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Site Report: IHS Barrow PHS Hospital

Site Name: IHS Barrow PHS Hospital
Address: 1296 Agvik Street, Barrow, AK 99723
File Number: 310.38.002
Hazard ID: 1400
Status: Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff: IC Unit, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 71.293417
Longitude: -156.781254
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

Subsurface investigation showed elevated levels of petroleum at proposed staff housing site south of Tasigarook Lagoon. Approx. 2000 cu yds soil was excavated in 1992; excavation was lined with petroleum-resistant liner and backfilled with clean material. Excavated soil was stockpiled for three years then landspread on a gravel road. The excavation occurred at construction site and appears to be a result of an historical release probably extending to south and east of the excavation area - believed to be from use of heating oil tanks prior to converting to natural gas in 1970's. Facility is current location of Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital staff housing. Results were below Method 2 for Arctic Zone, but sources in area are unclear. Future site work will require environmental oversight and management.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
10/4/1991 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Review Remedial Action Plan. Former Staff
10/4/1991 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Spoke with RP about cleanup goals and options. Would forward out comments. Former Staff
12/30/1991 Preliminary Assessment Approved Shannon and Wilson contracted to evaluate options for cleanup. Awaiting response as of 1=15-92. Approved interim measures. Former Staff
4/15/1992 Meeting or Teleconference Held Teleconference. Former Staff
4/15/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). Response letter. Former Staff
4/15/1992 Site Characterization Report Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = SA2R - Phase II SA Review (CS)). Former Staff
5/20/1992 Meeting or Teleconference Held Discussed sampling requirements. Former Staff
5/20/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Reviewed Remedial action proposals. Former Staff
5/20/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). Phone conversation 5/19/92 with Arctic Slope Consulting group: soils much more contaminated than expected. Former Staff
5/20/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = TECH - Technical Assistance). Discussed storage treatment options. Former Staff
5/20/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = TAS - Treatment Alternative Study (CS)). Will excavate and stockpile, then contact ADEC for next remedial phase. Former Staff
6/1/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). Sent remedial action update letter to Arctic Slope. Former Staff
6/1/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = TECH - Technical Assistance). Consulted group regarding modifications to plan resulting from 2 phone conversations on 5/19 and 21. Former Staff
6/1/1992 Cleanup Plan Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = TRET - Treatment, Selection). Excavation will continue, storage plan approved with treatment technology. Former Staff
6/24/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RPL2 - Site Information Request Letter). ADEC staff sent PRP-CS Database Notification Letter to PRP requesting update and additional environmental information concerning the contaminated site. RP responded 7-7-92 with letter describing situation. Jeff Peterson
7/31/1992 Meeting or Teleconference Held Met with contractor to explain actions at site. Cindy Thomas
7/31/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RECN - Site Reconnaissance (CS)). Staff inspected and photo documented site conditions. Observed excavation project where contamination discovered. Saw oil seep along edge of PHS. Visited excavation material stored near lagoon at NARL, lined and bermed. Need correspondence with contractor to discuss treatment options. Cindy Thomas
3/15/1993 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = CP - Closure Pending). Staff reviewed and approved summary report documenting last year's excavation activities at site. 2,000 yards of soil removed/stockpiled and awaiting treatment plan submittal to ADEC. Tentative closure of pit pending on meeting conditions stated in ADEC letter 3-15-93. Cindy Thomas
5/5/1993 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). Staff reviewed and conditionally approved soil sample plan for 2,000 yards of material removed from excavation pit last year. ASCG will characterize pile via sampling to segregate soils and determine optimal treatment plan. Sampling to occur this summer. In ADEC reply, we offered technical assistance to make sample data more representative. Cindy Thomas
7/28/1993 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). Soil stockpile sample results sumitted to ADEC regarding soils removed last year. Results show contamination ranging from 190 ppm to 6600 ppm. Arctic Slope Consulting group will put together and submit to ADEC for review a corrective action plan. Cindy Thomas
1/25/1994 Site Added to Database Petroleum contamination. Former Staff
3/7/1994 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Former Staff
10/6/2000 Site Number Identifier Changed Changed the Region from 36 to 31. Former Staff
11/27/2007 GIS Position Updated Latitude/longitude coordinates updated based on information in administrative file. Mitzi Read
6/18/2008 Update or Other Action I performed a file review to assess current status of the site and make recommendations for the future. Please see either electronic file or hard copy file for File Review Summary Report and supporting Chronology of Significant Documents and Events. Conclusions and recommendation in brief: 1. Petroleum contamination was found in a location where new staff housing construction was planned. Contaminated soil was excavated and confirmation sample results show cleanup of the former excavation area is complete. 2. Excavated petroleum-contaminated soil was stockpiled for three years before being landspread with DEC approval. No issues remain for this soil. 3. The former excavation area was lined with a petroleum-resistant liner prior to backfilling, so there is no concern about adjacent contamination migrating back into that location. 4. Petroleum contamination remains in the soil, probably to the east and south. I recommend additional investigation to try to identify source, and to characterize extent and magnitude of remaining contamination. Tamar Stephens
6/18/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Tamar Stephens
7/1/2008 Underground Storage Tank Site Characterization or Assessment Copy of file review sent to Paul Geisert, IHS. E-mail summarized that file review shows soil was excavated in preparation for construction of new staff housing in the early 1990's. Petroleum contamination in the footprint of the new housing appears to have been fully excavated. The excavated soil was stockpiled for 3 years, then landspread with DEC approval. The excavation was lined with a petroleum-resistant liner before being backfilled. There are no remaining issues with either the excavation area or with the soil that was excavated. There appears to be additional soil contamination present outside the footprint of the excavation area that has never been characterized, and this characterization should be performed at some point in time. Until further characterization is performed we won't know for sure how far the zone of contamination extends or the concentrations of contaminants remaining in the soil, and therefore we don't know what remains to be done to get this site to closure, or even whether additional cleanup will be necessary. E-mail further stated that DEC is not requesting that IHS change priorities for managing sites, but file review will assist in the process of fitting this site into the process. Additional characterization should be performed to determine what needs to be done to bring the site to closure. Tamar Stephens
8/5/2015 Update or Other Action ETM needs to be evaluated. Site assigned to John Carnahan for re-ranking, further review and evaluation for closure. Fred Vreeman
8/24/2016 Institutional Control Record Established Institutional Controls established and entered into the database. John Carnahan
8/24/2016 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued Upon receipt of filed Deed Notice (NEC) the site was formally closed in the CS database, and the IC record updated. Closure letter was drafted and mailed on April 18, 2016 and is attached to this database record. John Carnahan

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil Elevated concentrations of DRO remain onsite in subsurface soil below Table B2 Maximum Allowable. A notice of Environmental Contamination must be placed as a deed notice.

Control Type

Type Details
Notice of Environmental Contamination

Requirements

Description Details
Periodic Review The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), or the subsequent recipient of this property through transfer or sale, shall report to ADEC every 3 years to document land use, or report as soon as DHHS becomes aware of any change in land ownership and/or use, if earlier. The report can be sent to the local ADEC office or electronically to DEC.ICUnit@alaska.gov.
Excavation / Soil Movement Restrictions Due to the potential presence of undefined historical subsurface contamination on this property above risk-based levels, when construction occurs on the property, all soil to be excavated must be environmentally monitored and sampled (either before or during construction activities) and contaminated material managed in accordance with ADEC regulatory requirements and under a ADEC-approved work plan.
New Construction Restrictions Due to the presence of benzene in active-zone water that could result in a vapor intrusion exposure, new construction on the property must include an evaluation for vapor intrusion in accordance with ADEC guidance and under an ADEC-approved work plan.
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site. Any proposal to transport soil or active-zone water off-site requires ADEC approval in accordance with 18 AAC 75.325. 2.
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)

No associated sites were found.

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

P.O. Box 111800
Juneau, AK 99811-1800
Phone: 907-465-5066
Fax: 907-465-5245
TDD: 800-770-8973
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