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Site Report: FMUS - Public Works

Site Name: FMUS - Public Works
Address: 2121 Peger Road , Fairbanks, AK 99709
File Number: 102.26.086
Hazard ID: 24262
Status: Active
Staff: Janice Wiegers, 9074512127 janice.wiegers@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.829830
Longitude: -147.765890
Horizontal Datum:

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

There were five underground storage tanks (USTs) on-site. Two 10,000-gallon gasoline, one 10,000-gallon diesel, one 2,000-gallon waste oil and one 10,000-gallon heating oil tank. In 1991, gas and diesel USTs were upgraded by retrofitting and tank tightness tests were done. One 10,000-gallon tank (unleaded gasoline) was taken out of service and closed in place. One 2,000-gallon waste oil tank was taken out of service and closed in place. No releases were identified with either of the two tanks taken out of service. A leak was noted from the piping as it joined the turbine pump near the south dispenser island. Contamination was noted at north island as a strong odor. Other smaller spills are attributed to over-filling. In 2001, soil was re-excavated near the north tank and a total of approximately 250 cubic yards were taken for treatment and disposal. In 2015, one 10,000-gallon diesel tank (UST #2) and two 10,000-gallon gasoline tanks, (USTs #3, and #4*) and their associated dispensers and fuel lines were removed from the ground in the area where previous excavation had occurred in 2001. Diesel range organics (DRO), gasoline range organics(GRO), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, (BTEX) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were confirmed remaining in soil above DEC cleanup levels, and a sheen was noted on the groundwater table at approximately 10 feet below ground surface. (*Tank #4 was previously closed in place in September 2000 and the post closure notice was submitted to DEC on September 2001.) Additionally, in 2015, a 10,000-gallon dual-use diesel tank (UST #1) was removed from the west side of the property and replaced with a new dual-use tank system. DRO was confirmed remaining in soil above DEC cleanup levels, and a sheen was noted on the groundwater table at approximately 17 feet below ground surface.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
10/22/1999 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Release Confirmed - Petroleum LUST Site created in CSP for source area ID 77749 ONLY Tank Tight Test failed - NO RELEASE Former Staff
10/22/1999 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Initiated - Petroleum Former Staff
10/22/1999 Update or Other Action Reported that impacts were observed during upgrade activities. Former Staff
10/22/1999 Site Added to Database Former Staff
4/21/2000 Update or Other Action City of Fairbanks submits copy of RFP to conduct RI at site, where Alaska Lining and Retrofit worked on three 10,000-gallon USTs with piping to two fuel islands. Two were regular and unleaded gasoline, and one was diesel. Releases of petroleum were encountered and fuel was observed to be leaking from a union in the piping from the south UST at the turbine pump - reportedly a steady drip when off, but a heavy spray when pump was operating and under pressure. See Ak Lining and Retrofit report dated 12/6/99. Former Staff
9/4/2001 Release Investigation Nortech submitted release investigation, dated 4/20/01. Groundwater plume appears to be contained within site boundaries. Impacted soil partially dug out, but approx. 500 to 1000 cy is estimated to remain around the UST system. ADEC sent comments and recommendations to Chris Haigh, City of Fairbanks. Recommend installing several more wells (improve delineation) and starting groundwater monitoring program. Janice Wiegers
1/2/2002 Underground Storage Tank Site Characterization or Assessment JBC: Rec'd copy of 7/2000 SA on this day by ROWCON/AGRA that completed the inplace closure of one 2,000-gallon used-oil UST located adjacent to building. Closed in place and no contamination detected. Tank sludge reportedly hauled to OIT, but no documentation. John Carnahan
3/20/2002 Update or Other Action Received appropriate data to document closure of 2,000-gallon used oil tank. NFA completed on this day for this event. No impacts were detected, so no event ID was developed for this tank closure. John Carnahan
1/28/2004 Update or Other Action Transferred DEC staff lead from John Carnahan Cynthia Pring-Ham
3/14/2007 Update or Other Action Performed file review, lab data QA/QC Audit, and ranked site using ETM Douglas Bauer
1/30/2009 Update or Other Action Staff contacted the City of Fairbanks to confirm that no drinking water wells were on site. The ETM initial ranking has been corrected based on this information. The site has remaining soil contamination above migration to groundwater levels and soil beneath the fuel dispenser has not been fully characterized so may have higher concentrations. The groundwater data appears stable, but monitoring has been sporadic and insufficient to make an accurate determination. A long-term monitoring program needs to be established and perhaps institutional controls to be certain DEC is notified when excavation occurs on the property. The City has been good, though, about notifying us in the past regarding work on the site. Staff will work with the city to establish LTM program. Ann Farris
1/30/2009 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 77749 name: UST Partial Excavations Ann Farris
7/9/2010 Site Visit A water sample was collected from MW-3 at the site and taken to SGS for sulfolane analysis. DEC collected the sample. MW-2 was frozen and MW-1 was slightly upgradient of the source area so MW-3 was chosen for the analysis. Results are expected in two weeks. Ann Farris
4/29/2011 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 77749 UST Partial Excavations. Pam Clemens
5/13/2011 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 77749 UST Partial Excavations. Pam Clemens
6/27/2011 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued Site closure letter sent to Jackson Fox with City of Fairbanks. Janice Wiegers
6/27/2011 Institutional Control Record Established Institutional Controls established and entered into the database. Janice Wiegers
7/2/2012 Update or Other Action Staff changed from Ann Farris to IC Unit. Kristin Thompson
7/2/2012 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC review conducted and reminder system set-up for 2016 follow-up with responsible party. Kristin Thompson
7/8/2015 Institutional Control Update ADEC was contacted by the responsible party. Sampling of monitoring wells MW-2, MW-3, and MW-7 for BTEX and GRO is tentatively scheduled for this summer. ADEC plans to follow-up on the monitoring event in early fall of this year. IC Unit
10/20/2015 Update or Other Action Department notified that tanks closed in place are being removed from ground. Janice Wiegers
10/22/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Received groundwater monitoring report. Only one well (MW-3) could be accessed. MW-2 and MW-7 were not functional. Contaminant concentrations found in groundwater exceeding DEC cleanup levels included GRO at 5.83 mg/L and benzene at 3.33 mg/L. Janice Wiegers
10/28/2015 Institutional Control Update Contacted by the responsible party informing ADEC that Nortech will now be handling both the UST closures and the monitoring well work for this site. Kristin Thompson
