TAPP April 2005 Newsletter for PAERAB

Text Box: Ted Gabel gave a brief presentation on the pending performance-based contract (PBC) that will be awarded for remediation of sites at Picatinny Arsenal. Mr. Gabel said that the first few steps (installation prioritization, preliminary planning, and site scoping visit) had been completed in the process leading to an award of a contract. At present a bid document is being prepared by the Army. Mr. Gabel said that they want to be able to award the contract by October 1, 2005. In the presentation Mr. Gabel noted that the Army fulfills its responsibilities in the following ways: approving all performance/remedial objectives, signing all agreements/decision documents, maintaining the primary interface with the public, and by certifying all deliverables. He stated that the Army retains ultimate environmental liability. It is the opinion of this writer that despite all these assurances, the successful contractor is still motivated by making the highest profit

Text Box: possible. In some cases, contracts are built in with additional profit incentives for meeting deadlines earlier or other performance incentives. The profit motive may make monitored natural attenuation (MNA) and institutional controls even more favored as the preferred remedial alternative. In some cases, MNA can offer contractors less profit potential than some other types of remedial actions. Although as we have observed with other sites MNA can often be the alternative requiring the longest time period to attain compliance. In the case of Area D where MNA was a proposed alternative, the estimated time to achieve compliance was 143 years. Of note is the fact that the remedial actions for the Post Farm Road Landfill Record of Decision (ROD) and the Area D ROD will be included into one PBC. Fortunately, responsible contracting firms are also motivated by a conscientious desire to succeed and to achieve their stated goals. Such firms also tend to be zealous about maintaining their professional reputations for both competence and integrity. Since this is a complicated topic with many aspects further articles may be provided to address responses and comments.

POINTS OF INTEREST:

· LTC Paul T. Seitz, Picatinny Garrison Commander, signed the ROD for the Burning Ground on February 16, 2005. The ROD was submitted to the USEPA for signature.

· RAB meeting – March 10, 2005

· Next RAB meeting – June 9, 2005

· Picatinny Arsenal was on the BRAC short list. It was not on the final list that was publicly announced on May 13, 2005. The President has the choice to accept or reject the list in its entirety.

· The Installation Action Plan (IAP) annual meeting will take place on May 24 to 26, 2005. Representatives of Picatinny Arsenal, the NJDEP, and the USEPA will meet to review site status and formulate priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.

Residential communities initiative	2
Technology Resources	2
On Schedule?	2
Pondview Estates Approved Plan	3
In The Field	3
Draft FS for Sites 31 and 101	4
Hot Off the Press	8

Text Box: Environmental Happenings At Picatinny Arsenal

Text Box: Recent field activities for January, February, and March 2005 include the following: Site 2 Groundwater Pilot Study: Collect groundwater samples 600 Area Investigation: Drilling and installation of a

Text Box: monitoring well near Bldg. 647; borehole geophysical survey of new borings; collect groundwater samples from open boreholes; packer testing of open boreholes. Area B Pilot Study: Collect groundwater samples at Site 20/24.

Text Box: Area B: Collect routine groundwater samples. Site 78 Pilot Study: Collect groundwater samples from wells near Bldg. 91. Phase III 2A/3A RI: Install a new monitoring well at Site 169 near Bldg. 1430; replace damaged well 188MW-1 Continued on page 3…..