Site Report: Valdez City of Robe River Well House

Site Name:	Valdez City of Robe River Well House
Address:	Dylen Drive, Mi. 2.2 Richardson Hwy., Valdez, AK 99686
File Number:	2264.38.013
Hazard ID:	2603
Status:	Active
Staff:	Peter Campbell, 9072623412 peter.campbell@alaska.gov
Latitude:	61.095000
Longitude:	-146.206944
Horizontal Datum:	NAD83

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.

Site Chronology
IC / Closure Details
Documents
Associated Sites

Problems/Comments

On November 19, 1996, a leak was discovered in a one-half inch diameter fuel line that supplied fuel to a heater in the Robe River Pumphouse Building. The line was along the east and south interior walls of the Pumphouse Building. The point of release was a 90-degree elbow located at the southeast corner of the building. Analyses of fuel inventory records and estimated fuel usage showed that about 1,000 gallons of Number 1 fuel oil leaked. The heater and the fuel line was installed in 1994. About 200 cubic yards of contaminated soil was excavated during November and December 1996. The contaminated soil was treated in a biocell and later approved by ADEC for use as off site road bed material. Groundwater was at 14 foot depth. Groundwater flow direction was south-south-east. The shallow aquifer was contaminated. Drinking water was from a 110 foot deep drinking water well. The well was screened from 70-100 feet. Two monitoring wells had product thicknesses of 5 inches. Drinking water well is identified as ADEC PWSID# 291211. Adjacent property is owned by University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) (POC Nelda Carlson with Land Management, 3890 University Lake Drive, Suite 103, Anchorage 99508) to the south and east where the groundwater plume has migrated to. A permit for ingress/egress is issued by UAA to the city for access to the well house, including for cleanup activities.

