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Site Report: Tanacross Airfield Site - Former Generator for Airport Beacon

Site Name: Tanacross Airfield Site - Former Generator for Airport Beacon
Address: Tanacross Airfield, Tanacross, AK 99776
File Number: 255.38.001
Hazard ID: 25181
Status: Active
Staff: Kelly Walker, 9074512166 kelly.walker@alaska.gov
Latitude: 63.377564
Longitude: -143.348150
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 Tanacross Airfield Site comprises of 7,705 acres and is located approximately 12 miles northwest of Tok. The military occupied the site from May 1941 through October 1945. After the war ended, the facility was turned over to the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Over the years several additional agencies; Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Army, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Alaska Fire Service (AFS), have used portions of the site and adjacent land at varying times. During the demolition of building debris and concrete supports at the Alaska Communications System Site (Area 3) in 2008, approximately 170 cubic yards of diesel range organics (DRO) contaminated soil was identified above the ADEC cleanup level. A 2010 site investigation was conducted to delineate the vertical and lateral extent of contamination, and determine if groundwater had been affected. DRO contamination in the soil and groundwater was above the applicable ADEC cleanup levels. DRO results ranged from 400 mg/kg to 5,750 mg/kg in the soil and 1.53 mg/L to 2.7 mg/L in the groundwater. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compound benzo(a)anthracene was detected above the ADEC cleanup level at 0.00204 mg/L. During 2012 remediation efforts, 733 cubic yards of petroleum oil lubricant (POL) soil was removed, and three groundwater monitoring wells installed. Analytical results from the soil borings confirmed the presence of DRO outside the excavated area. An additional 500 cubic yards of soil was removed in 2013. Groundwater monitoring efforts continue to monitor DRO and PAH trends to determine if the compounds are decreasing or attenuating. EPA IDs AK7141190085 and AKSFN1002144 --CERCLIS site.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
9/8/2008 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
9/16/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78475 name: Airport Beacon Generator Deborah Williams
8/26/2009 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Approved work plan to investigate the extent of petroleum contamination discovered during preliminary investigations at Airport Beacon Generator (Area 3), the ACS Site Generator and Tower Supports (Area 6), and Fuel Facilities (Area 7). Soil and groundwater samples will be collected for diesel range organics (DRO) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Melody Debenham
4/12/2011 Site Characterization Report Approved Approved the Final Site Investigation Report for Area 3, Area 6, and Area 7 at Tanacross Airfield Site, Tanacross, Alaska, documenting site investigation activities at the Airport Beacon site (Area 3), the ACR Radio Station site (Area 6), and the former Fueling Facility (Area 7). Soil and groundwater samples from all three sites were analyzed for DRO and PAHs. Soil results show DRO contamination above the cleanup level at all three sites. Groundwater results show DRO above the cleanup level at Area 3 and Area 7. In addition, 2 PAH compounds were detected above the cleanup level in the groundwater at Area 3. Melody Debenham
5/24/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved the final Site Work Plan for Soil Remediation at Tanacross, Alaska describing the removal and treatment of contaminated soil at two areas at the Tanacross Airfield. Approximately 160 cubic yards of petroleum impacted soil is anticipated to be removed from Area 3, the location of an airport beacon and associated generator. Approximately 100 cubic yards of petroleum impacted soil is anticipated to be removed from Area 6, the site of an ACS radio station and associated generator. Three monitoring wells will be installed at each site to determine if groundwater has been impacted. Melody Debenham
3/18/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved the final soil remediation report documenting the removal and treatment of petroleum contaminated soil at the Alaska Communications Site (Area 3), the ACS Radio Station Site (Area 6), and the Former Tank Farm and Fueling Station (Area 7), and the installation of groundwater monitoring wells at Area 3 and Area 6. Confirmation sample results from the excavation footprint at Area 3 are below applicable cleanup levels, however samples collected during monitoring well installation show that contamination remains outside of the excavation limits. Confirmation samples results from Area 6 and Area 7 are below the applicable cleanup levels. All three excavations were backfilled with clean soil. Groundwater sample results from Area 3 show diesel range organics and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons above the cleanup level. Groundwater sample results from Area 6 were below the cleanup levels. Melody Debenham
