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Site Report: FAA Fire Island Station

Site Name: FAA Fire Island Station
Address: Fire Island, Anchorage, AK 99502
File Number: 2339.38.001
Hazard ID: 1774
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 61.142251
Longitude: -150.215207
Horizontal Datum:

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 Fire Island Station (facility) includes the VOR, an active navigational aid, and the Old Housing Complex, which is inactive. Petroleum contaminated soil was identified during removal of two regulated tanks at the VOR, a 500-gallon gasoline UST and a 20,000-gallon diesel UST. Contaminated sites work done at the Quarters Facility included the removal of an abandoned fuel line; investigation and in-place abandonment of another underground fuel line approximately 1000 feet long, with field screening done at approximately 100 foot intervals; and removal of an in-line valve box. Fire Island is a 4,240-acre island that was withdrawn for use by the USAF in 1950. FAA constructed a VOR on USAF land in 1956. A RCAG facility and TACAN were added in 1964 and 1966 respectively. The combined VOR and TACAN (VORTAC) are operated at the original site. Buildings largely demolished in 1997 included living quarters (Buildings 100 and 101), utility shed (Building 206), outhouse (Building 245), wooden hanger, generator building (Building 620), electrical building (Building 202) , and VOR storage shed (Building 207). A pipeline approximatley 4 feet deep was also present, with sewer manholes along the fuel line. Near the bluff, pipelines lay on the ground surface. 3,212 acres of land has been conveyed to CIRI, with the only remaining FAA-owned land around the VORTAC, housing site, former RCAG and active outer marker site, and the airfield near north Point. A cleanup complete determination was sent to FAA regarding the unaddressed oil reclamation unit (ANC VOR #2) and burn barrel (ANC VOR #3) areas of concern on November 14, 2016.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
7/14/1993 Site Added to Database Gasoline and diesel contamination. Former Staff
5/15/1994 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Corrective Action Underway LUST corrective action underway. Kent Patrick-Riley
2/26/1996 Update or Other Action Received report dated January 15, 1996 "Alternative Cleanup Level Evaluations, FIFO, Merrill Field, and Fire Island." Cover letter to Dick Farnell, then ADEC project manager, requested site closure for the Fire Island VOR only, which included two regulated tank sites. Eileen Olson
7/2/1997 Update or Other Action Received June 11, 1997 "Environmental Sampling and Analysis Plan, Fire Island Pipeline Removal, Fire Island, Alaska" prepared by Geoengineers. Also received undated "Waste Management Plan, FAA Fire Island Demolition" prepared by AEI Pacific, Inc., and undated "Workplan, Fire Island Demolition." Eileen Olson
3/16/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC letter out, reviewed "Final Remediation Action Report, FAA Fire Island Demolition, Anchorage, Alaska" received February 10, 1998: ADEC review found that a work plan was not submitted for the work done, and work was not done according to guidance. Requested a work plan for completing site characterization. Eileen Olson
4/3/1998 Update or Other Action Received letter dated 4/1/1998 requesting NFA status for pipelines and a valve box for which a site characterization work plan and other information was requested by the Department ( letter of March 16, 1998). FAA letter states that it has no further investigation and/or cleanup plans for Fire Island. Response not expedited as ranking for this site is "0" (low). Received, with cover letter requesting NFA, final copy of November 12, 1997 "Fire Island Pipeline Closure Report" not previously submitted. Eileen Olson
9/1/1999 Site Number Identifier Changed Workplan changed from 00 to 01. New Reckey is 1993210115951. Former Staff
1/25/2000 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Eileen Olson
1/14/2002 Update or Other Action Corrected status from inactive to active Elizabeth Stergiou
3/14/2002 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Changed surface water environments ranking from 0 to 2, based on proximity of marine environment Eileen Olson
12/3/2010 Meeting or Teleconference Held Tele-conf w/ FAA (S. Berglund) to discuss upcoming FAA work on-site and current status of VOR site specific issues. FAA will send additional information on closed landfill sites and potential sampling schedules for 4-phase calculator. James Ward
5/22/2013 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Work Plan for Site Characterization and Remediation at Fire Island FAA Station, Alaska approved via email. A draft site characterization and remediation report was received by ADEC on 1/30/2014 Fred Vreeman
12/22/2014 Site Characterization Report Approved Approval of FAA Site Characterization and Remediation Report, Fire Island, Alaska, Dated January 30, 2014. ETM results show all pathways to be one of the following: De-Minimis Exposure, or Pathway Incomplete. Site characterization has indicated that all remaining contamination is below approved cleanup levels. Monte Garroutte
12/22/2014 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued A cleanup complete determination was issued for this site on 12/22/2014, following the receipt of results from the 2013 field work in the 2014 SC/SR report. Fred Vreeman
11/14/2016 Update or Other Action A cleanup complete determination was sent to FAA regarding the unaddressed oil reclamation unit (ANC VOR #2) and burn barrel (ANC VOR #3) areas of concern on November 14, 2016. Monte Garroutte

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil Contaminants remaining at the sites do not pose a risk to human health under an unrestricted land use scenario. HRC modeling demonstrated that residual petroleum contaminants in soil at the VOR and Valve Box AOCs do not pose a migration to groundwater risk/concern. This determination was made using Method 3 of the site cleanup rules.

Control Type

Type Details
No ICs Required

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.
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)
Groundwater Use Restrictions Groundwater in the state of Alaska is protected for aquaculture use. In the event that an aquaculture facility uses groundwater from this site in the future, additional testing may be required to ensure that aquatic life criteria under 18 AAC 70 are not exceeded.
Hazard ID Site Name File Number
1774 FAA Fire Island Station 2339.38.001
23669 FAA - FIRE ISLAND VORTAC 2339.38.001

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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
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