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Site Report: IHS YK Delta Reg. Hospital Bethel

Site Name: IHS YK Delta Reg. Hospital Bethel
Address: Airport Road, Bethel, AK 99559
File Number: 2407.38.025
Hazard ID: 1550
Status: Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff: IC Unit, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 60.787778
Longitude: -161.778611
Horizontal Datum:WGS84

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

Site assessment identified gasoline and diesel range petroleum hydrocarbons in the soil around the UST. Site assessment was conducted in conjunction with numerous other assessments at PHS facilities around the state. The Bethel site (new and old hospitals) included thirty-some fuel tanks, most of which were not regulated. Other sources of contamination were identified and will need follow-up. Last staff assigned were Halverson, Dronenburg, Alam, and now Amanda Dreyer.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
1/1/1992 Site Added to Database DRO. Former Staff
4/1/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = NOR - Notice of Release Letter (LUST)). Former Staff
2/16/1994 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SA1R - Phase I SA Review (CS/LUST)). Numerous comments and concerns identified to the responsible party. Former Staff
10/1/1995 Update or Other Action Immediate site cleaned up but related cleanup issues pending - stockpile and soil treatment. Ray Dronenburg
1/26/1996 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Ray Dronenburg
1/29/1996 Update or Other Action The 10/1/1995, Site Closure Approved action was changed to UPD action due to the fact that the site still had stockpile issues. Ray Dronenburg
10/25/1996 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Updated ranking score. Changed Population Density Value to 8 from 3, and GW Exposure Index Value from 0.4 to 1. Shah Alam
2/18/1997 Meeting or Teleconference Held A meeting was held among ADEC, PHS, BNC, ChemTrack and COE to discuss site cleanup issues and to help USPHS solicit funding. Shah Alam
5/16/1997 Update or Other Action ADEC/CS staff Shah Alam met USPHS staff (Dan Carpenter, Jim Ketter, Tom Coolidge, and Jay Farmwald) to discuss cleanup issues at the Bethel PHS hospital site. USPHS will submit a workplan to address contaminated soils that may be encountered during demolition of utilidors. PHS will also submit a Risk Assessment document and site investigation information for ADEC review. Shah Alam
6/19/1997 Update or Other Action BNC president Marc Stemp wrote ADEC Commissioner Brown and staff Shah Alam expressing BNC's frustration with the delay in site cleanup, and to seek ADEC's help in site cleanup. Shah Alam
6/27/1997 Update or Other Action ADEC/UST staff (Paul Horwath) issued a closure letter for regulated storage tanks (BL4 and BL34) at this site. Shah Alam
7/1/1997 Update or Other Action ADEC/CSRP staff (Shah Alam) wrote to Army Corps of Engineers and USPHS of the limitations of the ADEC/UST closure letter. Shah Alam
7/3/1997 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Updated ranking score. Toxicity Value changed from 2 to 3. Lead at Building 305 (EMCON site assessment), BTEX at tank sites BL19 and BL07 (site assessment), GRO above Level "B" near tank BL34 (Hazcon). Site Access Value increased from 1 to 2. The site is open with no fences and is located within the City of Bethel. Surface Water environment value changed from 0 to 2. Kuskokwim River is within 1/4 mile of the contaminated site. Shah Alam
7/16/1997 Update or Other Action ADEC Commissioner responded back to BNC assuring ADEC's commitment to have this site cleaned up to a level protective of human health and the environment. Shah Alam
8/6/1997 Meeting or Teleconference Held A Meeting was held on August 6, 1997 at the USPHS office on Tudor Center Drive. The purpose of the meeting was to explore means to expedite site cleanup and address any issues that may be impeding the cleanup. Participants were Shah Alam and Jim Frechione (ADEC); Dan Carpenter, Jim Ketter and Jay Farmwald (PHS); Sig Jokie and Chuck Ronan (ChemTrack); Marc Stemp and Ruth Richardson (BNC); and Dave Hanneman (COE). Shah Alam stated that many studies were completed but no actual remediation occurred. PHS proposed that they will work with BNC to come up with a proposal package to secure funding for cleanup. PHS will submit a Risk Assessment Addendum for ADEC review. Shah Alam
8/15/1997 Update or Other Action ADEC mailed a certified letter to PHS asking them to submit a risk assessment for review or cleanup the site to level "A." If PHS does not respond by September 19, 1997, ADEC may consider cleaning up this site as a state-lead project. Shah Alam
9/8/1997 Update or Other Action ADEC initiated the Risk Assessment review process. Shah Alam
9/19/1997 Update or Other Action USPHS informed that BNC had approached Senator Murkowski for his help with the site cleanup, the senator in turn, contacted PHS' National Headquarters to do the site cleanup. Shah Alam
11/7/1997 Update or Other Action ADEC received Risk Assessment review comments from Shannon and Wilson on November 7, 1997. Shah Alam
12/9/1997 Update or Other Action ADEC forwarded RA review comments to PHS. Shah Alam
1/21/1998 Meeting or Teleconference Held A Risk Assessment comment resolution meeting was held among ADEC, PHS, COE, E&E and Chemtrack/BNCI on January 21, 1998. Shah Alam
2/26/1998 Site Number Identifier Changed Changed workplan from 00 to 01. Bill Petrik
3/6/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC issued a letter, dated March 6, 1998, responding to hazardous waste detection at the sludge sample. Shah Alam
4/13/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC staff issued a letter dated April 13, 1998, informing the staff level approval of alternative clean up levels (pending Program Manager's approval). Jim Frechione
4/21/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC staff issued a follow-up letter to the April 13, 1998 letter clarifying alternative clean up levels. Jim Frechione
5/27/1998 Update or Other Action On May 27, 1998, staff approved a work plan addendum dated May 22, 1998 for groundwater sampling. Shah Alam
5/28/1998 Update or Other Action USPHS (Jay Farmwald) informed in a letter dated May 28, 1998 to ADEC that USPHS had received funding for the site remediation. Shah Alam