9/16/2013 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Approved the final work plan for site characterization at 4 sites. During an environmental assessment in 2011, multiple debris piles were found at 4 sites (Tanacross Trail System/Trail Roads; WAMCATS Valdez-Eagle Trail; Nelli Probert Allotment; and Small Arms Range). This work plan describes analytical sampling at these 4 sites to determine if the soil or groundwater has been impacted by releases associated with the debris piles. Melody Debenham
10/10/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved the final work plan describing the removal and disposal of buried drums near the Small Arms Range site. Empty drums and debris will be transported to a permitted facility in Fairbanks for disposal, while drums with contents will be staged on a pallet in bermed and lined containment area and fenced off until they can be addressed with further funding. Soil samples will be collected from the limits of the excavation. Melody Debenham
9/9/2015 Site Visit Site visit to Tanacross Airfield site. Located all monitoring wells and visited several areas of concern. Melody Debenham
6/2/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other BLM submitted work plan for groundwater monitoring at Tanacross Airfield sites. Melody Debenham
9/15/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved final groundwater monitoring work plan describing 2 rounds of groundwater monitoring at the 21 existing monitoring wells on BLM property. Melody Debenham
1/31/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved 2015 groundwater monitoring report for ACS Communications Site (Area 3), ACS Radio Site (Area 6), 2500 Drum Landfill, and Half-Acre Dump Site. Two wells at Area 3 had DRO and PAHs above cleanup levels. Results from other sites were below cleanup levels. Melody Debenham
8/10/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC has approved the ‘Final Groundwater Monitoring, Removal Action, and Site Investigation Work Plan, Tanacross Airfield and CANOL Pipeline NALEMP Sites for the Native Village of Tanacross,’ dated August 2017. The proposed field activities include; perform groundwater monitoring at Area 3 monitoring wells (Former Generator for Airport Beacon), carry out a removal action/site investigation at the drum landfill near the Small Arms Range site, and perform a site investigation along the CANOL Pipeline Corridor at Site No. 2 (NALEMP CANOL Pipeline Investigation). Erica Blake
8/29/2017 Site Visit Performed a site visit to the NALEMP Tanacross Airfield sites and the Tanacross NALEMP CANOL Pipeline Site No. 2. Provided oversight on Bristol groundwater sampling at Area 3 (Former Generator for Airport Beacon). Could not view Area 6 (Former ACS Tower and Supports) due to private property access issues. Erica Blake
2/8/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the 2016 Annual Groundwater Monitoring Report at Tanacross Airfield Sites (Areas 3, 6 and 7) and the 2500 Drum Landfill and Half-Acre Dumpsite. The document describes 2016 groundwater sampling activities at the former Alaska Communications System Site (Area 3), the former ACS Radio Station site (Area 6), the former Fuel Facilities Station (Area 7), the 2,500 Drum Landfill, and the Half Acre Dumpsite. It is recommended to continue monitoring the groundwater for petroleum hydrocarbon compounds. Erica Blake
2/20/2018 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) and the Native Village of Tanacross held a meeting on February 20, 2018 at the Anchorage DEC Office to discuss cleanup progress and upcoming 2018 work at the Tanacross Airfield sites. DEC is expecting a work plan addendum this spring 2018, detailing the planned 2018 field activities. Erica Blake
3/9/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the 2017 Annual Groundwater Monitoring Report, Tanacross Airfield Site – Area No. 3 Native Village of Tanacross, Alaska, March 2018 describing groundwater sampling activities at Area 3. Three monitoring wells (TASMW04. TASMW05 and TASMW06) were sampled for gasoline range organics (GRO), diesel range organics (DRO), residual range organics (RRO), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes (BTEX) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). DRO and PAH analyte, benzo(a)pyrene were detected above DEC cleanup levels at TASMW05 and TASMW06. Another round of groundwater samples from the Area 3 monitoring wells is planned for 2018. Erica Blake
