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4.0 ADJACENT PROPERTY FINDINGS


Properties adjacent to Parcel 1 are described in Section 4.1. Section 4.2 discusses the potential for activities undertaken at these adjacent properties to impact Parcel 1. The results of searching federal and state agency database listings are summarized in Section 4.3.



4.1 ADJACENT PROPERTY AND VICINITY OBSERVATIONS


Parcel 1 is bordered by Parcel V and VI on the east and by Parcel II on the south side (Figure 2). Parcel 1 is bordered off-site by Lakewood Boulevard to the west and Stewart and Gray Road to the north.

Foster Wheeler Environmental conducted a visual survey of the perimeter of the adjacent properties within a 0.25-mile radius of the perimeter of the NASA Industrial Plant to assess the potential impact of these properties on Parcel 1. Major streets bordering the subject facility are Clark Avenue, Lakewood Boulevard, Stewart & Gray Road, Bellflower Boulevard and Imperial Highway. The majority of property east of Bellflower consists primarily of commercial and light industrial properties. The areas northwest of Lakewood Boulevard and south of Imperial Highway are primarily residential.


4.2 ADJACENT PROPERTY POTENTIAL IMPACT


Adjacent properties potentially impact the subject parcel through spills, leaks, and discharges that are carried via storm water flow onto, or groundwater now beneath, the subject parcel. A review of Rockwell's SWPPP for the NASA Downey facility, storm water runoff samples are collected from designated drainage areas after the first major rain event. The samples are submitted for chemical analyses and data is reported to the RWQCB. Conversations with personnel at
Rockwell's ES&IH department indicate that storm water samples analyzed for the subject facility are in compliance with Califomia state requirements. An evaluation of adjacent properties and their potential to impact the subject parcel follows.



4.2.1 Properties to the North of Parcel I


Groundwater now beneath the site flows in a south-to-southwest direction (GRC, 1996a). However, because of the relatively flat groundwater gradient, the now direction can readily change, as suggested by the southwesterly direction identified in 1994 (GRC, 1994b). Therefore, adjacent properties to the northwest and northeast of Parcel 1 would have the greatest potential for impacted groundwater beneath their sites to migrate beneath Parcel I. The area northeast of Parcel 1 consists of residential units and light industrial activities. Based on the agency listings described in Section 4.3, these properties do appear to have a potential to impact Parcel 1.



4.2.2 Parcels V and VI to the East of Parcel I


Parcels V and VI have a no-to-low potential to impact Parcel 1, due to their proximity to Parcel 1. However, soil sampling performed by Rockwell in Parcels V and VI during the Fall of 1996 identified relatively low concentrations to non detect of volatile organic compounds and petroleum hydrocarbons (GRC, 1996b), suggesting that there is a low potential for activities on these parcels to have impacted Parcel 1.



4.2.3 Buildings on Adjacent Parcels


Building 006 and B/290 are located south of Parcel 1 in Parcel II. These buildings are used primarily as manufacturing assembly and test facilities. They consist mainly of laboratories and offices.

An underground pneumatic test cell is listed as Building 260 located on Parcel II based on historical building usage lists. Documentation was not located that described the use of this building. Building 289 is located adjacent to Building 260 on Parcel II. This facility is listed as a Space System laboratory, and was described in the 1973 Site Assessment document as a Mechanical Power System Laboratory Facility. The laboratory is used to simulate most mechanical power conditions in spacecraft.


These buildings are located south of Parcel 1. Because the groundwater flow is generally from north to south, activities or conditions at these buildings on Parcel II would not have the potential to impact Parcel 1.



4.2.4 Storage Tanks on Parcel II


Existing and removed USTs and ASTs were researched for the adjacent parcels and are summarized in Table 2. None of the tanks previously or currently located in Parcel II has any potential to impact Parcel 1. Tank No. 15, located south of B/36 was replaced in November, 1991 with an AST contained in a concrete vault (GRC, 1996a). UST 18, located in the tank farm area of B/290, was removed in March 1990 (ALT, 1990). Volatile organic compounds were identified in soil samples for UST 18. Apparently closure was provided for this UST.


