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Site Report: Fort Wainwright Bldg 1171 UST 985

Site Name: Fort Wainwright Bldg 1171 UST 985
Address: Building 1171 Ski Issue Facility; off Ski Road, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703
File Number: 108.38.121
Hazard ID: 26100
Status: Active
Staff: Tim Sharp, 9074512131 tim.sharp@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.858810
Longitude: -147.617646
Horizontal Datum:

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

This site includes two source areas: Bldg 1171 UST 985 and the Birch Hill Ski and Snowboard Lodge. Underground storage tank (UST) 985 was an unregulated 1,000-gallon fuel oil UST located on the eastern side of Building 1171 at the Birch Hill Ski and Snowboard Area, near the northern boundary of Fort Wainwright. The UST was excavated and removed from the site in 2012. During excavation activities, diesel range organics (DRO), gasoline range organics (GRO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) were detected above applicable ADEC cleanup levels. In 2020, six additional borings were advanced around the UST excavation area. Permafrost was found in all six borings and contamination was encountered 7-10 feet below ground surface. Remaining contamination is very limited in extent with 7 feet of clean, coarse-grained fill on top and permafrost underneath. This source area was given a “No Further Action” designation on April 1, 2021. The Birch Hill Ski and Snowboard Lodge replaced the former Building 1171. In 2020, three areas of contamination were discovered during construction activities. Contaminated areas were excavated, but contamination remained in place at all three areas. Contaminants of concern (COCs) include DRO, ethylbenzene, naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene (1,2,4-TMB), and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (1,3,5-TMB). Excavation limits was the footprint for the Birch Hill Ski Lodge. The building was constructed with a vapor intrusion mitigation system in place. Two sampling events occurred in 2021, one in the summer, and one in the fall to account for seasonal variability. Three monitoring wells were drilled and installed during the summer event. Groundwater, soil gas and indoor air samples were collected during both events. Samples were analyzed for VOCs and during both the summer and fall events, 1,2,4-TMB and naphthalene were detected above the project action levels (PALs). These COCs were attributed to an alternate indoor off-gassing source (building materials, diesel-powered boiler, and water heater) as VOCs were either not detected or detected much less than the PALs in the pile-space, outdoor air, and near-slab soil gas samples. Contamination remains in the soil at and around the Birch Hill Ski Lodge, however the building is built on a pile-supported structure and occupied spaces are not in direct contact with the surface soil. The vapor intrusion pathway was determined to be incomplete and approval to open the lodge was granted November 2021. The following PPR Spill Numbers associated with this source area are: 12309925601, 20309912701, 20309914202.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
10/16/2012 Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program Spill transferred by PERP staff Patrik Sartz. Spill no. 12309925601; spill date = 9/12/12; substance = diesel; quantity = unknown; PERP file no. 108.02.002. Mitzi Read
8/9/2013 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
8/12/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other 2012 Underground Storage Tank Removal After-Action Report (Final) August 2013 The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) received the report detailing the removal and confirmation sampling of three regulated and one unregulated Underground Storage Tank (UST). The regulated tanks: Building 4109,Tank 299, ADEC Number 122 (compliance tag 0240); Building 2080, Tank 247A, ADEC Number 25 (compliance tag 0239); and Building 1555, Tank 930, ADEC Number 239 (compliance tag 0351); were removed and confirmation sampling did not indicate any releases. The unregulated Building 1171 Tank 985, 1,000-gallon fuel oil tank did have evidence of release based on the confirmation sampling of the walls of the excavation. ADEC is listing this as a new contaminated site at Fort Wainwright. Please add this site to the queue for characterization and show it as a contaminated site on your base planning maps. Debra Caillouet
8/12/2013 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79493 name: Bldg 1171 UST 985 Debra Caillouet
8/13/2013 Update or Other Action Hazard ID 26100 (file no. 108.38.121) determined to be duplicate of Hazard ID 25929 (file no. 108.38.118), previously misidentified as Bldg 1172. Status of Hazard ID 25929 changed to non-qualifying and all pertinent information, including 1016/12 Spill Transferred from PERP action, added to Hazard ID 26100 (file no. 108.38.121) where all future information will be documented. Mitzi Read
12/13/2016 Meeting or Teleconference Held A two day Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA) and Stakeholders meeting was held on December 13 & 14, 2016. The main focus of the meeting was to develop a site discovery and site intake process that would satisfy requirements of the Fort Wainwright FFA, RCRA Permit, and two party agreements. The Army, EPA and DEC committed to a flowchart of the preliminary source evaluation process. Timelines were established for scoping a land use control implementation plan (LUCIP) and developing a contracting schedule for Fort Wainwright contaminated site investigations and remedial actions. Seven sites were proposed for inclusion into the FFA (three party agreement) by the Army and the RPMs documented the assignment of the regulatory path for these sites using a newly developed and agreed to signature form. Dennis Shepard
