Site Report: Palmer Tesoro AKA Tesoro Fisher Wholesale Tanks

Site Name:	Palmer Tesoro AKA Tesoro Fisher Wholesale Tanks
Address:	174 W Arctic Avenue & Glenn Hwy, Palmer, AK 99645
File Number:	2245.26.002
Hazard ID:	23764
Status:	Cleanup Complete
Staff:	No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude:	61.607000
Longitude:	-149.117500
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.

Site Chronology
IC / Closure Details
Documents
Associated Sites

Problems/Comments

Petroleum contamination is present in soil and groundwater as a result of leaks from USTs and/or piping and dispensers at the site. This site was combined with file 2245.26.003 and is also known as Tesoro Fisher Wholesale Tanks CO #48978. These are two source areas rather than sites and will be combined to reflect that. Address is 175 West Arctic according to the borough (Tract 1) but 174 West Arctic appears to also have been used. This facility is not to be confused other tank facilities that have been owned/operated by Fisher Fuels such as those along the Parks Highway. The facility is no longer operating as a commercial fueling station, and remediation of soil at the site via land farming is underway

Action Information

Action Date	Action	Description	DEC Staff
11/9/1989	Site Added to Database		Former Staff
11/9/1989	Leaking Underground Storage Tank Release Confirmed - Petroleum	LUST Site created in CSP for source area ID 77696 ADD; Database entry for 2245.26.003 was on 05/29/1996. LUST Site created in CSP for source area ID 77694 Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination found during tank removal. Unknown which staff created the orginal database action.	Former Staff
12/26/1989	Underground Storage Tank Site Characterization or Assessment	Date of receipt for Northern Test Lab sampling report documented hydrocarbon contamination in both soils & groundwater with the most likely source of contamination being the underground storage tank system and operation of loading rack north of the area sampled. Report states that leak tightness testing performed in July 1989 passed the tank tightness test. Other activities performed October 1989. Groundwater encountered at 25 feet bgs. Groundwater samples collected from split spoon sampler. Report includes test hole logs. Visible contamination and hydrocarbon odors were noted. Report also mentions water main break. TH1-TH3 contamination was noted at depth (groundwater interface), TH5 visibly contaminated from just below asphalt to ~ 9-10 feet bgs. Report also suggests that chromatograms showed that contamination in the TH5 area showed a heavier hydrocarbon pattern. Database action originally entered by unknown staff member and later corrected.	Keather McLoone
2/12/1990	Update or Other Action	Mike Krieber sent a follow up letter after a meeting on Feb 7, 1990 and reviewing letter from Fisher's Fuel, Inc., dated February 5, 1990.	Alyce Hughey
2/23/1990	Update or Other Action	Mike Krieber sent a letter of response after reviewing the February 14, 1990 Site Assessment Plan letter and Quality Assurance/Quality Control Plan from Gilfilian Engineering.	Alyce Hughey
3/30/1990	Release Investigation	Date of report and receipt of report by Gilgilian Engineering, Inc. Letter report regarding Phase I Site Assessment Plan provides findings of hyrdrogeological investigation according to an approved (2/23/90) plan. Report includes boring logs and well construction details. Three monitoring wells installed at the site at "the locations shown on the enclosed site plan". Samples collected from these wells analyzed for TPH and 602 compounds. Results of interest are 2.71 mg/L DRO in MW-1 and 0.057 mg/L benzene in MW-3. Other file information shows that MW-1 was installed in the southeast corner of the site, MW-2 in the northwest corner, and MW-3 in the southwest and that gradient towards the southeast based on 1990 observations. Updated and corrected original database action by previous, unknown staff.	Keather McLoone
4/2/1990	Update or Other Action	Mike Krieber sent a letter after reviewing the Phase I Site Assessment Plan, dated March 30, 1990 from Gilfilian Engineering, stating that based on the findings a Phase II is recommended.	Alyce Hughey
4/17/1990	Leaking Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Initiated - Petroleum		Former Staff
11/9/1995	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Reviewed groundwater monitoring report. Letter report by New Horizons received 10/2/1995 dated 9/29/1995. Samples from three wells analyzed for VPH and BTEX. Highest VPH result was 0.243 mg/L and highest benzene result was 0.0036 mg/L. Report text also discusses Sutton Hilltop site. Although this sampling event were under MCLs, there has not been a consistent groundwater monitoring program since the wells were installed in 1990. Information updated/corrected from what had previously been entered by an unknown staff member.	Keather McLoone
9/30/1996	Leaking Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Initiated - Petroleum	Plan approval of an on-site passive aeration treatment cell is conditional upon adequate containment of the treatment cell. Due to this windy location, care needs to be taken to ensure that the cell is properly covered to prevent the soil from becoming airborne. Originally entered for 2245.26.003 as LUST Corrective Action Underway (which is no longer a database option).	Robert Weimer
9/30/1996	Underground Storage Tank Site Characterization or Assessment	Reviewed a Tank Closure Site Assessment Report. Additional site assessment and cleanup appears to be needed to the west of the tanks, within the Glenn Highway right-of-way. RP needs to submit a plan by 11/15/96 describing the proposed work and sampling. Some soil excavated and stockpiled. Entry originally for 2245.26.003 by unknown staff. Waste oil (used oil) tank reportedly was originally a heating oil tank and not registered as it should have been at change in use. Samples associated with the waste oil tank did include analyses for 4 RCRA metals. One sample collected with the initial excavation associated with this tank was later reopened, additional contamination removed, and three more samples collected. Three contained results above migration to groundwater for DRO and benzene, up to 9,920 mg/kg and 0.898 mg/kg respectively. One GRO, one ethylbenzene, and one toluene result also above that criteria, at 438, 7.83, and 13.8 mg/kg respectively. Five samples were collected after the removal of the two diesel tanks. One DRO result was above current DRO migration to groundwater criteria at 8,230 mg/kg.	Keather McLoone
11/20/1997	Update or Other Action	ADEC sends Notification of Intent to Cost Recover Letter to Current Owner: FISHERS FUEL INC.	Former Staff
8/15/2001	Update or Other Action	Request that uncovered treatment cell is covered. File review: 1) release investigation needed to assess extent of the contamination especially in the right-of-way 2) resample monitoring wells 3) need a sampling plan for the treatment cell 4) based on the results of the release investigation a corrective action plan is needed for the remaining soil and groundwater contamination. Database entry originally for 2245.26.003 and entered by Sharon Sadlon.	Keather McLoone
11/3/2004	Update or Other Action	File number issued 2245.26.002.	Aggie Blandford
12/15/2004	Update or Other Action	Update: Site still needs groundwater monitoring. Still have not received the sampling and information previously requested.	Robert Weimer
10/21/2005	Update or Other Action	Confirmation groundwater monitoring results have not been submitted to date.	Robert Weimer
3/23/2006	Update or Other Action	Project manager changed from Robert Weimer to Don Seagren per Paul Horwath.	Alyce Hughey
3/23/2006	Update or Other Action	Using the Hydrogeological Investigation of Palmer Tesoro Service Station Map from Gilfilian Engineering, dated 3/30/90, in conjuction with TopoZone Pro and Matanuska - Susitna Borough, entered the coordinates for this site. Metadata includes Topo Map 1:24K/25K, on a Medium Size Map, View Scale 1:10,000, Coordinate Datum NAD83. Moderate to high degree of confidence in accuracy of location.	Alyce Hughey
4/6/2006	Update or Other Action	Reviewed file and reports. Sent letter requesting project Status update. Additional corrective action work that may be required will depend on a review of any additional documentation Mr. Fisher is able to provide.	Donald Seagren
8/14/2006	Update or Other Action	Re-sent project status update request letter certified/ return receipt. No response was received to previous request.	Donald Seagren
9/18/2006	Update or Other Action	Brad Fisher called to discuss site and respond to ADEC letter. Nothing has been done since original repsonse. He will send a letter in response. We will work together to bring site to closure.	Donald Seagren
3/7/2007	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking		Former Staff
5/14/2008	Update or Other Action	Site transferred from Don Seagren to Anchorage.	Alyce Hughey
9/16/2008	Update or Other Action	Keather McLoone assigned as ADEC project manager for this site.	Linda Nuechterlein
9/17/2008	Update or Other Action	Phone conversation with Brad Fisher to introduce myself as the new CS PM for this site and to discuss site status. He indicated that he will be sampling the stockpile (from excavation reported in 2245.26.003) in the next several weeks as he suspects the passive bioventing system is not effectively remediating the silty soil and that he will need to have it treated at ASR. He will have consultant send a report with the sample results and a request for soil transport, if appropriate.	Keather McLoone
9/26/2008	Leaking Underground Storage Tank Release Confirmed - Petroleum	LUST site created in CSP database for source area various releases, 77696	Keather McLoone
11/5/2008	Update or Other Action	Spoke again with Brad Fisher to confirm that the current database and file information is up to date with work that has been done at this site to date. Will be meeting Mr. Fisher at the site next week to check on monitoring wells and discuss future actions at the site.	Keather McLoone
11/14/2008	Site Visit	Visit to meet Fisher Fuel representative to discuss site history and future activities. Two monitoring wells that were installed along Arctic reportedly destroyed during road upgrade activities. Two wells along northern border of site still present but one is no longer housed in protective casing due to installation of a sewage system manhole. Were not able to determine if either contains water. According to verbal communicaton, wells were installed to a reportedly prescribed depth of ~32 feet and contained water shortly after installation but were later found to be dry and that is why they haven't been sampled. Soil stockpile remains onsite and will reportedly be transported to ASR for treatment in 2009. Tank upgrade work planned for 2010.	Keather McLoone
