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Site Report: City of McGrath Water Treat. Plant

Site Name: City of McGrath Water Treat. Plant
Address: Takotna Ave. & "F" Street, Southwest Corner, McGrath, AK 99627
File Number: 2612.38.003
Hazard ID: 1568
Status: Active
Staff: Stacee Henderson, 9072628202 stacee.henderson@alaska.gov
Latitude: 62.950373
Longitude: -155.588957
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

On November 12, 1992, approximately 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel was released from a 20,000 gallon aboveground storage tank (AST) at the City's power plant. Approximately 900 gallons of fuel were recovered during response efforts. The 20,000 gallon AST was located within a lined, secondary containment. Site characterization occurred in 1995 and consisted of the advancement of nine test pits by Phukan Consulting and Engineering Associates (Phukan). Approximately 2,500 cubic yards of soil were removed and landfarmed at the City landfill. Stockpiled soils contained concentrations of diesel range organics (DRO) up to 13,500 miligams per kilogram (mg/kg). No records are available that indicate when and whether laboratory analytical samples were taken of the "remediated" soils, which were used in construction of the new tank farm in 1998. In 2017, the City contracted DNA Environmental (DNA) to conduct site characterization. One groundwater monitoring well was installed via excavator and sampled, revealing concentrations of DRO and various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) above ADEC groundwater cleanup levels. In 2019, three additional monitoring wells were installed and sampled for DRO, VOCs, gasoline range organics (GRO), residual range organics (RRO), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). All concentrations of contaminants were below groundwater cleanup levels EXCEPT for chloroform, which was revealed in all three wells up to 29.8 micrograms per liter (µg/L). Chloroform is a byproduct of chlorinated solvents used in the water treatment process created when solvents react with organic material. Chloroform is highly soluble and a relatively small amount can contaminate a large volume of groundwater. Because the site is a water treatment plant, the presence of chloroform could be attributed to improper storage and/or disposal of water treatment chemicals. Chloroform is a contaminant regulated by the Contaminated Sites Program, therefore, the site requires further investigation to delineate the extent and concentrations of chloroform in groundwater.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
9/23/1993 Site Added to Database Diesel fuel release. Former Staff
6/29/1994 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Former Staff
8/30/1995 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). Assist RP with direction in hiring cleanup contractor. Ray Dronenburg
2/1/1996 Site Characterization Report Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = SA2A - Phase II SA Approval / Release Investigation). Reviewed and approved a phase 2 site assessment report. Ray Dronenburg
4/26/1996 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Ranked by Shannon and Wilson. S&W
9/11/1997 Voluntary Cleanup Program The department has determined that this site meets the eligibility criteria set out for the Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) pilot program, and hereby approves the site for cleanup under the VCP. Anne Marie Palmieri
10/11/1999 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Reranked using site characterization report information. Anne Marie Palmieri
1/5/2001 Update or Other Action No information received from responsible party since VCP approval. Contacted Kathy Snow (city clerk) who knew little about site. City has since rebuilt tank farm. Requested to contact City in two weeks and will be provided with more info. Mike Jaynes
11/21/2001 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Changed the groundwater Usage Value from 0.1 to 0.8 and the surface water Usage Value from 0.2 to 1 based on information contained in the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (ADCCED) "McGrath Community Map." Former Staff
1/16/2002 Update or Other Action City of McGrath has no money to perform cleanup and must find grant to perform work. Pursued aboveground storage tank (AST) program inquiry on project but nothing available. Will inquire about state work. Mike Jaynes
1/16/2002 Update or Other Action Speaking with city clerk mentions community is supplied by municipal water taken from Kuskokwim River. Mike Jaynes
3/17/2004 Update or Other Action No activity on this site. Further activity prevented due to AST preventing access to site. Mike Jaynes
12/5/2007 Update or Other Action Contacted responsible party and confirmed new tank farm is built adjacent to old tank farm area which is now used to park heavy equipment. Responsible party unable to locate more recent information. Keather McLoone
12/12/2007 Update or Other Action Based on Drinking Water Program 2004 Source Water Assessment report, city water intake may not be upstream from this and other contaminated sites; however, treated water analytical results suggest that contamination is not affecting the public drinking water. Keather McLoone
12/13/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Keather McLoone
1/29/2008 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Sent Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) letter to City of McGrath. Keather McLoone
2/1/2008 GIS Position Updated Latitude/longitude updated using ArcGIS quadrangle layer Keather McLoone
8/29/2012 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking (corrected) with ETM completed for source area id: 72546 name: ASTs Keather McLoone
12/2/2013 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 72546 ASTs. Joshua Barsis
3/7/2014 Update or Other Action On this day, a letter was sent to the City of McGrath requesting the following information: locations of groundwater drinking wells in the area, locations of other drinking water sources, and information about the current conditions of the site. Joshua Barsis
8/10/2015 Update or Other Action Letter sent on this day with site history and information on site status. Joshua Barsis
7/19/2016 Update or Other Action Spoke with City of McGrath water treatment plant and received update via email. Erin Gleason
