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Site Report: Crowley Tank Farm Bethel - Tank 18

Site Name: Crowley Tank Farm Bethel - Tank 18
Address: 380 Standard Oil Road, Bethel, AK 99559
File Number: 2407.38.028
Hazard ID: 26292
Status: Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff: IC Unit, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 60.783317
Longitude: -161.781900
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

On August 8, 2013, approximately 2,100 gallons of diesel fuel were discharged from tank #18 at the Crowley South tank farm to the secondary containment area, underneath the secondary liner. Some of the fuel daylighted onto the liner through a cut in the fabric. The amount released to the liner and the amount remaining under the liner are unknown. Subsequently, tank farm staff inadvertently pumped an undetermined amount of the fuel on the liner into the adjacent unlined tertiary containment area. The spill to secondary containment was caused by failure of tank farm staff to ensure that an inspection hole drilled in the bottom of the tank was repaired after an inspection was completed. The tank rests on a layered foundation that was built up from an excavation dug down to permafrost. Whether permafrost still exists there is an open question. Foam board insulation was placed over the permafrost, then layers of geo-textile and gravel in honeycomb cells were used to build up the site, after which layers of geo-web were placed on top and the site was compacted. Finally, a liner, sandwiched by protective felt, was placed over the site, and covered with a layer of sand. The tank rests above this on perimeter timbers. It is assumed that this sand is saturated with oil, since the leak was from the bottom of the tank, and there is contamination in the soil outside of the footprint of the tank, at least on the north side where the oil daylighted. Possible contamination in the structure below the liner is unknown. Tank farm staff pumped off the contaminated water remaining on the secondary containment liner, and the tank was emptied and repaired, but there has been no investigation of the contaminated soil under the secondary liner - presumably under the footprint of the tank and adjacent soil. Once the contamination on the surface of the liner was removed, the breach in the secondary liner was repaired, sealing off the contaminated soil underneath. Alternatives for remediation are being evaluated. Groundwater has not been assessed. Cleanup of the Tertiary Containment Area, where the oily water had been inadvertently pumped, is being conducted under the supervision of PERP staff, and is not part of this database record.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
5/14/2014 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter State interest letter sent to CPD Alaska, LLC by PERP staff Bob Carlson. Mitzi Read
10/15/2014 Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program Spill transferred by PERP staff Bob Carlson. Spill no. 13279922001; spill date = 8/8/13; substance = diesel; quantity = ~2,100 gallons; source = tank #18. Mitzi Read
10/27/2014 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
10/28/2014 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79682 name: Tank 18 Mitzi Read
12/4/2014 Site Characterization Workplan Approved On this date, ADEC received and reviewed the Site Characterization Work Plan, Crowley Bethel Terminal Tank 18, Bethel, Alaska ADEC File No. 2407.38.028; Hazard ID: 26292 submitted by Ahtna and dated November 24, 2014. The CSP has no objections to the Work Plan and Ahtna may proceed. Grant Lidren
9/17/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed the Draft Site Characterization Report, dated August 28, 2015. The objective of this project was to delineate the vertical and horizontal extent of soil and groundwater contamination. Soil samples were collected from directly beneath Tank 18 and from ten soil borings advanced around Tank 18. Two samples were collected from each boring; one from the highest field screening location and the other from the soil-groundwater interface. Five of the soil borings were completed as monitoring wells; two of which (MW1 and MW2) were installed in permafrost. All wells were surveyed, developed, purged, and sampled as appropriate. Based on elevation data, groundwater flow direction was determined northwest. All soil and groundwater samples collected during this project were submitted for one or more of the following laboratory analyses: gasoline range organics (GRO), diesel range organics (DRO), residual range organics (RRO), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), and/or polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Analytical results revealed that DRO, GRO, and benzene remain beneath Tank 18 at maximum concentrations of 8,310 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), 447 mg/kg, and 0.144 mg/kg, respectively. It is estimated that 35 cubic yards of contaminated soil remain in the soils beneath Tank 18. All other soil and groundwater results from the soil borings and monitoring wells were below applicable ADEC cleanup levels. However, concentrations of DRO, RRO, toluene, and ethylbenzene were detected above laboratory detection limits in groundwater. ADEC responded via letter dated September 18, 2015; ADEC requested semi-annual groundwater sampling in 2016 to better evaluate groundwater trends, to ensure that there are no impacts to groundwater above cleanup levels, and to evaluate whether active layer water is present in wells MW1 and MW2. Joshua Barsis
9/21/2015 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 79682 Tank 18. Joshua Barsis
12/1/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed the Draft Groundwater Monitoring Report, dated November 16, 2015. On October 2, 2015, five groundwater samples, including a duplicate sample, were collected from four groundwater monitoring wells (MW-2 though MW-5) in an effort to further assess potential impacts to groundwater. Monitoring Well MW-1 was dry and could not be sampled. All samples were submitted for analysis of gasoline range organics (GRO), diesel range organics (DRO), residual range organics (RRO), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX). All results were below ADEC groundwater cleanup levels. In a letter dated 11-30-2015, ADEC requested a brief work plan by February 1, 2016 to decommission Monitoring wells MW-1 through MW-5. Joshua Barsis
1/20/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed the Groundwater Monitoring Decommissioning Work Plan, dated January 20, 2016 to decommission five groundwater monitoring wells at this site (MW-1 through MW-5). This work plan is approved. Joshua Barsis
7/22/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed the Monitoring Well Decommissioning Report, dated July 15, 2016. All wells were removed. Joshua Barsis
8/2/2016 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 79682 Tank 18. Nathan Maxwell
8/16/2016 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Contaminated Sites Program (ADEC) has completed a review of the environmental records associated with the Crowley Tank Farm Bethel – Tank 18 site, located at 380 Standard Oil Road in Bethel. 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 as long as the institutional controls are maintained and effective and no new information becomes available that indicates residual contamination poses an unacceptable risk. Nathan Maxwell
8/16/2016 Institutional Control Record Established Institutional Controls established and entered into the database. Nathan Maxwell
4/17/2017 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC compliance review conducted. Staff changed from Nathan Maxwell to IC Unit. Reminder system set to follow-up every five years. Kristin Thompson
7/29/2024 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC compliance review completed on this date. An IC reminder letter was e-mailed to the landowner. The next review will be in five years’ time. Gaige Robinson

Contaminant Information

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

Control Type

Type Details
Signed CS Determination

Requirements

Description Details
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.
Maintenance / Inspection Of Engineering Controls Tank liner shall remain intact and maintained until such a point that remediation is conducted.
When Contaminated Soil is Accessible, Remediation Should Occur When contaminated soil beneath tank 18 becomes accessible, additional remediation shall occur in accordance with an ADEC-approved work plan.

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