Action Information

Action Date	Action	Description	DEC Staff
11/19/1996	Update or Other Action	Spill reported to PERP in Valdez from the Robe River pump house. An apparent loose fitting from a supply line to a tank was the cause of the spillage. Initially it was estimated that about 50 gallons of diesel fuel #1 had leaked but later it was suspected that up to about 1,000 gallons had leaked over the period of about 1 year.	Former Staff
11/20/1996	Update or Other Action	PERP issues a letter in follow-up to the 11/19/96 spill report requesting cleanup action and cost recovery policy for DEC's expenses.	Former Staff
1/3/1997	Preliminary Assessment Approved	(Old R:Base Action Code = SA1A - Phase I Site Assessment Approval). OASIS conducted site assessment activities at the site on January 2 and 3, 1997. Phase-separated product was present in two monitoring wells, fuel oil-impacted soil was identified beneath the corner of the pumphouse building, and soil contamination was documented at the water table below the point of release and down gradient from the pumphouse.	Shah Alam
1/8/1997	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = RAU - Remedial Actions Underway (General)). City of Valdez excavated a trench beginning January 8 in the vicinity where the phase-separated product plume was identified. The 13-15' deep trench was approximately 70' long and was located between MW5 and MW7, trending south-southwest. The actual product thickness on the GW in the trench was less than one-quarter inch to only a sheen. Up to January 15, the City recovered between 10 to 20 gallons of free products.	Shah Alam
1/30/1997	Update or Other Action	In a submittal dated 1/27/97, the City of Valdez requested permission to implement a 1/15/97 dated Oasis workplan to delineate the contamination by installing monitoring wells, and cleanup the spill by installing a bioventing system and recovery wells. The City's cover letter also noted that in addition to the Oasis planned work that it receive permission to include a well to classify the subsurface soils, such as discussed between William Cox of the City of Valdez and Shah Alam the previous week.	Shah Alam
2/4/1997	Update or Other Action	Alam discussed with John Brown of DEC's PERP program the City of Valdez submittal dated 1/27/97, in which the City of Valdez requested permission to implement a 1/15/97 dated Oasis workplan to delineate the contamination by installing monitoring wells, and cleanup the spill by installing a bioventing system and recovery wells. The City's cover letter also noted that in addition to the Oasis planned work that it receive permission to include a well to classify the subsurface soils, such as discussed between William Cox of the City of Valdez and Shah Alam the previous week. Brown agreed on approving the site assessment report during that telephone conversation.	Shah Alam
2/4/1997	Cleanup Level(s) Approved	On 2/4/97, in a discussion with Brad Authier of Oasis, Alam verbally approved the City of Valdez's submittal to delineate the contamination and install recovery wells and a bioventing system.	Shah Alam
2/4/1997	Site Characterization Workplan Approved	On 2/4/97, in a discussion with Brad Authier of Oasis, Alam verbally approved the City of Valdez's submittal to delineate the contamination and install recovery wells and a bioventing system.	Shah Alam
2/10/1997	Site Ranked Using the AHRM	Site ranked by staff. Score = 22.	Shah Alam
3/3/1997	Update or Other Action	On 3/3/97, Alam agreed to a proposal to backfill the excavation with the condition that the city would remediate the contaminated soils still in place with bioventing or a similar remediation technique (followed up in a letter dated 3/20/97).	Shah Alam
3/14/1997	Site Added to Database	Fuel oil contamination. The project was transferred from the Prevention and Emergency Response Program to Contaminated Sites Remediation Program in February 1997.	Shah Alam
3/20/1997	Update or Other Action	In a letter dated 3/20/97, CS followed up a telephone conversation between Alam and Wilcox of the City of Valdez on 2/7/97. The letter noted that the project was transferred from PERP to CS and Alam would be DEC's POC. The letter reiterated Alam's verbal approval given to Oasis on 2/4/97 and a request at that time to drill a monitoring well into the lower aquifer. The letter also noted that on 3/3/97, Alam had agreed to backfilling the excavation with the condition that the city would remediate the contaminated soils still in place with bioventing or a similar remediation technique.	Shah Alam
4/3/1997	Update or Other Action	On 4/3/97, ADEC received an Oasis report titled "Site Assessment Report for Diesel Release at Robe River Pumphouse" dated 3/26/97. The report included sampling results, monitoring well survey, recovery well installation and a proposed monitoring plan.	Shah Alam
6/12/1997	Update or Other Action	CS provided comments to William Wilcox of the City of Valdez regarding the report "Site Assessment for Diesel Release at Robe River Pumphouse."	Shah Alam
7/22/1997	Update or Other Action	In response to DEC's 6/12/97 letter regarding the "Site Assessment for Diesel Release at Robe River Pump House" report, the City of Valdez submitted a report dated 7/18/97, received at ADEC on 7/22/97, and included an Oasis document dated 7/10/97 that addressed issues raised in DEC's 6/12/97 letter.	Shah Alam
7/30/1997	Site Characterization Report Approved	(Old R:Base Action Code = SA2A - Phase II SA Approval / Release Investigation). ADEC approved a site assessment report dated March 26, 1997, along with the response to the review comments dated July 10, 1997, for making cleanup decisions. The report resolved that the present levels of contamination at or near the Well House does not pose a threat to the current drinking water aquifer, and, the surface water in the Robe River. Additional contamination issues at this site are impacted soils by the Well House and a stockpile of contaminated soils excavated from this site. ADEC requested, in a letter dated July 30, 1997, a work plan that addresses the monitoring of groundwater and the remediation of contaminated soils.	Shah Alam
8/11/1997	Update or Other Action	ADEC received a Bio-Remediation Plan from the City of Valdez.	Shah Alam
3/17/1998	Update or Other Action	ADEC received sample data from the City of Valdez for DRO analyzed from the Wellhouse on a weekly basis from 12/16/96 to 11/12/97, which showed all levels were below the reporting concentrations (0.25 - 0.27 mg/l). The letter also noted that the city had sampled the well for BTEX and were below MRLs. The letter noted that unless ADEC informs them, that the city intended to beginning in 1998 lower the frequency of DRO sampling to quarterly from weekly and if all sampling is clean in 1999, would sample at the established EPA and ADEC testing intervals.	Shah Alam
3/27/1998	Update or Other Action	In a letter dated 3/27/98, the A.G.'s Office provided ADEC a check for $1,752.49 from the City of Valdez dated 3/25/98.	Shah Alam
6/12/1998	Update or Other Action	ADEC provided comments on the report "Site Assessment for Diesel Release at Robe River Pumphouse."	Shah Alam
7/31/1998	Update or Other Action	ADEC asked the City of Valdez in a letter to submit a work plan that addresses the sampling of groundwater and contaminated soils. Continued monitoring was requested to establish a stable (or decreasing) trend in contamination levels. An annual sampling event of contaminated soils and groundwater at this site is determined to be adequate to monitor progress in remediation. Also since the DW well results again were below reporting levels, the City was requested to conduct another sampling event in 1998 for the drinking water well, and MWs 2, 8, 9 and 10. The letter noted that groundwater monitoring data (July 1998) indicated that diesel range organic (DRO) concentrations had increased at monitoring wells (MW2, MW9 and MW10) since the last monitoring event. These wells are assumed to be located along the contaminant plume migration pathway and are indicative of impacts from the November 1996 spill incident at the Robe River well house. However, MW2 is the only monitoring well to exceed the DRO groundwater cleanup level (1.5 mg/l) established by the draft 18 AAC 75 regulations. The letter also noted that no water samples from the Robe River drinking water well detected DRO above method detection limits (0.25 - 0.27 mg/l).	Shah Alam
8/12/1998	Update or Other Action	Larry Weaver of the City of Valdez called to get ADEC approval to use the contaminated soil as road base.	Shah Alam
8/14/1998	Update or Other Action	ADEC mailed a letter to the City of Valdez (Larry Weaver) specifying requirements for using contaminated soils as road base.	Shah Alam
9/14/1998	Cleanup Plan Approved	ADEC approved soils from the contaminated stockpile to use as a road-base.	Shah Alam
12/3/1998	Update or Other Action	CS provided comments in review of groundwater data collected in August 1998 which showed MW2 contained 6.59 mg/l DRO. Based on this exceedance, CS requested that the City of Valdez continue to sample the well in summer 1999 and continue to do so to establish a trend in contaminant concentrations. The letter noted that if further sampling shows that contaminant levels are decreasing and comply with applicable cleanup levels, then further remedial action may not be required.	Shah Alam
12/10/1998	Update or Other Action	In a 12/10/98 dated letter from William Wilcox of Keystone Engineering, it noted that the City completed placing the contaminated soil from the Robe River Wellhouse spill. Placement was done as previously agreed to as road bed material under the ADEC conditions in their 8/14/98 letter to the City of Valdez.	Shah Alam
7/12/1999	Update or Other Action	In a letter dated 3/27/98, the A.G.'s Office provided ADEC a check for $1,752.49 from the City of Valdez dated 3/25/98.	Shah Alam
1/3/2000	Update or Other Action	The City of Valdez did not collect ground water monitoring data in 1999. Staff asked the City to collect the samples next summer at about the same time of the year last samples were collected.	Shah Alam
2/28/2001	Update or Other Action	On 2/28/02, Larry Weaver of the City of Valdez noted in a telephone conversation with Sundet that he had retained Oasis Environmental to perform environmental work and requested an extension to submit the information that CS requested in CS's January 29, 2002 letter to the city. During that conversation, Sundet granted an extension to March 15, 2002 to submit the requested information stated in CS's January letter.	Rich Sundet
10/8/2001	Update or Other Action	Phone call from Larry Weaver regarding summer 2001 sampling results and closure requirements. All sample results were below cleanup levels for DRO and BTEX.	Renee Evans
