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Site Report: FAA Tanana Station

Site Name: FAA Tanana Station
Address: Tanana Airport, Tanana, AK 99777
File Number: 780.38.001
Hazard ID: 2324
Status: Active
Staff: Livia Bracker, 9072697695 livia.bracker@alaska.gov
Latitude: 65.173373
Longitude: -152.110072
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

Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination present in site soils and groundwater; free product present in wells at various locations at the facility, including wells adjacent to the Yukon River. As of 2023, FAA has proposed treating soil with in-situ thermal conductive heating of 30,000 cubic yards. Thermal treatment scheduled to begin in 2025.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
1/20/1995 Site Added to Database File# 780.38.001. Steve Bainbridge
3/23/1997 CERCLA PA The Final Preliminary Assessment was received, dated March 1995. The report describes the exposure pathways and potential targets of contaminants as well as the investigative activities that occurred in September 1994. The report indicates concern in the vicinity of the former landfill site which may contain anything including drums of chlorinated solvents, carbon tetrachloride, various laboratory reagents, cyanide, and strychnine. DDT may also have been buried int he same general area. It is recommended that if instrusive activities are planned, soil borings should be advanced to verify the existence of contaminated soils and a peophysical survey conducted to verify the existence of containers that may contain hazardous substances. Meghan Dooley
9/16/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC review letter for draft workplan dated August 21, 1998 (date of final workplan was September 1998). Eileen Olson
10/2/1998 Site Characterization Workplan Approved ADEC approval letter for "Pre-Field Planning Document, Tanana FAA Station, Release Investigation Plan and Quality Assurance Project Plan" with cover letter dated August 26, 1998 and "Addendum to Pre-Field Planning Document, Tanana FAA Station" dated September 1998. Eileen Olson
3/1/1999 Update or Other Action The Site Cleanup and Investigation Report for the Tanana FAA Station, dated March 1999 was received. Completed activities during the 1997 field effort were as follows: four inactive water wells were decommissioned, two sewage lift stations were emptied, cleaned, and backfilled, lead abatement services were performed, building 602 was demolitioned, and 40 cy of contaminated soils were removed from buildings 205 and 600 and stockpiled for future landfarming. A concrete septic tank near building 300 could not be located as well as the dry well system near building 400. The report states that additional work may be warranted at buildings 205 and 600. Meghan Dooley
6/4/1999 Update or Other Action The Release Investigation Report dated May 1999, prepared by CH2-OH was received. Seventy four soil borings were advanced and 22 monitoring probes were installed at the fomer Living Quarters Area. Two of the 74 borings were advanced at the Flight Service Station (FSS). Although groundwater was encountered at the FSS, samples were not collected. Results of soil samples at the FSS were below cleanup levels. Sixteen of the twenty areas sampled at the Living Quarters Area had soil concentrations of DRO and BTEX above cleanup levels. Groundwater also had exceedences of DRO and benzene. Free product was observed in six monitoring probes. The report recommends a feasiblity study to determine the best method of remediating soil contamination, installation of groundwater monitoring wells, and assessing groundwater flow conditions by conducting aquifer pumping tests. Finally, it is recommended that the remaining tanks be removed from the subsurface. Meghan Dooley
7/15/1999 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with FAA and contractor representatives to discuss characterization of contaminated groundwater and other site issues. Eileen Olson
8/6/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC letter reviewing "Release Investigation Report, Fuel Storage Tank Management Program and Expanded Site Investigation/Interim Cleanup, Tanana, Alaska" dated May 1999. Eileen Olson
8/17/1999 Meeting or Teleconference Held Site visit with FAA and contractor representatives. Eileen Olson
9/21/1999 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC staff met with FAA staff and contractors to discuss the September 1999 work plan for FAA’s Tanana Station. Eileen Olson
9/23/1999 Site Characterization Workplan Approved ADEC letter issued which conditionally approved September 1999 workplan titled "Pre-Field Planning Document: Cleanup, Tanana, Alaska." Eileen Olson
10/14/1999 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Eileen Olson
8/16/2000 Update or Other Action The Pre-field Planning Document Addendum No. 4 to the Release Investigation Plan and Quality Assurance Project Plan was received. The plan discusses field procedures to complete two rounds of groundwater sampling, aquifer pumping and slug tests, continuous groundwater level monitoring, and bioventing tests. Meghan Dooley
