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Site Report: NSB South Pad

Site Name: NSB South Pad
Address: Nunavaaq Street, ~1 Mile from West End of Airport Runway, Barrow, AK 99723
File Number: 310.38.028
Hazard ID: 25916
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 71.272685
Longitude: -156.811367
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

Previous inestigations found DRO up to 34,100 mg/kg in soil and up to 6.56 mg/l in pad porewater in 2001. An inspection conducted in 2011 noted over 350 leaking and/or rusted drums of unknown material, 24 ASTs, numerous 5- and 1-gallon containers, stained soil, and signs of contaminant migration from the pad into the surrounding tundra.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
9/20/2012 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
9/25/2012 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter sent to responsible party. Bill O'Connell
10/8/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed Summary Technical Memorandum Phase II Environmental Site Investigation, South Pad Barrow dated March, 2002. A portion of South Pad is also occupied by the City of Barrow, but was not included in this Phase II ESI. Five potential areas of contamination were identified; The Service Shop Building, Drum Storage Docks, Wood Storage Building, Treated Lumber and Vehicle Storage area, and the Crate and Creosote Pole Storage area. A materials inventory was also conducted and the contents of various containers was characterized using HazCat. 52 subsurface soil samples were collected from thirty soil borings and 90 surface soil samples were collected from various areas at the site. Eight of the borings were completed as pore water monitoring wells. Four surface water samples were collected off the pad, and one surface water sample was collected from a diked area at a 45,000-gallon AST. Samples were also collected from creosote and PCP treated lumber. In soil samples, DRO was detected up to 34,100 mg/kg in Sample SS27 near the drum storage docks, and RRO was detected up to 19,300 mg/kg in the same sample. Arsenic was detected up to 23.9 mg/kg in sample SS63 near the wood storage building. Benzo(a)anthracene was detected up to 37.5 mg/kg in sample SS86 near the creosote poles and benzo(a)pyrene was detected up to 13.7 mg/kg in the same sample. PCBs were not detected in any samples. Contaminants were generally not detected in surface water samples. In pore water samples, DRO was detected up to 6.56 mg/l at B27MW. Six of the seven pore water wells sampled contained DRO above 1.5 mg/l and RRO above 1.1 mg/l. Drum characterization indicated waste was present from up to 38 waste streams. Drum contents included fuels, waste oil, acids, solvents, batteries, and others. The Phase II estimated up to 80 cy of contaminated soil was present at the site. Bill O'Connell
10/9/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed Corrective Action Plan, South Pad Barrow dated May 2002. The CAP includes the disposal/reuse of drum contents, excavation and treatment of contaminated soil, additional pore water sampling, disposal/reuse of treated lumber, and disposal of hazardous building materials. This CAP was not executed. Bill O'Connell
10/9/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed Summary of Site Visit dated August 23, 2011. Work at the site since 2011 has been to support the potential rehabilitation and reuse of the Service Shop Building. The 2011 site visit documented two, 55-gallon drums in the southern portion of the Shop. One was empty, one was partially full. In the northern portion of the shop were five, 85-gallon drums, four marked ‘soil’ or ‘decon’, one was empty; three, 55-gallond drums (arctic lube, unknown contents, spilled white substance) and miscellaneous 1- and 5-gallon containers of paint and other products. Three sumps are located in the northern portion of the shop and one in the southern portion. Observations indicate hazardous substances may have been released to the sumps, which may be regulated by EPA as underground injection wells depending on their configuration. Outside of the shop were over 350 drums, at least 24 ASTs, numerous 1- and 5-gallon containers. Some drums were observed to have leaked, as evidenced by stains, and there has been some migration of contaminants off of the pad to the surrounding tundra causing staining in a gully leading away from the site. Bill O'Connell
10/9/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed Service Shop Characterization, South Pad, Barrow dated March 2012. The characterization effort was conducted concurrent with debris removal efforts and drum/container characterization for containers located inside the building only. Container characterization activities identified the following: five, 55-gallon drums and four, 15-gallon drums of petroleum, oil, and/or lubricants, two supersacks of drill cuttings from the 2001 well installation effort, 10 gallons of latex paint, 30 gallons of flammable paints, five gallons of methanol, 5 gallons of solvent, mercury and lead containing materials (lights, batteries, etc), and approximately 1,400 gallons of oily water that was ponded in the southern part of the building. Four sumps were observed in the building, water with NAPL was observed in two of the sumps. Soil and water in drums was sampled and found to be non-hazardous. Soil samples collected from the sumps contained DRO up to 40,500 mg/kg and RRO up to 129,000 mg/kg in Sump #3. Several VOCs were also detected and lead and chromium concentrations in Sump #3 indicate the material is likely hazardous waste if removed. Petroleum contaminants were also detected in water samples from each of the sumps. Bill O'Connell