1/29/2002	Update or Other Action	In follow-up to Sundet's conversation with Larry Weaver of the City of Valdez and DEC's review of the city's submittal dated 10/2/01 requesting closure of the Robe River Well House contaminated site, ADEC issued a letter to Weaver noting that it could not issue a closure letter at this time. The letter noted ADEC could not issue a closure letter because data in DEC's file shows that DRO, GRO and ethylbenzene exceeds Method 2 cleanup levels, and that groundwater concerns remain. The city's submittal included analysis from groundwater monitoring performed in 8/01 and this data showed that benzene was detected for the first time and at 1.06 ug/L in NMW #1B and DRO at 1.37 mg/L in MW-8 which is close to its cleanup level of 1.5 mg/L. ADEC requested at least one other groundwater monitoring event occur and in 8/02 to assist in demonstrating a decreasing trend of contaminants in groundwater, future groundwater event report(s) include a table that consolidates all groundwater data for each monitoring well, information on the well sampler, information whether indoor vapor is a concern, and information what is the present and future use of the site.	Rich Sundet
3/1/2002	Update or Other Action	On 3/1/02, CS issued a letter in follow-up to Sundet's conversation on February 27, 2002 with Larry Weaver of the City of Valdez. During that conversation Weaver noted that he had retained Oasis Environmental to perform environmental work and requested an extension to submit the information that CS requested in our January 29, 2002 letter to the city. During our conversation, Sundet granted an extension to March 15, 2002 to submit the requested information stated in CS's January letter. The letter formally documented the department’s approval of the extension request to March 15, 2002.	Rich Sundet
3/12/2002	Update or Other Action	In a letter dated 3/12/02, the City of Valdez responded to CS's 1/29/02 letter and informed ADEC that it had contracted Oasis Environmental to collect samples and address its concerns.	Rich Sundet
2/25/2003	Update or Other Action	On 2/25/03, Sundet discussed with Brad Authier of Oasis their 11/22/03 dated report "Rober River Weel House Spill - September 2002 Monitoring Results and Response to January 29, 2002 ADEC Letter." Discussion focused on the reports request for a NFRAP determination by CSP because groundwater was shown to be in a decreasing trend and below Table C cleanup levels and there was little risk posed by air vapors to occupants of the well house. Sundet discussed that the soil had not yet been fully characterized in the location of the spill and what limited sampling was done, showed soil exceeded Method 2 cleanup levels. Therefore, a deed notice would need to be placed onto the property. Since the release was very close to the property boundary with the University of Alaska, it also was likely that the release contaminated soil on that property as well. Thus, the DEC would require a deed notice on that property as well unless it is demonstrated that soil is below cleanup levels on the university land.	Rich Sundet
2/28/2003	Update or Other Action	On 2/28/03, CSP issued a letter to the City of Valdez in followup to their conversation with with Brad Authier on 2/25/03 and their review of Oasis' 11/22/03 dated report "Rober River Weel House Spill - September 2002 Monitoring Results and Response to January 29, 2002 ADEC Letter." The letter also focused on the reports request for a NFRAP determination by CSP because groundwater was shown to be in a decreasing trend and below Table C cleanup levels and there was little risk posed by air vapors to occupants of the well house. Sundet discussed that the soil had not yet been fully characterized in the location of the spill and what limited sampling was done, showed soil exceeded Method 2 cleanup levels. Therefore, a deed notice would need to be placed onto the property. Since the release was very close to the property boundary with the University of Alaska, it also was likely that the release contaminated soil on that property as well. Thus, the DEC would require a deed notice on that property as well unless it is demonstrated that soil is below cleanup levels on the university land. The letter concluded that the city had several options and the CSP looked forward how the city would further address the contamination issue. The letter lastly noted that because the petroleum plume has shown a progressively decreasing trend and consistently below Table C cleanup levels, that no groundwater sampling was required for the coming year.	Rich Sundet
2/24/2004	Update or Other Action	File number assigned: 2264.38.013.	Sarah Cunningham
4/3/2006	Update or Other Action	Project manager changed from Rich Sundet to Paul Horwath, per Paul Horwath.	Alyce Hughey
4/3/2006	GIS Position Updated	Using Figures 1 and 8 from a Site Assessment for Diesel Release at Robe River Pumphouse, from OASIS Environmental, dated March 26, 1997, in conjunction with TopoZone Pro, entered the coordinates for this site. Metadata includes 1:24K/25K Series Topo Map, on a Medium Size Map, View Scale 1:24,000, Coordinate Datum NAD83. Moderate to High degree of confidence in accuracy of location.	Alyce Hughey
8/2/2006	Update or Other Action	Project Manager changed from Paul Horwath to Don Fritz, per Paul Horwath.	Alyce Hughey
8/4/2006	Update or Other Action	Contaminated Sites staff reviewed the City of Valdez- Robe River Well House file to determine site status. Based on the file review, a letter was sent to the City of Valdez requesting that they provide any additional information regarding assessment/remediation activities that have occurred since the most current information in the file (2003).	Don Fritz
4/17/2008	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking	Initial ranking with ETM completed.	Don Fritz
4/29/2008	Update or Other Action	Letter was sent to the City of Valdez requesting further groundwater monitoring activities to be conducted at the site, and several questions and or comments for review and response.	Alyce Hughey
11/16/2011	Update or Other Action	Site transferred from Don Fritz to Peter Campbell per Paul Horwath.	Alyce Hughey

Action Date

Action

Description

DEC Staff

11/19/1996

Update or Other Action

Spill reported to PERP in Valdez from the Robe River pump house. An apparent loose fitting from a supply line to a tank was the cause of the spillage. Initially it was estimated that about 50 gallons of diesel fuel #1 had leaked but later it was suspected that up to about 1,000 gallons had leaked over the period of about 1 year.

Former Staff

11/20/1996

Update or Other Action

PERP issues a letter in follow-up to the 11/19/96 spill report requesting cleanup action and cost recovery policy for DEC's expenses.

Former Staff

1/3/1997

Preliminary Assessment Approved

(Old R:Base Action Code = SA1A - Phase I Site Assessment Approval). OASIS conducted site assessment activities at the site on January 2 and 3, 1997. Phase-separated product was present in two monitoring wells, fuel oil-impacted soil was identified beneath the corner of the pumphouse building, and soil contamination was documented at the water table below the point of release and down gradient from the pumphouse.

Shah Alam

1/8/1997

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = RAU - Remedial Actions Underway (General)). City of Valdez excavated a trench beginning January 8 in the vicinity where the phase-separated product plume was identified. The 13-15' deep trench was approximately 70' long and was located between MW5 and MW7, trending south-southwest. The actual product thickness on the GW in the trench was less than one-quarter inch to only a sheen. Up to January 15, the City recovered between 10 to 20 gallons of free products.

Shah Alam

1/30/1997

Update or Other Action

In a submittal dated 1/27/97, the City of Valdez requested permission to implement a 1/15/97 dated Oasis workplan to delineate the contamination by installing monitoring wells, and cleanup the spill by installing a bioventing system and recovery wells. The City's cover letter also noted that in addition to the Oasis planned work that it receive permission to include a well to classify the subsurface soils, such as discussed between William Cox of the City of Valdez and Shah Alam the previous week.

Shah Alam

2/4/1997

Update or Other Action

Alam discussed with John Brown of DEC's PERP program the City of Valdez submittal dated 1/27/97, in which the City of Valdez requested permission to implement a 1/15/97 dated Oasis workplan to delineate the contamination by installing monitoring wells, and cleanup the spill by installing a bioventing system and recovery wells. The City's cover letter also noted that in addition to the Oasis planned work that it receive permission to include a well to classify the subsurface soils, such as discussed between William Cox of the City of Valdez and Shah Alam the previous week. Brown agreed on approving the site assessment report during that telephone conversation.

Shah Alam

2/4/1997

Cleanup Level(s) Approved

On 2/4/97, in a discussion with Brad Authier of Oasis, Alam verbally approved the City of Valdez's submittal to delineate the contamination and install recovery wells and a bioventing system.

Shah Alam

2/4/1997

Site Characterization Workplan Approved

On 2/4/97, in a discussion with Brad Authier of Oasis, Alam verbally approved the City of Valdez's submittal to delineate the contamination and install recovery wells and a bioventing system.

Shah Alam

2/10/1997

Site Ranked Using the AHRM

Site ranked by staff. Score = 22.

Shah Alam

3/3/1997

Update or Other Action

On 3/3/97, Alam agreed to a proposal to backfill the excavation with the condition that the city would remediate the contaminated soils still in place with bioventing or a similar remediation technique (followed up in a letter dated 3/20/97).