6/18/2001 Update or Other Action DEC received the Environmental Compliance Investigation Report for the Tanana FAA Station dated December 1992, prepared by Ecology and Environment, Inc. The purpose of the report was to document the preliminary assessment/site investigation that identified suspected discharges and releases of potential CERCLA hazardous substances and petroleum, oil and lubricants. The report determined there are no CERCLA concerns that require further action, however some additional investigation is necessary near the generator building. Several underground and aboveground storage tanks were recommended to be incorporated in the Alaskan Region Tank Management Plan. It was recommended that a management practices be developed for updating the inventory of hazardous substances and disposal, PCB-contaminated and PCB-free transformers be labeled, and that further investigation be conducted to fully delineate the potential extent of petroleum contamination. Meghan Dooley
7/25/2001 Meeting or Teleconference Held Brief meeting with Jim Swalling of FAA to discuss monitoring well status; dataloggers collecting information on water levels through September/October 2001. Recommended baildown tests for free product during meeting and follow-up email. According to Swalling, draft feas. study stated that free product recovery from two of the wells is feasible. Eileen Olson
9/10/2001 Update or Other Action The Tanana FAA Facility Groundwater Monitoring, February 2000 was received. Groundwater monitoring was conducted at 21 montoring probes and 20 monitoring wells at the Former LIving Quarters Facility in February 2000. Free product was observed in three monitoring wells up to a thickness of 0.03 feet. Benzene is still present above cleanup levels in MW018 and DRO is present above cleanup levels in MW014, MW016, and MW018. RRO is present above cleanup levels in MW014 and MW016. The report recommends a follow up monitoring event to be performed in April 2000. Meghan Dooley
9/10/2001 Update or Other Action The Tanana FAA Facility Groundwater Monitoring, April 2000 was received. The report documents groundwater monitoring results from the April 2000 event that sampled 16 groundwater monitoring wells, and took elevation measurements at 11 monitoring probes and 19 monitoring wells. Product was not encountered in any wells nor were BTEX constituents. DRO was present above cleanup levels in 5 wells, and RRO was above cleanup levels in 2 wells. Monitoring probes were not sampled due to standing surface water and low groundwater levels. Meghan Dooley
9/10/2001 Update or Other Action The Additional Release Investigation Report, Addendum No. 1 to the May 1999 Release Investigation Report was received. The report, dated July 2000 and prepared by CH2-OH, documents additional sampling conducted in August and October 1999. In August, surface water and sediment samples were collected from an intermittent stream adjacent to the former Living Quarters Area to determine if contamination was migrating to the stream which empties into the Yukon. DRO was the only analyte detected at low concentrations, all other analytes were non detect in surface water and sediment. In october, 22 soil borings were installed which were sampled and then converted to permanent monitoring wells. Thirteen existing wells were also sampled. all soil and groundwater were analyzed for GRO, BTEX, DRO and RRO. One water sample was collected at the FSS. Free product was observed in 5 monitoring wells sampled. Results of soil and groundwater samples indicate that contamination may be migrating off site and discharging into the Yukon River. The report recommends quarterly mroungwater monitoring, installation of a free product recovery system, and conducting aquifer testing to provide data used in designing a soil and groundwater remediation system. Meghan Dooley
9/10/2001 Update or Other Action The Tanana FAA Facility Groundwater MOnitoring, August 2000 Report was received. The report, dated October 2000, discusses the results of groundwater sampling at 21 monitoring probes and 20 monitoring wells. Free product was observed in two wells up to 1.02 feet thick. Benzene was present above cleanup levels in four monitoring probes. GRO was present above cleanup levels in 6 monitoring probes, and DRO was present above cleanup levels in 7 monitoring probes. Another groundwater monigoring event was performed the week of October 30, 2000. Meghan Dooley
9/10/2001 Update or Other Action The Tanana FAA Facility Groundwater Monitoring, October-November 2000 was received. The report, dated July 2001 and prepared by CH2-OH, discusses the groundwater monitoring conducted at 21 monitoring probes and 20 monitoring wells a the former Living Quarters Facility. Free product was encountered in four monitoring wells and six monitoring probes up to a thickness of 1.17 feet. Benzene was detected above cleanup levels in four monitoring probes. GRO was detected above cleanup levels in one monitoring well and four monitoring probes. DRO was detected above cleanup levels in five monitoring wells and nine monitoring probes. In the past two monitoring events, the purge versus no-purge groundwater sampling techniques were compared in order to determine if there was a more accurate means of collecting samples. It did not appear that the purge v. no-purge technique had an impact on DRO results, however the no-purge technique results were lower than the purge technique. Therefore, no-purge sampling is not recommended as GRO and BTEX are required analyses. Meghan Dooley
2/27/2002 Update or Other Action Returned call to Herbie Edwin (907) 366-7208. Eileen Olson
