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Site Report: Fort Greely SMDC P. 89 Refuse Burn

Site Name: Fort Greely SMDC P. 89 Refuse Burn
Address: Next to Building 640, Fort Greely, AK 99731
File Number: 141.38.020
Hazard ID: 3704
Status: Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff: Erica Blake, 9074512182 erica.blake@alaska.gov
Latitude: 63.976010
Longitude: -145.700739
Horizontal Datum:WGS84

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 Refuse Burn Pit, also known as Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Site 89, began operation in 1971. Burn cages were used to burn combustible garbage for waste volume reduction prior to disposal into the Fort Greely landfill. Paint, oily sludge from oil/water separators, contaminated soils and sorbents, and aerosol cans have reportedly been burned at the Refuse Burn Pit in the past. From 1999 to 2006 the site was investigated, and samples collected to determine both the lateral and vertical extents of contamination. Lead and dioxins/furans were the primary contaminants of potential concern (COPCs) at the site above ADEC cleanup levels. In order to determine how much contaminated soil was at this site, a 500 square foot area was extensively sampled both laterally and vertically. During a 2009 corrective action effort, approximately 343 tons of impacted soils were excavated, and confirmation analytical samples for lead and dioxins/furans were collected. The confirmation analytical results were all below ADEC cleanup levels. The excavated area was backfilled with 3 feet of clean fill and crushed stone. An asphalt cap was placed on top to control the direct contact and inhalation exposure routes for any potential residual contamination remaining at the site. Currently there are dig restrictions and land use controls in place to prevent damage to the asphalt cap. The site remedy effectiveness is evaluated every five years during the Five-Year Review. The corresponding Army AEDB-R Number is: FGLY-076. There is no Army HQAES number assigned to this site.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
12/26/2000 Site Added to Database Pesticides and metals. Bruce Wanstall
12/26/2000 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Prelimiary ranking. Bruce Wanstall
1/3/2001 Update or Other Action Site is investigated under BRAC. It is expected that the Army will propose Method III ACLs. A proposed plan is expected early 2001. Greg Light
11/7/2002 Update or Other Action Proposed Plan from SMDC pending. Greg Light
10/1/2004 Institutional Control Record Established In the October 2004 Draft Decision Document Fact Sheets, administrative controls (ACs)were established in order to minimize risk to human health and the environment. The site is included in the post’s Geographic Information System (GIS), a tool used in the Dig Permit process for notifying contractors, workers, and base personnel of the potential for contamination to exist at this site. The Dig Permit process is used to prevent installation of water production well(s) through the contaminated area, and prevent removal of contaminated material from the site to off-base locations or to environmentally sensitive areas. If future land disturbance activities at the site encounter contamination, the contaminated material encountered will be properly remediated or disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations. The site will be included in 5-year reviews to periodically verify compliance with the ACs. If Fort Greely is transferred to another agency or party, formal ICs will be implemented at the site due to cumulative risk under the residentiall exposure scenario exceed ADEC threshold. The ICs will provide notification of restrictions for industrial/commercial exposure and will take the form of deed restrictions or similarly stringent site requirements under official post land documentation. The purpose of the IC will be to maintain industrial/commercial usage of the site and prevent future developement of the site for residential purposes. The site is currently fenced with a secured gate allowing access only by authorized personnel. Emily Youcha
12/14/2004 Update or Other Action Lead and dioxin/furan remain as contaminants of potential concern. Background sampling and evaluation of metals was conducted in 1999 and the elevated detections of arsenic, cadmium, and chromium from the 1997 sampling were resolved as background. Emily Youcha
12/14/2004 Update or Other Action Staff received "memorandum for record" factsheet from SMDC and administrative controls have been established for the site. Further investigation was recommended by ADEC into PCBs and pesticides for this site. Emily Youcha
12/20/2004 Update or Other Action ADEC reviewed a report titled "Comprehensive evaluation of groundwater monitoring program Fort Greely, Alaska". The report discussed the existing monitoring network at Fort Greely and the parameters evaluated in ground-water sampling events. ADEC recommended additional investigation into infiltration and vertical hydraulic gradients. ADEC also recommended additional monitoring wells in the Old Post area and more ground-water monitoring at certain specific sites. Emily Youcha
4/11/2005 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Previous work from 1997-1999 detected lead, dioxins and furans at depths less than 7 ft below ground surface. In 2005, the investigation will focus on an area where soil data was previously collected in a surface depression. Samples will be analyzed for pesticides, PCBs, dioxins/furans, and lead. Two borings will be drilled in a depression area on the east side and will be advanced to 10 ft. One boring will be drilled on the east side. Samples will be collected at 5 and 7 ft below ground surface. Emily Youcha
5/25/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff conducted a site visit of Fort Greely. Summer fieldwork is underway and includes soil gas surveys, drilling and sampling several deep boreholes, and installation of at least two new monitoring wells. Staff also attended a RAB meeting where the general public recieved an update on site work for this and upcoming seasons. Emily Youcha
9/30/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff particpiated in a Restoration Advisory Board Meeting for Fort Greely on September 28. Emily Youcha
10/12/2005 Update or Other Action Staff is reviewing the Limited Risk Evaluation (2002) for this site. Sampling results from this summers additional characterization along the road indicated non-detect for PCBs and no ADEC cleanup level exceedences for pesticides. Fort Greely has indicated they will likely remove the small area where dioxins were found in the 1997 and 1998 investigations. Emily Youcha
