Skip to content Skip to content

Site Report: Hilcorp NS EOA Fire Training Area (ARCO) (BPX)

Site Name: Hilcorp NS EOA Fire Training Area (ARCO) (BPX)
Address: Fire Training Area, ARCO - Eastern Operating, Prudhoe Bay, AK 99734
File Number: 300.38.018
Hazard ID: 1448
Status: Active
Staff: Laura Jacobs, 9074512911 laura.jacobs@alaska.gov
Latitude: 70.277600
Longitude: -148.263000
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

Soil and groundwater contamination due to fire training activities. Bulk of contamination found with upper 2 feet of surface. Monitoring wells contained strong odor and free product Product recovery wells are to be installed. Last staff assigned was Sundet.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
2/22/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SA2R - Phase II SA Review (CS)). Soil borings and monitoring wells installed. Bulk of contamination found withing the 0-2 foot interval(7 borings ranged from 250-8700 mg/kg TPH). Monitoring wells were samoled and observed but not analyzed. Free product observed in MW3, strong odor in MW 2&6, no odor in wells 5&7. Mehrdad Nadem
4/22/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). ARCO proposed installation of 3 collection sumps. ADEC approved this approach. ARCO to submit reports on a regular basis. Mehrdad Nadem
2/24/1995 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Additional groundwater investigations in 1993 and 1994. In sept, 1993 ARCO placed a bottom liner under approximately 70% of the fire training ground in an effort to minimize migration of contaminants. All of the product recovery wells were destroyed. In August, 1994 samples were collected from MW 1, 2, and 3. Wells 2 and 3 contained acetone, 1,1-dichloroethane, 2-butanone, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, and BTEX. Water quality standards and DW standards were exceeded in MW2. Additional sampling required, product recovery wells may need to be reinstalled. Scott Rose
2/16/1996 Site Added to Database site added during file review Scott Rose
12/3/1998 Update or Other Action Water Quality Monitoring Rask M-1.3 Fire-Training Grounds letter report with this date submitted by ENSR Grant Lidren
12/20/1999 Update or Other Action Re: Water Quality Monitoring Report-Fire Training Grounds ARCO Alaska, Inc. (AA), Prudhoe Bay Alaska submitted by ENSR and recieved by the DEC on this date. Grant Lidren
3/11/2002 Update or Other Action Report of 2000 and 2001 Water Quality Moniroring at the Fire Training Grounds, Greater Pruhdoe Bay with this date submitted by ENSR Grant Lidren
9/3/2002 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Approved workplan to install up to 13 well pts. to further characterize GW quality downgradient of the FTG. Linda Nuechterlein
5/19/2003 Update or Other Action 2002 Site Assessment report dated January 28, 2003 received by DEC. Linda Nuechterlein
6/17/2003 Update or Other Action Final Report- 2002 Water Quality Monitoring at the Fire Training Grounds, Greater Prudhoe Bay dated 5/19/2003 submitted by ENSR and recieved by DEC on this date Grant Lidren
7/29/2003 Update or Other Action Work Plan for 2003 Site Asessment received. The work plan is for additional active-layer water charaterization and surface water monitoring downgradient of the Fire Training Grounds. Linda Nuechterlein
5/20/2004 Update or Other Action BP submitted 2003 RI & Annual Monitoring Report dated 4/19/04. Linda Nuechterlein
8/18/2004 Proposed Plan Water quality monitoring plan approved for 2004. Work schedule for August 2004. Linda Nuechterlein
3/17/2005 Update or Other Action Received 2004 Annual Monitor Report. Surface & active-layer water sampling in 2004 indicate plume is stable. DRO concentrations roughly the same as those measured in 2003 or lower. Nearby surface water does not appear to be impacted by hydrocarbon contamination. DRO in WP9 increased. Further monitoring recommended to determine if plume is migrating this direction. Linda Nuechterlein
6/21/2006 Site Characterization Report Approved Received 2005 annual water monitoring report. Active layer water samples were collected from 4 well points and surface water samples were collected from two monitoring locations. Water level measurements were collected from 9 monitoring wells and a water level survey was conducted to evaluate flow direction. DRO was detected in three monitoring wells, with well WP14 containing DRO at 4.05 mg/l, above the Table C cleanup level. BTEX was not detected in any samples. DRO, PAHs, and VOCs were not detected in surface water samples. Active layer water flow direction is to the southwest. Report recommends continued monitoring and adjusting well point WP-3 if it is still dry. Bill O'Connell
3/21/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Bill O'Connell
7/19/2007 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Recieved 2007 water quality monitoring work plan. Well points and surface water sampling locations will be surveyed to better determine direction of active layer flow. Four monitoring wells and 2 surface water locations will be sampled. All monitoring wells will be gauged to determine flow direction. Bill O'Connell
1/17/2008 GIS Position Updated Position updated with Topozone Grant Lidren
4/28/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed. Bill O'Connell
