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Site Report: Yakutat AFB Army Dock & Piping

Site Name: Yakutat AFB Army Dock & Piping
Address: Between Malaspina Office and City Water Tank/Wells, Yakutat, AK 99689
File Number: 1530.38.011
Hazard ID: 3716
Status: Active
Staff: Alyssa Wood, 9072694587 alyssa.wood@alaska.gov
Latitude: 59.545278
Longitude: -139.734167
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

The former tank farm located at AOC D was the primary fuel off-loading site for World War II military activities in Yakutat, between 1940 and 1946. Eight ASTs, with tank capacities that ranged from 20,000 to 80,000-gal were used to store diesel fuel. Piping connected the eight ASTs to each other and the Army’s dock at Monti Bay. The eight tank locations are separated by distances ranging from about 100 to 200 ft. The ASTs were removed before August 1963. A powerhouse was also present near the dock area. According to 1943 landing field layout maps, a Cinch pipe connected diesel fuel tanks to each other and the dock, a Pinch pipeline carried truck gasoline to several small tanks and fill stands, and a 6-inch pipeline transported aviation fuel directly to the Air Corps Operations Reserve Tank Farm (AOC L). A few metal, A-shaped pipe stands, approximately 2 feet high, remain in the area, along with some piping. Some of the associated piping may have also been removed with the tanks; however, some piping remains in place. Buildings exist at the AST1 and AST8 locations. The dock area is currently the site of a fish processing plant. Part of the tank farm is currently the site of an office warehouse and construction storage yard. In addition, two public water wells and a drinking water storage tank are presently located within the former tank farm. DRO has been detected in soil. Because the City of Yakutat maintains two public drinking water wells within 200 feet of a tank foundation, additional investigation is recommended for this area and the other seven tank foundations. The city has been advised of the contamination found and tested the wells in January 2003 and did not detect any DRO.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
1/1/1997 Update or Other Action As part of the 1997 sampling program, the Yakutat city well, ARCO Well #I, was sampled after a 15-minute purge. The sample was collected from a spigot upstream of chlorination and filtration. Only metals were detected above detection limits, none of which exceeded the maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for drinking water. Mechanical malfunctions prevented sampling of the ARCO Well #2. John Halverson
7/12/2000 Update or Other Action ADEC reviewed the Draft Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Work Plan. The ADEC commented that the proposed work addresses only the site that the USACE determined were FUDS program eligible. Additional information was requested to determine whether the proposed work is sufficient to address hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants resulting from past military activities in and around Yakutat. Due to the time schedules for the contracts and proposed work, these determinations were agreed to be addressed at a later time. John Halverson
9/11/2000 Update or Other Action ADEC received the Final Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Work Plan. John Halverson
4/28/2003 Site Characterization Report Approved A remedial investigation was conducted at the Army Dock Area (AOC D) to investigation potential contamination with the pipeline system at the tank farm and with one tank foundation (AST 7). Surface soil samples were collected at exposed pipe ends and downgradient pipeline junctions. Three surface water and co-located sediment samples were collected from the eastern shore of the pond downgradient of the tank foundation for AST 7. Surface water, sediment, and surface soil concentrations were below applicable petroleum cleanup levels. However, a sheen was observed on the water surface of the pond; therefore exceeding the Alaska Water Quality Standards. Four surface soil samples, one boring sample, and one test pit samples were collected near AST 7. Groundwater monitoring wells were not installed due to difficult drilling conditions. DRO was detected above the Method 2 cleanup level in every soil sample. The highest DRO result was 4990 mg/kg in surface soil. DRO was not detected in water samples collected from the public drinking water wells in January 2003. Debra Caillouet
4/5/2004 Update or Other Action A draft remedial investigation/feasibility study was reviewed. Recommendations were included for a more thorough investigation of the extent of contamination. Based on the information provided, the Feasibility Study is premature. ADEC recommended that the USACE not incur further expense to finalize the document until further site characterization was done. Work should occur to identify the data gaps and resolve them before any additional actions are taken. Debra Caillouet
6/3/2004 Update or Other Action A draft work plan for a focused remedial investigation was reviewed. Comments were sent to the Corp. Debra Caillouet
8/19/2004 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff attended the RAB meeting in Yakutat Debra Caillouet
