
[Federal Register: December 19, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 245)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 77560-77567]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19de08-39]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 300

[EPA-HQ-SFUND-1987-0002; FRL-8753-3]

 
National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan; 
National Priorities List

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion of portions of the 
Griffiss Air Force Base Superfund Site from the National Priorities 
List.

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SUMMARY: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 
2 Office announces its intent to delete specific properties of the 
former Griffiss Air Force Base (GAFB) site located in Rome, New York, 
from the National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comment on 
this proposed action. The NPL constitutes Appendix B to the National 
Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), 40 CFR 
part 300, which EPA promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
(CERCLA) as amended. The entire GAFB Site, approximately 3,552 acres, 
includes 32 areas of concern located on property currently or formerly 
owned by the United States Department of Defense. EPA and the State of 
New York, through the New York State Department of Environmental 
Conservation (NYSDEC), have determined that for the specified areas 
identified in this Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion (NOIPD), all 
appropriate response actions pursuant to CERCLA have been implemented 
and, aside from monitoring, operations, maintenance, and Five-Year 
Reviews, no further response actions, pursuant to CERCLA, are 
appropriate. Moreover, EPA and NYSDEC have determined that the 
specified properties at the GAFB Site (i.e., the soil and groundwater 
beneath) either pose no significant threat to public health or the 
environment or all appropriate response actions have been implemented, 
and therefore this NOIPD may proceed. The NOIPD is only for those 
properties specified herein and does not include other properties 
located at the GAFB Site.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 20, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
SFUND-1987-0002, by one of the following methods:
    Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
    E-mail: pocze.doug@epa.gov.
    Fax: To the attention of Douglas M. Pocze at (212) 637-3256.
    Mail: To the attention of Douglas M. Pocze, Remedial Project 
Manager, Emergency and Remedial Response Division, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region 2, 290 Broadway, 18th Floor, New York, NY 
10007-1866.

[[Page 77561]]

    Hand Delivery: Superfund Records Center, 290 Broadway, 18th Floor, 
New York, NY 10007-1866 (telephone: 212-637-4308). Such deliveries are 
only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation (Monday to 
Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Special arrangements should be made for 
deliveries of boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-SFUND-
1987-0002. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the Docket without change and may be made available online at http:/
/www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, 
unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider CBI 
or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov or via e-
mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous 
access'' system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact 
information unless you provide it in the body of your comments. If you 
send comments to EPA via e-mail, your e-mail address will be included 
as part of the comment that is placed in the Docket and made available 
on the Web site. If you submit electronic comments, EPA recommends that 
you include your name and other contact information in the body of your 
comments and with any disks or CD-ROMs that you submit. If EPA cannot 
read your comments because of technical difficulties and cannot contact 
you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comments. 
Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters and any 
form of encryption and should be free of any defects or viruses.
    Docket: All documents in the Docket are listed in the http://
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available Docket materials can be viewed electronically at 
http://www.regulations.gov or obtained in hard copy at: U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, Superfund Records Center, 
290 Broadway, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10007-1866, Phone: 212-637-4308, 
Hours: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Griffiss Business 
and Technology Park, Information Repository/Administrative File, 153 
Brooks Road, Rome, NY 13441, (315) 356-0810.
    Hours: Please call to determine hours of operation and whether an 
appointment is needed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Douglas M. Pocze, Remedial Project 
Manager, by mail at Emergency and Remedial Response Division, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, 290 Broadway, 18th floor, 
New York, NY 10007-1866; Telephone (212) 637-4432, (or) fax at (212) 
637-3256, (or) E-mail: pocze.doug@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. NPL Deletion Criteria
III. Deletion Procedures
IV. Basis for Intended Partial Site Deletion