1/1/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the 2015 Annual Institutional Controls Report, Fort Wainwright, Alaska (August 2016). Dennis Shepard
4/8/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approves the Building 1171 Preliminary Source Evaluation (PSE) Work Plan, Former Building 1171 UST 985 U.S. Army Garrison Alaska (Dated March 2019). The purpose of the PSE is to determine if residual contamination exists that may present a threat to human health or the environment, and to determine appropriate cleanup actions for the site. Proposed work for the site include evaluating the vertical and horizontal extent of contamination by drilling six soil borings. Two of the six soil borings will be completed as temporary groundwater monitoring wells. One temporary groundwater monitoring well will be located in the middle of the former UST location, and the second will be located downgradient from the source area. Analytical soil and groundwater samples will be collected for gasoline range organics (GRO), diesel range organics (DRO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Erica Blake
9/23/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP) for the Birch Hill Ski & Snowboard Lodge (Revision 1.2), U.S. Army Garrison Alaska (Dated September 2019). The SAP describes proposed field screening and analytical sampling requirements during construction activities at the Birch Hill Ski and Snowboard Lodge located at the base of Birch Hill on Fort Wainwright, Alaska (FWA). Construction activities include but are not limited to; demolishing the existing ski lodge, removing existing appurtenances within the ski lodge footprint, boring and driving sixty, 100 foot deep, 12-inch foundation piles, installing a fire suppression tank, installing approximately 600 linear feet of underground fire suppression lines and landscaping which includes placement of topsoil and seeding. This work is expected to occur during the fall of 2019. Erica Blake
5/19/2020 Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program Spill transferred by PPRP staff Scott Joyce. Spill no. 20309912701; spill date = 5/6/2020; substance = unknown; quantity = unknown; description: Contaminated soil was discovered during a construction project, source was unknown. Mitzi Read
9/1/2020 Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved DEC approved one 5-gallon bucket of soil to be transported to U.S. Ecology in Moose Creek, Alaska for soil treatment and disposal. The soil was generated from May 2020 preliminary source evaluation (PSE) activities conducted at the Building 1171 Underground Storage Tanks (UST) 985 source area. Contaminants of concern (COCs) identified in the soil were diesel range organics (DRO), trimethylbenzene, naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene and 2-methylnaphthalene. Erica Blake
9/29/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the Final Preliminary Source Evaluation Report, Former Building 1171 UST 985, U.S. Army Garrison Alaska (dated September 2020). The document describes the results of a preliminary source evaluation (PSE) at the Former Building 1171 underground storage tank (UST) 985 source area on Fort Wainwright, Alaska (FWA). The 2020 PSE investigation was to further define the presence or absence of contamination at the site. Results from the 2020 PSE sampling effort indicate approximately 10 cubic yards of diesel fuel contaminated soil remain in the subsurface. The recommendations in this report are for the site to go to a No Further Action status. Erica Blake
10/27/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 79493 Bldg 1171 UST 985. Sammi Castle
11/2/2020 Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program Spill transferred by PPRP staff John Ebel. Spill no. 20309914202; spill date = 5/21/2020; PPRP file number = 108.38.121; substance = unknown; quantity = unknown; description: Contaminated soil was encountered during excavation activities for the installation of utilities, source was unknown. Mitzi Read
4/1/2021 Update or Other Action Following a review of the environmental records associated with the Fort Wainwright Bldg 1171 UST 985 source area, ADEC has determined that contaminant concentrations remaining on site do not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment and no further remedial action will be required unless information becomes available that indicates residual contaminants may pose an unacceptable risk. ADEC sent a No Further Action Needed Determination: Fort Wainwright Bldg 1171 UST 985 letter detailing this decision on April 1, 2021. The Bldg 1171 UST 985 source area has received a No Further Action Needed status, however this file number and Hazard ID will remain active until all areas of concern are closed. Sammi Castle
5/17/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided review comments for the "Draft Uniform Federal Policy-Quality Assurance Project Plan (UFP-QAPP) Birch Hill Ski and Snowboard Lodge Vapor Intrusion Mitigation Demonstration Fort Wainwright, Alaska" (dated April 2021) to the U.S. Army. The document discusses sampling requirements to evaluate the potential for vapor intrusion (VI) into the Birch Hill Ski and Snowboard Lodge (Ski Lodge) on Fort Wainwright, Alaska (FWA). Data collected from the VI assessment will be used to evaluate potential exposure risks to guests and staff at the Ski Lodge. Erica Blake
