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Site Report: Galena AFS/Airport - SS006 and SS019 Bldgs. 1845/1700

Site Name: Galena AFS/Airport - SS006 and SS019 Bldgs. 1845/1700
Address: In the Main Base Triangle, Northwest Side, Galena, AK 99741
File Number: 860.38.026
Hazard ID: 1955
Status: Active
Staff: Tim Sharp, 9074512131 tim.sharp@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.741014
Longitude: -156.955954
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

Chlorinated solvent contamination in the groundwater and soil. Suspected to originate from former practices of component washing with solvents followed by discharge to floor drains, possibly connected to dry wells. In 1988, it was reported that the floor drains were upgraded to eliminate potential contaminant releases. Groundwater downgradient of the building contains trichloroethene (TCE), dichloroethene, and benzene at levels above regulatory standards. Air Force Installation Restoration Program site SS006, informally referred to as the "TCE Plume" site. Association of the site name to Buildings 1845 and 1700 is due to the proximity of the groundwater plume. No soil source area has yet been clearly identified. Soil gas samples taken in 2002 and 2004 seem to indicate a dry well near Building 1700 as the most probable source. --Updated 2011-- SS006 Site SS006 is on the site characterization pathway, The objective of data collection at this site is to characterize the nature and extent of soil contamination both laterally and vertically. Target analytes at this site include GRO, RRO, VOCs, 1,2 DCA, EDB, PAHs, and metals. In June 2011 a draft workplan for site characterization was submitted. This document is currently in the response to comment phase. First round of sampling at this site is expected to be initiated in late summer 2011. SS019 Site SS019 is on the site characterization pathway, The objective of data collection at this site is to characterize the nature and extent of soil contamination both laterally and vertically. Target analytes at this site include GRO, RRO, VOCs, 1,2 DCA, EDB, PAHs, PCBs, and metals. In June 2011 a draft workplan for site characterization was submitted. This document is currently in the response to comment phase. First round of sampling at this site is expected to be initiated in late summer 2011. --Updated 2014-- S1850 Site S1850 will now be combined with Site SS006.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
8/2/2004 Site Added to Database Chlorinated solvent contamination. Deborah Williams
8/2/2004 Update or Other Action DOD ranking is High. Deborah Williams
8/30/2004 Meeting or Teleconference Held 11th Galena Technical Project Team in Anchorage. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
10/21/2004 Meeting or Teleconference Held Galena RAB meeting. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
11/5/2004 Meeting or Teleconference Held 12th Galena Technical Project Team in Anchorage. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
11/19/2004 Meeting or Teleconference Held Attended a week long meeting in San Antonio, Texas to participate in the formulation of an outline for the Galena Airport and Campion Air Station Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS). Colin Craven
1/12/2005 Update or Other Action Submitted comments to the Air Force to finalize the 2004 Site Recommendations for the upcoming Remedial Investigation report. The 2004 Site Recommendations were produced during the November 2004 meetings in San Antonio, Texas. Colin Craven
1/28/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Galena RAB meeting. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
1/28/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held 13th Galena Technical Project Team in Galena. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
3/18/2005 Update or Other Action Comment resolution between DEC and the Air Force has been achieved on the draft Human Health Risk Assessment Work Plan for the Galena Airport and Campion Air Station. The Air Force contractors are currently finalizing the work plan. Colin Craven
4/19/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held 14th Galena Technical Project Team in Anchorage. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
4/26/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Galena RAB meeting. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
5/13/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held 15th Galena Technical Project Team meeting in Galena. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
5/25/2005 Update or Other Action Received the full analytical data package from the 2003 - 2004 sampling of the drinking water well that serves the base. This sampling was conducted by the Air Force to demonstrate that groundwater contamination from this IRP site has not contaminated the base drinking water well. Sampling was conducted monthly for volatile organic compounds, and only toluene and methyl ethyl ketone were detected once at concentrations three orders of magnitudes under the cleanup level. Sampling of the drinking water system was conducted at a point before the air stripper treats the water. Based on these results, sampling of the drinking water well has returned to the routine public water system testing program. Colin Craven
