Site Report: Alaska Commercial Co. - Bethel

Site Name:	Alaska Commercial Co. - Bethel
Address:	Store & Marina, 135 Ridgecrest Drive, Bethel, AK 99559
File Number:	2407.38.004
Hazard ID:	2109
Status:	Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff:	IC Unit, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude:	60.797011
Longitude:	-161.769497
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.

Site Chronology
IC / Closure Details
Documents
Associated Sites

Problems/Comments

Two 2,000 gallon above ground storage tanks had leaked over time and impacted the soil and a thin layer of supra-permafrost groundwater at 3 to 5 feet below ground surface (bgs). In 1997, 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel reportedly spilled due to a malfunction in the fuel return line of the day tank in the generator building. Spill response efforts included recovery of approximately 200 gallons of fuel product, constructing dikes to prevent flow of product off-site, and the removal of a culvert. There have been 5 groundwater monitoring wells installed at this site to determine groundwater quality conditions and if contamination is migrating. The response actions have included excavation of 50 cubic yards of contaminated soil near the generator building. The soil was stockpiled on site in 1998 and expected to naturally attenuate over time. The soil was sampled in 2006 with the diesel range organics (DRO) concentrations below the cleanup level of 1,400 mg/kg DRO established for this site. The soil stockpile was then land spread on-site in September 2006. The soil samples from the limits of the excavation detected up to 5,000 mg/kg DRO but further removal was not considered practicable due to concerns for the integrity of the buildings foundation. The groundwater monitoring results also indicated the groundwater was contaminated near the generator shed and south of the AC Store towards Dull (Dall?) Lake. Nine years of monitoring indicate DRO remaining in the groundwater above cleanup levels but there appears to be a stable or decreasing trend since 1997. The Alaska Commercial (AC) Store is located in the community of Bethel, approximately 2,000 feet north of the Kuskokwim River and approximately 800 feet northeast of Dull Lake. It is a commercial facility used for retail sales. A small building (known as the ‘generator building’) is located behind the store and houses the boiler that provides heat to the store. There is also a diesel generator to provide electricity in emergency situations. The AC Store has a groundwater well on site approximately 200 feet deep and within 25 feet of the generator building. The well was previously used as the drinking water source for the AC Store but the store is now served by municipal water and sewer utilities.