5/15/2006 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed the 2005 RI for BRAC 89 (Refuse Burn Pit). The refuse burn pit was investigated in 1998 and 1998. Soil samples contained dioxins at measurable levels less than 7 ft bgs. Two boreholes were drilled in 2005 and sampled at depths of 5 ft and 10 ft bgs and PCBs, dioxins, furans were not detected. Emily Youcha
12/5/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held Ft. Greely interagency meeting held in Anchorage. This site is included in a proposed plan commented upon by DEC in October 2006. The update provided at the meeting was that actions or revisions from SMDC are pending. Colin Craven
12/6/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held RAB meeting held in Delta Junction. Topics covered are discussed above in the database action for Dec. 5, 2006. Colin Craven
12/11/2006 Update or Other Action Per project manager request, updated file number from 141.38.036 to 141.38.020 Wendy Uzzell
5/22/2007 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff attended Interagency Coordination Meeting in Fairbanks. A summary of the past years and future remedial efforts was provided. Zachary Richter
5/23/2007 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC Staff attended a RAB meeting held in Delta Junction. The past years work at Fort Greely was summerized and future work projects were presented. Work at the North and South Tank Farms was highlighted. Zachary Richter
7/27/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking completed. Deborah Williams
8/16/2007 Update or Other Action ADEC reviewed and approved the 2007 Refuse Burn Pit Action Plan. According to the plan, the Refuse Burn Pit will be surveyed to define the current ground surface elevation across the site. This data will be compared to the past data to attempt to determine areas that may have been disturbed. Leadcheck field screen kits will be used to screen the soil in potentially disturbed areas within the Refuse Burn Pit. Deborah Williams
9/19/2007 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC Staff attended a RAB meeting held in Delta Junction. The past years work at Fort Greely was summerized and future work projects were presented. Deborah Williams
12/28/2007 Update or Other Action ADEC provided comments to the Draft 2006 RI for Fort Greely. According to the 2006 RI, 26 shallow (6' bgs) borings were installed to delineate the lateral and vertical extent of soil contamination. Twenty-five primary samples from varying depths at 21 locations were analyzed for dioxins/furans and lead. Three borings exceeded risk-based soil cleanup levels for dioxins/furans (as 2,3,7,8 TCDD) for residential land use in Alaska. Five borings contained total lead concentrations in excess of ADEC Method Two cleanup levels for residential use. The consultant recommends excavating the area where the lead levels exceed industrial cleanup levels. The area is estimated to a depth of six feet (approx. 30 CY). The consultant recommends that the remaining area be capped with asphalt and left in place as remediation. (An area of approximately 70 feet by 75 feet will have three feet of fill with a soild cap of asphalt. Deborah Williams
4/15/2009 Update or Other Action The Draft Record of Decision Nine Installation Restoration Program Sites Fort Greely, AK (December 2008) document review comments letter has been submitted to the Army contact, Glen Shonwiler. The nine sites include two sections of the nuclear reactor wastewater pipeline (BRAC sites 90 & 132), a petroleum spill site along the wastewater pipeline (Station 21 + 25), three old unpermitted landfills(BRAC sites 31, 32 & 88), USTs at a former laundry facility (BRAC site 103), a waste drum storage area (BRAC site 48), and an active refuse burn pit (BRAC site 89). Tana Robert
8/25/2009 Cleanup Level(s) Approved The final Record of Decision for Nine Installation Restoration Program Sites at Fort Greely established an industrial cleanup level of 0.00016 mg/kg for dioxin in soil, calculated in 2006 using the EPA Health Effects Assessment Summary Tables toxicity value. Tana Robert
8/31/2009 Cleanup Plan Approved 2009 Record of Decision: Lead and Dioxin/Furan Hot-Spot Soil Removal, Off-Site Transport & Disposal of Excavated Contaminated Soil, Confirmation Sampling, Placement of Cap and Gravel Apron, Dig Restrictions, Land Use Restrictions, and Five-Year Reviews Tana Robert
4/3/2012 CERCLA Remedial Action Completion Report Approved the final 2009 Corrective Action Report for the Refuse Burn Pit site at Fort Greely. The Refuse Burn Pit was used to burn combustible garbage for waste volume reduction prior to disposal at the Fort Greely Landfill. Approximately 350 tons of material was excavated from the site and transported out of state for proper disposal. The excavation was backfilled with 3 feet of clean fill and crushed stone, and an asphalt cap with a gravel apron was constructed over the impacted area. Melody Debenham
4/3/2012 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 74679 Dioxin and lead contamination. Melody Debenham
4/30/2014 Site Visit Performed site visit as part of 5 year review. The asphalt cap is intact and no maintenance issues were identified. Melody Debenham
6/6/2014 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued The selected remedy from the August 2009 Final Record of Decision, Nine Installation Restoration Program Sites, Fort Greely, Alaska has been implemented. Melody Debenham
7/13/2015 Institutional Control Periodic Reporting Received final 5-year review for 2009 Record of Decision for 9 sites at Fort Greely, including the Refuse Burn Pit. Recommendations include developing an inspection and maintenance plan to ensure that the asphalt cap is properly maintained. Melody Debenham
6/2/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided review comments for the "2nd Five-Year Review Report for the 2009 Record of Decision Installation Restoration Sites, Fort Greely, Alaska" to the U.S. Army on December 19, 2020. Responses to comments (RTCs) for those review comments were received April 9, 2021. Responses to the RTCs were provided to the U.S. Army on June 2, 2021. The 2nd Five-Year Review is intended to evaluate the effectiveness of site remedies at sites under the final 2009 Record of Decision. Erica Blake
8/30/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided comments for the Appendix E Draft Land Use Control Implementation Plan 2021 (dated July 30, 2021) to the U.S. Army. The document describes how the Army will implement land use controls at 13 Fort Greely sites. Erica Blake