4/29/2008 Conditional Closure Approved The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Contaminated Sites Program (ADEC) reviewed the environmental records associated with BPX Eastern Operating Area (EOA) Fire Training Ground. This site had been contaminated by the release of a hazardous substance; however, based on the information provided to date, ADEC has determined that no further remedial action is required, and that the EOA Fire Training Ground can be closed subject to the conditions outlined in the Record of Decision. The hazardous substance contamination has been adequately addressed and does not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. This site is included on the Existing (Contaminated) Sites Charter for the Development of the Alaska North Slope (Paragraph II.A.3; Exhibit D.2). Bill O'Connell
4/29/2008 Institutional Control Record Established There is contamination remaining above established cleanup levels at BPX EOA Fire Training Area (former ARCO), but ADEC has determined there is no unacceptable risk to human health or the environment, and this site will be conditionally closed. This decision is subject to the following conditions: 1. A Notice of Environmental Contamination will be recorded on the ADEC database to document that there is residual contamination remaining on site above the most stringent ADEC cleanup levels; 2. Pore water monitoring will be conducted on a biennial basis in accordance with an ADEC approved work plan. Wells to be monitored include WP-1, WP-5, WP-6, WP-9 and WP-14. Samples should be analyzed for DRO and BTEX. Future monitoring events will be required based on a review of sampling data and current fire training practices at the site. 3. When the pad is decommissioned, contaminated gravel must be removed and disposed of in accordance with ADEC guidance. 4. Any proposal to transport soil off site requires ADEC approval in accordance with 18 AAC 75.370 (b) Bill O'Connell
6/17/2008 Site Characterization Report Approved Received 2007 monitoring report for EOA Fire Training Area. One surface water location, SW02, was sampled as SW01 was dry. Two well points were also sampled however two others were dry. DRO, GRO, and BTEX were not detected in any samples. Bill O'Connell
7/8/2009 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed 2009 Work Plan for EOA FTA. Six well points will be surveyed to determine active layer water flow direction and six well points will be sampled in accordance with the ROD. Bill O'Connell
2/15/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed 2009 Monitoring Report. Active layer water samples were collected from 5 wells in accordance with 2008 closure decision. DRO was detected in one well above the Table C cleanup level at 8.77 mg/l. GRO and BTEX were not detected in any of the wells. Next monitoring event scheduled for 2011. Bill O'Connell
7/20/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed 2011 work plan for EOA Fire Training Ground. Porewater samples will be collected from 6 wellpoints and analyzed for DRO and BTEX. Bill O'Connell
8/31/2011 Site Visit Site visit with BP and Oasis Bill O'Connell
12/27/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Due to the location of this site within the greater Sand Dunes Landfill, the EOA FTG will be included in the Sand Dunes Landfill RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI). The RFI began with a hydrologic study begun in 2011 and continuing into 2012. It is anticipated that the RFI at the EOA FTG will assess soil contamination that has not yet been addressed as part of the off site pore water monitoring conducting in the recent past. For more information, see database updates for Sand Dunes Landfill, File #300.38.200. Bill O'Connell
8/16/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed 2011 monitoring report for EOA Fire Training Ground. Depth to water was measured in 14 wells and pore water samples were collected from 5 wells. DRO was detected up to 9.8 mg/l in WP-1, no other wells contained DRO above the groundwater cleanup levels and no other contaminants were detected above cleanup levels. The results are consistent with previous monitoring efforts. Bill O'Connell
8/8/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed EOA Fire Training Ground water quality monitoring work plan. Pore water samples will be collected from six wells and field observations will be recorded. Bill O'Connell
4/14/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Date of receipt of 2013 Monitoring report. Six wells were sampled for GRO, DRO, and BTEX and two locations, WP-1 and WP-5, exceeded Table C for DRO. This site is monitored biennially, so the next event will be in 2015. Keather McLoone
6/12/2014 Site Reopened Site reopened and request for PFCs to be added to sampling regime for this site. Keather McLoone
7/31/2014 Update or Other Action On today's date, ADEC received a response to letter sent to BP regarding a change in site status and request for PFC sampling. BP’s response was that BP does not agree to conduct sampling for these compounds until a “Record of Decision, amending the April 30, 2008 decision relating to Institutional Controls and sampling” and “any timely request made by BPXA for an informal review or adjudicatory hearing has been honored.” BP’s letter also requested “reasoning and justification for the identification or list of PFOS and PFOA as hazardous substances subject to regulation in accordance with Alaska Statute AS 46.03.826” and “criteria used by DEC for the development of clean-up levels applicable to soil and water on Alaska’s North Slope”. Keather McLoone
9/3/2014 Site Visit Keather McLoone
10/30/2014 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 72426 diesel used for fire training excercises. Keather McLoone
