Site Report: Chefornak School Tank Farm

Site Name:	Chefornak School Tank Farm
Address:	South Bank of Kinia River, 98 Air Miles SW of Bethel, Chefornak, AK 99561
File Number:	2408.38.007
Hazard ID:	3781
Status:	Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff:	IC Unit, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude:	60.157861
Longitude:	-164.281917
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.

Site Chronology
IC / Closure Details
Documents
Associated Sites

Problems/Comments

ADEC records showed a spill from the day tank area at the Chefornak school. The spill occurred on April 30, 1999 (as reported in 2001 site assessment/spills database has a January 6th, 1999 spill) as the result of an overfill at one of the school day tanks. Approximately 150 gallons were spilled and approximately 80 gallons were recovered. The second spill is listed in the ADEC Spills Database as occurring on March 4, 2003. During 2008 site work, an anecdotal account from Mr. Raymond Eric, a maintenance worker at the school, suggested that during this time frame a pump was inadvertently left on overnight, resulting in the overfilling of one of the tanks. Mr. Eric stated the spill was approximately 55 gallons and that it was cleaned up the next day. At the time of the spill, the ground was reportedly frozen and the spill was contained by bermed snow. Site includes the formerly used tank farm and the currently used generators. Initial site characterization performed in 2001. Additional characterization performed in 2008 and 2009 as part of a school construction project which is intended to also address the historic contamination at the site. Highest reported concentrations at the site were during the 2001 investigation with DRO up to 46,500 mg/kg and benzene up to 0.101 mg/kg with samples collected from depths =< 2 ft bgs. In 2008, concentration up to 320 mg/kg GRO and 2,430 mg/kg DRO were found at 0.5 ft bgs. In 2009, the highest concentrations of 19,200 mg/kg DRO (duplicate of sample containing 3,040 mg/kg (second highest)) were found at 0.5 ft bgs.

