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Site Report: ADOT&PF Klawock Airport Helipad

Site Name: ADOT&PF Klawock Airport Helipad
Address: Klawock Airport, On Airport Access Road from Big Salt Lake Road, Klawock, AK 99925
File Number: 1517.38.016
Hazard ID: 25368
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 55.583633
Longitude: -133.067521
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

In 2007 concentrations of toluene above the Total Aromatic Hydrocarbon (TAH) Water Quality Standard were identified in samples reportedly collected south of the former helipad apron including from a salmon stream. During quarterly sampling of three sampling locations over a five year period from 2012 through 2017 water quality standards were exceeded only once, at one sampling point, in April 2014. No soil samples were collected for laboratory analysis. The source or sources of the toluene contamination was not identified, but may have resulted from buried materials or from fuel or solvent spills associated with long-term commercial and industrial use of the former helipad (site), including use as a staging area for a helicopter logging operation. ADOT&PF is planning major airport expansion to include construction of a taxiway parallel and east of the runway, with the area of the former helipad to be excavated and contaminated materials, debris and unsuitable engineering materials removed. The taxiway including the site will be paved, limiting migration of any remaining contamination into surface waters. ADEC's closure letter recommended that ADOT&PF submit an environmental management plan for ADEC review and approval prior to conducting work that will disturb potentially contaminated fill at the site.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
10/31/2007 Update or Other Action Oversight of surface water contamination by toluene was transferred from the water quality division to the Contaminated Sites Program based on information that toluene contamination was associated with fill consisting primarily of wood chips although later investigation in 2009 revealed the presence of buried debris including a crushed drum and hydraulic lines on the south side of the former helipad. Stream sampling for physical properties and petroleum hydrocarbons in 2007 was requested to determine whether the large volumes of chipped waste wood used as fill could harm water quality in anadromous streams. Toluene is believed to be associated with petroleum contaminated fill or surface petroleum hydrocarbon spills on the apron. Former Staff
1/8/2008 Update or Other Action The ADOT&PF environmental section provided an outline dated 1/8/2008 for addressing the toluene contamination, with source area delineation and historic research to be done as initial investigatory work, followed by making physical changes to a culvert outflow at the probable location of the 2007 sampling. The record with respect to the 2007 sampling by Alaska Fish & Game on behalf of the ADEC water quality division is incomplete and does not include sampling locations, the number of times sampling was done, field notes or data deliverables, and includes only the results of one sampling event with two of eight samples exceeding water quality standards for TAqH (limit is 15 ug/L) and TAH (limit is 10 ug/L) with toluene levels of 90.7 ug/L and 98.4 ug/L. Former Staff
2/27/2009 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
3/12/2009 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78727 name: Klawock Airport Helipad. Information provided for ranking states that surface water samples collected from the stream draining the helipad etc. on 7/23/07 had a maximum toluene concentration of 98.4 ug/L. Mitzi Read
3/17/2009 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Responsible party notification and a request for site investigation and cleanup was sent by letter to ADOT&PF Environmental Division at the Southeast Regional Facility in Juneau. Bruce Wanstall
6/16/2009 Update or Other Action Anecdotal accounts suggested that the old fill site for the hangar may have wood chip and mill yard waste placed there in the 70’s and 80’s when the site was used in helicopter logging operations. The toe of the slope on the south side of the old fill site contained metal wastes such as hydraulic lines, exhaust parts, and at least 1 old drum. Soil samples collected at the toe of the fill resulted in 2 of 4 samples having elevated VOC’s based on field screening. Two soil samples collected on the west side of the runway – up drainage and upslope from the new fill area also had elevated VOC values based on field screening similar to those down gradient at the toe of the wood waste fill. Bruce Wanstall
3/23/2012 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78727 Klawock Airport Helipad. Bruce Wanstall
7/26/2012 Update or Other Action In accordance with the DEC-approved quality assurance project plan (QAPP) prepared by the DOT dated July 27, 2009 and the current QAPP dated June 12, 2012, Nortech collected water samples and measured temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen with a Horiba Multiparameter Water Quality Monitoring System U-22XD. Nortech collected samples at three sites MP1, MP2, and S4. The three samples and a duplicate were analyzed for BNA, VOC, BOD, total and dissolved metals, ammonia and pH. Stream energy was low at MP-2 and S4 and stagnant at MP-1. Nortec observed algae growth at each sample location. Laboratory and field data quality criteria were within QAPP requirements for all analysis. Duplicates values were within RPD limits. LCS/LCSD, MS/MSD and surrogate recoveries were within accepted criteria for most analytes. The only criteria not met was low pH, likely due to the stagnant conditions found during sampling. Toluene and all other VOC’s, BNA and SVOC’s analyte results were below laboratory reporting limits. Bruce Wanstall
9/26/2012 Update or Other Action In accordance with DEC-approved QAPP by DOT for the Viking Lumber Project at the Klawock Airport, Nortech collected water samples and measured temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen using a Horiba, Multiparameter Water Quality Monitoring System U-22XD. Samples were collected at sites MP1, MP2, and S4. MP-03 and MP-02 are a duplicate pair submitted blind to the laboratory. All samples were analyzed for, base/neutral acids (BNA), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved metals, total metals, ammonia and pH. In contrast to conditions observed during the June, 2012 sampling event, stream energy was increased and algae growth reduced at each sampling location. Laboratory data quality criteria were within QAPP requirements for all analysis. Duplicates values were within RPD limits. LCS/LCSD, MS/MSD and surrogate recoveries were within accepted criteria for most analytes. Toluene and all other VOC’s, BNA and SVOC’s analyte results were below laboratory reporting limits. Bruce Wanstall
11/13/2012 Site Visit DEC site visit to inspect improvements to the apron and status of the helipad. Bruce Wanstall
2/28/2013 Update or Other Action Nortech measured field parameters and collected analytical samples at sites MP-01, MP-02 and S-4 at the Klawock Airport for the DOT Viking Lumber project. Nortech observed that in comparison to previous sampling events stream energy and tannin content in the water were elevated and algae growth on substrate appeared low. At sample location MP-01 Nortech observed the presence of new mill waste fill. Water at MP-01 was darkened with tannins, had elevated temperature and pH was lower than previous measurements. At the MP-02 outflow location water remained dark with tannins but pH had returned to a neutral level and temperature had normalized. MP-01 and MP-03 were the desigated field duplicate pair submitted blind to the laboratory with other samples for VOCs by methods 624 and 625, BNA, BOD, total and dissolved metals, ammonia and pH. Laboratory data quality were within QAPP requirements for all analysis and duplicate values were within realtive per cent difference limits. LCS/LCSD, MS/MSD and surrogate recoveries were within accepted criteria for most analytes. Sample results for each analyte (including COC toluene) were below laboratory reporting limits and each of the limits met the QAAP requirements. Bruce Wanstall
5/16/2013 Update or Other Action Nortech measured field parameters and collected analytical samples at sites MP-01, MP-02 and S-4 at the Klawock Airport for the DOT Viking Lumber project. In comparison to the previous sampling event in February 2012, Notech observed that tannin content in the water and algae growth on substrate was unchanged. Bruce Wanstall
6/20/2014 Update or Other Action Report to file by project manager Bruce Wanstall states that the 'point of compliance' is upstream of the culvert under the access road between the helipad and the runway. The stream, referred to as the waterway, is described as collecting "rainfall runoff from an aircraft runway, a helicopter pad and access roads. This runoff is combined with pre-existing drainages to a large lake that is directly influenced by marine waters. The drainage is not currently used as a potable water source and has no potential as a potential future potable water source." Former Staff
2/15/2017 Update or Other Action ADOT&PF is advertising a contract to conduct additional investigation into buried debris that could generate the toluene detected in stream waters south of the former helipad. Bruce Wanstall
10/10/2017 Update or Other Action Staff assigned changed from Sally Schlichting to Eileen Olson. Kathryne Roldan
2/9/2018 Update or Other Action ADEC received a request for site closure, a "Site Assessment Report, Klawock Airport, Klawock, AK, February 8, 2018" and related documents. Eileen Olson
4/5/2018 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78727 Klawock Airport Helipad. Eileen Olson
4/5/2018 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued Site closure was granted in a letter dated 4/5/2018. ADEC recommended that ADOT&PF submit an environmental management plan to ADEC for review and approval in the event that contamination is found when excavating and removing material from the former helipad (site) area. Eileen Olson

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
Toluene Other Surface Water - Fresh

Control Type

Type Details
No ICs Required

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.
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)

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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