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Site Report: FAA Farewell Station

Site Name: FAA Farewell Station
Address: ~63 Miles ESE of McGrath, McGrath, AK 99627
File Number: 2548.38.001
Hazard ID: 1873
Status: Active
Staff: Sophia Bracio, 9074511682 sophia.bracio@alaska.gov
Latitude: 62.506060
Longitude: -153.895900
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

Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination present in site soils at several areas of the station. Contaminant sources include heating oil tanks and piping serving housing and various buildings, a former tank farm, and floor drains associated with maintenance buildings. It is not known whether groundwater is present at the station. The on-site drinking water well is over 300 feet deep, but one or more aquifers may be present at shallower depths. The closest surface water body is Sheep Creek, which at its closest point flows through a channel approximately 150 to 700 feet north of the old tank farm (as per 12/2000 CH2-OH work plan) Demolition work is scheduled for summer 2000, with remediation work planned for the summer of 2001. Some environmental investigation and sampling will be done during the demolition work. This facility will eventually be divided into three or four sites for database purposes, since FAA plans to give some of the land back to CIRI but will retain some NAV-aid facilities. January 2017, DEC issued several Decision Documents which addressed all of the Farewell Sites. This included the following determinations for the Burial Pits and Farewell Facility sites: Six Burial Pits-- Further Action Required: Burial Pit 1 Cleanup Complete: North Sheep Creek Burial Pit, South Sheep Creek Burial Pit, Burial Pit 2, Burial Pit 3, Burial Pit 4 24 Areas of Concern-- Further Action Required: Tank Farm-QS AOC 5, "Creosote-Like Substance" Drum Spill Area-QS AOC 23, Building 400 Drum Disposal Site-FSS AOC 3, Building 103 Dry Well-QS AOC 24, Building 200-QS AOC 18, Building 300-QS AOC 25, Building 301-QS AOC 19, Building 600-QS AOC 26, Salmon River Drum Site-TR AOC 1, Building 300 Dry Well-QS AOC 13 Cleanup Complete: Building 102 AST-QS AOC 10, Building 103 UST-QS AOC 11, Building 104 AST-QS AOC 22, Building 200 AST-QS AOC 12, Building 201 AST-QS AOC 20, Building 203 ASTs-QS AOC 21, Building 300 AST-QS AOC 13, Building 301 ASTs-QS AOC 14, 15, 17, Building 401 Drum Storage-SBRA AOC 1, Building 600 ASTs, Drums, and Batteries-QS AOC 16, Tank Farm Refueling Area-QS AOC 6, Building 101 AST-QS AOC 9, Building 400 ASTs-FSS AOC 2, Building 204 Dry Well-QS AOC 4, Building 600 Dry Well-QS AOC 3, Building 400 PCB Transformer-FSS AOC 2. Building 103 Dry well

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
1/15/1992 Update or Other Action date of ECI on file. PCBs, pesticides, VOCs identified in surface samples. Former Staff
1/15/1995 Update or Other Action E&E Site Cleanup and Investigation (SCI) SCI identified and documented the releases of petroleum and hazardous substances through an expanded site investigation. Former Staff
1/15/1998 Update or Other Action CH2-OH Landfill investigation; conclusion was that no further action was recommended at the South Sheep Creek Landfill because of minimal potential for exposure of humans, wildlife, and vegetation. CH2-OH concluded that there is no landfill at the NOrth Sheep Creek disposal site. Former Staff
1/15/1998 Update or Other Action Burial Pit sites: CH2-OH corrective action plan states that each burial pit is a separate site, and a corrective action plan was developed for each piot. Eileen Olson
8/5/1998 Update or Other Action Received work plan for Farewell work titled "Pre-Field Planning Document: Work Plan/Sampling and Analysis Plan, Fuel Storage Tank Management Program" dated July 1998 and "Pre-Field Planning Document: Work Plan/Sampling and Analysis Plan, Fuel Storage Tank Management Program, Addendum Number 1" dated August 5, 1998. Eileen Olson
8/15/1998 Update or Other Action Remedial action and fuel pipeline and fuel storage tank decommissioning activities were performed in conjuction with landfill closure. Monofill constructed within Burial Pit 2. Eileen Olson
4/25/2000 Site Added to Database Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination. Eileen Olson
5/4/2000 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Eileen Olson
7/14/2000 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Changed ranking by checking multiple sources. Eileen Olson
1/12/2001 Update or Other Action Received Work Plan/Sampling and Analysis Plan for Remedial Action/Release Investigation Eileen Olson
6/10/2002 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Re-ranked site by changing toxicity value to 4 since PCBs and pesticides Eileen Olson
5/14/2004 Cleanup Plan Approved Workplan for the removal of PCBs in a dry well in conjuction with the building demolition/debris removal was approved this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
4/28/2005 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Workplan was approved this date but will not be implemented until funding permits. Anne Marie Palmieri