Action Information

Action Date	Action	Description	DEC Staff
10/30/1992	Preliminary Assessment Approved	(Old R:Base Action Code = SA1A - Phase I Site Assessment Approval). A SCG conducted a Phase I environmental Assessment. The findings are included in a report titled "Environmental Site Assessment for Alaska Commercial Company Stores and Other Related Properties, Volumes 1&2" dated October 30, 1992. The results of the Phase I indicated that potential sources of environmental concern were releases associated with the operation of the generators, the above ground storage tank which fueled the generators, and several 55 gallon storage drums. The floor of the generator room was reported to be heavily stained with oil under the generators and the soil under the generator building was visibly impacted.	Shah Alam
9/16/1993	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Reviewed a draft workplan: "Environmental Site Assessments for Community Enterprise Development of Alaska, August, 1993", prepared by Montgomery Watson and recieved by ADEC/WDO 9/3/93. Insufficient information was available for adequate plan review and approval. Phase I or II Site Assessments needed for most of the AC Store sites.	Eileen Olson
10/15/1993	Cleanup Level(s) Approved	Alternate Cleanup Levels Approved.	Ray Dronenburg
6/1/1994	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Reviewed the Environmental Assessment and Cleanup Plans for 33 properties - Final Report. Plans are approved except that 1) the department reserves the right to review and approve a stockpile plan and those plans should be provided with a 3 week review period; 2) should the collection and subsequent treatment of GW be required, a discharge permit for treated waters returned to the environment may be required; and 3) burning of waste oils for purposes other than heat recovery is prohibited.	Ray Dronenburg
11/18/1994	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = RARR - Remedial Action Report Review (CS)). After reviewing the "Draft Environmental Assessments and Cleanup Plans for 33 Property Transfers in 16 Alaskan Communities", additional corrective action is needed for this site.	Cindy Thomas
11/18/1994	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = SA2R - Phase II SA Review (CS)). Reviewed the "Draft Environmental Assessments and Cleanup Plans for 33 Property Transfers in 16 Alaskan Communities".	Cindy Thomas
9/21/1996	Update or Other Action	On September 21, 1996 a diesel spill of approximately 91 gallons was discovered at the site. The cause of the spill was an open bleeder valve on the day tank in the generator building. The spill leaked through a hole in the floor of the generator building and flowed under the store to an adjacent ditch, where it passed through a culvert under Ridgecrest Drive, and towards Dull Lake. An oil spill response team (BEPCO) blocked the culvert and pressure washed all the impacted areas, using the ditch as a collection trench. After pressure washing there was no evidence of contamination, the culvert was unblocked and water was allowed to drain.	Shah Alam
11/29/1996	Site Added to Database	Diesel contamination. Work has been accomplished this site.	Ray Dronenburg
12/1/1996	Update or Other Action	In July 1996, Alaska Village Environmental Services conducted remedial efforts at the site. The remedial activities were centered around the generator building in areas identified by the Phase II environmental assessment by Montgomery Watson. Remedial activities included injection of a mixture of oil breaker, microbes, nutrients and slow-release oxygen compounds.	Shah Alam
3/10/1997	Update or Other Action	On March 10, 1997, a diesel spill of approximately 25 to 80 gallons occurred. The source of the spill was a cracked oil filter on a backup generator located immediately outside the generator building (the store's regular generators inside the generator building were being repaired). Free product was removed from the ground using sorbent pads, and diesel soaked snow was shoveled into containers. Site soils were frozen which likely increased the recovery of the fuel spilled.	Shah Alam
5/16/1997	Update or Other Action	ADEC gave a partial (vertical extent) approval to a site assessment work plan submitted on April 25, 1997. ADEC staff asked them to submit another workplan for horizontal soil characterization.	Shah Alam
6/2/1997	Update or Other Action	In a telephone conversation with ADEC project manager (Shah Alam), the Northwest Company (Gwen Waedt) indicated that they would collect additional samples to characterize the horizontal extent of contamination.	Shah Alam
9/21/1997	Update or Other Action	Golder Associates submitted a site assessment report dated September 17, 1997 for ADEC's review.	Shah Alam
11/11/1997	Update or Other Action	On the morning of November 11, 1997, the manager of the ACC store in Bethel, Walt Pine, discovered a diesel spill at the generator building. He immediately stopped the flow of fuel and notified the Northwest Company. The spill was due to a malfunction of the float valve in the daytank. Failure of the valve allowed the pump to continue filling the daytank. Overflow return lines also failed. A petroleum contractor performed an audit and minor repairs to the system during the week of December 10, 1997. Approximately 1000 gallons of product was spilled. The product flowed from the daytank, located in the generator room, through holes in the floor and pooled in a low spot under the generator building and the store. Sorbent pads laid under the building to contain seepage from a previous spill helped to contain the product. Approximately 200 to 300 gallons were recovered with a vacuum truck. The remaining product was recovered utilizing sorbents.	Shah Alam
12/22/1997	Update or Other Action	Northwest Company submitted a letter report describing the November 11, 1997 spill.	Shah Alam
1/23/1998	Update or Other Action	ADEC staff (Alam and Frechione) met Gwen Waedt (the Northwest Company) to discuss cleanup issues. Alam asked her to submit additional information on the November 1997 spill. ADEC will review the document to see if surface water body (Dull Lake) was impacted.	Shah Alam
2/5/1998	Update or Other Action	ADEC received a letter report from Golder Associates describing location of oil spills (September 1996 - November 1997). The letter stated that the spills were generally confined to low areas around the generator shed and underneath the main store. The September 1996 spill followed the drainage toward the Dull Lake.	Shah Alam
4/2/1998	Update or Other Action	The Northwest Company assumed the responsibility for remediation of soil contamination identified in the Golder Associates report dated September 1997. The Northwest Company reserved the right to involve Alaska Village Environmental Management in the remediation of soils and/or ground water discovered later.	Shah Alam
4/21/1998	Site Ranked Using the AHRM	Ranking action added now because it was not added when the site was originally ranked.	Bill Petrik