6/9/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held 16th Galena Technical Project Team in Anchorage. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
7/20/2005 GIS Position Updated Updated the site location; interpolated from USGS quadrangle map. Colin Craven
8/30/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held 17th Galena Technical Project Team in Galena. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
10/12/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Galena RAB meeting. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
10/20/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held 18th Galena Technical Project Team in Anchorage. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
1/3/2006 Update or Other Action DEC received the draft Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study. The Air Force is proposing no active remediation, but instead long term monitoring and land use controls. DEC comments will be submitted in February. Colin Craven
1/26/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held 19th Galena Technical Project Team in Galena. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
3/7/2006 Update or Other Action The draft risk assessment found unacceptable risk at this site due to the potential for vapor intrusion of TCE if occupied buildings are placed over the groundwater contamination in the future. The Air Force proposed long term monitoring and land use controls as the remedy. DEC requested that the remedy include further study to elucidate the natural degradation mechanisms that have been effective in stabilizing the TCE plume, which are currently unclear. Furthermore, the full adequacy of this remedy will depend on comment resolution for the draft risk assessment. Colin Craven
3/14/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held 20th Galena Technical Project Team in Anchorage. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
6/20/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held 21st Galena Technical Project Team in Galena. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
10/6/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held 22nd Galena Technical Project Team meeting in Anchorage. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
11/17/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held 23rd Galena Technical Project Team meeting in Fairbanks. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
1/18/2007 Meeting or Teleconference Held 24th Galena Technical Project Team meeting in Anchorage. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
1/23/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Baseline ranking completed. Colin Craven
9/1/2010 Site Visit Site Visit Amanda Loomis
6/9/2011 Site Visit Site Visit Fred Vreeman
6/15/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other SC workplan reviewed, comments sent to USAF Fred Vreeman
6/15/2011 Conceptual Site Model Submitted SS019 CSM submitted Fred Vreeman
6/15/2011 Conceptual Site Model Submitted SS006 CSM submitted Fred Vreeman
9/9/2011 Update or Other Action SS006 and SS019 Response to Comment Summary replies sent to USAF Fred Vreeman
9/29/2011 Update or Other Action Conditional approval of SC Workplan. TCE sampling accepted as screening level only. Dennis Shepard
10/20/2011 Meeting or Teleconference Held TRIAD meeting held. Low levels of TCE reported at 22 feet below ground surface and deeper in northeast of the site. Two stepouts were approved by DEC. Dennis Shepard
5/17/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC received a Draft Remedial Investigation results report for the Site. Dennis Shepard
10/10/2012 Update or Other Action DEC sent a letter to EPA concerning Risk Assessments (RAs) for Remedial Investigation Sites at Galena. DEC has asked EPA to provide an opinion on risk assessment issues requiring resolution for the remedial investigation sites at Galena. Specific issues of concern are: determination of risk assessment source area and calculation of exposure point concentrations Dennis Shepard
4/30/2013 CERCLA RI Report Approved DEC approved the Remedial Investigation results report for Site SS006/SS019, Former Galena Forward Operating Location (FOL), Galena, Alaska. Dennis Shepard
1/14/2014 Update or Other Action By Agreement between the Air Force and DEC, TCE contamination at site S1850 is being investigated as part of the investigations at Sites SS006 and SS019 Dennis Shepard