12/5/2005 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed the Final Remedial Action Report prepared by BNCI and dated 10/05. The report details building demo, asbestos and lead-based paint abatement activities and drum removals as well as investigation and cleanup actions at various source areas. A letter was sent to the FAA on 12/6/05 outlining additional actions needed or closure determinations made for each area of concern. Each of these determinations is included in the database in a separate 'update' entry on the 12/6/05 date. Anne Marie Palmieri
12/6/2005 Update or Other Action Building 201: A drum containing ‘a creosote-like substance’ was found and the contents spilled during removal. Three (3) cubic feet of contaminated soil was removed. No samples were collected and obviously contaminated soil remains at this location. Additional investigation and/or cleanup actions are needed. Anne Marie Palmieri
12/6/2005 Update or Other Action Building 300: A dry well was removed from Building 300. One (1) soil sample was collected at the bottom of the excavation hole at a depth of nine (9) feet. The only constituent which exceeded its default method two concentration was arsenic which was found at a concentration of 5.83 mg/kg. It is possible that this concentration is in keeping with natural background concentrations, however a background range has not yet been determined. Soil samples were collected around the building for total lead in order to determine if contamination was present from lead-based paint chips. Lead was found at a concentration of 2390 mg/kg. Additional investigation and/or cleanup actions are needed. Anne Marie Palmieri
12/6/2005 Update or Other Action Building 301: Two (2) soil samples were collected at the former AST location and sampled for diesel-range organics and benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylenes. Diesel-range organics was found to be present at concentrations up to 7260 mg/kg, exceeding the default method two cleanup levels. Benzene and toluene were not detected at concentrations above the laboratory method detection limits, and ethylbenzene and xylenes were not detected at concentrations above the default method two cleanup levels. Additional investigation and/or cleanup actions are needed. Anne Marie Palmieri
12/6/2005 Update or Other Action Flight Service Station: One (1) soil sample was collected at a stained area. Arsenic, diesel-range organics, and residual-range organics were found at concentrations exceeding the method two cleanup levels. This level of arsenic may be naturally-occurring, as opposed to from a man-made source. Additional investigation and cleanup is needed. Anne Marie Palmieri
12/6/2005 Update or Other Action The department has determined that no further remedial action is planned at the following source area. Building 100: Two (2) soil samples were collected at the former AST location and sampled for diesel-range organics and benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylenes. Diesel-range organics was found to be present at concentrations up to 383 mg/kg. Although this concentration exceeds the default method two cleanup level, the sample results demonstrate that widespread contamination is not present. Benzene, ethylbenzene, and toluene were not detected at concentrations above the laboratory method detection limits, and xylenes were not detected at concentrations above the default method two cleanup levels. As there is contaminated soil present with concentrations exceeding the default cleanup levels, the future management of this soil should be conducted in accordance with 18 AAC 75.325(i). Anne Marie Palmieri
12/6/2005 Update or Other Action The department determines that site cleanup is complete at the following source area. Building 204: A dry well was removed from inside Building 204. The excavation was extended to a depth of 7.5 feet. A total of 11.5 cubic yards of soil was excavated and disposed of at U.S. Ecology Idaho in Grand View, Idaho. Thirty-five (35) characterization and confirmation samples for poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCB) were collected. All of the final confirmation samples showed that concentrations of PCBs were not detected above the laboratory’s method detection limit. Anne Marie Palmieri
12/6/2005 Update or Other Action Building 101: Two (2) soil samples were collected at the former aboveground storage tank (AST) location and sampled for diesel-range organics and benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylenes. Diesel-range organics was found to be present at concentrations up to 6200 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), exceeding the default method two cleanup levels in 18 AAC 75.341, Table B2. Benzene, ethylbenzene, and toluene were not detected at concentrations above the laboratory method detection limits, and xylenes were not detected at concentrations above the default method two cleanup levels in 18 AAC 75.341, Table B1. Additional investigation and cleanup needed. Anne Marie Palmieri
12/6/2005 Update or Other Action Building 102: Two (2) soil samples were collected at the former AST location and sampled for diesel-range organics and benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylenes. Diesel-range organics was found to be present at concentrations up to 4670 mg/kg, exceeding the default method two cleanup levels. Benzene, ethylbenzene, and toluene were not detected at concentrations above the laboratory method detection limits, and xylenes were not detected at concentrations above the default method two cleanup levels. Additional investigation and/or cleanup actions needed. Anne Marie Palmieri