6/17/1998	Meeting or Teleconference Held	ADEC project manager (Shah Alam) met the Northwest Company's (the company) Environmental Manager (Gwen Waedt) and their environmental consultant Golder Associates (Craig Boeckman) to discuss site cleanup issues of a contaminated site at the Alaska Commercial Store site in Bethel. The purpose of the meeting was to expedite review of a site assessment report that was submitted September 1997. The company has money available for remediation of this site this year. The company has hired a maintenance person with duties to maintain fuel tanks and supplies to prevent future spills.	Shah Alam
6/25/1998	Update or Other Action	ADEC provided (June 25, 1998) comments on the site assessment conducted in 1997 and overall site cleanup activities. Fuel system upgrade and implementation of a SPCC plan should precede site remediation. Site assessment is incomplete for groundwater and for data quality reasons. Additional characterization can continue together with corrective actions at the site. ADEC asked to be informed of the fuel system upgrade and implementation of a SPCC plan. ADEC also asked to submit a workplan for additional site assessment and corrective action.	Shah Alam
9/23/1998	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Meeting held where participants were Gwen Waedt, Max Schwenne, Craig Boeckman, Jim Frechione and Shah Alam. The Northwest Company wants to develop alternative cleanup levels using Method Three. Oasis is doing the computation. Proposed remediation is hotspot removal, landspreading and phytoremediation. The Northwest Company submitted a SPCC plan as requested previously.	Shah Alam
10/1/1998	Update or Other Action	Received a draft work plan for site investigation from Golder Associates. Also, received Method Three calculations to establish ACLs from OASIS.	Shah Alam
10/2/1998	Update or Other Action	ADEC issued a letter commenting on the draft work plan.	Shah Alam
10/13/1998	Update or Other Action	Don Marson (EPA) informed that ACC Store-Bethel SPCC plan does not meet the requirement. Don Marson informed Gwen Waedt that until recommended improvements are made the facility will be out of compliance.	Shah Alam
6/25/1999	Update or Other Action	Staff commented in a letter dated June 25, 1999 on a site assessment report and alternative cleanup level (ACL) request using Method Three. The ACL computation used an organic carbon content of 3.3% in soil, which is greater than the Department's default organic carbon content of 0.1%. There is no documentation of such a high level of organic carbon content. The laboratory used ASTM D4129-82 Modified method for the analysis. This method is a burn off test and cannot be used to determine organic carbon content for Method Three calculations. The Department suggests EPA Method 415.1 or SW-846 Method 9060. The soil samples were contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons that interfere with the naturally occurring organic carbon content. In addition, samples were collected from a shallow depth, which may not be representative of subsurface organic carbon content.	Shah Alam
9/27/1999	Update or Other Action	ADEC received a letter dated September 23, 1999 from Golder Associates responding to ADEC letter dated June 25, 1999. In some instances, Golder has proposed to do additional work.	Shah Alam
10/15/1999	Site Ranked Using the AHRM	Site reranked considering repeated spills at this site. Also Groundwater Exposure Index Value changed	Shah Alam
11/1/1999	Update or Other Action	In response to ADEC staff (Alam) query, Golder Associates (Mark Musial) informed that following the Northwest Company's suggestion they went ahead and conducted additional site investigation as mentioned in the letter. The report will be submitted in about a month.	Shah Alam
7/26/2000	Update or Other Action	ADEC project manager, Shah Alam, visited the site.	Shah Alam
8/10/2000	Cleanup Level(s) Approved	ADEC has reviewed a site Assessment report dated April 2000 and cannot accept the proposed alternative cleanup levels (ACL) under Method Three. The methodology used to determine ACL values was directly related to the total organic carbon content present in the soil. The soil samples collected for organic carbon content were contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons that may result in elevated concentrations of naturally occurring organics. As a possible resolution of the different organic carbon levels (without re-sampling), the ADEC is willing to accept a soil organic carbon value of 0.64 percentage as an average for this site. This value is derived by subtracting petroleum concentrations from the lowest reported organic carbon value in Table 7 of the report. If the organic carbon content of 0.64% is used it would result in an ACL of 1,400 mg/kg for both gasoline (GRO) and diesel range organics (DRO) using Method Three (18 AAC 75.340(e)).	Shah Alam
4/18/2006	Update or Other Action	Site currently owned by The North West Company, with Alaska Village Initiatives retained as an affiliate for clean up of site. Updated ownership in database.	Shannon Oelkers
9/27/2006	Update or Other Action	Received call from Jan Dike, Golder Assoc. requesting approval to decommission stockpiled soils. Soils are to be land spread at their current site and used as shipping crate storage. ADEC approved the decommission of the stockpiled soils.	Shannon Oelkers
9/28/2006	Update or Other Action	Landspreading of stockpile approved.	Shannon Oelkers
9/28/2006	Update or Other Action	Received annual monitoring report from Golder Assoc. on 7/15/2005. DRO contamination above ADEC cleanup levels still present in MW-2, MW-4. Stockpiled soils are below ACL of 1,400 mg/kg of DRO established for this site. Consultant recommends decommissioning stockpiled soils (50 cy) and closure with further monitoring of MW-4. Consultant presented Mann-Kendall test for MW-1, MW-2, and MW-3 showing stability of DRO levels.	Shannon Oelkers
10/10/2006	Update or Other Action	Spoke with Mike Griffin - ACC Store contact for environmental issues in Alaskan stores. He confirmed that the on-site well was still intact, although not currently used. The ACC store is connected to municipal water. DW wells must be greater than 30 feet deep in Bethel to penetrate the permafrost layer.	Shannon Oelkers
11/16/2006	Conditional Closure Approved	Based on the information provided to date, ADEC has determined that the cleanup actions employed at the AC Store in Bethel have been effective in removing the majority of the contamination at the site. The contamination has been removed to the extent practicable with residual contamination remaining in the soil and supra-permafrost groundwater beneath the generator building. The nature and extent of the remaining contamination does not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment provided site specific conditions and/or controls are attached to the property.	Shannon Oelkers
