Final FONSI and EA for hot cargo pad on Kirtland AFB - Kirtland Air ...

<strong>Final</strong> <strong>EA</strong> Addressing Construction, Operation, <strong>and</strong> Maintenance of a Hot Cargo Pad
Health <strong>and</strong> safety hazards can often be identified <strong>and</strong> reduced or eliminated. Necessary elements <strong>for</strong> an
accident-prone situation or environment include the presence of the hazard itself together with the
exposed (<strong>and</strong> possibly susceptible) population. The degree of exposure depends primarily on the
proximity of the hazard to the population. Hazards include transportation, maintenance <strong>and</strong> repair
activities, <strong>and</strong> the creation of noisy environments or a potential fire hazard. The proper operation,
maintenance, <strong>and</strong> repair of vehicles <strong>and</strong> equipment carry important safety implications. Any facility or
human-use area with potential explosive or other rapid oxidation process creates unsafe environments due
to noise or fire hazards <strong>for</strong> nearby populations. Noisy environments can also mask verbal or mechanical
warning signals such as sirens, bells, or horns.
3.11.2 Existing Conditions
Contractor Safety. All contractors per<strong>for</strong>ming demolition <strong>and</strong> construction activities are responsible <strong>for</strong>
following Federal <strong>and</strong> State of New Mexico OSHA regulations <strong>and</strong> are required to conduct demolition
<strong>and</strong> construction activities in a manner that does not increase risk to workers or the public.
New Mexico is one of several states that administer their own occupational safety <strong>and</strong> health (OSH)
program according to the provisions of the Federal Occupational Safety <strong>and</strong> Health Act of 1970, which
permits a state to administer its own OSH program if it meets all of the Federal requirements regarding
the program’s structure <strong>and</strong> operations. The New Mexico Occupational Health <strong>and</strong> Safety Bureau
program has the responsibility of en<strong>for</strong>cing Occupational Health <strong>and</strong> Safety Regulations within New
Mexico. Its jurisdiction includes all private <strong>and</strong> public entities such as city, county, <strong>and</strong> state government
employees. Federal employees are excluded as they are covered by Federal OSHA regulations.
OSH programs address the health <strong>and</strong> safety of people at work. OSH regulations cover potential
exposure to a wide range of chemical, physical, biological, <strong>and</strong> ergonomic stressors. The regulations are
designed to control these hazards by eliminating exposure to the hazards via administrative or engineering
controls, substitution, or use of PPE. Occupational health <strong>and</strong> safety is the responsibility of each
employer, as applicable. Employer responsibilities are to review potentially hazardous workplace
conditions; monitor exposure to workplace chemical (e.g., asbestos, lead, hazardous substances), physical
(e.g., noise propagation, falls), biological (e.g., infectious waste, wildlife, poisonous plants) agents, <strong>and</strong>
ergonomic stressors; recommend <strong>and</strong> evaluate controls (e.g., prevention, administrative, engineering,
PPE) to ensure exposure to personnel is eliminated or adequately controlled; <strong>and</strong> ensure a medical
surveillance program is in place to per<strong>for</strong>m occupational health physicals <strong>for</strong> those workers subject to the
use of respiratory protection, engaged in hazardous waste work, asbestos, lead, or other work requiring
medical monitoring.
One ERP site, WP-26, is partially within the area of the Proposed Action <strong>and</strong>, as such, represents a
potential exposure to contractor personnel. WP-26 consists of two ab<strong>and</strong>oned sewage lagoons that were
used as settling ponds <strong>for</strong> Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB’s residential <strong>and</strong> light industrial sewage system from 1962 to
1987. Soil <strong>and</strong> groundwater sampling has identified both surface <strong>and</strong> subsurface media contamination at
WP-26. Specific contaminates identified include TCE in subsurface soil vapor <strong>and</strong> perched groundwater,
<strong>and</strong> various heavy metals <strong>and</strong> benzo(a)pyrene in surface sludge. Additionally, WP-26 might contain
pathogens from sewage, such as tetanus <strong>and</strong> Hepatitis A. Exposure to any of these contaminates or
pathogens are potential health <strong>and</strong> safety concerns to contractors working on site. Further details
regarding contamination at WP-26 are presented in Section 3.10.2.
Military Personnel Safety. Each branch of the military has its own policies <strong>and</strong> regulations that act to
protect its workers, despite their work location. Air Force regulation AFI 91-301, Air Force
Occupational <strong>and</strong> Environmental Safety, Fire Protection, <strong>and</strong> Health (AFOSH) Program, which
implements AFPD 91-3, Occupational Safety <strong>and</strong> Health, governs the recognition, evaluation, control,
Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB, NM January 2011
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