12/6/2005 Update or Other Action Building 103: The dry well located on the north side of the building was removed. One (1) soil sample was collected at the bottom of the excavation hole. Concentrations of diesel-range organics, mercury, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead and selenium were detected above their respective default method two levels. It should be noted that the default cleanup level for lead is the residential level of 400 mg/kg unless the department approves the industrial level of 1000 mg/kg which requires institutional controls to ensure that the site is not used for residential purposes in the future. Additional investigation and/or cleanup is needed. Anne Marie Palmieri
12/6/2005 Update or Other Action Building 200: Soil samples were collected around the building for total lead in order to determine if contamination was present from lead-based paint chips. Lead was found at a concentration of 6090 mg/kg. Additional action is needed. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/8/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking ETM ranking Anne Marie Palmieri
6/9/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed draft work plan titled: Draft Work Plan - Site Investigations and Cable Removal, Federal Aviation Administration, Farewell, Alaska (April 9, 2010) Sent comments. Tamar Stephens
12/14/2011 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Approval letter was sent for Final Work Plan - Site Investigation and Cable Removal. Following DEC review of the draft document (review letter with comments sent on 6/9/2010), comments were resolved, written comments responses submitted to and approved by DEC. DEC received the final work plan on July 10, 2010, prior to field work being performed. Through an oversight, an approval letter for the final work plan was not sent at that time. Upon discovering this oversight, an approval letter was sent on 12/14/2011 to document that the final work plan was reviewed, DEC comments on the draft work plan were adequately addressed, and the final work plan met the applicable requirements of 18 AAC 75.335 and was therefore approved. Activities covered in the work plan: (1) Removal of approx. 1 mile leaded cable from St. John's Hill; (2) Visual surveys of Salmon River Drum Site and South Sheep Creek Burial Pit; (3) Sample around perimeter and install monitoring wells to sample groundwater around Burial Pits 1, 2, 3, and 4; (4) Determine vertical and horizontal extent of petroleum contamination in soil at 17 petroleum sites and install up to 5 monitoring wells if groundwater is encountered; (5) Sample for metals at Building 103 dry well; (6) Characterizae extent of spill from creosote-like drum spill behind Building 201; Background sampling for arsenic. Tamar Stephens
12/16/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed and sent comments on draft Site Investigation Report, Federal Aviation Administration Farewell, Alaska (August 29, 2011). DEC received this report on 9/2/2011. This report describes site characterization activities performed during summer of 2010. These activities involved the removal of lead-shielded cable; characterization of five burial pits, two drum storage areas, and 17 petroleum contamination sources; evaluation for lead contamination around three buildings; sampling of a dry well; and inspection and evaluation of five burial pits. Overall this report is written clearly, is thorough, and shows that the work was performed in accordance with the approved work plan. DEC comments requested additional information or explanation for some items. The report presented conclusions and recommendations for the sites investigated in this study. DEC concurred with the conclusions that the migration to groundwater pathway is not complete at the petroleum sites, except for the drum storage site, and with some possible exceptions, concurs that petroleum does not pose a risk to human health or the environment. Exceptions are identified and discussed in the comments. Tamar Stephens
4/26/2012 Update or Other Action DEC received final Site Investigation Report. Tamar Stephens
3/25/2014 Update or Other Action DEC received Records of Decision for Six Burial Pits and other 24 Areas of Concern at the FAA Farewell Station on March 25, 2014. Monte Garroutte
4/26/2016 Cleanup Plan Approved Cleanup plan Decision Document approved with minor revisions, covering all known remaining AOCs. Final decision document will be attached when received. Fred Vreeman
1/9/2017 Update or Other Action ADEC approved the Decision Document for Six Burial Pits at the Federal Aviation Administration Station Farwell, Alaska in a letter dated January 9, 2017. One site, Burial Pit 1, requires further action prior to closure. Cleanup Complete determinations were given to each of the other five sites: North Sheep Creek Burial Pit, South Sheep Creek Burial Pit, Burial Pit 2, Burial Pit 3, Burial Pit 4. Monte Garroutte
