For Fort Ord rd Pres escri ribed B d Burn P rn Progr ogram Jul uly 17, y 17, 2017 2017 Presenta tati tion on b by: David Eisen U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Fort Ord BRAC Office 1
Fort Ord History • Fort Ord was in operation from 1917-1994 • National Priorities List site (EPA Superfund) - 1990 • Identified for Base Closure - 1991 • Began Munitions Investigation – 1993 • BASE CLOSURE - 1994 • Prescribed Burning Began - 1994 • Munitions Response Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (MR RI/FS) process began 1998 2
Background Remedial Action CERCLA* Cleanup Process: • Habitat Management Plan / Biological Opinions • Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study (RI/FS): – What is required for clean up and a review of all viable methods – Vegetation clearance methods studied as part of cleanup process • 2008 Track 3 Impact Area Record of Decision (ROD) – Clean up process selected including vegetation clearance method • Remedial Design / Remedial Action Work Plan (RD/RAWP) – Clean up strategy: Approx 5-8 years, transfer to BLM for public use • 2017 BLM Area B & MRS-16 ROD RD/RAWP * Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 3
Why We Burn • Part of the selected remedy in the CERCLA Record of Decision • To clear vegetation so that ordnance removal can be conducted safely, remove ordnance for safe reuse of property. • Burning promotes healthy Central Maritime Chaparral habitat which is home to many rare, threatened and endangered species. • Required for Army predisposal actions by Habitat Management Plan and Biological Opinions issued by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in accordance with the Endangered Species Act and for mitigation measures within Critical Habitat for Monterey Spineflower. 4
Sandmat Manzanita FTCH Monterey Spineflower Coast Wallflower FE Yadon’s Piperia Monterey (Toro) CSoC Manzanita Black Legless Lizard Eastwood’s Ericameria FE-CT Monterey Sand Gilia CE Seaside Bird’s Beak Monterey Ceanothus FT Central Maritime Chaparral California Tiger Salamander FE Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species Contra Costa Goldfields 6 5 F – Federally C – California E – Endangered T – Threatened SoC – Species of Concern CH – Critical Habitat
Burn Goals Goal 1: Complete prescribed burn operations with no injuries. Goal 2: Hold the burn within the established containment lines located around the burn units. Goal 3: Minimize smoke impacts . Goal 4: Clear vegetation to facilitate safe MEC remedial action. Goal 5: Minimize damage and promote conservation of rare, threatened, and endangered species. 6
When Do We Burn? 1. Burn Season: July through December 2. Specific Weather Conditions (Burn Prescription) 3. Availability of Local Emergency Services 4. Availability of Contract Resources • No Burn Days: – Certain Community Events (Black Out Days) – Red Flag Days (very low relative humidity+ high/erratic winds) 7
2017 Burn Unit Locations 8
Annual Coordination • Agencies: – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – California Department of Toxic Substances Control – California Air Resources Board – Monterey Bay Air Resource District – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Federal Aviation Administration • Emergency Services: – POMFD/POMPD – Cal Fire, Local Fire Agencies, California State University, Monterey Bay – Monterey County Sheriffs, Office of Emergency Services, Health Dept. 9
Onsite Meteorological Equipment There are 9 pieces of research-grade meteorological equipment on Fort Ord to monitor weather conditions . Seven weather stations and two Sonic Detection and Ranging Systems (SoDARs). SoDARs Weather Stations 10
Meteorological Equipment 11
Burn Prescription These specific meteorological conditions were carefully established by our project fire weather meteorologist in cooperation with air district meteorologists as guidelines for good smoke behavior and vegetation consumption. Burn days occur when these conditions are forecasted to align. However, these conditions only occur 0-6 times a burn season (Jul-Dec) and are very difficult to predict in advance. ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES CONSUMPTION RANGE Relative Humidity % 20 80 Temperature (F) 90 45 Live Fuel Moisture % 60 100 Projected Plume Height 1,500 ft 7 mph – gusts NTE 12 0 - <5 mph Surface Wind Speed mph Preferred: Light and Variable Surface Wind Direction or SE thru N to W Preferred: Light and Variable Transport Wind Direction or S E thru N to W 12
Burn Website http://met.nps.edu/~nuss/fort-ord.html 13
Pre-Burn Preparation 14
Biological Monitoring 15
Water Resources 6 - 12K gal 12K gal Overhead Water Storage Dip Tanks Tanks 6 - 10K gal Water Storage Tanks 9 – 2-4K gal Water Tenders 6 - 20K gal Water Storage Tanks Note buck for scale 16
Mastication Before The primary containment line is mechanically cut to a width equal to, or greater than, the hazardous fragmentation distance of the most probable munition for the area. After the cut a technology-aided surface removal is conducted to remove surface munitions for firefighter safety during burn. After 17
Mastication In 2015 a 200-ft wide primary containment line was cut inside and outside the perimeter of Units 11 and 12. The containment line network was enhanced to include Units 5a, 9, 23 to provide additional protection between the burn areas and the populated areas. Mastication for 2016 includes a 316-ft primary around Unit 31 and additional mastication identified in orange. 18
Road Closures 19
BLM Area B – Units B and C Mastication In 2017 a 316-ft wide primary containment line was cut inside and outside the perimeter of Units 11 and 12. The containment line network was enhanced to include Units 5a, 9, 23 to provide additional protection between the burn areas and the populated areas. Mastication for 2016 includes a 316-ft primary around Unit 31 and additional mastication identified in orange. 20
Road Closures 21
Burn Operations and Smoke Behavior 22
Prescribed Burning Test Burn Active Ignition 23
Aerial Ignition and Suppression 24
Smoke Behavior Plume Height: Plume form with smoke rising vertically and convective inflow all around plume base sweeping smoke up into the column . 25
Smoke Behavior The images of the plumes during the last burn, show a clear layer of air underneath the intact base of the plume. These plume show that the smoke is aloft over population with the well defined intact base. 26
Smolder Effects October, 14 2013 - Smolder Phase –12:58 13:18 – taken from Naval Postgraduate School 27
Equipment 28
Air Monitoring Locations 29
Show Stoppers Black Out Days Resource Draw Downs (Due to mutual aid assignments - in and out of county) Red Flag Day / Unfavorable Rx 30
Related Documents • Prescribed Burn Plans and Air Sampling and Analysis Plans: – BLM Areas B Units A, B and C - Draft Issued May 2017 (OE-0901) – MRS-BLM Units 25 and 31 - Draft Final Issued May 2016 (OE-0881A) – MRS-BLM Units 11 and 12 Prescribed Burn Plan - Final Issued May 2015 (OE- 0735J) • Site Specific Work Plan, Munitions and Explosives of Concern: ─ BLM Areas B Units A, B and C – Draft Issued May 2017 (OE-0900) ─ MRS-BLM Units 4, 5A, 9, 11 and 12 – Final Issued September 2011 (OE-0736B) ─ MRS-BLM Units 25 and 31 – Final Issued April 2016 (OE-0880B) www.fortordcleanup.com 31
Prescribed Burn Outreach Direct Notification Program • Participants receive personal notification at burn mobilization, ignition, and completion via phone, SMS/text, or e-mail, or all three. Community Outreach • Direct Mailings • Tweets • Hotline operators and web updates • Press releases • Newspaper ads: Herald, Californian, and El Sol (in Spanish) • Work with RCI/Parks, Monterey County Health Department , and other community organizations • Media Interviews For information call: (800) 852-9699 or go to www.FortOrdCleanup.com 32
www.fortordcleanup.com 33
QUESTIONS? 34
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