FINAL

PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF ELIGIBILITY REPORT

BALLICO AUXILIARY FIELD NUMBER 2, CALIFORNIA DERP-FUDS PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400 USACE P.O. W62N6M-9160-1273

Prepared for

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Sacramento District CESPK-ED-EC 1325 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814-2922

Prepared By

Advanced Assessment and Remediation Services

2380 Salvio Street, Suite 202 Concord, CA 94520-2137 Phone: (925) 363-1999 Fax: (925) 363-1998

e-mail: aars @ccnet.co

September 30, 1999

SITE SURVEY SUMMARY SHEET FOR DERP-FUDS PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400 BALLICO AUXILIARY FIELD NO. 2 BALLICO, CALIFORNIA
The subject site was originally called Ballico Auxiliary Field No. 2. Since its SITE NAME: acquisition by the City of Turlock, approximately 3 16 acres in the northeast half of the original 622acre property have been sold for agricultural use. The remaining 306 acres has been retained by the City of Turlock and includes Turlock Municipal Airport. The Ballico Site is located in Merced County, California, approximately eight LOCATION: miles east of the city of Turlock (in Stanislaus County) and two miles north of the town of Ballico, near the northwest boundary with Stanislaus County (Township 5S, Range 12E., Section 19, Mount Diablo Baseline and Meridian; at approximately 37" 13' 06" north latitude, and 120" 42' 24" west longitude). The Turlock Municipal Airport is located at 13600 Newport Road, Ballico, California. The site is situated in a rural area, and is surrounded by agricultural land.

SITE HISTORY: In September and October of 1942, The U.S. Department of War (Government) acquired the 622-acre site for use as an auxiliary military airfield for Merced Air Base. These 622 acres included land that now constitutes the (Turlock Municipal) Airport, Mustang Creek Watershed Sump, and adjacent agricultural land.
Originally, Ballico Auxiliary Field comprised a 193-acrerectangular landing area approximately 3,000 feet long in the northwest-southeast direction and 2,800 feet wide in the northeast-southwest direction. The landing area was covered with SC-3 road oil (R. Swan, Pers. Comrnun., 1999),which gave it a thin surface similar in appearance to asphalt pavement. Today, the Airport property includes only the southwest 110 acres of the original oil-paved airfield. The remaining 83 acres now are part of the agricultural properties to the northeast. The Ballico Auxiliary Field was used almost exclusively for training by pilot trainees based at Merced Air Base and elsewhere. Structures on the site included a crash truck shelter, an administration building, a latrine, a small storage shed, and a small portable control tower. Except for perhaps the control tower, which was probably located near the middle of the paved landing area, these structures were located near the present main complex of buildings. According to Mr. Otis Mercer (Pers. Comrnun., 1999), fuel and other supplies were trucked in and only stored temporarily onsite. Except for a 50-gallon fuel storage drum with piping, listed as "Personal Property" in the Government's Quitclaim Deed, we have found no evidence of any aboveground or underground storage tanks on the site during the time this property was in the Government's possession. The entrance to the airfield was by way of an approximately 325-foot-long road from Newport Road, approximately 260 feet north of the present access road. The former road connected directly to the airfield's oil-paved area approximately 250 feet northeast of the west corner.