6/3/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC staff visited the site. During his visit BNCI was removing utilidors. Jim Frechione
6/8/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC staff informed (in a letter dated June 8, 1998) USPHS of the requirement of a public notice to inform public of ACLs and institutional controls. Shah Alam
6/10/1998 Site Characterization Workplan Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = SA1A - Phase I Site Assessment Approval). ADEC staff approved (letter dated June 10, 1998) sludge sampling workplan with review comments on TPH sampling and field duplicate sampling. Shah Alam
6/23/1998 Cleanup Level(s) Approved ADEC issued a cleanup decision letter (June 23, 1998) specifying alternative clean up levels, institutional controls and the requirement of a public notice. For soil, GRO ACL is 1400 mg/kg, DRO ACL is 6000 mg/kg. BNC and USPHS negotiated a lower ACL of 3500 mg/kg for soils from ground surface to three feet below the surface (ADEC will base site cleanup decisions on this negotiated level). ADEC has also determined that an alternative DRO cleanup level (12,500 mg/kg) for soils at depths from 10 to 15 feet below ground surface is appropriate. The contaminated soil at this depth will not pose a human health risk with institutional controls. The RA has determined that benzene contaminated shallow groundwater is not a present (or future) drinking water source. If an institutional control restricting use of the groundwater at this site for drinking water purposes is attached to the property in the form of a deed notice, then an alternative cleanup level (110 ppb) will be applicable to the site. It has also been shown that offsite migration of contaminated groundwater is not likely and does not pose a risk to the Kuskokwim River's ecosystem. To determine a decreasing trend of benzene concentration, groundwater monitoring will be required until the maximum detected benzene concentration is below 5 ug/L at points of compliance. The points of compliance for this site should be at the boundary of Tract "E" where shallow groundwater flows out of the property and towards the Kuskokwim River. The institutional control (deed notice) must state that petroleum contaminated soil is present and, if it is excavated in the future, it must be managed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. If confirmation sampling show soil cleanup has met ADEC's Matrix Cleanup Level "A" and groundwater has met MCLs, then deed notes or restriction could be removed for those areas. The deed notice must also state that the contaminated shallow groundwater shall not be used for drinking water purposes. A public notice should be printed in a local newspaper informing local residents that (1) shallow groundwater at the Old Public Health Service Hospital should not be used for drinking until the shallow groundwater meets ADEC's cleanup levels; and, (2) potential risks associated with contaminated soils may be present if they are excavated or exposed. Shah Alam
7/21/1998 Update or Other Action Marc Stemp (BNCI) wrote ADEC to clarify issues related to cleanup at this site. Shah Alam
7/22/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC wrote to BNC clarifying issues raised in BNC's letter dated June 21, 1998. Shah Alam
9/10/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC approved the corrective action work plan for sludge in tanks. Shah Alam
9/11/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC wrote to PHS informing the status of sludge as not being hazardous waste. Shah Alam
6/4/1999 Meeting or Teleconference Held Jim Frechione and Shah Alam met Chuck Ronan and Sig Jokiel of BNCI to discuss stockpiled soil remediation by landfarming without a liner. A modification of the draft proposal was acceptable to all parties. In situ soil will be landfarmed in situ. Ex situ soils will be landfarmed with a thickness of two instead of three feet. A map showing the new location of the remediation area and cross-sections through the landfarm will be submitted for review. The landfarm operation will have a leachate collection system. The leachate will be processed through charcoal filter to prevent any spread of contamination. BNCI will submit an operation and a monitoring plan for review. Monitoring will mostly be by soil sampling. Sampling of existing groundwater monitoring wells will detect impacts to groundwater from this landfarming operation. BNCI indicated that soil contaminant concentration will fall to the established alternative cleanup level within three years. Shah Alam
6/7/1999 Update or Other Action Letter to PHS discussing cleanup status, naming of new monitoring well C, and, Dan Carpenter being qualified to sample. Shah Alam
7/12/1999 Cleanup Plan Approved ADEC approved a work plan for landfarming for excavated contaminated soils. Also approved transportation of contaminated soils into old hospital from the new hospital. Shah Alam
10/19/1999 Update or Other Action Excavation is complete at the YKHC Hospital 600 Building spill (96-27-99-351-01), and the soil is stockpiled at the old hospital site. Shah Alam
11/10/1999 Update or Other Action Cost recovery (LC 14965160), $19,784.45. Shah Alam
12/6/1999 Update or Other Action The Department has received ground water contamination data from monitoring wells A, Bb and C1. The first sampling event occurred on July 28, 1999. The wells were sampled again on November 16, 1999. All of the DRO and the BTEX analytical results for monitoring wells A and B were at a non-detectable concentration. Well C1 had a concentration of 0.611 mg/L of DRO on July 28, 1999 and 0.377 mg/L on November 16, 1999. The duplicate sample from well C1 resulted in non-detectable concentration of DRO. All concentrations are within ground water cleanup standards of Table C, 18 AAC 75. Shah Alam
12/9/1999 Update or Other Action Staff wrote to USPHS (Dan Carpenter) regarding ground water monitoring data for 1999. The sample results indicate that all concentrations are below the ground water cleanup standards established in Table C, 18 AAC 75. To ensure the cleanup activities (including the landfarming operation) do not impact the groundwater at the site, staff requested to continue the groundwater monitoring program until such time that contaminant levels were shown to be stable or decreasing in concentration. The frequency of monitoring may be reduced from twice a year to once a year (late summer). Shah Alam