11/16/2006	Institutional Control Record Established	1. An Institutional Control will be added to the ADEC Contaminated Sites Database identifying the nature and extent of contamination remaining on site. 2. In accordance with 18 AAC 75.370(b), ADEC approval must be obtained prior to removal and/or disposal of soil or groundwater from this site. 3. ADEC must be notified (and approve) the installation of any groundwater wells at this site. 4. A groundwater monitoring plan shall be prepared that includes the monitoring of MW-1, MW-2 and MW-4 annually during the summer season in 2007 and 2008. Samples will be analyzed for DRO using the AK 102 method. In addition, MW-3 and MW-5 shall be decommissioned in accordance with ADEC procedures. 5. Sample the former drinking water well prior to decommissioning it using EPA Method 524.2.	Shannon Oelkers
2/5/2007	Update or Other Action	Golder Associates reports that the potable well on-site is stil in use. A revision of the IC's on this site is requested.	Shannon Oelkers
11/1/2007	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking	Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 73087 name: auto-generated pm edit Alaska Commercial Prop. - Bethel	Keather McLoone
3/24/2008	Update or Other Action	Receipt of store drinking water analytical results - nondetect for DRO and VOCs. Report to cover this and August 2008 groundwater sampling is forthcoming.	Keather McLoone
12/1/2008	Update or Other Action	Communication with Jan Deick, consultant, to clarify whether the groundwater sampling occurred last summer at this site or not. According to him, the trip was cancelled due to a miscommunication regarding likelihood of water being found in the wells during late August and the plan for next year is to go out midsummer.	Keather McLoone
12/1/2009	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Receipt of 2009 Water Monitoring AC Value Center Bethel by Golder Associates. Sampling included MW-1A and MW-2 for DRO/RRO and the onsite drinking water well for VOCs by 524.2. MW-3 and MW-4 were reported to be not present and removed during the decommission of the biocell. MW-5 was decommissioned during this site visit. Drinking water results were below MCLs. Only DRO in MW-2 was above Table C at 3.78 mg/L; however, the overall trend for DRO in this well is decreasing since the initial sampling took place in 1997. Golder recommends a long term monitoring complete be requested.	Keather McLoone
2/24/2010	Long Term Monitoring Complete	The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) Contaminated Sites Program issued a Conditional Closure with Institutional Controls Record of Decision on November 15, 2006 which stipulated ongoing groundwater monitoring. An amendment to this decision was issues on February 22, 2007 which added monitoring of the onsite drinking water well to the conditions of the original decision letter. ADEC recently reviewed the 2009 Water Monitoring – AC Value Center, Bethel, Alaska report. Only DRO in MW-2 was above Table C at 3.78 mg/L; however, the overall trend for DRO in this well is decreasing since the initial sampling took place in 1997. Also, drinking water results were below MCLs. Therefore, ADEC believes that long term monitoring can be considered complete. Site closure (without conditions) will be considered when sampling confirms that soil and groundwater meet the 18 AAC 75 cleanup levels established for this site. Current ADEC policy for Cleanup Complete with Institutional Controls includes a reporting requirement. Any future change in land use may impact the exposure assumptions cited in this document. If land use and/or ownership changes, current ICs may not be protective and ADEC may require additional remediation and/or ICs. Therefore, Alaska Commercial Company shall report to ADEC every five years to document land use, or report as soon as Alaska Commercial Company becomes aware of any change in land ownership and/or use, if earlier. The report can be sent to the local ADEC office or electronically to DEC.ICUnit@alaska.gov. Monitoring wells MW-1 and MW-2 should be decommissioned according to an ADEC approved workplan. Monitoring of the drinking water well should continue to include sampling for volatile organic compounds according to ADEC Drinking Water Program sampling schedule requirements.	Keather McLoone
2/24/2010	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking	A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 73087 auto-generated pm edit Alaska Commercial Prop. - Bethel.	Keather McLoone
12/13/2011	Institutional Control Compliance Review	IC review conducted, reminder system set up for 2015, and staff name changed to IC Unit.	Evonne Reese
3/18/2015	Institutional Control Update	An IC reminder letter was issued to the responsible party on this date.	Kristin Thompson
8/31/2015	Institutional Control Update	Received an email confirmation from the responsible party that there have been no changes in land use or ownership since the 2010 closure.	Evonne Reese
11/21/2016	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	ADEC staff reviewed the November 9, 2016 dated Bethel AC Value Center MW-1 and MW-2 Decommissioning Report submitted by Golder Associates. It was discovered that MW-1 had been removed sometime in 2011 during installation of a new 2000-gallon aboveground storage tank (AST); this new AST is located on a fill pad over the old location of MW-1. Therefore, only MW-2 was decommissioned on August 4, 2016 following ADEC's Monitoring Well Guidance. All monitoring wells at this site that were installed and used during the groundwater monitoring from 1997 to 2009 have been decommissioned and removed.	Kristin Thompson
11/25/2016	Institutional Control Compliance Review	IC compliance review conducted. Groundwater monitoring at the site is complete and the wells have been decommissioned. The groundwater monitoring institutional control requirement was removed. Monitoring of the drinking water well should continue to include sampling for volatile organic compounds according to ADEC Drinking Water Program sampling schedule requirements. All other institutional controls remain in effect. A letter with this information was issued to the landowner. Reminder system set for the five-year review in 2021.	Kristin Thompson
8/14/2019	Institutional Control Update	I was contacted by an representative of Golder and Associates who has been contracted by the property owner since they’ve been having problems with ponding under the building. The plan is to add about a foot of fill under the building to cover some of the water. The building is on pilings and there is about three feet of space between the ground and the floor of the building. They wanted to verify that this would not interfere with any of the IC requirements which are on the building. They will not be excavating or removing any soil, just simply hand shoveling fill in place. I confirmed that this will not impact the ICs and to proceed with the plans.	Evonne Reese