Of the tanks on Parcel II, the one that was closest to and had the highest potential to impact Parcel 1 was former UST 19, located south of Building 289. UST 19 was used for spill control and reportedly stored hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide. UST 19 has also been referred to as Sump 25. This UST has been emptied of its contents and cleaned out. This UST may be a possible source of impact to Parcel 1; however, there are no records indicating the UST had leaked. The potential impact from this source is low.



 4.2.5 Spills on Adjacent Parcels


 Through the review of available records for the years 1987 to 1993, documentation was found for several minor spills and incidents that occurred on Parcels II, V and VI. These spills/incidents are summarized in Table 6. One of these spills is at a location that might have impacted Parcel 1. The sodium hydroxide release occurred in 1989 about 200 yards east of Gate 53 (Parcel VI). This release was mitigated the same day it occurred. There is a low-to-no potential for this release to
 impact Parcel 1.



4.2.6 Surface Water Flow


The surface of Parcel 1 is part of several drainage areas described in the facility SWPPP (Geocon 1993). Surface water flows in several directions specific to the drainage basin There appears to  be very low potential for Parcel 1 to have been impacted friom surface water flow from off-site.



4.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO PARCEL I BASED ON AGENCY LISTINGS


Groundwater flows beneath the facility in a south to southwest direction. Therefore, adjacent properties to the northwest and northeast of Parcel 1 would have the greatest potential for impacted groundwater beneath their sites to migrate beneath Parcel 1. Six facilities/addresses identified below are located within 0.5 miles of Parcel 1 and could potentially impact Parcel 1 (see Appendix E for complete listing of all sites in ERIIS databases): Table 9 summarizes the sites
identified through the ERIIS database review and Appendix E provides a complete listing of sites identified through the ERIIS database. In addition, discussions with the LARWQCB in 1998 identified three facilities of potential concern for groundwater contamination. These include the Astro Pak facility, Primer Technologies, and Downey Properties located to the north of NASA Downey facility. The likelihood of potential impact to the subject parcel for each of these facilities is discussed below:


  •    · Astro Pak facility formerly located at 8708 Cleta Street, approximately 0.5 mile north of NASA Downey facility: The operations at this facility consisted primarily of missile-cleaning. The most recent available groundwater sampling at the facility (January 1993) indicated TCE concentration in the groundwater as high as 6,000 ppb and PCE concentration in excess of 3,600 ppb (AES, September 1993). A Work Plan dated December 4, 1997, on file with the LARWQCB recommended further assessment of the site.· This site is located cross gradient of Parcel 1 and has a potential to impact the subject parcel with a south-to-southwest groundwater flow direction.
  •    · Primer Technologies, located north of the Downey facility has over 6-10 groundwater monitoring wells on the property. The highest concentration of TCE observed was reported to be -100 ppb (Personal communication, John Geroch of the LARWQCB, 4/7/98). This site is located cross gradient of Parcel 1 and has a potential to impact the subject parcel with a south-to-southwest groundwater flow direction.
  •    Downey Properties f~cility, located approximately 0.5 mile north of NASA Downey property was once used as a parts cleaner and paper fastener facility and is currently vacant. Four groundwater monitoring wells on the property are sampled semi-annually. The most recent sampling event (February 1998) indicated TCE concentrations as high as 164 ppb and PCE concentrations at 9.7 ppb in groundwater (Personal communication, Wendy Lin of the LARWQCB, 1/4/98). This site is located cross gradient of Parcel 1 and has a potential to impact the subject parcel with a south-to-southwest groundwater how direction.
  •    · Coca-Cola Enterprises West at 8729 Cleta Street was identified under the following databases: CORTS, RST, and LRST. The LRST report, dated May 1, 1991, stated that hydrocarbons leaked from a tank and a site assessment was underway. This site is approximately 0.5 miles north of Parcel 1. This site is located cross gradient of Parcel 1 and has a potential to impact the subject parcel with a south-to-southwest groundwater flow direction.
  •   Jomit Equipment Rental at 9316 Washburn Road was identified under the following databases: CORTS, RST and LRST. The LRST report dated November 18, 1991, stated there was a gasoline leak. Remedial action began on March 2, 1992, and is still underway.  This site is approximately 0.4 miles directly east bf Parcel 1. With a prevalent groundwater flow direction of south-to-southwest, this she has a potential to impact Parcel 1.
  •  · Red phosphorous spill at 11810 Lakewood Boulevard. was identified by the CERCLIS and FMDS databases. According to the CERCLS report, 100 pounds of red phosphorous was discovered at this site by Downey firefighters. Removal action began May 27, 1993. This site is approximately 0.05 miles north of Parcel 1. This site has a potential to impact  Parcel 1.
  •  · National O-Ring Division at 11634 Patton Road was identified under the following databases: RCRIS-LG, RST, and LRST. The RST report states that there are five active tanks at the site; however, the size, types, and contents were unknown. The LRST report dated August 9, 1994, stated that miscellaneous motor vehicle fuel had leaked and remedial action was ongoing. The site is approximately 0.4 miles northwest of Parcel 1. With the prevailing groundwater now, the site has a pot~ntial for impacting Parcel 1.
  •  · Aerojet Ordnance Company at 9236 Hall Road was identified under the following databases; RST, HWIS, TRI, HWS, and RCRIS-LG. The RST report stated that there were nine active tanks at the site; however the size, type and contents were unknown. The site is approximately 0.5 miles northeast o fParcel 1. The prevailing groundwater direction would place this site almost directly upgradient; however, the records for this site do not indicate evidence of any leakage.  If a significant release had occurred at the site, a low potential exists for Parcel 1 to be impacted.
  •    · City of Downey, Public Works Yard at 12324 Bellflower Blvd. was identified under the following databases: RST, FINDS and HWIS. The RST report states that there were five active tanks at the site; however, the size, type and contents were unknown. This site is located approximately 0.2 miles southeast of Parcel 1. With a prevalent groundwater flow direction of south-to-southwest, this site has a potential to impact Parcel 1.