12/4/2008	Update or Other Action	DEC contacted by Fred Meyer/Kroger with verbal results of Phase I and Phase II site assessments on property across Arctic that has previously been undeveloped. They are planning on developing the site into a gas station/convenience store. Analytical results forwarded via email indicate that groundwater at property, when located, contained about 21.4 ug/L (0.0214 mg/L) benzene.	Keather McLoone
12/5/2008	Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter	Letter containing the notification of cost recovery. Letter also to, again, request additional site characterization.	Keather McLoone
12/12/2008	Update or Other Action	Receipt of due diligence reports generated by GeoEngineers this for work performed this fall for Fred Meyer/Kroger on undeveloped property across the street from Palmer Tesoro/Fisher Wholesale Tanks - Palmer. Includes Phase I, Phase II, and Geotech reports. Phase II report indicates that samples were also collected for DRO and GRO but these results were not obtained because of turbidity in sample collected from bailer used to collect water from inside hollow stem auger. VOA results collected this way be biased and should be considered estimates for this reason. Also, it is unclear whether trip blank that traveled with the samples is what was reported by the laboratory. Earlier email communication (12/4) indicated during the Phase II effort groundwater was not encountered in first boring within the first 50 feet. Second boring found confined perched water somewhere between 30 and 35 feet. Water rose in the stem to ~26 feet single grab sample was collected. As the auger was advanced, dry soils were again encountered.	Keather McLoone
12/23/2008	Update or Other Action	DEC contacted by Mat-Su Borough's contractor regarding a potential purchase for road construction right of way at property across Arctic.	Keather McLoone
1/23/2009	Update or Other Action	Combining this file with 2245.26.003 - hardcopy, electronic, and database information. This was done to accurately reflect that both the Palmer Tesoro and Fisher Wholesale Tanks - Palmer are the same site, with more than one source area.	Keather McLoone
2/17/2009	Update or Other Action	Receipt of letter from AlaskChem Engineering on behalf of Fisher Fuels regarding well survey information and proposal to complete this information. Email from DEC sent 2/25/09 accepting the proposed collection of additional information with a request for additional verification of status of wells #3, #6B, and #9 (downgradient wells presented on Figure 1 Water Line Map and Wells). Email also indicated that DEC will consider the request to postpone additional site work until 2010 after receiving the additional well survey information and more information about what work is planned for 2010.	Keather McLoone
2/25/2009	Update or Other Action	Receipt via email of additional well survey information from AlaskChem on behalf of Fisher Fuels. This information further (in addition to Palmer ordinance 13.08.030 regarding requirements for water and sewer connections to municipal system and available information regarding the hydrogeology of the area) that ingestion of groundwater unlikely to be a pathway of concern.	Keather McLoone
3/18/2009	Update or Other Action	Letter to RP after recent receipt of well survey information and discussion with their consultant regarding sampling of current onsite stockpile. "From the information that has been provided to us, it appears that ingestion of groundwater does not present a current risk. However, if future information indicates that this site may pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment, ADEC will request earlier action. This letter is also intended to formalize clarification of stockpile sampling requirements sent via email on March 6, 2009. This sampling should follow 18 AAC 78.605 for soil sample number and location."	Keather McLoone
3/24/2009	Update or Other Action	Discussions with AlaskChem (consultant for Fisher Fuels) regarding sampling of onsite stockpile and potential use of MI sampling to determine whether the stockpile could be used as onsite or offsite fill or if it needed to be transported to ASR for active treatment. Email from Earl indicates that if MI guidance is followed including the use of 95% UCL, then MI sampling may be appropriate for this stockpile. After receiving records request form, emailed AlaskChem and Fisher photos taken in December 1989 which indicate a stained area behind building that has not yet been addressed. This stained area was included in the 12/18/1989 letter from DEC to Fisher notifying the AS violated and directing followup work.	Keather McLoone
3/24/2009	Update or Other Action	Discussions with AlaskChem (consultant for Fisher Fuels) regarding sampling of onsite stockpile and potential use of MI sampling to determine whether the stockpile could be used as onsite or offsite fill or if it needed to be transported to ASR for active treatment. Email from Earl indicates that if MI guidance is followed including the use of 95% UCL, then MI sampling may be appropriate for this stockpile. After receiving records request form, emailed AlaskChem and Fisher photos taken in December 1989 which indicate a stained area behind building that has not yet been addressed. This stained area was included in the 12/18/1989 letter from DEC to Fisher notifying the AS violated and directing followup work.	Keather McLoone
6/9/2009	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Review of Contaminated Media Management Plan Proposed Fred Meyer Fueling Facility 170 West Arctic Avenue Palmer by GeoEngineers received June 8, 2009. This plan was also sent to Brad Fisher. Email sent to Dan Hermann of Fred Meyer Stores conveying items to consider including in the plan and asking that ADEC be notified of encountering contamination.	Keather McLoone
1/13/2010	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking	A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 77696 various releases.	Keather McLoone
4/20/2010	Update or Other Action	Another letter was sent as further follow up on proposed use of MI sampling for onsite stockpile stating that if MI sampling was to be used, it should be used without modification. ADEC recommends sampling should follow 18 AAC 78.605 for soil sample number and location.	Keather McLoone
5/19/2010	Site Visit	Site visit was conducted to observe whether the onsite stockpile was still present and any other facility changes that could be readily observed. Fred Meyer's facility across the street is constructed and operational.	Keather McLoone
6/27/2011	Site Visit	Site visit to observe current site conditions. Stockpile has been disturbed as if there may have been some sampling conducted. A trench was observed thru its center which appears similar to what was proposed in the unapproved workplan.	Keather McLoone
7/6/2011	Update or Other Action	Email from reponsible party on this date stating that the stockpile was sampled "to propose a work plan".	Keather McLoone
8/18/2011	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Report comment letter main points • The background section states “The city has an ordinance requiring connection to city water, …”. This ordinance is not considered to be protective of the ingestion of groundwater pathway. Interpretation of Palmer city code 13.08.030 should include subsection D which states “Subsections (A) and (B) of this section notwithstanding, a residential dwelling no larger than a two-family dwelling, located on a parcel having an area of at least 20,000 square feet shall not be required to be connected to the city sanitary sewer system or water distribution system; provided, that the city manager has granted a written waiver from the applicable requirements of subsections (A) and/or (B) of this section.” Furthermore, waivers are available for “various reasons” according to the Palmer Public Works superintendent. Finally, the code does not apply if the location is more than 150 of the public water utility. • While an earlier evaluation concluded that contaminated groundwater did not pose a current risk, based on the information presented by your consultant, a potential future risk remains and the use of Migration to Groundwater cleanup levels is required. • Contaminated groundwater poses the additional, significant concern of causing offsite migration of contamination that could impact adjacent properties. There has been some information that suggests that groundwater contamination from the subject site may have migrated onto at least one adjacent property. Furthermore, contaminated groundwater should be evaluated for its potential to cause a vapor intrusion hazard. • The work reported in this document constitutes operating without an approved workplan as is required by 18 AAC 75.355. • The DRO data point, sample A6811-6, that resulted from what was presented as a modified Multi Increment (MI) sampling technique is not considered usable. The process used to obtain this data point did not follow MI guidance as was indicated would be required in the last comment letter addressing the previously submitted, unapproved workplan. A significant deviation from MI guidance is the lack of triplicate samples. Triplicate samples are required to verify that such a sample truly represents the stockpile. Furthermore, this sample, without documentation to show that it was screened and subsampled correctly, may represent a further low bias to the result and should be considered a composite sample rather than a MI sample. • The report proposes a landspreading disposition of the stockpile which is not approved by ADEC at this time given the high accessibility of this location and lack of site control. A workplan addressing such a disposal option must be submitted for approval by ADEC. • Contrary to the statement in the report “Volatiles were not tested as they were not presumed to be risk drivers…”, benzene should be considered a risk driver at this site. Also, future characterization should include RRO and PAHs as directed in Appendix F of the Draft Field Sampling Guidance. • This site requires further characterization of both the soil and groundwater contamination to delineate the nature and extent before any site status decisions will be made. A heating oil tank was shown to have heavy staining in photo documentation from 1989. This source area has not yet been investigated and this tank was located at the southeast corner of the building, not southwest as stated in the report. A groundwater investigation is also required for this site. • The contaminated soil in the former excavations source areas needs further characterization in order to evaluate the nature and extent of contamination remaining in that source area. The diesel UST excavations had no analytical data other than DRO results; therefore the nature of the contamination left behind has not been adequately characterized. Several confirmation samples exceeded the appropriate site cleanup levels for both the diesel UST excavations and the waste oil tank excavation; therefore, the extent of contamination remaining has not been adequately characterized. • Further characterization of the nature and extent of contamination is also needed in the pump island area based on information reported in the 1989 Site Assessment report.	Keather McLoone