9/8/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided responses to comments for the "Appendix E Draft Land Use Control Implementation Plan 2021" (dated July 30, 2021) to the U.S. Army. The document describes a plan for implementing land use controls at thirteen Fort Greely, Alaska (FGA) sites listed in a Record of Decision (ROD) or Decision Document (DD). A redline version of the document was requested for conducting a comment backcheck prior to approval. Erica Blake
9/14/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC has provided approval for the "Groundwater Sampling and Environmental Support Services Fort Greely, Alaska Final Work Plan 2021, Fort Greely, Alaska" (dated September 13, 2021) to the U.S. Army. The document includes the final Section 7 Waste Handling (approved April 27, 2021), final updated work plan and UFP-QAPP pages (approved July 30, 2021), and the final Appendix E land use control implementation plan (approved September 14, 2021). All the finalized sections have been compiled in this final work plan describing groundwater monitoring activities and a land use control implementation plan for various sites around Fort Greely. Erica Blake
12/9/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC acknowledged receipt of the 2nd Five-Year Review Report for the 2009 Record of Decision Installation Restoration Sites, Fort Greely, Alaska (Undated) to the U.S. Army. The document is the second Five-Year Review (FYR) for five Installation Restoration Program (IRP) sites located on Fort Greely, Alaska (FGA). The document was finalized without resolving comments from ADEC. Three sites (Former Landfills 4 and 5, Fuel Spill at Nuclear Reactor Wastewater Pipeline Station 21 + 25 and the Refuse Burn Pit) ADEC does not concur with the protectiveness determinations. The FYR did not account for potential human and ecological risks from emerging contaminants (such as PFAS). The FYR also did not address concern for sites needing notices of activity and use limitations (NAULs) placed on sites where contamination remains. Erica Blake
7/27/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided review comments for the Groundwater Sampling and Environmental Support Services Fort Greely, Alaska, Draft Groundwater Monitoring Report 2021, Fort Greely, Alaska (dated June 6, 2022). The document described results from land use control (LUC) inspections, well decommissioning, repair and redevelopment and groundwater sampling activities conducted during the 2021 field season. The document also included updated work plan addendum pages for upcoming 2022 fieldwork. Erica Blake
9/9/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided responses to comments for the Groundwater Sampling and Environmental Support Services Fort Greely, Alaska, Draft Groundwater Monitoring Report 2021, Fort Greely, Alaska (dated June 6, 2022) to the U.S. Army. The document described results from land use control (LUC) inspections, well decommissioning, repair and redevelopment and groundwater sampling activities conducted during the 2021 field season. The document also included updated work plan addendum pages for upcoming 2022 fieldwork. Responses to the review comments were received September 7, 2022. All responses were accepted except for one comment regarding decommissioning a monitoring well at the Tar and Asphalt Disposal Area. A draft-final redline version of the final document was requested for review and comment backcheck prior to ADEC providing any approvals on a final version of the document. Erica Blake
9/20/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided approval for the "Groundwater Sampling and Environmental Support Services Fort Greely, Alaska, Final Groundwater Monitoring Report 2021, Fort Greely, Alaska" (dated September 16, 2022) to the U.S. Army. Appended to the document were updated work plan pages for the upcoming 2022 field season, and the 2021 land use controls report. ADEC will work with the Army to obtain copies of background studies referenced in the 2021 Groundwater Sampling Report and verify the site boundaries for Landfill #7. With this document approval, the 2022 field work is expected to start September 26, 2022. Erica Blake
8/16/2023 Long Term Monitoring Workplan or Report Review DEC provided review comments for the "Draft Work Plan: Long Term Monitoring and Land Use Control Inspections Fort Greely, Alaska, Dated June 2023" to the U.S. Army. The work plan describes groundwater monitoring and land-use control inspection activities to be conducted at several sites across Fort Greely. The work is planned to occur fall 2023. Erica Blake
8/24/2023 Long Term Monitoring Workplan or Report Review DEC provided responses to comments for the Draft Work Plan: Long Term Monitoring and Land Use Control Inspections Fort Greely, Alaska (dated June 2023) to the U.S. Army. The work plan describes proposed activities for long-term monitoring at several Fort Greely sites. All responses to comments received were acceptable, however three comments were accepted with additional comments. A redline version of the work plan along with resumes from the contractor staff planning to complete the fieldwork was requested for review, prior to approval of the document. Work under this work plan is planned to occur fall 2023. Erica Blake
9/15/2023 Long Term Monitoring Workplan or Report Review DEC provided review comments for the "Groundwater Sampling and Environmental Support Services Fort Greely Alaska, Draft Groundwater Monitoring Report 2022 Fort Greely, Alaska Dated June 2023" to the U.S. Army. The document describes analytical findings and groundwater monitoring activities conducted in 2022 at Fort Greely, Alaska on multiple sites. Results from land use control/institutional control inspections at several sites are also included in the report. Erica Blake
11/7/2023 Long Term Monitoring Workplan or Report Review DEC provided responses to comments for the "Draft Groundwater Monitoring Report 2022 Fort Greely, Alaska Dated June 2023" to the U.S. Army. The report describes long-term monitoring activities conducted in 2022 (groundwater sampling, and land use control and institutional control inspections) at multiple sites around Fort Greely, Alaska. DEC requested additional responses and an updated redline version of the report be provided for additional review prior to any approval. Erica Blake
1/12/2024 Long Term Monitoring Workplan or Report Review DEC provided approval for the Groundwater Sampling and Environmental Support Services, Final Groundwater Monitoring Report 2022, Fort Greely, Alaska (dated November 21, 2023) to the U.S. Army. The report describes results from groundwater monitoring activities and land use control and institutional control inspections conducted at multiple sites around Fort Greely, Alaska during the 2022 field season. Long-term monitoring and institutional control inspections are expected to continue. Erica Blake

