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Site Report: FAA Cape Yakataga Station Former Tank Farm

Site Name: FAA Cape Yakataga Station Former Tank Farm
Address: Former Tank Farm, Cape Yakataga, AK 99574
File Number: 2208.38.001
Hazard ID: 25322
Status: Active
Staff: Sophia Bracio, 9074511682 sophia.bracio@alaska.gov
Latitude: 60.082778
Longitude: -142.489167
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

The Pump House is a 6-foot by 6-foot wooden shed that was used to store various fuel products in 55-gallon drums. The tank farm is immediately south of the Pump House, and it stored four 10,000-gallon diesel ASTs, one 10,000-gallon gasoline AST and one 20,000-gallon diesel AST until it was removed in FY90. The FY91 SI identified areas of stained soil beneath the Pump House, and soil samples indicated POL contamination was present. In FY95, soil and groundwater sampling were conducted as part of a Phase I ESI. Petroleum contamination was detected in both soil and groundwater samples, and three groundwater monitoring wells were installed. The soil and groundwater monitoring wells were sampled during the Phase II ESI in FY96, and results indicated that diesel contamination in soil and benzene contamination in groundwater were present above ADEC cleanup criteria. 475 feet of abandoned fuel line associated with the former tank farm was removed at this time. Approximately nine cu. yds of soil was excavated during pipeline removal, and stockpiled southwest of the former tank farm. Five additional monitoring wells were installed at the tank farm, and sampling revealed seven of the wells exceeded ADEC non-potable water cleanup criteria for benzene and/or DRO. The RI estimated that approximately 2,400 to 5,500 cu. yds of contaminated soil remain at the former tank farm. Further remediation will be required to address the remaining contamination at this site. Stockpile soil was shipped off-site in 2007. 2012 Release Investigation Report found DRO was detected at concentrations greater than the ADEC 18 AAC 75 Table C groundwater cleanup level in 4 of the 16 monitoring wells. DRO results ranged from 1.6 to 5.9 mg/L. Benzene was detected at concentrations greater than the Table C cleanup levels in two samples with concentrations of 0.0058 and 0.021 mg/L. 1-Methylnaphthalene and 2-methylnaphthalene were also detected at concentrations equal to or greater than the Table C cleanup levels in one sample with concentrations of 0.15 and 0.24 mg/L, respectively. No other contaminants were detected at concentrations greater than ADEC groundwater cleanup levels. In soil DRO was up to 14,000 mg/kg.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
12/13/1993 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database (Date adjusted from 1/12/2009 for report/query consistency. (Reese)) Mitzi Read
12/13/1993 Site Added to Database Chlorinated solvents, metals, diesel, gasoline and waste oil. Former Staff
12/21/1994 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RPL2 - Site Information Request Letter). Former Staff
2/7/1995 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SA2 - Phase II Site Assessment (General)). Review of "Compliance Investigation Report" --ADEC had no comment except that it was looking forward to work plan submittal. Randy Rice
11/28/1997 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Sally Schlichting
2/18/2000 Meeting or Teleconference Held Met with FAA and contractor to discuss file, ADEC requirements for additional characterization, and target cleanup levels. Eileen Olson
2/28/2000 Update or Other Action Issued file review letter outlining alternatives for developing cleanup levels and requesting additional investigation and monitoring. Eileen Olson
3/23/2000 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Reranked site to reflect the presence of contamination in groundwater monitoring wells (Groundwater Exposure Index Value went from 0 to 1) and existence of on-site water well (groundwater Exposure went from 0.1 to 0.8)--the well is used for bathing and other purposes, but drinking water is brought in. Site was a high priority before changes were made and still is. Eileen Olson
6/29/2000 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Letter sent: Staff conditionally approved a release investigation work plan for additional characterization of soil and groundwater contamination at this remote facility, to begin by mid-July. FAA plans to construct several monitoring wells in highly contaminated areas, and several sentinel wells to determine whether groundwater contaminants are migrating off-site into the adjacent marine environment or other surface waters. FAA also plans to construct a lined and covered passive biocell to contain about 60 cubic yards of diesel contaminated soil. The soil will be placed in the cell in an 18-inch-thick lift. Soil type is primarily sandy gravel. Eileen Olson
11/16/2000 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting at FAA to discuss the findings of the Cape Yakataga investigation. Free product present. Requested table showing screened intervals correlated with water depths in monitoring wells. Eileen Olson
9/18/2002 Update or Other Action Sent letter requesting groundwater monitoring for all existing wells on site, with a schedule of monitoring to be submitted by March 31, 2003 and the monitoring to be complete by June 30, 2003. Elizabeth Stergiou
9/19/2002 Update or Other Action Sent letter requesting FAA submit the following documents by October 1, 2002: Environmental Compliance Investigation Report, the final release investigation report from 2000, status of free product and status of the all contaminated sites at the station. Elizabeth Stergiou
9/4/2003 Update or Other Action ADEC approved the workplan for the Fall 2003 Sampling and Analysis Plan for various sites. Deborah Williams
5/7/2004 Site Number Identifier Changed Region changed from 11 to 24. Former Staff
2/23/2007 Update or Other Action comment letter sent on the scope of work for landfill removal Debra Caillouet
4/10/2007 Update or Other Action Staff provided expedited comment on the draft landfill removal work plan Debra Caillouet
4/30/2007 Cleanup Plan Approved Plan to remove contents of landfill eroding into the Duktoth and charcterize and dispose was approved Debra Caillouet
8/20/2007 Cleanup Plan Approved The Phase II removal action work plan addendum was approved. The FAA will remove the top half of the landfill during August-September 2007 and store equipment at the site over winter. Another work plan will be provided for Phase III which will occur next spring to complete the removal of the contaminated soil. Debra Caillouet
10/12/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Debra Caillouet
3/7/2008 Update or Other Action Comments on the draft Phase I/II removal report were sent to the FAA. Debra Caillouet
3/24/2008 Update or Other Action Comments were sent on the Phase III landfill removal work plan. Debra Caillouet
11/20/2008 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff reviewed and prepared comment on the Cape Yakataga Debris Removal, Phase III Report, Revision 0, October 2008 Debra Caillouet
11/20/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78271 landfill. Debra Caillouet
1/9/2009 Interim Removal Action Approved Staff approved the PhaseI/II landfill removal report Debra Caillouet
1/13/2009 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78677 name: Former Tank Farm Debra Caillouet
4/12/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Final Work Plan, Federal Aviation Administration Release Investigation, FAA Station Cape Yakataga, April 12, 2012. At the Former AST Tank Farm AOC - forty UVOST probes are expected to be completed at grid points overlying the former tank locations. Additional UVOST probes may be installed, as needed, to fully delineate the petroleum contamination at the site. Based on UVOST results, approximately 12 soil borings will be advanced to collect soil samples. Two of these borings will be completed as monitoring wells. Surface water and sediment samples will be collected in the marsh area downgradient of the former AST Tank Farm. A slug test is expected to be performed in at least one of the wells at this site to calculate site-specific and Station-wide aquifer hydraulic conductivity. ADEC approves the work plan in a letter dated April 25, 2012. Debra Caillouet
8/23/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Release Investigation and Hydrocarbon Risk Calculator Report, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA Station Cape Yakataga, August 2013 Debra Caillouet
10/29/2013 Site Characterization Report Approved 2012 Release Investigation Debra Caillouet
11/20/2013 Site Characterization Report Approved Final Release Investigation and Hydrocarbon Risk Calculator Report, FAA Station Cape Yakataga, September 2013 Former Tank Farm Area (Hazard ID 25322) This AOC includes the former pump house (Building 601) and the existing Shop/Power House (Building 602). During the 2012 RI, 98 UVOST probes were advanced to investigate the extent of contamination at the Former Tank Farm Area AOC. A total of 19 soil borings and 6 hand auger borings were advanced. The hand augered borings were associated with the Off-Runway Drum Disposal Area that is being tracked as Hazard ID 25230. Contaminant concentrations were compared to the ADEC Method Two, Over 40-Inch Zone, Migration to Groundwater cleanup levels. DRO concentrations in soil ranged from 430 to 14,000 mg/kg. GRO concentrations in soil from 390 to 1,200 mg/kg. Benzene was detected up to 0.13 mg/kg. Ethylbenzene and total xylenes concentrations were detected in one sample, with concentrations of 10 and 95 mg/kg, respectively. All RRO and toluene concentrations were less than the applicable ADEC Method Two cleanup levels. Several PAH compounds were also detected above the Method Two cleanup levels. DRO was detected at concentrations greater than the ADEC 18 AAC 75 Table C groundwater cleanup level in 4 of the 16 monitoring wells. DRO results ranged from 1.6 to 5.9 mg/L. Benzene was detected at concentrations greater than the Table C cleanup levels in two samples with concentrations of 0.0058 and 0.021 mg/L. Based on the HRC calculations, the Former Tank Farm Area at the FAA Station Cape Yakataga is not eligible for a Cleanup Complete determination without ICs. It is recommended that remediation and/or ICs be implemented to manage human health risks at this AOC. ADEC is listing this as an Active Site in the Contaminated Sites Database. Debra Caillouet
10/30/2015 Update or Other Action Project management assigned to Wanstall; file transfer pending Bruce Wanstall
1/25/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC reviewed the Draft Report for Groundwater and Surface Water Sampling at Cape Yakataga Station, dated December 2016. Bethel Environmental Solutions conducted a depth to water survey for 28 monitoring wells, groundwater sampling at 25 monitoring wells, and co-located surface water and sediment samples at six locations. Nine monitoring wells increased in contaminant concentrations relative to previous sampling events, five sediment samples contained DRO concentrations above ADEC cleanup levels, and one sediment sample contained pesticides (DDD and DDT) in excess of the SQuiRT TEL and PEL criteria. Sammi Castle
3/15/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other FAA submitted the Final Report Groundwater and Surface Water Sampling, dated February 2018 and received by ADEC on March 12, 2018. Groundwater contaminant concentrations exceeded ADEC cleanup levels in 9 of the 25 wells sampled. Six surface water samples collected downgradient of the former AST tank farm met water quality criteria for surface water. Co-located sediment sample results indicated DRO concentrations above ADEC soil cleanup criteria in five of six primary samples (highest result of 632 mg/kg). DDD and DDT detected above TEL and PEL values in one sample. Sammi Castle
10/5/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provides comments on the "Groundwater Monitoring Program Work Plan, FAA Stations in: Bettles, Cape Yakataga, St. Mary's" dated September 2018. Surface water, ground water, and sediment sampling is proposed. John O'Brien
10/11/2018 Site Characterization Workplan Approved ADEC approves the "Groundwater Monitoring Program Work Plan, FAA Stations in: Bettles, Cape Yakataga, St. Mary's" dated October 2018. John O'Brien
12/13/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the Final 2019 Groundwater Monitoring Program Report, FAA Stations in Bettles, Cape Yakataga, and St. Mary’s, AK, Dated December 2019. This report details 2019 groundwater monitoring activities at the Bettles, St. Mary’s, and Cape Yakataga FAA stations. Monitoring activities included collecting groundwater samples from existing wells at Bettles, St. Mary’s, and Cape Yakataga. Additionally, sediment samples were collected and analyzed at Cape Yakataga. One well at the Bettles site showed a cleanup level (CUL) exceedance of napthalene, but other wells exhibited no exceedances. Similarly, at the St. Mary’s site, one well exceeded the naphthalene CUL, but all other analytes were below CULs. One of the wells scheduled to be sampled at St. Mary’s was deemed unusable due to damage and subsequent low recharge. At the Cape Yakataga site, petroleum contamination remains above CULs in several wells, with contaminant concentrations increasing in some wells and decreasing in others. Several wells were not sampled due to insufficient water or the presence of free product. Additionally, several sediment samples were found to contain DDT and DDE above National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Screening Quick Reference Tables threshold and probable effects levels. Kevin Fraley
6/9/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft WP received. WP covers multiple FAA sites: Bettles (1374, 23785, 4685, 24284), Cape Yakataga (485, 26150, 25322), Chena NDB (26486), Puntilla Lake, and St Mary's. Comments sent 06/16/2021.Acceptance of RTC sent 06/25/2021. Approval letter for final WP sent 07/06/2021. Shonda Oderkirk
12/6/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Groundwater Monitoring for FAA Stations Bettles, Puntilla, Chena NDB. Report was supposed to include Yakataga and St. Mary's, but they weren't able to get out there due to COVID restrictions. 1/5/2022 Comments sent. 2/8/2022 RTC sent to RP. 3/7/2022 approval of final report sent. Shonda Oderkirk
11/29/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft report for Cape Yakataga and St Mary's 2022 field work received. 12/8/2022 Comments sent. 12/15/2022: RTC Received. 1/3/2023: Final approval issued. Shonda Oderkirk

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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
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