10/9/2012 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79336 name: NSB South Pad Bill O'Connell
11/28/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed Drum Characterization Work Plan for South Pad, Barrow. Drums and containers will be moved into the Service Shop for thawing and characterization, except for the small containers located in the Wood Storage Building. Containment areas will be constructed to prevent any potential releases from the drums during handling and characterization. Drums will be assigned a unique number and characterization information will be recorded on a Drum Log. HazCat fingerprinting will be conducted as necessary. Drum material that cannot be characterized using HazCat may be sampled. The contents of two ASTs east of the Service Shop will also be characterized. The report from the characterization effort will include requirements for manifesting, shipping, and disposal. Bill O'Connell
6/20/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed NSB South Pad Drum Characterization Report. 517 individual drums were identified at the site, three of which were consolidated into drum #518. No other drum contents were consolidated. Drum contents included tar, grease, oily water, antifreeze, solvents including paint thinner, paint, battery acid, solids and other materials. Samples were collected from 5 drums. TCLP metals were not detected, VOCs were detected in each of the samples for which they were analyzed. A work plan for the reuse or disposal of the drum contents is expected by 8/1/13. Bill O'Connell
7/22/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed Revised Site Characterization Work Plan for NSB South Pad. The objective of the site characterization effort is to characterize soil and water in the vicinity of the former drum storage areas and evaluate floor drains present in the Shop Building. Surface soil samples will be collected from 0 – 0.5 feet bgs for field screening with a PID. 20 analytical samples will be collected based on field screening as well as field observations and analyzed for GRO, DRO, RRO, and BTEX and five of the samples will also be analyzed for VOCs, PAHs, PCBs and RCRA Metals. Three surface water samples will be collected from ponded tundra water near the former drum storage areas. At the four sumps located in the Shop Building, sediment samples will be collected and analyzed for GROP, DRO, RRO, VOCs RCRA Metals and PCBs. Each of the four sumps will be evaluated for tightness by placing water in the sumps, measuring the depth, then re-measuring the water depth after 24 hours. Bill O'Connell
3/17/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed Site Characterization Report for South Pad, Barrow Alaska. The objective of the investigation was to delineate the extent of soil contamination in areas where drums had previously been stored along the northern portion of the property. 55 surface soil samples were collected for field screening using a PID and 22 samples were submitted for laboratory analysis. Four surface water samples were collected from ponded water along the northern edge of the pad. Soil samples contained DRO above the Method One gravel pad cleanup level of 500 mg/kg in 18 of the 22 samples with concentrations ranging from 630 mg/kg to 27,500 mg/kg. 15 samples contained RRO above the cleanup level of 2,000 mg/kg with concentrations ranging from 2,850 mg/kg to 45,100 mg/kg. PCBs were not detected and PAHs and VOCs were not detected above cleanup levels. Surface water samples did not contain concentrations of TAH or TAqH above water quality standards. The report indicates that significant staining is present across portions of the pad and spilled tar has covered the pad in some areas. Bill O'Connell
10/23/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed South Pad Sump Evaluation report. Four sumps located in the Service Shop were cleaned out and evaluated in March 2014. The sumps were constructed of welded steel plate. Sump S3 had an approximately 0.5 inch hole in the bottom. Samples were collected of the sediment in sumps S1, S2, and S3. Sump S4 sediment was characterized in 2011. Following sampling, the sediment was removed and placed in 55 gallon drums. Tightness testing indicated a leak in sump S2. Sediment samples from Sumps S1 and S2 contained DRO and RRO above ADEC soil cleanup levels with DRO detected at 2,630 mg/kg in sump S1 and 10,600 mg/kg in sump S2. None of the samples exceeded TCLP regulatory limits. Bill O'Connell
