ballico auxiliary field no. 2

8/23/2019 Ballico Auxiliary Field No. 2

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FINALPRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OFELIGIBILITY REPORT

BALL ICO AUXILIARY FIELD NUMBER 2, CALIFORNIADERP-FUD S PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400

USACE P.O. W62N6M -9160-1273

Prepared forU.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Sacramento District


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SITE SURVEY SUMMARY SHEETFORDERP-FUDS PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400BALLICO AUXILIARY FIELD NO. 2BALLICO, CALIFORNIASITE NAME: The subject site was originally called Ballico Auxiliary Field No. 2. Since itsacquisition by the City of Turlock, approximately 3 16 acres in the northeast half of the original 622-acre property have been sold for agricultural use. The remaining 306 acres has been retained by theCity of Turlock and includes Turlock Municipal Airport.LOCATION: The Ballico Site is located in Merced County, California, approximately eightmiles 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, MountDiablo Baseline and Meridian; at approximately 37" 13' 06" north latitude, and 120" 42' 24" westlongitude). 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 acresincluded land that now constitutes the (Turlock Municipal) Airport, Mustang Creek Watershed Sump,


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DERP-FUDS PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400The property was given to the City of Turlock in 1947, with the stipulation that it maintain anoperational civilian airport at the site in perpetuity. The City of Turlock sold the northeastern part ofthe 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, areunclear. An aerial photograph taken of the site in March of 1950 shows the entire landing area stillintact. Sometime between March 1950 and 1952, the City of Turlock removed much of the oil-basepavement on the northeast part of the landing area for use in construction in Turlock, presumably asa roadbase. A subsequent aerial photograph taken in July of 1961 shows the airport more or less in itspresent configuration with the northeast portion fully under cultivation. Between 1952 and 1962, theairfield was used by a military flying club (sanctioned by the Air Force), with no fured base of operationat 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 leasefor the w o r t and became Airport Manager. He managed the Airport until 1969, making a numberof improvements including installation of the fuel island and aboveground storage tanks. Use of theAirport 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 thesite from the City of Turlock and took over airport management. The lease terms also allowed them


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DERP-FUDS PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400In addition to the concrete pad and collection pond,.Ag Aviation maintained a small enclosed areanearby, where its agricultural chemicals and several aboveground fuel tanks were stored. Twoabandoned 10,000-gallon above ground tanks used for storing aviation fuel and regular gasolineremain on the site near the pad. We understand that these tanks were in use for nearly 20 years untilthey were decommissioned in the mid 1990s. We also understand that no associated soilcontamination was noted during or following their use. We further understand that an area just southof 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 beenprohibited at the airport since around the mid 1990s; now, crop dusters are only allowed to land at theairport 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 vehiclesand equipment and discarded materials of various sorts. We understand that all of the items placedhere belong to Golden By-Products. An aerial photograph of the site taken in May of 1974 shows thisarea as being largely clear of the discarded items. A subsequent aerial photograph taken in June of1984 seems to show quite a few items discarded in the area. Therefore, use of this area by Golden By-Products as a repository for these derelict and discarded items began sometime between these periods.


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DERP-FUDS PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400SITE VISIT: On September 1, 1999, Dr. Nairn R. Albert of Advanced Assessment andRemediation Services (AARS) conducted a visit to and reconnaissance of the Ballico Site. A requestmade to the main owner of the agricultural property in the northeast half of the former 622-acre siteto 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 RegionalWater Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region (RWQCB), and a review of their existing file onthe site. Prior to performing a site reconnaissance, AARS met withMr. Otis Mercer, Auport Manager,for a briefing and orientation. Our observations at the site are summarized below and severalphotographs of key features noted on the property are presented in Appendix F of the PreliminaryEligibility Assessment.The Au-port site is easily accessible by an approximately 1,500-foot-long paved road from NewportRoad, approximately 2,000 feet south of East Avenue. A large parking lot provides ample parking nearthe main building complex located southwest of the middle part of the runway. A gate (unlocked andopen during AARS' visit) near the west comer of the parking lot provides vehicular access to therunway 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 mainbuilding complex. Mr. Otis Mercer, Airport Manager, also opeiates his flying school (Aero Vista