1/14/2014 CERCLA RI Plan Approved The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) received a Draft 2013 Supplemental Remedial Investigation (RI) and Site Characterization (SC) Sampling Plan on May 24, 2013. The sampling plan presents step out sample locations and analytical protocols for supplemental remedial investigation at six Sites (B400, OWS1833, DSWD, SS006/SS019, and FT001). DEC provided review comments for the draft sampling plan on July 3, 2013. A response to comments (RTC) and a Draft Final version of the plan was submitted on July 25, 2013. DEC provided comments for the Draft Final on July 19, 2013. A comment resolution teleconference meeting was held on July 19, 2013 to resolve the final issues for the sampling plan. All issues were resolved in the meeting and DEC approval was given to finalize the plan. Final version of the sampling plan was received on December 16, 2013 and approval of the work plan was given on January 14, 2014. Monte Garroutte
4/15/2014 Meeting or Teleconference Held A Technical Project Team meeting was held to meet the Air Force newly selected Performance Based Remediation Contractor for Galena. The 6.5 year remediation contract was awarded to Parsons Governmental Services (Parsons). The contract includes completing the risk assessments, remediation feasibility studies, proposed plans and record of decision for remedial investigations at 10 Sites (FT001, SS006, SS013, SS015, SS019, SS018/AOC023, SS022/B400, DP023/DSWD, OW024/OWS1833, and SS025). Monte Garroutte
11/5/2014 Institutional Control Record Established Institutional Controls established and entered into the database. Dennis Shepard
4/10/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE), Pilot Test Work Plan, Former Galena Forward Operating Location (FOL), Alaska. The plan provides for installing pilot test SVE systems for 4 site in Galena (OW024, SS022, SS025 and SS019 are included). Dennis Shepard
5/21/2015 CERCLA RI Report Approved DEC approved the 2014 Supplemental Remedial Investigation (RI) Report, Trichloroethene (TCE) Area (Site SS006) and Building 1700 – Refueler Maintenance Shop (Site SS019), Former Galena Forward Operating Location (FOL), Alaska. Dennis Shepard
7/22/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE) Pilot Test Construction Completion Report, July 2016, Former Galena Forward Operating Location (FOL), Alaska. The report includes start up concentrations evaluation of the SS019 SVE system. Dennis Shepard
10/26/2016 Meeting or Teleconference Held A restoration Advisory board meeting was held in Galena Alaska to discuss the general and specific status of site investigations and cleanup at Galena. Dennis Shepard
1/19/2018 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC participated in an on board comment resolution teleconference call to discuss the Air Force responses to comments for the draft Feasibility Study (FS) for Sites SS006/SS019, Former Galena Forward Operation Location. Dennis Shepard
1/29/2018 CERCLA FS DEC approved the Feasibility Study report for Trichloroethene (TCE) Area (Site SS006)/ Building 1700 – Refueler Maintenance Shop (Site SS019), Former Galena Forward Operation Location, Alaska (January 2018). The FS identified the preferred remedial alternative for the SS006 and SS019 sites. Common elements included: Soil vapor extraction (SVE) and bioventing to target TCE and petroleum contamination in soil, MNA for remediation of groundwater, and LUCs to mitigate potential exposures of human receptors to soil and groundwater until cleanup levels are achieved. For SS006, excavation of PAH contaminated soil and In situ treatment of groundwater using Enhanced Anaerobic Bioremediation/Enhanced Biogeochemical Transformation is included. Dennis Shepard
4/11/2018 Meeting or Teleconference Held PUBLIC MEETING: A public meeting was held at the Larson Charlie Hall in Galena, Alaska on April 11, 2018. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Proposed Plan for TCE Areas, Building 1845 (Site SS006) and Building 1700 Refueler Maintenance Shop (Site SS019). Twenty-six people attended the meeting, which was recorded and transcribed by a court reporter. Jamie McKellar
6/18/2018 Update or Other Action Document approval: Summary of Proposed Plan Public Meeting, dated April 11, 2018. Jamie McKellar
6/26/2018 Update or Other Action REPORT RECEIVED: Draft Remedial Design and Remedial Action Work Plan for Trichloroethene (TCE) Area (Site SS006)/Building 1700 – Refueler Maintenance Shop (Site SS019), Former Galena Forward Operating Location, Alaska. Prepared by Parsons. Dated June 2018. Jamie McKellar
7/5/2018 CERCLA ROD Approved DEC approved the Final Record of Decision for Trichloroethene (TCE) Area (Site SS006)/Building 1700 Refueler Maintenance Shop (Site SS019), Performance-Based Remediation. Dennis Shepard
7/23/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided comments for the draft CERCLA Remedial Design and Remedial Action Work Plan for Trichloroethene (TCE) Area (Site SS006)/Building 1700 – Refueler Maintenance Shop (Site SS019), Performance-Based Remediation at Former Galena Forward Operating Location, Alaska (June 2018). Dennis Shepard