Two facilities located west of Parcel 1, The Transmission House, and Steve's Foreign Car Parts Center are not listed on the ERIIS report. A visual inspection suggests that the retail section for the foreign parts dealer do not have the potential to impact Parcel 1. However, transmission repair operations may have generated chemicals that have impacted the groundwater beneath the area. Based on the groundwater flow direction from 1996, it would appear that this impacted
groundwater would not flow beneath Parcel 1.



5.0 LIMITED SOIL AND GROUNDWATER ASSESSMENT


Based on the preliminary findings from the EBS, a Limited Soil and Groundwater Assessment was performed during February and March 1997 by Earth Tech on behalf of Boeing Aerospace (formerly Rockwell International) and NASA (Earth Tech, 1997). The assessment consisted of drilling a total of 35 soil borings on Parcels 1 and lI and collecting limited soil and groundwater samples for chemical analyses. Rationale for locating these soil borings is provided in Table 10.
Twentyfour ranging in depth from 5 to 51 feet bgs were drilled on Parcel 1. Groundwater beneath the parcel was encountered at about 42 feet bgs. Samples were analyzed for one or more of the following: VOCs, semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), total extractable petroleum hydrocarbons (TEPH) and/or metals. Appendix F provides table summaries of chemical analyses for samples with analytes detected, and it also includes a figure showing the location of the soil borings.


Low concentrations of vocs were detected in shallow soil samples collected across Parcel 1. High levels of PCE were observed in SB-11, near Building 244. These low VOC concentrations were attributed to cross contamination between soil samples during laboratory analysis quality control procedures. Table 11 identifies these suspect analyses. VOCs were detected in soil samples collected just above groundwater. Hydropunch groundwater samples were collected from four soil borings (SB-19, SB-20, SE-24 and SB-35. Low concentrations of methylene chloride (20 to 28 ugflrg), acetone (51 to 58
ug/kg), and TCE (17 to 95 ug/kg) were detected in soil samples collected at these borings (Table 12). The three samples that had detectable TCE concentrations were collected at depths of 40 to 45 it. bgs.· VOCs were detected in the hydropunch groundwater samples. TCE was identified in groundwater samples from upgradient boring SB-35 at 240 ug/liter, and downgradient borings SB-19 at 250 ug/l, SB-20 at 150 ug/l, SB-24 at 48 ug/l SB-25 at 320 ug/l, and SB-34 at 29 ug/l (Table 13). Groundwater beneath the area is presumed to flow in a southerly direction. Soil and groundwater data from Parcels 1 and II suggest that an upgradient, off-site source may be contributing to VOCs beneath the NASA Downey facility. More information is needed on the source and distribution of these VOCs in groundwater, and the groundwater flow direction beneath Parcel 1.


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