8/26/2004 Update or Other Action File number issued 1530.38.011.07 Aggie Blandford
11/23/2004 Update or Other Action Response to comments on the draft feasibility study were received and reviewed. While the responses will add clarification to the document, DEC believes there is insufficient site characterization data. The Feasibility Study is premature. Work should occur to identify the data gaps and resolve them before any additional actions are taken. Debra Caillouet
12/30/2004 Update or Other Action Results of the draft 2004 Focused Remedial Investigation were reviewed. ASTs 1 through 7 were investigated. Diesel contamination above Method 2 levels is present at several of the former tank locations. Groundwater was encountered at sites AST1, AST2, and AST3 and contaminant impacts were not found. The city water wells were tested and no impact detected. Additional investigation was recommended. Comments were sent to the Corps for review and use in finalizing the document. Debra Caillouet
1/13/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff attended the RAB meeting in Yakutat Debra Caillouet
5/1/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff met with the Corps and their contractor to resolve comments on the work plan for installing wells at the Army Dock Site Debra Caillouet
6/17/2005 Update or Other Action Staff sent a comment letter to the Corp regarding the Focused Remedial Investigation for the Army Dock site. Debra Caillouet
7/7/2005 Update or Other Action Staff sent a comment letter to the Corps regarding the Draft Rapid Optical Screening Tool (ROST) Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) Focused Remedial Investigation, Former Yakutat Air Force Base, Debra Caillouet
9/12/2005 Update or Other Action Staff sent a comment letter on the second draft of the Focused Remedial Investigation. Debra Caillouet
10/4/2005 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Staff drafted an approval letter for the installation of monitoring wells at the Army Dock Tanks and geophysical survey of lakes on the Phipps Peninsula Debra Caillouet
3/10/2006 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed the Draft Report, 2005 Focused Remedial Investigation. This effort completed the installation of groundwater monitoring wells near the former aboveground storage tank locations: AST 4, AST 5, AST 6, and AST 7. In 2005 a focused remedial investigation was conducted to further assess surface and subsurface soil and groundwater in the vicinity of the former. DRO was present in soil above Method 2 levels at all of the sites. The inhalation and ingestion pathways were also exceeded at three of the four sites, with the maximum detection of DRO at 23,000 mg/Kg near AST 7. DRO was also detected at 4.25 mg/L in the groundwater at AST 7. The groundwater at the other three sites did not contain contaminants above levels of concern. AST 7 is located 130 feet and 200 feet from two city water wells. Groundwater elevations indicate that former AST 7 is downgradient of the city wells. Additional site characterization was recommended at AST 7 to determine the later extent of impacted soil, delineate the DRO-impacted groundwater plume, and determine the potential effects on surface water bodies and nearby drinking water wells. A hydrogeological study was recommended to confirm that the captures zone of the drinking water wells do not extend to the groundwater plume. DEC requests that the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers notify the City of Yakutat of this groundwater contamination and arrange for quarterly sampling and analysis of the city water wells for DRO and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) to assure the water supply is not impacted. Debra Caillouet
5/11/2006 Site Characterization Report Approved The Final Report, Focused Remedial Investigation, Former Yakutat AFB for the 2004 FRI was reviewed and approved. The report presents the results of soil and groundwater sampling at tank locations in the former Army Dock Tank Farm, Concern D that occurred in 2004. Soil sampling and anaylsis for dioxins at the Culture Camp, Concern H2 are also reported. Debra Caillouet
11/9/2006 Site Characterization Report Approved The final report for the 2005 ROST/LIF investigation was approved. A total of 77 ROST/LIF probes were pushed at this site and 8 soil samples were collected. Diesel fuel contamination was found in soils associated with each of the former tanks. However, because of various physical restrictions (e.g., rough topography, dense vegetation, existing buildings and utility lines), rig access was limited and the lateral extent of contamination at some of the tank sites was not completely defined. Debra Caillouet
11/19/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Debra Caillouet
1/16/2008 Update or Other Action ADEC staff attended a Restoration Advisory Board meeting in Yakutat to discuss the status of various contaminated sites associated with the Yakutat AFB. Jonathan Schick
1/17/2008 Site Visit ADEC Staff pariticipated in a site visit to various sites around the Yakutat area. Snow inhibited access to many of the sitess but the purpose of the trip was to get an understanding of the distribution of sites and to attend a Restoration Advisory Board Meeting. Jonathan Schick
8/13/2008 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC staff attended a Restoration Advisory Board meeting in the community of Yakutat. Various topics were discussed concerning the status of the on-going environmental restoration work that is going on in the area. Jonathan Schick
8/14/2008 Site Visit ADEC Staff pariticipated in a site visit to various sites in and around the Yakutat AFB area. The other purpose of the site visit was to attend a Restoration Advisory Board Meeting. Jonathan Schick
9/30/2009 Update or Other Action ADEC staff signed a CON/HTRW project closeout report fort he Formerly Used Defense Sites associated with the Yakutat Air Base. The State of Alaska, through the Department of Environmental Conservation concurs with this USACE project closure. The decision may be reviewed or modified in the future if information becomes available that indicates the presence oif military CON/HTRW that may cause unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. The remeduiation of these sites will continue as necessary, this report only states that no containerized wastes are known to be present at the subject sites. Jonathan Schick
3/17/2010 Update or Other Action ADEC Staff issued a letter to the USACE approving the finalization of the Feasibility Study Report as all of the State's comments have been responded to and incorporated in the document. Jonathan Schick
10/22/2010 CERCLA FS Contaminated Sites Staff submitted a letter to the US Army Corps of Engineers approving the Final Version of the Feasibility Study Report. Jonathan Schick
5/30/2014 Site Characterization Workplan Approved The ADEC Contaminated Site Program approved the 2014 Supplemental Remedial Investigation Work Plan. The objectives of the investigation at AOC D were to 1) determine risk-based alternative cleanup levels using the ADEC Method Three Calculator and the Hydrocarbon Risk Calculator; 2) determine the current groundwater condition. Jessica Morris
9/29/2014 Site Visit The ADEC contaminated Sites staff participated in a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting, a tribal meeting, and site inspections in Yakutat with the Army Corps of Engineers to share information on the status of Formerly Used Defense Site investigation and cleanup activities around Yakutat. Jessica Morris
10/15/2015 Site Visit The ADEC contaminated Sites staff participated in a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting and site inspections in Yakutat with the Army Corps of Engineers to share information on the status of Formerly Used Defense Site investigation and cleanup activities around Yakutat. Jessica Morris
2/16/2016 Update or Other Action The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program provided comments on the revised Property Survey Summary Sheet for the DERP-FUDS Property No. F10AK0606, Inventory Project Report (INPR), Yakutat Air Base, Yakutat Alaska. The revised INRP indicates that the D Concern - Army Dock Area Aboveground Storage Tanks (AOC D1-D8), Army Dock Area-Avgas Pipelines (AOC D9), and the ARmy Dock Area - Diesel Pipeline (AOC D10) are not planned to be addressed under FUDS because the USACE believes that the contamination was caused by non-Department of Defense (DoD) entities. The ADEC has requested additional information to substantiate this position. Jessica Morris
7/7/2016 Site Characterization Report Approved The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program approved the 2015 Final Supplemental Remedial Investigation Report for the Former Yakutat Air Base FUDS. Because petroleum contamination was found to be below the applicable regulatory limits and human health risk standards at Tanks 1-6 (AOCs D1 - D6), site closure was recommended for these areas of concern within the overall Army Dock Tank Farm site. Results from the investigation at Tanks 7 and 8 (AOCs D7 and D8) indicated that the petroleum contamination in the soil and groundwater at the site is below the applicable human health risk standards. However, the groundwater DRO concentrations exceed ADEC's cleanup criteria. Site closure with institutional controls documenting residual contamination was recommended for AOCs D7 and D8. Jessica Morris
10/11/2016 Site Visit The ADEC contaminated Sites staff participated in a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting and site inspections in Yakutat with the Army Corps of Engineers to share information on the status of Formerly Used Defense Site investigation and cleanup activities around Yakutat. Jessica Morris
10/4/2017 Update or Other Action The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program sent a letter to the USACE documenting the State's non-concurrence with the Revised Property Survey Summary Sheet for DERP-FUDS Property No. F10AK0606, Inventory Project Report (INPR) for the Yakutat Air Base, Yakutat Alaska. ADEC does not have sufficient information to concur with the reduction of the overall Yakutat Air Base FUDS eligible projects, as described in the INPR. ADEC requested more information regarding the overall site reduction and a meeting with the USACE. Jessica Morris
6/20/2018 Site Visit ADEC Contaminated Sites Program staff conducted a site visit of several contaminated sites in the Yakutat area. Jessica Morris

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.

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