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Site Report: Red Devil Corporation Tank Farm

Site Name: Red Devil Corporation Tank Farm
Address: Middle Kuskowim Electric, Red Devil, AK 99656
File Number: 2442.38.002
Hazard ID: 1327
Status: Active
Staff: Alena Voigt, 9072697556 alena.voigt@alaska.gov
Latitude: 61.783066
Longitude: -157.339398
Horizontal Datum:NAD83

We make every effort to ensure the data presented here is accurate based on the best available information currently on file with DEC. It is therefore subject to change as new information becomes available. We recommend contacting the assigned project staff prior to making decisions based on this information.

Problems/Comments

There have been several historic spills from the above ground storage tank (AST) farm and associated pipeline that supplies the MKEC power plant. Contamination resulting from severe damage to the Red Devil Corporation's tank farm by flooding was reported to WDO on September 5, 1991. In 1991 a spill from tanks overturned during the spring flood, which breached the liner, at the MKEC power plant of 3,500 to 5,000 gallons occurred, of which 900 cubic yards was excavated and put into two stockpiles and the TF was relocated just upgradient. Another spill occurred at the power plant in 1992. On 7/7/1992, vandals created a 35- to 50-gallon spill contaminating a 12 foot area. In 1993, areas of stressed vegetation and staining were noted at the north of the property below the fuel pipelines where 10 to 20 gallons of diesel spilled. In 1994, three monitoring wells installed within the depression for the 1991 800 cubic yard excavation, contained benzene up to 6.6 milligrams per liter (mg/L) and diesel range organics (DRO) up to 6.2 mg/L. In 1998, soil samples collected under the fuel lines contained gasoline range organics (GRO) up to 7,500 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), DRO up to 25,000 mg/kg, benzene up to 2.3 mg/kg, ethylbenzene up to 45.7 mg/kg, xylenes up to 240 mg/kg, and toluene up to 102 mg/kg. The AST farm was relocated upgradient to a contained area. The former tank farm was situated in the flood plain of the Kuskokwim River. This area and surrounding land is owned by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and has been selected by the regional native corporation. The native corporation does not want to complete the land conveyance until either the liability for the contamination is established or the site is cleaned up. Mr. Kessinger, (former) Red Devil Corporation (RDC) president, states the RDC has no money, and that the fault for the contamination lies with a Red Devil construction company (Wilmarth) which built the tank farm in the flood plain a few years ago. A depressed area currently exists where contaminated soil was previously excavated from the former AST farm in 1991, but the stockpiles are no longer on the site. No further action has occurred since 1998 for these spill events. In 2009, the Prevention and Emergency Response Program (PERP) responded to a 2,000-gallon diesel spill from the MKEC day tank. Contaminated soil was excavated to the best extent practicable and stockpiled in a containment area behind the MKEC Building. Groundwater at the base of the excavation contained a sheen and appears to be hydraulically connected to the River as evidenced by groundwater level fluctuations. The excavation was backfilled with cleanfill in 2011. Extent of contamination is unknown. Water is derived from individual wells.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
9/5/1991 Update or Other Action Contamination resulting from severe damage to the Red Devil Corporation's tank farm by flooding on September 5, 1991. In 1991 a spill from tanks overturned during the spring flood, which breached the liner, at the MKEC power plant of 3,500 to 5,000 gallons occurred of which 800 cubic yards was excavated and put into two stockpiles and the TF was relocated just upgradient. Four soil samples collected from the stockpiles contained TRPH up to 2,800 mg/kg. One soil sample collected from the bottom of the excavation contained TRPH at 250 mg/kg. The excavation area is 60 feet long, 40 feet wide, and a maximum depth of 4 feet deep. Noted: leakage was noted at the pipeline and was patched Grant Lidren
8/27/1992 Update or Other Action Site Reconnaissance: ADEC's Ray Dronenburg inspected this site and reported the presence of a rainbow sheen on the water in the excavation at the former site of the tank farm. He also reported a strong odor of fuel in soils at both the site of the excavation and in the stockpiles. The stockpiles were created during the TF relocation project.The contamination was the result from severe damage to the tank during flooding and was reported to the DEC on 9/15/1991. Former Staff
11/17/1992 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting held with Red Devil Corporation President, Gary Kessinger. Former Staff
12/1/1992 Notice of Violation Notice of violation issued. Long-term stockpiling plan requested by 12/31/92 and a Contamination Assessment Plan by January 15, 1993. As of 2/3/93, there has been no response from RDC. Former Staff
2/8/1993 Site Added to Database Gasoline and diesel contamination. Former Staff
10/28/1993 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter ADEC Western District Office sent PRP letters to BLM, ADOT, Richard Wilmarth (of Wilmarth Construction and also President of the Red Devil Corporation at the time the former tank farm was constructed) and Middle Kuskokwim for contamination at the former tank farm. Former Staff
