged.
Water is one of the most important
element for growth and nourishment of
all living things.
Springs & other sources of water are
sacred.
Monument Valley, Utah
Air - Nilchi
Air, like water, is another sacred element.
Air sustains all living things, too.
Sunshine is required for growth of the plants, the animals, and people.
Four Corners Powerplant,
Fruitland, NM
Fire – Ko’
Fire, like water and
air, is another
sacred element.
Forest fires rejuvenates the forest
The sun, a blazing ball of fire, provides sunshine, which is required for
growth of the plants, the animals, and people.
Goosenecks, Utah
These elements that we hold sacred, the
earth, air, water, and fire from which we
think all substances are derived from,
appears to be a ludicrous theory to
others. Before we are too critical of our
grandfathers, their beliefs are not silly.
If you take earth, air, and water to mean
solids, gases, and liquids, then any object
can be said to composed of a
combination of those materials.
Navajo Traditions & Culture
Everyone should take care of Mother Earth
and her water resources.
Tuba City, AZ
Navajo Traditions & Culture
Know K’e. K’e is how to live in balance with nature
and all of Mother Earth’s inhabitants and surroundings.
Mexican Hat, Utah
We survived the Walk of Torture
when we were removed from our
homelands!
Signed the Treaty of Peace with the
United States in 1868
Saved the Nation with
Our Native Tongue in WW II
which we were not to speak in our
education
Current Situation
¾
¾
¾
¾
Population: 200,000
Youth comprise more
than 50% of the
population. Median age
of overall population was
only 24 years old in 2000
40% of Navajo people
lack running water and
electricity.
43% of Navajo people
live below the poverty
level in 2000
¾
¾
¾
Lack of economic
development.
Navajo Unemployment
rate 52.19% in 2001
The worst unemployment
rate in the US was 7.4%
Creation of the Navajo UST
and LUST Program
Cleanup Standards should incorporate
the value of ‘sacredness’ for land, water and air.
NAPI Farmington, NM
Navajo Nation UST ACT 1998
The Navajo Nation Council
declared that groundwater
can become contaminated
from releases of petroleum
from underground storage
tanks.
NN UST ACT was passed by
the Navajo Nation Council
on October 29, 1998.
The NN UST ACT Section
703 established a Leaking
UST Fund for use for
corrective actions, removal
of abandoned tanks, and
cleanup of sites.
Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley signed $1.3 Million Dollar
contracts on January 23, 2004 to address removal of abandoned
USTs and clean up of contaminated shallow groundwater.
Navajo UST/LUST Program
Federal Funds from USEPA
-$125,000 UST Grant
-$200,000 LUST Grant
Under this grant we were trained by USEPA to do UST
compliance Inspections and now lead inspections at
approximately 142 sites throughout the Navajo Nation.
Under the LUST grant we monitor approximately 61 sites for
groundwater sampling activities, drilling groundwater
monitoring wells, and cleanup methods and activities
U.S.EPA and NNEPA UST Joint Compliance Inspection at Tuba City, Arizona
Bo
Boquillus
Canoncito
Questionable abandoned tanks sites
Navajo UST Tank Removal 2004
Navajo Nation Impacted Soil &
Groundwater
Abandoned Tank sites
Ramah
Alamo
Navajo Nation UST/Leaking UST Sites
9/21/04 Hhaven NEP A
652
700
Num ber of S ites
600
500
400
300
200
142
86
63
42
100
0
Working
Working
142 Working
Sites
Abandoned,
Tanks Present
Abandoned, Tanks Present
86 abandoned
sites tanks
present
Tanks
Questionable
Leaking UST
Tanks Questionable
42 abandoned
sites tanks
questionable
Approx Total
Tanks
Leaking UST
Approx Total Tanks
63 Leaking UST
sites
Navajo Nation UST/Leaking UST Sites
9/21/04H haven N EP A
19%
42%
13%
26%
Working
Abandoned, Tanks Present
Tanks Questionable
Leaking UST
Over 50% of the UST sites pose a risk to
surface and groundwater resources.