DERP-FUDS PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400

The property was given to the City of Turlock in 1947, with the stipulation that it maintain an operational civilian airport at the site in perpetuity. The City of Turlock sold the northeastern part of the property to a private individual in 1952 for agricultural use; such use continues through the present. Details of airfield use during the late 1940s and 1950s, following its transfer to the City of Turlock, are unclear. An aerial photograph taken of the site in March of 1950 shows the entire landing area still intact. Sometime between March 1950 and 1952, the City of Turlock removed much of the oil-base pavement on the northeast part of the landing area for use in construction in Turlock, presumably as a roadbase. A subsequent aerial photograph taken in July of 1961 shows the airport more or less in its present configuration with the northeast portion fully under cultivation. Between 1952 and 1962, the airfield was used by a military flying club (sanctioned by the Air Force), with no fured base of operation at the site. Itinerant crop dusters periodically used the field during this time as well. In 1962,Mr. Robert Swan, who had been a key individual with the military flying club, obtained a lease for the w o r t and became Airport Manager. He managed the Airport until 1969, making a number of improvements including installation of the fuel island and aboveground storage tanks. Use of the Airport during this period included civilian flight training, itinerant crop dusters, and automobile racing. In 1968 or 1969, Jim and Karen Barstow (Golden By-products, Inc.) obtained a 25-year lease for the site from the City of Turlock and took over airport management. The lease terms also allowed them to use part of the property for their almond-hull-drying business. During their tenure as airport managers, the airport was used as a municipal airport with berthing for numerous private aircraft, civilian flight training operations, and crop dusting activities. In the mid 1970s, Mr. Otis Mercer obtained a sublease from the Barstows to operate his flying school business (Aero Vista Inc.). In addition to operating his business, Mr. Mercer also assisted the Barstows in managing the airport, becoming w o r t Manager around 1980. He continues in that capacity today. Until the early to middle 1970s, all crop dusters using the airfield were itinerant; there were no fixedbase crop dusting operations at the site. In 1977, Ag Aviation obtained a permit from the city of Turlock to use the airport as a fixed-base of operations for their crop dusting activities. Between 1977 and approximately 1980, Ag Aviation conducted its aerial agricultural chemical application operations just south of the main operations building. Around 1980, Ag Aviation moved its operations to an area at the southeast end of the taxiway on the southwest side of the runway, where it built a concrete pad loading and washdown pad and a nearby surface impoundment (collection pond). The pad area was used to load chemicals (including pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers) for aerial spraying and to wash containers and equipment. Rinsate from the washdown pad flowed into an unlined collection pond, where it was allowed to evaporate, percolate downward into subsurface soils, or flow out of the pond through a drainage ditch into a field to the south.

DERP-FUDS PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400

In addition to the concrete pad and collection pond,.Ag Aviation maintained a small enclosed area nearby, where its agricultural chemicals and several aboveground fuel tanks were stored. Two abandoned 10,000-gallon above ground tanks used for storing aviation fuel and regular gasoline remain on the site near the pad. We understand that these tanks were in use for nearly 20 years until they were decommissioned in the mid 1990s. We also understand that no associated soil contamination was noted during or following their use. We further understand that an area just south of the tanks and southwest of the collection pond was used to burn agricultural containers and bags.
Ag Aviation ceased operations at the site in 1986. Agricultural aerial spraying operations have been prohibited at the airport since around the mid 1990s; now, crop dusters are only allowed to land at the airport in an emergency (0.A. Mercer, Pers. Commun., 1999). During our site visit, we noted a several-acre-size area near the east corner of the airport property, northeast of the southeast end of the runway, that has been used as a repository for derelict vehicles and equipment and discarded materials of various sorts. We understand that all of the items placed here belong to Golden By-Products. An aerial photograph of the site taken in May of 1974 shows this area as being largely clear of the discarded items. A subsequent aerial photograph taken in June of 1984 seems to show quite a few items discarded in the area. Therefore, use of this area by Golden ByProducts as a repository for these derelict and discarded items began sometime between these periods. Two 10,000-gallon gasoline and diesel USTs operated by Golden By-Products were removed in 1993. The tanks were intact and no contamination of the soil was noted or detected by chemical analyses. A closure letter was issued by the Merced County Department of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health on August 19,1994. The Barstows' 25-year lease ended in the mid 1990's. We understand that they have obtained a new 15-year lease for approximately 10 acres in the southeast corner of the airport property to continue their almond-hull drying operation. We also understand from Mr. Mercer (Pers. Commun. 1999) that as a condition for this lease they have agreed to remove from the site all of the derelict vehicles and equipment and materials they have-discarded in the east and southeast part of the site. Also during our site visit, we noted a one- to two-acre-size area northeast of the northwest end of the runway where thousands of old tires have been abandoned. No evidence of these tires is indicated in the March 1974 aerial photograph of the site. The June 1984 aerial photograph, however, shows extensive activity in the area where the abandoned tires are presently located, suggesting that tires have been there since at least 1984. We understand that the source for these tires is unknown. Today, the Turlock Municipal Airport serves as a berthing facility for numerous local aircraft and as a facility for civilian flight instruction. Golden By-Products continues its almond-hull-drying operation in the southeast comer of the Airport property. Crop dusters are no longer allowed use of the field, except to land in emergency situations.