11/1/1993 Update or Other Action On this date ADEC received the Preliminary Environmental Site Assessment submitted by America North/EMCON. Inc. Surface water pooled up at the former TF excavation and at two adjacent ponds contained a visual petroleum sheen. Surface staining was noted along the pipeline joints. The pipeline runs from the Red Devil TF to the Kuskokwim River. Groundwater was encountered at 9 feet bgs. Fifteen soil borings were advanced along the pipeline and TF. Seven soil samples collected from the former TF spill area contained TRPH up to 447 mg/kg. Eight soil samples collected along the pipeline at areas of visual contamination contained TRPH up to 9,000 mg/kg. Grant Lidren
6/1/1994 Update or Other Action Phase I Site Assessment. Funding was through a grant given to Red Devil Electric for other business and redirected. Ray Dronenburg
6/20/1994 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC reviewed Site Assessment MKEC Red Devil Facility, submitted by Hart Crowser dated June 1994. The investigation was performed to assess the 1991 release of 3,500 to 5,000 gallons of fuel that breached the liner at the MKEC power plant, which resulted in 800 cubic yards of contaminated soil excavated and put into two stockpiles. The 1994 investigation included: collecting soil samples from the excavation area and stockpile, and analyzing the groundwater within the excavation. Six soil samples collected 6 to 7 feet bgs contained DRO up to 11,000 mg/kg. Soil samples collected from the two onsite stockpiles contained DRO up to 5,700 mg/kg. Three well points advanced within the former excavation contained benzene up to 6.6 mg/L and diesel range organics (DRO) up to 6.2 mg/L. The Groundwater, encountered at 15 feet bgs, flowed to the northeast. Grant Lidren
7/1/1994 Update or Other Action Treatment, Fixation Plan approved for stockpile outside the flood plain. Ray Dronenburg
9/22/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC reviewed The Final Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Report, dated September 22, 1998, submitted by SAIC. Site reconnaissance and interviews with local residents indicate releases of diesel on the 1 acre subject property, which is located 600 feet south of the Kuskokwim River near the Red Devil Airport. A flood in 1991 caused numerous spills including more than 20-55 gallon drums, which are spread out throughout the property. There have been several spills from the Red Devil TF that supplies the power plant electrical generator, which is located 150 ft. west of the subject property. In 1991 a spill at the power plant of 3,500 to 5,000 gallon occurred of which 800 cubic yards was excavated and put into two stockpiles. Another spill occurred at the power plant in 1992, when a pump was left on that stained the ground with diesel, Additionally, Areas of stressed vegetation and staining were noted at the north of the property below fuel pipelines where 10 to 20 gallons of diesel spilled. Grant Lidren
10/12/1998 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC requested the RP address environmental issues outlined in ADEC's October 12, 1998 letter. David Pikul
10/28/1998 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting between MKEC and ADEC to discuss the conditions at the site. David Pikul
2/24/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC reviewed The Final Phase 2 Investigation Proposed Main Post Office site Lot 4, Survey 3771 Village of Red Devil, Alaska, dated February 24, 1999, submitted by Maxim Tech. This investigation, by the USPS, was to evaluate areas of contamination on LOT 4, prior to moving the post office. The pipelines from the MKEC are on the north boundary of the LOT 4 land plot. The areas investigated included three locations in the vicinity of the fuel pipelines along the northeast of the property boundary and an area near AST’s located on the south corner of the property. Four test pits were excavated: three below the pipeline and one below the ASTs on the South corner of the property (note: these ASTs are not part of the MKEC power plant contaminated site). The test pits were advanced 5 to 14 ft. bgs. Soil samples collected from two test pits under the fuel lines contained GRO up to 7,500 mg/kg, DRO up to 25,000 mg/kg, benzene up to 2.3 mg/kg, ethylbenzene up to 45.7 mg/kg, xylenes up to 240 mg/kg, and toluene up to 102 mg/kg . Soil samples to the South East of property at the ASTs did not contain contaminants above ADEC cleanup levels. One GW sample collected from the middle test pit under the fuel lines did not contain contaminants above ADEC cleanup levels. GW was encountered at 18 feet bgs. Grant Lidren
4/1/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC sent a letter to the USPO requesting submittal of any site investigation activities (reports) that they may have performed on adjacent property. David Pikul
6/28/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC review Phase I and II SI reports for the adjacent property. Contamination found, ADEC requests USPO prepare a workplan. David Pikul
8/9/1999 Update or Other Action Gary Kessinger visit to ADEC Anchorage to report a release at Stony River. Mr. Kessinger stated that he will initiate workplan development for the Red Devil Bulk Fuel Area. David Pikul
8/25/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC requested (in a letter) that the Middle Kuskokwim Electric Cooperative submit a workplan to address contamination identified in the USPO reports. David Pikul