I. Introduction

    The EPA, Region 2, announces its intent to delete properties at the 
GAFB Site, located in Rome, NY, from the NPL, and requests comments on 
this action. This proposal for partial deletion pertains to soil and 
groundwater at specified areas of the GAFB. The parcel areas listed 
below either in their entirety or in portion are proposed for deletion 
and should be reviewed with the Partial Deletion map provided (See 
Figure 1).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Acres
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Property A1A--Airfield....................................    1324.45
2. Building 750--Former Air Force Special Investigations.....       4.07
3. Central Heating Plant.....................................      17.78
4. Parcel F1.................................................      61.40
5. Parcel F2.................................................      88.37
6. Electrical Power Substation...............................       3.20
7. Parcel F3A................................................      75.99
8. Parcel F3B................................................      14.04
9. Parcel F4A................................................     107.59
10. Parcel F4C...............................................      56.96
11. Parcel F6A...............................................      52.20
12. Parcel F7NR..............................................      52.09
13. Parcel F7R...............................................     223.75
14. Parcel F8 Housing........................................      69.22
15. Parcel F9A...............................................     135.25
16. Parcel F9B...............................................      64.99
17. Parcel F10A..............................................      11.05
18. Parcel F10B..............................................     275.82
19. Parcel F11A Housing......................................     152.56
20. Parcel F11C..............................................       4.24
21. Parcel F11D..............................................      45.23
22. Parcel F12A..............................................      41.82
23. MGC--Mohawk Glen Club....................................      15.13
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The NPL is set forth at Appendix B of 40 CFR part 300, which is an 
appendix to the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution 
Contingency Plan (NCP), which EPA promulgated pursuant to section 105 
of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended. EPA maintains the NPL as 
those sites that appear to present a significant risk to public health, 
welfare, or the environment. Sites on the NPL may be the subject of 
remedial actions financed by the Hazardous Substance Superfund (Fund). 
This partial deletion of certain properties at the GAFB is proposed in 
accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e) and is consistent with the Notice of 
Policy Change: Partial Deletion of Sites Listed on the National 
Priorities List. 60 FR 55466 (Nov. 1, 1995). As described in Sec.  
300.425(e)(3) of the NCP, a portion of a site deleted from the NPL 
remains eligible for Fund-financed remedial action if future conditions 
warrant such actions.
    The property proposed for deletion can also be reviewed via the Air 
Force's (AF's) Web site http://www.griffiss.com. Property coordinates 
for these parcels are identified in Figure 1 and are also defined in 
the corresponding transfer documents for each parcel. Transfer 
documents (e.g., deeds) and supporting documentation can be viewed 
either at the repositories or via the Web site.
    To effectively manage the GAFB cleanup and property transfers, the 
base has been subdivided into management areas. These management areas 
or parcels were evaluated for various environmental concerns. The AF 
sets priorities for cleanup in each parcel based on the reuse 
priorities of the Local Reuse Authority (LRA). Environmental cleanup 
was expedited in some areas so that the property could be transferred 
from the AF to the LRA. The areas where cleanup was expedited and where 
the property was transferred are considered as candidates for deletion.
    While reviewing the properties for deletion, EPA has based its 
recommendation for partial deletion upon the Records of Decision 
(RODs), Findings of Suitability to Transfer (FOST) and/or Findings of 
Suitability for Early Transfer (FOSET) and the Five-Year Review. In 
areas where the RODs were issued and the remedy was implemented (e.g., 
the institutional controls in the form of deed restrictions have been 
incorporated into a deed), EPA evaluated the area for consideration in 
this NOIPD.
    As part of the NPL partial deletion process, EPA will accept public 
comments concerning this proposed NOID related to portions of the GAFB 
for thirty (30) days after publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register.
    Section II further explains the criteria for deleting sites from 
the NPL. Section III discusses procedures that EPA is using for this 
action, and Section IV discusses the GAFB Site and demonstrates how it 
meets the partial

[[Page 77562]]

deletion criteria. Properties and parcels that meet the criteria for 
demonstrating that the releases of hazardous substances pose no 
significant threat to human health or the environment, and therefore no 
remedial measures are needed, are indicated in Section IV as containing 
no CERCLA sites within its boundaries. Properties and parcels that meet 
the criteria that all appropriate response actions have been 
implemented are also indicated in Section IV as having some removal or 
remediation of contamination, and most include land and groundwater use 
restrictions in the property deed as required in the ROD.

II. NPL Deletion Criteria

    The NCP establishes the criteria that EPA uses to delete sites from 
the NPL. In accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e), sites may be deleted 
from the NPL where no further response is appropriate. In making this 
determination, EPA, in consultation with the State of New York, must 
establish whether any of the following criteria have been met:
    i. Responsible parties or other persons have implemented all 
appropriate response actions required; or
    ii. All appropriate Fund-financed responses under CERCLA have been 
implemented and no further cleanup by responsible parties is 
appropriate; or
    iii. The remedial investigation has shown that the release of 
hazardous substances poses no significant threat to public health or 
the environment and, therefore, taking of remedial measures is not 
appropriate.
    Pursuant to CERCLA section 121(c) and the NCP, EPA conducts Five-
Year Reviews to ensure the continued protectiveness of remedial actions 
where hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants remain at a 
site above levels that allow for unlimited use and unrestricted 
exposure. EPA conducts such Five-Year Reviews even if a site is deleted 
from the NPL. EPA may initiate further action to ensure continued 
protectiveness at a deleted site if new information becomes available 
that indicates it is appropriate. Whenever there is a significant 
release from a site deleted from the NPL, the deleted site may be 
restored to the NPL without application of the hazard ranking system.