2/11/2000 Update or Other Action ADEC received a report from the U.S. Public Health Service of an irregularity associated with the excavation and stockpiling of contaminated soil. The Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation excavated approximately 1,000 cubic yards of soil suspected as being impacted from petroleum hydrocarbons. The soil was excavated from within the 40-ft road right-of-way along the westerly boundary of the Old Hospital site and stockpiled within an area that has been designated as the "Remediation Treatment Area" for the Old Hospital soil. Shah Alam
2/18/2000 Update or Other Action Staff has reviewed a report of unauthorized soil excavation and stockpiling at the Bethel Old Hospital site. Staff approved, in a letter to USPHS, removal of the stockpiled soil out of the "Remediation Treatment Area" to make room for the planned remediation of other soil excavated from the Old Hospital facility. During the removal, the soil will be field screened and analytical samples will be collected for laboratory analysis. Shah Alam
2/23/2000 Update or Other Action Staff wrote, in a letter dated February 23, 2000, to the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation regarding unauthorized soil excavation and stockpiling. Staff informed of the hazard associated with the construction activities and/or soil excavation at a contaminated site, and, of the requirement to seek prior approval from the Department. Shah Alam
7/26/2000 Update or Other Action ADEC project manager, Shah Alam, visited the site. Shah Alam
8/2/2000 Interim Removal Action Approved ADEC has reviewed a final contaminated soil excavation and stockpiling report dated May 2000. The Phase I of the report describes contaminated soil excavation and stockpiling for the 1998-field season. The Phase II report describes the 1999-field season. The report indicated that all known areas of soil contamination with concentrations above alternative cleanup levels (ACL) had been excavated and stockpiled. Analytical data accompanying the report indicated that the soil benzene concentrations were always within detection limits. The gasoline range organic concentrations were always below the ACL of 1400 mg/kg. Based on these findings, the department agreed that no additional soil analysis for BTEX and GRO are necessary. Shah Alam
8/7/2000 Update or Other Action USPHS informs in a fax that the analytical results show that the UST site and the Grid 3 of the RTA (Remediation Treatment Area) are clean to less than the ACL. The UST was discovered on July 11, 2000 and the confirmation samples were collected on July 27, 2000. Confirmation samples from the Grid 3 hotspot was also collected on July 27, 2000. Shah Alam
4/25/2001 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting regarding water containment pond for remediation treatment area. Pond is full and a discharge permit was requested. Renee Evans
4/25/2001 Update or Other Action Fax received regarding pond information - volume, sample results, photos, site map, etc. Renee Evans
4/27/2001 Update or Other Action Sample results - 602 and 610 - containment pond water faxed from BCNI. Authorization from landowner where discharge proposed received. Renee Evans
5/2/2001 Cleanup Plan Approved Cleanup plan for containment water approved and discharge authorized under GP. Renee Evans
5/15/2001 Update or Other Action Fax received regarding precipitation in area and containment pond sizing. Renee Evans
7/17/2001 Update or Other Action Fax received regarding groundwater monitoring request for "qualified person". Renee Evans
7/18/2001 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Characterization plan for landfarming site sampling received and approved. Renee Evans
11/20/2002 Update or Other Action Site transferred from Evans to Amanda Dreyer. Amanda Dreyer
1/8/2003 Update or Other Action Reviewing file and most recent soil/groundwater results for site closure with institutional controls. Amanda Dreyer
6/14/2004 Update or Other Action File number assigned 2407.38.025 Sarah Cunningham
7/22/2004 Update or Other Action File sent to Juneau C/O Mike Jaynes Sarah Cunningham
2/9/2006 Long Term Monitoring Complete Review of latest monitoring well results indicated the recommended groundwater monitoring established during site closure can be discontinued. Letter issued and can be found at G:\SPAR\CS\Contaminated Site Files (38)\2407 Bethel\2407.38.025 Old Yukon Kuskokwim Delta Region PHS Hospital\GW Monitoring Discontinuation Approval.doc Mike Jaynes
2/9/2006 Institutional Control Record Established This entry to note IC's were established during the issue of a NFRAP letter on June 6, 2003. IC's include 1. Further cleanup if the following areas become accessible: pits BL18, UG6 and BL7 2. Transport of soil from site requires ADEC approval 3. Groundwater monitoring recommended until trend is established 4. Recommend landspread area be capped with topsoil and revegetated. 5. Drinking water well must be sampled for COCs if used as a drinking water source. More complete details are in the file. Mike Jaynes
2/9/2006 Update or Other Action File review due to letter from IHS shows this site is related to the Building 600 site (File 2407.38.021). Building 600 site was a recent spill and management of long term contamination at Building 600 was transferred to this site. Mike Jaynes
2/9/2006 Conditional Closure Approved This is an update noting a Record of Decision detailing NFRAP for the site was issued June 6, 2003 but not recorded in the database. Site will be changed to Conditional Closure in the CS Database. Letter is detailed in the file. Mike Jaynes
12/11/2017 Institutional Control Update Groundwater monitoring requirement removed from the Closure/IC Details section since long term monitoring was completed in 2006. A complete IC compliance review of this site is needed. Evonne Reese
12/21/2017 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC compliance review conducted. ICs verification letter issued. Reminder system set for future follow-ups to occur every three years. Kristin Thompson