9/1/2011	Update or Other Action	Responsible party submitted to SPAR director a request for an Informal Review. Contested decision was in August 18, 2011 report comment letter regarding that Migration to Groundwater pathway can not be eliminated and an absence of a current risk of ingestion of drinking water does not equal a 350 determination.	Keather McLoone
9/7/2011	Update or Other Action	Letter from acting Contaminated Sites Program Manager denying the request for an informal review.	Keather McLoone
9/25/2011	Site Visit	Site visit on this date confirms that the facility is currently closed. UST program staff have confirmed that they were notified of a permanent closure but it did not appear that dirt work had begun.	Keather McLoone
1/23/2012	Update or Other Action	Receipt of letter sent by AlaskChem on behalf of Brad Fisher requesting reconsideration of our earlier assertions that groundwater contamination needs to be evaluated(i.e. consideration of ingestion of groundwater pathway and migration to groundwater cleanup levels is required).	Keather McLoone
2/24/2012	Update or Other Action	DEC response to January 23, 2012 letter from AlaskChem on behalf of Fisher Fuels with email from Bill Janes dated February 8, 2012 attached.	Keather McLoone
2/29/2012	Update or Other Action	Phone conversation with Brad Fisher who wanted to know if there would be a problem with performing the removal and site assessment of the current tanks separate from the other site characterization effort. AlaskChem had previously proposed submitting a workplan covering both. I indicated that I didn't have an objection to this. The current tanks are in a different location that the previous tanks.	Keather McLoone
6/19/2012	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Reviewed Fisher's Fuel, Palmer Tesoro; LUST 2245.26.002 UST Removal Work Plan Revision 2. The work plan includes information on the removal of the three remaining USTs. Tanks 3 and 4 are 12,000 gallon gasoline tanks installed in 1976 and tank 5 is a 5,000 gallon diesel tank installed in 1988. The USTs, piping and dispensers will be removed in accordance with 18 AAC 78. Additionally, the ~300 cy stockpile currently onsite will be landfarmed along the north side of the property, tilled through the summer, then sampled to evaluate cleanup progress. Contaminated soil excavated during the UST removals will also be landfarmed on site, tilled and sampled. Access to the site will be controlled with fencing and measures will be in place to control runoff.	Bill O'Connell
8/9/2012	Site Visit	Site visit today. The former gas station is currently occupied by a second hand shop. Two covered stockpiles were present behind the building near a slightly below grade excavation area. The former stockpile is still in place and landfarming has yet to commence	Bill O'Connell
12/14/2012	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Reviewed 2012 UST Systems Removal Report for Palmer Tesoro. Two, 12,000-gallon gasoline USTs and one 5,000-gallon diesel UST were removed, along with the associated fuel piping. The gasoline USTs were removed from a common excavation, along with approximately 320 cy of impacted soil. Confirmation soil samples collected from the bottom of the excavation did not contain contaminants above cleanup levels. The diesel tank was removed from its own excavation along with approximately 140 cy of impacted soil. Confirmation samples collected from the bottom of the excavation did not contain contaminants above cleanup levels. Investigation of the fuel piping began by uncovering and inspecting the lines, which included two gasoline lines and one diesel line from the former USTs in a common trench. Each line was approximately 150 feet long with couplings every 20 feet. Field screening was conducted along the trenches and below the former dispensers. One sample was collected at the 90 degree bend in the piping trench where contamination was noted during field screening, and four samples were collected from beneath the former dispensers. The sample from the piping trench contained GRO at 2,990 mg/kg, benzene at 17.9 mg/kg, toluene at 295 mg/kg, ethylbenzene at 160 mg/kg and total xylenes at 704 mg/kg. At the dispensers, GRO was detected up to 17,200 mg/kg, benzene up to 346 mg/kg, toluene up to 3,770 mg/kg, ethylbenzene up to 668 mg/kg, and total xylenes up to 5,910 mg/kg. Each of these concentrations exceed the migration to groundwater cleanup level. The PAHs naphthalene and 2-methylnaphthalene were also detected above the cleanup level. An area on the north side of the site was fenced for the purposes of landfarming contaminated soil. A ~300-400 cy stockpile remaining from the 1996 tank removals was spread in this area, and the soil from the 2012 tank excavation was moved to within the fenced area, placed on a liner and covered awaiting treatment via landfarming. A composite soil sample collected from the spread soil contained DRO at 735 mg/kg. A former heating oil tank located along the northeast corner of the building was investigated by excavating a test pit to below the depth of the former tank. Soil samples did not indicate the presence of contamination in this area.	Bill O'Connell
5/7/2013	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Reviewed 2013 work plan for Palmer Tesoro. Soil from the former treatment cell will be landfarmed inside the fenced treatment area. Soil that was removed during the 2012 UST excavations will be screened to remove oversize material, placed into stockpiles, field screened every 20 cy and one sample collected for every 100 cy to determine potential reuse as backfill at the dispenser excavation, which is planned for 2013.	Bill O'Connell
9/19/2013	Site Visit		Bill O'Connell
5/1/2014	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Reviewed 2013 Assessment Report and Proposed 2014 Work Plan for Palmer Tesoro. In 2013, stockpiles of diesel contaminated soil and gasoline contaminated soil were screened to remove oversize material and sampled to evaluate contaminant concentrations. Samples were also collected from the 1996 stockpile which was spread in the fenced treatment area. A small amount of contaminated soil (140-160 cy) was excavated from the dispenser area and added to the landfarm. The sample from the diesel stockpile contained DRO at 219 mg/kg and this soil was used as backfill in the dispenser excavation. Samples from the gasoline contaminated stockpile contained DRO up to 613 mg/kg and benzene up to 0.0441 mg/kg. Samples from the 1996 stockpile contained DRO up to 526 mg/kg and benzene up to 0.0421 mg/kg. In situ samples collected from the small excavation at the dispenser area contained GRO up to 2,190 mg/kg, benzene up to 17.3 mg/kg and DRO up to 274 mg/kg. The concentrations noted above are all above Method Two cleanup levels. The soil in the landfarm will be turned on a regular basis in Summer 2014.	Bill O'Connell
5/9/2014	Enforcement Action	ADEC sent a letter to the responsible party dated May 9th stating that a groundwater investigation work plan must be submitted by June 15th, 2014 or formal enforcement action will be taken including a notice of violation and referral to the Attorney General's office for potential legal action.	Bill O'Connell
6/26/2014	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Reviewed work plan for groundwater evaluation at Palmer Tesoro. Three wells are proposed for installation, one near the property boundary where contamination from the dispensers is likely to remain, one across the street in the right of way, and a third well approximately 400 feet from the source area along West Blueberry Ave. Soil samples will be collected from the saturated zone during well installation and analyzed for DRO, GRO, and BTEX. The newly installed wells will be sampled for the same analytes following installation.	Bill O'Connell
7/25/2014	Site Visit		Bill O'Connell
9/23/2014	Update or Other Action	Soil samples collected form the onsite landfarm indicate benzene remains at concentrations above the migration to groundwater cleanup level. The landfarm will be amended with fertilizer, tilling will continue, and the soil samples will be collected again in Spring 2015. The groundwater investigation will be deferred until next year.	Bill O'Connell
4/17/2015	Update or Other Action	Work plan for groundwater investigation revised to include the use of passive diffusion bags for groundwater sampling. One well near the source area will also be sampled using a bailer for comparison.	Bill O'Connell
11/6/2015	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Reviewed 2015 Assessment Report for Fisher’s Fuel; Palmer Tesoro. Two groundwater monitoring wells were installed at the site. Well FM was installed on the Fred Meyer property across Arctic Ave from the former Palmer Tesoro and well FE was placed near the former dispensers on the Palmer Tesoro property. Groundwater was located at approximately 25-30 feet below ground surface and soil samples were collected from each borehole at the approximate groundwater interface. Existing well SW was located on the Palmer Tesoro property was located and sampled along with the two new wells. Wells SE and FM were sampled using passive diffusion bags, well SW was sampled using a pump. A stockpile of contaminated soil excavated from around the former dispensers in 2014 was sampled to evaluate contaminant concentrations by breaking the stockpile into smaller piles, conducting field screening at 47 locations and collecting soil samples from the 8 highest field screening locations. Groundwater samples contained benzene above the cleanup level of 5 ug/l in well FM at 57.3 ug/l and well SE at 2,390 ug/l. The sample from well SE contained GRO above the cleanup level of 1.3 mg/l at 9.82 mg/l. Each of the soil samples from the boreholes contained benzene above the cleanup level at concentrations up to 0.419 mg/kg at 26 feet bgs in well SE and each of the stockpile samples also contained benzene above the cleanup level at concentrations up to 0.146 mg/kg. An alternative cleanup level for benzene in soil was proposed and is currently under review.	Bill O'Connell
