Skip to content Skip to content

Site Report: Gambell Village Tank Farm Pipeline

Site Name: Gambell Village Tank Farm Pipeline
Address: Saint Lawrence Island, Northwest Corner, Gambell, AK 99742
File Number: 660.38.002
Hazard ID: 1959
Status: Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff: IC Unit, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 63.779190
Longitude: -171.731310
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

VOC results of two samples taken in 1992 from Gambell Elementary drinking water well: both were above DEC cleanup levels; petroleum contamination. This discovery led to a site assesment in 1993 conducted by Shannon & Wilson. In 1995 the elementary school well was abondoned when new school was built and linked to city water system. Well VOC results from 1994 and 1995 were below ADEC cleanup levels for benzene. An old cargo pipeline running from the northern coastline approximately 2,000 feet south-soutwest to the old tank farm fuel tanks and the elementary school fuel tanks was suspected of leaking and thought to be the source of benzene in the elementary school well. Tank Farm held both gasoline and diesel heating fuel. 1993 site assessment showed a 4 acre area of low level soil and groundwater contamination. Soil levels of GRO ranged from ND to 1,820 mg/kg; levels of DRO ranged from ND to 1,940 mg/kg. Benzene was reported in one monitoring well (18 feet in depth) at 769 ppb. In 1997 10,000 gallons of diesel was delivered by Delta Western Barge to the pipeline terminal. The city never received the fuel, and PERP was called to respond to the suspected 10,000 gallon spill. Several spots along the aboveground fuel pipeline were identified as possible areas where fuel had leaked, but PERP could not find evidence to support a 10,000 gallon spill. Either 10,000 gallons did not spill, or the unique hydrology and geology of Saint Lawrence Island absorbed the fuel beyond recovery or detection. 2004 upgrade to village fuel systems by AVEC removed old pipelines and tanks, established new buried pipelines and utilized old tank farm pads for the new tank farm systems.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
2/8/1993 Site Added to Database Petroleum contamination. Former Staff
2/8/1993 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Former Staff
7/1/1993 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Romenesko: Shannon and Wilson perform Site investigation in July 1993. Randy Romenesko
9/15/1993 Site Characterization Report Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = SA1R - Phase I SA Review (CS/LUST)). Romenesko reviews draft Site Assessment written by S&W in September. Additional groundwater samples obtained in November 1993. Final report to ADEC due in January 1994. Randy Romenesko
10/1/1993 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). Phone call from Bering Straits School District (BSSD) informing of recently discovered contamination (fuel oil?). BSSD intends to construct new elementary school and this summer geotechnical consultant punched 10 holes for foundation investigation and two holes showed evidence of petroluem contamination. Gambell Elementary drinking water well results for benzene in ppb: 1991: SEP 11.3; OCT ND; DEC ND 1992: APR 20.3; MAY 85.6 and 6.9; AUG 2.7, ND and 1.2; NOV 11.01; DEC ND 1993: JAN 5.8; MAR 31; MAY 74 ; JUN 9; JUL 2.3; AUG 1.8 Jeff Peterson
12/16/1996 Update or Other Action Final Report Soil and Groundwater Contamination Assessment Tank Farm and Pipeline Area, Gambell Alaska, December 1993. Jeff Peterson
7/27/2006 Update or Other Action In June, 1997 City of Gambell reported a 10,000 gallon diesel fuel spill that reportedly took place on a buried header line approximately 2,000 feet from the beach during a fuel transfer from a Delta-Western barge. ADEC staff concluded on-site that spill was probably much smaller, and that because Gambell city personnel had failed to gauge the level in the tanks prior to the initiation of the fuel transfer it was impossible to determine where the spilled fuel actually ended up. Shannon Oelkers
7/27/2006 Update or Other Action Discussion with AVEC personnel identifies that: AVEC completed bulk fuel farm upgrade. No contamination was observed anywhere. New pipelines have been installed. New school and old school (now teachers quarters) have new pipelines. Does not appear that groundwater is available as area is located on a gravel bar. AVEC is working on Power Plant upgrade. If they find any impacted media they will let me know, but not expected. The city has piped water and a central watering point with no private wells. Water source is both surface and community well. Schools and washeteria have individual wells. David Pikul
9/12/2006 Conditional Closure Approved Based on the information provided to date, ADEC has determined that any fuel contamination remaining along the former fuel pipeline does not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. There are data gaps and/or uncertainties associated with what was spilled and what remains in the environment, however, the information ADEC evaluated to make a decision regarding the Gambell Tank Farm site indicates there are no unacceptable risks to human health or the environment. Shannon Oelkers
9/12/2006 Institutional Control Record Established Please note that this conditional closure determination is subject to the following site specific conditions and/or controls: 1. An Institutional Control will be added to the ADEC Contaminated Sites Database identifying the nature and extent of contamination remaining on site. 2. In accordance with 18 AAC 75.325(i), ADEC approval must be obtained prior to removal and/or disposal of soil or groundwater from this site to an off-site location. 3. ADEC shall be notified prior to installation of groundwater wells at this site. Shannon Oelkers
4/4/2012 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC review conducted and staff name changed from Nuechterlein to IC Unit. Evonne Reese
12/2/2013 Institutional Control Update An IC reminder letter was issued to the responsible party on this date. Kristin Thompson
2/26/2019 Institutional Control Update An Institutional Controls verification letter was issued to the landowner/facility operator on this date. Mossy Mead
7/10/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approval Letter sent to RP for the Soil Management Plan for Gambell Village Tank Farm Pipeline, dated April 2020.Soils will be removed from the utility trench and subsequently placed back in the trench. Unexpected contamination will be reported to ADEC. Jessica Hall

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
GRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
Benzene > Table C Groundwater

Control Type

Type Details
CS Database Notation And Letter To Landowner/RP

Requirements

Description Details
Groundwater Use Restrictions
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

Because the GIS location data for this site has not been entered, we cannot direct you to its position on the map. Click "Continue" to proceed to the Contaminated Sites Web Map or "Close" to return to the site report.
Continue     Close