Action Date

Action

Description

DEC Staff

10/30/1992

Preliminary Assessment Approved

(Old R:Base Action Code = SA1A - Phase I Site Assessment Approval). A SCG conducted a Phase I environmental Assessment. The findings are included in a report titled "Environmental Site Assessment for Alaska Commercial Company Stores and Other Related Properties, Volumes 1&2" dated October 30, 1992. The results of the Phase I indicated that potential sources of environmental concern were releases associated with the operation of the generators, the above ground storage tank which fueled the generators, and several 55 gallon storage drums. The floor of the generator room was reported to be heavily stained with oil under the generators and the soil under the generator building was visibly impacted.

Shah Alam

9/16/1993

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Reviewed a draft workplan: "Environmental Site Assessments for Community Enterprise Development of Alaska, August, 1993", prepared by Montgomery Watson and recieved by ADEC/WDO 9/3/93. Insufficient information was available for adequate plan review and approval. Phase I or II Site Assessments needed for most of the AC Store sites.

Eileen Olson

10/15/1993

Cleanup Level(s) Approved

Alternate Cleanup Levels Approved.

Ray Dronenburg

6/1/1994

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Reviewed the Environmental Assessment and Cleanup Plans for 33 properties - Final Report. Plans are approved except that 1) the department reserves the right to review and approve a stockpile plan and those plans should be provided with a 3 week review period; 2) should the collection and subsequent treatment of GW be required, a discharge permit for treated waters returned to the environment may be required; and 3) burning of waste oils for purposes other than heat recovery is prohibited.

Ray Dronenburg

11/18/1994

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = RARR - Remedial Action Report Review (CS)). After reviewing the "Draft Environmental Assessments and Cleanup Plans for 33 Property Transfers in 16 Alaskan Communities", additional corrective action is needed for this site.

Cindy Thomas

11/18/1994

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = SA2R - Phase II SA Review (CS)). Reviewed the "Draft Environmental Assessments and Cleanup Plans for 33 Property Transfers in 16 Alaskan Communities".

Cindy Thomas

9/21/1996

Update or Other Action

On September 21, 1996 a diesel spill of approximately 91 gallons was discovered at the site. The cause of the spill was an open bleeder valve on the day tank in the generator building. The spill leaked through a hole in the floor of the generator building and flowed under the store to an adjacent ditch, where it passed through a culvert under Ridgecrest Drive, and towards Dull Lake. An oil spill response team (BEPCO) blocked the culvert and pressure washed all the impacted areas, using the ditch as a collection trench. After pressure washing there was no evidence of contamination, the culvert was unblocked and water was allowed to drain.

Shah Alam

11/29/1996

Site Added to Database

Diesel contamination. Work has been accomplished this site.

Ray Dronenburg

12/1/1996

Update or Other Action

In July 1996, Alaska Village Environmental Services conducted remedial efforts at the site. The remedial activities were centered around the generator building in areas identified by the Phase II environmental assessment by Montgomery Watson. Remedial activities included injection of a mixture of oil breaker, microbes, nutrients and slow-release oxygen compounds.

Shah Alam

3/10/1997

Update or Other Action

On March 10, 1997, a diesel spill of approximately 25 to 80 gallons occurred. The source of the spill was a cracked oil filter on a backup generator located immediately outside the generator building (the store's regular generators inside the generator building were being repaired). Free product was removed from the ground using sorbent pads, and diesel soaked snow was shoveled into containers. Site soils were frozen which likely increased the recovery of the fuel spilled.

Shah Alam

5/16/1997

Update or Other Action

ADEC gave a partial (vertical extent) approval to a site assessment work plan submitted on April 25, 1997. ADEC staff asked them to submit another workplan for horizontal soil characterization.

Shah Alam

6/2/1997

Update or Other Action

In a telephone conversation with ADEC project manager (Shah Alam), the Northwest Company (Gwen Waedt) indicated that they would collect additional samples to characterize the horizontal extent of contamination.

Shah Alam

9/21/1997

Update or Other Action

Golder Associates submitted a site assessment report dated September 17, 1997 for ADEC's review.

Shah Alam

11/11/1997

Update or Other Action

On the morning of November 11, 1997, the manager of the ACC store in Bethel, Walt Pine, discovered a diesel spill at the generator building. He immediately stopped the flow of fuel and notified the Northwest Company. The spill was due to a malfunction of the float valve in the daytank. Failure of the valve allowed the pump to continue filling the daytank. Overflow return lines also failed. A petroleum contractor performed an audit and minor repairs to the system during the week of December 10, 1997. Approximately 1000 gallons of product was spilled. The product flowed from the daytank, located in the generator room, through holes in the floor and pooled in a low spot under the generator building and the store. Sorbent pads laid under the building to contain seepage from a previous spill helped to contain the product. Approximately 200 to 300 gallons were recovered with a vacuum truck. The remaining product was recovered utilizing sorbents.

Shah Alam

12/22/1997

Update or Other Action

Northwest Company submitted a letter report describing the November 11, 1997 spill.