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
Dioxins - Total Other Soil
Lead - Total Other Soil

Control Type

Type Details
Land Use Plan / Maps / Base Master Plan In the October 2004 Draft Decision Document Fact Sheets, administrative controls (ACs)were established in order to minimize risk to human health and the environment. The site is included in the post’s Geographic Information System (GIS), a tool used in the Dig Permit process for notifying contractors, workers, and base personnel of the potential for contamination to exist at this site.

Requirements

Description Details
Groundwater Use Restrictions The Dig Permit process is used to prevent installation of water production well(s) through the contaminated area 5 year reviews
Excavation / Soil Movement Restrictions prevent removal of contaminated material from the site to off-base locations or to environmentally sensitive areas 5 year review
When Contaminated Soil is Accessible, Remediation Should Occur If future land disturbance activities at the site encounter contamination, the contaminated material encountered will be properly remediated or disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations. 5 year reviews
Maintenance / Inspection Of Engineering Controls The site is currently fenced with a secured gate allowing access only by authorized personnel.
Restricted to Industrial / Commercial Land Use If Fort Greely is transferred to another agency or party, formal ICs will be implemented at the site due to cumulative risk under the residentiall exposure scenario exceed ADEC threshold. The ICs will provide notification of restrictions for industrial/commercial exposure and will take the form of deed restrictions or similarly stringent site requirements under official post land documentation. The purpose of the IC will be to maintain industrial/commercial usage of the site and prevent future d
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.
Maintenance / Inspection Of Engineering Controls The site is covered with an asphalt cap that must be properly maintained.

There are no documents for this site report.

No associated sites were found.

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