4/11/2016	Cleanup Level(s) Approved	Reviewed 2016 Work Plan for Excavation and Groundwater Investigation at the former Palmer Tesoro. The work plan also includes a request for Method Three cleanup levels for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, GRO, and DRO. This will reportedly be the final effort to excavate contamination from the former dispenser/fuel line area. Soil meeting the proposed Method Three cleanup levels will be removed from the treatment cell and staged for use as backfill. The treatment cell will be re-contoured to maximize the treatment area. Contaminated soil will be excavated from the source area to a depth of 15 feet below ground surface and placed in the treatment cell. The excavation will be field screened and sampled in accordance with the 2016 Field Sampling Guidance. Samples will be analyzed for GRO/BTEX and DRO, with 10% of the samples also analyzed for PAHs. The request for a Method Three cleanup level for BTEX is based on site specific information regarding hydraulic gradient and infiltration rate. The following Method Three soil cleanup levels are approved for this site: benzene-0.35 mg/kg, toluene-88 mg/kg, ethylbenzene- 94 mg/kg, xylenes- 63 mg/kg, GRO-680 mg/kg and DRO-600 mg/kg. Two new groundwater monitoring wells will be installed in an effort to delineate the extent of groundwater contamination. A soil sample will be collected from the groundwater interface from each borehole and analyzed for GRO/BTEX + naphthalene and DRO. Groundwater samples will be collected from the new wells following well development and analyzed for the same parameters.	Bill O'Connell
12/27/2016	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Reviewed 2016 Excavation Report for Palmer Tesoro. An additional 1,800 cy of contaminated soil was excavated from the former dispenser area and stockpiled in the onsite remediation cell. The excavation was backfilled with clean soil and approximately 800 cy of soil that had been landfarmed onsite and met the alternative cleanup levels (ACLs). Confirmation samples collected from the base and sidewalls of the excavation contained benzene above the ACL in 11 samples up to a maximum detected concentration of 9.13 mg/kg in sample F615-18 collected approximately 15 feet below ground surface. Toluene, xylenes, naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, and GRO were also detected above cleanup levels in excavation confirmation samples. Monitoring well installation planned for 2016 will be delayed until 2017 due to property access issues. An effort was also made in 2016 to evaluate potential releases from USTs that were in place at the former Westside Service station, which was in operation at this property from around 1949 to 1968. Based on historic air photos and first-hand accounts, a large test pit was excavated and soil samples collected based on field screening at 5 locations. Contaminants were not detected above cleanup levels and no USTs or fueling system components were discovered. Contaminated soil that was excavated is proposed for landfarming at Fisher’s Hilltop Tesoro in Sutton pending work plan approval.	Bill O'Connell
4/13/2017	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Reviewed Excavated Soil Treatment Work Plan for Palmer Tesoro. Approximately 1,800 cy of petroleum contaminated soil generated at the Palmer Tesoro site is proposed for treatment via land farming at the Sutton Hilltop Tesoro. An area approximately 1.4 acres in size has been prepared for land farming in Summer 2017. A rental unit currently adjacent to the proposed land farm will be demolished prior to commencement of land farming activities. Soil samples collected from the stockpiled soil contained DRO, GRO, BTEX above cleanup levels. Soil will first be transported to Hilltop Tesoro and staged in a 2 foot stockpile. Signs and fencing will be used to control access to the stockpile. The land farm will be constructed and soil will be spread in early summer. Best Management Practices are proposed to control runoff as required under the Construction General Permit and include surveying and grading/contouring areas to insure any accumulated precipitation infiltrates into the land farm and placing dikes along any potential runoff pathways. The soil will be screened and 2-inch plus material will be removed, then the soil will be spread to a uniform thickness of approximately 8 inches and tilled every few weeks. Interim monitoring will include field screening with a PID and composite sampling. Final land farm closure sampling will be conducted in accordance with a separate work plan.	Bill O'Connell
5/19/2017	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Reviewed 2017 Assessment Report for Palmer Tesoro. The report contains information on activities conducted at the site in both 2016 and 2017. In 2016, groundwater samples were collected from source area well SE and downgradient well FM-1. Well SE contained benzene at 1,130 ug/l, above the cleanup level of 4.6 ug/l and ethylbenzene at 119 ug/l, above the cleanup level of 15 ug/l. Well FM-1 contained benzene at 118 ug/l. No other contaminants were detected above cleanup levels. In February 2017, one new well, FM-2 was constructed downgradient of the site on the Fred Meyer fuel station property. One soil sample was collected from the approximate groundwater interface at 26.5 feet below ground surface. Contaminants were not detected in the soil sample. The water sample from the newly installed well also did not contain detectable concentrations of contaminants. Wells SE and FM-1 were sampled again in May 2017. The sample from well SE contained benzene, ethylbenzene and xylenes above cleanup levels; the sample from well FM-1 did not contain contaminants above cleanup levels. The approximately 1,800 cy of petroleum contaminated soil that was excavated in in 2016 was transported to the Sutton Hilltop Tesoro for landfarming.	Bill O'Connell
11/2/2017	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking	A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 77696 various releases.	Bill O'Connell
2/12/2018	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Reviewed work plan for 2018 groundwater monitoring. Wells SE, FM-1, and SW will be sampled.	Bill O'Connell
4/10/2018	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Reviewed February 2018 groundwater monitoring report for Palmer Tesoro. Groundwater samples were collected from on-property monitoring wells SE and SW, and from off-property well FM-1. The sample from well SE contained benzene and ethylbenzene above Table C cleanup levels. Wells SW and FM-1 did not contain contaminants above cleanup levels.	Bill O'Connell
6/28/2018	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Reviewed June 2018 sampling report for Palmer Tesoro. Groundwater samples were collected from monitoring wells FM-1, SE, and SW. Contaminants were below cleanup levels in offsite well FM-1 and source area well SE. Well SW contained DRO at 1.58 mg/l, which is the first exceedance of cleanup levels in this well in recent years.	Bill O'Connell
9/13/2018	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Monitoring well SW was repaired and re-developed then sampled. DRO was detected at 1.22 mg/l.	Bill O'Connell
10/1/2018	Update or Other Action	Reviewed landfarm sampling update. A single soil sample was collected form the location with the highest field screening results. Benzene, ethylbenzene,. naphthalene and 1,2-dicholoethane exceeded cleanup levels	Bill O'Connell
12/5/2018	Update or Other Action	Consultant reported that samples collected on 12/4/18 (following the 11/30/18 7.0 earthquake) were from wells that were turbid/discolored. Consultant was concerned about samples being biased high. Samples had not yet been analyzed and ADEC recommended that re-sampling occur as to obtain maximum data usability.	Kara Kusche
1/16/2019	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Reviewed December 2018 Sampling report. Groundwater samples were collected from well SE and SW. Contaminants were not detected in above cleanup levels in either sample.	Bill O'Connell
1/28/2019	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Reviewed work plan for MW decommissioning. The four MWs on the former Palmer Tesoro property and the two monitoring wells on Fred Meyer property will be decommissioned in accordance with ADEC guidance in preparation for site closure.	Bill O'Connell
1/29/2019	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking	A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 77696 various releases.	Bill O'Connell
4/8/2019	Update or Other Action	21 soil samples collected from 3,300 CY stockpile based on 333 PID readings. Soil was excavated from beneath he former Palmer Tesoro building and did not contain contaminants above DEC cleanup levels.	Bill O'Connell
4/30/2019	Update or Other Action	All site monitoring wells were decommissioned in accordance with DEC guidance.	Bill O'Connell
6/28/2019	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Reviewed field work summary for property development activities at Former Palmer Tesoro site. Activities included stockpile sampling, contaminated soil excavation and limited delineation. Stockpiles and excavated soils contained contaminants above DEC cleanup levels and were hauled to the Sutton Hilltop Landfarm for treatment. Confirmation samples from the base and sidewalls of the excavation contained petroleum, contaminants at concentrations consistent with historical data. Contaminant concentration exceeded the migration to groundwater cleanup levels in several locations but were below human health cleanup levels. At the location with the highest results, a test pit was excavated an additional 6 feet below the base of the excavation to evaluate the vertical extent of contamination. A soil sample from the test pit did not contain detectable concentrations of contaminations. This data, along with the existing groundwater data from the site indicates contaminants detected at the base of the excavation are not a risk to groundwater, therefore no further action will be required in these areas.	Bill O'Connell