12/9/2015 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC compliance review conducted. We have knowledge of some tank removals taking place and the City of Fairbanks plans on addressing any contamination that they may run into during the removals. They also plan on reinstalling monitoring wells at the same time. I set the reminder system to check with the Borough in early spring to find out the status of the projects. Evonne Reese
2/20/2016 Underground Storage Tank Site Characterization or Assessment UST removal report, date 2/15/2016, was received. The dual use UST system (Tank 1) on the west side of the Public Works building and the UST refueling system (Tanks 2, 3, 4 and dispenser islands) on the east side of the Public Works building were removed. UST #1 and #2 were 10,000 gallon diesel tanks and UST #3 and #4 were 10,000 gallon gasoline tanks that had contained both leaded and unleaded fuel. Most of the contaminated soil was removed during tank excavation. Janice Wiegers
6/1/2016 Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved Received copies of OIT certificates for thermal remediation of 1051.09 tons of petroleum contaminated soil. Janice Wiegers
9/21/2016 Institutional Control Update I was contacted by the City of Fairbanks Engineering Department. They plan on having Nortech provide a workplan for the reinstallation of the two compromised wells and then sampling the three wells. A sampling frequency will be established after we see what the current concentrations are in the three wells. Evonne Reese
9/22/2016 Site Reopened Due to new contamination remaining after the 2015 tank removals, this site record will be reopened. The institutional control requirement of groundwater monitoring will be managed concurrently with the remedial requirements of the recently documented contamination. Evonne Reese
10/4/2016 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Release Confirmed - Petroleum LUST site created in CSP database for source area 10,000-Gallon Dual Use UST #1 (Diesel), 79968 Mitzi Read
10/10/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Site Assessment/Closure Report prepared by Nortech and dated 2/15/16 reviewed. In October 2015, Prism Design & Construction removed the 10,000-gallon dual-use tank #1 and fuel lines, located on the west side of the Public Works building. A new dual use UST was installed in the excavation. On the east side of the building the dispenser island, fuel lines and previously decommissioned tanks #2, 3, and 4 were also removed. At tank #1, DRO remained in the smear zone and product was observed on the water table following excavation. Contamination was also observed at the excavation limits on the west side, as expected based on the 2001 release investigation. New dispensers have been installed in this area. Approximately 700 cubic yards of contaminated soil were removed from the two excavations and thermally remediated at OIT. Nortech estimated 40 to 80 cy of contaminated soil remained under Tank #1, and 170 to 200 cy remained in the vicinity of tanks #2, 3, and 4. Janice Wiegers
4/11/2017 Update or Other Action Contacted Nortech about development of workplan that was discussed with the City of Fairbanks in an email dated 10/11/16. The workplan has been written and is waiting final review. Janice Wiegers
5/2/2017 Update or Other Action Work plan submitted by Nortech for additional investigation. The plan describes decommissioning MW-2 and MW-7 and installing new soil boring/monitoring wells in these two locations. One soil boring/monitoring wells will also be placed in the former excavation for USTs 2,3, and 4, and a monitoring well will be installed near the new dual use UST located west of the facility (former location of Tank #1). New and existing wells will be sampled. Also, a hydrostatic test will also be conducted on approximately 40 feet of fuel line remaining under the boiler room to determine if leaks may have occurred. Janice Wiegers
5/7/2018 Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved On this date, ADEC approved the transport of seven 55-gallon drums of petroleum contaminated soil to OIT. This soil was generated in October 2017 during soil boring advancement. Grant Lidren
2/5/2020 Update or Other Action DEC contacted City about reporting for the 2017 site work. Waiting for response. Janice Wiegers
8/2/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Nortech submitted a report titled Release Investigation Report 2017-2019 Field Activities. Janice Wiegers
8/19/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Release Investigation report, dated 1/29/2021, was submitted by Nortech. The release investigation occurred in 2017. An abandoned fuel line was grouted in place and checked for leaks, 9 boring were advanced, and 5 monitoring wells installed. The highest levels of soil contamination were found from 6 to 15 ft bgs at SB-07, SB-08, and MW-10. The other borings were able to delineate the extent of soil contamination from Tanks 2, 3, and 4 to within 50 ft of the former tank pit. Groundwater monitoring was completed in October 2017, November 2018, and August 2019. The most contaminated wells were MW-10 and MW-3R with exceedances of benzene, GRO, naphthalene, and EDB. Groundwater flowed to the northwest. The consultant indicated an elevation level loop survey should be conducted for each groundwater event due to frequent frost-jacking of the wells. Janice Wiegers
8/19/2021 Update or Other Action The 1/29/21 release investigation also documented monitoring well upgrades aassociated with the cleanup of USTs #2, 3, and 4. MW-2, MW-3, and MW-7 were decommissioned and replaced. MW-1 and MW-8 were decommissioned but not replaced. MW-9 could not be found. Janice Wiegers
12/14/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Work plan submitted by Nortech to complete groundwater monitoring in 2022, 2025, and 2028. Monitoring wells MW-2R, MW-3R, MW-7R, and MW-10 will be sampled and analyzed for petroleum hydrocarbons and VOCs. EDB will also be evaluated in MW-3R and MW-10. Final work plan, dated 3/2/2022, was approved on 4/25/2022. Janice Wiegers
11/15/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Groundwater monitoring report, dated 5/9/2023, was reviewed. Work plan modifications included using a peristaltic pump rather than a submersible pump due to slush in the wells. Natural attenuation parameters and a vertical resurvey were not completed due to extra time for repairs needed in the field. GRO, DRO, BTEX, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, naphthalene, and EDB remain the primary COCs at former Tanks 2, 3, and 4, with the greatest concentrations close to the source in MW-10. The two downgradient wells in the northwest direction, MW-3R and MW-7R, continue to have high concentrations of contaminants, but the levels are generally lower than in previous years. Of the downgradient wells, MW-3R has the highest concentrations, including benzene at 1,980 ug/L, GRO at 5.10 mg/L, and 1,2 dichloroethane at 23.5 ug/L. Janice Wiegers
11/19/2024 Update or Other Action DEC sent a letter to the Fairbanks Public Works Department to approve the last monitoring report and recommend additional delineation of the groundwater plume. Discussed timing of groundwater sampling with the consultant due to slushy water conditions encountered in late September and frozen wells encountered in late October. Consultant thinks early October may be best sampling time. Janice Wiegers

