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Site Report: Selawik IRA Fuel Project Former Tank Farm

Site Name: Selawik IRA Fuel Project Former Tank Farm
Address: on Island, N of Community Ave and Community Hall. @ Parcel 6 on E side of Ballot St., NW of Airport, Selawik, AK 99770
File Number: 500.38.001
Hazard ID: 1421
Status: Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff: IC Unit, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 66.603563
Longitude: -160.002881
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

In May 1984, a fuel spill of 1,000 gallons from a cracked pipe impacted soil covering an area of 900 square feet at the south corner of the tank farm. An unknown amount of contaminated soil was excavated and disposed of at the Selawik landfill. In 1991, during an ADEC site inspection, leaks from fuel pipes, stressed vegetation, weathered petroleum sheen in an adjacent pond, and issues with the dikes structural integrity were noted. In 1992 a site assessment was proposed to determine groundwater flow characteristics and horizontal and vertical extent of contaminated soil, but this work was never performed. Update 3/19/10, Selawik has a central surface water treatment facility that serves nearly all the homes. The surface water intake is in the river, adjacent to the site, a ¼ mile away. No drinking water wells exist in Selawik, but villagers known to use water straight from river. Water sample report from 10/30/91 showed contamination, not exceeding the MCL. (Also see 500.02.003 regarding a Spill event responded to by PERP at the new TF located south of Evans Avenue and West of Selawik Street).

