Some Homeowners Now Reluctant to Allow Intrusive Investigations

The Site-Wide geophysical surveys and intrusive anomaly investigations at the private residences has continued without delays from COVID-19 prevention measure ... To date, 60 out of the 92 total homes have been intrusively investigated.  The team is noticing more logistical difficulties with obtaining the approval of landscape plans by the property owners to allow geophysical surveys to begin.  There may be a small group of properties at the end of the project that will be very difficult, if at all possible, to obtain approval to complete remedial activity [RA] ... The remaining groups of properties include more reluctant homeowners that are either selling their homes, are new home owners, or are reluctant to begin the intrusive investigation at this time ... USACE Baltimore explained that the team is meeting resistance because, until now, the teams have been working with the groups of homeowners that were eager to complete the remedial action as soon as possible. 

Status of intrusive residential investigations (pg. 15)

Those homeowners were prioritized into the first groups of properties that were intrusively investigated.  Now that those groups of properties have been completed, USACE Baltimore is reaching out to the homeowners that did not volunteer ... Some of the remaining homeowners are not convinced that there is a risk or believe that the intrusive investigation may increase any existing small risk ... At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, 5 - 6 homeowners were willing to allow the work but due to concerns about COVID-19, they do not want extra people on their property ... The Outreach Team is developing different ways to explain the effort to homeowners during the pandemic.  Several homeowners who we have completed RA work with have volunteered to speak about their experience participating in the project to reluctant homeowners.  USACE Baltimore expects to complete remedial activity at 70 properties with few issues, but the possibility of completing remedial activity at the last 22 is unclear at this time.
Spring Valley FUDS
Partnering Meeting Minutes
July 16, 2020 (pg. 3 - 4)