7/26/2016 Update or Other Action Sent work plan request letter to Mayor of McGrath, Dustin Parker. Work plan is due 11/1/2016. Erin Gleason
7/29/2016 Update or Other Action Spoke with City of McGrath on the phone. They have received the work plan request letter. Funding is a limiting factor but they will try to work with Tanana Chiefs conference environmental team to develop a work plan. Erin Gleason
8/3/2016 Update or Other Action Spoke with Tanana Chiefs about work plan and sampling. Work plan deadline has been extended to February 1, 2017. Erin Gleason
8/16/2016 Update or Other Action Public Records Request Received from Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) Erin Gleason
2/10/2017 Update or Other Action Work plan deadline extended to May 1,2017. Erin Gleason
4/7/2017 Update or Other Action K. Bante from TCC visited McGrath to review documents and current site conditions. TCC is still working to prepare a work plan. Erin Gleason
5/17/2017 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 72546 ASTs. Erin Gleason
5/18/2017 Update or Other Action Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) submitted a site characterization summary report on April 21, 2017. The report includes further detail about work that was performed on site. According to City records contaminated soil was removed from the spill area and hauled to the local landfill where it was land-farmed over the next few years. exact volume of contaminated soil is unknown, but original recommendations suggest 2500 cubic yards. After some attenuation of contaminants in the soil, the soil was removed from the landfill and used in the new tank farm. Details of landfarm treatment are not known. Final concentration of contaminants before the soil was taken to new tank farm is not known. No soil remains at the landfill. Erin Gleason
5/24/2017 Update or Other Action Sent data gap letter to city of McGrath Erin Gleason
5/15/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC received a work plan from DNA Environmental (DNA) on behalf of the City of McGrath on 4/2/2018. ADEC has reviewed the work plan and requests revisions. Letter sent to City today requesting revised work plan. Erin Gleason
7/11/2018 Site Characterization Workplan Approved ADEC received revised work plan from The City of McGrath (DNA) on 7/11/2018. Work plan is now approved. Erin Gleason
12/4/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Received characterization report from DNA on behalf of City of McGrath. ADEC will review and respond. Erin Gleason
1/7/2019 Site Characterization Report Approved ADEC has review the November 2018 characterization report. The report is now approved. Ethylbenzene, 1-methylbenzene, naphthalene, diesel range organics (DRO), and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene exceed migration to groundwater cleanup levels in the subsurface soil at 13 bgs, but are below human health cleanup levels. Benzene, ethylbenzene, naphthalene, 1-methylbenzene, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene exceed table C groundwater cleanup levels. Groundwater concentrations are below the target level for commercial indoor air. Ethylbenzene exceed the target level for residential indoor air. The extent of groundwater and subsurface soil contamination needs to be determined. ADEC requests a work plan by May 1, 2019 Erin Gleason
1/7/2019 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 72546 ASTs. Erin Gleason
1/10/2019 Update or Other Action Work plan deadline request to 8/1/2019 per request of the City. Erin Gleason
3/1/2019 Update or Other Action Received 2015 Bulk Fuel Assessment from Alaska Energy Authority Erin Gleason
9/3/2019 Update or Other Action Received email from DNA on 8/21/2019 that a drill rig would be in McGrath at the end of August and that there was an opportunity for them to use it at the site. ADEC was not able to review and approve the work plan addendum prior to the drill rig being available. Three 2-inch wells were installed at the site and groundwater samples were collected. Erin Gleason
9/1/2020 Site Characterization Report Approved Received report from DNA on 7/15/2020. ADEC has reviewed the report and it is now approved. Letter sent on this date. The site needs additional work before it can be considered for closure. If the site were closed with institutional controls (ICs) then additional groundwater sampling event would be needed. If clean closure was the goal, treatment/natural attenuation would need to occur prior to sampling and closure. Erin Gleason
6/15/2022 Workplan Requested Letter sent to the City of McGrath on this date stating that ADEC has reviewed the November 2021 Groundwater Monitoring Report and it is now approved. The Site is not eligible for closure based on chloroform exceedances in the groundwater. Work plan requested involving more research on potential sources of chloroform contamination and further groundwater monitoring. Naomi Mason
3/22/2023 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting on this date between ADEC and City of McGrath contractor (DNA). ADEC has requested that the City sample the four existing wells for chloroform only. Two consecutive rounds of sampling proving chloroform is below cleanup levels is needed to move forward with site closure. Naomi Mason
1/31/2024 Site Characterization Report Approved The ADEC reviewed and approved “Groundwater Monitoring Report”, dated December 27, 2023. The report generally describes the field activities that took place between August 15-16, 2023. Samples from four monitor wells (MW-2, MW-3, MW-4, MW-5) and the City of McGrath’s tap water were analyzed for Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by method 8260. Concentrations of chloroform were detected at 6.44 µg/L in MW-2, which is above CULs of 2.2 µg/L. Chloroform concentrations from monitoring wells MW-3, MW-4, and MW-5 were either not detected or detected at limits below ADEC CULs. Samples collected from City of McGrath tap water show concentrations of chloroform at 78.2 µg/L and bromodichloromethane at 1.6 µg/L. An additional sampling round for monitoring wells MW-2, MW-3, MW-4, and MW-5 should be completed in either year 2024 or 2025. Stacee Henderson

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

P.O. Box 111800
Juneau, AK 99811-1800
Phone: 907-465-5066
Fax: 907-465-5245
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