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
GRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil 453 mg/kg at excavation limit in dispenser area.
GRO > Table C Groundwater
Benzene > Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil 23.4 mg/kg at excavation limit in dispenser area. Above outdoor inhalation cleanup levels.
Benzene > Table C Groundwater

Control Type

Type Details
Signed CS Determination

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site. Any proposal to transport contaminated soil or groundwater off site requires ADEC approval in accordance with 18 AAC 78.600(h). A “site” [as defined by 18 AAC 75.990 (115)] means an area that is contaminated, including areas contaminated by the migration of hazardous substances from a source area, regardless of property ownership.
Groundwater Monitoring Samples shall be collected from MW-2, MW-3, and MW-7 and analyzed for BTEX and GRO. Status of future monitoring will be determined after the results of the next monitoring event are available.
Periodic Review Any future change in land use may impact the exposure assumptions cited in this document. If land use and/or ownership changes, current ICs may not be protective and ADEC may require additional remediation and/or ICs. Therefore the City of Fairbanks - Public Works Department shall report to ADEC every five years to document land use, or report as soon as the City of Fairbanks - Public Works Department becomes aware of any change in land ownership and/or use, if earlier. The report can be sent to the local ADEC office or electronically to DEC.ICUnit@alaska.gov.
When Contaminated Soil is Accessible, Remediation Should Occur Soil contamination may be located under the two dispensing islands. When the soil becomes accessible, the soil must be evaluated and contamination addressed in accordance with an ADEC approved workplan, and/or to the satisfaction of ADEC.
Other Movement or use of contaminated material in a manner that results in a violation of 18 AAC 70 water quality standards is prohibited.
Groundwater Use Restrictions Installation of groundwater wells will require approval from ADEC in accordance with 18 AAC 75.350(2).

No associated sites were found.

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

P.O. Box 111800
Juneau, AK 99811-1800
Phone: 907-465-5066
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