III. Deletion Procedures

    The following procedures were used for the intended deletion of the 
specified properties at the GAFB Site:
    (1) EPA has recommended the partial deletion and has prepared the 
relevant documents.
    (2) EPA consulted with the State before developing this NOIPD.
    (3) EPA has provided the State 30 working days for review of this 
notice prior to publication of it today.
    (4) In accordance with the criteria discussed above, EPA has 
determined that no further response is appropriate.
    (5) The State of New York through the NYSDEC concurs with this 
partial deletion.
    (6) Concurrent with this national NOIPD, a notice has been 
published in a newspaper of record and has been distributed to 
appropriate federal, State, and local officials and other interested 
parties. These notices announce a thirty (30) day public comment period 
on the partial deletion package, which commences on the date of 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register and a newspaper of 
record.
    (7) EPA has made all relevant documents available at the 
information repositories listed previously.
    If comments are received within the 30-day comment period on this 
document, EPA will evaluate and respond accordingly to the comments 
before making a final decision to delete the parcels. If necessary, EPA 
will prepare a Responsiveness Summary to address any significant public 
comments received. After the public comment period, if EPA determines 
it is still appropriate to delete the soil and groundwater portions of 
the 23 parcels at the GAFB Superfund Site, the Regional Administrator 
will publish a final Notice of Partial Deletion in the Federal 
Register. Public notices, public submissions, and copies of the 
Responsiveness Summary, if prepared, will be made available to 
interested parties and included in the site information repositories 
listed above.
    Deletion of a portion of a site from the NPL does not itself 
create, alter, or revoke any individual's rights or obligations. 
Deletion of a portion of a site from the NPL does not in any way alter 
EPA's right to take enforcement actions, as appropriate. The NPL is 
designed primarily for informational purposes and to assist EPA 
management. Section 300.425(e)(3) of the NCP states that the deletion 
of a site from the NPL does not preclude eligibility for future 
response actions, should future conditions warrant such actions.

IV. Basis for Intended Site Deletion

A. Background

    The GAFB NPL Site is comprised of 3,552 acres and is considered 
``fence-line'' to ``fence-line''. The mission of the former GAFB varied 
over the years. In 1942, the base was activated as the Rome Air Depot 
with the mission of storage, maintenance, and shipment of material for 
the U.S. Army Air Corps. Upon creation of the AF, the depot was renamed 
Griffiss Air Force Base in 1947, and, three years later, it became an 
electronics center with a mission of accomplishing applied research, 
development, and testing of electronic air-ground systems. Later, the 
49th Air Squadron was added, and in June of 1958, the Ground 
Electronics Engineering Installations Agency was established to 
engineer and install ground communications equipment throughout the 
world. On July 1, 1970, the 416th Bombardment Wing of the Strategic Air 
Command (SAC) was activated with the mission of maintenance and 
implementation of both refueling operations and long-range bombardment 
capability. GAFB was designated for realignment under the Base 
Realignment and Closure Act in 1993 and 1995, resulting in deactivation 
of all AF flying missions. Today, federal agencies such as the Air 
Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, the Northeast Air 
Defense Sector, and the Defense Finance and Accounting Services remain 
in operation at GAFB.
    Since 1942 when construction of the base began, various hazardous 
and toxic substances were used and hazardous wastes were generated, 
stored, or disposed at GAFB. Numerous studies and investigations under 
the U.S. Department of Defense Installation Restoration Program (IRP) 
have been performed to locate, assess and quantify the past toxic and 
hazardous storage, disposal, and spill sites. These investigations 
include: records searches; interviews with base personnel; field 
inspections; compilation of waste inventory; evaluation of disposal 
practices; an assessment to determine the nature and extent of site 
contamination; Problem Confirmation and Quantification studies; soil 
and groundwater analysis; a base-wide health assessment; base specific 
hydrology investigations; and various site specific investigations. 
Based upon such studies and information, GAFB was included on the NPL 
on July 15, 1987 and on August 20, 1990, the AF entered into a Federal 
Facility Agreement (FFA) with EPA and NYSDEC under Section 120 of 
CERCLA. Under the terms of the FFA, the AF was required to submit 
various reports to NYSDEC and EPA for review and comment. These reports 
address response activities required under CERCLA and included: the 
identification of Areas of environmental

[[Page 77563]]