BALLICO AUXILIARY FIELD NO. 2 13600 Newport Road Ballico. California

REMEDIATION SERVICES 2380 Salvio Street, Suite 202

Concord, California

DERP-FUDS PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400

SITE VISIT: On September 1, 1999, Dr. Nairn R. Albert of Advanced Assessment and Remediation Services (AARS) conducted a visit to and reconnaissance of the Ballico Site. A request made to the main owner of the agricultural property in the northeast half of the former 622-acre site to visit the property was denied. Consequently, the site visit was confined to the Airport property. The visit to the Auport followed AARS' visit the previous day with Mr. Rudy Schnagl at the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region (RWQCB), and a review of their existing file on the site. Prior to performing a site reconnaissance, AARS met with Mr. Otis Mercer, Auport Manager, for a briefing and orientation. Our observations at the site are summarized below and several photographs of key features noted on the property are presented in Appendix F of the Preliminary Eligibility Assessment.
The Au-port site is easily accessible by an approximately 1,500-foot-longpaved road from Newport Road, approximately 2,000 feet south of East Avenue. A large parking lot provides ample parking near the main building complex located southwest of the middle part of the runway. A gate (unlocked and open during AARS' visit) near the west comer of the parking lot provides vehicular access to the runway and taxiway areas. The entire Airport area is paved with SC-3 road oil (R. Swan, Pers. Commun., 1999). The main operations building is a single-story wooden structure located in the middle of the main building complex. Mr. Otis Mercer, Airport Manager, also opeiates his flying school (Aero Vista Inc.) from this building. Five other structures located nearby make up the main building complex. These include a mobile caretaker's home, a maintenance buildinglhangar and three storage/maintenance buildings. An operating groundwater production well located between the mobile home and the main operations building provides water to the facility. On the northwest side of the main complex of buildings, southwest of the northwest half of the runway is a complex of approximately a half dozen small metal airplane hangars. The southeast-most part of the main complex of buildings is made up of an aircraft fueling island, a storage building, an enclosed fuel storage area, several aboveground storage tanks, and a surplus equipment and materials storage area. The enclosed fuel storage area includes two 10,000-gallon above-ground aviation fuel tanks, an abandoned 500-gallon aviation fuel tank, and a number of 55gallon drums, presumably containing aviation fuel, oil, and solvents. Immediately to the southeast of the storage area is another area where surplus miscellaneous equipment and materials are stored, including batteries, which are set on a wooden pallet. Immediately to the northwest are two aboveground tanks: one 600-gallon tank used to store waste oil and one 300-gallon tank used to store solvents. None of the tanks have secondary containment; all are located on the road-oil pavement, however.

DERP-FUDS PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400

No leaks in the tanks were noted, although the waste oil tank was covered with oil on the end where waste oil is poured into the tank. A small amount of oil staining was noted on the pavement beneath the waste oil tank, apparently related to spilling during pouring. A number of sizable oily stains were noted on the pavement between this storage area and the rest of the main complex of buildings at the airport. Golden By-products' almond-hull-drying operation is located approximately 500 feet farther to the southeast. Their facilities include four large open drying sheds (roof, but no walls) and a small single-story residence. A groundwater production well located near the residence provides water to the residence and to the almond-hull drying facility. A concrete loading and washdown pad that was previously used by Ag Aviation during its aerial agricultural chemical application (crop dusting) operations is located at the southeast end of the taxiway southwest of the runway. Nearby are two empty and abandoned 10,000-gallon aboveground storage tanks previously used by Ag Aviation; their former contents are uncertain. One person with whom we spoke said that they contained regular gasoline and aviation fuel, while another thought they only contained water. We understand that the tanks now belong to Golden By-products. No environmental problems related to these tanks have been noted. A groundwater production well located a bit farther to the southwest was also formerly used by Ag Aviation; this well appears to be no longer in use. Adjacent to the washdown pad, on its southeast margin, a former surface impoundment pond used by Ag Aviation to catch rinsate from its operations has been paved over with approximately three inches of asphalt pavement. The pavement has been disrupted in a few places where rodent tunnels beneath the pavement have collapsed. Southwest of this paved area is a small burn area where we understand Ag Aviation burned agricultural chemical containers and bags. The area looked as though it might still be in use for burning, although there was no evidence of any chemical containers or bags being burned there during our site visit. On the northeast side of the southeast end of the runway, an extensive area several acres in size has been used as a repository for derelict cars, trucks, farm equipment, mobile homes, tires, agricultural tanks, and numerous other miscellaneous discarded items. According to Mr. Mercer, Golden ByProducts placed these derelict/discarded vehicles, pieces of equipment, and materials there and have agreed to remove them. On the northeast side of the northeast end of the runway, an area of one or two acres has been used as a repository for thousands of old abandoned tires, which are visible on the surface. This area has a hummocky appearance suggesting the possibility of more tires beneath the surface. We understand that the source for these tires is unknown.

DERP-FUDS PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400

CATEGORY OF HAZARD: No Defense Action Indicated. AVAILABLE STUDIES AND REPORTS:
Preliminary Eligibility Assessment, Ballico Auxiliary Field No. 2, Ballico, California, prepared September 1999 by Advanced Assessment and Remediation Services for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

PA POC: Gerald Vincent, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, (916) 557-7452.

DEFENSE ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION PROGRAM FORMERLY USED DEFENSE SITES PROGRAM FINDINGS AND DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY BALLICO AUXILIARY FIELD NO. 2 BALLICO, CALIFORNIA DEW-FUDS PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400 FINDINGS OF FACT
The U..S. Department of War (US. Government) purchased the 622-acre site in September 1. and October 1942 for use as an auxiliary military airfield for Merced Air Base. It was designated Ballico Auxiliary Field No. 2. During WW I I ,the Ballico Auxiliary Field was used almost exclusively for training by pilot 2. trainees based at Merced Air Base and elsewhere. The airfield comprised a 193-acre rectangular landing area approximately 3,000 feet long in the northwest-southeast direction and 2,800 feet wide in the northeast-southwest direction. The landing area was covered with SC-3 road oil, which gave it a t b surface similar in appearance to asphalt pavement. Structures on the site included a crash truck shelter, an administration building, a latrine, a small storage shed, and a small portable control tower. The U.S. Government classified Ballico Auxiliary Field No. 2 as surplus in August of 1945. 3. The site was turned over to the City of Turlock on July 9, 1947 by way of a Quitclaim Deed. The City of Turlock sold approximately 306 acres located in the northeast half of the original 622 acres to a local farmer for agricultural use, retaining approximately 3 16 acres. The northeast part of these 316 acres is occupied by the Turlock Municipal Axport. The southeast part is occupied by the Mustang Creek Watershed Sump, which is operated and maintained by the Ballico Resource Conservation District (Merced County Public Works Department).

DETERMINATION Based on the foregoing findings of fact, the Site has been determined to be formerly used by the Department of Defense. It is, therefore, eligible for the Defense Environmental Restoration Program - Formerly Used Defense Sites, established under 10 USC 2701 et seq.

+ , ~ E T. TF
&EN

Brigadier General, U.S. Army Commanding

Hazardous Waste Site

5.:General Site Character;lstics

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0 0 t b a ~ -$WD

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'VIEIRA BROS. DAIRY FARM

SCALE:Approximately 1 inch' = 650 feet

I
LEGEND

BOUNDARY 0k THE FORMER LANDING FIELD

ABANDONED TiRE FIELD

WELL
CANAL

RUNWAY
AIRCRAFT STORAGE & HANGER AREA
"JUNK"EQUIPMENT AND

MATERIAL.

STORAGE AREA

FIGURE 2: SITE PLAN

BALLICO AUXILIARY FIELD NO. 2 13600 Newport Road Ballico, California

ADVANCED ASSESSMENT AND

REMEDLATION SERVICES 2380 Salvio Street, Suite 202 Concord, California

)
1

S I T E SURVEY SUMMRRY FOR DERP PROJECT NO. J09CA075400

1.

SITE NAME: Ballico Auxiliary Field No. 2

2. LOCATION: 14pproximately 7 miles southeast o f Turlock and 2 miles east o f Ballico, Merced County, California.
3. DESCRIPTION OF SITE: Currently the site i s an airport. The two buildings constructed during DoD use are in use a s the airport office and a storage building.
4. SITE H I S T O R G In 1942 the Army acquired by f e e 6 2 1 . 7 6 acres o f agricultural land from Charles C. Newport Et U x and Gertrude M. Shaft et al. The government built a landing mat, two small buildings, fences, a steel tower, oil storage sheds, and a generator house. That same year the Army leased 350 acres back to Charles Newport from 1942 to 1947 For the purpose o f animal grazing. The War Department placed Ballico Auxiliary Field in surplus effective August 2 3 , 1944. Title to the 6 2 1 . 7 6 acres was granted to the City o f Tur.lock by quitrclalm deed dated July 3 1 , 1 9 4 7 , subject to existing easements and leases. 4 title clause indicated the property be maintained in serviceable condition and the airport h e used only for public airport purposes. A recapture clause was also included. The City of Turlock sold half the acreage for agricultural purposes and developed the other half into the Turlock Municipal Airport.

5. AVA1LABL.E STUDIES AND REPORTS: A real estate file i s maintained by the Real Estate Division, Sacramento District, Corps o f Engineers, which contains Leasing and Surplus Records. No other reports were found. Mr. Stewart Vaughn, a representative o f the Environmental Office for- the City o f Turlock was c:ontacted about the site and was present during the site visit. Mr. Vaughn indicated that part o f the site had be12n contaminated with pesticides from crop dusting activities. The corrtaminated soils had been removed. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board and the California Department o f Health Services were c:ontacted regarding the site. They reported they had 1 1 0 record o n file c:oncerning the site. There was no other hazardous materials known to be present o n the airport property.

CATEGORY OF HAZARDS: During tho site visit, no evidence of hazardous or toxic waste, ordnance, or unsafe building debris was found.
6.

7.

BASIS OF DETERMINATION OF DoD RESPONSIBILITY: Facilj.ties were used by DOD a s auxiliary landing from 1942 through July, 1 9 4 7 . Sharon V. Bruno, ( 9 1 6 ) - - 5 5 1 - 1 0 4 9 , Sacramento

8. POC/DISTRIC'T: District.
9.
10.

STATUS:

Privately and publicly owned property. None.

DESCRIPTIOIN OF PROPOSED REMEDIUL ACT1-

DEFENSE ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION PROGRAM FORMERLY USED DEFENSE SITES PROGRAM FINDINGS AND DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY BALLICO AUXILIARY FIELD NO. 2 BALLICO, CALIFORNIA DEW-FUDS PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400 FINDINGS OF FACT
The U..S. Department of War (US. Government) purchased the 622-acre site in September 1. and October 1942 for use as an auxiliary military airfield for Merced Air Base. It was designated Ballico Auxiliary Field No. 2. During WW I I ,the Ballico Auxiliary Field was used almost exclusively for training by pilot 2. trainees based at Merced Air Base and elsewhere. The airfield comprised a 193-acre rectangular landing area approximately 3,000 feet long in the northwest-southeast direction and 2,800 feet wide in the northeast-southwest direction. The landing area was covered with SC-3 road oil, which gave it a t b surface similar in appearance to asphalt pavement. Structures on the site included a crash truck shelter, an administration building, a latrine, a small storage shed, and a small portable control tower. The U.S. Government classified Ballico Auxiliary Field No. 2 as surplus in August of 1945. 3. The site was turned over to the City of Turlock on July 9, 1947 by way of a Quitclaim Deed. The City of Turlock sold approximately 306 acres located in the northeast half of the original 622 acres to a local farmer for agricultural use, retaining approximately 3 16 acres. The northeast part of these 316 acres is occupied by the Turlock Municipal Axport. The southeast part is occupied by the Mustang Creek Watershed Sump, which is operated and maintained by the Ballico Resource Conservation District (Merced County Public Works Department).

DETERMINATION Based on the foregoing findings of fact, the Site has been determined to be formerly used by the Department of Defense. It is, therefore, eligible for the Defense Environmental Restoration Program - Formerly Used Defense Sites, established under 10 USC 2701 et seq.

+ , ~ E T. TF
&EN

Brigadier General, U.S. Army Commanding

1 MILE

EXPLANATION

---

APPROXIMATE SITE BOUNDARY

1088

SlTE LOCATION MAP BALLICO AUXILIARY FIELD #2, MERCED COUNTY PROJECT NO. J09CA083100

BALLICO AUXILIARY FIELD NO. 2 13600 Newport Road Ballico. California

REMEDIATION SERVICES 2380 Salvio Street, Suite 202

Concord, California

'VIEIRA BROS. DAIRY FARM

SCALE:Approximately 1 inch' = 650 feet

I
LEGEND

BOUNDARY 0k THE FORMER LANDING FIELD

ABANDONED TiRE FIELD

WELL
CANAL

RUNWAY
AIRCRAFT STORAGE & HANGER AREA
"JUNK"EQUIPMENT AND

MATERIAL.

STORAGE AREA

FIGURE 2: SITE PLAN

BALLICO AUXILIARY FIELD NO. 2 13600 Newport Road Ballico, California

ADVANCED ASSESSMENT AND

REMEDLATION SERVICES 2380 Salvio Street, Suite 202 Concord, California

)
1

1 MILE

EXPLANATION

---

APPROXIMATE SITE BOUNDARY

1088

SlTE LOCATION MAP BALLICO AUXILIARY FIELD #2, MERCED COUNTY PROJECT NO. J09CA083100

Fl NA L

PR$~~LJI,,MA P

C,

SUBJECT PROPERTY.

I STATE. CALIFORNIA , COUNTY MERGED DIVISION PACIFIC DlSTRlCf 5ACRAMENTO

SERVICE COMMAND NINTH USlK? AGENCY ~ ' ~ F T C 7 MILES S E OF TURLOCK MILES

OF
FACILITIES

-TRANSPORTATION
SPRR

RAILROAD STATE ROAO FEDERAL ROAO AIRLINE

STATE INDEX

99

V I C I N I T Y MAP

- LAND
11

AREA
D.

--

LCRES OWNED BY

621.76-

ACRES LEASED BY W. 0.

AOII~ L ~ E D FROM W.D ACRES TRANSFERRED TO W. D. ACRES DONATED TO W. 0. .. . . .

..--.. -.-.

ACRES SOLD ACRE8 TRANSFERRED ACRES EXCHANGED

. .

..

ACRES OTHERWISE

TO
LEGEND

- .....--. . -- . - .... 621.76

BOUNOARY LINE

-1

------------.

STATE OR PlOVlNCE LINE COUNn ~ l h E CIVIL DISTRICT PRECINCT d N 0 - G R A N T LIME CITY. V I L L M . OR

BOROUGH
CTC---

----------------

CEMETERY SMALL PAR*. TOWNSHIP LINE SECTION LINE -Sc.l.-

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----

-9 0

1 -- - --- ---1

W A U DCCARTWLNT. 0 . C . L CONrrI)UOTIO* Om(l0I

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REAL E S T A E
NOTE All that property lymg outs& of t h e fenced a r e a c o n * a m n g J50?ocres leosed CHARLES C NEPC'PORT 8 LlOA NEWPORT L e a s e NO W 2 2 0 3 - e n g - 3 4 1 4 0 . C 2 r e a I ,ow :+32 TO j r vcr 134i

Ballico Auxiliary Field, No. 2

Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) Site No. JOgCA0754

Site Area

Aerial photo taken Sep(Mnbsr 1698

U S . Army Corps of Engineers

,o m ,

SacramntoDistrict