7/11/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the Interim Removal Action/Site Investigation Report and Work Plan Addendum, dated July 2018. The document described results from the 2017 fieldwork, and field activities for 2018. Field activities include; groundwater sampling at Area 3 (Former Generator for Airport Beacon) and Area 7 (Former Fuel Facilities), decommissioning nine monitoring wells in Area 6 (Former ACS Site Generator and Tower Supports) and the 2,500 Drum Landfill and Half-acre dump site (Drum Landfills), the remedial action and site investigation work will continue at the Drum Landfill (DF) near the Small Arms Range (SAR) site. One monitoring well will be installed at the DF SAR site, six soil borings will be drilled at the Canadian American Northern Oil Line (CANOL) Pipeline Site No. 2 to confirm sample results from 2017, and characterizing three supersacks for disposal. Work is expected to begin around July 12, 2018 and continue until early August 2018. Erica Blake
11/16/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the 2018 removal action (RA) and site investigation (SI) report for the Tanacross Airfield Sites (TAS) and the Tanacross Canadian American Northern Oil Line (CANOL) Pipeline Corridor Site No. 2 (CANOL Site No. 2). 2018 activities conducted at the TAS included; collecting groundwater samples from Area 3 (Former Generator for Airport Beacon) and Area 7 (Former Fuel Facilities), decommissioning monitoring wells at Area 6 (Former ACS Site Generator and Tower Supports) and at the 2,500 Drum Landfill and Half-acre Dump Site, continued excavation work to delineate the Drum Landfill near the Small Arms Range, and drilling soil borings along the CANOL Site No. 2 to confirm the presence or absence of petroleum contamination. Recommendations from the report were for continued work at the Tanacross Airfield sites. Petroleum contamination was not identified at the CANOL Site No. 2; at this time, no further work is recommended. Erica Blake
4/22/2019 Cleanup Plan Approved 2019 Tanacross NALEMP workplan approved. Site investigation, debris and soil removal, and groundwater monitoring at different source areas within the Native Village of Tanacross Airfield and CANOL pipeline sites. Groundwater sampling will be conducted at Tanacross Airfield Area No. 7 to obtain results for informing well decommissioning. Additional investigation of the extent of petroleum contamination at Area No. 3 will be conducted, and backfilling will be undertaken at the Tanacross Airfield “Ditch Site” to eliminate trip and fall hazards. Further, up to 250 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil will be removed from the Drum Landfill near the SAR site, and landfill cap evaluation will be conducted at the 2,500 Drum Landfill and Half-Acre Dump sites to assess condition and develop strategies for water infiltration and erosion. Finally, metallic debris will be removed along the CANOL pipeline corridor, and drilling will be conducted to ascertain if petroleum contamination exists in the subsurface along the corridor. Kevin Fraley
7/27/2021 Site Characterization Workplan Approved 2021 Soil Removal and Groundwater Investigation Work Plan approved after all comments were resolved. This work plan details the additional soil removal at Tanacross Airfield Sites (TAS) Area No. 3. At the Small Drum Landfill Near Small Arms Range site, a groundwater investigation will be conducted to determine if groundwater is adversely impacted by DRO, EDB and PAHs. The TAS No. 3 work will include additional excavation and removal of POL impacted soils. Kelly Walker
3/8/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Soil Removal and Groundwater Investigation Report approved for Tanacross Airfield Sites (TAS). Report details contaminated soil removal at TAS No. 3. Confirmation sampling results show contamination persists at depths of 10 feet. Groundwater monitoring wells were sampling at the Drum Landfill near the Small Arms Range. Additional groundwater monitoring wells were also installed. Kelly Walker
9/1/2023 Site Characterization Workplan Approved DEC reviewed and approved the Debris/Soil Removal and Groundwater Investigation Work Plan for the Tanacross Airfield Sites (TAS) Area No. 3, Drum Landfill Near Small Arms Range (SAR) Site, Washington-Alaska Military Cable Telegraph System (WAMCATS) Valdez-Trail Subsite 1B, Cathedral Bluff ACS Repeater Site. This work plan details the continuation of contaminated soil removal at TAS Area No. 3, debris removal at the Drum Landfill Near SAR, and the advancement of soil borings and well point installations at the WAMCATS Valdez-Trail Subsite 1B. Debris removal may also occur at the Cathedral Bluff ACS Repeater Site, if debris is encountered. Kelly Walker

Contaminant Information

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Description Details

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