DSHW-1998-003908 - 0901a068801565a5

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE
^
Michael O. Leavitt
Govemor
Dianne R. Nielson, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Dennis R. Downs
Director
March 16,
^ 288 North 1460 West
ffl P.O. Box 144880
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4880
•• [phone]
a [phone] Fax
j [phone] T.D.D.
Vi www.deq.state.ut.us Web
1998
FILE COPY
Mr. Joe D. Thompson, Director
Environmental, Fire and Security
Thiokol Corporation
P.O. Box 707
Brigham City, UT 84302-0707
RE: Solid Waste Management Unit #515, M-392 Special Containment Vessels
Dear Mr. Thompson:
In November of 1988, the Environmental Protection Agency, Region VIII issued Morton Thiokol
a RCRA Emergency Permit to temporarily store reactive hazardous wastewater in four "special
containment vessels." The containment vessels were needed to provide storage for wastewater until
Morton Thiokol's wastewater treatment plant was ftmctional. Prior to use ofthe containment
vessels, the wastewaters, which were primarily contaminated with HMX explosive, ammonium
perchlorate, propellant pieces and sodium azide, were discharged to surface impoundments or
trenches at M-136 where the reactive components were bumed.
Containment vessel #4, known as the sodium azide wastewater vessel, was certified closed by an
independent engineer on July 25, 1990. Closure ofthe vessel included discharge ofthe wastewater
to the treatment plant, a cleaning and rinsing process, disassembly, and soil sampling ofthe area
beneath the vessel. The soil sampling was done to verify that no release had occurred from the
vessel.
Containment vessels #1, #2, and #3 were emptied, cleaned and rinsed in 1990, but they were not
disassembled. Therefore, since the soil under the vessels hasn't been sampled, it hasn't been
demonstrated that releases from the vessels did not occur.
It is understood that Thiokol now plans to use the containment vessels to evaporate wastewater that
has high total dissolved solids rather than discharging the wastewater to Blue Creek. Thiokol has
reported that the wastewater, which is generated from a process at M-590, will be treated at the
M-705 treatment plant to remove the ignitability characteristic before it is discharged to the
containment vessels. Based on a letter that the Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste (the
Division) received from Thiokol by FAX on March 5, 1998, the wastewater is not a characteristic
or listed hazardous waste after the wastewater is treated at M-705.
f
ompson
8
The containment vessels, unit location M-392, have been designated Solid Waste Management
Unit (SWMU) #515. In the RCRA Facility Investigation, Phase I Workplan (Volume 3 - Solid
Waste Management Units), it is stated under the section entitled "Investigation Plans" that no further
action is planned for the SWMU. Based on the fact that hazardous waste was stored in these units,
and waste will be generated from the high total dissolved solids wastewaters, it is the view ofthe
Division that the recommendation for no further action is not appropriate. Sampling of the soils
undemeath the containment vessels will be needed in order to demonstrate that the soils and
groundwater have not been impacted. The Division requests that Thiokol address this need for
further investigation of SWMU #515 in its next semi-annual progress report.
In regard to the sludges or solids that will be generated from the evaporation ofthe wastewater, they
will have to be characterized when they are removed from the containment vessels, and managed
appropriately.
Ifyou have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Jeff Vandel at 538-9413.
Sincerely,
Dennis R. Downs, executive Secretary
Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board
DRD\JCV\ts
c: John C. Bailey, M.D., M.S.P.H., Hlth Officer/Dept.Director,Bear River District Hlth Dept
Dennis A. Frederick, Section Manager, Division of Water Quality, Utah DEQ
f.\...\jvand6l\wp\lhiolcol\m392tank.398
file to: Thiokol