Shah Alam

3/14/1997

Site Added to Database

Fuel oil contamination. The project was transferred from the Prevention and Emergency Response Program to Contaminated Sites Remediation Program in February 1997.

Shah Alam

3/20/1997

Update or Other Action

In a letter dated 3/20/97, CS followed up a telephone conversation between Alam and Wilcox of the City of Valdez on 2/7/97. The letter noted that the project was transferred from PERP to CS and Alam would be DEC's POC. The letter reiterated Alam's verbal approval given to Oasis on 2/4/97 and a request at that time to drill a monitoring well into the lower aquifer. The letter also noted that on 3/3/97, Alam had agreed to backfilling the excavation with the condition that the city would remediate the contaminated soils still in place with bioventing or a similar remediation technique.

Shah Alam

4/3/1997

Update or Other Action

On 4/3/97, ADEC received an Oasis report titled "Site Assessment Report for Diesel Release at Robe River Pumphouse" dated 3/26/97. The report included sampling results, monitoring well survey, recovery well installation and a proposed monitoring plan.

Shah Alam

6/12/1997

Update or Other Action

CS provided comments to William Wilcox of the City of Valdez regarding the report "Site Assessment for Diesel Release at Robe River Pumphouse."

Shah Alam

7/22/1997

Update or Other Action

In response to DEC's 6/12/97 letter regarding the "Site Assessment for Diesel Release at Robe River Pump House" report, the City of Valdez submitted a report dated 7/18/97, received at ADEC on 7/22/97, and included an Oasis document dated 7/10/97 that addressed issues raised in DEC's 6/12/97 letter.

Shah Alam

7/30/1997

Site Characterization Report Approved

(Old R:Base Action Code = SA2A - Phase II SA Approval / Release Investigation). ADEC approved a site assessment report dated March 26, 1997, along with the response to the review comments dated July 10, 1997, for making cleanup decisions. The report resolved that the present levels of contamination at or near the Well House does not pose a threat to the current drinking water aquifer, and, the surface water in the Robe River. Additional contamination issues at this site are impacted soils by the Well House and a stockpile of contaminated soils excavated from this site. ADEC requested, in a letter dated July 30, 1997, a work plan that addresses the monitoring of groundwater and the remediation of contaminated soils.

Shah Alam

8/11/1997

Update or Other Action

ADEC received a Bio-Remediation Plan from the City of Valdez.

Shah Alam

3/17/1998

Update or Other Action

ADEC received sample data from the City of Valdez for DRO analyzed from the Wellhouse on a weekly basis from 12/16/96 to 11/12/97, which showed all levels were below the reporting concentrations (0.25 - 0.27 mg/l). The letter also noted that the city had sampled the well for BTEX and were below MRLs. The letter noted that unless ADEC informs them, that the city intended to beginning in 1998 lower the frequency of DRO sampling to quarterly from weekly and if all sampling is clean in 1999, would sample at the established EPA and ADEC testing intervals.

Shah Alam

3/27/1998

Update or Other Action

In a letter dated 3/27/98, the A.G.'s Office provided ADEC a check for $1,752.49 from the City of Valdez dated 3/25/98.

Shah Alam

6/12/1998

Update or Other Action

ADEC provided comments on the report "Site Assessment for Diesel Release at Robe River Pumphouse."

Shah Alam

7/31/1998

Update or Other Action

ADEC asked the City of Valdez in a letter to submit a work plan that addresses the sampling of groundwater and contaminated soils. Continued monitoring was requested to establish a stable (or decreasing) trend in contamination levels. An annual sampling event of contaminated soils and groundwater at this site is determined to be adequate to monitor progress in remediation. Also since the DW well results again were below reporting levels, the City was requested to conduct another sampling event in 1998 for the drinking water well, and MWs 2, 8, 9 and 10. The letter noted that groundwater monitoring data (July 1998) indicated that diesel range organic (DRO) concentrations had increased at monitoring wells (MW2, MW9 and MW10) since the last monitoring event. These wells are assumed to be located along the contaminant plume migration pathway and are indicative of impacts from the November 1996 spill incident at the Robe River well house. However, MW2 is the only monitoring well to exceed the DRO groundwater cleanup level (1.5 mg/l) established by the draft 18 AAC 75 regulations. The letter also noted that no water samples from the Robe River drinking water well detected DRO above method detection limits (0.25 - 0.27 mg/l).