6/3/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed cleanup work plan for South Pad. The project will consist of excavating impacted soil along the northern portion of the property that was identified during previous sampling efforts. It is anticipated that approximately 2,200 cy of contaminated soil will be excavated to a depth of approximately 3 feet below ground surface. Excavated soil will be segregated based on the apparent degree of contamination and stockpiled on site in accordance with 18 AAC 75.370. Stained and other obviously contaminated soil will be stockpiled separately and sampled using multi increment sampling to determine disposal options. Other potentially contaminated soil will be stockpiled and sampled based on field screening in accordance with the Field Sampling Guidance. An area of solidified tar will also be removed and containerized for disposal. Confirmation samples will be collected from the excavations at the rate specified in the May 2010 Draft Field Sampling Guidance. Excavation will also be conducted at Sumps S2 and S3 at the Service Shop Building followed by confirmation soil sampling. A 10-square foot portion of the slab will be removed and the concrete sampled using EPA Guidance. The sumps will then be excavated to a depth of approximately 5 feet. If pore water is encountered, a sample will be collected. All excavation will cease if they encounter permafrost or frozen soil, pore water, or native soil. Bill O'Connell
9/23/2015 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Reviewed Barrow South Pad Site Characterization of Drum Staging Area, Aboveground Storage Tank Cleaning, and Sump and Contaminated Soil Removal Action work plan. Site Characterization efforts will be undertaken at 6 areas: The Northwest Area (NWA), Northeast Area (NEA), Southeast Area (SEA), the area near the 45,000-gallon former fuel storage tank, the fuel dispenser area, and the pump house area. The NWA, NEA, and SEA were areas where drums of petroleum and other hazardous substances had previously been stored. At the NWA, 37 boreholes will be advanced and subsurface samples collected from the interval exhibiting the highest PID reading. At the NEA, 99 boreholes will be advanced and subsurface soil samples collected from the interval exhibiting the highest PID reading. Three monitoring wells will be installed and sampled along the perimeter of the NEA and co-located surface water and sediment samples will be collected from off-pad areas. At the SEA,10 soil borings will advanced and subsurface soil samples collected from the interval exhibiting the highest PID reading. One monitoring well will be installed on co-located surface water and sediment samples will be collected from one off-pad location. At the 45,000-gallon AST area, 12 boreholes will be advanced and two samples will be collected from each borehole based on PID readings. One soil boring will be completed as a monitoring well if contamination is apparent in PID readings at this location. At the Pump House Area and Dispenser Area 4 boreholes will be advanced and two samples will be collected from each borehole based on PID readings at each area. One soil boring will be completed as a monitoring well is contamination is apparent in PID readings at these locations. A removal action will be conducted where solidified tar is present on the ground surface. Tar will be removed to a depth of 4 inches and disposed of offsite. In the Service Shop, standing water will be removed from Sumps 2 and 3, then the concrete around the sumps will be removed and disposed of offsite. Contaminated soil will be excavated to a depth of 12 inches and placed into supersacks. Additional soil may if excavated if contamination is apparent then confirmation soil samples will be collected from the bottom and sides of the excavation. Disposal of soil and concrete will be coordinated after the waste is generated and disposal options considered. Bill O'Connell
6/6/2016 Site Characterization Report Approved Reviewed NSB Barrow South Pad Site Characterization Report. Site characterization activities were conducted at 6 locations: The Northwest Area, Northeast Area, Southeast Area, AST Area, Dispenser Area, and Pump House Area. Overall site characterization activities included the advancement of 173 soil borings, installation of 7 monitoring wells and the collection of soil, surface water, and sediment samples. Pad pore water samples were not collected due to slow recharge in the monitoring wells. Soil samples were analyzed for DRO/RRO, GRO, RCRA Metals, glycols, and VOCs with 5% of samples also analyzed for SVOCs and PAHs. At the Northwest Area, 40 soil borings were advanced and one analytical soil sample was collected from each borehole based on field screening results. Contaminants were detected above cleanup levels at one location, grid point J-3, where DRO was detected at 3,380 mg/kg, GRO at 669 mg/kg, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene at 50.1 mg/kg. The extent of contamination was delineated on three sides however the extent contamination to the north remains unknown. At the Northeast Area, 99 soil borings were advanced