9/18/2002 Update or Other Action Sent letter requesting groundwater monitoring for all existing wells on site, with a schedule of monitoring to be submitted by March 31, 2003 and the monitoring to be complete by June 30, 2003. Elizabeth Stergiou
9/4/2003 Update or Other Action ADEC approved the workplan for the Fall 2003 Sampling and Analysis Plan for various sites. Deborah Williams
8/25/2004 Update or Other Action FAA provided a corrected Decommissioning Assessment for AST B-15-12. The original report erroneously stated that 5cy of contaminated soil was removed from beneath the tank when it was decommissioned. Actually, the soil was removed from beneath piping located 6.5' west of the tank. Sharon Richmond
3/30/2006 Update or Other Action Phone call and emails regarding post-treatment testing of fuel-contaminated soil. FAA intends to thermally treat approximately 1240 CY of stockpiled soil. 10 post-treatment samples will be analyzed for GRO, DRO and BTEX. A work plan will be submitted in May 2006 for work to be completed summer 2006. Sharon Richmond
6/29/2006 Update or Other Action Staff provided written response to FAA request for a conditional closure. Although DEC agreed with most of the conclusions presented in the request, the fact that DRO concentrations are ~78,000 mg/kg, free product still remains, and benzene concentrations in groundwater are as high as 200 ug/L, closure could not be considered at this time. Sharon Richmond
9/11/2006 Cleanup Plan Approved Staff received Final Work Plan for UST Decommissioning and Siol Remediation dated August 25, 2006. FAA and DEC communicated via email and teleconference regularly during the development of this work plan. Sharon Richmond
9/6/2007 Update or Other Action The Contaminated Sites project manager spoke with a resident of Tanana who stated that the FAA's contractor left a dump truck with a load of dirt on his property. The FAA was contacted about this inquiry and will address the property owner's concerns. Sharon Richmond
3/13/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for some source areas. BLM/AK Fire Service Housing Complex Tanana (RecKey 1993310126601) and FAA Tanana FABLM/AK FIre Serv. F.S. (Reckey 1989310902514) rankings on hold. Much of the information for these sites is contained within this file. Sharon Richmond
4/14/2008 Update or Other Action The UST Decommissioning and Soil Remediation Final Report, dated December 7, 2007 and prepared by Ahtna was received. The report documents removal of UST 15-C-002 and the contaminated soil associated with the UST. The report also documents the thermal treatment of contaminated soil from two FSS UST excavations and three preexisting stockpiles. Post excavation and treatment soil samples determined that no contamination above cleanup levels remained at the former UST 15-C-001 and 15-C-002 and requests that closure status be granted for the two UST sites. Meghan Dooley
4/16/2008 Update or Other Action FAA submitted a request for clean closures of USTs: 15-B-017; 15-B-007; 15-B-001; 15-A-001; 15-B-011; and 15-B-008. Request letter states that all confirmation samples from all excavations were below ADEC cleanup levels for GRO, DRO, and BTEX. Contaminated soil from all tank excavations was placed in the common site stockpile, which has since been treated. Staff should check TAL-Decommissioning Assessment_Vol_1_And_2 Jul_98 for analytical data sheets before sending closure letter. Sharon Richmond
4/1/2009 Update or Other Action Site review - reassign site to Debenham Fred Vreeman
4/27/2011 Update or Other Action File transferred from Debenham to Dooley Rebecca Bryan
8/13/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Received document titled: Work Plan-Tanana Building Demo, Infrastructure and Remedial Action, FAA Tanana Station, Alaska. Provides the plan of action for removal of remaining buildings, infrastructure, and miscellaneous debris associated with the former FAA Quarters Facility located just east of the Tanana airport. Meredith Savage
4/9/2015 Site Characterization Report Approved The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has completed review of the Post Project Report, Tanana Building and Infrastructure Demolition, FAA Tanana Station, Alaska, dated January, 2015. Several buildings, pilings, concrete pads, sidewalks, and other materials were demolished and/or disposed of as part of the 2014 demolition effort. This effort also included the removal and disposal of lead paint, PCB containing materials, and battery acid bladders. In addition, ten analytical samples for lead were taken around the perimeter of the former Shop Building 205 at a depth ranging from 2 to 24 inches below ground surface. None of the analytical lead samples were at or above the DEC Method 2 residential use cleanup level for lead (400 mg/kg). Monte Garroutte
8/24/2015 Cleanup Plan Approved DEC approved the work plan, Shop Building 205, Decommissioning and Remedial Action, FAA Tanana Station. This work plan describes the methods and procedures that Bethel Services Inc. will employ to demolish and dispose of a concrete slab and foundation, the remains of former Shop Building 205 at the FAA station located in Tanana, Alaska. The work plan also describes methods and procedures to remove and dispose of approximately 10 cubic yards of soil suspected to contain lead at concentrations that exceed the DEC 18 Alaska Administrative Code (AAC) Chapter 75 Method 2 Residential Use Soil Cleanup Level of 400 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). An X-ray fluorescence (XRF) device will be used to screen soils in-situ and to guide removal operations. Confirmation samples will be taken after all XRF readings are below the 200ppm project action screening level. Further excavation will be conducted if the analytical samples are still above the 400 mg/kg cleanup level. Monte Garroutte