Concern (AOCs); a scope of work for Remedial Investigation (RI); a work 
plan for the RI, including a sampling and analysis plan and a quality 
assurance plan; a baseline risk assessment; a community relations plan; 
and an RI report. On December 20, 1996, the AF submitted a draft-final 
RI report for regulatory review covering 31 AOCs located throughout the 
base.
    Although a draft-final RI was submitted, environmental studies at 
GAFB did not stop there. Other studies such as the Areas of Interest 
study (AOI) evaluated over 300 possible environmental factors, many of 
which had not been formally evaluated under previous studies. The AOI 
study first collected all available information which was then reviewed 
by the AF, NYSDEC, and EPA. Based upon the review, sites were either 
recommended for no further action or for further sampling. Based upon 
the subsequent sampling, those sites either became no further action 
sites, were addressed with removal actions with confirmatory sampling, 
or were elevated to AOCs which then proceeded through the more 
comprehensive CERCLA cleanup process. The AF has completed its RI for 
the only AOI site that was elevated in this manner, AOC 9, and is 
currently reviewing possible alternatives for cleanup.
    Some sites (e.g., the AOC Landfills) proceeded to presumptive 
remedies following the RI. Presumptive remedies are preferred 
technologies for common categories of sites based upon historical 
patterns of remedy selection and EPA's scientific and engineering 
evaluations of performance data on technology implementation. These 
sites were evaluated by the AF, NYSDEC, and EPA and, where determined 
to be appropriate presumptive remedy candidates based upon site 
sampling data and EPA's Presumptive Remedy Guidance for Military 
Landfills (dated April 29, 1996), and were proposed to the public. 
Following the public comment period where any comments specific to each 
landfill site were addressed, these remedies were approved and 
subsequently implemented. However, these presumptive remedy sites 
(i.e., the landfills) are not proposed for deletion at this time.
    In addition to the AOCs, nine source removal sites as listed within 
the FFA have undergone cleanup with EPA and NYSDEC oversight. When the 
cleanup activities at these sites are completed, these sites will be 
closed with regulatory approval of a final remedy documented in a ROD.
    Throughout this NOIPD, the term ``CERCLA site'' is used to mean the 
AOCs described generally above which have been investigated and, as 
necessary, addressed under the FFA.

B. Records of Decision, Remedial Actions and Five-Year Reviews

    To date 26 remedies have been selected for various locations 
throughout the base. When accounting for all environmental factors 
which will necessitate some form of future regulatory approval, 13 of 
these sites still remain open. In managing the on-going activities, the 
AF has divided the base into various parcels. The periodic Five-Year 
Reviews which evaluate the protectiveness of each remedy as required by 
law also provides a summary of each parcel and its associated 
environmental activities. EPA and NYSDEC reviewed the most recent Five-
Year Review document and provided their concurrence on September 15, 
2005. Therefore, that document also was relied upon in the development 
of this NOIPD. Based upon that Five-Year Review document, the remedies 
as selected in the various RODs, and other documentation, this NOIPD 
was prepared with the understanding that only the parcel areas which 
meet the criteria of Section 300.425(e)(1) can be proposed for 
deletion, namely all appropriate response actions have been implemented 
or previous investigations have shown that remedial actions are not 
appropriate to protect human health or the environment. The parcels 
listed below meet this criteria and a summary of the parcel's 
environmental factors have been provided. Additional parcel information 
can be found on Figure 1 of this NOIPD and in the deeds via the Web 
site (http://www.griffiss.com).
    Parcel A1A--The Airfield. This parcel was deeded to Oneida County 
via a Public Benefit Conveyance (PBC). It was comprised of 1,337.72 
acres and contained two sites addressed under CERCLA. However, of the 
two sites located in the parcel, Six Mile Creek (approximately 13.27 
acres) will remain on the NPL. Therefore, the area of the parcel that 
is proposed for deletion (approximately 1324.45 acres) contains just 
one CERCLA site within its boundaries. The following is a summary of 
the CERCLA site proposed for deletion:

    Fire Demonstration Area. The Fire Demonstration Area is located 
north of Building 100. The site was used by the AF for fire 
demonstrations from 1987 to 1992. In 1994, an RI was initiated to 
characterize the full extent of contamination and determine 
potential threats to human health and the environment. Based upon 
sampling and analysis and a risk assessment, no further action in 
the form of land use restrictions was proposed by the AF as a 
remedy. After the public comment period, EPA with the concurrence of 
the NYSDEC approved a ROD on September 30, 1999, requiring 
institutional controls in the form of land use restrictions. The ROD 
required the site be restricted to industrial reuse, groundwater 
restrictions be implemented, and the AF to perform Five-Year reviews 
to ensure the remedy is protective of human health and the 
environment. The recorded deed contains the land and groundwater use 
restrictions required in the ROD.

