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Site Report: Alyeska PS 08 Former Fire Training Area

Site Name: Alyeska PS 08 Former Fire Training Area
Address: 7945 Johnson Road; Pump Station 8; Off MP 330 Richardson Highway, Salcha, AK 99714
File Number: 330.38.124
Hazard ID: 26205
Status: Active
Staff: Laura Jacobs, 9074512911 laura.jacobs@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.540037
Longitude: -146.830806
Horizontal Datum:NAD83

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 2012, the former fire training area at Alyeska pump station 8 was decommissioned and regraded. As part of the removal, the 10 foot by 10 foot concrete slab, used as a base for firefighting props during training exercises, was excavated and removed. In 2013, 19 testpits excavated to a depth of 1.0 to 1.5 feet below ground surface contained diesel range organics up to 3,690 mg/kg. Test pit 11 contained a strong hydrocarbon odor and test pit 3 contained a black-stained soil layer. A black liner was observed in test pit 10.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
2/12/2014 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
2/13/2014 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79606 name: Former Fire Training Area Mitzi Read
5/22/2014 Update or Other Action ADEC approved the Fire Training Area 2014 Remediation Work Plan for Pump Station 8 submitted by SLR, dated April 2014 with one condition; the stockpile must be segregated. Grant Lidren
7/7/2014 Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved On this date, approved up to 50 cy of petroleum impacted soil to be transported to OIT in North Pole. Grant Lidren
2/12/2015 Site Characterization Report Approved On this date, ADEC received the Remediation Report 2014 Pump Station 8 Fire Training Area submitted by SLR dated January 2015. Prior to soil removal, three soil samples were collected from the area most suspected of contamination and analyzed for PFOA and PFOS. The soil samples contained detectable levels of PFOA and PFOS, but below the most stringent MTG draft cleanup levels. Contaminated soil was excavated in areas identified as contaminated in 2013. Several plastic liners and metal debris were encountered during excavating of 90 cy of contaminated soil in July. A total of 11 soil samples were collected from the excavation sidewalls and bottom and analyzed for DRO and RRO. Soil samples collected from the bottom did not contain contaminant concentrations above the most stringent MTG cleanup levels. Three soil samples collected from the sidewalls contained DRO concentrations of 285 mg/kg, 473 mg/kg, and 1,510 mg/kg. Based off these results, excavating was commenced again in August. The open excavation contained free standing water with a thick film of green algae. A dewatering drainage ditch was dug to dewater prior to excavation activities. An additional 30 cy of contaminated soil was removed and additional liners with petroleum hydrocarbon odors were observed. Two soil samples collected from an excavation sidewall were below the most stringent MTG cleanup levels. A test trench advanced 19 feet to the east to determine the extent of the liners contained petroleum impacted soils. Additional excavation activities are planned for 2015. A total of 120 cy of contaminated soil was transported to OIT for thermal treatment in 2014. Metal debris was disposed offsite. Grant Lidren
5/29/2015 Site Characterization Report Approved On this date, ADEC received the PS08 Fire Training Area 2015 Remediation Work Plan submitted by SLR dated May 2015. Grant Lidren
3/29/2016 Site Characterization Report Approved On this date, ADEC received the Remediation Report 2015 Pump Station 8 Fire Training Area submitted by SLR dated March 2016. Several plastic liners, charred wood, glass bottles, and metal debris were encountered during excavating of 160 cy of contaminated soil. A total of 16 soil samples, analyzed for DRO, were collected from the five excavation sidewalls, excavation bedrock bottom, and from testpits north of the excavation. Soil samples collected from the bedrock bottom did not contain DRO concentrations above the most stringent MTG cleanup levels. Two of the five sidewalls, located at the north western side of the excavation, contained DRO concentrations of 871 mg/kg, and 597 mg/kg. Soil samples collected from three of the six test pits locate north of the north western sidewall contained DRO at 1,740 mg/kg, 582 mg/kg, and 467 mg/kg. A total of 160 cy of contaminated soil was transported to OIT for thermal treatment in 2015. Metal debris was disposed offsite. Additional excavation activities are planned for 2016. Grant Lidren
6/6/2016 Site Characterization Workplan Approved The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) Contaminated Sites Program (CSP) has received and reviewed the Pump Station 8 Fire Training Area 2016 Remediation Work Plan submitted by SLR and dated May 2016. ADEC has no objections to the Work Plan and SLR may proceed. Grant Lidren
7/5/2016 Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved On this date, ADEC approved the transport of up to 150 cy of stockpiled soil - generated from 2014 and 2015 excavations - to OIT Grant Lidren