Shah Alam

8/12/1998

Update or Other Action

Larry Weaver of the City of Valdez called to get ADEC approval to use the contaminated soil as road base.

Shah Alam

8/14/1998

Update or Other Action

ADEC mailed a letter to the City of Valdez (Larry Weaver) specifying requirements for using contaminated soils as road base.

Shah Alam

9/14/1998

Cleanup Plan Approved

ADEC approved soils from the contaminated stockpile to use as a road-base.

Shah Alam

12/3/1998

Update or Other Action

CS provided comments in review of groundwater data collected in August 1998 which showed MW2 contained 6.59 mg/l DRO. Based on this exceedance, CS requested that the City of Valdez continue to sample the well in summer 1999 and continue to do so to establish a trend in contaminant concentrations. The letter noted that if further sampling shows that contaminant levels are decreasing and comply with applicable cleanup levels, then further remedial action may not be required.

Shah Alam

12/10/1998

Update or Other Action

In a 12/10/98 dated letter from William Wilcox of Keystone Engineering, it noted that the City completed placing the contaminated soil from the Robe River Wellhouse spill. Placement was done as previously agreed to as road bed material under the ADEC conditions in their 8/14/98 letter to the City of Valdez.

Shah Alam

7/12/1999

Update or Other Action

In a letter dated 3/27/98, the A.G.'s Office provided ADEC a check for $1,752.49 from the City of Valdez dated 3/25/98.

Shah Alam

1/3/2000

Update or Other Action

The City of Valdez did not collect ground water monitoring data in 1999. Staff asked the City to collect the samples next summer at about the same time of the year last samples were collected.

Shah Alam

2/28/2001

Update or Other Action

On 2/28/02, Larry Weaver of the City of Valdez noted in a telephone conversation with Sundet that he had retained Oasis Environmental to perform environmental work and requested an extension to submit the information that CS requested in CS's January 29, 2002 letter to the city. During that conversation, Sundet granted an extension to March 15, 2002 to submit the requested information stated in CS's January letter.

Rich Sundet

10/8/2001

Update or Other Action

Phone call from Larry Weaver regarding summer 2001 sampling results and closure requirements. All sample results were below cleanup levels for DRO and BTEX.

Renee Evans

1/29/2002

Update or Other Action

In follow-up to Sundet's conversation with Larry Weaver of the City of Valdez and DEC's review of the city's submittal dated 10/2/01 requesting closure of the Robe River Well House contaminated site, ADEC issued a letter to Weaver noting that it could not issue a closure letter at this time. The letter noted ADEC could not issue a closure letter because data in DEC's file shows that DRO, GRO and ethylbenzene exceeds Method 2 cleanup levels, and that groundwater concerns remain. The city's submittal included analysis from groundwater monitoring performed in 8/01 and this data showed that benzene was detected for the first time and at 1.06 ug/L in NMW #1B and DRO at 1.37 mg/L in MW-8 which is close to its cleanup level of 1.5 mg/L. ADEC requested at least one other groundwater monitoring event occur and in 8/02 to assist in demonstrating a decreasing trend of contaminants in groundwater, future groundwater event report(s) include a table that consolidates all groundwater data for each monitoring well, information on the well sampler, information whether indoor vapor is a concern, and information what is the present and future use of the site.

Rich Sundet

3/1/2002

Update or Other Action

On 3/1/02, CS issued a letter in follow-up to Sundet's conversation on February 27, 2002 with Larry Weaver of the City of Valdez. During that conversation Weaver noted that he had retained Oasis Environmental to perform environmental work and requested an extension to submit the information that CS requested in our January 29, 2002 letter to the city. During our conversation, Sundet granted an extension to March 15, 2002 to submit the requested information stated in CS's January letter. The letter formally documented the department’s approval of the extension request to March 15, 2002.