4/1/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Date on cover letter accompanying the April 2015 report entitled RCRA Facility Investigation, 2014 Interim Summary Report, Former Sand Dunes Landfill. This document includes information regarding this site (which BP refers to as FTG). Keather McLoone
6/23/2016 Update or Other Action Meeting on this day to discuss Sand Dunes Landfill and Fire Training Grounds. Joshua Barsis
8/26/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed the ADEC Site Investigation 2016 Work Plan, dated July 2016 for the BPX EOA Fire Training Area (former ARCO) site, and regarding sampling for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctance sulfonate (PFOS) at the Eastern Operating Area, Fire Training Grounds. Joshua Barsis
11/30/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed and provided comments on the Draft RCRA Facility Investigation 2015 Interim Summary Report, dated October 2016. Primary activities included collecting water samples from 57 of 88 planned monitoring wells and 21 of 23 planned surface water locations. 31 of the planned wells and 2 of the planned surface water locations were dry or filled with ice. A hydrologic study was also completed during the 2015 field effort, and consisted of installing time-lapse cameras to observe surface flow pathways. All field activities were completed between May and September 2015. Joshua Barsis
5/1/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed the 2016 ADEC Site Investigation Summary Report, dated March 2017 for the BPX EOA Fire Training Area (former ARCO) site. Activities were completed between August and September 2016, with the primary objective of delineating the extent of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate acid (PFOS) contamination in soil and suprapermafrost groundwater (SPGW). Samples were successfully collected from 29 SPGW monitoring wells and 9 soil borings. Results of the investigation suggest that the extent of soil contamination is delineated; however, additional sampling is necessary to define the full extent of PFOS and PFOA in SPGW. ADEC requested a revised report by July 1, 2017. ADEC requested additional delineation and work plan for 2017 season. Joshua Barsis
9/11/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed the 2016 ADEC Site Investigation and Monitoring Work Plan, dated August 2017 for the BPX EOA Fire Training Area (former ARCO) site. Proposed activities primarily consist of collecting water samples from six existing monitoring wells for PFOA/PFOS (P-2, P-3, MW-54, P-25, P-32, and MW-93) and nine existing monitoring wells for BTEX, GRO, and DRO (MW-13, MW-62, MW-77, P-4, P-8, P-11, P-15, P-16, and P-18). Joshua Barsis
4/17/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed the 2017 EOA Fire Training Grounds PFC Investigation and POL Monitoring Report, dated March 2018 for the BPX EOA Fire Training Area (former ARCO) site. The objective of the 2017 work was to further delineate the extent of PFC contamination and to fulfill the biennial PHC sampling requirements. The 2017 field effort included sampling 20 total monitoring wells; 11 for PFCs and 9 for POL constituents. Work plan for 2018 season due June 1, 2018. Joshua Barsis
7/30/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed the 2018 ADEC Site Investigation Work Plan, dated July 2018 for the BPX EOA Fire Training Area (former ARCO) site. Proposed activities primarily consist of collecting water samples from 18 existing monitoring wells and one newly installed well point (WP-17). All samples will be submitted for laboratory analysis of PFOA and PFOS using Test America Method LC-0012. In addition, eight of those wells will also be analyzed for the PFC constituents listed under UCMR3 using Method 537 at Pace Analytical. Joshua Barsis
7/8/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed the Eastern Operating Area Fire Training Grounds 2018 ADEC Site Investigation and Monitoring Summary Report, dated June 28, 2019 for the BPX EOA Fire Training Area (former ARCO) site. Activities performed in 2018 included installation and sampling of one porewater well point (WP-17), and sampling of an additional 17 suprapermafrost monitoring wells. One of the planned wells, Well MW-54 was destroyed and could not be sampled. PFOA and PFOS continue to exceed applicable cleanup standards and does not appear to be bounded in all direction. ADEC concurs with the report recommendations for additional monitoring in 2019 to include step-out locations. Joshua Barsis
7/31/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed the 2019 ADEC PFOA/PFOS Site Investigation and Petroleum Hydrocarbon Groundwater Monitoring Work Plan, dated July 25, 2019 for the BPX EOA Fire Training Area (former ARCO) site. Planned activities include sampling 21 wells for PFOA and PFOS, and 9 wells for GRO, DRO, and BTEX. Joshua Barsis

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO > Method 1 (Arctic only) Soil

Control Type

Type Details
CS Database Notation And Letter To Landowner/RP

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.
Groundwater Monitoring 1. Pore water monitoring will be conducted on a biennial basis in accordance with an ADEC approved work plan. Wells to be monitored include WP-1, WP-5, WP-6, WP-9 and WP-14. Samples should be analyzed for DRO and BTEX. Future monitoring events will be required based on a review of sampling data and current fire training practices at the site.
When Contaminated Soil is Accessible, Remediation Should Occur

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.
Continue     Close