6/22/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided approval for the "Uniform Federal Policy-Quality Assurance Project Plan (UFP-QAPP) Birch Hill Ski and Snowboard Lodge Vapor Intrusion Mitigation Demonstration Fort Wainwright, Alaska" (dated June 2021) to the U.S. Army. Review comments for the UFP-QAPP were provided on May 17, 2021, and responses to those review comments received on June 17, 2021. The document describes a multiple lines of evidence sampling approach for evaluating the potential for vapor intrusion (VI) into the Birch Hill Ski and Snowboard Lodge (Ski Lodge) on Fort Wainwright, Alaska (FWA). The purpose of this sampling effort is to determine and assess whether indoor air quality will be safe for occupancy prior to the Ski Lodge opening date of November 18, 2021. Erica Blake
6/28/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided approval for the "Doyon Utilities Addendum to the Post-Wide Sampling and Analysis Plan, Ft. Wainwright Army Post, Fairbanks, Alaska P2364 Birch Hill Holding Tank" (dated June 17, 2021) to the U.S. Army. The document was received on June 25, 2021, and ADEC had no comments to provide after the review. The document is for a construction project involving demolishing and removing existing wastewater handling infrastructure at the Birch Hill Ski Lodge. Erica Blake
8/20/2021 Site Visit ADEC conducted a site visit to various sites and stockpiles around Fort Wainwright, Alaska on August 13, 2021. Areas inspected were: clean, potentially contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) stockpile locations, Birch Hill Ski Lodge area, Bailey Bridge and Chena River tar seep area. Building 3728 tar area, BLM Fuel Yard stockpiles in the North Refueling area, and the contaminated soil yard (CHPP Yard). A cover letter and photograph log was sent to the U.S. Army on August 20, 2021 discussing ADEC's observations and photos from the site inspection. Erica Blake
9/8/2021 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80751 name: Birch Hill Ski & Snowboard Lodge Erica Blake
9/24/2021 Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved ADEC approved transport of about 170 gallons petroleum contaminated soil to go to U.S. Ecology in Moose Creek, Alaska for treatment and disposal. Soil generated was from installing monitoring wells around the Birch Hill Ski Lodge. Erica Blake
9/24/2021 Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved ADEC approved transport of about 40 gallons of petroleum contaminated purge water to go to the U.S. Ecology Viking Facility in Anchorage, Alaska for treatment and disposal. The purge water was generated from installing, developing and sampling monitoring wells installed around the Birch Hill Ski Lodge. Erica Blake
10/13/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided comments for the "Draft Report Birch Hill Ski and Snowboard Lodge Vapor Intrusion Mitigation Demonstration, Fort Wainwright, Alaska" (dated September 2021) to the U.S. Army. The draft-report described analytical results from the summer sampling event at the Birch Hill Ski Lodge on Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Soil, groundwater, soil gas and indoor air samples were collected. Results showed there were no vapor intrusion impacts from the contamination at the site. Results from the fall sampling event (which occurred October 2-4, 2021) will verify if there is any vapor intrusion impacts at the Birch Hill Ski Lodge. Erica Blake
11/9/2021 Update or Other Action ADEC conducted a cursory review of the Birch Hill Ski Lodge vapor intrusion (VI) sampling results for the fall event to see how the results compared to the summer event. Results from both the summer and fall sampling event demonstrated the Birch Hill Ski Lodge to have an incomplete pathway for a VI risk. ADEC provided approval for the Army to proceed with opening the new ski lodge the week of November 21, 2021. Erica Blake
12/9/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided approval for the "Final Report Birch Hill Ski and Snowboard Lodge Vapor Intrusion Mitigation Demonstration, Fort Wainwright, Alaska" (dated October 2021) to the U.S. Army. The Birch Hill Ski Lodge was constructed on petroleum contamination in the soil. Two sampling events were conducted to determine if the vapor intrusion measures employed during construction of the ski lodge were effective. This final report describes results from the summer sampling event. The volatile organic compound (VOC) contaminants detected above the project action levels during the summer sampling event in the indoor air (1,2,4-trimethylbenzene and naphthalene) are believed to be from the new paint and building materials. The second sampling event was conducted in the fall, and those results are discussed in a separate report. Erica Blake
6/7/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC received a Sampling and Analysis Plan for a construction project for FTW 458B Birch Hill Ski Lift Design and Repair on May 31 2022. The work plan details field screening and analytical requirements in the event contamination is found during construction activities at the Birch Hill Ski and Snowboard Area at Fort Wainwright, Alaska (FWA). Construction activities will include shallow excavations (to a maximum of 3 feet below ground surface (bgs) at six locations for replacement of the operator shacks and upgrades to the ski pole electrical line. ADEC was provided version 1.2 of the SAP on this date. The project location is outside of the known boundaries of the contaminated sites located on Birch Hill ski area. Cascade Galasso-Irish
9/30/2022 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 80751 Birch Hill Ski & Snowboard Lodge. Tim Sharp

Contaminant Information

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