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Next Meeting November 10, 2009 http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/projects/WashingtonDC/springvalley.htm Spring Valley Project Monthly Update September 2009 This monthly Spring Valley Formerly Used Defense Site project update is provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, as part of our ongoing efforts to make information regarding the Spring Valley Partnership and neighborhood investigation more accessible to community members, elected officials, Restoration Advisory Board members, and other interested stakeholders. Specifically, the monthly update is produced to provide those who follow the project with a current snapshot of our partnering, planning and field activities, and is not designed to provide historical information or an overview of the project. Those individuals interested in broader project information, or who have follow-up questions regarding this update, are invited to contact our Community Outreach Team at (410) 962-0157. Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP) In September, trench investigations were initiated and completed at three locations on the American University campus. The purpose of these efforts was to investigate the present-day locations of disturbed earth features on historical aerial photographs. No AUES-related munition items were recovered during these investigations. The only items possibly from the World War I timeframe were several milk bottles and remnants of a 55-gallon drum. Geophysical surveys continued this month in the Dalecarlia Woods on the property of the Washington Aqueduct between Dalecarlia Parkway and the reservoir. The survey team has completed approximately 7 of the 62 acres to date. At the Pit 3 Area property, construction of two vapor containment tents began in September. These precautionary tents are being built in response to the August recovery of a small open glass laboratory flask with a trace amount of the chemical agent mustard (not a gas) detected inside. With the tents in place, field teams will safely complete excavations at three test pits where we suspect additional intact laboratory glassware may be present. The containment tents are being built concurrently with the planning process. This will ensure that the investigation can start as soon as plan approvals are obtained from the Army and our interagency Partners; the US Environmental Protection Agency and the District Department of the Environment. Approvals are anticipated in November. Restoration of a large drainage pipe was completed in September at the AU Public Safety Building. Following the restoration, the field team continued investigations in the WWI-era debris area behind American Universitys Public Safety Building. WWI related munitions debris, scrap, and laboratory glassware continue to be recovered. Groundwater Study Program In late September, one groundwater monitoring well was installed on the American University campus. Three additional wells are being installed in October. The purpose of installing these new sampling wells is to help the interagency Partners better understand groundwater flow patterns in the Spring Valley project area. With information gathered from these ground water sampling wells, the project team will obtain needed sampling data to help trace the source or sources causing the detection of perchlorate in the area. It is not known if the previous perchlorate detections are related to WWI activities or more recent causes, nonetheless the agencies are trying to locate the source so it can be removed. Please note: the Spring Valley municipal drinking water supply comes from the Dalecarlia Reservoir, not the groundwater that is being studied. Sampling of these new wells and existing wells is scheduled to start in late October. Removal of Soil with Elevated Levels of Arsenic from Residential Properties This month the field team completed remediation efforts at two properties: one on the 4200 block of Fordham Road and one at the 4800 block of Quebec Street. This brings the total number of remediated residential properties to 107 since work began in the summer of 2002. Also, site preparation activities continued at a property on the 4300 block of Warren Street, a property on the 5000 block of Loughboro Road, and a property on the 4900 block of Quebec Street. Restoration Advisory Board The next Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting will be held next Tuesday, October 13th at 7 p.m. The RAB meets on the second Tuesday of each month at St. Davids Episcopal Church, 5150 Macomb Street, NW. At this meeting, we will be discussing the Munitions Destruction Engineering Evaluation / Cost Analysis. We hope to see you there! Search for WWI Munitions Moves to Dalecarlia Woods Town Hall Set This Week on Spring Valley Cleanup By Michael E. Ruane Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, October 6, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/05/AR2009100501811.html?hpid=sec-metro Toxic Weapons in D.C.'s Midst http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2009/10/05/GA2009100502610.html Lawyer Couple Sues Over Munitions In Yard http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2009/10/lawyer-couple-sues-over-munitions-in-yard.html Spring Valley Munitions List To Be Revealed Chemical agent mustard found in August By JIM IOVINO Updated 7:00 AM EDT, Wed, Oct 7, 2009 http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local-beat/Spring-Valley-Munitions-List-To-Be-Revealed-63661627.html Matthew Gilmore H-DC list co-editor, web editor dc-edit@mail.h-net.msu.edu http://www.h-net.org/~dclist/ [list website] http://www.h-net.org/lists/subscribe.cgi?list=H-DC [subscribe to H-DC] Remember to check http://h-net.msu.edu/cgi-bin/logbrowse.pl?trx=lm&list=H-DC for past list messages.
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