and one analytical soil sample was collected from each borehole based on field screening results. DRO was detected above the cleanup level at three discrete locations, near grid points S-2, V-3, W-7 and GRO was detected above the cleanup level at W-7 at 109 mg/kg. The highest concentration of DRO was detected at V-3 at 3,430 mg/kg. At the Southeast Area, 10 soil borings were advanced and one analytical soil sample was collected from each borehole based on field screening results. Contaminants were not detected above cleanup levels in any of the samples. At the AST Area, 12 soil borings were advanced and 2 samples were collected from each borehole based on field screening results. Contaminants were detected above cleanup levels at grid points CC-1 and CC-3 with DRO detected up to 668 mg/kg at CC-1 and GRO detected up to 416 mg/kg at the same location in a deeper sample. Contamination at these locations was not completely delineated to the west. At the Dispenser Area, 4 soil borings were advanced and two soil samples were collected from each borehole. Contaminants were detected above cleanup levels at grid points GG-1 and GG-2 with DRO detected up to 1,190 mg/kg at GG-2 and GRO detected up to 150 mg/kg in the same sample. Contamination at his location was not delineated to the south or east. At the Pump House Area, 4 soil borings were advanced and two samples collected from each borehole. Contaminants were detected above cleanup levels at grid location AA-1 with GRO up to 224 mg/kg. Contamination at this location was not delineated to the south or west. Additional activities conducted as part of this effort included the cleaning and decommissioning of a 45,000-gallon above ground fuel storage tank and debris removal/site cleanup activities at the Southeast Area, Northeast Area, and Service Shop Building. At the Southeast and Northeast Areas, wood racks were cut and stacked for disposal. At the Northeast Area, solidified tar was removed from the ground surface and placed into supersacks for future disposal. At the Service Shop, two of the four floor sumps were removed and samples were collected below the sumps following excavation that was guided by field screening. At Sump 3, a 5’ x 5’ square of concrete was removed from around the sump and staged for disposal as solid waste based on previous concrete sample results. Four supersacks of material were removed from below the sump, confirmation samples did not contain contaminants above cleanup levels. At Sump 2, concrete was also removed and 6 supersacks of material were removed from below the sump. Confirmation samples did not contain contaminants above cleanup levels. Soil from below the sumps was sampled for waste disposal purposes and the supersacks were staged in the Service Shop for disposal pending results. Two remnant monitoring wells were located and decommissioned and 7 new monitoring wells were installed and will be sampled in summer 2016. Surface water samples were collected from three locations and sediment samples were also collected at two of the locations. Contaminants in surface water were not detected above AWQS, contaminants in sediment were not detected above NOAA Squirt threshold effect levels. Bill O'Connell
7/12/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed Corrective Action Plan (CAP) for South Pad. The CAP provides details on tank and drum cleaning and disposal; excavation, staging, and off-site disposal of contaminated soil from nine source areas; confirmation sampling, and backfilling of excavations. Bill O'Connell
1/18/2017 Update or Other Action Letter sent to NSB on this day detailing the current status/progress of 22 active contaminated sites, including this site Bill O'Connell
6/8/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed NSB South Pad Removal Action Report. 1,922 tons of contaminated soil was excavated from nine discrete source areas and contaminated sediment was removed from a secondary containment cell for a 45,000-gallon AST. The 45,000-gallon AST was cut into pieces and staged for recycling. Water that had ponded in the secondary containment cell was sampled, determined to meet water quality standards, and discharged onsite. Water that continued to flow into the secondary containment cell was pumped into a lined pond and filtered through granular activated carbon prior to discharge. A strong petroleum odor was noted below the cell following its removal. A pump house was also demolished as part of the 2016 cleanup activities. Strong petroleum odor was noted in soil below the pump house following its removal. Excavations were conducted at nine areas named Excavation Area (EA) 1-9. EA 1 was at the dispenser area associated with the 45,000-gallon AST, which was the location of EA 2 after the containment cell was removed. EA1 and EA2 eventually merged into a single excavation. EA3 was at the 10,000-gallon AST area, EA4 was at the pump house area and EA5-EA9 were at other discrete areas of contamination identified during previous investigations at the site. At EA1/2, confirmation soil samples contained DRO up to 2,440 mg/kg and GRO up to 231 mg/kg. At