Contamination of Shallow
Groundwater and soil
Groundwater
contamination at
7 feet Shiprock,
NM
Subsurface water Contamination – water samples
from monitoring well Tuba City
Cost $3,000,000 clean up
Contaminated subsurface water
Tuba City LUST site
2 inches of gasoline
from monitoring well
Groundwater
impacted at 20 feet.
Former Davis Chevrolet Leaking
UST site Tuba City, Arizona
Burnham Mine Diesel contamination of Groundwater at 20 feet
Heavy Petroleum
Contaminated
Soil in tank pits
Shiprock, NM
Guidelines for use of the Navajo Nation LUST TRUST Fund
Assessment Strategy for abandoned sites
1. Human Health- inform family of abandoned UST and advise them not
park on top of tanks or remove the tanks themselves
2. Depth to Groundwater- determine wells within 3 mile radius and
determine depths and use of water wells
Canoncito TP, Canoncito, NM
3. Age of Tanks- sites with USTs
before 1980 will be assess for
lead. Soil samples will be obtain
beneath tanks and analyzed for
BTEX and Lead
Tanks become pitted and
corroded over time
Holes are 1/2 to 1 inch
in size
Tanks closed in place Fort
Defiance, AZ
4.
Other Potential Exposuregeophysical survey,
electromagnetic survey for
USTs, determine if gasoline
is still in tanks, PID is used
to determine explosive
limits (<10% oxygen and
<10% LEL)
5. Assistance to Achieve Compliance- Where Financial
resources have been exhausted the program will assist
with removal and disposal of PCS, removal of UST,
and assist in drilling and completing MWs
Site Assessment
•Program Field data gathering
Location
How many tanks
Water wells
-Tasks by Contractors
notification, archaeological and utility clearances, Site
Safety plans, PCS removal, sampling, bio-treat, tank
destruction, Schedule Tank Removals, and Final Reports
•Phase II Drilling and monitoring well completion
•Remediation
Pine Springs Trading Post, Pine Springs, Arizona
Remedial Activities
Removing abandoned tanks
J.V. Nakai Store, Tohatchi, New Mexico
Two steel tanks (2000 gal) removed. One was completely
corroded. No soil impacts.
Total Cost: $41,226
Former White Eagle Station Shiprock, New Mexico. Six steel USTs
were removed September 17, 2004. Groundwater impacted.
August 2005- Two UST removed Wilkerson TP. TP built on
top of UST. Contamination at dispenser and fill ports.
August 2005 - Old Sunrise TP Leupp, AZ. Removed One
steel tank with holes. No Contamination in pit.
REMOVAL OF PETROLEUM
CONTAMINATED SOIL
Former Davis Chevrolet Tuba
City, Arizona
Removed approximately 26 truck loads Petroleum Contaminate Soil
or 468 cubic yards from Davis Chevrolet Tuba City, Arizona.
BIOREMEDIATION
Former Davis Chevrolet Site Tuba City, Arizona
4 inch perforated pipes at approx 15 feet for bioremediation treatment
Injection of source area with 500
gallons of bioremediation fluid
Former Davis Chevrolet Tuba City,
Arizona
Bioremediation- Injection of Food Grade Ingredients -Treated PCS with
500 gallons Tri Na Phosphate (nutrients), Water, Ammonium bicarbonate (ice
cream cone ingredient, fire extinguishers), dipotassium Phosphate (coffee
Creamer- act as surfactant or soap to wash petroleum out), and Dextrose Solution
(powder sugar) to feed the microorganisms.
Bioremediation inoculation- Food grade products
ORC INJECTION INTO GROUNDWATER
Former Davis Chevrolet Site (Hopi) Tuba City, Arizona
4,450 pounds of ORC (Oxygen Releasing Compound) injected into
groundwater across plume (3 rows of boreholes 20-30 feet deep spaced
10 feet apart).
