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Site Report: HIPAS Observatory

Site Name: HIPAS Observatory
Address: 7795 Chena Hot Springs Road; MP 26.5 Chena Hot Springs Road, Two Rivers, Fairbanks, AK 99712
File Number: 100.38.233
Hazard ID: 25570
Status: Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff: IC Unit, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.872229
Longitude: -146.842621
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

During the decommissioning of the High Power Auroral Simulation (HIPAS) Observatory, multiple releases of petroleum were noted. Potential sources include, but are not limited to: heating oil tanks, generator tanks, generators, transformers, fuel lines, heavy equipment, etc. The site includes two spills transferred from the Prevention and Emergency Response Program (PERP) (spill nos. 10309926501 and 10309926701). Contaminants of Concern include diesel range organics (DRO), residual range organics (RRO), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)metals, mercury, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
10/6/2010 Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program Spill transferred by PERP staff Brian Jackson. Spill no. 10309926501; spill date = 9/22/10; substance = used oil; quantity = unknown; PERP file no. 100.02.317. Description: loader leaked oil while parked for an unknown period of time. Mitzi Read
10/6/2010 Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program Spill transferred by PERP staff Brian Jackson. Spill no. 10309926701; spill date = 9/24/10; substance = engine oil; quantity = ~50 gallons; PERP file no. 100.02.317. Description: flange of generator crankcase was sheared off by loader forks. Mitzi Read
10/12/2010 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
10/12/2010 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78964 name: Petroleum - Multiple Sources Mitzi Read
7/13/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Remedial Work Plan received from NORTECH Jim Fish
9/12/2012 Update or Other Action Reviewed workplan comment responses from Nortech submitted late due to oversight. Field work underway, soil stockpiles containing petroleum products at site waiting on transport approval before thermal remediation at OIT. Additional soil excavation in progress in area P6. LIDAR building was demolished last winter in December. Soil sampling at base of LIDAR building excavation indicated mercury was present in soil. According to consultant, additional soil removal occurred to remove this material. Janice Wiegers
11/15/2012 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter PRP letter to all RPs (UAF & UCLA. Jim Fish
4/9/2013 Site Characterization Report Approved Received Site Characterization, Remediation, and Closure Report from Nortech. The report documents removal of structures, generators, tanks, materials, and equipment that were removed from the site for reuse or diposal. Removal efforts included drums and containers of petroleum and glycol, transformers and capacitors that may have contained PCB-containing oil, and a Liquid Mirror Telescope which contained mercury. Petroleum characterization and contaminated soil removal was completed at the LIDAR garage (AST, loader spill, drum, and surface stains), LIDAR building heatin oil tank, LIDAR transformer release, boneyard area transformer shed, boneyard area surface stain, generator building pedestals and floor, and driveway/parking area surface stains. Mercury contamination in soil was characterized and removed from beneath the LIDAR tower foundation. Four septic tanks were also sampled, pumped, and removed. A buried crib was removed and other buried piping and soil absorption systems were abandonned in place. Five drinking water wells were decommissioned. Janice Wiegers
4/10/2013 Update or Other Action Received site characterization and cleanup report Jim Fish
6/21/2013 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with RPs (UAF & UCLA) and NORTECH to discuss cleanup report and ICs and uncertainty with high-risk contaminants. May consider informational ICs only. Consultant possibly willing to re-visit areas where mercury and PCB contamination may potentially exist. DEC will identify areas/issues of concern. Jim Fish
8/14/2013 Update or Other Action Draft NEC sent to consutlant and RP for consideration. Workplan for soil gas assessment of mercury, and evaluation of future wild foods and/or agricultural/residential use pending. Jim Fish
9/11/2013 Update or Other Action Reviewed and commented on draft Notice of Environmental Cleanup for property records. Anticipate further comments & discussion on proposed Notice Jim Fish
10/3/2013 Update or Other Action Reviewed workplan for addtional sampling (PCBs), soil gas collection (mercury), and risk evaluation. Requested composite sampling for PCBs down to 2-ft bgs, in favor of single grab samples at 1-ft bgs. Jim Fish
10/4/2013 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Workplan conditionally approved for additional PCB, mecury soil vapor, and SVOC (PAH SIMS) sampling. Also requested composite sampling for PCBs (following TSCA) and an additional lcoation for PCB sampling. Jim Fish
2/14/2014 Update or Other Action Received for review, Addendum to Site Characterization, Remediation & Closure Report, detailing additonal assessment conducted in 2013. Jim Fish
4/28/2014 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79626 name: LIDAR Building (Liquid Mirror Telescope) Jim Fish
4/28/2014 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79627 name: Leach fields and transformer storage/staging areas Jim Fish
5/22/2014 Institutional Control Record Established Institutional Controls established and entered into the database. Jim Fish
6/20/2014 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued Remaining contamination in soil is below established default cleanup levels, and ADEC has determined there is no unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. However, this site will be issued a Cleanup Complete - ICs determination subject to the following. 1. 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, ADEC (IC Unit) will contact the University of Alaska every five years to ask for a reporting of documented land use and notification as soon as the University of Alaska becomes aware of any change in land ownership and/or use, any additional environmental information about the site should it become avialbale, and to provide notification that further investigation/cleanup should be conducted additional soil contamination is found at this site. 2. A Notice of Environmental Cleanup (deed notice) shall be recorded in the State Recorder’s Office by ADEC that identifies the nature and extent of previous contamination at the property and any conditions that the owners and operators are subject to in accordance with this decision document. A copy of this NEC shall be included in ADEC’s administrative file. Jim Fish
6/17/2015 Institutional Control Update Add Task tracker date (5 years from closure date) for IC Unit to contact UAF on land status Jim Fish
9/6/2016 Update or Other Action University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration (ACUASI) requested access to the HIPAS site for short (several hour) periods of time on an irregular basis for at least the next year to conduct unmanned aircraft system (UAS) test flight and training activities. The UAS to be used at HIPAS are all small aircraft that do not require runways for take offs and landings. All equipment will be brought to the site via UAF vehicles and removed at the end of each day’s operations. No construction, disturbing of the soil, or other site modification activities is planned, therefore the proposed use of UAS will not expose site users to remaining contamination. The use HIPAS would give ACUASI an alternative to doing testing and training at the Poker Flat Research Range when NASA operations make even short UAS flight operations at that site unfeasible. DEC Contaminated Sites Program does not object to this use. Jim Fish
5/22/2018 Institutional Control Compliance Review Staff changed from Jim Fish to IC Unit. IC compliance review conducted. Closure/IC Details updated. Reminder system set for follow-ups to occur every five years, starting in 2019 Kristin Thompson
8/19/2019 Institutional Control Compliance Review An Institutional Controls reminder letter e-mailed to the landowner/responsible part on this date. Mossy Mead

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil
Mercury - Total < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil
RRO < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil
PCBs - Total Other Soil

Control Type

Type Details
Notice of Environmental Contamination 2. A Notice of Environmental Cleanup (deed notice) shall be recorded in the State Recorder’s Office by ADEC that identifies the nature and extent of previous contamination at the property and any conditions that the owners and operators are subject to in accordance with this decision document. A copy of this NEC shall be included in ADEC’s administrative file.
Other 1. 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, ADEC (IC Unit) will contact the University of Alaska every five years to ask for a reporting of documented land use and notification as soon as the University of Alaska becomes aware of any change in land ownership and/or use, any additional environmental information about the site should it become avialbale, and to provide notification that further investigation/cleanup should be conducted additional soil contamination is found at this site.

Requirements

Description Details
Other 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, ADEC (IC Unit) will contact the University of Alaska every five years to ask for a reporting of documented land use and notification as soon as the University of Alaska becomes aware of any change in land ownership and/or use, any additional environmental information about the site should it become avialbale, and to provide notification that further investigation/cleanup should be conducted additional soil contamination is found at this site.
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site. Standard condition.
Movement or use of contaminated material (including on site) in a manner that results in a violation of the water quality standards is prohibited (18 AAC 70) Standard condition.

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
Fax: 907-465-5245
TDD: 800-770-8973
Physical Location: 410 Willoughby