10/8/1999 Update or Other Action Additional request, by letter, to MKEC to submit a workplan to address contamination. David Pikul
10/31/2002 Site Visit Site visit: Trip report and photographs on file. Former Staff
6/10/2005 Update or Other Action Reviewed file & reports. Sent letter requesting project status update and provided Brownfields information as a possible funding source. Donald Seagren
11/16/2009 Update or Other Action letter sent to RP on 6/10/2005 was returned to ADEC due to unknown address. The letter was never sent to the RP. Grant Lidren
11/16/2009 Update or Other Action ADEC phone conversation with MKEC indicates a depression exists at the former tank farm. The depression is assumed to be where contaminated soil was previously excavated in 1991. The tank farm has since been relocated 50 feet upgradient to a fenced bermed containment area 8 feet above the Kuskokwim flood plain. On July 2009 a 2,500 gallon spill occurred at the power plant day tank. Some contaminated soil from this spill event was removed (by PERP) and land farmed. Further soil removal action from this spill event will occur in the summer of 2010. Grant Lidren
11/20/2009 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter On this date ADEC sent a letter to MKEC requesting information on their intended actions with respect to the remaining contamination on site. Letter also reiterates ADEC cost recovery requirements. Grant Lidren
12/29/2009 Update or Other Action In 2009 PERP responded to a 2,000 gallon diesel spilled from the MKEC day tank. Contaminated soil was excavated to the best extent practicable and stockpiled in a containment area behind the MKEC Building. Groundwater at the base of the excavation contained a sheen and appears to be hydraulically connected to the River evident by GW level fluctuations. the excavation was backfilled with cleanfill in 2011. Extent of contamination is unknown. Grant Lidren
2/27/2012 Update or Other Action Received email from MKEC on this date. "MKEC does not anticipate having funds to attempt any further cleanup in the foreseeable future." Grant Lidren
2/28/2012 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79266 name: 2009 Daytank Spill Grant Lidren
5/4/2012 Update or Other Action Per a conversation with a local resident, there are some shallow DWWs in Red Devil less than 15 feet bgs. DWWs below 15 ft. bgs are silty and not potable, which require a treatment system. DWWs in Red Devil don't appear to be directly down gradient of this site. Furthermore, there is a drainage ditch between the site and DWWs, which are located cross gradient. The closet well, which is reportedly 15 feet bgs, appears directly 150 feet upgradient Grant Lidren
11/17/2014 Update or Other Action Staff received photographs of stockpiled soil from the 2009 release at the tank farm site that was handled by spill response staff. The excavated contaminated soil is stored at the village landfill site. Eileen Olson
10/23/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC conditionally approved a work plan dated 10/11/2017 for characterization of potentially contaminated soil within Lot 3 of USS 3771 in Red Devil. The proposed site characterization consists of advancing nine initial test pits and collecting field and laboratory soil samples. If contamination is encountered additional test pits may be advanced to delineate the extent of any soil contamination encountered. The results of the investigation will be used to estimate costs for remediation and cleanup activities that will result in the property conditions being acceptable to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) (the current landowner), and the regional corporation to whom the land will be conveyed. Eileen Olson
10/26/2017 Update or Other Action ADEC received email notice from consultant EMI-Alaska that due to weather conditions, mobilization to Red Devil was not possible and work will be rescheduled for summer 2018. Eileen Olson
8/9/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On 8/9/2018 the "Site Characterization Report Red Devil Corporation Fuel Tank Farm ADEC File No. 2442.38.002 Red Devil, Alaska 99656" was received from EMI that documented the results of a June 2018 characterization of the Red Devil Fuel Tank Farm. On 6/29/2018 ADEC provided comments on the report and requested that a revised report be submitted by 8/15/2018. Catherine Beatty
8/31/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided comments on the "Site Characterization Report" dated August 3, 2018. Kara Kusche
10/17/2018 Site Characterization Report Approved ADEC approves the "Site Characterization Report - Revised, Red Devil Corporation Fuel Tank Farm" dated October 15, 2018. Kara Kusche
10/17/2018 Workplan Requested ADEC requests a work plan be submitted by January 15, 2019. The work plan should include provisions for additional soil characterization to the south, removal or treatment of soils above applicable cleanup levels, and ground water characterization. Kara Kusche
12/10/2019 Workplan Requested The ADEC sent a 2nd request for workplan letter to the Middle Kuskokwim Electric Cooperative on December 10, 2019. Randy Guintu
2/11/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The MKEC submitted a Proposed Scope and Estimated Costs for Limited Removal Action, Additional Site Characterization, and Groundwater Monitoring Report. This report outlines tentative dates for proposed work and other deliverables (work plan, and subsequent site cleanup and characterization activities). Randy Guintu

Contaminant Information

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