Background

Site-Wide MINICAMS® Monitoring Services

MINICAMS® Monitoring Services for Subsurface Exploration at Complex Trenches and Shell Section 36 Trenches Groundwater Barrier Project

MINICAMS® Support Services for Groundwater Barrier by Deep Soil Mixing

MINICAMS® Monitoring Services to Support M-1Pits Treatability Study

Chemical Agent Screening in Support of Toxic Storage Yards Soil Remediation Work

Chemical Agent Monitoring Support of Section 36 Extraction Trench Project

MINICAMS® Support for Existing Sanitary Landfill

MINICAMS® Support to Lime Basin Excavation

MINICAMS® Support Services for Groundwater Barrier Slurry Wall Project

South Plants Test Pits

Agent Screening - North Plants Chemical Agent Screening Project

Bone Yard – Bomblet Destruction

Bone Yard

Vapor Containment System (VCS)

Background     top
SciTech Services, Inc. (SciTech) has been supporting Tetra Tech EC, Inc. (formerly Tetra Tech FW, Inc.) as a subcontractor, by conducting sampling and analysis activities monitoring chemical warfare agents using Miniature Continuous Air Monitoring Systems (MINICAMS®) at Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA), CO.

SciTech is one of a very select group of firms who routinely operate MINICAMS® on a continuous basis, and has done so since 1992.

SciTech custom-built mobile units fitted with MINICAMS®, enabling the units to be rapidly deployed at remediation sites. The units are situated in a modified trailer pulled by a 4x4 ¾-ton pickup truck. Two MINICAMS® are mounted within the trailer along with a refrigerator, climate controls, batteries, uninterrupted power supplies (UPSs) and necessary support equipment. This configuration also provides table-top and seating space for the operators; three such mobile systems have been operating at RMA successfully for over six years. The system also has the capability of remote read outside the immediate hazard zone (e.g., the MINICAMS® Moniotring Platform (MMP) can be located near the sampling site and the truck; readout and operators can be located 300 meters away or farther depending upon the terrain).

SciTech’s trained operators routinely maintain, calibrate, and certify the accuracy of the MINICAMS® monitoring instrumentation and its detectors, the Flame Photometric Detector (FPD) and Halogen Detector (XSD), which are challenged daily. Also, SciTech performs required testing and maintenance in accordance with established quality control standards and procedures to ensure precision and accuracy (P&A) of the data. In addition, SciTech provides specialized services such as instrument troubleshooting, minor repairs and mobilization support.

Site-Wide MINICAMS® Monitoring Services   top
SciTech has performed a combination of worker safety monitoring and chemical screening for various projects at RMA. Integrated sampling was included with all monitoring that was performed under these tasks. The technical approach for MINICAMS® screening/monitoring is similar for all tasks. The operation of the MINICAMS® Monitoring Platform (MMP), or laboratory, is well established along with the operation of all the monitoring equipment. The project-to-project technical differences lie in the actual placement of the 150-foot sampling line and the integrated sampling equipment. The following are several examples requiring varying technical approaches in the placement of sampling lines and monitoring planning activities.

• Placement of slurry wall
• M1-Pits Toxic Storage Yard
• Sanitary Landfill
• Section 36 Trenches
• Lime Basin
• Groundwater Barrier Monitoring

MINICAMS® Monitoring Services for Subsurface Exploration at Complex Trenches and Shell Section 36 Trenches Groundwater Barrier Project   top
SciTech performed chemical agent monitoring during core drilling at Section 36 at RMA. The MINICAMS® screened for VX/GB/HD/LW with the probe in a down wind position (5 to 10 feet) from the drill site. The MINICAMS® Monitoring Platform (MMP) was positioned approximately 150 feet upwind from the drilling activity. Integrated sampling was performed with a pumps positioned down wind from the drilling site (by the probe), up wind from the drilling site, and at the Exclusion Zone.