Action Date

Action

Description

DEC Staff

11/9/1989

Site Added to Database

Former Staff

11/9/1989

Leaking Underground Storage Tank Release Confirmed - Petroleum

LUST Site created in CSP for source area ID 77696 ADD; Database entry for 2245.26.003 was on 05/29/1996. LUST Site created in CSP for source area ID 77694 Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination found during tank removal. Unknown which staff created the orginal database action.

Former Staff

12/26/1989

Underground Storage Tank Site Characterization or Assessment

Date of receipt for Northern Test Lab sampling report documented hydrocarbon contamination in both soils & groundwater with the most likely source of contamination being the underground storage tank system and operation of loading rack north of the area sampled. Report states that leak tightness testing performed in July 1989 passed the tank tightness test. Other activities performed October 1989. Groundwater encountered at 25 feet bgs. Groundwater samples collected from split spoon sampler. Report includes test hole logs. Visible contamination and hydrocarbon odors were noted. Report also mentions water main break. TH1-TH3 contamination was noted at depth (groundwater interface), TH5 visibly contaminated from just below asphalt to ~ 9-10 feet bgs. Report also suggests that chromatograms showed that contamination in the TH5 area showed a heavier hydrocarbon pattern. Database action originally entered by unknown staff member and later corrected.

Keather McLoone

2/12/1990

Update or Other Action

Mike Krieber sent a follow up letter after a meeting on Feb 7, 1990 and reviewing letter from Fisher's Fuel, Inc., dated February 5, 1990.

Alyce Hughey

2/23/1990

Update or Other Action

Mike Krieber sent a letter of response after reviewing the February 14, 1990 Site Assessment Plan letter and Quality Assurance/Quality Control Plan from Gilfilian Engineering.

Alyce Hughey

3/30/1990

Release Investigation

Date of report and receipt of report by Gilgilian Engineering, Inc. Letter report regarding Phase I Site Assessment Plan provides findings of hyrdrogeological investigation according to an approved (2/23/90) plan. Report includes boring logs and well construction details. Three monitoring wells installed at the site at "the locations shown on the enclosed site plan". Samples collected from these wells analyzed for TPH and 602 compounds. Results of interest are 2.71 mg/L DRO in MW-1 and 0.057 mg/L benzene in MW-3. Other file information shows that MW-1 was installed in the southeast corner of the site, MW-2 in the northwest corner, and MW-3 in the southwest and that gradient towards the southeast based on 1990 observations. Updated and corrected original database action by previous, unknown staff.

Keather McLoone

4/2/1990

Update or Other Action

Mike Krieber sent a letter after reviewing the Phase I Site Assessment Plan, dated March 30, 1990 from Gilfilian Engineering, stating that based on the findings a Phase II is recommended.

Alyce Hughey

4/17/1990

Leaking Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Initiated - Petroleum

Former Staff

11/9/1995

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Reviewed groundwater monitoring report. Letter report by New Horizons received 10/2/1995 dated 9/29/1995. Samples from three wells analyzed for VPH and BTEX. Highest VPH result was 0.243 mg/L and highest benzene result was 0.0036 mg/L. Report text also discusses Sutton Hilltop site. Although this sampling event were under MCLs, there has not been a consistent groundwater monitoring program since the wells were installed in 1990. Information updated/corrected from what had previously been entered by an unknown staff member.

Keather McLoone

9/30/1996

Leaking Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Initiated - Petroleum

Plan approval of an on-site passive aeration treatment cell is conditional upon adequate containment of the treatment cell. Due to this windy location, care needs to be taken to ensure that the cell is properly covered to prevent the soil from becoming airborne. Originally entered for 2245.26.003 as LUST Corrective Action Underway (which is no longer a database option).

Robert Weimer

9/30/1996

Underground Storage Tank Site Characterization or Assessment

Reviewed a Tank Closure Site Assessment Report. Additional site assessment and cleanup appears to be needed to the west of the tanks, within the Glenn Highway right-of-way. RP needs to submit a plan by 11/15/96 describing the proposed work and sampling. Some soil excavated and stockpiled. Entry originally for 2245.26.003 by unknown staff. Waste oil (used oil) tank reportedly was originally a heating oil tank and not registered as it should have been at change in use. Samples associated with the waste oil tank did include analyses for 4 RCRA metals. One sample collected with the initial excavation associated with this tank was later reopened, additional contamination removed, and three more samples collected. Three contained results above migration to groundwater for DRO and benzene, up to 9,920 mg/kg and 0.898 mg/kg respectively. One GRO, one ethylbenzene, and one toluene result also above that criteria, at 438, 7.83, and 13.8 mg/kg respectively. Five samples were collected after the removal of the two diesel tanks. One DRO result was above current DRO migration to groundwater criteria at 8,230 mg/kg.

Keather McLoone

11/20/1997

Update or Other Action

ADEC sends Notification of Intent to Cost Recover Letter to Current Owner: FISHERS FUEL INC.

Former Staff

8/15/2001

Update or Other Action

Request that uncovered treatment cell is covered. File review: 1) release investigation needed to assess extent of the contamination especially in the right-of-way 2) resample monitoring wells 3) need a sampling plan for the treatment cell 4) based on the results of the release investigation a corrective action plan is needed for the remaining soil and groundwater contamination. Database entry originally for 2245.26.003 and entered by Sharon Sadlon.

Keather McLoone

11/3/2004

Update or Other Action

File number issued 2245.26.002.

Aggie Blandford

12/15/2004

Update or Other Action

Update: Site still needs groundwater monitoring. Still have not received the sampling and information previously requested.

Robert Weimer

10/21/2005

Update or Other Action

Confirmation groundwater monitoring results have not been submitted to date.

Robert Weimer

3/23/2006

Update or Other Action

Project manager changed from Robert Weimer to Don Seagren per Paul Horwath.

Alyce Hughey

3/23/2006

Update or Other Action

Using the Hydrogeological Investigation of Palmer Tesoro Service Station Map from Gilfilian Engineering, dated 3/30/90, in conjuction with TopoZone Pro and Matanuska - Susitna Borough, entered the coordinates for this site. Metadata includes Topo Map 1:24K/25K, on a Medium Size Map, View Scale 1:10,000, Coordinate Datum NAD83. Moderate to high degree of confidence in accuracy of location.

Alyce Hughey

4/6/2006

Update or Other Action

Reviewed file and reports. Sent letter requesting project Status update. Additional corrective action work that may be required will depend on a review of any additional documentation Mr. Fisher is able to provide.

Donald Seagren

8/14/2006

Update or Other Action

Re-sent project status update request letter certified/ return receipt. No response was received to previous request.

Donald Seagren

9/18/2006

Update or Other Action

Brad Fisher called to discuss site and respond to ADEC letter. Nothing has been done since original repsonse. He will send a letter in response. We will work together to bring site to closure.

Donald Seagren

3/7/2007

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

Former Staff

5/14/2008

Update or Other Action

Site transferred from Don Seagren to Anchorage.

Alyce Hughey

9/16/2008

Update or Other Action

Keather McLoone assigned as ADEC project manager for this site.

Linda Nuechterlein

9/17/2008

Update or Other Action

Phone conversation with Brad Fisher to introduce myself as the new CS PM for this site and to discuss site status. He indicated that he will be sampling the stockpile (from excavation reported in 2245.26.003) in the next several weeks as he suspects the passive bioventing system is not effectively remediating the silty soil and that he will need to have it treated at ASR. He will have consultant send a report with the sample results and a request for soil transport, if appropriate.

Keather McLoone

9/26/2008

Leaking Underground Storage Tank Release Confirmed - Petroleum

LUST site created in CSP database for source area various releases, 77696

Keather McLoone

11/5/2008

Update or Other Action

Spoke again with Brad Fisher to confirm that the current database and file information is up to date with work that has been done at this site to date. Will be meeting Mr. Fisher at the site next week to check on monitoring wells and discuss future actions at the site.

Keather McLoone

11/14/2008

Site Visit

Visit to meet Fisher Fuel representative to discuss site history and future activities. Two monitoring wells that were installed along Arctic reportedly destroyed during road upgrade activities. Two wells along northern border of site still present but one is no longer housed in protective casing due to installation of a sewage system manhole. Were not able to determine if either contains water. According to verbal communicaton, wells were installed to a reportedly prescribed depth of ~32 feet and contained water shortly after installation but were later found to be dry and that is why they haven't been sampled. Soil stockpile remains onsite and will reportedly be transported to ASR for treatment in 2009. Tank upgrade work planned for 2010.