Shah Alam

1/23/1998

Update or Other Action

ADEC staff (Alam and Frechione) met Gwen Waedt (the Northwest Company) to discuss cleanup issues. Alam asked her to submit additional information on the November 1997 spill. ADEC will review the document to see if surface water body (Dull Lake) was impacted.

Shah Alam

2/5/1998

Update or Other Action

ADEC received a letter report from Golder Associates describing location of oil spills (September 1996 - November 1997). The letter stated that the spills were generally confined to low areas around the generator shed and underneath the main store. The September 1996 spill followed the drainage toward the Dull Lake.

Shah Alam

4/2/1998

Update or Other Action

The Northwest Company assumed the responsibility for remediation of soil contamination identified in the Golder Associates report dated September 1997. The Northwest Company reserved the right to involve Alaska Village Environmental Management in the remediation of soils and/or ground water discovered later.

Shah Alam

4/21/1998

Site Ranked Using the AHRM

Ranking action added now because it was not added when the site was originally ranked.

Bill Petrik

6/17/1998

Meeting or Teleconference Held

ADEC project manager (Shah Alam) met the Northwest Company's (the company) Environmental Manager (Gwen Waedt) and their environmental consultant Golder Associates (Craig Boeckman) to discuss site cleanup issues of a contaminated site at the Alaska Commercial Store site in Bethel. The purpose of the meeting was to expedite review of a site assessment report that was submitted September 1997. The company has money available for remediation of this site this year. The company has hired a maintenance person with duties to maintain fuel tanks and supplies to prevent future spills.

Shah Alam

6/25/1998

Update or Other Action

ADEC provided (June 25, 1998) comments on the site assessment conducted in 1997 and overall site cleanup activities. Fuel system upgrade and implementation of a SPCC plan should precede site remediation. Site assessment is incomplete for groundwater and for data quality reasons. Additional characterization can continue together with corrective actions at the site. ADEC asked to be informed of the fuel system upgrade and implementation of a SPCC plan. ADEC also asked to submit a workplan for additional site assessment and corrective action.

Shah Alam

9/23/1998

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Meeting held where participants were Gwen Waedt, Max Schwenne, Craig Boeckman, Jim Frechione and Shah Alam. The Northwest Company wants to develop alternative cleanup levels using Method Three. Oasis is doing the computation. Proposed remediation is hotspot removal, landspreading and phytoremediation. The Northwest Company submitted a SPCC plan as requested previously.

Shah Alam

10/1/1998

Update or Other Action

Received a draft work plan for site investigation from Golder Associates. Also, received Method Three calculations to establish ACLs from OASIS.

Shah Alam

10/2/1998

Update or Other Action

ADEC issued a letter commenting on the draft work plan.

Shah Alam

10/13/1998

Update or Other Action

Don Marson (EPA) informed that ACC Store-Bethel SPCC plan does not meet the requirement. Don Marson informed Gwen Waedt that until recommended improvements are made the facility will be out of compliance.

Shah Alam

6/25/1999

Update or Other Action

Staff commented in a letter dated June 25, 1999 on a site assessment report and alternative cleanup level (ACL) request using Method Three. The ACL computation used an organic carbon content of 3.3% in soil, which is greater than the Department's default organic carbon content of 0.1%. There is no documentation of such a high level of organic carbon content. The laboratory used ASTM D4129-82 Modified method for the analysis. This method is a burn off test and cannot be used to determine organic carbon content for Method Three calculations. The Department suggests EPA Method 415.1 or SW-846 Method 9060. The soil samples were contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons that interfere with the naturally occurring organic carbon content. In addition, samples were collected from a shallow depth, which may not be representative of subsurface organic carbon content.

Shah Alam

9/27/1999

Update or Other Action

ADEC received a letter dated September 23, 1999 from Golder Associates responding to ADEC letter dated June 25, 1999. In some instances, Golder has proposed to do additional work.

Shah Alam

10/15/1999

Site Ranked Using the AHRM

Site reranked considering repeated spills at this site. Also Groundwater Exposure Index Value changed

Shah Alam

11/1/1999

Update or Other Action

In response to ADEC staff (Alam) query, Golder Associates (Mark Musial) informed that following the Northwest Company's suggestion they went ahead and conducted additional site investigation as mentioned in the letter. The report will be submitted in about a month.

Shah Alam

7/26/2000

Update or Other Action

ADEC project manager, Shah Alam, visited the site.

Shah Alam

8/10/2000

Cleanup Level(s) Approved

ADEC has reviewed a site Assessment report dated April 2000 and cannot accept the proposed alternative cleanup levels (ACL) under Method Three. The methodology used to determine ACL values was directly related to the total organic carbon content present in the soil. The soil samples collected for organic carbon content were contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons that may result in elevated concentrations of naturally occurring organics. As a possible resolution of the different organic carbon levels (without re-sampling), the ADEC is willing to accept a soil organic carbon value of 0.64 percentage as an average for this site. This value is derived by subtracting petroleum concentrations from the lowest reported organic carbon value in Table 7 of the report. If the organic carbon content of 0.64% is used it would result in an ACL of 1,400 mg/kg for both gasoline (GRO) and diesel range organics (DRO) using Method Three (18 AAC 75.340(e)).