MINICAMS® Support Services for Groundwater Barrier by Deep Soil Mixing    top
Chemical agent monitoring was performed during a trenching operation at Section 36 at RMA. A large continuous trench was dug and filled with a slurry material that hardened into a wall. The MINICAMS® screened for VX/GB/HD/LW with the probe in a down wind positioned (as close as possible 10 to 15 feet) from the trenching site. The MMP was positioned approximately 150 feet upwind from the trenching activity. Integrated sampling was performed with pumps positioned down wind from the drilling site (by the probe), upwind from the drilling site, and at the Exclusion Zone.

MINICAMS® Monitoring Services to Support M-1Pits Treatability Study   top
Chemical agent monitoring was performed during a digging operation in the M1-pits at RMA. The MINICAMS® screened for HD/LW with the probe in a down wind position (as close as possible) from the digging activity. The MMP was positioned approximately 150 feet up wind from the digging activity. Integrated sampling was performed with pumps positioned down wind from the digging site (by the probe), up wind from the drilling site, and at the Exclusion Zone.

Chemical Agent Screening in Support of Toxic Storage Yards Soil Remediation Work top
Chemical agent monitoring was performed during a digging, demolition, and ripping operation at the Toxic Storage Yards at RMA. The MINICAMS® screened for HD/LW with the probe in a down wind position (as close as possible) during the digging and demolition operations. During the ripping operation, the probe was positioned down wind on the perimeter of the ripping zone. Chemical Agent Monitors (CAMs) were then walked along the ripped area. The MMP was positioned approximately 150 feet up wind form all activity. Integrated sampling was performed with pumps positioned down wind from the activity, upwind from the activity, and at the Exclusion Zone.

Chemical Agent Monitoring Support of Section 36 Extraction Trench Project   top
Chemical agent monitoring was performed during a trenching operation at Section 36 at RMA. The MINICAMS® screened for VX/GB/HD/LW with the probe in a down wind position (as close as possible) from the trenching site. The MMP was positioned approximately 150 feet up wind from the trenching activity. Integrated sampling was performed with pumps positioned down wind from the trenching site (by the probe), up wind from the trenching site, and at the Exclusion Zone.

MINICAMS® Support for Existing Sanitary Landfill  top
Chemical agent monitoring was performed during a digging operation at the sanitary landfill at RMA. The MINICAMS® screened for VX/GB/HD with the probe near where the workers were positioned. The MMP was positioned approximately 50 feet from the digging activity. Integrated sampling was performed with pumps positioned down wind from the digging site, upwind from the digging site, and at the Exclusion Zone.

MINICAMS® Support to Lime Basin Excavation  top
Chemical agent monitoring was performed during a digging operation at the Lime Basin at RMA. The MINICAMS® screened for VX/GB/HD/LW with the probe positioned down wind from the digging site. The MMP was positioned approximately 150 feet up wind from the digging activity. Integrated sampling was performed with pumps positioned down wind (by the probe) from the digging site, up wind from the digging site, and at the Exclusion Zone.

MINICAMS® Support Services for Groundwater Barrier Slurry Wall Project   top
Chemical agent monitoring was performed during a drilling operation at Section 36 at Rocky Mountain Arsenal. The MINICAMS® screened for VX/GB/HD/LW with the probe positioned down wind from the drilling site. The MMP was positioned approximately 150 feet up wind from the drilling activity. Integrated sampling was performed with pumps positioned down wind (by the probe) from the drilling site, up wind from the drilling site, and at the Exclusion Zone.

South Plants Test Pits   top
SciTech supervised and assisted with pit excavations and core collects. During pit excavations and coring operations the MINICAMS® was used for worker safety monitoring concerning Chemical Warfare Agents. MINICAMS®, PIDs, and Mercury Vapor Analyzers were used to provide worker safety monitoring for other environmental hazards. Soils samples were collected from the excavation pits, using a small shovel, and placed inside a sample bucket. During coring, the concrete was placed inside a sample bucket, and the soil samples collected with hand augers were placed inside a sample bucket. SciTech looked for HD and LW during the excavating and coring operations. The MINICAMS® probe was placed approximately 10 feet downwind from the excavating and coring sites. The air samples were collected in DAAMS tubes or Bubblers using sample pumps. All activities were performed in Level B PPE.