2/15/2017 Site Characterization Report Approved On this date, ADEC received the 2016 Remediation Report for Pump Station 8 Fire Training Area submitted by SLR dated January 2017. Buried building materials, liners, charred wood, and metal debris were encountered during excavating of 205 cy of contaminated soil. A total of 14 soil samples, analyzed for DRO, were collected from the five excavation sidewalls and excavation bedrock bottom. One out of seven soil samples collected from the bedrock bottom contained DRO above cleanup levels at 408 mg/kg. One of the six sidewalls samples, collected from the north sidewall, contained DRO above cleanup levels at 304 mg/kg. A total of 205 cy (276 tons) of contaminated soil was transported to OIT for thermal treatment in 2015. Metal debris was disposed offsite. The excavation was backfilled with clean fill. Grant Lidren
1/23/2018 Update or Other Action On this date, ADEC received the Pump Station 8 Former Fire Training Area Sampling Report submitted by SLR and dated November 28, 2017. Five borings were advanced north of the 2016 excavation limit and five soil samples were collected 4 to 6 feet bgs and analyzed for DRO. Bedrock appeared to be encountered at one location at 4 feet bgs. None of the soil samples contained DRO above cleanup levels.(note: ADEC did not receive a work plan for this work) Grant Lidren
7/20/2018 Site Characterization Workplan Approved On this date approved the 2018 Pump Station 8 Former Fire Training Area Work Plan submitted by SLR and dated July 19, 2018. PFAS will be sampled from DWW and soil at the former fire training area. Grant Lidren
4/22/2019 Site Characterization Report Approved On this date, ADEC received the 2018 Pump Station 8 Former Fire Training Area Report submitted by SLR and dated April 15, 2019. The objective of this investigation was to collect PFOS and PFOA confirmation soil samples from the FTA and a groundwater sample from the historic unused PS08 DWW. Initially, soil samples were to be collected from the open excavation. However, it was discovered upon the site visit, that the excavation had been previously back filled and grated. Three soil samples were collected 1.5 feet bgs beneath the graded material from undisturbed soil. All three soil samples contained PFOS above method two migration to groundwater cleanup levels up to 0.0242 mg/kg. A groundwater sample was not collected from the historic nonfunctional PS 08 DWW which contaminated a nonfunctional pump. This was due to the depth of GW at 259 feet bgs and not having an onsite pump capable of sampling from the depth. Grant Lidren
8/21/2019 Site Visit Visited site on this date with Alyeska, SLR, and DNR. Pictures taken. Grant Lidren
6/18/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC reviewed the report Pump Station 8, Fire Training Area Well Sampling submitted to our office December 8, 2020. Neither perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) nor perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were found in the supply well exceeding ADEC groundwater cleanup levels. Four non-regulated PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) congeners were detected in the primary and duplicate samples. Laura Jacobs
6/24/2021 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC staff met with Alyeska and their consultant to discuss recent site characterization efforts at the PS08 Former Fire Training Area. It has been agreed that additional site characterization needs to occur for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAs) in the Fire Training Area and possibly outside of that area. Local surface waters, home drinking water wells and soils will be sampled to determine the extents to contamination. Laura Jacobs
10/5/2021 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC staff met with Alyeska's Environment Response & Remediation SME, and consultant to discuss site visit to happen this fall. The Pump Station is not currently pumping oil, or staffed but it still is used as a heating facility by pulling off oil to warm using diesel fired heaters. Laura Jacobs
6/12/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC staff reviewed the PS08 Former Fire Training Area 2022 Investigation Report, and the 2023 Pump Station 8 Former Fire Training Area Work Plan. Samples from 14 test pits and one surface water sample were collected in September 2022 and analyzed for 16 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were detected in 13 of the 14 pits sampled in the area of the former Fire Training Area (FTA). In addition, one of the sample pits downgradient from the FTA had PFOS levels above the DEC Migration to Groundwater cleanup levels. PFOA and PFOS were detected in the surface water sample downgradient of the FTA. DEC approved both the report and the proposed work plan to conduct additional soil and surface water investigations to delineate the vertical and horizontal extent of PFAs contamination on the site. Laura Jacobs
6/13/2023 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter A PRP letter was sent through the mail today for the PS08 Former Fire Training Area. Laura Jacobs
1/29/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC staff completed a review of the PS08 Former Fire Training Area 2023 Soil and Surface Water Sampling Report received by staff December 5, 2023. Exceedances of either perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were documented in 12 of 20 test pits sampled across the site. In addition, petroleum hydrocarbons were detected above the soil cleanup levels in seven of eight test pits surrounding Test Pit 17. Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) were detected downgradient in surface waters. DEC agrees with the Responsible Party to conduct additional soil and surface water investigations in 2024 to further delineate the vertical and horizontal extent of contamination on the site. Laura Jacobs

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