Keather McLoone

12/4/2008

Update or Other Action

DEC contacted by Fred Meyer/Kroger with verbal results of Phase I and Phase II site assessments on property across Arctic that has previously been undeveloped. They are planning on developing the site into a gas station/convenience store. Analytical results forwarded via email indicate that groundwater at property, when located, contained about 21.4 ug/L (0.0214 mg/L) benzene.

Keather McLoone

12/5/2008

Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter

Letter containing the notification of cost recovery. Letter also to, again, request additional site characterization.

Keather McLoone

12/12/2008

Update or Other Action

Receipt of due diligence reports generated by GeoEngineers this for work performed this fall for Fred Meyer/Kroger on undeveloped property across the street from Palmer Tesoro/Fisher Wholesale Tanks - Palmer. Includes Phase I, Phase II, and Geotech reports. Phase II report indicates that samples were also collected for DRO and GRO but these results were not obtained because of turbidity in sample collected from bailer used to collect water from inside hollow stem auger. VOA results collected this way be biased and should be considered estimates for this reason. Also, it is unclear whether trip blank that traveled with the samples is what was reported by the laboratory. Earlier email communication (12/4) indicated during the Phase II effort groundwater was not encountered in first boring within the first 50 feet. Second boring found confined perched water somewhere between 30 and 35 feet. Water rose in the stem to ~26 feet single grab sample was collected. As the auger was advanced, dry soils were again encountered.

Keather McLoone

12/23/2008

Update or Other Action

DEC contacted by Mat-Su Borough's contractor regarding a potential purchase for road construction right of way at property across Arctic.

Keather McLoone

1/23/2009

Update or Other Action

Combining this file with 2245.26.003 - hardcopy, electronic, and database information. This was done to accurately reflect that both the Palmer Tesoro and Fisher Wholesale Tanks - Palmer are the same site, with more than one source area.

Keather McLoone

2/17/2009

Update or Other Action

Receipt of letter from AlaskChem Engineering on behalf of Fisher Fuels regarding well survey information and proposal to complete this information. Email from DEC sent 2/25/09 accepting the proposed collection of additional information with a request for additional verification of status of wells #3, #6B, and #9 (downgradient wells presented on Figure 1 Water Line Map and Wells). Email also indicated that DEC will consider the request to postpone additional site work until 2010 after receiving the additional well survey information and more information about what work is planned for 2010.

Keather McLoone

2/25/2009

Update or Other Action

Receipt via email of additional well survey information from AlaskChem on behalf of Fisher Fuels. This information further (in addition to Palmer ordinance 13.08.030 regarding requirements for water and sewer connections to municipal system and available information regarding the hydrogeology of the area) that ingestion of groundwater unlikely to be a pathway of concern.

Keather McLoone

3/18/2009

Update or Other Action

Letter to RP after recent receipt of well survey information and discussion with their consultant regarding sampling of current onsite stockpile. "From the information that has been provided to us, it appears that ingestion of groundwater does not present a current risk. However, if future information indicates that this site may pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment, ADEC will request earlier action. This letter is also intended to formalize clarification of stockpile sampling requirements sent via email on March 6, 2009. This sampling should follow 18 AAC 78.605 for soil sample number and location."

Keather McLoone

3/24/2009

Update or Other Action

Discussions with AlaskChem (consultant for Fisher Fuels) regarding sampling of onsite stockpile and potential use of MI sampling to determine whether the stockpile could be used as onsite or offsite fill or if it needed to be transported to ASR for active treatment. Email from Earl indicates that if MI guidance is followed including the use of 95% UCL, then MI sampling may be appropriate for this stockpile. After receiving records request form, emailed AlaskChem and Fisher photos taken in December 1989 which indicate a stained area behind building that has not yet been addressed. This stained area was included in the 12/18/1989 letter from DEC to Fisher notifying the AS violated and directing followup work.

Keather McLoone

3/24/2009

Update or Other Action

Keather McLoone

6/9/2009

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Review of Contaminated Media Management Plan Proposed Fred Meyer Fueling Facility 170 West Arctic Avenue Palmer by GeoEngineers received June 8, 2009. This plan was also sent to Brad Fisher. Email sent to Dan Hermann of Fred Meyer Stores conveying items to consider including in the plan and asking that ADEC be notified of encountering contamination.

Keather McLoone

1/13/2010

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 77696 various releases.

Keather McLoone

4/20/2010

Update or Other Action

Another letter was sent as further follow up on proposed use of MI sampling for onsite stockpile stating that if MI sampling was to be used, it should be used without modification. ADEC recommends sampling should follow 18 AAC 78.605 for soil sample number and location.

Keather McLoone

5/19/2010

Site Visit

Site visit was conducted to observe whether the onsite stockpile was still present and any other facility changes that could be readily observed. Fred Meyer's facility across the street is constructed and operational.

Keather McLoone

6/27/2011

Site Visit

Site visit to observe current site conditions. Stockpile has been disturbed as if there may have been some sampling conducted. A trench was observed thru its center which appears similar to what was proposed in the unapproved workplan.

Keather McLoone

7/6/2011

Update or Other Action

Email from reponsible party on this date stating that the stockpile was sampled "to propose a work plan".

Keather McLoone

8/18/2011

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Report comment letter main points • The background section states “The city has an ordinance requiring connection to city water, …”. This ordinance is not considered to be protective of the ingestion of groundwater pathway. Interpretation of Palmer city code 13.08.030 should include subsection D which states “Subsections (A) and (B) of this section notwithstanding, a residential dwelling no larger than a two-family dwelling, located on a parcel having an area of at least 20,000 square feet shall not be required to be connected to the city sanitary sewer system or water distribution system; provided, that the city manager has granted a written waiver from the applicable requirements of subsections (A) and/or (B) of this section.” Furthermore, waivers are available for “various reasons” according to the Palmer Public Works superintendent. Finally, the code does not apply if the location is more than 150 of the public water utility. • While an earlier evaluation concluded that contaminated groundwater did not pose a current risk, based on the information presented by your consultant, a potential future risk remains and the use of Migration to Groundwater cleanup levels is required. • Contaminated groundwater poses the additional, significant concern of causing offsite migration of contamination that could impact adjacent properties. There has been some information that suggests that groundwater contamination from the subject site may have migrated onto at least one adjacent property. Furthermore, contaminated groundwater should be evaluated for its potential to cause a vapor intrusion hazard. • The work reported in this document constitutes operating without an approved workplan as is required by 18 AAC 75.355. • The DRO data point, sample A6811-6, that resulted from what was presented as a modified Multi Increment (MI) sampling technique is not considered usable. The process used to obtain this data point did not follow MI guidance as was indicated would be required in the last comment letter addressing the previously submitted, unapproved workplan. A significant deviation from MI guidance is the lack of triplicate samples. Triplicate samples are required to verify that such a sample truly represents the stockpile. Furthermore, this sample, without documentation to show that it was screened and subsampled correctly, may represent a further low bias to the result and should be considered a composite sample rather than a MI sample. • The report proposes a landspreading disposition of the stockpile which is not approved by ADEC at this time given the high accessibility of this location and lack of site control. A workplan addressing such a disposal option must be submitted for approval by ADEC. • Contrary to the statement in the report “Volatiles were not tested as they were not presumed to be risk drivers…”, benzene should be considered a risk driver at this site. Also, future characterization should include RRO and PAHs as directed in Appendix F of the Draft Field Sampling Guidance. • This site requires further characterization of both the soil and groundwater contamination to delineate the nature and extent before any site status decisions will be made. A heating oil tank was shown to have heavy staining in photo documentation from 1989. This source area has not yet been investigated and this tank was located at the southeast corner of the building, not southwest as stated in the report. A groundwater investigation is also required for this site. • The contaminated soil in the former excavations source areas needs further characterization in order to evaluate the nature and extent of contamination remaining in that source area. The diesel UST excavations had no analytical data other than DRO results; therefore the nature of the contamination left behind has not been adequately characterized. Several confirmation samples exceeded the appropriate site cleanup levels for both the diesel UST excavations and the waste oil tank excavation; therefore, the extent of contamination remaining has not been adequately characterized. • Further characterization of the nature and extent of contamination is also needed in the pump island area based on information reported in the 1989 Site Assessment report.

Keather McLoone

9/1/2011

Update or Other Action

Responsible party submitted to SPAR director a request for an Informal Review. Contested decision was in August 18, 2011 report comment letter regarding that Migration to Groundwater pathway can not be eliminated and an absence of a current risk of ingestion of drinking water does not equal a 350 determination.

Keather McLoone

9/7/2011

Update or Other Action

Letter from acting Contaminated Sites Program Manager denying the request for an informal review.

Keather McLoone

9/25/2011

Site Visit

Site visit on this date confirms that the facility is currently closed. UST program staff have confirmed that they were notified of a permanent closure but it did not appear that dirt work had begun.

