PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE
SPOKANE, SPOKANE COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Fairchild Air Force Base (Fairchild) is located 12 miles west of the city of Spokane. An initial records search released in January 1985 as part of the base Installation Restoration Program identified 22 potential hazardous waste sites based on personnel interviews and available documentation. More sites were identified during subsequent investigations and the base was added to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Priorities List in March 1989. A Federal Facilities Agreement was signed one year later by Fairchild, EPA and the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology). This agreement puts the base as the lead agency with EPA and Ecology providing oversight. Sites identified by the base were given priority according to potential health hazard. To date, a total of 39 hazardous waste sites have been identified at Fairchild.
CRAIG ROAD LANDFILL AREA - Trichloroethylene (TCE) from the landfill has impacted groundwater at the Vietzke Village, Scafco Corporation and possibly the Airway Heights public water supply.
Fairchild operated the Craig Road Landfill on a parcel of land located approximately 3,000 feet east of the main base. This landfill is the source of trichloroethylene (TCE) groundwater contamination found in the drinking water supply wells at the Vietzke Village trailer park and the Scafco Corporation facility. Elevated nitrate levels not thought to be related to the Craig Road Landfill were also detected in the Vietzke wells. The water supply wells for the Vietzke Village and Scafco Corporation facility have been officially abandoned and are no longer a source of exposure. Vietzke Village and the Scafco facility are currently supplied with water by the Fairchild and Airway Heights public water systems, respectively. The landfill is also a potential contributing source of the TCE contamination currently being detected in two Airway Heights public water supply wells. These wells are downgradient from the contamination and are monitored by the base four times per year. Current levels of TCE in the Airway Heights public supply wells are below regulatory standards and do not represent a public health hazard. The base has been operating a groundwater treatment system at the landfill since October 1992 to remove the source of TCE contamination that is moving off-base to the east/northeast. This system was expanded in September 1995 and should help reduce groundwater contamination near the landfill.
Past, current and future exposure to TCE in the Airway Heights public water supply represents no apparent public health hazard. Past exposure to TCE in the Scafco Corporation wells represents no apparent public health hazard.
Past exposure to TCE and nitrate in the Vietzke Village wells represents no apparent public health hazard to the general population. However, an indeterminate public health hazard exists for the children of women exposed while pregnant to TCE and nitrate in Vietzke Village drinking water prior to August 1989 when exposure ceased. Children born to women who drank TCE and nitrate in Vietzke Village water while pregnant prior to August 1989 could have been at some risk for birth defects and other adverse birth outcomes. There is no clear evidence, however, to indicate that the levels of exposure at Vietzke Village were high enough to cause these types of health effects.
ATSDR and DOH recommend continued quarterly monitoring of the Airway Heights public supply wells for VOCs until three quarterly samples have shown no detection of base-related contaminants. Areas immediately adjacent to the east and north borders of the Craig Road Landfill are currently not suitable for future development of groundwater wells designed for domestic use. DOH and ATSDR will communicate this conclusion to affected property owners.
No outdoor (ambient) air sampling data are available for any areas at the base. The potential for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to off-gas from Craig Road Landfill soil into outdoor air was assessed using a mathematical model. Results from this model indicate that levels of VOCs in outdoor air at the nearby Vietzke Village represent no apparent public health hazard. The Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority (SCAPCA) currently requires periodic monitoring of emissions from the Craig Road Landfill. These emissions are evaluated by SCAPCA to ensure that contaminants in air at nearby residences are below a level of health concern.
WEST THORPE ROAD AREA - Residential drinking water wells and No-Name Ditch (Fairchild Easement) have been impacted by contaminants originating at the base wastewater lagoons and herbicide spraying (Tordon).
Residential wells in the West Thorpe Road area east of the base wastewater lagoons (WW-1) and fire training (FT-1) area have been impacted by TCE. The exact source of this TCE plume is not known but is thought to be in the general area of the wastewater lagoons. The fire-training area located south of the lagoons is the source of low levels of TCE and higher levels of benzene that have not moved off-base to any significant extent. Exposure of West Thorpe Road area residents to current levels of TCE in groundwater represents no apparent public health hazard. Groundwater cleanup has been undertaken by the base to address both of these contamination sources. In addition, on-base monitoring wells and nearby residential wells are monitored by the base four times per year.