1/13/2017 Update or Other Action ADEC approved the Decision Document for 24 Areas of Concern at the Federal Aviation Administration Station Farewell, Alaska in a letter dated January 13, 2017. The following areas of concern were granted Cleanup Complete determinations: Building 102 AST-QS AOC 10, Building 103 UST-QS AOC 11, Building 104 AST-QS AOC 22, Building 200 AST-QS AOC 12, Building 201 AST-QS AOC 20, Building 203 ASTs-QS AOC 21, Building 300 AST-QS AOC 13, Building 301 ASTs-QS AOC 14, 15, 17, Building 401 Drum Storage-SBRA AOC 1, Building 600 ASTs, Drums, and Batteries-QS AOC 16, Tank Farm Refueling Area-QS AOC 6, Building 101 AST-QS AOC 9, Building 400 ASTs-FSS AOC 2, Building 204 Dry Well-QS AOC 4, Building 600 Dry Well-QS AOC 3, Building 400 PCB Transformer-FSS AOC 2. Monte Garroutte
1/13/2017 Update or Other Action ADEC approved the Decision Document for 24 Areas of Concern at the Federal Aviation Administration Station Farewell, Alaska in a letter dated January 13, 2017. It was determined that the following areas of concern require further action: Tank Farm-QS AOC 5, "Creosote-Like Substance" Drum Spill Area-QS AOC 23, Building 400 Drum Disposal Site-FSS AOC 3, Building 103 Dry Well-QS AOC 24, Building 200-QS AOC 18, Building 300-QS AOC 25, Building 301-QS AOC 19, Building 600-QS AOC 26, Salmon River Drum Site-TR AOC 1, Building 300 Dry Well-QS AOC 13. Monte Garroutte
4/18/2018 Cleanup Plan Approved DEC approved the Final Work Plan, Farewell Remedial Investigation and Remedial Action. The primary objectives of this project are to perform Remedial Investigations (RIs) at five areas of concern (AOCs) and Remedial Actions (RAs) at seven AOCs. RIs will be conducted at the Runway 8 Drum Disposal Site (RTH AOC 1), the Former Tank Farm (RTH AOC 5), the Salmon River Drum Site (TR AOC 1), Burial Pit 1 (SAN AOC 1), and the Building 300 Dry Well (RTH AOC 13). RAs, including excavating impacted soil, landspreading petroleum-impacted soil, and transporting and disposing of lead-impacted soil will be conducted at the Former Drum Disposal Site (Flight Service Station [FSS] AOC 3), the Drum Spill Area (RTH AOC 23), the Building 103 Dry Well (RTH AOC 24), the Commissary Building 200 (RTH AOC 18), Building 300 (RTH AOC 25), Garage Building 301 (RTH AOC 19), and Building 600 (RTH AOC 26). Also, compliance surveys will be conducted at South Sheep Creek Burial Pit, and Burial Pits 2, 3, and 4. Monte Garroutte
3/19/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVAL: Final Farewell Remedial Investigation and Remedial Action Report, Farewell, Alaska (Brice Environmental, February 2020) Jamie McKellar
9/3/2020 Update or Other Action On 9/3/2020, DEC issued a compliance advisory letter to FAA for failure to obtain transport approval in accordance with 18 AAC 75.325(i). Based on review of the Final Farewell Remedial Investigation and Action Report, approximately 40 cubic yards of petroleum- and lead-contaminated soil was transported from FAA Farewell Station to Columbia Ridge Landfill in Arlington, Oregon during the 2018 field season. Prior to moving the contaminated soil offsite, FAA’s contractor did not obtain transport approval in accordance with 18 AAC 75.325(i). Jamie McKellar
9/23/2020 Update or Other Action On 9/23/2020, FAA submitted a response to the Department's 9/3 Compliance Advisory letter. FAA will implement the following corrective actions to ensure that proper transport approval is obtained in the future: 1) the requirement to obtain transport approval will be added to each Scope of Work with each contract 2) DEC's Transport form will be added to the FAA's project readiness checklist, and 3) the requirement to obtain transport approvals was discussed at an FAA staff meeting. Jamie McKellar
3/4/2021 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80746 name: Lead Contaminated Sites B200, B300, B310, B600 Jamie McKellar
7/8/2021 Update or Other Action No Further Action letter issued for lead contamination at Commissary Building 200, Building 300, Garage Building 301, and Building 600 Jamie McKellar
11/1/2021 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80716 name: RTH AOC 1: Runway 8 Drum Disposal Site Shonda Oderkirk
11/1/2021 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80726 name: FSS AOC 3 Debris Area 7/Former Drum Disposal Site Shonda Oderkirk
2/17/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other RA/RI Report received for 2021 field work. 3/16/2022 comments sent. 3/31/2022 RTC received. 5/17/2022 DEC responses sent. Tank Farm closure will occur under separate cover. 6/27/2022: Final approval sent. Shonda Oderkirk
2/2/2024 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80718 name: RTH AOC 13 - Building 300 Dry Well Sophia Bracio
2/6/2024 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80728 name: TR AOC 1 - Salmon River Drum Site Sophia Bracio
2/7/2024 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80717 name: RTH AOC 5 - Tank Farm Sophia Bracio
2/8/2024 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80721 name: RTH AOC 23 - Drum Spill Area "Creosote-Like Substance" Sophia Bracio
2/9/2024 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80727 name: SAN AOC 1 - Burial Pit 1 Sophia Bracio

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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
Physical Location: 410 Willoughby