Keather McLoone

1/23/2012

Update or Other Action

Receipt of letter sent by AlaskChem on behalf of Brad Fisher requesting reconsideration of our earlier assertions that groundwater contamination needs to be evaluated(i.e. consideration of ingestion of groundwater pathway and migration to groundwater cleanup levels is required).

Keather McLoone

2/24/2012

Update or Other Action

DEC response to January 23, 2012 letter from AlaskChem on behalf of Fisher Fuels with email from Bill Janes dated February 8, 2012 attached.

Keather McLoone

2/29/2012

Update or Other Action

Phone conversation with Brad Fisher who wanted to know if there would be a problem with performing the removal and site assessment of the current tanks separate from the other site characterization effort. AlaskChem had previously proposed submitting a workplan covering both. I indicated that I didn't have an objection to this. The current tanks are in a different location that the previous tanks.

Keather McLoone

6/19/2012

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Reviewed Fisher's Fuel, Palmer Tesoro; LUST 2245.26.002 UST Removal Work Plan Revision 2. The work plan includes information on the removal of the three remaining USTs. Tanks 3 and 4 are 12,000 gallon gasoline tanks installed in 1976 and tank 5 is a 5,000 gallon diesel tank installed in 1988. The USTs, piping and dispensers will be removed in accordance with 18 AAC 78. Additionally, the ~300 cy stockpile currently onsite will be landfarmed along the north side of the property, tilled through the summer, then sampled to evaluate cleanup progress. Contaminated soil excavated during the UST removals will also be landfarmed on site, tilled and sampled. Access to the site will be controlled with fencing and measures will be in place to control runoff.

Bill O'Connell

8/9/2012

Site Visit

Site visit today. The former gas station is currently occupied by a second hand shop. Two covered stockpiles were present behind the building near a slightly below grade excavation area. The former stockpile is still in place and landfarming has yet to commence

Bill O'Connell

12/14/2012

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Reviewed 2012 UST Systems Removal Report for Palmer Tesoro. Two, 12,000-gallon gasoline USTs and one 5,000-gallon diesel UST were removed, along with the associated fuel piping. The gasoline USTs were removed from a common excavation, along with approximately 320 cy of impacted soil. Confirmation soil samples collected from the bottom of the excavation did not contain contaminants above cleanup levels. The diesel tank was removed from its own excavation along with approximately 140 cy of impacted soil. Confirmation samples collected from the bottom of the excavation did not contain contaminants above cleanup levels. Investigation of the fuel piping began by uncovering and inspecting the lines, which included two gasoline lines and one diesel line from the former USTs in a common trench. Each line was approximately 150 feet long with couplings every 20 feet. Field screening was conducted along the trenches and below the former dispensers. One sample was collected at the 90 degree bend in the piping trench where contamination was noted during field screening, and four samples were collected from beneath the former dispensers. The sample from the piping trench contained GRO at 2,990 mg/kg, benzene at 17.9 mg/kg, toluene at 295 mg/kg, ethylbenzene at 160 mg/kg and total xylenes at 704 mg/kg. At the dispensers, GRO was detected up to 17,200 mg/kg, benzene up to 346 mg/kg, toluene up to 3,770 mg/kg, ethylbenzene up to 668 mg/kg, and total xylenes up to 5,910 mg/kg. Each of these concentrations exceed the migration to groundwater cleanup level. The PAHs naphthalene and 2-methylnaphthalene were also detected above the cleanup level. An area on the north side of the site was fenced for the purposes of landfarming contaminated soil. A ~300-400 cy stockpile remaining from the 1996 tank removals was spread in this area, and the soil from the 2012 tank excavation was moved to within the fenced area, placed on a liner and covered awaiting treatment via landfarming. A composite soil sample collected from the spread soil contained DRO at 735 mg/kg. A former heating oil tank located along the northeast corner of the building was investigated by excavating a test pit to below the depth of the former tank. Soil samples did not indicate the presence of contamination in this area.

Bill O'Connell

5/7/2013

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Reviewed 2013 work plan for Palmer Tesoro. Soil from the former treatment cell will be landfarmed inside the fenced treatment area. Soil that was removed during the 2012 UST excavations will be screened to remove oversize material, placed into stockpiles, field screened every 20 cy and one sample collected for every 100 cy to determine potential reuse as backfill at the dispenser excavation, which is planned for 2013.

Bill O'Connell

9/19/2013

Site Visit

Bill O'Connell

5/1/2014

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Reviewed 2013 Assessment Report and Proposed 2014 Work Plan for Palmer Tesoro. In 2013, stockpiles of diesel contaminated soil and gasoline contaminated soil were screened to remove oversize material and sampled to evaluate contaminant concentrations. Samples were also collected from the 1996 stockpile which was spread in the fenced treatment area. A small amount of contaminated soil (140-160 cy) was excavated from the dispenser area and added to the landfarm. The sample from the diesel stockpile contained DRO at 219 mg/kg and this soil was used as backfill in the dispenser excavation. Samples from the gasoline contaminated stockpile contained DRO up to 613 mg/kg and benzene up to 0.0441 mg/kg. Samples from the 1996 stockpile contained DRO up to 526 mg/kg and benzene up to 0.0421 mg/kg. In situ samples collected from the small excavation at the dispenser area contained GRO up to 2,190 mg/kg, benzene up to 17.3 mg/kg and DRO up to 274 mg/kg. The concentrations noted above are all above Method Two cleanup levels. The soil in the landfarm will be turned on a regular basis in Summer 2014.

Bill O'Connell

5/9/2014

Enforcement Action

ADEC sent a letter to the responsible party dated May 9th stating that a groundwater investigation work plan must be submitted by June 15th, 2014 or formal enforcement action will be taken including a notice of violation and referral to the Attorney General's office for potential legal action.

Bill O'Connell

6/26/2014

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Reviewed work plan for groundwater evaluation at Palmer Tesoro. Three wells are proposed for installation, one near the property boundary where contamination from the dispensers is likely to remain, one across the street in the right of way, and a third well approximately 400 feet from the source area along West Blueberry Ave. Soil samples will be collected from the saturated zone during well installation and analyzed for DRO, GRO, and BTEX. The newly installed wells will be sampled for the same analytes following installation.

Bill O'Connell

7/25/2014

Site Visit

Bill O'Connell

9/23/2014

Update or Other Action

Soil samples collected form the onsite landfarm indicate benzene remains at concentrations above the migration to groundwater cleanup level. The landfarm will be amended with fertilizer, tilling will continue, and the soil samples will be collected again in Spring 2015. The groundwater investigation will be deferred until next year.

Bill O'Connell

4/17/2015

Update or Other Action

Work plan for groundwater investigation revised to include the use of passive diffusion bags for groundwater sampling. One well near the source area will also be sampled using a bailer for comparison.

Bill O'Connell

11/6/2015

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Reviewed 2015 Assessment Report for Fisher’s Fuel; Palmer Tesoro. Two groundwater monitoring wells were installed at the site. Well FM was installed on the Fred Meyer property across Arctic Ave from the former Palmer Tesoro and well FE was placed near the former dispensers on the Palmer Tesoro property. Groundwater was located at approximately 25-30 feet below ground surface and soil samples were collected from each borehole at the approximate groundwater interface. Existing well SW was located on the Palmer Tesoro property was located and sampled along with the two new wells. Wells SE and FM were sampled using passive diffusion bags, well SW was sampled using a pump. A stockpile of contaminated soil excavated from around the former dispensers in 2014 was sampled to evaluate contaminant concentrations by breaking the stockpile into smaller piles, conducting field screening at 47 locations and collecting soil samples from the 8 highest field screening locations. Groundwater samples contained benzene above the cleanup level of 5 ug/l in well FM at 57.3 ug/l and well SE at 2,390 ug/l. The sample from well SE contained GRO above the cleanup level of 1.3 mg/l at 9.82 mg/l. Each of the soil samples from the boreholes contained benzene above the cleanup level at concentrations up to 0.419 mg/kg at 26 feet bgs in well SE and each of the stockpile samples also contained benzene above the cleanup level at concentrations up to 0.146 mg/kg. An alternative cleanup level for benzene in soil was proposed and is currently under review.