ATSDR and DOH recommend continued monitoring of the West Thorpe Road area wells until these wells are no longer threatened by groundwater contaminants associated with the base. DOH will consider a well to be safe after three quarterly samples have shown no detection of base-related contaminants. Also, areas immediately adjacent to the east borders of the wastewater lagoons and fire training area are currently not suitable for future development of wells designed for domestic use. DOH and ATSDR will communicate this conclusion to affected property owners.
Another area of particular concern to the residents of the West Thorpe Road area is the Fairchild Easement, also known as No-Name Ditch. The ditch runs from the wastewater lagoons located on the eastern border of the base across Rambo Road and through several residences in the West Thorpe Road area before draining to groundwater. The wastewater lagoons currently receive surface water runoff from the base storm water discharge system. This system formerly delivered waste discharge from base maintenance shops to the lagoons. No apparent public health hazard exists for children who might play in and around the ditch. There is some concern that past levels of petroleum-related contaminants in ditch sediment and surface water may have been higher. Because contact with contaminants in the ditch was probably infrequent, past exposure is not expected to be of concern.
The herbicide Tordon was applied to roadways in the West Thorpe Road area and No-Name Ditch. In 1979, low levels of Tordon were detected in residential garden soil, drinking water wells and No-Name Ditch surface water. No apparent public health hazard exists from past exposure of West Thorpe Road area residents to Tordon in drinking water, surface water or soil. Tordon does not appear to be a potent animal carcinogen and there is no evidence that Tordon causes cancer in humans. The low levels detected would likely represent only a slight or insignificant increase in cancer risk.
ON-BASE HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES
Thirty-nine contaminated sites have been identified on base. Exposure of on-base workers to contaminants in soil, surface water or sediment represents no apparent public health hazard. No base personnel are exposed to contaminated groundwater. No apparent public health hazard exists for children exposed to lead in surface soil at the former aircraft salvage yard site (SW-11). The site is currently a recreation area (Warrior Park) and was found to contain elevated levels of lead in surface soil with a maximum of 1,340 ppm. Based on a previous DOH recommendation, the base conducted further sampling to determine if this maximum level was representative of high use areas of the park. This extensive sampling found a maximum of 98 ppm lead in surface soil. Blood lead levels in children exposed to lead in Warrior Park soil are not expected to increase above a level of health concern. The park should be periodically inspected, however, to ensure that no metallic debris, that may pose a physical hazard, is exposed in the future.
The potential exists for land use, currently posing no apparent public health hazard to base personnel, to change in the future. Future development of base property for residential use may not be suitable in some areas. Future installation of water supply wells for domestic use could result in exposure to contaminants above a level of concern. Soil contamination that poses no apparent public health hazard to on-base workers could be a hazard under a residential exposure scenario. The risk posed to future residents would depend on many factors including location, date of development, and ongoing cleanup efforts. Future residential development in and around these areas should be preceded by evidence showing that contaminants in soil and groundwater are below levels of concern. Development of base property is currently subject to review on various levels that should prevent the location of any new residential developments in areas of concern. Should the base close in the future, any transfer of property is subject to the requirements of the USAF Base Realignment and Closure program that includes comprehensive environmental review.
Table 1 summarizes the completed exposure pathways discussed above and provides conclusion
categories for each. ATSDR uses these conclusion categories to identify sites that require follow-up health action. The ATSDR conclusion categories are defined in Appendix F. Both completed
and potential exposure pathways are discussed in detail under the Pathways Analysis/Public
Health Implications section of this document. Follow-up health actions are discussed in the Public Health Action Plan (page 67).
| TABLE 1. FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE EXPOSURE EVALUATION CONCLUSIONS | |||||
| Source | Exposure Location |
Exposed Population |
Exposure Media |
Exposure Time Frame |
Conclusion Category |
| Craig Road Landfill | Vietzke Village | Residents | Drinking Water | Past | Indeterminate Public Health Hazard |
| Current | No Public Health Hazard | ||||
| Future | No Public Health Hazard | ||||
| Outdoor Air | Past, Current, Future | No Apparent Public Health Hazard | |||
| Airway Heights | Residents | Drinking Water | Past, Current, Future | No Apparent Public Health Hazard | |
| Scafco Corporation | Workers | Drinking Water | Past, Current, Future | No Apparent Public Health Hazard | |
| Base Wastewater Lagoons | West Thorpe Road | Residents | Drinking Water | Past, Current, Future | No Apparent Public Health Hazard |
| Surface Water, Sediment in No-Name Ditch | Past, Current, Future | No Apparent Public Health Hazard | |||
| Tordon Application | West Thorpe Road | Residents | Drinking Water, Soil | Past | No Apparent Public Health Hazard |
| Surface Water in No-Name Ditch |
|||||
| On-Base Hazardous Waste Sites | On-Base Hazardous Waste Sites | Workers | Soil/Sediment | Past, Current, Future | No Apparent Public Health Hazard |
| On-Base Recreation Area | Children | Soil | Past, Current, Future | No Apparent Public Health Hazard | |
The ATSDR conclusion categories are defined in Appendix F.