Rich Sundet

3/12/2002

Update or Other Action

In a letter dated 3/12/02, the City of Valdez responded to CS's 1/29/02 letter and informed ADEC that it had contracted Oasis Environmental to collect samples and address its concerns.

Rich Sundet

2/25/2003

Update or Other Action

On 2/25/03, Sundet discussed with Brad Authier of Oasis their 11/22/03 dated report "Rober River Weel House Spill - September 2002 Monitoring Results and Response to January 29, 2002 ADEC Letter." Discussion focused on the reports request for a NFRAP determination by CSP because groundwater was shown to be in a decreasing trend and below Table C cleanup levels and there was little risk posed by air vapors to occupants of the well house. Sundet discussed that the soil had not yet been fully characterized in the location of the spill and what limited sampling was done, showed soil exceeded Method 2 cleanup levels. Therefore, a deed notice would need to be placed onto the property. Since the release was very close to the property boundary with the University of Alaska, it also was likely that the release contaminated soil on that property as well. Thus, the DEC would require a deed notice on that property as well unless it is demonstrated that soil is below cleanup levels on the university land.

Rich Sundet

2/28/2003

Update or Other Action

On 2/28/03, CSP issued a letter to the City of Valdez in followup to their conversation with with Brad Authier on 2/25/03 and their review of Oasis' 11/22/03 dated report "Rober River Weel House Spill - September 2002 Monitoring Results and Response to January 29, 2002 ADEC Letter." The letter also focused on the reports request for a NFRAP determination by CSP because groundwater was shown to be in a decreasing trend and below Table C cleanup levels and there was little risk posed by air vapors to occupants of the well house. Sundet discussed that the soil had not yet been fully characterized in the location of the spill and what limited sampling was done, showed soil exceeded Method 2 cleanup levels. Therefore, a deed notice would need to be placed onto the property. Since the release was very close to the property boundary with the University of Alaska, it also was likely that the release contaminated soil on that property as well. Thus, the DEC would require a deed notice on that property as well unless it is demonstrated that soil is below cleanup levels on the university land. The letter concluded that the city had several options and the CSP looked forward how the city would further address the contamination issue. The letter lastly noted that because the petroleum plume has shown a progressively decreasing trend and consistently below Table C cleanup levels, that no groundwater sampling was required for the coming year.

Rich Sundet

2/24/2004

Update or Other Action

File number assigned: 2264.38.013.

Sarah Cunningham

4/3/2006

Update or Other Action

Project manager changed from Rich Sundet to Paul Horwath, per Paul Horwath.

Alyce Hughey

4/3/2006

GIS Position Updated

Using Figures 1 and 8 from a Site Assessment for Diesel Release at Robe River Pumphouse, from OASIS Environmental, dated March 26, 1997, in conjunction with TopoZone Pro, entered the coordinates for this site. Metadata includes 1:24K/25K Series Topo Map, on a Medium Size Map, View Scale 1:24,000, Coordinate Datum NAD83. Moderate to High degree of confidence in accuracy of location.

Alyce Hughey

8/2/2006

Update or Other Action

Project Manager changed from Paul Horwath to Don Fritz, per Paul Horwath.

Alyce Hughey

8/4/2006

Update or Other Action

Contaminated Sites staff reviewed the City of Valdez- Robe River Well House file to determine site status. Based on the file review, a letter was sent to the City of Valdez requesting that they provide any additional information regarding assessment/remediation activities that have occurred since the most current information in the file (2003).

Don Fritz

4/17/2008

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

Initial ranking with ETM completed.

Don Fritz

4/29/2008

Update or Other Action

Letter was sent to the City of Valdez requesting further groundwater monitoring activities to be conducted at the site, and several questions and or comments for review and response.

Alyce Hughey

11/16/2011

Update or Other Action

Site transferred from Don Fritz to Peter Campbell per Paul Horwath.

Alyce Hughey

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Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Site Report: Valdez City of Robe River Well House

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation