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2016-2017 Bren School Group Project Proposal
University of California, Santa Barbara, The Bren School of Environmental Science & Management 1
1. Project Title
Santa Susana Surface Outfall Impacts: Evaluation and Mitigation of Environmental Impacts from Treated
Groundwater Discharge at Santa Susana Outfall 2 Drainage.
2. Proposers
Student Authors
Elise Wall, MESM 2017, [email protected]
Lina Barbosa, MESM 2017, [email protected]
Client Co-Author
Paul Costa, [email protected]
(818) 466-8778 3. Client
The Boeing Company, Santa Susana Facility, Canoga Park, CA
℅ Paul Costa (contact information above)
4. Proposed Project
a. Objectives
1) Analyze impacts of discharging large volumes of treated groundwater to ephemeral drainage,
with the purpose of preserving existing ecosystem structure.
2) Evaluate different discharge scenarios, providing options for low-impact discharge systems that allow effective groundwater treatment.
3) Develop monitoring and contingency plans to ensure that impacts to local species and site
morphology are minimal.
b. Significance
The technological advances in rocketry that allowed the U.S. to send astronauts to the moon were not
without their costs -- at the sites where these (and other) technologies were developed, volatile organic
compounds, metals, and inorganics contaminate the soil and groundwater. At the Santa Susana Field
Laboratory (SSFL) in Ventura County, the Boeing Company bears a portion of the responsibility for
treating the resulting contaminated groundwater. There are currently two options for recharging the aquifer with the treated groundwater -- surface outfall and direct re-injection. Surface outfall,
discharging high volumes of water into drainages through outfall pipes, may allow groundwater to be
treated more rapidly but requires an environmental impact assessment. It could change the morphology
and ecology of the (usually dry) streambed and shift habitat conditions in favor of invasive species.
The leading alternative, re-injection, may require additional maintenance and have unintended side
effects impacting the aquifer and speed of groundwater treatment protocols. If the groundwater is not treated in a timely manner, the risk of contaminant seeping into surface waters increases. Thus, a
thorough assessment of the best approach to groundwater discharge would ensure that the contaminant
plume is treated quickly and effectively while minimizing the environmental impacts. The risk of habitat alteration from surface outfall must be mitigated, as SSFL creates a crucial habitat linkage: its 2,850 acres connect the Los Padres National Forest to the Santa Monica Mountains and the
Pacific Ocean. SSFL hosts more than 125 bird and 12 bat species, endangered vegetation such as
Braunton’s Milk Vetch and the Santa Susana Tarplant, and species of concern including the California
Legless Lizard. The Audubon and California Herpetological Societies actively conduct observational
studies at this site.
University of California, Santa Barbara, The Bren School of Environmental Science & Management 2
The implications of discharging water into ecosystems whose climate and topography do not contain
water on a perennial basis is not limited to the SSFL site. Under the California State Water Resources
Control Board’s Strategy to Optimize Resource Management of Stormwater (STORMS) there is a statewide initiative to manage stormwater as a resource. This involves, in part, enhanced collection and
storage of stormwater as a supplement for water during droughts. The capture and retention of water
during particularly dry surface conditions are likely to cause similar impacts to those analyzed by this
project. Parameters for limited-impact discharge established through this project could help for future
assessments of storm water discharge during drought conditions and allow for use and discharge of stored water while minimizing impacts to native ecological habitats.
c. Background Information
Santa Susana once housed laboratories and testing facilities that developed landmark technologies for
the U.S. space and energy programs. Industrial activities supporting these programs lead to inadvertent
contamination of the soil and groundwater. Under the direction of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), Boeing, NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy are transforming
SSFL to a recreational space. Boeing, who owns the vast majority of the property, plans to remediate
their site beyond what is required for use as a recreational space. So far, Boeing has restored 900 acres,
implemented 3 stormwater treatment systems, and completed multiple projects to preserve undisturbed
areas. All treated groundwater discharge sites on the Boeing property operate under a state-issued National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Any new discharge through this system
requires a Streambed Alteration Agreement (SAA), contingent upon approval from the California
Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW). Treated groundwater was previously allowed to discharge as surface outfall under an approved NPDES permit and SAA. As Boeing applied to add the Outfall 2
discharge in 2015, CDFW requested more information before making the decision to allow any surface
outfall to continue. CDFW has expressed concern about the long term ecological impacts related to a
continuous discharge in an ephemeral drainage and has requested that several studies and investigation
be performed. Lacking this approval from CDFW, groundwater treatment has come to a halt. With
uncertainty about the limits that CDFW may place on any surface discharge, Boeing has prioritized investigation of re-injecting the treated groundwater. This proposal would allow a simultaneous
assessment of the original surface outfall option. Groundwater extraction and treatment is a critical
component of the planned site remediation; the continued evaluation of discharge options, as outlined
in this proposal, would allow Boeing to fully evaluate the options for the most efficient disposition of
treated groundwater.
d. Available Data
Extensive data specific to the SSFL site, habitat ranges and tolerances of relevant plants and animals,
along with site visits guided by Boeing and/or academic advisors will enable the working team to
accomplish the objectives set forth above in Section (4a). Additional literature and tools that may prove useful are outlined in Section (5a). All data are readily available.
● SSFL 2012 Active Outfall Bioassessment Report (Boeing)
● SSFL Plant Habitat Territories (OGDEN via Boeing)
● Critical Plant Species at SSFL (Boeing. Location markers for individuals: Tarplant, Milk Vetch
and California Coast Live Oak)
● Bird and Animal Species Observed at SSFL (Boeing/Audubon Society) ● SSFL Soil Characterization Records (Boeing)
● SSFL Hydrological Characterization Data (Boeing)
● CA Wildlife Habitat Relationship Database (https://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cwhr/)
University of California, Santa Barbara, The Bren School of Environmental Science & Management 3
● Calflora (http://www.calflora.org/)
● Aerial imagery and topographic data (Google)
e. Possible Approach
Surface Discharge Impact Assessment: Use existing SSFL 2012 Active Outfall Bioassessment Report
to evaluate impacts of an active discharge at Outfall 2. Evaluate local plants, invasive and native,
identifying their ideal moisture thresholds. Determine local hydrology and soil characteristics; estimate
flow ranges that would keep surface soils within moisture tolerance of existing native plants. Identify which species are likely to colonize within a range of moisture levels. Determine the magnitude and
location of potential and existing erosive forces and how they will impact the morphology of the two
drainages specified in the current NPDES permit site.
Mitigation Plan: Define what rates of flow, designs of outflow, or possible water impoundment
structures would meet the goals of the groundwater treatment plan while remaining within the thresholds established for local wildlife.
Site Evaluation: A 6-week companion site assessment can be done by two students during a summer
internship -- see (4g). If this is not feasible, Boeing will provide the data through its consultants, who
have provided these studies in the past.
f. Deliverables
The working group will prepare a response to CDFW’s request for an impact assessment:
1. Groundwater Discharge Impact Assessment
2. Impact Mitigation Plan
g. Internship
Boeing is committed to host and mentor two students at Santa Susana during the summer; formal paid
positions are possible but not confirmed at this time. If secured, this payment for services may be
through a formal internship program or through payment of services as a subcontractor to Boeing
under contract with a service provider to Boeing who will be working on this project. An amendment to this proposal will be submitted to the Bren Group Project Committee when and if a commitment can
be made to funding. These summer placements contain a plethora of professional development
opportunities -- regulatory experience, site assessment skills, etc. See attached Letter of Client Support
for details.
h. Additional Considerations
Boeing hosted Dr. Patricia Holden’s 2014 ESM 214 Biological Waste Treatment class for a site tour,
emphasizing SSFL’s stormwater biofilter. Boeing also provided a tour for the Student Authors during
the preparation of this proposal.
This project at SSFL would provide Bren students with professional experiences in environmental
issues related to Pollution Prevention/Remediation, Conservation Planning and Water Resources
Management specializations.
University of California, Santa Barbara, The Bren School of Environmental Science & Management 4
5. Supporting Materials
a. Citations Santa Susana Environmental Impact Reports (Boeing, NASA)
Santa Susana Groundwater Treatment Protocols (Boeing)
Santa Susana Groundwater Discharge Permit Application to CDFW (Boeing)
Southern California Restoration Wetland Database (http://scwrp.org/)
California Rapid Assessment Method for Wetlands (http://www.cramwetlands.org/)
EPA. 1996. Pump-and-Treat Ground-Water Remediation, A Guide for Decision Makers and
Practitioners. Retrieved from
http://www.qedenv.com/files/Introduction%20to%20Pump%20&%20Treat%20Remediation.pdf
Bai Mao. 2012. A systematic and comprehensive approach in analyzing produced water re-injection.
Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering (80): 14–25. doi:10.1016/j.petrol.2011.10.002
CDFW. 2015. Lake and Streambed Alteration Program. Retrieved from https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/LSA
Rail D. Chester. 2002. Groundwater Contamination, Volume II: Management, Containment, Risk
Assessment and Legal Issues. CRC Press. Pp. 74-76.
b. Budget and Justifications
Both Boeing and student proposers do not anticipate project cost beyond the funds provided by the
Bren School. Currently no commitment for funding exists, but should the need arise Boeing will work
to obtain the required level of funding necessary for completion of the tasks for this project.
c. Client Letter of Support (attached)
University of California, Santa Barbara, The Bren School of Environmental Science & Management 5
University of California, Santa Barbara, The Bren School of Environmental Science & Management 6
University of California, Santa Barbara, The Bren School of Environmental Science & Management 7