9/17/2015 Update or Other Action DEC completed a review of the environmental records associated with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Tanana Station sites in response to tank closure requests for 8 areas of concern (AOCs) at the FAA Tanana Station (letters dated April 8 and 11, 2008), and a multiple AOC closure request (letter dated January 21, 2014). Based on the information provided to date, DEC determined the site status of each area of concern (AOC). These determinations were recorded in a document titled “FAA Tanana Station – Summary of Evaluations and Determinations”, which was dated May 12, 2015, and was signed by the FAA on 9/17/2015. This document will be attached to the site project file. Monte Garroutte
7/2/2018 Update or Other Action Site transferred from PM Garroutte to PM O'Brien on December 5, 2016. SI field work completed. John O'Brien
8/4/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the 2019 Final RI/RA Report for Tanana Station. This report details 2017 site characterization and contaminated soil removal activities at the Tanana FAA station. Brice Environmental (Brice) performed UVOST screening, analytical soil sampling, and groundwater sampling around multiple source areas. Brice also excavated petroleum contaminated soil from the Shop and Quarters/Weather Service Building. They also investigated chlorinated solvents in a leach pit and lead in surface soil at Building 600. Contamination remained above DEC cleanup levels and above HRC acceptable risk levels at most source areas, including where excavation occurred. However, analytical samples at Building 100, Building 103, the NDB Facility, and the Water Treatment and Pumphouse Building Leak Area exhibited contamination that was below ADEC cleanup levels. Additional investigations ruled out both lead contamination of surface soil at Building 600 and a contaminant source upgradient of MW015. Tim Sharp
8/21/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80641 name: Building 100 Leaking Transformer Tim Sharp
8/21/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80640 name: Generator Building (Bldg. 600) Lead Investigation Area Tim Sharp
8/24/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80639 name: Building 101 UST Tim Sharp
8/24/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80642 name: Building 103 Pipeline Tim Sharp
8/24/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80638 name: Former Greenhouse Tim Sharp
8/24/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80643 name: Water Treatment and Pumphouse Building 602 Leak Tim Sharp
8/24/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80637 name: H-Marker (NDB Facility) Tim Sharp
8/31/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78330 Former Living Quarters. Tim Sharp
9/28/2020 Update or Other Action DEC has determined that the contaminant concentrations remaining on site for seven AOCs [H-Marker (NDB Facility), Former Greenhouse, Building 101 UST, Generator Building (Bldg. 600) Lead Investigation Area, Building 100 Leaking Transformer, Building 103 Pipeline, and Water Treatment and Pumphouse Building 602 Leak) do not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment and so delivered a No Further Action Letter to FAA. Tim Sharp
10/2/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80658 name: Building 30 - Pipeline Tim Sharp
10/2/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80670 name: Building 600 Pipeline T Tim Sharp
10/2/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80662 name: Building 105 Pipeline Tim Sharp
10/2/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80659 name: Building 100 UST Tim Sharp
10/2/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80661 name: Building 102 UST Tim Sharp
10/5/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80663 name: Building 106 UST Tim Sharp
10/5/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80664 name: Building 205 - Stressed Vegetation Tim Sharp
10/5/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80665 name: Building 205 Pipeline Tim Sharp
10/5/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80666 name: Building 600 ASTs Tim Sharp
10/5/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80667 name: Building 600 Fuel Barge Storage Area Tim Sharp
10/5/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80668 name: Building 600 AST Tank Farm Tim Sharp
10/5/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80669 name: Building 600 Half Buried Drum Tim Sharp
10/8/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80671 name: Greenhouse - Pipeline T Tim Sharp
10/8/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80672 name: MW015 Upgradient Source Tim Sharp
10/8/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80673 name: FSS Leach Cribs Tim Sharp
10/8/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80674 name: FAA Shop and Quarters/Weather Service Building Tim Sharp

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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