Total Remedial Cost $260,192
Drilling and completing
monitoring wells at
Leaking UST sites
Former Chinle Valley Store
Discovery of Leaks During Tank Removal
on the Navajo Nation
NNEPA HHAVEN 7/05/06
50
50
44
45
40
35
33
32
29
30
% 25
Leak %
20
15
10
5
0
FY 02
FY 03
FY 04
FY 05
FY 06
Source of Contamination 2004-05 Navajo
Nation
13%
Tank
25%
Overfill
62%
Piping
Overfill contamination
Gasoline in Spill Bucket
after Delivery
Spill Buckets?
OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Number of Inspections
NNEPA and USEPA Joint Inspection
60
50
54
54
45
43
40
30
20
10
0
5
19
18
c
11
3
2
0
2001
2002
2003
2004
Year
USEPA Lead Inspection
NNEPA Lead Inspection
% Compliance
NNEPA Lead Inspection from zero in 2001, 8% in 2002, 38% in 2003, 93% in 2004
Compliance Rate: 2% 2002 – 19% 2003 – 54% 2004
Program Summary
60
60
50
44
42
40
27
30
24
23
20
10
0
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Year
Tanks Removed
Total of 220 UST removed since 2001 on the
Navajo Nation
2005
2006
USEPA Federal Funding to NNEPA UST/LUST Program
151059
191717
200000
169000
207947
70000
70000
70000
70000
100000
70000
70000
200000
125000
300000
70000
Dollars
400000
125000
200000
500000
170908
494437
hhaven 7/05/06
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
19
99
20
00
20
01
0
UST
LUST
Under the grants we do UST compliance Inspections at approximately 142 sites
throughout the Navajo Nation.
Under the LUST grant we monitor approximately 61 sites for groundwater sampling
activities, drilling groundwater monitoring wells, and cleanup methods and activities
(i.e. Tuba City Leaking UST site, St. Michaels Chevron site).
Cost tank removal Navajo Nation
Hhaven NEPA 12/08/06
1,300,000
$1,400,000.00
$1,200,000.00
$1,000,000.00
$800,000.00
600,000
500,000
$600,000.00
Cost tank removal
$400,000.00
$200,000.00
0
$0.00
FY 03
FY 04
FY 05
year
Total Cost $ 2.4 Million Dollars
FY 06
Navajo Nation LUST Fund Corrective Action vs. EPA LUST Grant Funds
NNEPA Hhaven 2/02/07
$1,364,526.77
1400000
1200000
M illio n D o llars
1000000
$800,000.00
800000
$539,792.64
600000
$505,966.00
EPA LUST Grant
400000
200000
NN LUST FUND
$300,000.00
$47,451.89
$37,097.00
$15,000.00
0
FY 04
FY 05
FY 06
FY 07
Year
2007 Budget = $1.1 million for the Leaking UST
Program
Navajo Nation Special Revenue Leaking UST Fund Investment
vs.
U.S. EPA Leaking UST Trust Fund Use 2004-2007
3%
6%
94%
97%
U.S. EPA
Navajo
2004
3%
2005
27%
97%
2006
73%
2007
Hhaven NNEPA 2/06/07
No Further Action Sites
16
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
11
NFA sites
1
FY 04
FY 05
Year
28 sites closed as NFA
FY 06
Issues
Shallow Groundwater Contamination
Steel Underground storage tanks
Lack of Aggressive Clean up and Enforcement
Natural Attenuation is not an aggressive clean up method
No corrective action for 15-20 years
Lack of Personnel to conduct UST inspections, follow up,
corrective action Multi-task for few personnel
Recommendations
Upgrade tanks to fiberglass, double wall tanks
Do annual tank tightness test and lines
Watch tank gasoline deliveries
Be Aware of USEPA Funding Awards!
Any Questions? Thanks.