Bill O'Connell

4/11/2016

Cleanup Level(s) Approved

Reviewed 2016 Work Plan for Excavation and Groundwater Investigation at the former Palmer Tesoro. The work plan also includes a request for Method Three cleanup levels for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, GRO, and DRO. This will reportedly be the final effort to excavate contamination from the former dispenser/fuel line area. Soil meeting the proposed Method Three cleanup levels will be removed from the treatment cell and staged for use as backfill. The treatment cell will be re-contoured to maximize the treatment area. Contaminated soil will be excavated from the source area to a depth of 15 feet below ground surface and placed in the treatment cell. The excavation will be field screened and sampled in accordance with the 2016 Field Sampling Guidance. Samples will be analyzed for GRO/BTEX and DRO, with 10% of the samples also analyzed for PAHs. The request for a Method Three cleanup level for BTEX is based on site specific information regarding hydraulic gradient and infiltration rate. The following Method Three soil cleanup levels are approved for this site: benzene-0.35 mg/kg, toluene-88 mg/kg, ethylbenzene- 94 mg/kg, xylenes- 63 mg/kg, GRO-680 mg/kg and DRO-600 mg/kg. Two new groundwater monitoring wells will be installed in an effort to delineate the extent of groundwater contamination. A soil sample will be collected from the groundwater interface from each borehole and analyzed for GRO/BTEX + naphthalene and DRO. Groundwater samples will be collected from the new wells following well development and analyzed for the same parameters.

Bill O'Connell

12/27/2016

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Reviewed 2016 Excavation Report for Palmer Tesoro. An additional 1,800 cy of contaminated soil was excavated from the former dispenser area and stockpiled in the onsite remediation cell. The excavation was backfilled with clean soil and approximately 800 cy of soil that had been landfarmed onsite and met the alternative cleanup levels (ACLs). Confirmation samples collected from the base and sidewalls of the excavation contained benzene above the ACL in 11 samples up to a maximum detected concentration of 9.13 mg/kg in sample F615-18 collected approximately 15 feet below ground surface. Toluene, xylenes, naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, and GRO were also detected above cleanup levels in excavation confirmation samples. Monitoring well installation planned for 2016 will be delayed until 2017 due to property access issues. An effort was also made in 2016 to evaluate potential releases from USTs that were in place at the former Westside Service station, which was in operation at this property from around 1949 to 1968. Based on historic air photos and first-hand accounts, a large test pit was excavated and soil samples collected based on field screening at 5 locations. Contaminants were not detected above cleanup levels and no USTs or fueling system components were discovered. Contaminated soil that was excavated is proposed for landfarming at Fisher’s Hilltop Tesoro in Sutton pending work plan approval.

Bill O'Connell

4/13/2017

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Reviewed Excavated Soil Treatment Work Plan for Palmer Tesoro. Approximately 1,800 cy of petroleum contaminated soil generated at the Palmer Tesoro site is proposed for treatment via land farming at the Sutton Hilltop Tesoro. An area approximately 1.4 acres in size has been prepared for land farming in Summer 2017. A rental unit currently adjacent to the proposed land farm will be demolished prior to commencement of land farming activities. Soil samples collected from the stockpiled soil contained DRO, GRO, BTEX above cleanup levels. Soil will first be transported to Hilltop Tesoro and staged in a 2 foot stockpile. Signs and fencing will be used to control access to the stockpile. The land farm will be constructed and soil will be spread in early summer. Best Management Practices are proposed to control runoff as required under the Construction General Permit and include surveying and grading/contouring areas to insure any accumulated precipitation infiltrates into the land farm and placing dikes along any potential runoff pathways. The soil will be screened and 2-inch plus material will be removed, then the soil will be spread to a uniform thickness of approximately 8 inches and tilled every few weeks. Interim monitoring will include field screening with a PID and composite sampling. Final land farm closure sampling will be conducted in accordance with a separate work plan.

Bill O'Connell

5/19/2017

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Reviewed 2017 Assessment Report for Palmer Tesoro. The report contains information on activities conducted at the site in both 2016 and 2017. In 2016, groundwater samples were collected from source area well SE and downgradient well FM-1. Well SE contained benzene at 1,130 ug/l, above the cleanup level of 4.6 ug/l and ethylbenzene at 119 ug/l, above the cleanup level of 15 ug/l. Well FM-1 contained benzene at 118 ug/l. No other contaminants were detected above cleanup levels. In February 2017, one new well, FM-2 was constructed downgradient of the site on the Fred Meyer fuel station property. One soil sample was collected from the approximate groundwater interface at 26.5 feet below ground surface. Contaminants were not detected in the soil sample. The water sample from the newly installed well also did not contain detectable concentrations of contaminants. Wells SE and FM-1 were sampled again in May 2017. The sample from well SE contained benzene, ethylbenzene and xylenes above cleanup levels; the sample from well FM-1 did not contain contaminants above cleanup levels. The approximately 1,800 cy of petroleum contaminated soil that was excavated in in 2016 was transported to the Sutton Hilltop Tesoro for landfarming.

Bill O'Connell

11/2/2017

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 77696 various releases.

Bill O'Connell

2/12/2018

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Reviewed work plan for 2018 groundwater monitoring. Wells SE, FM-1, and SW will be sampled.

Bill O'Connell

4/10/2018

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Reviewed February 2018 groundwater monitoring report for Palmer Tesoro. Groundwater samples were collected from on-property monitoring wells SE and SW, and from off-property well FM-1. The sample from well SE contained benzene and ethylbenzene above Table C cleanup levels. Wells SW and FM-1 did not contain contaminants above cleanup levels.

Bill O'Connell

6/28/2018

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Reviewed June 2018 sampling report for Palmer Tesoro. Groundwater samples were collected from monitoring wells FM-1, SE, and SW. Contaminants were below cleanup levels in offsite well FM-1 and source area well SE. Well SW contained DRO at 1.58 mg/l, which is the first exceedance of cleanup levels in this well in recent years.

Bill O'Connell

9/13/2018

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Monitoring well SW was repaired and re-developed then sampled. DRO was detected at 1.22 mg/l.

Bill O'Connell

10/1/2018

Update or Other Action

Reviewed landfarm sampling update. A single soil sample was collected form the location with the highest field screening results. Benzene, ethylbenzene,. naphthalene and 1,2-dicholoethane exceeded cleanup levels

Bill O'Connell

12/5/2018

Update or Other Action

Consultant reported that samples collected on 12/4/18 (following the 11/30/18 7.0 earthquake) were from wells that were turbid/discolored. Consultant was concerned about samples being biased high. Samples had not yet been analyzed and ADEC recommended that re-sampling occur as to obtain maximum data usability.

Kara Kusche

1/16/2019

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Reviewed December 2018 Sampling report. Groundwater samples were collected from well SE and SW. Contaminants were not detected in above cleanup levels in either sample.

Bill O'Connell

1/28/2019

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Reviewed work plan for MW decommissioning. The four MWs on the former Palmer Tesoro property and the two monitoring wells on Fred Meyer property will be decommissioned in accordance with ADEC guidance in preparation for site closure.

Bill O'Connell

1/29/2019

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 77696 various releases.

Bill O'Connell

4/8/2019

Update or Other Action

21 soil samples collected from 3,300 CY stockpile based on 333 PID readings. Soil was excavated from beneath he former Palmer Tesoro building and did not contain contaminants above DEC cleanup levels.

Bill O'Connell

4/30/2019

Update or Other Action

All site monitoring wells were decommissioned in accordance with DEC guidance.

Bill O'Connell

6/28/2019

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Reviewed field work summary for property development activities at Former Palmer Tesoro site. Activities included stockpile sampling, contaminated soil excavation and limited delineation. Stockpiles and excavated soils contained contaminants above DEC cleanup levels and were hauled to the Sutton Hilltop Landfarm for treatment. Confirmation samples from the base and sidewalls of the excavation contained petroleum, contaminants at concentrations consistent with historical data. Contaminant concentration exceeded the migration to groundwater cleanup levels in several locations but were below human health cleanup levels. At the location with the highest results, a test pit was excavated an additional 6 feet below the base of the excavation to evaluate the vertical extent of contamination. A soil sample from the test pit did not contain detectable concentrations of contaminations. This data, along with the existing groundwater data from the site indicates contaminants detected at the base of the excavation are not a risk to groundwater, therefore no further action will be required in these areas.

Bill O'Connell

Contaminant Information

Name	Level Description	Media
Toluene	Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation	Soil
Benzene	Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation	Soil
Ethylbenzene	Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation	Soil
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene	Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation	Soil
1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene	Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation	Soil
Xylenes (total)	Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation	Soil
Naphthalene	Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation	Soil

Name

Level Description

Media

Comments

Toluene

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

Soil

Benzene

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

Soil

Ethylbenzene

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

Soil

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene

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

Soil

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene

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

Soil

Xylenes (total)

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

Soil

Naphthalene

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

Soil

Control Type

Type	Details
No ICs Required

Type

Details

No ICs Required

Requirements

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

Description

Details

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

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)

Cleanup Complete Determination

2018 Prospective Purchaser Agreement

No associated sites were found.

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Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Site Report: Palmer Tesoro AKA Tesoro Fisher Wholesale Tanks

Site Chronology

IC / Closure Details

Documents

Associated Sites

Problems/Comments

Action Information

Contaminant Information

Control Type

Requirements

Cleanup Complete Determination

2018 Prospective Purchaser Agreement

Missing Location Data

State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation