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Site Report: Hermon Hutchens Elementary School UST 2

Site Name: Hermon Hutchens Elementary School UST 2
Address: 1009 West Klutina Street, Valdez, AK 99686
File Number: 2264.26.021
Hazard ID: 25449
Status: Active
Staff: Mollie Dwyer, 9074651076 mollie.dwyer@alaska.gov
Latitude: 61.132957
Longitude: -146.374976
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 2009, during a “change in service” of a 15,000-gallon underground storage tank (UST #2), from storing generator fuel to heating oil, petroleum contaminated soil was encountered. Four soil samples and one duplicate, collected at 16 to 18 feet below ground surface (bgs), 2 feet below and 5 feet away from the UST, contained diesel range organics (DRO) up to 249 mg/kg. Perched water layers were encountered between 6 and 11.5 feet bgs. A tank tightness test was completed in 2010 indicating the tank was structurally sound and no leaks were detected. The site was closed in June 2010. In July 2017, the tank was removed from the ground. Petroleum contamination was observed near a loose coupling on the remote fill line approximately 2 feet north of the generator building and near the fill port on the tank. Approximately 10 cubic yards (cy) of potentially-contaminated soil were removed, along with approximately 150 cy identified as clean based on field screening methods. Analytical results indicate DRO, gasoline range organics, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, and 2-methylnaphthalene remain in soil above DEC cleanup levels. The analytical result of a soil sample taken at the groundwater interface beneath the tank was below the migration to groundwater cleanup level. The proximity of the contaminated area to the generator building prevented removal of all contaminated soil. The majority of the remaining contamination appears to be located near the northwest corner of the generator building. Based on this new information the site was reopened.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
8/27/2009 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
8/28/2009 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Release Confirmed - Petroleum LUST site created in CSP database for source area Tank #2 15,000-Gallon UST, 78812 Mitzi Read
8/28/2009 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78812 name: Tank #2 15,000-Gallon UST Mitzi Read
9/17/2009 Update or Other Action ADEC sent a letter to the Valdez School District on this date requesting a tank tightness test. Grant Lidren
3/12/2010 Update or Other Action An ADEC Phone Conversation with the Valdez City School District on this date indicates a tank tightness test was completed and no leaks were reported. ADEC anticipates receiving results soon. Grant Lidren
5/4/2010 Update or Other Action On this date, the ADEC received the 15,000 Gallon Heating Oil Tank tightness test results, submitted by Petroleum Testing and Services, Inc. The test indicates that the tank and fuel piping has met all ADEC and EPA requirements. Grant Lidren
6/25/2010 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), Contaminated Sites Program, has completed a review of the environmental records associated with the Hermon Hutchens Elementary School. Based on the information provided to date, the ADEC has determined that the contaminant concentrations remaining on site do not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment, and this site is closed. This decision is based on the administrative record for the Hermon Hutchens Elementary School, which is located in the offices of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation in Anchorage, Alaska. Grant Lidren
6/25/2010 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Initiated - Petroleum 3/14/11- Administrative action addition for reporting purposes. Bianca Reece
8/7/2015 Update or Other Action This file has been archived at Alaska Archives Barcode: 896984 Box 418 Susan Carberry
7/14/2017 Site Reopened In July 2017, the tank was removed from the ground. Petroleum contamination was observed near a loose coupling on the remote fill line approximately 2 feet north of the generator building and near the fill port on the tank. Approximately 10 cubic yards (cy) of potentially-contaminated soil were removed, along with approximately 150 cy identified as clean based on field screening methods. Analytical results indicate DRO, gasoline range organics, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, and 2-methylnaphthalene remain in soil above DEC cleanup levels. The analytical result of a soil sample taken at the groundwater interface beneath the tank was below the migration to groundwater cleanup level. The proximity of the contaminated area to the generator building prevented removal of all contaminated soil. The majority of the remaining contamination appears to be located near the northwest corner of the generator building. Based on this new information the site was reopened. Mitzi Read
1/30/2019 Site Characterization Report Approved On this date, ADEC received the UST Closure and Cleanup Activities Hermon Hutchens Elementary School submitted by Shannon & Wilson and dated July 2018. The Report documents releases at the 1,000 gallon underground heating oil tank (HOT) (tracked under file #2264.38.044) and a release at the regulated 15,000 gallon emergency generator underground storage tank (UST) 2 which is this site. Contamination was initially noted near the fill port of the 15,000 gallon UST in July 2017. The 15,000 gallon UST excavation measured approximately 27 feet by 36 feet by 12 feet bgs. The proximity of the generator building limited removal of contaminated soil where it is suspected a majority remains in place near the NW corner of the building. Approximately 160 cy of soil was excavated and segregated into potentially clean (150 cy) and potentially dirty piles (10 cy). During removal, apparent contamination was observed beneath a coupling on the remote fill line two feet north of the generator building. Three soil samples collected underneath the piping at 2 to 2.5 feet bgs contained GRO up to 1,020, DRO up to 13,200 mg/kg, benzene up to 0.178 mg/kg, toluene up to 10.8 mg/kg, ethylbenzene up to 20 mg/kg, xylenes up to 171 mg/kg, 1-methylnapthalene up to 42.4 mg/kg, 2-methylnapthalene up to 49.8 mg/kg, and naphthalene up to 15.6 mg/kg. A soil sample collected from the UST excavation at 8 feet bgs contained GRO up to 316 mg/kg, DRO at 8,290 mg/kg, benzene at 0.0315 mg/kg, ethylbenzene at 4.93 mg/kg, and xylenes up to 51 mg/kg. Two soil samples collected 12.5 feet bgs contained DRO up to 319 mg/kg. A soil sample collected at the groundwater interface at 16 feet bgs did not contain contaminant concentrations above ADEC cleanup levels. Based on the contaminated stockpile soil sample result, the 10 cy dirty stockpile was transported to the long-term storage cells at the Valdez Baler Facility. Based on the clean stockpile soil sample results, the 150 cy clean stockpile was used as fill at the snow storage lot located at 560 W Hanagita street in Valdez. Grant Lidren
4/9/2019 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Release Confirmed - Petroleum Mitzi Read
4/9/2019 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78812 Tank #2 15,000-Gallon UST. Mitzi Read
4/11/2019 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter PRP letter sent to the Valdez School District on this date. Grant Lidren
7/24/2019 Site Characterization Report Approved On this date, ADEC received the Revised Work Plan for Release Investigation Activities, 1009 West Klutina Street submitted by Shannon & Wilson and dated July 24, 2019. Three soil borings will be advanced and completed at monitoring wells and soil and groundwater samples will be collected. There are no plans to address the contaminated soil stockpiles locaed at the Valdez Baler Facility at this time. “The City of Valdez understands that ADEC is tracking the fate of the material stockpiled at the Baler Facility and will notify ADEC of their plans for the material.” Grant Lidren
4/13/2020 Site Characterization Report Approved On this date, ADEC received the Release Investigation Activities, 1009 West Klutina Street, Valdez submitted by Shannon & Wilson and dated March 26, 2020. Three borings were advance and competed as monitoring wells. Boring B1 was advanced south of the former 1,000 gallon UST, boring B2 was advanced southwest of the former 15,000 gallon UST and and west of the current generator building, and boring B3 was advanced south of boring B1 and southwest of boring B2. Two soil samples were collected per borehole one at the highest pid reading and one from the groundwater interface. Only the soil samples collected from B2 at 7.5 to 10 feet bgs, well above the groundwater interface, contained contaminant concentrations above method two cleanup levels with DRO up to 363 mg/kg. Groundwater was encountered at 19.5 to 20.6 feet bgs. MW1 and MW-2 contained detectable concentrations of contaminants, but below table C cleanup levels. Downgradient MW-3 did not contain detectable concentrations of contaminants. Groundwater flow was to the southeast. Grant Lidren
7/28/2020 Site Characterization Workplan Approved On this date, ADEC received the Revised Work Plan for Groundwater and Landfarm Sampling 1009 West Klutina Street submitted by Shannon & Wilson and dated July 28, 2020. The three onsite monitoring wells will be sampled. The stockpile located at the City's Baler Facility will be transported to the City of Valdez Property at 2615 Richardson Highway and landfarmed. landfarmed around the beginning of August and be tilled with a front end loader every 3 to 5 days until September. Post treatment samples will then be collected from the landfarm. Grant Lidren
2/9/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On this date, ADEC Received the Groundwater and Landfarm Sampling Report, Hermon Hutchens Elementary School, 1009 West Klutina Street, Valdez, Alaska; ADEC File No. 2264.26.021 and 2264.38.044. submitted by Shannon & Wilson. Mollie Dwyer
4/15/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On this date, DEC approved the report titled Groundwater and Landfarm Sampling Report, Hermon Hutchens Elementary School, 1009 West Klutina Street, Valdez, Alaska; ADEC File No. 2264.26.021 and 2264.38.044. This report details groundwater and landfarm sampling activities conducted at the Hermon Hutchens Elementary School located at 1009 West Klutina Street in Valdez, Alaska. The report also details landfarm construction and sampling activities associated with impacted soil generated during underground storage tank (UST) closure activities conducted at the site in 2017. Site activities included landfarm construction, tilling, and collecting landfarm soil and groundwater samples. Landfarm analytical soil sample results were below DEC Method Two cleanup levels. Groundwater analytical sample results were below groundwater cleanup levels. It is noted that the project work plan also included collecting soil samples from beneath the landfarm. Due to the denseness of the native ground surface beneath the landfarm, the samples could not be collected with hand tools. Sampling of the ground surface beneath the landfarm is a standard requirement to determine if contaminants have migrated from the landfarm into underlying or adjacent soil. Mollie Dwyer
9/20/2022 Conceptual Site Model Submitted On this date, ADEC received the Cumulative Risk Evaluation and Conceptual Site Model, Hermon Hutchens Elementary School, 1009 West Klutina Street, Valdez, Alaska; ADEC File No. 2264.26.021 and 2264.38.044 submitted by Shannon & Wilson. Ethylbenzene, xylenes, naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, and 2-methylnaphthalene were detected at concentrations exceeding 1/10th the ADEC Method Two human health cleanup levels, and therefore these analytes are considered site contaminants of potential concern (COPCs). DRO was detected at concentrations exceeding the ADEC Method Two ingestion cleanup level of 8,250 mg/kg in samples collected from each of the UST excavations. However, per ADEC’s February 2018 Procedures for Calculating Cumulative Risk guidance document, ADEC does not require petroleum hydrocarbon fractions to be included in cumulative risk calculations. The remaining tested analytes were either not detected or did not exceed 1/10th the ADEC Method Two Human Health cleanup levels. In addition, based on the 2019 and 2021 groundwater sampling events, GRO and DRO are the only tested analytes which have been detected in the groundwater samples. As previously noted, ADEC does not require petroleum hydrocarbon fractions to be included in cumulative risk calculations. A cumulative risk determination found that the detectable contamination remaining onsite exceeds both the cumulative non-carcinogenic risk standard as well as the cumulative carcinogenic risk standard. Potential transport mechanisms include contaminant migration to subsurface soil, migration to groundwater, and volatilization. Potentially impacted media include surface soil, subsurface soil, groundwater, outdoor air, and indoor air. Mollie Dwyer
3/14/2023 Update or Other Action ADEC reviewed the Cumulative Risk Evaluation and Conceptual Site Model report and responded on March 14, 2023. groundwater contamination at the site has not been fully delineated. In order to adequately assess the extent of contamination, including groundwater flow direction, three monitoring wells per source area, sampled quarterly for at least one year is required to properly evaluate groundwater. The elementary school, generator building, and admin building are located within 30 feet of the documented soil contamination. The indoor air inhalation (vapor intrusion) pathway is complete and must be evaluated. DEC requests a figure showing areas of remaining contamination in soil with contaminant concentrations. Additionally sampling of the ground surface beneath the landfarm is required to determine if contaminants have migrated from the landfarm into the underlying or adjacent soil. Mollie Dwyer

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil

Control Type

Type Details
No ICs Required

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.
Hazard ID Site Name File Number
27076 Hermon Hutchens Elementary School Admin Bldg 2264.38.044

Missing Location Data

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