    Building 750--Former Air Force Special Investigations. This 4.07 
acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an Economic Development 
Conveyance (EDC) agreement. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST 
was submitted by the AF and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments 
were addressed. The parcel contains no CERCLA sites within its 
boundaries.
    Central Heating Plant. This 17.78 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA 
via an EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by 
the AF and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. A 
petroleum spill which is not regulated by CERCLA exists within the 
boundary (Spill 8903144); however, this area was remediated, 
and the AF is awaiting final closure approval from NYSDEC Spills 
Program. The parcel contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
    Parcel F1. This 64.90 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an EDC. 
However, because the property contained CERCLA sites undergoing 
cleanup, a Finding of Suitability for Early Transfer (FOSET) was 
required. A FOSET allows property to be transferred prior to cleanup 
with EPA and the Governor's approval, provided appropriate restrictions 
are in-place and the AF provides an assurance to complete cleanup the 
property. The transfer of this parcel received the Governor's 
concurrence on February 8, 1999, and was approved by EPA on April 2, 
1999. As part of the assurances provided, the AF was required to 
address the CERCLA sites within the parcel. However, only those CERCLA 
sites which have remedies operating properly and successfully or which 
require no further action can be considered for deletion. The parcel 
contains four CERCLA sites within its boundaries (See Figure 1). Of the 
four sites located in the parcel, one site known as the Coal Yard 
Storage Area (approximately 3.50 acres) will remain on the NPL. 
Therefore, the area of the parcel that is proposed for deletion 
(approximately 61.40 acres) contains

[[Page 77564]]

three CERCLA sites within the proposed partial NPL deletion area. The 
following is a summary of only the CERCLA sites in areas of Parcel F1 
proposed for deletion:

    Building 20. The Building 20 site, located in Parcel F1, was 
used as a locomotive roundhouse to service diesel locomotives. 
During operation, lubricants, diesel parts, and hydraulic fluids 
were stored, used, and at times spilled in the area. An initial soil 
investigation was performed in 1985, and soil was removed at the 
northwest corner of Building 20. However, during the investigation 
an oily liquid was encountered. Subsequent soil and groundwater 
investigations continued and additional soil and liquid 
contamination was removed. In 1994, an RI was initiated to 
characterize the full extent of contamination and determine 
potential threats to human health and the environment. In 1998, an 
interim remedial action was performed to remove contaminated soil 
beneath the floor near the northwest corner of the building. Based 
upon sampling and analysis, previous removal actions, and a risk 
assessment, the AF developed a plan for public comment proposing 
institutional controls. EPA with the concurrence of the NYSDEC 
approved a ROD on September 27, 2001, requiring institutional 
controls in the form of land use restrictions. The ROD required the 
site area be restricted to commercial/industrial reuse, groundwater 
restrictions be implemented and the AF to perform Five-Year Reviews 
to ensure the remedy is protective of human health and the 
environment. The recorded deed does contain the institutional 
controls/land and groundwater use restrictions required in the ROD.
    T-9 Storage Area. The T-9 Storage Area (T-9), also located in 
Parcel F1, was reportedly an open lot used to store heavy equipment, 
herbicides, and petroleum based paving products. At one time, 
Building 9, which no longer exists, was used as a motor pool 
facility. In the mid 1980s, soil and groundwater studies were 
conducted which detected contaminants of concern above background 
and guidance values, and, as a result, in 1994, an RI was performed 
to evaluate the potential threats to human health and the 
environment. In 1998, an interim response action was performed at 
the T-9 Storage Area at three locations. These locations were 
identified based on soil contamination data from previous 
investigations including the RI. Based upon sampling and analysis, 
previous removal actions, and a risk assessment, no further action 
in the form of land use restrictions was proposed by the AF as a 
remedy. After the public comment period, EPA with the concurrence of 
the NYSDEC approved a ROD on September 27, 2001, requiring 
institutional controls in the form of land use restrictions. The ROD 
required that the site be restricted to commercial/industrial reuse, 
groundwater restrictions be implemented, and the AF to perform Five-
Year Reviews to ensure the remedy is protective of human health and 
the environment. The recorded deed does contain the land and 
groundwater use restrictions required in the ROD.
    Lot 69--Former Haz Waste Storage Yard. Lot 69 is located in the 
south central industrialized portion of the former Griffiss AFB 
base. The site contains a Vehicle Maintenance Facility, including 
Buildings 11 and 15, and an asphalt-covered vehicle parking and 
storage area. From 1965 to 1982, this site was used as an 
unrestricted interim drum storage area for containers of liquid and 
solid hazardous wastes generated on the base. In 1994, an RI was 
initiated to characterize the full extent of contamination and 
determine potential threats to human health and the environment. 
Based upon sampling and analysis and a risk assessment, the AF 
developed a plan for public comment proposing institutional 
controls. EPA with the concurrence of the NYSDEC approved a ROD on 
March 17, 2005, requiring institutional controls in the form of land 
use restrictions. The ROD required the site area be restricted to 
commercial/industrial reuse, groundwater restrictions be 
implemented, and the AF to perform Five-Year Reviews to ensure the 
remedy is protective of human health and the environment. The 
recorded deed does contain the institutional controls/land and 
groundwater use restrictions required in the ROD.

    Parcel F2. This 93.11 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an EDC. 
However, because the property contained CERCLA sites undergoing 
cleanup, a FOSET was required. This early transfer received the 
Governor's concurrence on February 23, 2000, and was approved by EPA on 
May 10, 2000. As part of the assurances provided, the AF was required 
to address the CERCLA sites within the parcel. However, only those 
CERCLA sites which have implemented remedies operating properly and 
successfully or which require no further action can be considered for 
deletion. Subsequent to the transfer of the property, the AF completed 
all the required actions at one of the two sites located in parcel F2. 
The Building 775 site, comprised of 4.75 acres, is not proposed for 
deletion and will remain on the NPL. As a result, 88.37 acres of the 
Parcel F2's 93.11 acres are proposed for deletion, and it is within 
these 88.37 acres that the other CERCLA site which has been remediated 
is located. A summary of the CERCLA site is provided as follows:

    Building 112. The Building 112 site, located in the central 
industrial area of the base, serves as the High Power Laboratory. 
The CERCLA site was comprised of four areas: A drywell; a rooftop 
transformer spill; the loading dock area; and the polychlorinated 
biphenyl (PCB) dump area. Beginning in the early 1980s, various 
studies were conducted in the Building 112 area. In 1994, soil 
sampling, groundwater sampling, and a risk assessment were performed 
as part of the RI investigation. In conjunction with the RI, the AF 
performed excavation of several areas containing elevated levels of 
PCBs. Based upon the RI and the removal of the PCB contaminated 
material, the AF developed a plan for public comment proposing no 
further action with land use restrictions. EPA, with the concurrence 
of the NYSDEC, approved the ROD on September 27, 2001, requiring 
institutional controls in the form of land use restrictions. The ROD 
required the site be restricted to commercial/industrial reuse, soil 
relocation restrictions, groundwater restrictions be implemented, 
and the AF to perform Five-Year Reviews to ensure the remedy is 
protective of human health and the environment. The recorded deed 
contains the land and groundwater use restrictions required in the 
ROD.

    Parcel Electrical Power Substation. This parcel is comprised of 3.2 
acres and contains one site addressed under CERCLA. The parcel was 
deeded to LRA via an EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST 
was submitted by the AF and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments 
were addressed. A summary of the CERCLA site proposed for deletion is 
provided as follows:

    Electric Power Substation (EPS). The EPS is located in the 
south-central portion of the base along the southern margin of the 
industrial complex. Since the start of operations at Griffiss AFB in 
the 1940s, the EPS has served as an electrical unit to relay power 
to various facilities throughout the base. Prior to conversion, some 
of the transformers contained polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) 
dielectric fluids. Dielectric fluids have reportedly been drained 
from the transformers directly onto the ground surface over an 
extended period of time. A transformer rupture reportedly occurred 
in 1987 at Transformer No. 1, during which PCB fluids were released 
on the east side. In 1994, soil sampling, groundwater sampling, and 
a risk assessment were performed as part of an RI.
    In conjunction with the RI, the AF performed excavation of 
several areas containing elevated levels of PCBs. In 1998, the AF 
conducted a removal action by excavating soil and disposing the PCB 
contaminated soil off-site. Based upon the RI and the removal 
actions, the AF developed a plan for public comment proposing no 
further action with land use restrictions. EPA with the concurrence 
of the NYSDEC, approved the ROD on March 17, 2005, requiring 
institutional controls in the form of land use restrictions. The ROD 
required the site be restricted to commercial/industrial reuse, soil 
relocation restrictions, groundwater restrictions be implemented, 
and the AF to perform Five-Year Reviews to ensure the remedy is 
protective of human health and the environment. The recorded deed 
contains the land and groundwater use restrictions required in the 
ROD.

    Parcel F3A. This 87.90 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an 
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF 
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. Of the 
87.90 acres, only 75.99 acres are proposed for deletion. Within these 
75.99 acres, there

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are three CERCLA sites; however, the RODs for these sites were issued 
and the remedies implemented prior to the property being transferred. 
Therefore, the transfer was not considered an early transfer. Within 
the remaining 11.91 acres there are three sites known as Drywell 211, 
Washrack 222, and Building 255 Drywell which are individual area 
parcels and shall remain on the NPL (See Figure 1). A summary of the 
CERCLA sites is provided as follows:

    Building 214. Building 214 is located in the west-central 
portion of the base. Adjacent to Building 214 are several other 
industrial buildings that form the area on base known as ``Tin 
City.'' Building 214 was a former vehicle maintenance shop, and 
solvents and petroleum were reported to have been released in a 
gravel-covered parking area adjacent to the building. In addition, 
an Underground Storage Tank (UST) was reported to have overflowed 
during past operations, and two drywells were reported to have 
existed at the southeast and southwest corners of the building. 
Beginning in the mid 1980s, various studies were conducted in this 
area, and thereafter soil sampling, groundwater sampling, and a risk 
assessment were performed as part of the RI in 1993. Based upon the 
RI, the AF developed a plan for public comment proposing no further 
action with land use restrictions. EPA, with the concurrence of the 
NYSDEC, approved the ROD on September 30, 1999, requiring 
institutional controls in the form of land use restrictions. The ROD 
required the site be restricted to commercial/industrial reuse, 
groundwater restrictions be implemented, and the AF to perform Five-
Year Reviews to ensure the remedy is protective of human health and 
the environment. Following the approval of the ROD, groundwater 
monitoring continued, and based upon this monitoring EPA approved an 
Explanation of Significant Difference (ESD) on September 26, 2003, 
which found that the constituents sampled as part of a groundwater 
long-term monitoring program were below acceptable standards. The 
recorded deed contains land and groundwater use restrictions 
required in the ROD.
    Building 219. The Building 219 site is located in the west-
central portion of the base. This building and several other 
buildings form the Tin City area. The building was used as an 
Electric Power Production Shop, and based upon previous history a 
drywell existed south of the building. Liquid waste spills, 
neutralized battery acids, ethylene glycol, and shop wash-water may 
have been disposed in the drywell during the 1970s while the 
building was in operation. In 1994, an RI was performed to determine 
the nature and extent of contamination. Based upon the RI and a risk 
assessment, the AF developed a plan for public comment proposing no 
further action with land use restrictions. EPA, with the concurrence 
of the NYSDEC, approved the ROD on September 30, 1999, requiring 
institutional controls in the form of land use restrictions. The ROD 
required the site be restricted to commercial/industrial reuse, 
groundwater restrictions be implemented, and the AF to perform Five-
Year Reviews to ensure the remedy is protective of human health and 
the environment. Following the approval of the ROD, groundwater 
monitoring continued, and based upon this monitoring EPA approved an 
ESD on September 26, 2003, which found that the constituents sampled 
as part of a groundwater long-term monitoring program did not exceed 
acceptable standards. The recorded deed contains land and 
groundwater use restrictions required in the ROD.
    Building 222. The Building 222 site, located in the west-central 
portion of the base, is also part of the Tin City area. The building 
was used as a truck maintenance facility and entomology laboratory, 
and based upon previous history a battery acid disposal pit existed 
inside the building. The pit had an opening approximately 2 square 
feet in the floor and was covered with a steel grate. From 1940 
until 1984, neutralized battery acids were discharged into the pit. 
In 1994, an RI was performed to determine the nature and extent of 
contamination. In 1998, and interim response action was performed to 
remove contaminated soil beneath the floor in the area of the 
battery acid disposal pit. Based upon the RI and the risk 
assessment, the AF developed a plan for public comment proposing no 
further action with land use restrictions. EPA, with the concurrence 
of the NYSDEC, approved the ROD on September 27, 2001, requiring 
institutional controls in the form of land use restrictions. The ROD 
required the site be restricted to commercial/industrial reuse, 
groundwater restrictions be implemented, and the AF to perform Five-
Year Reviews to ensure the remedy is protective of human health and 
the environment. Following the approval of the ROD, groundwater 
monitoring continued, and based upon this monitoring EPA approved an 
ESD on September 26, 2003, which found that the constituents sampled 
as part of a groundwater long-term monitoring program did not exceed 
acceptable standards. The recorded deed contains land and 
groundwater use restrictions required in the ROD.

    Parcel F3B. This 14.04 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an 
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF 
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel 
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
    Parcel F4A. This 107.59 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an 
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF 
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel 
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
    Parcel F4C. This 56.96 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an 
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF 
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel 
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
    Parcel F6A. This 55.40 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an 
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF 
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. Of the 
55.40 acres only 52.20 acres are proposed for deletion. There are no 
CERCLA sites within these acres. The one remaining site known as 
Building 301 Drywell is an individual area and will remain on the NPL 
(See Figure 1).
    Parcel F7NR. This 52.09 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an 
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF 
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel 
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
    Parcel F7R. This 223.75 acre parcel was deeded to Oneida County via 
a deed reversion clause. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was 
submitted by the AF and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were 
addressed. The parcel contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
    Parcel F8--Housing. This 69.22 acre parcel was offered to the LRA, 
but it decided not to take ownership of the property. The FOST, 
however, was submitted and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments 
were addressed and the property was disposed by Government Services 
Agency via a public auction. The parcel contains no CERCLA sites within 
its boundaries.
    Parcel F9A. This 135.25 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an 
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF 
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel 
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
    Parcel F9B. This 64.99 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an 
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF 
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel 
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
    Parcel F10A. This 11.05 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an 
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF 
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel 
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
    Parcel 10B. This 281.44 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an 
EDC, and of these acres, 275.82 acres are proposed for deletion. Prior 
to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF and 
reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC.

[[Page 77566]]

All comments were addressed. Four CERCLA sites are located within the 
parcel. Three of these sites known as Drywell 842, Drywell 846, and AOC 
9 are individual areas and will remain on the NPL. Therefore, the 
parcel contains just one CERCLA site within its boundaries that is 
proposed for deletion (See Figure 1). A summary of the CERCLA site is 
provided as follows:

    Suspected Fire Training Area. The Suspected Fire Training Area 
was located on the eastern boundary of the base. It was investigated 
as part of an RI in 1994. Based upon the RI, a ROD was proposed to 
the public for No Further Action. After the public comment period, 
EPA with the concurrence of the NYSDEC, approved the ROD on 
September 30, 1999. No reuse restrictions are required for the area.

    Parcel F11A Housing. This 152.56 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA 
via an EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by 
the AF and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The 
parcel contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
    Parcel F11C. This 4.24 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an 
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF 
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel 
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
    Parcel F11D. This 45.23 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an 
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF 
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The parcel 
contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.
    Parcel F12A. This 45.83 acre parcel was deeded to the LRA via an 
EDC. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the AF 
and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. A small 
portion of parcel F12A (4.01 acres) contains groundwater contamination. 
This area of contamination is currently being addressed and will not be 
deleted from the NPL. Therefore, 41.82 acres of the parcel which are 
proposed for deletion contain no CERCLA sites within its boundaries 
(See Figure 1).
    MGC--Mohawk Glen Club. This 15.13 acre parcel which was originally 
the Officer's Club was deeded to Oneida County via a deed reversion 
clause. Prior to the property being deeded, a FOST was submitted by the 
AF and reviewed by EPA and NYSDEC. All comments were addressed. The 
parcel contains no CERCLA sites within its boundaries.

C. Community Involvement

    The AF published its first Community Relations Plan in May 1991 and 
created a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) to facilitate participation 
of and input from the public throughout the CERCLA cleanup process. The 
RAB acts as a focal point for the exchange of information between the 
AF and the local community, and it enables the early communication of 
information, concerns, and needs between them. In addition, each 
decision document at the Site has been made available for public 
comment, discussed at public meetings, and placed in the information 
repository before the decision document is finalized.

D. Deletion Action Determination

    EPA, with the concurrence of the State of New York dated August 7, 
2008, has determined that all appropriate responses under CERCLA have 
been completed and that no further response actions under CERCLA, other 
than O&M and Five-Year Reviews, are necessary or that an investigation 
has shown a release poses no significant threat to public health or the 
environment and, therefore, no response action is appropriate. 
Therefore, EPA is deleting the properties and parcels described above 
from the NPL. While EPA does not believe that any future response 
actions in the areas identified above will be needed, if future 
conditions warrant such action, the proposed deletion area of GAFB 
remains eligible for future response actions. Furthermore, this partial 
deletion does not alter the status of the remaining areas of GAFB which 
are not proposed for deletion and remain on the NPL. Likewise, this 
deletion does not alter the status of any other cleanup activities 
occurring under other federal and state programs (e.g., many of the 
parcels proposed for deletion include cleanup under New York State 
authorities such as the New York State Spills Program which addresses 
releases of petroleum products to the environment).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 300

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Chemicals, 
Hazardous waste, Hazardous substances, Intergovernmental relations, 
Natural resources, Oil pollution, Penalties, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Superfund, Water pollution control, Water 
supply.

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(c)(2); 42 U.S.C. 9601-9657; E.O. 
12777, 56 FR 54757, 3 CFR 1991 Comp., p. 351; and E.O.12580, 52 FR 
2923, 3 CFR 1987 Comp., p. 193.

    Dated: November 28, 2008.
Alan J. Steinberg,
Regional Administrator--Region 2.
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[FR Doc. E8-29961 Filed 12-18-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-C