8/6/2018 CERCLA Remedial Design/Remedial Action Plan Approved DEC received the final approvedRemedial Design and Remedial Action Work Plan for Trichloroethene (TCE) Area (Site SS006)/Building 1700-Refueler Maintenance Shop (Site SS019), Performance-Based Remediation. Dennis Shepard
8/8/2018 Site Visit DEC conducted a site visit at the Former Forward Operating Location in Galena, AK on August 8-9, 2018. A photo log is available in DEC's electronic file. Jamie McKellar
10/29/2018 Site Visit On October 23, 2018, DEC participated in the Technical Project Team (TPT) meeting with representatives from USAF and ADOT&PF. A site visit with inspections of each site was conducted the following day (10/24/2018) in Galena, as well as a regional advisory board (RAB) meeting with members of the community and other interested parties. Jamie McKellar
4/5/2019 Site Visit On April 2, 2019, DEC staff participated in a Technical Project Team meeting with representatives from USAF, Parsons, CH2M, and ADOT. The TPT meeting was held at the Fairbanks DEC office. On April 3-4, 2019, DEC staff traveled to Galena to participate in meetings with the City Mayor & RAB chair to discuss community concerns about site cleanup; a Proposed Plan meeting for Site DP023, and a community regional advisory board (RAB) meeting to discuss fieldwork completed during the 2018 field season and upcoming 2019 fieldwork. Site visits were also conducted. Jamie McKellar
10/23/2019 Meeting or Teleconference Held On October 22, 2019, DEC participated in the Technical Project Team (TPT) meeting with representatives from USAF and ADOT&PF. A site visit was conducted the following day (10/23/2019) in Galena, as well as a regional advisory board (RAB) meeting with members of the community and other interested parties. Jamie McKellar
10/30/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVAL: Final 2018 Performance Monitoring Report for Sites CPL006, CSS002, OW024, SS006/SS019, SS014/SS017, SS015, SS016, SS018, SS022, SS025, ST009, ST010, and FT001, Former Galena Forward Operating Location, Alaska (Parsons, October 2019) Jamie McKellar
2/26/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVAL: Final Construction Completion Report, Trichloroethene (TCE) Area (Site SS006)/Building 1700 – Refueler Maintenance Shop (Site SS019), [Parsons, February 2020] Jamie McKellar
9/4/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78115 TCE and Waste Injection. Jamie McKellar
4/21/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVAL: 2020 Performance Monitoring Report for Sites CPL006, CSS002, SS006/SS019, SS017, SS015, SS016, SS018, SS022, ST009, ST010, and FT001, Former Galena Forward Operating Location, Alaska (Parsons, April 2021) Jamie McKellar
8/23/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVED: Final Remedial Process Optimization Evaluation Report, Former Galena Forward Operating Location, Alaska (Parsons, June 2023) Jamie McKellar
11/15/2023 Site Visit DEC, DOT, USAF, and contractors met at the Fairbanks DEC office on May 2, 2023 for a Technical Project Team meeting. The following day a site visit and Regional Advisory Board (RAB) meeting were held in Galena. Meeting minutes for the TPT and RAB meetings were approved on November 15, 2023. Jamie McKellar
4/23/2024 Meeting or Teleconference Held CS staff participated in the biannual Technical Project Team (TPT) meeting with representatives from USAF BRAC, Parsons, Jacobs/CH2M Hill, and EA Engineering. The meeting was held at the EA Engineering office in Anchorage, AK. Jamie McKellar
6/27/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved multiple data quality assessment reports for soil, soil vapor, groundwater, and sediment. Reports were submitted by Parsons and CH2M/Jacobs. Approval letter is dated 6/27/2024. Jamie McKellar
7/16/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the Final 2023 Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE) Remediation System Annual Report. The document describes the results of the operations, monitoring, and maintenance (OM&M) activities from October 2022 through September 2023 for five SVE systems at the Former Galena Forward Operating Location. Tim Sharp

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details
Other The Air Force has demonstrated during Site Characterization that the upgradient TCE contamination (to approximately 100 feet bgs) is not migrating to the depth of the drinking water wells screened intervals (190-210 feet bgs). A air stripper was installed on the water treatment plant at Galena and Drinking Water samples have not shown any detections of the contaminant.

Requirements

Description Details

There are no documents for this site report.

Hazard ID Site Name File Number
26434 FAA Galena RCAG / ASTI Bldg 201 860.38.067

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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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