A. Site Description and History
Fairchild Air Force Base (Fairchild) is located 12 miles west of the city of Spokane, Washington adjacent to US Highway 2 and 3 miles north of Interstate 90 (Figure 1). The base is at an elevation of 2,463 feet above sea level and covers approximately 4,300 acres of high plains characteristic of Eastern Washington. Fairchild originated as the Spokane Army Air Depot in 1942 and was turned over to the United States Air Force (Strategic Air Command) in 1947. The base is currently shared with the Washington Air National Guard and several tenant organizations. Several facilities administered by the base are located in the surrounding area off the main base (Figure 2).
Fairchild generated considerable quantities of hazardous waste throughout its history as a result of its function as an aircraft maintenance and refueling station. Most of the waste generated for recycling or disposal was either fuel oil, machine oil or solvents. Smaller quantities of acids and photographic chemicals were also generated. Releases of these materials to the environment occurred as a result of land filling, discharge to the base wastewater drainage system, fire training exercises, and accidental spills and leaks.
Environmental Investigations
Fairchild initiated investigations of potential hazardous waste releases in September 1984 as part of a four-phase Installation Restoration Program (IRP). The IRP program was implemented by the USAF in 1982 under the direction of the Department of Defense (DOD) in order to comply with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund. A Phase I records search released in January 1985 identified 22 potential hazardous waste sites based on personnel interviews and available documentation. These areas received risk rankings according to the USAF Hazard Assessment Rating Methodology (HARM). 1
Identification of sites continued through 1988 under a modified IRP process designed to fit more closely with the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) process used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In March of 1989, Fairchild was listed on EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) and a Federal Facilities Agreement was signed one year later by Fairchild, EPA and the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology). Sites determined to pose a potential hazard to public health or the environment were required to undergo the RI/FS process with Fairchild as the lead agency. 2
To date, thirty-nine sites have been identified at Fairchild (Figure 3). These sites have been put in three priority groups according to potential hazard. Of the 39 sites identified, 8 rank as Priority 1, 20 as Priority 2, and 11 as Priority 3. Three Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Studies (RI/FS) and one Limited Field Investigation were conducted to investigate contamination at the Priority 1 and 2 sites. An RI/FS was completed in September 1992 for the Craig Road Landfill (SW-8) Priority 1 site. 3 An RI/FS for the remaining 7 Priority 1 sites was completed in February 1993. 4 A Limited Field Investigation for the Priority 2 sites, completed in September of 1992, determined that an RI/FS was needed for only 9 of these sites. An RI/FS for these nine sites (designated as Priority 2a) was completed in February 1995. 5
A Site Investigation for eight areas of concern (AOC) was released in November 1996. Included in this investigation were Priority 2 sites SW-6 (Weapons Storage Area) and SW-13 (Explosive Ordinance Range) and Orphan Trichloroethylene Plumes. 6 These 11 sites are currently classified as Priority 3. The Orphan Trichlorethylene Plumes are areas of on-base trichloroethylene (TCE) groundwater contamination located along the flight line with no specific source. Some of these plumes are believed to be related to previously identified sites. Appendix B lists each identified site, associated investigations and actions proposed or taken.
In addition to the sites identified within the boundaries of the base, two groundwater contamination plumes originating on base have migrated east to off-base properties. Another off-base area of concern is the Fairchild Easement (No-Name Ditch) that runs from the wastewater lagoons across Rambo Road and through residential properties along West Thorpe Road.
Cleanup Actions
Several removal actions have occurred at various sites around the base. In April of 1992, contaminated soil was removed from site PS-5 along with 3 underground storage tanks (USTs) from site PS-7. Contaminated sediment was removed from the French Drain System (IS-1) in December 1992. Site SW-11 was covered with top soil and seeded with grass in March 1992 to reduce potential exposure via inhalation or direct contact with contaminants in soil. In August of 1996, 200 cubic yards of soil contaminated with TCE and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) were excavated up to a depth of 9 feet at Site PS-10 in order to remove a potential threat to groundwater. 7
In addition to these removal actions, several Long Term Operations (LTO) are ongoing at various sites on the base. A groundwater treatment system installed at the Craig Road Landfill (SW-8) in September 1995 is currently operating to remove the source of a groundwater plume moving off-base to the east/northeast. The base responded to contamination of nearby public supply wells at the Vietzke Village trailer park by supplying bottled drinking water to trailer park residents from July 18, 1989, through early August 1989, when the park was connected to base water. Under the direction of Fairchild, all three Vietzke wells were filled with concrete and officially abandoned between May and June 1993. The base currently monitors Airway Heights public supply wells RW-1 and RW-4 for VOC contamination (including TCE) four times per year.
Groundwater treatment is also ongoing in the area south of wastewater lagoon (WW-1) as of February 1996. The WW-1 area is another source of off-base TCE groundwater contamination that is currently affecting residential wells to the southeast along West Thorpe Road. The base currently monitors several West Thorpe Road residential wells for VOC contamination four times per year.
The base is also conducting a Long Term Monitoring (LTM) program that includes sampling and analysis of soil and monitoring wells for TPH and VOCs at sites with identified contamination. Soil bioventing began in June 1997 at sites FT-1 and PS-1 to clean up petroleum in soil. Groundwater treatment (air sparging) at FT-1 also started at this time. Appendix B lists each site along with actions taken for that site. For detailed information regarding environmental investigations and cleanup actions at the base, please refer to the Information Repository located at the Spokane Falls Community College Library.
In 1991, after entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Defense (DOD), ATSDR visited 96 DOD National Priorities List (NPL) sites including Fairchild. At this time, Fairchild was ranked as a relatively low priority for a public health assessment when compared with other DOD NPL sites. A grant awarded to DOH for the federal fiscal year 1997, as part of an existing cooperative agreement with ATSDR, provided funds to conduct a public health assessment at Fairchild.
Site Visit
A site visit of Fairchild was conducted from December 16-18, 1996, by Robert Duff (DOH), Vicki Skeers (DOH), Carole Hossom (ATSDR - Atlanta) and Steven Haness (ATSDR - Seattle). The visit was organized and guided by base representatives from the Bioenvironmental Engineering office and Installation Restoration Program. A brief presentation describing the public health assessment process and the cooperative agreement between DOH and ATSDR was given to base personnel on December 16. In addition to base personnel, a representative from Armstrong Laboratories (liaison between the USAF and ATSDR) and USAF Headquarters Air Mobility Command at Scott AFB, Illinois, were present throughout the three-day visit.
A site walk-around on December 17 included remedial project managers from EPA and Ecology as well as a representative from the Spokane Regional Health District (formerly Spokane County Health District). The walk-around focused on the Craig Road Landfill (SW-8), wastewater treatment lagoons (WW-1), former fire training area (FT-1) and No-Name Ditch. Sites located in the interior of the base were viewed on a drive-by basis.
The Craig Road Landfill and Vietzke Village were viewed from Craig Road. Monitoring wells located on the landfill and adjacent properties were noted. The air stripping tower associated with the groundwater treatment plant could be seen from the road. No signs of development were noted on the Whitman College property located east of the landfill between Vietzke Village and the Scafco Corporation facility. Base personnel did point out, however, that landfilling and quarrying have taken place on this property. The Scafco building was occupied by a tenant business at the time of the site visit.
Water was flowing in No-Name Ditch and a small pond was noted at a residence along West Thorpe Road. Other residences along West Thorpe Road that are part of the ongoing residential well monitoring program were noted. Two more residences were noted along an access road extending north off West Thorpe Road. Base personnel explained that these residences were in the path of a groundwater plume moving off site. Sampling of the shallow (dug) well serving one of these houses was discontinued in December 1995 per request of the tenant. This resident recently agreed to again permit sampling and the well was scheduled to be included in the September 1997 sampling round.
Discussions with base personnel continued on December 18. Proposed public availability sessions to be held by DOH were explained to base personnel. A short description of the public health assessment process was written for distribution to the Fairchild Restoration Advisory Board.
C. Demographics, Land Use, and Natural Resource Use
Demographics information for Fairchild and the surrounding area was obtained from ATSDR (Figure 4). The area surrounding the base is sparsely populated as indicated in the diagrams. Airway Heights, including the Vietzke Village trailer park, and Medical Lake are two communities located within a one-mile radius of the base. The estimated base population is 5,518 with 27 persons over 65 and 1,083 under 5 years of age. The population within one mile of the base totals 4,907 with 412 persons greater than 65 and 566 children 6 years of age or younger. 8 These data indicate that the on-base population contains 15 times fewer persons of retirement age and twice the number of children under 6 years of age compared with Washington State averages. 9 The number of adults older than 65 years of age living within one-mile of the base does not differ substantially from state averages. The number of young children living within one-mile of the base could not be compared with statewide numbers because of variation in age grouping. Discussions with various community members suggest that many residents of the Airway Heights and Medical Lake communities are former Fairchild personnel.
Land use in the area surrounding the base is predominantly agricultural and residential. Small businesses operate in the neighboring towns of Medical Lake and Airway Heights. There is little industrial activity in the area. In order to investigate the potential presence of other contaminant sources in the area, a search was made of the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). TRI is a self-reporting database quantifying the release of over 300 chemicals into the environment that is maintained by EPA in compliance with the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986. At the time of the search in April 1997, TRI included data from 1987 through 1994. No substantial sources of hazardous waste discharge are recorded in TRI for the area surrounding the base. The only facility listed on TRI in the Medical Lake/Airway Heights area is Spokane Galvanizing Inc. located on Garfield Road in Airway Heights approximately 2000 feet east of the Airway Heights public supply wells RW-1 and RW-4 (see Figure 6). The only TRI-listed chemicals generated by this facility are sulfuric acid and zinc both of which are transported off-site for land filling and recovery, respectively. 10
A municipal waste incinerator is located near the Spokane Airport. This incinerator serves most of municipal waste needs of the City of Spokane as well as Fairchild. The incinerator began operation in September 1991. Stack emissions from the incinerator are continuously monitored for some EPA primary pollutants. No (outdoor) ambient air monitoring data have been collected in or around the base. It is, therefore, unclear as to whether the incinerator is impacting air quality around the base. The Graham Road Recycling and Disposal Facility is a landfill located just west of the base on Graham Road. This landfill receives mostly construction debris but may be expanding its use and area of operation in the near future. There is no evidence that the landfill is a contributing source of any contamination detected during investigations in and around the base.
Drinking water for the base, Medical Lake and Airway Heights is supplied from groundwater wells and must be tested periodically under federal law. Testing has shown these supplies to be safe to drink. The base water supply comes from the Fort Wright well field (Water Supply Annex No. 1) and on-base supply well #2 (Water Supply Annex No. 2). The Fort Wright well field is located 12 miles east of the base near the Spokane River and consists of 4 wells that draw water from the Spokane Valley aquifer. The water is pumped to the Geiger Reservoir and then chlorinated prior to transport to Fairchild storage facilities. On-base supply well #2 is located at the southern end of the base and draws water from both the upper (Wanapum Basalt) and lower (Grande Ronde Basalt) bedrock aquifers. The Fort Wright well field generates a maximum of 4,100 gallons per minute while the contribution from on-base supply well #2 varies with water use and peaks in the summer at about 1,000 gallons per minute. 11
Airway Heights water supply is generated primarily from three blended supply wells (RW-1, RW-4 and Well #5) located east of and downgradient from the Craig Road Landfill. The city recently developed another supply well (Well #7) located at the corner of McFarlane and Russel Road. Production at Well #7 has proven to be erratic and does not contribute substantially to the overall supply. The blended groundwater is distributed to customers from a holding tank. 12
Medical Lake water supply is generated from three wells located about one mile west of Espanola upgradient from the base. These wells are shared with state facilities in the area. The town recently installed a new well approximately 1.8 miles southeast of the base at the intersection of County Route 902 and Craig Road. This well should be operable by August 1997 and is expected to deliver water to a future reservoir on Olson Hill at a rate of 1,200 gallons per minute. 13
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