Action Information

Action Date	Action	Description	DEC Staff
4/9/2002	Update or Other Action	Date of Village of Chefornak Site Assessment Project Report by Oasis which led to this contaminated site listing. Initial site assessment performed in August 2001. DRO concentrations in the vicinity of the day tank spill and down gradient range from 90.7 mg/kg to 46,500 mg/kg. The tank farm is surrounded with a wooden timber wall, with metal flashing on the inside, approximately 3 feet high. A chain link fence approximately 5 feet high runs along the top of the timber wall. The floor of the enclosed area is lined with a geotextile liner. Diesel that was stored in the tank farm was dispensed to day tanks at the school for heating and power generation. DRO concentrations in the diked area of the school tank farm ranged from 441 mg/kg to 15,300 mg/kg. The highest level of impact was observed in the low point of the diked area near the drain, which drained toward lake according to site sketch. One empty 20,000-gallon tank remained in the south end of the tank farm bermed area. The north end of the tank farm bermed area was used for drum storage (used oil and glycol).	Keather McLoone
4/11/2003	Site Added to Database	DRO contamination.	Deborah Williams
4/11/2003	Site Ranked Using the AHRM	Preliminary ranking.	Deborah Williams
3/2/2004	Update or Other Action	Site inventoried through TAPL funded site recon. With loss of TAPL funding to Alaska Energy Authority, ADEC will not be able to continue assessment and remediation work at this site. Working on other avenues of funding to assist school district.	Mike Jaynes
7/14/2004	Update or Other Action	File number changed from 2408.42.001 to 2408.38.002	Sarah Cunningham
11/29/2006	Update or Other Action	Staff transferred from Pikul to Jaynes.	Aggie Blandford
3/17/2008	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking	Initial ranking with ETM completed.	Bill O'Connell
9/22/2008	Update or Other Action	Oasis submitted Chefornak School Site Investigation 2008 workplan to do further characterization at the site as part of an upcoming school construction project after incorporating DEC comments to draft. As of November 5th, they were still waiting on a part to repair heavy equipment before going out to do the work.	Keather McLoone
11/20/2008	Update or Other Action	Receipt of figure with historic and 2008 concentrations. There was snow on the ground at the time of the 2008 sampling due to delays on parts for heavy equipment. Data collection was limited because the rig broke down on the 3rd hole so borings had to be advanced by hand. The sample locations were selected based on topography, i.e. there are drainage paths from the two potential source areas to the lake. The subsurface soil is pretty much saturated with water. It seems that any spill, especially one occurring in the winter, would not penetrate very far and the data seem to support this theory, showing almost nothing at the deeper locations in the bottom of the reentrants.	Keather McLoone
12/12/2008	Update or Other Action	ADEC staff has been discussing siting options for stockpiling, treating, and/or disposing of soil to be excavated during this upcoming project. Communications to date have involved the ADOT and DEC APDES staff regarding the possibility of stockpiling or landfarming soil at the old Chefornak airstrip. ADOT expressed concerns about liability. Communications to date have also included DEC SW program, EPA IGAP, village IGAP, city clerk, and Zender Environmental Health and Research Group (consultant to village's environmental program) regarding the landfill in Chefornak. Photos of landfill obtained from several sources. This landfill has not been permitted since the late 80s. Use of the excavated soil there could provide a much needed benefit as cover or to use in berm building (silt sacks). Site has some soil but is full of pumice boulders and space is limited so cover would help with that problem. The village has developed a plan to build a berm so that the nearby river is protected from their honeybucket lagoon and dumpsite. ADEC suggested a DRO SPLP analysis of a recently collected sample to get an idea of how "leachable" the DRO might be and are currently awaiting this result and chromatograms. Soils at the site are reported to be highly organic, according to verbal communication from Oasis. However, the top and most vegetative layer is likely to be returned to the site to help protect the permafrost layer during and after construction.	Keather McLoone
1/31/2009	Update or Other Action	Receipt, via email notification document at FTP site, of SITE INVESTIGATION REPORT AND REMEDIATION WORK PLAN with DEC comments incorporated. Review shows that comment incorporation is acceptable. Document saved to network and printed off for file.	Keather McLoone
2/6/2009	Update or Other Action	Telephone conversations late last week with Kimberly Abraham (local IGAP staff) and earlier this week with Bernard Mael (city administrator) indicate that the city is interested in pursuing the potential future use of soil excavated from the school site at the landfill. DEC Solid Waste staff indicate that a plan for dealing with "polluted soil" (18AAC 60.025) would be appropriate.	Keather McLoone
3/3/2009	Update or Other Action	Letter to Oasis with CC to LKSD, Chefornak City admin, Chefornak IGAP staff, Rodney P. Kinney Associates, Inc., Bezek Durst Seiser, and DEC Solid Waste Program requesting a plan to address management of soil according to 18AAC 60.025 as a potential cost saving alternative to long-term stockpiling or backhauling of soil excavated from the school construction project. This plan would be reviewed by City of Cheforak and DEC Solid Waste Program.	Keather McLoone
4/17/2009	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Receipt and review of first version of Site Investigation Report and Remediationn Workplan for the Chefornak School Site that includes the landfill disposal option. Later version with typographical error corrected (only edits according to Oasis) was received on May 21 with tables, figures, and appendices forwarded on May 22. This version of this document includes additional characterization data collected in 2008.	Keather McLoone
4/22/2009	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Contaminated Sites (CS) and Solid Waste staff met with the Lower Kuskokwim School District (LKSD) and their contractors regarding the Chefornak School Renovation and Addition project at the Chefornak School Tank Farm contaminated site. The scope of this Department of Education (DED) funded capital improvement project includes addressing historic petroleum contamination at this location. The discussion focused primarily on the proposed disposition of soil at the community landfill. This approach continues to appear to be an alternative that could safely provide benefit to both the community and to the LKSD/DED project. Also briefly discussed was the Chefornak BIA School Tank Farm site which has not been adequately characterized and where several tanks and contaminated soil are within feet of eroding into the river. The LKSD suggested that Oasis submit a proposal to assist with addressing the Chefornak BIA School Tank Farm site in conjunction with work at the Chefornak School Tank Farm site.	Keather McLoone
7/7/2009	Site Visit	DEC accompanied representatives of LKSD and their consultant, Oasis, to Chefornak in order to discuss sample locations for additional site characterization work in preparation for upcoming remedial action.	Keather McLoone
10/21/2009	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Review of Site Investigation Report and Remediation Work Plan Chefornak School Site. This version of the document also includes data collected during additional site characterization performed in 2009. Surface soil samples collected in 2009 contained up to 3,040 mg/kg DRO - other constituents below most conservative Method Two levels. Surface water sample collected at a downgradient pond location did not exceed water quality criteria for TAH and TAqH.	Keather McLoone
12/15/2010	Final Cleanup Report Reviewed	Date of receipt of final Limited Remediation Report, Chefornak School Site prepared by Oasis. Materials associate with the former day tank area and tank farm were removed. Petroleum contaminated soil was excavated to the vertical limits of permafrost in most areas. A limited volume of contamination remains in the soil in a small area south of the former day tank area, which will be fenced upon completion of the school extension restricting access. 250 cubic yards were removed and placed as cover at the community landfill after work was done to prepare the landfill for cover. Confirmation samples contained up to 1,440 mg/kg DRO with evidence of biogenic contribution to this amount. Benzene may also be remaining as the lab was unable to meet the cleanup level with their reporting limits, although highest reported result that was not reported as ND was below migration to groundwater. Concentrations in the material brought to the landfill were up to 0.044 mg/kg benzene and 20,800 mg/kg DRO. SPLP prep was performed and the extracts analyzed for DRO - two results were ND above Table C levels. The sample with the highest concentration of DRO (more than 12 times higher than the next highest DRO sample from landfilled material) resulted in a SPLP DRO concentration of 5.95 mg/L. Oasis concluded that although this sample exceeded our secondary criteria, these soils were unlikely to cause water quality concerns. Soil material is peaty with biogenic contribution to concentrations, attenuation, and no sheen was observed at any time during the removal and placement effort.	Keather McLoone
1/13/2011	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking	A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 74756 Former ASTs.	Keather McLoone
2/14/2011	Cleanup Complete Determination Issued	Contaminated Sites staff has completed a review of the environmental records associated with Chefornak School Tank Farm site located in Chefornak, Alaska. Based on the information provided to date, it has been determined that the 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 as long as the site is in compliance with established institutional controls (ICs).	Keather McLoone
2/17/2011	Institutional Control Record Established	Institutional Controls established and entered into the database.	Keather McLoone
5/17/2013	Institutional Control Compliance Review	IC compliance review conducted. Reminder system set-up to contact the responsible party in 2016.	Kristin Thompson
2/19/2016	Institutional Control Compliance Review	An IC compliance review was conducted and an IC reminder letter issued to the responsible party on this date. Reminder system set to follow-up in 2021.	Kristin Thompson
6/18/2018	Institutional Control Compliance Review	IC compliance review conducted. Closure/IC Details updated.	Kristin Thompson
2/23/2023	Institutional Control Compliance Review	IC compliance review conducted on this date and a reminder letter was issued. The next compliance review will be in 2028.	Jennifer McGrath

