DSHW-2009-006829 - 0901a06880139f44

ATK
ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS
ATK Thiokol Inc. Tel [phone]
January 25 2004 ^^- ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ 863-2234
soon TTvn^' CTOAO B^'gham City, UT 84302-0707 RECEIVED
Dennis R. Downs, Executive Secretary
Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board .. j^ p „ nnnr
Department of Environmental Quality /^^ Dty^^^
P. o. Box 144880 UTAH DIVISION OF
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4880 3QUQ ^ HAZARDOUS WASTE
Dear Mr. Downs
Subject: Construction, Current Status, and Future Plans for Groundwater
Monitoring Well J-4, ATK Thiokol Propulsion - Promontory Facility, #
UTD009081357
In December 2004, ATK Thiokol Inc. contracted to bore and constmct groundwater
monitoring well J-4 on the east side of our facility, near existing monitor well Ml 14-Bl.
The purpose of the well is to detennine the relationship between the regional water zone
and a perched water zone found in adjacent well Ml 14-Bl. The upper portion of the well
was drilled twelve inch diameter (to 183' depth), and a ten inch steel casing was
cemented in the well to seal the perched water zone. After the cement seal hardened, the
well was drilled ten inch diameter from the cement seal to 320 feet below ground level
(BGL). We expected to encounter the regional water zone at approximately 295 feet
depth, but the well did not appear to produce water. At first, we believed the well was
dry, and temporarily sealed the 10 inch steel casing with a welded steel top. In mid-
December, we discussed the well with Jeff Vandel of your staff, and he asked that we
check the well to be certain of the dry status. When tested, the well contained a water
column from 320 to 291 feet BGL.
There appears to be three possible sources for this water: 1.) J-4 produces a small
quantity of water from the regional aquifer; 2.) the seal used to isolate the upper perched
water zone is not effective, and water is moving down from above; or 3.) the water may
be drilling fluid left over from the constmction process. In an effort to determine which
of these possibilities is most likely, Thiokol sampled the well using a bailer the third
week of January. The well has not been completed (open hole without screen, casing,
sandpack, etc.), does not meet the TEGD standard, and was not purged prior to sampling.
Even with these limitations, Thiokol believes there is high probability of successfully
determining the source of the water based upon the sampled water quality parameters.
The results should be available in about three weeks, and the results and conclusions will
be communicated to Jeff Vandel when available. The well will be resampled this spring,
with a pump, which will allow the well to be purged prior to sampling.
Construdion, Curreni Status, and Future Plans for Groundwater Monitoring Well J-4
January 25, 2005 Page 2
Based upon sampling results, Thiokol plans to complete one of the following activities:
• Leave the well in its current condition for a year to see if water status changes or
additional sampling will aid in the decision process; or,
• If the hole is dry or leaking water from the perched zone above, permanently
abandon the well with approved methods; or,
• If the well is producing water from the regional zone, the well will be completed
according to TEGD standards.
If you have questions or need additional information, please call John Holladay at 863-
6895.
Sincerely
Paul V. Hancock, Manager
Environmental Remediation