EA3, confirmation samples contained DRO up to 1,300 mg/kg and GRO up to 140 mg/kg. At EA4, confirmation samples did not contain contaminants above cleanup levels. At EA5, excavation progressed to the pad/tundra interface. Confirmation samples from this excavation contained DRO up to 519 mg/kg and RRO up to 2,000 mg/kg. At EA6, EA7, and EA8 sidewall confirmation samples did not contain contaminants above cleanup levels; floor samples were not collected due to infiltrating pore water. At EA9, confirmation samples did not contain contaminants above cleanup levels. Contaminated soil and sediment was transported by barge and disposed of at Columbia Ridge Landfill in Arlington, OR. Drums and other uncontaminated debris was collected and disposed of at the Barrow landfill Bill O'Connell
6/9/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed and approved work plan to collect soil samples in support of a Method Three cleanup level calculation. Bill O'Connell
11/2/2017 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 79336 NSB South Pad. Bill O'Connell
6/6/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed the Method Three Alternative Cleanup Levels Request, dated June 6, 2018. ADEC noted some minor concerns with the request in an email dated June 25, 2018 (saved to file). Revised version of the report requested by August 2018. Joshua Barsis
9/18/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed the Method Three Alternate Soil Cleanup Levels Request, dated September 11, 2018. Proposed alternative cleanup levels are as follows: GRO: 9,200 mg/kg; DRO: 55,300 mg/kg; and RRO: 22,200 mg/kg. Please note that ADEC Method Two Maximum Allowable Concentrations (MACs) for GRO, DRO, and RRO are 1,400 mg/kg, 12,500 mg/kg, and 22,000 mg/kg; all of which are more conservative than the proposed levels. Although ADEC has the ability to approve cleanup levels less stringent than MACs, typically those site have an institutional control (IC) simply because the approved levels exceed MACs listed in regulation. ADEC will evaluate this site for closure with and without ICs, and may or may not utilize the proposed cleanup levels, which are approved for use. Joshua Barsis
11/5/2018 Workplan Requested ADEC completed a closure evaluation for the NSB South Pad site, as documented in the November 11, 2018 letter (see file for letter). Numerous site characterizations have been completed at this site, along with a recent cleanup action performed at or in close proximity to the Service Shop Building. However, one area of concern that has not yet been addressed is the Crate and Creosote Pole Storage Area, which was identified in 2002. Benzo(a)anthracene was detected in one surface soil sample at 37.5 mg/kg, which exceeds the current Method Two Human Health cleanup level of 20 mg/kg. ADEC requested a work plan to address the Crate and Creosote Pole Storage Area by February 2019. Joshua Barsis
11/16/2018 Update or Other Action Letter sent on this day as a follow up to the last version of this letter, dated November 20, 2017, and at the request of the North Slope Borough (NSB). This letter details the current progress of 24 active contaminated sites, including this site. Joshua Barsis
4/4/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed the March 26, 2019 work plan titled: Additional Site Characterization Work Plan, Crate and Creosote Pole Storage Area, South Pad, Barrow, Alaska; ADEC File No. 310.38.0028. Activities proposed in the work plan generally consist of surface soil sampling from the former crate and creosote pole area to evaluate PAHs. ADEC approved the plan on this day, but with the condition of deeper samples. Joshua Barsis
9/13/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed the September 10, 2019 report titled: Additional Site Characterization. Activities completed included surface soil sampling from the former crate and creosote pole area to evaluate PAHs. PAHs were not identified above applicable cleanup levels. Joshua Barsis
11/7/2019 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued Contamination remains in the gravel pad and underlying tundra, but at concentrations below the risk-based Method Two Soil Cleanup Levels. Additionally, contaminated porewater appears to exist within most of the pad, but does not appear to be migrating off of the pad and is not impacting adjacent surface water bodies. Based on the information provided to date, it has been determined that the contaminant concentrations remaining on site do not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment and no further remedial action will be required unless new information becomes available that indicates residual contaminants may pose an unacceptable risk. Joshua Barsis

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
Benzo(a)anthracene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
Benzo(a)pyrene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
RRO 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.
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)

No associated sites were found.

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