Site Report: ADOT&PF Wrangell Airport Buried Drums
| Site Name: | ADOT&PF Wrangell Airport Buried Drums |
|---|---|
| Address: | Wrangell Airport Runway, Wrangell, AK 99929 |
| File Number: | 1529.38.020 |
| Hazard ID: | 25422 |
| Status: | Cleanup Complete |
| Staff: | No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov |
| Latitude: | 56.486389 |
| Longitude: | -132.377222 |
| Horizontal Datum: | NAD27 |
|  |
 |  |
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 August 2007, in preparation to construct a runway extension area, contractors discovered thirteen drums of asphalt tar buried at the Wrangell Airport; several of the drums had leaked. The material surrounding the drums consisted of wood, metal, and rock debris some of which were contaminated with the heavy oil. Soil contamination was identified using visual inspection and screening with a photoionization detector (PID). A threshold reading of one part per million on the PID was the criterion used to find the lateral extent of soil contamination and the vertical extent was taken to bedrock; groundwater was not encountered or investigated. Drums were removed from the site and were scrapped for salvage; contaminated material was excavated and placed on a lined and covered stockpile on airport property. After the cleanup, the area was backfilled with clean soil and was capped with asphalt. Contaminated soil stockpile total volume was estimated at 200 cubic yards. Soil samples collected from the stockpiled soil were analyzed for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), and gasoline range (GRO), diesel range (DRO) and residual range organics (RRO). None of the analytical results exceeded health based petroleum cleanup levels. DRO was slightly above the migration to groundwater cleanup level and although above instrument detection, the GRO, RRO, and BTEX results were below migration to groundwater cleanup levels.
Action Information
| Action Date | Action | Description | DEC Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/9/2007 | Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other | During excavation to construct a runway safety extension on August 7, 2007, a number of buried drums were discovered beneath shot rock fill that had been placed during the early 1970’s. Preliminary Site Assessment determined that the drums contained emulsified asphalt tack and that several drums had leaked contaminating a small area of rock and soil. Subsurface contaminated material included wood and metal debris. ADOT&PF environmental division developed a site cleanup workplan proposal for ADEC review. | Bruce Wanstall |
| 8/9/2007 | Site Added to Database | A new site has been added to the database (Date adjusted from 6/24/2009 for report/query consistency. (Reese)) | Mitzi Read |
| 8/11/2007 | Cleanup Plan Approved | ADEC reviewed and approved the proposed cleanup workplan. All drums, contaminated soil and contaminated rock fill was removed from the site and placed in a lined and covered long term stockpile. When exposed to air, the emulsified asphalt remains in a tar-like condition, it does not migrate and does not readily generate volatile organic compounds. Much of the area contaminated was excavated to bedrock to insure no contaminants remained. The volume of lined and bermed stockpile located at the south end of the airport runway is 350 cubic yards. Ground water was not encountered and was not investigated. | Bruce Wanstall |
| 11/14/2007 | Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other | ADEC reviewed and approved the Nortech Contaminated Soil Characterization Field Report. The 350 cubic yard stockpile of contaminated material was screened of over two-inch rock and debris leaving a final stockpile volume of 200 cubic yards. Four analytical samples were collected from the contaminated soil stockpile following discrete soil screening of samples from borings chosen within each section of a grid imposed its surface. The highest concentration of DRO that was detected in soil was 487 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). All other petroleum fraction and compound analytes were either below instrument detection or below applicable soil cleanup levels for the Migration to Groundwater exposure pathway. | Bruce Wanstall |
| 7/18/2008 | Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other | ADEC approves contaminated stockpile soil sample laboratory data tested for the benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds using the Synthetic Petroleum Leaching Procedure. PAH compounds were not detected in the leachate with an instrument detection limit of 0.10 micrograms per liter (ug/L) and BTEX compounds were not detected with an instrument detection limit of 0.20 milligrams per liter (mg/L). | Bruce Wanstall |
| 8/26/2008 | Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program | Spill transferred by PERP staff Scot Tiernan. Spill no. 07119921901; spill date = 8/7/07; PERP file no. 1529.47.001; substance = asphalt; quantity = ~110 gallons. Also listed under Spill no. 07119922003; spill date = 8/8/07; substance = asphalt; quantity = unknown. | Mitzi Read |
| 9/17/2008 | Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved | The results of the SPLP tests on contaminated stockpile soil provides ADEC with reasonable assurance that placement at the municipla landfill in Wrangell is unlikely to have deleterious effects to surface water. The highest concentration of DRO that was detected in soil was 487 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). All other petroleum fraction and compound analytes were either below instrument detection or below applicable soil cleanup levels for the Migration to Groundwater exposure pathway. These findings are consistent with the investigation conclusions that the soil contamination resulted from the contents of old asphalt tack material. In accordance with 18 AAC 60 and with approval from the ADEC Solid Waste Program, the 200 cubic yards of stockpiled soil was transported to the local landfill for use as top cover material. | Bruce Wanstall |
| 11/17/2009 | Final Cleanup Report Reviewed | The complete human exposure pathways that wre evaluated for this closure decision include dermal contact and ingestion of soil particles; inhalation of ambient air; and migration to groundwater. As a result of the soil cleanup remedy, migration to ground and surface water pathways are controlled by source removal and capping to control infiltration of water to the subsurface. | Bruce Wanstall |
| 11/17/2009 | Exposure Tracking Model Ranking | Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78787 name: Asphalt Plant Buried Drums | Bruce Wanstall |
| 11/17/2009 | Exposure Tracking Model Ranking | A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78787 Asphalt Plant Buried Drums. | Bruce Wanstall |
| 11/18/2009 | Cleanup Complete Determination Issued | The cleanup actions to date have served to excavate and adequately remove contaminated soil from the site. Based on the information available, ADEC has determined no further assessment or cleanup action at the buried drum site is required. There is no longer a risk to human health or the environment, and this site will be designated as closed on the Department's database. Although a Cleanup Complete determination has been granted for this and two other contaminated sites at the Wrangell Airport, approval is required for off-site soil transport or disposal in accordance with 18 AAC 75.325(i). It should be noted that movement or use of potentially contaminated soil in a manner that results in a violation of 18 AAC 70 water quality standards is unlawful. This determination is in accordance with 18 AAC 75.380(d) and does not preclude ADEC from requiring additional assessment and/or cleanup action if future information indicates that this site may pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. | Bruce Wanstall |
| 10/31/2014 | Exposure Tracking Model Ranking | A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78787 Asphalt Plant Buried Drums. | Bruce Wanstall |
Contaminant Information
| Name | Level Description | Media | Comments |
|---|
Control Type
| Type | Details |
|---|
Requirements
| Description | Details |
|---|
No associated sites were found.