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Site Report: Tesoro Cook Inlet Bluff Spill

Site Name: Tesoro Cook Inlet Bluff Spill
Address: 48385 Kenai Spur Highway, Mi. 21.5 N. Kenai Road, Nikiski, AK 99635
File Number: 2323.38.058
Hazard ID: 314
Status: Active
Staff: Peter Campbell, 9072623412 peter.campbell@alaska.gov
Latitude: 60.681389
Longitude: -151.391667
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

Stained soil and hydrocarbon sheen on beach sands were observed along Cook Inlet. The stained soil is thought to be a surface expression of a diesel release from the hot oil pipeline at the top of the bluff. Annual monitoring on-going. No seeps or contamination related to this release have been observed on the beach for years. Contaminant plume appears stable and not presenting a risk to human health or the environment.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
11/26/1993 Site Added to Database Former Staff
11/26/1993 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Former Staff
4/15/1994 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Former Staff
4/28/1994 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Review and comment on draft Cook Inlet Bluff stability investigation, soil treatment and contaminant risk assessment workplan. Former Staff
6/21/1994 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Reviewed and approved revised workplan. Former Staff
6/29/1994 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Inspected bluff seepage area to assess and verbally approve changes to the approved workplan. Tesoro to send written confirmation of the changes. Former Staff
1/24/2001 Update or Other Action Discussed status with Peter Ribbens of Tesoro. Tesoro will re-sample wells B1 and B2, update Kent and Sullivan report and submit. After review of current data and project summary will meet with Tesoro to discuss project needs for NFA or closure. Donald Seagren
5/16/2001 Update or Other Action Reviewed 1997 Release Investigation Report with 2001 update. Continued GW monitoring and monitoring of beach seeps required. Donald Seagren
5/7/2004 Update or Other Action File number assigned and entered into the Fileroom DB and CS DB. Alyce Hughey
5/11/2004 Update or Other Action Sent letter requesting sampling & analysis report. If none done since 1997, required scheduling & reporting ASAP. Required annual monitoring until 2 subsequent sampling events show all constituents below applicable cleanup levels. Donald Seagren
8/23/2004 Update or Other Action Reviewed 2004 Monitoring report. Contaminant concentrations continue to decrease and contaminant plume is not migrating. Contamination is not reaching Cook Inlet or the beaches. The spill area is attenuating under natural conditions. Annual monitoring of both MWs required. Donald Seagren
10/11/2005 GIS Position Updated Using Figure 1 from a Slope Stability Investigation and Contaminant Risk Assessment Cook Inlet Bluff Site, from Dames & Moore, dated September 13, 1995, in conjunction with TopoZone Pro and the KPB Parcel Lookup, entered the coordinates for this site. Metadata includes No Topo Basemap, TopoZone Pro Street Maps, Black and White Aerial Photo, on a Medium Size Map, View Scale 1:10,000. High degree of confidence in accuracy of location. Alyce Hughey
2/24/2006 Update or Other Action Reviewed 2005 monitoring report. No beach seeps observed below the hot oil release since 97. The 2005 groundwater monitoring results indicate that LNAPL sheens remain on the groundwater in the source area around monitoring well B-1. LNAPL thickness is not increasing and the results from the October sample show that groundwater concentrations are relatively stable and possibly decreasing. Downgradient water quality in monitoring well B-2 continues to show no impact from the presence of DRO at monitoring well B-1. No significant risk to human health or the environment. Donald Seagren
2/13/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Donald Seagren
7/10/2007 Update or Other Action Reviewed 06 & 07 GW monitoring report. Beach seeps not observed since 1997. MW B-1 samples contained DRO greater than 40 mg/l in both 06 & 07. This represents a substantial increase compared to samples collected since measurable free product disappeared in 2000. The reason for the increase is not known but may be due to the presence of LNAPL sheens on the groundwater in well B-1. Downgradient water quality in MW B-2 continues to show no impact from the presence of DRO in the monitoring well B-1 area. Long Term Monitoring will continue. Donald Seagren
6/11/2008 Update or Other Action Site transferred from Don Seagren to Paul Horwath per Linda Nuechterlein. Alyce Hughey
10/30/2014 Update or Other Action The Tesoro Refinery is being regulated under a EPA RCRA consent order, and groundwater remediation is the current focus with EPA being the lead regulatory agency. Soil contamination at this site is likely extensive, from the depth of the hot oil lines continuing on down to groundwater. Soil cleanup requirements will be postponed until EPA determines that groundwater cleanup is complete, and initiates the requirement for soil cleanup work efforts. Paul Horwath
10/30/2014 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 71293 Hot Oil Pipline. Paul Horwath
10/30/2014 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 71293 name: Hot Oil Pipline Paul Horwath
3/1/2019 Update or Other Action EPA is the lead regulatory agency under a RCRA Corrective Action Order, for the Tesoro Refinery. Groundwater cleanup is the first priority. Soil cleanup is not required under the Corrective Action Order until EPA determines that groundwater cleanup work is complete. Paul Horwath
11/18/2019 Update or Other Action Over the past year there has been sheen reported on the beach at least three times, and it appears that the source is the Bluff Spill that has migrated to the beach. Contacted the EPA to discuss the issue and provide background and historical information. The EPA will be the lead regulatory agency. Peter Campbell

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

There are no documents for this site report.

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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