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
DRO > Table C Groundwater
GRO > Table C Groundwater
RRO > Table C Groundwater
GRO > Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
2,4,6-Tribromophenol > Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation

Control Type

Type Details
Notice of Environmental Contamination Deed Notice Filed on 11/17/03 with recording district 402-Bethel, Document Number 2002-002107-0. A risk assessment for the Old Bethel Hospital Site established an ACL of 6,000 ppm DRO for soil that may remain on the site and not pose a risk to human health or the environment. There are approx. 11,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil in the landspread area at depths of 0-3 feet bgs. Higher levels of contamination remain at locations BL18, UG6 and BL07 that will remain in place at the Old H

Requirements

Description Details
New Construction Restrictions At locations BL18, UG6 and BL07, if soil is made acessible at 10 feet bgs, excavation and cleanup should occur. Contact ADEC prior to excavation and transport.
Excavation / Soil Movement Restrictions Soil onsite not to be excavated or moved without prior written approval from Department. ADEC must be contaced prior to excavation and transport.
Groundwater Use Restrictions Shallow aquifer at 0-50 bgs to not be used for drinking water source. Deeper ~400 bgs aquifer can be used only if it is tested and found to comply with drinking water standards for DRO, RRO, GRO, BTEX, PAH, bacteria and nitrates and others listed in 18 AAC 80. Samples to be collected prior to using deeper water aquifer and forwarded to Water Quality staff for review.
Periodic Review Every three years.
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site. Standard condition.
Movement or use of contaminated material (including on site) in a manner that results in a violation of the water quality standards is prohibited (18 AAC 70) Standard condition.

No associated sites were found.

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

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Juneau, AK 99811-1800
Phone: 907-465-5066
Fax: 907-465-5245
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Physical Location: 410 Willoughby