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Site Report: Ketchikan Airport Maintenance Building USTs

Site Name: Ketchikan Airport Maintenance Building USTs
Address: Transportation Services 1000 Airport Terminal , ~0.25 Mile N of SW End of Runway; Ketchikan International Airport (Gravina Island), Ketchikan, AK 99901
File Number: 1516.26.027
Hazard ID: 24498
Status: Active
Staff: Kris Dent, 9072623411 kris.dent@alaska.gov
Latitude: 55.351680
Longitude: -131.701879
Horizontal Datum:WGS84

We make every effort to ensure the data presented here is accurate based on the best available information currently on file with DEC. It is therefore subject to change as new information becomes available. We recommend contacting the assigned project staff prior to making decisions based on this information.

Problems/Comments

In March 1999 at the Ketchikan Airport Maintenance Building (aka the Ketchikan Airport Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Building), two cubic yards diesel range organics (DRO) contaminated soil from beneath the former diesel dispenser reached concentrations of 13,000 parts per million (ppm). Soil stockpiled and land spread in asphalt on-site. No indication of soil contamination associated with the 5,500 gallon underground storage tank (UST) piping closed in place due to electrical and communication lines. Investigation of low level residual DRO in footprint of 250 gallon diesel UST (310 ppm) waived under SCP as very low exposure risk to human or ecological receptors at the site. This release was closed in 2004. In July, 2015 during a hazardous materials building survey, additional contamination regarding underground storage tank (UST) #7 was confirmed. UST #7 is a regulated 5,500-gallon dual-compartment tank containing both gasoline (7A) and diesel (7B). The UST is situated on the west side of the building. A concrete pad covers the top of the tank. A dispenser island is located adjacent to the pad. Visible soils staining was evident on the diesel dispenser side. A soil sample from the diesel side of the island has a result of 4,820 mg/kg DRO, well above the ADEC cleanup level of 230 mg/kg. Gasoline odors were present on its respective side of the pump island. Evaluation of the UST could not be accomplished due to the nature of the fill material (i.e. shot rock, rocks), a boring could not be advanced deep enough to get to level of the bottom of the tank using hand tools. The release site is within a controlled access facility fenced to preclude public access. Release Investigation and Corrective Action in October, 2015, and in February and March, 2016, by R&M Engineering-Ketchikan Inc. and Tightness Testing by Northern Petroleum Testing & Services in February, 2016, determined that the UST system was not the source of the release. Errant spillage during fuel transfers resulted in contaminating soil directly adjacent to the dispenser. R&M removed an estimated four cubic yards of contaminated soil and placed it between liners in the Airport Maintenance Building within the fenced secure airport grounds. Confirmation soil samples indicate the effectiveness of the removal action at the UST dispenser by R&M.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
3/28/1999 Site Added to Database Former Staff
3/28/1999 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Release Confirmed - Petroleum LUST Site created in CSP for source area ID 77044 (Added by System) Former Staff
3/29/1999 Underground Storage Tank Site Characterization or Assessment DRO in soil under dispenser @ 13,000 mg/kg and in footprint of 250 gallon generator UST @310 mg/Kg. All other soil confirmation samples for the UST closures by removal are below applicable cleanup levels for all analytes. No indication of soil contamination associated with the 5,500 gallon UST piping closed in place due to electrical and communication lines. Bruce Wanstall
4/1/1999 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Initiated - Petroleum Two cubic yards DRO contaminated soil transported to lined and covered stockpile in the airport rock pit. Soil was land spread on-site. Bruce Wanstall
10/2/2001 Update or Other Action Changed Project Manager from Paul Horwath to Mike Jaynes Cynthia Pring-Ham
9/4/2002 Update or Other Action Project manager change from Jaynes to Wanstall. File review, database update. Bruce Wanstall
1/30/2004 Update or Other Action Discussion with consultant TCI Environmental to discover fate of contaminated soil stockpile. Bruce Wanstall
1/30/2004 Update or Other Action File review for Streamlined Cleanup Program. Bruce Wanstall
2/4/2004 Update or Other Action Invitation letter to apply for Streamlined Cleanup Program sent to owner/responsible party. Bruce Wanstall
4/14/2004 Streamlined Cleanup Program Site accepted into the Streamlined Cleanup Program. Bruce Wanstall
4/29/2004 Site Closure Approved Closure includes waiver for formal release investigation requirement and confirmation soil sampling following remediation of contaminated soil incorporated into asphalt. Investigation of low level residual DRO in footprint of 250 gallon diesel UST (310ppm) waived under SCP as very low exposure risk to human receptors at the site. Bruce Wanstall
9/25/2015 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Release Confirmed - Petroleum LUST site created in CSP database for source area UST #7 2015 Release, 79826 Mitzi Read
9/25/2015 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79826 name: UST #7 2015 Release Mitzi Read
9/30/2015 Site Reopened The 2015 Nortech ARFF Building Hazardous Materials Survey Report soil sample KS-5 collected from surface soil at the fuel dispenser island had a diesel range (DRO) organics concentration of 4,820 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) and sample KS-4 collected in surface soil at the hazardous materials storage shed in the ARFF building had DRO concentration of 609 mg/kg and residual range (RRO) hydrocarbons of 5,930 mg/kg. As a result the site is reopened to track cleanup oversight of this release event. The Report is a product of an ADOT&PF project, as owner to provide upgrades to the building structure but not to the USTs and dispenser. Bruce Wanstall
9/30/2015 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Responsible Party Notification provided verbally on Tuesday September 22, 2015 and by letter sent certified mail today to Ketchikan International Airport Manager Mike Carney. Bruce Wanstall
10/16/2015 Update or Other Action DEC letter sent by regular and electronic mail today requests that the Airport Director authorize an environmental professional to prepare a scheduled plan to perform a release investigation for soil and groundwater contamination associated with regulated UST system release and submit the plan for DEC approval before beginning any site activity. Bruce Wanstall
3/24/2016 Site Visit Site inspection of the ARFF Building UST site Bruce Wanstall
7/14/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC evaluated and approved the Ketchikan Airport Maintenance Bldg USTs Report on release investigation and corrective actions completed by contractor R&M Engineering-Ketchikan Inc. The Report concluded that confirmation soil sample results indicate the limits of release at the KS-7 area of the Site has been removed. The contaminated soil is stored in a bio-remediation cell on airport grounds and will be tested in approximately one year’s time. DEC concurs with the Report conclusion and requested the Ketchikan Gateway Borough submit a management plan with the quantity and location of the bioremediation cell on airport grounds. Bruce Wanstall
10/26/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC received a Report from R&M Engineering-Ketchikan Inc. on the bioremediation cell of contaminated soil removed from the UST site located at the Ketchikan Airport. The four cubic yard volume is located inside on the floor of the Maintenance Hanger on a liner bordered by pressure treated timbers. Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer was mixed into the soil as it was placed. R&M will collect analytical samples of the soil in about one year to find if the levels are below the threshold for land spread application on airport grounds. Bruce Wanstall
10/10/2017 Update or Other Action Staff assigned changed from Bruce Wanstall to Robert Weimer. Kathryne Roldan
7/19/2021 Update or Other Action Updated Affiliate contact information. Per RP email dated July 19,2021, approximately one year ago the the four cubic yard volume of soils located inside on the floor of the Maintenance Hanger on a liner bordered by pressure treated timbers, was removed from the bioremediation cell and spread out and graded in the same covered warehouse area in which it was originally stored. This warehouse has a gravel floor and is used for storing surplus runway maintenance equipment. Jessica Hall
10/13/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Sent RP comments on Ketchikan Airport Maintenance Building USTs. Requested an updated work plan be submitted. Jessica Hall
11/5/2021 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Sent RP approval letter for the Site Characterization Report Proposed Work Plan, dated October 27, 2021. Sampling will include 6 soils samples for DRO analysis, from the shop floor. If all samples are below MTG cleanup levels, this site will be eligible for closure. Jessica Hall
4/4/2022 Update or Other Action Phone call with RM Engineering to discuss number of needed samples from the spread soils. Jessica Hall

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
For more information about this site, contact DEC at (907) 465-5390.

Control Type

Type Details
No ICs Required

Requirements

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

There are no documents for this site report.

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

P.O. Box 111800
Juneau, AK 99811-1800
Phone: 907-465-5066
Fax: 907-465-5245
TDD: 800-770-8973
Physical Location: 410 Willoughby