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DERP-FUDS PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400No lea ks in the tanks were noted, although the waste oil tank was cov ered with oil on the end w herewaste oil is poured into the tank. A sm all amount of oil staining was noted o n the pavem ent beneaththe waste oil tank, apparently related to spilling during pouring. A n umb er of sizable oily stains werenoted on the pavement betwe en this storage area and the rest of the main co mplex of buildings at theairport.Golden By -products' almon d-hull-drying operation is located approxim ately 500 feet farther to thesoutheast. The ir facilities include four large open drying sheds (roof, but no wa lls) and a smallsingle-story residence. A ground water production well located near the residence provides water tothe residence and to the a lmond-hu ll drying facility.A concrete loading and washdown pad that was previously used by Ag Aviation during its aerialagricultural chemical application (crop dusting) operations is located at the southeast end of thetaxiway southwest of the runway. Nearby are two empty and abandoned 10,000-gallon abovegroundstorage tanks previously used by Ag Aviation; their former contents are uncertain. On e person withwhom we spoke said that they contained regular gasoline and aviation fuel, while an other thoughtthey only contained water. W e understand that the tanks now belong to Golden By-products. Noenvironmental problems related to these tanks have been noted. A groundwater production welllocated a bit farther to the southw est was also formerly used by A g A viation; this well appe ars to beno longer in use.


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DERP-FUDS PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400

CATEGORY OF HAZARD: No Defense Action Indicated. .AVAILABL E STUDIES AND REPORTS:Preliminary Eligibility Assessment, Ballico Auxiliary Field No. 2, Ballico, California, prepared

September 1999by Advanced Assessment and Remediation Services for the U.S.Army Corpsof Engineers.

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


9/19

DEFENSE ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION PROGRAMFORMERLY USED DEFENSE SITES PROGRAMFINDINGS AND DETER MINATION OF ELIGIBILITYBALLICO AUXILIARY FIELD NO. 2BALLICO, CALIFORNIADE W -FUD S PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400

FINDINGS OF FACT1. The U..S. Department of War (US. Government) purchased the 622-acre site in Septemberand October 1942 for use as an auxiliary military airfield for Merced Air Base. It was designatedBallico Auxiliary Field No. 2.

2. DuringWW II, he Ballico Auxiliary Field was used almost exclusively for training by pilottrainees based at Merced Air Base and elsewhere. The airfield comprised a 193-acre rectangularlanding area approximately 3,000 feet long in the northwest-southeast direction and 2,800 feet widein the northeast-southwest direction. The landing area was covered with SC-3 road oil, which gave ita t b urface similar in appearance to asphalt pavement. Structures on the site included a crash truckshelter, an administration building, a latrine, a small storage shed, and a small portable control tower.3. The U.S. Government classified Ballico Auxiliary Field No. 2 as surplus in August of 1945.


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HazardousWaste Site

5.:GeneralSite Character;lsticsI

0 ay*0 unlJrnqe Yud0 d i p l lmri0 0 t b a ~- $WDO W EO W 1


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'VIEIRA BROS.DAIRY FARM

II

LEGEND 1!BOUNDARY 0k THEFORMER LANDING FIELDABANDONEDTiRE FIELDWELL

ICANAL IIRUNWAYAIRCRAFTSTORAGE & HANGER AREAI"JUNK"EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL.STORAGE REA

ISCALE: pproximately 1 nch'= 650 feet

IFIGURE 2: SITE PLANBALLICO A UXILIARY FIELDNO. 213600 Newport RoadBallico, California )ADVANCEDASSESSMENT AREMEDLATION SERVICE2380 Salvio Street, Suite 20Concord, California

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S ITE SURVEY SUMMRRYFORDERP PROJECT NO. J09CA075400

1 . SITE NAME: Ballico Auxiliary Field No. 22. LOCATION: 14pproximately 7 miles southeast of Turlock and 2 mieast of Ballico, Merced County, California.3. DESCRIPTION OF SITE: Currently the site is an airport. The tbuildings constructed during DoD use are in use as the airport offand a storage building.4 . SITE HISTORG In 1942 the Army acquired by fee 6 2 1 . 7 6 acresof agricultural land from Charles C. Newport Et Ux and Gertrude M.Shaft et al. The government built a landing mat, two smallbuildings, fences, a steel tower, oil storage sheds, and a generathouse. That same year the Army leased 350 acres back to CharlesNewport from 1942 to 1947 For the purpose of animal grazing. The Department placed Ballico Auxiliary Field in surplus effective Aug2 3 , 1 9 4 4. Title to the 6 2 1 . 7 6 acres was granted to the City ofTur.lock by quitrclalm deed dated July 3 1 , 1 9 4 7, subject to existingeasements and leases. 4 title clause indicated the property bemaintained in serviceable condition and the airport he used only fpublic airport purposes. A recapture clause was also included. T


13/19

DEFENSE ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION PROGRAMFORMERLY USED DEFENSE SITES PROGRAMFINDINGS AND DETER MINATION OF ELIGIBILITYBALLICO AUXILIARY FIELD NO. 2BALLICO, CALIFORNIADE W -FUD S PROPERTY NO. J09CA075400

FINDINGS OF FACT1. The U..S. Department of War (US. Government) purchased the 622-acre site in Septemberand October 1942 for use as an auxiliary military airfield for Merced Air Base. It was designatedBallico Auxiliary Field No. 2.

2. DuringWW II, he Ballico Auxiliary Field was used almost exclusively for training by pilottrainees based at Merced Air Base and elsewhere. The airfield comprised a 193-acre rectangularlanding area approximately 3,000 feet long in the northwest-southeast direction and 2,800 feet widein the northeast-southwest direction. The landing area was covered with SC-3 road oil, which gave ita t b urface similar in appearance to asphalt pavement. Structures on the site included a crash truckshelter, an administration building, a latrine, a small storage shed, and a small portable control tower.3. The U.S. Government classified Ballico Auxiliary Field No. 2 as surplus in August of 1945.


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'VIEIRA BROS.DAIRY FARM

II

LEGEND 1!BOUNDARY 0k THEFORMER LANDING FIELDABANDONEDTiRE FIELDWELL

ICANAL IIRUNWAYAIRCRAFTSTORAGE & HANGER AREAI"JUNK"EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL.STORAGE REA

ISCALE: pproximately 1 nch'= 650 feet

IFIGURE 2: SITE PLANBALLICO A UXILIARY FIELDNO. 213600 Newport RoadBallico, California )ADVANCEDASSESSMENT AREMEDLATION SERVICE2380 Salvio Street, Suite 20Concord, California

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C, / SUBJECTP . PROPERTY.

STATE INDEXV I C I N I T Y M A P

N O T E -All that property lymg outs& of th e fenced a re a con*amng J50? cres leosedC H A R LE S C NEPCPORT 8 Ll OA N E W P OR T7 L e a s e N O 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/

F NA L PR$~~LJII STATE. CAL I F O RNI A, COUNTY MERGEDDIVISION PACIFICDlSTRlCf 5ACRAMENTSERVICE COMMANDUSlK? AGENCY ~ '

7 MILES S E OFMILES OF

- T R A N S P O R T A T I O N S P R R

99

- A N D A R11 LCRES OWNED BY w D.

ACRES LEASED BY W. 0.A O I I ~ L ~ E DROM W.ACRES TRANSFERRED TO ACRES DONATED TO W. 0

ACRES SOLDACRE8 TRANSFERREDACRES EXCHANGEDACRES OTHERWISE TO- EGENBOUNOARY LINESTATE OR PlOVlNCE LINEC O U Nn ~ l h ECIVIL DISTRICT PRECINCTdN0-GRANT LIME

ITY. VILL M. OR BOROUGHCEMETERY S MALL PAR*. CTCTOWNSHIP LINESECTION LINE

- S c . l . -0 - 0-

1 -- - ---- ---1 WA U DCCARTWL

CONrrI)UOTIO*REAL ES


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Ballico Auxiliary FNo. 2Formerly Used Defense SiSite No. JOgCA075

0 SiteArea

Aerial phototaken Sep(Mnbsr 16US .Army Corpsof E

, SacramntoDistrict

ballico auxiliary field no. 2

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