Table of Projects and Status in Operable Units

Table of Projects and Status in Expanded Site Investigations

As a step in the TNT purifying process, TNT was washed in a cold water/sellite mixture (red water). The red water was discharged directly to the Ohio River through a pipe located about one foot offshore. Three red water storage lagoons or reservoirs were constructed in the northwest corner of WVOW to provide temporary storage of red water when the flow in the Ohio River was too low to provide proper dilution. Only two of the three reservoirs were used. Red water contained high levels of nitroaromatics, sulfate, and nitrate. As a result the red water contaminated the reservoirs' underlying sediments.

The Record of Decision (ROD), signed by the USEPA and the Army in 1988, required the following remedies for the red water reservoir area (RWR):

• Relocation of Ponds 1 and 2;
• Extraction and treatment of the groundwater until the criteria for nitroaromatics are attained;
• Effluent from the treatment system will meet the surface water criteria and will be monitored to maintain compliance;
• Ponds 1 and 2 will be filled with clean fill (soil and clay cover).

In August 1990, the Army, acting through the USACE, contracted OHM to perform capping activities for the Red Water Reservoirs. Site work began in June 1991, and was completed in October 1992.

Construction of the groundwater extraction and groundwater treatment plant began in the summer of 1995 and was completed in February 1997. Today, the treatment plant discharges into a sedimentation basin below the Red Water Reservoir caps for wetlands treatment to remove metals from the plants' treated effluents. Although this pond had brimmed with wildlife and plants several years earlier, it was dry before the treatment plant started. However, the discharge of treated water into the basin has re-established this area as prime wetland habitat. Sampling results have shown that the wetland reduces metals to non-detect or to below discharge criteria established by the state, proving that the treatment system is benefiting the wetlands.

As a step in the TNT purifying process, TNT was washed in a cold water/sellite mixture (red water). The red water was discharged directly to the Ohio River through a pipe located about one foot offshore. Three red water storage lagoons or reservoirs were constructed in the northwest corner of WVOW to provide temporary storage of red water when the flow in the Ohio River was too low to provide proper dilution. Only two of the three reservoirs were used. Red water contained high levels of nitroaromatics, sulfate, and nitrate. As a result the red water contaminated the reservoirs' underlying sediments.

The Record of Decision (ROD), signed by the USEPA and the Army in 1988, required the following remedies for the red water reservoir area (RWR):

• Relocation of Ponds 1 and 2;
• Extraction and treatment of the groundwater until the criteria for nitroaromatics are attained;
• Effluent from the treatment system will meet the surface water criteria and will be monitored to maintain compliance;
• Ponds 1 and 2 will be filled with clean fill (soil and clay cover).

In August 1990, the Army, acting through the USACE, contracted OHM to perform capping activities for the Red Water Reservoirs. Site work began in June 1991, and was completed in October 1992.

Construction of the groundwater extraction and groundwater treatment plant began in the summer of 1995 and was completed in February 1997. Today, the treatment plant discharges into a sedimentation basin below the Red Water Reservoir caps for wetlands treatment to remove metals from the plants' treated effluents. Although this pond had brimmed with wildlife and plants several years earlier, it was dry before the treatment plant started. However, the discharge of treated water into the basin has re-established this area as prime wetland habitat. Sampling results have shown that the wetland reduces metals to non-detect or to below discharge criteria established by the state, proving that the treatment system is benefiting the wetlands.