All sample buckets were transport to Bldg. 791, where a sample booth had been set-up, for ROD 3X Certification. All buckets were heated and a headspace sample was collected using the MINICAMS®. The agents of concern were HD and LW. The air samples were collected on DAAMS tubes or Bubblers using sample pumps. All activities were performed in Level B PPE.

Agent Screening - North Plants Chemical Agent Screening Project   top
SciTech provided headspace analysis using MINICAMS® on questionable drums and their contents. Agents of concern were HD, LW, VX, and GB. Drums were transported from South Plant and North Plant locations. Sample booths were constructed for the headspace analysis and Exclusion zones and Decontamination showers were established. Each drum was placed inside the sample booth and heated to the appropriate temperature. The drum was then opened, contents were logged, a PID was used to analyze for other hazards, and a headspace sample was taken. After analysis was complete, each drum was marked according to its status. Clean drums were placed back in their appropriate location. Hot (potentially contaminated) drums were set aside for further analysis. Integrated sampling was performed on all hot drums.

Integrated samples were collected on DAAMS tubes or Bubblers using sample pumps. All integrated samples were taken to the RMA EAL Lab for GC analysis. All drums that were declared clean by the lab were placed in their appropriate location. Drums that were still suspect were re-sampled. Re-sampling consisted of collecting solid or liquid samples from each suspect drum. All samples were taken to the RMA Lab for GC analysis. Drums that were cleared by the lab were placed back in their appropriate location. Drums that were considered hot were placed in a marked roped off location. All moving and sampling was performed in Level B PPE. All drums were inventoried, mapped, and placed in a database for Tetra Tech EC, Inc.

Bone Yard – Bomblet Destruction   top
SciTech performed MINICAMS monitoring and integrated sampling with DAAMS tubes during the destruction of the GB bomblets found at the RMA, section 36- bone yard. Perimeter monitoring was performed along the outer boundary of the site to determine the extent of exposure if there were a worst-case occurrence. Monitoring was also performed on the Air Handling Unit connected to the Vapor Containment System to determine if and when there was a breach of the carbon filters. All monitoring was performed in accordance with the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) monitoring and destruction operations. All monitoring was done safely and the bomblets were destroyed without any incident of agent release.

Bone Yard   top
SciTech performed MINICAMS monitoring and integrated sampling with DAAMS tubes during the removal of debris and material at the Section 36 Bone Yard. All monitoring requirements were satisfied by the SciTech team to include: perimeter monitoring, monitoring of the Air Handling Unit, and all monitoring inside the Vapor Containment System. The Chemical Agents of concern were Mustard (HD) and Sarin (GB). All monitoring was in support of the UXO personnel performing the removal operations. Continuous monitoring was performed on all bomblets that were recovered.

SciTech also assisted in the destruction of the second series of bomblets. Duties were identical to the previous Bomblet destruction project. Monitoring was performed concurrent with the ECBC monitoring operations.

Vapor Containment System (VCS)   top
SciTech performed MINICAMS monitoring, CAM monitoring, and integrated sampling with DAAMS tubes during the dismantling and decontamination of GB fill equipment. The monitoring process was a combination of health and safety monitoring and ROD 3X or Army 3X screening. The monitoring duties consisted of perimeter monitoring, monitoring of the air hand-ling unit, monitoring of the personnel decontamination chamber, personnel monitoring, monitor-ing within the vapor containment unit, and 3X screening of all equipment place inside the 3X chamber. After all equipment was dismantled and deemed decontaminated, monitoring con-tinued with unknown drums. The chemicals of concern were Mustard (HD), Sarin (GB), and VX.