Shah Alam

4/18/2006

Update or Other Action

Site currently owned by The North West Company, with Alaska Village Initiatives retained as an affiliate for clean up of site. Updated ownership in database.

Shannon Oelkers

9/27/2006

Update or Other Action

Received call from Jan Dike, Golder Assoc. requesting approval to decommission stockpiled soils. Soils are to be land spread at their current site and used as shipping crate storage. ADEC approved the decommission of the stockpiled soils.

Shannon Oelkers

9/28/2006

Update or Other Action

Landspreading of stockpile approved.

Shannon Oelkers

9/28/2006

Update or Other Action

Received annual monitoring report from Golder Assoc. on 7/15/2005. DRO contamination above ADEC cleanup levels still present in MW-2, MW-4. Stockpiled soils are below ACL of 1,400 mg/kg of DRO established for this site. Consultant recommends decommissioning stockpiled soils (50 cy) and closure with further monitoring of MW-4. Consultant presented Mann-Kendall test for MW-1, MW-2, and MW-3 showing stability of DRO levels.

Shannon Oelkers

10/10/2006

Update or Other Action

Spoke with Mike Griffin - ACC Store contact for environmental issues in Alaskan stores. He confirmed that the on-site well was still intact, although not currently used. The ACC store is connected to municipal water. DW wells must be greater than 30 feet deep in Bethel to penetrate the permafrost layer.

Shannon Oelkers

11/16/2006

Conditional Closure Approved

Based on the information provided to date, ADEC has determined that the cleanup actions employed at the AC Store in Bethel have been effective in removing the majority of the contamination at the site. The contamination has been removed to the extent practicable with residual contamination remaining in the soil and supra-permafrost groundwater beneath the generator building. The nature and extent of the remaining contamination does not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment provided site specific conditions and/or controls are attached to the property.

Shannon Oelkers

11/16/2006

Institutional Control Record Established

1. An Institutional Control will be added to the ADEC Contaminated Sites Database identifying the nature and extent of contamination remaining on site. 2. In accordance with 18 AAC 75.370(b), ADEC approval must be obtained prior to removal and/or disposal of soil or groundwater from this site. 3. ADEC must be notified (and approve) the installation of any groundwater wells at this site. 4. A groundwater monitoring plan shall be prepared that includes the monitoring of MW-1, MW-2 and MW-4 annually during the summer season in 2007 and 2008. Samples will be analyzed for DRO using the AK 102 method. In addition, MW-3 and MW-5 shall be decommissioned in accordance with ADEC procedures. 5. Sample the former drinking water well prior to decommissioning it using EPA Method 524.2.

Shannon Oelkers

2/5/2007

Update or Other Action

Golder Associates reports that the potable well on-site is stil in use. A revision of the IC's on this site is requested.

Shannon Oelkers

11/1/2007

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 73087 name: auto-generated pm edit Alaska Commercial Prop. - Bethel

Keather McLoone

3/24/2008

Update or Other Action

Receipt of store drinking water analytical results - nondetect for DRO and VOCs. Report to cover this and August 2008 groundwater sampling is forthcoming.

Keather McLoone

12/1/2008

Update or Other Action

Communication with Jan Deick, consultant, to clarify whether the groundwater sampling occurred last summer at this site or not. According to him, the trip was cancelled due to a miscommunication regarding likelihood of water being found in the wells during late August and the plan for next year is to go out midsummer.

Keather McLoone

12/1/2009

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Receipt of 2009 Water Monitoring AC Value Center Bethel by Golder Associates. Sampling included MW-1A and MW-2 for DRO/RRO and the onsite drinking water well for VOCs by 524.2. MW-3 and MW-4 were reported to be not present and removed during the decommission of the biocell. MW-5 was decommissioned during this site visit. Drinking water results were below MCLs. Only DRO in MW-2 was above Table C at 3.78 mg/L; however, the overall trend for DRO in this well is decreasing since the initial sampling took place in 1997. Golder recommends a long term monitoring complete be requested.

Keather McLoone

2/24/2010

Long Term Monitoring Complete

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) Contaminated Sites Program issued a Conditional Closure with Institutional Controls Record of Decision on November 15, 2006 which stipulated ongoing groundwater monitoring. An amendment to this decision was issues on February 22, 2007 which added monitoring of the onsite drinking water well to the conditions of the original decision letter. ADEC recently reviewed the 2009 Water Monitoring – AC Value Center, Bethel, Alaska report. Only DRO in MW-2 was above Table C at 3.78 mg/L; however, the overall trend for DRO in this well is decreasing since the initial sampling took place in 1997. Also, drinking water results were below MCLs. Therefore, ADEC believes that long term monitoring can be considered complete. Site closure (without conditions) will be considered when sampling confirms that soil and groundwater meet the 18 AAC 75 cleanup levels established for this site. Current ADEC policy for Cleanup Complete with Institutional Controls includes a reporting requirement. Any future change in land use may impact the exposure assumptions cited in this document. If land use and/or ownership changes, current ICs may not be protective and ADEC may require additional remediation and/or ICs. Therefore, Alaska Commercial Company shall report to ADEC every five years to document land use, or report as soon as Alaska Commercial Company becomes aware of any change in land ownership and/or use, if earlier. The report can be sent to the local ADEC office or electronically to DEC.ICUnit@alaska.gov. Monitoring wells MW-1 and MW-2 should be decommissioned according to an ADEC approved workplan. Monitoring of the drinking water well should continue to include sampling for volatile organic compounds according to ADEC Drinking Water Program sampling schedule requirements.

Keather McLoone

2/24/2010

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 73087 auto-generated pm edit Alaska Commercial Prop. - Bethel.

Keather McLoone

12/13/2011

Institutional Control Compliance Review

IC review conducted, reminder system set up for 2015, and staff name changed to IC Unit.

Evonne Reese

3/18/2015

Institutional Control Update

An IC reminder letter was issued to the responsible party on this date.

Kristin Thompson

8/31/2015

Institutional Control Update

Received an email confirmation from the responsible party that there have been no changes in land use or ownership since the 2010 closure.

Evonne Reese

11/21/2016

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

ADEC staff reviewed the November 9, 2016 dated Bethel AC Value Center MW-1 and MW-2 Decommissioning Report submitted by Golder Associates. It was discovered that MW-1 had been removed sometime in 2011 during installation of a new 2000-gallon aboveground storage tank (AST); this new AST is located on a fill pad over the old location of MW-1. Therefore, only MW-2 was decommissioned on August 4, 2016 following ADEC's Monitoring Well Guidance. All monitoring wells at this site that were installed and used during the groundwater monitoring from 1997 to 2009 have been decommissioned and removed.

Kristin Thompson

11/25/2016

Institutional Control Compliance Review

IC compliance review conducted. Groundwater monitoring at the site is complete and the wells have been decommissioned. The groundwater monitoring institutional control requirement was removed. Monitoring of the drinking water well should continue to include sampling for volatile organic compounds according to ADEC Drinking Water Program sampling schedule requirements. All other institutional controls remain in effect. A letter with this information was issued to the landowner. Reminder system set for the five-year review in 2021.

Kristin Thompson

8/14/2019

Institutional Control Update

I was contacted by an representative of Golder and Associates who has been contracted by the property owner since they’ve been having problems with ponding under the building. The plan is to add about a foot of fill under the building to cover some of the water. The building is on pilings and there is about three feet of space between the ground and the floor of the building. They wanted to verify that this would not interfere with any of the IC requirements which are on the building. They will not be excavating or removing any soil, just simply hand shoveling fill in place. I confirmed that this will not impact the ICs and to proceed with the plans.

Evonne Reese

Contaminant Information

Name	Level Description	Media	Comments
DRO	Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation	Soil
DRO	> Table C	Groundwater

Name

Level Description

Media

Comments

DRO

Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation

Soil

DRO

> Table C

Groundwater

Control Type

Type	Details
Institutional Control Management Plan

Type

Details

Institutional Control Management Plan

Requirements

Description	Details
Groundwater Use Restrictions	ADEC must be notified (and approve) the installation of any groundwater wells at this site.
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.	Standard condition.
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.
Other	Monitoring of the drinking water well should continue to include sampling for volatile organic compounds according to ADEC Drinking Water Program sampling schedule requirements (Water System Number AK2270427).
Other	Alaska Commercial Company shall report to ADEC every five years to document land use, or report as soon as Alaska Commercial Company becomes aware of any change in land ownership and/or use, if earlier.
Excavation / Soil Movement Restrictions	In accordance with 18 AAC 75.370(b), ADEC approval must be obtained prior to removal and/or disposal of soil or groundwater from this site.

Description

Details

Groundwater Use Restrictions

ADEC must be notified (and approve) the installation of any groundwater wells at this site.

Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.

Standard condition.

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.

Other

Monitoring of the drinking water well should continue to include sampling for volatile organic compounds according to ADEC Drinking Water Program sampling schedule requirements (Water System Number AK2270427).

Other

Alaska Commercial Company shall report to ADEC every five years to document land use, or report as soon as Alaska Commercial Company becomes aware of any change in land ownership and/or use, if earlier.

Excavation / Soil Movement Restrictions

In accordance with 18 AAC 75.370(b), ADEC approval must be obtained prior to removal and/or disposal of soil or groundwater from this site.

Notification of Groundwater Monitoring Requirement Removed - Institutional Controls Remaining

Institutional Controls Reminder Letter - March 2015

Long Term Monitoring Complete and Signed Agreement Page

Conditional Closure Notification

Ammended Conditional Closure Notification

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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Site Report: Alaska Commercial Co. - Bethel

Site Chronology

IC / Closure Details

Documents

Associated Sites

Problems/Comments

Action Information

Contaminant Information

Control Type

Requirements

Notification of Groundwater Monitoring Requirement Removed - Institutional Controls Remaining

Institutional Controls Reminder Letter - March 2015

Long Term Monitoring Complete and Signed Agreement Page

Conditional Closure Notification

Ammended Conditional Closure Notification

Missing Location Data

State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation