Various Environmental Investigations– National Park Service

Various locations within California and Nevada

Description:

On 1 January 2019, Bluestone acquired Avatar Environmental, LLC. Bluestone (Avatar) has performed work for the National Park Service (NPS) as prime contractor at several NPS sites within the Pacific West Region. Bluestone was awarded two contracts to perform Site Investigations (SIs) within Great Basin National Park (GRBA) and Pinnacles National Park (PINN). One of the sites within GRBA, Johnson Lake Mine Mill, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The remaining three sites within GRBA are each eligible for placement on the list based on their contributing elements to the historic mining district. Due to the historic and cultural elements present, all environmental sampling had to be completed by hand in order to preserve and avoid disturbing archaeological deposits. A professional archaeologist was required to be present at all times in order to monitor sampling activities and to ensure that the cultural integrity of the sites was maintained. Similarly, the SI performed within PINN involved Site terrain that resulted in a complex field effort, which included four separate Decision Units using surface and subsurface incremental sampling methodology (ISM). The remote locations and high elevations within GRBA and PINN created logistical difficulties for the field teams. Given these elements, Bluestone was able to efficiently perform field activities in less than the anticipated timeframe, maintain sample integrity while meeting all holding times for laboratory analysis, and maintain budget and schedule constraints, all while preserving the cultural integrity of the GRBA sites. In addition to the two SIs, Bluestone was also contracted to perform a Preliminary Assessment (PA) at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park (SEKI) to evaluate the potential for release of hazardous constituents related to historical operations and waste management activities at the Lewis Creek Camp Dump Site.

Bluestone was also awarded four contracts to perform Engineering Evaluations/Cost Analyses (EE/CAs) with SEKI, Mojave National Preserve (MOJA), Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (WHIS), and Lassen Volcanic National Park (LAVO), all of which are located in California. Bluestone was contracted to support a determination of whether a removal action is warranted, the scope of the removal action, and the evaluation and selection of alternative technologies for each of the four Sites. Objectives for each site included the characterization of the nature and extent of contamination for soil and sediment, evaluation of human health and ecological risks, development of applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements, and development of response alternatives. The scope of work included site visits and field sampling, production and management of Site Files and Administrative Records, an EE/CA Approval and Action Memorandum, planning documents including a Community Involvement Plan, a Health and Safety Plan, and a Sampling and Analysis Plan, performance of geophysical investigations, and production of an EE/CA report. Background evaluations were also conducted as part of the EE/CA evaluations in order to calculate cleanup goals and inform remedial action decisions. As with GRBA and PINN, SEKI, MOJA, WHIS, and LAVO were all within remote locations providing logistical difficulties throughout field activities. Lastly, in order to provide the client with a more comprehensive investigation and EE/CA report, Bluestone worked closely with the NPS to revise the EE/CA process to be consistent with the CERCLA RI/FS guidelines.