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Site Report: FAA McGrath Non-Directional Beacon

Site Name: FAA McGrath Non-Directional Beacon
Address: East-Southeast of Town, ~1.5 Mi. E. of N-S Runway, McGrath, AK 99627
File Number: 2612.38.001
Hazard ID: 1553
Status: Active
Staff: Sophia Bracio, 9074511682 sophia.bracio@alaska.gov
Latitude: 62.946833
Longitude: -155.557779
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

The Former NDB Building 401 is located approximately 1.6 miles to the southeast of McGrath and the airfield at the former Systems Building Research Alliance (SBRA) property. At one time, the site had a gasoline underground storage tank (UST) for an engine generator and a heating oil aboveground storage tank (AST) mounted on wooden cribbing.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
6/6/1994 Update or Other Action On June 6, 1994, FAA submitted a spill report for the Non-Directional Beacon Facility. The spill report indicates that a release of an unknown volume of heating oil occurred on the northwest side of NDB Building 401. The previously existing AST was removed prior to 1994 and the release was discovered while drilling a boring for an RI. [Entry added to CS Database on 2/14/2020] Jamie McKellar
7/10/2003 Site Added to Database DRO and GRO contamination. Deborah Williams
7/10/2003 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Preliminary ranking. Deborah Williams
7/14/2003 Update or Other Action ADEC approved a workplan with the following scope of work: Decommissioning of monitoring wells from prior remedial investigations, MW-7 at the RCAG and MW-11 at the NDB. Site investigation to determine the extent of contamination discovered at the former treatment cell location. Monitoring and evaluation of the active Hobby Shop SVE system. Monitoring and evaluation of the active SVE system at Building 305/604. Subsurface soil sampling at the former Power House. Implementation of long-term groundwater monitoring at the former tank farm. Investigate petroleum contamination on the private property at the former tank farm. Evaluation of natural attenuation along former pipeline and at the former FSS. Survey the monitoring wells in the quarters and tank farm area and prepare a groundwater contour map. Removal of abandoned pipeline and relase investigation. Deborah Williams
6/9/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC received a Site Investigation and Remedial Evaluation Report. The report includes recommendations based upon outputs of Geosphere's 4-phase model and recommends no further remedial action at several sites where contaminant concentrations exceed the maximum allowable limit of 12,500 mg/kg DRO. The 4-phase model has not yet been verified for accuracy. ADEC discussed this with the FAA and will recommend that siol above the maximum allowable concentration be removed during airport upgrades tentatively scheduled for summer 2006. Sharon Richmond
7/28/2005 Site Characterization Report Approved Contaminated Sites (CS) staff reviewed and provided comments to the Federal Aviation Administration's Site Investigation and Remedial Evaluation Report at the McGrath Airport. Numerous areas contaminated with petroleum were addressed during this investigation. Several air sparge/soil vapor extraction systems have been operating but recovery of fuel has diminished because volatile fuel components have been mostly removed; these systems will be shut down and decommissioned. Other areas still have residual diesel contamination but, in general, concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes are below cleanup levels in soil and groundwater. Contamination that has migrated off-site will be excavated and managed as part of remedial efforts at the former tank farm area. CS staff recommended that all soil with contamination above the maximum allowable concentration be excavated and that a treatment strategy be developed. A resident of McGrath contacted the Department regarding off-site contamination.The individual was provided with a copy of the report and the comment letter. Sharon Richmond
1/26/2006 Update or Other Action All work performed for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires completion and approval of a Project Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Worksheet (EOSH Worksheet). The EOSH Worksheet is a tool that allows project managers to identify potential hazards and contamination, take appropriate measures to avoid hazards and manage contamination appropriately, to minimize environmental impacts, determine whether environmental assessment is required prior to beginning work, and to minimize fines and/or penalties associated with non-compliance with federal and state regulations. It also acts a mechanism to identify when outside agency permits are necessary. Specific portions of the EOSH Worksheet address: the presence/absence of endangered species, activities conducted in wetlands or anadromous streams, whether work will occur on a contaminated site or involve activities associated with fuel tanks, fuel distribution lines, oil-containing transformers, groundwater monitoring wells, floor drains, and generation and handling of hazardous waste. To ensure all issues are appropriately considered, the worksheet is to be reviewed after each phase of project development and implemenation. This form is to be kept with project progress documents throughout the project. Sharon Richmond
1/11/2010 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 72531 name: FAA McGrath Non-Directional Beacon Melody Debenham
8/2/2011 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Approved the Final Work Plan, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Release Investigation, FAA Station, McGrath, Alaska, describing investigation activities at 14 areas of concern at the FAA McGrath Station. An Ultra-Violet Optical Screening Tool (UVOST)/laser-induces fluorescence (LIF) probe will be used as a screening tool to investigate the horizontal and vertical extent of petroleum contamination. Locations of soil borings and groundwater monitoring wells will be determined based on site conditions and the UVOST/LIF screening results. Melody Debenham
5/16/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved 2013 groundwater monitoring report at 8 areas of concern. Groundwater sampling results at the NDB site show diesel range organics above the cleanup level. Melody Debenham
2/23/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved final 2013 release investigation at 11 areas of concern. Sample results at the Former NDB Building 401 AST and UST site shows contaminated soil remains at this site. Groundwater results were below cleanup levels. Melody Debenham
12/9/2016 Update or Other Action Teleconference with FAA project manager to discuss future actions at FAA McGrath sites. Melody Debenham
4/19/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Letter sent to FAA advising that no response is required for the Department's December 2016 correspondence. Since multiple AOCs were evaluated using the HRC, ADEC will not be able to use the July 2016 report as a basis for decision making. ADEC will re-evaluate FAA McGrath AOCs that appear ready for closure. Some sites may be eligible for cleanup based on a cumulative risk evaluation. Other sites require additional investigation and/or remediation by FAA. Jamie McKellar
3/9/2018 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 72531 FAA McGrath Non-Directional Beacon. Jamie McKellar
11/10/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVAL: Final Release Investigation Report for McGrath FAA Station and the Soil Data Quality Evaluation Supplement for the Release Investigation Report (Brice Environmental, September 2020) Jamie McKellar

Contaminant Information

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