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
9/3/1991 Site Added to Database Site added by staff. Former Staff
1/28/1992 Update or Other Action Proposed Selawik work plan and cost estimate submitted by ADEC. The tank farm with a storage capacity of 100,000 gallons of fuel and 20,000 gallons of gasoline, is located on the island in mid-river, N of the Community Hall. In may 1984, a spill of 1,000 gallons from a pipe crack between tanks was reported. The fuel soaked into the ground covering an area of 900 square feet. An unknown amount of contaminated soil was removed and disposed of at the community dump. A site assessment was proposed to determine groundwater flow characteristics, extent of permafrost, and horizontal/vertical extent of the plume. Grant Lidren
1/14/1994 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RPL2 - Site Information Request Letter). Sent PRP-CS Database Notification Letter to RP requesting update and more environmental information. RP responded but did not complete information form. Sent it back incomplete. Former Staff
4/28/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Bill O'Connell
7/8/2009 Update or Other Action ADEC contacted Selawik IRA Council on this date. In 1996, the tank farm was relocated between the pond on the island and the airport across the river( S of Evans Ave. and W of Selawik Street). It is unknown whether a SA was ever performed. Grant Lidren
12/28/2009 Update or Other Action On this date, ADEC discussed the issues with contamination at this site with Vida Coaltrain of the Selawik IRA Council. An SA was never completed for this site. A new store is currently being constructed at the Selawik IRA Fuel Project Former Tank Farm site. Pilings have been advanced into the ground and further construction is planned for 2010. Grant Lidren
12/30/2009 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter On this date, ADEC sent a PRP letter to the IRA Fuel Board/ Native Village of Selawik. Grant Lidren
3/19/2010 Meeting or Teleconference Held On this date, the DEC Contaminated Sites Program, DEC Brownfield Program, and Maniilaq Brownfield coordinator; attended a teleconference with the Selawik IRA Council Fuel Board. The Fuel Board indicates no soil had been removed during recent piling advancement activities. Furthermore, no olfactory or visual evidence of contamination was observed at the site during the piling advancement. The board indicated that no drinking water wells exist in Selawik. Instead they obtain drinking water from a surface water intake in the river, adjacent to the site, a ¼ mile away. Construction activities at the site won’t commence until 2011. Grant Lidren
7/9/2010 Update or Other Action DEC received a response from the Alaska State Historic Perservation Office (SHPO) for the assessment work planned for FY2011 that there is "No Historic Properties Affected." Deborah Williams
8/26/2010 Meeting or Teleconference Held On this date, a Stakeholder Scoping and Planning Meeting for the Selawik area-wide PACP was held. The meeting attendees included the CSP, R & R Program, EPA, Village of Selawik, AVEC, and S & W. Regarding the former IRA Fuel Project tank farm area, Raven Sheldon of the Village of Selawik described Selawik’s plans for a new 60-foot by 100-foot structure at the former IRA tank farm. Selawik obtained a loan to start the store project, and pilings were driven in the area of the former tank farm in 2007. The loan for the pilings is still active. Planning was started for construction of the new store, but the planning was put on hold when the CSP notified Selawik of the potential for contamination at the site. Raven noted that they would like to get funding in place and order materials for the new store this year so that construction could be started in 2011. Community members feel that assessment of the IRA tank farm area is the highest priority for the PACP. In late September 2010, S&W will collect ten soil samples from the former IRA tank farm area and analyze for DRO and BTEX. Historically, diesel #2/stove oil was stored on site, but according to Raven, gasoline was also stored. Based on aerial photograph review, the former IRA Fuel Project tank farm appeared to be active between 1972 and the late 1990’s. In 2000, it appears that soil was being graded across the former location of the tank farm. Grant Lidren
2/23/2011 Meeting or Teleconference Held On this date, ADEC held a teleconference with the Selawik IRA Fuel Board outlining what protective measures must be taken before further construction actives can occur at the Selawik IRA Fuel Project Former Tank Farm site. At a minimum, the soil shall remain in place and not be disturbed. Grant Lidren
5/3/2011 Update or Other Action On this date, ADEC reviewed Selawik Area-Wide Property Assessment & Cleanup Plan (PACP) submitted by Shannon & Wilson, dated April 2011. As part of the PACP, a site reconnaissance and soil sampling was performed at the IRA Fuel Project. A total of 46 pilings, sticking 4 feet above ground were, observed on the property. A soil stain was observed at the former fuel dispenser shed location. Soil samples collected from the Former IRA TF @ 0.5' to 3.5' bgs from ten test pits, contained naphthalene up to 67.4 mg/kg, DRO up to 37,300 mg/kg, GRO up to 21,200 mg/kg, benzene up to 1,270 mg/kg, toluene up to 3,690 mg/kg, ethylbenzene up to 761 mg/kg, and xylenes up to 3,690 mg/kg. It was noted that the benzene concentration has the potential to fail TCLP, which would require excavated soil to be handled as hazardous waste in accordance with RCRA. Petroleum odors were noted in six of the ten test pits. Grant Lidren
4/11/2012 Site Visit On this date, ADEC staff met with the Selawik fuel board and conducted a site visit. Grant Lidren
4/17/2012 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter PRP letter sent to the City of Selawik on this date Grant Lidren
6/1/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed work plan for additional characterization at Selawik IRA tank farm. Soil and surface water samples will be collected to the east of the tank farm in an effort to delineate the extent of contamination and soil samples will be collected from the supersacks on site to evaluate for the presence of contaminants. The samples with the highest PID results from the supersacks and from the potentially impacted area will also be submitted for TCLP analysis for benzene Bill O'Connell
7/18/2012 Site Characterization Report Approved Additional characterization was conducted in 2012 in an effort to delineate the extent of soil contamination to the east of the site and evaluate the potential migration of contaminants to nearby surface water. Four soil samples were collected from depths ranging from approximately 1.5 feet bgs to 3 feet bgs. Contaminants were not detected above cleanup levels, indicating the area of contaminated soil was generally limited to the former tank farm area and immediately to the east. Surface water samples were collected from two tundra ponds located between the site and the Selawik River. Contaminants were not detected in surface water samples at concentrations above Alaska Water Quality Standards found in 18 AAC 70. Grant Lidren
10/15/2012 Update or Other Action To address the complete exposure pathway to contaminated surface soil at the site, capping activities were conducted in Fall, 2012. Areas of contamination identified during the 2010 and 2012 investigations were covered with foam board, then capped with one to three feet of gravel with the objective of keeping the underlying soil frozen and creating a physical barrier between potential receptors and contaminated soil. Grant Lidren
3/7/2013 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Contaminated Sites Program (ADEC) has completed a review of the environmental records associated with the Selawik IRA Fuel Project Former Tank Farm, located on Lot 6, Block 1, Tract A, of the Selawik Townsite, U.S. Survey No. 4492 in Selawik, 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). This decision is based on the administrative record for Selawik IRA Fuel Project Former Tank Farm which is located in the offices of the ADEC in Anchorage, Alaska. This letter summarizes the decision process used to determine the environmental status of this site and provides a summary of the regulatory issues considered in the Cleanup Complete with ICs determination. Grant Lidren
3/7/2013 Institutional Control Record Established Institutional Controls established and entered into the database. Grant Lidren
3/29/2013 Update or Other Action ADEC recieved a signed copy of the CC-IC agreement on this date. Grant Lidren
7/11/2013 Update or Other Action On this date, ADEC recieved the Notice of Environmental Contamination deed notice Grant Lidren
10/7/2014 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC compliance review conducted and staff changed from Grant Lidren to IC Unit. Reminder system set to follow-up with the responsible party in 2018. Kristin Thompson
6/18/2018 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC compliance review conducted. Closure/IC Details updated. ICs Verification letter issued. Reminder system set to follow-up every five years. Kristin Thompson
5/23/2024 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC compliance review completed on this date. An IC reminder letter was mailed to the landowner. The next review will be in five years’ time. Gaige Robinson

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
GRO > Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil GRO is above MAC
DRO > Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil DRO is above MAC
Benzene > Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
Toluene > Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
Ethylbenzene > Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
Xylenes (total) > Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
Naphthalene > Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil

Control Type

Type Details
Notice of Environmental Contamination
Signed CS Determination

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site. Standard condition.
Excavation / Soil Movement Restrictions ADEC requires that the soil shall not be disturbed and must remain in place as is; covered with foam board and capped with 1 to 3 feet of gravel.
Maintenance / Inspection Of Engineering Controls The foam board and gravel cap must be maintained to the satisfaction of the ADEC.
Other Selawik IRA Fuel Board or their designee shall report to ADEC once 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.
Hazard ID Site Name File Number
25656 Selawik Areawide Brownfield Assessment & Barge Landing Area 500.57.001

Missing Location Data

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