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Site Report: ARRC Seward Rail Yard Tanks 3 & 4

Site Name: ARRC Seward Rail Yard Tanks 3 & 4
Address: Seward Hwy.; , Seward, AK 99664
File Number: 2332.26.003
Hazard ID: 22982
Status: Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff: IC Unit, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 60.120121
Longitude: -149.428016
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

Two USTs: T-3 (500 gal. gas) and T-4 (1,000 gal diesel), were removed 8/10/92-8/11/92. Approximately 170 cubic yards of contaminated soil was removed and the excavation was backfilled. Contamination was encountered on the east wall of the T3/T4 excavation, but removal of the soil was limited due to proximity to the railroad tracks. A PVC gallery was installed at the T-3/T-4 excavation. Confirmation soil samples, collected at 6 to 8 ft. bgs contained benzene up to 0.19 mg/kg. Groundwater was not encountered. This site originally included the LUST tank T-5, which is now being evaluated under hazard ID 25411/ File # 2332.26.023

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
11/20/1992 Site Added to Database Former Staff
11/20/1992 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Release Confirmed - Petroleum LUST Site created in CSP for source area ID 77905 ADD; Former Staff
1/1/1993 Underground Storage Tank Site Characterization or Assessment Final Report 1992 activities Underground Storage Tank Removals and Site Characterization, Seward, submitted by ENSR. Three USTs: T-3 (500 gal. gas), T-4 (1,000 gal diesel), and T-5( 2,000 gal. gas) were removed 8/10/92-8/11/92. Approximately 170 cubic yards removed and the excavation was backfilled. Contamination was encounted on the east wall of the T3/T4 excavation, but removal of the contaminated soil was limited due to proximity to the railroad tracks. A PVC gallery was installed at the T-3/T-4 excavation. Confirmation soil samples indicate benzene up to 0.19 mg/kg. Contamination was also encountered at the T-5 excavation with benzene up to 0.17 mg/kg. all of the the soil samples for T-3, T-4, & T-5 were taken 6 to 8 feeet bgs. Groundwater was not encountered at any of the former UST excavations. Grant Lidren
8/16/1993 Underground Storage Tank Site Characterization or Assessment SA1R; Site assessment report review. Former Staff
8/16/1993 Release Investigation RELR; Release investigation report review. Former Staff
7/7/1995 Underground Storage Tank Site Characterization or Assessment SA1R; Departmental staff reviewed an UST Removal and Site Characterization Report for five UST systems removed at the railroad's Seward facility. Comments were provided to the railroad. Former Staff
9/9/1995 Update or Other Action CAPR; Reviewed a remedial action plan. Former Staff
9/9/1995 Release Investigation SA2A; Reviewed a phase 2 site assessment report. Action and date atken form KDO excel spreadsheet. Former Staff
9/18/1995 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Initiated - Petroleum LCAU; LUST corrective action underway. Action taken from KDO excel spreadsheet. Former Staff
7/23/2004 Update or Other Action File number assigned and entered into the Fileroom DB and LUST DB. Alyce Hughey
12/21/2004 Update or Other Action File shipped to Linda Nuechterlein in Anchorage for project manager change. Monica English was last staff assigned. Alyce Hughey
2/12/2008 Update or Other Action lattitude and longitude verified by ArcGIS reader Grant Lidren
2/13/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking intial ranking completed Grant Lidren
5/9/2008 Update or Other Action Talked with the City of Seward drinking water division. They indicated that the nearest drinking water well is located a 1/2 mile from site. Grant Lidren
5/8/2009 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), Contaminated Sites Program, has completed review of the environmental records associated with the ARRC Seward Rail Yard Tanks 3 & 4. Based on the information provided to date, the ADEC has determined that the contaminant concentrations remaining on site do not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment, and no further remedial action will be required as long as the site is in compliance with established institutional controls: 1. Any future change in land use may impact the exposure assumptions cited in this document. If land use and/or ownership changes, current institutional controls may not be protective and ADEC may require additional remediation and/or institutional controls. Therefore, ARRC will report to ADEC every five years to document land use, or as soon as ARRC becomes aware of any change in land ownership and/or use. The report can be sent to the local ADEC office or electronically to DEC.ICUnit@alaska.gov 2.A Notice of Environmental Contamination will be recorded on the ADEC database to document that there is residual contamination remaining on site above the most stringent ADEC cleanup levels. 3.Any proposal to transport soil or groundwater off site requires ADEC approval in accordance with 18 AAC 75.325(i). A “site” [as defined by 18 AAC 75.990 (115)] means an area that is contaminated, including areas contaminated by the migration of hazardous substances from a source area, regardless of property ownership. (See attached site figure.) 4.Movement or use of potentially contaminated soil in a manner that results in a violation of 18 AAC 70 water quality standards is unlawful. 5.The soil contamination located near the railroad tracks at the T3/T4 location is currently inaccessible (see attachment B). When the soil becomes accessible, the soil must be evaluated and contamination addressed in accordance with an ADEC approved work plan. 6. The ADEC recommends that the 2-tier PVC gallery at the T3/T4 excavation be decommissioned. Grant Lidren
6/8/2009 Institutional Control Record Established ADEC recieved a signed CC-IC agreement from ARRC. Institutional Controls established and entered into the database. Grant Lidren
6/13/2012 Update or Other Action Staff changed from Grant Lidren to IC Unit. Kristin Thompson
7/9/2012 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC review conducted. Evonne Reese
4/9/2014 Institutional Control Update An IC reminder letter was issued to the responsible party on this date. Kristin Thompson
4/16/2014 Institutional Control Update Received an email confirmation from the responsible party that there has been no change in land use for this site. Evonne Reese
6/15/2018 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC compliance review conducted. Closure/IC Details updated. Kristin Thompson
6/11/2019 Institutional Control Update An Institutional Controls reminder letter e-mailed to the responsible party on this date. RP responded back that there has been no change in land ownership or land use in the past 5 years. Mossy Mead
5/17/2024 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC compliance review completed on this date. An IC reminder letter was issued to the landowner. The next review will be in five years’ time. Gaige Robinson
6/3/2024 Institutional Control Update The landowner responded to the IC reminder letter and provided a written confirmation that land use has not changed. Gaige Robinson
12/19/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed, commented on, and then approved a final Turnagain Seward Soil Management workplan for dealing with possible historic contamination during the construction of a cruise ship terminal in the area. This work will apply the Utility and Right-of-Way Tech Memo specs in dealing with contaminated soil. Evonne Reese

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
Benzene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil

Control Type

Type Details
Signed CS Determination

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site. Standard condition.
When Contaminated Soil is Accessible, Remediation Should Occur The soil contamination located near the railroad tracks at the T3/T4 location is currently inaccessible. When the soil becomes accessible, the soil must be evaluated and contamination addressed in accordance with an ADEC approved work plan.
Groundwater Use Restrictions Groundwater wells may not be installed on site without ADEC approval.
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 The ADEC recommends that the 2-tier PVC gallery at the T3/T4 excavation be decommissioned.
Other ARRC will report to ADEC every five years to document land use, or report as soon as they become aware of any changes in land ownership and/or use.

No associated sites were found.

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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