Action Date

Action

Description

DEC Staff

4/9/2002

Update or Other Action

Date of Village of Chefornak Site Assessment Project Report by Oasis which led to this contaminated site listing. Initial site assessment performed in August 2001. DRO concentrations in the vicinity of the day tank spill and down gradient range from 90.7 mg/kg to 46,500 mg/kg. The tank farm is surrounded with a wooden timber wall, with metal flashing on the inside, approximately 3 feet high. A chain link fence approximately 5 feet high runs along the top of the timber wall. The floor of the enclosed area is lined with a geotextile liner. Diesel that was stored in the tank farm was dispensed to day tanks at the school for heating and power generation. DRO concentrations in the diked area of the school tank farm ranged from 441 mg/kg to 15,300 mg/kg. The highest level of impact was observed in the low point of the diked area near the drain, which drained toward lake according to site sketch. One empty 20,000-gallon tank remained in the south end of the tank farm bermed area. The north end of the tank farm bermed area was used for drum storage (used oil and glycol).

Keather McLoone

4/11/2003

Site Added to Database

DRO contamination.

Deborah Williams

4/11/2003

Site Ranked Using the AHRM

Preliminary ranking.

Deborah Williams

3/2/2004

Update or Other Action

Site inventoried through TAPL funded site recon. With loss of TAPL funding to Alaska Energy Authority, ADEC will not be able to continue assessment and remediation work at this site. Working on other avenues of funding to assist school district.

Mike Jaynes

7/14/2004

Update or Other Action

File number changed from 2408.42.001 to 2408.38.002

Sarah Cunningham

11/29/2006

Update or Other Action

Staff transferred from Pikul to Jaynes.

Aggie Blandford

3/17/2008

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

Initial ranking with ETM completed.

Bill O'Connell

9/22/2008

Update or Other Action

Oasis submitted Chefornak School Site Investigation 2008 workplan to do further characterization at the site as part of an upcoming school construction project after incorporating DEC comments to draft. As of November 5th, they were still waiting on a part to repair heavy equipment before going out to do the work.

Keather McLoone

11/20/2008

Update or Other Action

Receipt of figure with historic and 2008 concentrations. There was snow on the ground at the time of the 2008 sampling due to delays on parts for heavy equipment. Data collection was limited because the rig broke down on the 3rd hole so borings had to be advanced by hand. The sample locations were selected based on topography, i.e. there are drainage paths from the two potential source areas to the lake. The subsurface soil is pretty much saturated with water. It seems that any spill, especially one occurring in the winter, would not penetrate very far and the data seem to support this theory, showing almost nothing at the deeper locations in the bottom of the reentrants.

Keather McLoone

12/12/2008

Update or Other Action

ADEC staff has been discussing siting options for stockpiling, treating, and/or disposing of soil to be excavated during this upcoming project. Communications to date have involved the ADOT and DEC APDES staff regarding the possibility of stockpiling or landfarming soil at the old Chefornak airstrip. ADOT expressed concerns about liability. Communications to date have also included DEC SW program, EPA IGAP, village IGAP, city clerk, and Zender Environmental Health and Research Group (consultant to village's environmental program) regarding the landfill in Chefornak. Photos of landfill obtained from several sources. This landfill has not been permitted since the late 80s. Use of the excavated soil there could provide a much needed benefit as cover or to use in berm building (silt sacks). Site has some soil but is full of pumice boulders and space is limited so cover would help with that problem. The village has developed a plan to build a berm so that the nearby river is protected from their honeybucket lagoon and dumpsite. ADEC suggested a DRO SPLP analysis of a recently collected sample to get an idea of how "leachable" the DRO might be and are currently awaiting this result and chromatograms. Soils at the site are reported to be highly organic, according to verbal communication from Oasis. However, the top and most vegetative layer is likely to be returned to the site to help protect the permafrost layer during and after construction.

Keather McLoone

1/31/2009

Update or Other Action

Receipt, via email notification document at FTP site, of SITE INVESTIGATION REPORT AND REMEDIATION WORK PLAN with DEC comments incorporated. Review shows that comment incorporation is acceptable. Document saved to network and printed off for file.

Keather McLoone

2/6/2009

Update or Other Action

Telephone conversations late last week with Kimberly Abraham (local IGAP staff) and earlier this week with Bernard Mael (city administrator) indicate that the city is interested in pursuing the potential future use of soil excavated from the school site at the landfill. DEC Solid Waste staff indicate that a plan for dealing with "polluted soil" (18AAC 60.025) would be appropriate.

Keather McLoone

3/3/2009

Update or Other Action

Letter to Oasis with CC to LKSD, Chefornak City admin, Chefornak IGAP staff, Rodney P. Kinney Associates, Inc., Bezek Durst Seiser, and DEC Solid Waste Program requesting a plan to address management of soil according to 18AAC 60.025 as a potential cost saving alternative to long-term stockpiling or backhauling of soil excavated from the school construction project. This plan would be reviewed by City of Cheforak and DEC Solid Waste Program.

Keather McLoone

4/17/2009

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Receipt and review of first version of Site Investigation Report and Remediationn Workplan for the Chefornak School Site that includes the landfill disposal option. Later version with typographical error corrected (only edits according to Oasis) was received on May 21 with tables, figures, and appendices forwarded on May 22. This version of this document includes additional characterization data collected in 2008.

Keather McLoone

4/22/2009

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Contaminated Sites (CS) and Solid Waste staff met with the Lower Kuskokwim School District (LKSD) and their contractors regarding the Chefornak School Renovation and Addition project at the Chefornak School Tank Farm contaminated site. The scope of this Department of Education (DED) funded capital improvement project includes addressing historic petroleum contamination at this location. The discussion focused primarily on the proposed disposition of soil at the community landfill. This approach continues to appear to be an alternative that could safely provide benefit to both the community and to the LKSD/DED project. Also briefly discussed was the Chefornak BIA School Tank Farm site which has not been adequately characterized and where several tanks and contaminated soil are within feet of eroding into the river. The LKSD suggested that Oasis submit a proposal to assist with addressing the Chefornak BIA School Tank Farm site in conjunction with work at the Chefornak School Tank Farm site.

Keather McLoone

7/7/2009

Site Visit

DEC accompanied representatives of LKSD and their consultant, Oasis, to Chefornak in order to discuss sample locations for additional site characterization work in preparation for upcoming remedial action.

Keather McLoone

10/21/2009

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Review of Site Investigation Report and Remediation Work Plan Chefornak School Site. This version of the document also includes data collected during additional site characterization performed in 2009. Surface soil samples collected in 2009 contained up to 3,040 mg/kg DRO - other constituents below most conservative Method Two levels. Surface water sample collected at a downgradient pond location did not exceed water quality criteria for TAH and TAqH.

Keather McLoone

12/15/2010

Final Cleanup Report Reviewed

Date of receipt of final Limited Remediation Report, Chefornak School Site prepared by Oasis. Materials associate with the former day tank area and tank farm were removed. Petroleum contaminated soil was excavated to the vertical limits of permafrost in most areas. A limited volume of contamination remains in the soil in a small area south of the former day tank area, which will be fenced upon completion of the school extension restricting access. 250 cubic yards were removed and placed as cover at the community landfill after work was done to prepare the landfill for cover. Confirmation samples contained up to 1,440 mg/kg DRO with evidence of biogenic contribution to this amount. Benzene may also be remaining as the lab was unable to meet the cleanup level with their reporting limits, although highest reported result that was not reported as ND was below migration to groundwater. Concentrations in the material brought to the landfill were up to 0.044 mg/kg benzene and 20,800 mg/kg DRO. SPLP prep was performed and the extracts analyzed for DRO - two results were ND above Table C levels. The sample with the highest concentration of DRO (more than 12 times higher than the next highest DRO sample from landfilled material) resulted in a SPLP DRO concentration of 5.95 mg/L. Oasis concluded that although this sample exceeded our secondary criteria, these soils were unlikely to cause water quality concerns. Soil material is peaty with biogenic contribution to concentrations, attenuation, and no sheen was observed at any time during the removal and placement effort.

Keather McLoone

1/13/2011

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 74756 Former ASTs.

Keather McLoone

2/14/2011

Cleanup Complete Determination Issued

Contaminated Sites staff has completed a review of the environmental records associated with Chefornak School Tank Farm site located in Chefornak, Alaska. Based on the information provided to date, it has been determined that the 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 as long as the site is in compliance with established institutional controls (ICs).

Keather McLoone

2/17/2011

Institutional Control Record Established

Institutional Controls established and entered into the database.

Keather McLoone

5/17/2013

Institutional Control Compliance Review

IC compliance review conducted. Reminder system set-up to contact the responsible party in 2016.

Kristin Thompson

2/19/2016

Institutional Control Compliance Review

An IC compliance review was conducted and an IC reminder letter issued to the responsible party on this date. Reminder system set to follow-up in 2021.

Kristin Thompson

6/18/2018

Institutional Control Compliance Review

IC compliance review conducted. Closure/IC Details updated.

Kristin Thompson

2/23/2023

Institutional Control Compliance Review

IC compliance review conducted on this date and a reminder letter was issued. The next compliance review will be in 2028.

Jennifer McGrath

Contaminant Information

Name	Level Description	Media	Comments
DRO	Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation	Soil

Name

Level Description

Media

Comments

DRO

Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation

Soil

Control Type

Type	Details
Signed CS Determination

Type

Details

Signed CS Determination

Requirements

Description	Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.	Standard condition.
Other	Lower Kuskokwim School District shall report to ADEC every five years to document land use, or report as soon as they become aware of any changes in land ownership and/or use.
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)	Standard condition.
Groundwater Use Restrictions	Installation of groundwater wells will require approval from ADEC.

Description

Details

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

Standard condition.

Other

Lower Kuskokwim School District shall report to ADEC every five years to document land use, or report as soon as they become aware of any changes in land ownership and/or use.

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)

Standard condition.

Groundwater Use Restrictions

Installation of groundwater wells will require approval from ADEC.

IC Reminder Letter - February 2023

Institutional Controls Reminder Letter - February 2016

Signed Agreement Page

Cleanup Complete with Institutional Controls Letter

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

Because the GIS location data for this site has not been entered, we cannot direct you to its position on the map. Click "Continue" to proceed to the Contaminated Sites Web Map or "Close" to return to the site report.

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Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Site Report: Chefornak School Tank Farm

Site Chronology

IC / Closure Details

Documents

Associated Sites

Problems/Comments

Action Information

Contaminant Information

Control Type

Requirements

IC Reminder Letter - February 2023

Institutional Controls Reminder Letter - February 2016

Signed Agreement Page

Cleanup Complete with Institutional Controls Letter

Missing Location Data

State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation