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Site Report: ADOT&PF Gustavus Airport Crash Fire and Rescue Station

Site Name: ADOT&PF Gustavus Airport Crash Fire and Rescue Station
Address: 1 Airport Way , Gustavus, AK 99826
File Number: 1507.38.014
Hazard ID: 26294
Status: Active
Staff: Kelly Walker, 9074512166 kelly.walker@alaska.gov
Latitude: 58.422201
Longitude: -135.711221
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 August, 2014 a 500-gallon underground heating oil tank was removed from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Crash Fire and Rescue Station at the Gustavus Airport. It was determined that an unknown volume of heating fuel had been released from the underground storage tank. Confirmation samples from the excavation indicate that diesel range organics remain in subsurface soil above ADEC cleanup levels at 12,000 mg/kg and contamination impacted groundwater. The volume of the landfarm cell is approximately 15-20 cubic yards November 2016: There are 7 groundwater monitoring wells on site and 2 of these tested above ADEC cleanup levels for DRO up to 6.46 mg/L. Quarterly groundwater monitoring continues and additional excavation may occur. There are 2 groundwater drinking wells also on site that are also under monitoring for DRO and BTEX. Only xylenes were detected well below the cleanup level.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
10/19/2014 Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program Spill transferred by PERP staff Cheyenne Sanchez. Spill no. 14119923203; spill date = 8/20/14; substance = diesel; quantity = unknown; source = 500-gallon underground heating oil tank (Tank No. 2). Mitzi Read
10/31/2014 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
10/31/2014 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79685 name: 500-Gallon Underground Heating Oil Tank (#2) Mitzi Read
12/1/2014 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Sent PRP letter to ADOT this date and requested work plan for installation of groundwater monitoring wells. Danielle Duncan
12/22/2014 Update or Other Action Spoke to ADOT and they suggested using the contaminated soil for a paving project next year. Currently, the soil is stockpiled and lined (both top and bottom) near the original excavation. The soil is going to be stored there until use for paving. I expect to see a work plan (by February) for the installation of 3 groundwater monitoring wells because 1) the limits of contamination have not been defined and 2) residents of Gustavus use groundwater for drinking water. Danielle Duncan
12/22/2014 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 79685 500-Gallon Underground Heating Oil Tank (#2). Danielle Duncan
2/4/2015 Update or Other Action Spoke to RP and they are working with Nortech to get a quote for monitoring well installation. Danielle Duncan
4/24/2015 Update or Other Action Spoke to RP and they have contacted Nortech and will have a work plan soon for the installation of monitoring wells and if they do not have documentation of the drinking water well test(s), then we need to add that to the work plan. Danielle Duncan
5/5/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Rec'd work plan from Nortech this date. Danielle Duncan
5/20/2015 Update or Other Action Approved Nortech's work plan to install 3 groundwater monitoring wells and land spreading of contaminated soil. I also requested that the drinking water inside the building where the UST was located be sampled for DRO and BTEX unless documentation of recent water testing can be provided. Danielle Duncan
7/13/2015 Update or Other Action Spoke to Nortech - they plan on going out there at the end of this month to finish installing groundwater monitoring wells. There had been an issue with drilling equipment and they were unable to install all 3 wells last time they were out. Danielle Duncan
9/1/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Rec'd Nortech's letter report titled "RE: Crash, Fire, & Rescue Station Contamination Work Plan Gustavus Airport, Gustavus, Alaska Hazard ID: 26294" this date. Danielle Duncan
9/11/2015 Site Characterization Report Approved Approved Nortech's report "Re: Crash, Fire, & Rescue Station Contamination Letter Report Approval" dated 8/3/15. The activities the Report documents is the installation of groundwater monitoring wells, landfarm cell construction, and sampling of the drinking water well located on site. 3 monitoring wells were installed near the footprint of the excavated UST. One of these had a DRO concentration greater than ADEC cleanup levels. The drinking water well on site was free of contaminants exceeding ADEC cleanup levels. A landfarm cell was also set-up and had a concentration of 2,710 mg/kg DRO. As discussed with Nortech and the RP, RegenOx may be used for groundwater remediation provided that no drinking water wells in the area are negatively affected. Quarterly MW sampling was recommended. Danielle Duncan
2/5/2016 Update or Other Action RP is working with Nortech on a work plan. I hope to review it soon. Also working on a class 5 injection well closure (EPA). Danielle Duncan
5/2/2016 Update or Other Action Spoke with RP today. Planning on installing monitoring wells this month using a vac-truck. The EPA class 5 injection well is going to be taken care of by another consultant (R&M). Danielle Duncan
5/16/2016 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Approved Nortech's Site Characterization Work Plan this date. Work plan involves vacuum truck soil sampling and groundwater monitoring well installation to delineate the groundwater contamination plume following an underground storage tank removal. Danielle Duncan
6/17/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Rec'd SITE ASSESSMENT REPORT this date. Danielle Duncan
7/11/2016 Site Characterization Report Approved Approved the SAR this date. The Report was completed by Nortech on behalf of the ADOT&PF and details the installation and/or sampling of additional groundwater monitoring wells and 3 injection wells for characterization and remediation of petroleum contamination on site. The results indicated that MW2 was contaminated with DRO above ADEC cleanup levels at 3.63 mg/L, but the other 2 did not have detectable DRO or BTEX. Nortech installed an additional 4 groundwater monitoring wells on site near the limits of the excavation to delineate the contaminated groundwater plume and/or to use for RegenOx treatment. The drinking water tap on site was not sampled at this time. Danielle Duncan
9/21/2016 Update or Other Action Sent an update/memo to the previously approved SAR disallowing the use of RegenOx to treat the contaminated groundwater on site due to the widespread use of groundwater as a drinking water source in town - erroring on the side of caution. Danielle Duncan
11/8/2016 Update or Other Action Discussed the site status with the RP: As discussed, please have the 2 groundwater drinking water wells sampled for DRO. One of these samples must also be analyzed for PAHs and BTEX. As you and I discussed, if the contaminated soil was excavated and land farmed on site, it may reduce the level of groundwater contamination. Please let me know if you plan to do this and have a work plan submitted to the DEC for approval. Danielle Duncan
12/9/2016 Update or Other Action Discussed the need for groundwater samples with the manager. They will do DRO and BTEX- no PAHs. Danielle Duncan
2/6/2017 Update or Other Action Sent an email today asking about the sampling of the drinking water wells. Danielle Duncan
2/21/2017 Update or Other Action Rec'd drinking water well analytical results today. Low level detections of DRO and GRO - below groundwater cleanup levels and drinking water standards. No detections of BTEX. The water has a lot of sulfur and as such, is likely not used for drinking much. We will have the drinking water and groundwater monitoring wells on site sampled in 6 months. Danielle Duncan
7/14/2017 Update or Other Action The groundwater monitoring wells and the drinking water on site will be sampled according to the previous work plan this August. Danielle Duncan
10/16/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved the report documenting sampling of the landfarm cell and groundwater monitoring (GW) wells. The volume of the landfarm cell is approximately 15-20 cubic yards. Five field screening samples were collected from the cell and screened using a photoionization detector (PID). The results ranged from 11-77 parts-per-million. Two laboratory samples and a duplicate were sent to SGS Laboratory and analyzed for diesel range organics (DRO) and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX). The soil samples had BTEX results below ADEC cleanup levels but DRO was above at 2,000-2,700 mg/kg. The drinking water well on site was sampled for DRO and groundwater monitoring well samples and a duplicate were collected from wells 2 and 7 (MW2, MW7) which had tested above ADEC cleanup levels in the past. These were analyzed for DRO and BTEX. The drinking water well had DRO at 0.57 mg/L which is below the ADEC cleanup level. MW2 and MW7 both had DRO above ADEC cleanup levels. MW2 had a concentration of 4.6 mg/L and MW7 had 9.1 mg/L. BTEX was not detected in MW7 but MW2 had ethylbenzene above ADEC cleanup levels at 32 µg/L. Danielle Duncan
7/25/2018 Update or Other Action The ADOT and ADEC have coordinated the sampling of the well(s) for PFAS/PFOA. Results pending. Danielle Duncan
7/31/2018 Update or Other Action Discussed the petroleum contamination in the drinking water well at the airport with G. Forgue (ADEC Drinking Water Program) and was informed that the airport is providing bottled water for the people there. The drinking water fountain is shut off. Danielle Duncan
8/13/2018 Update or Other Action PFOS and PFOA have been detected in the Alaska Airlines well at levels below ADEC cleanup levels but above the EPA health advisory levels. Investigation and outreach activities are underway. Danielle Duncan
1/11/2019 Workplan Requested Requested a work plan to sample groundwater and drinking water wells on site due to the presence of petroleum contamination. Also requested that the soil and groundwater contamination be delineated and the biocell be sampled. Danielle Duncan
1/11/2019 Update or Other Action Per the DOT: Due to State budget restraints DOT&PF cannot, at this time, commit to DECs request for a groundwater work plan, biocell sampling, drinking water well sampling, soil and groundwater delineation, and a long-term groundwater monitoring plan for petroleum at the Gustavus airport. The site is listed in the DOT&PF GASB49 report and will be elevated as a high risk site. Because the long-term work requested will be funded by State General Funds, DOT&PF will reexamine this site once the State budget has been approved. Danielle Duncan
3/28/2019 Workplan Requested Second formal request for groundwater contamination plume delineation and site characterization. Danielle Duncan
1/12/2021 Update or Other Action Received email from ADOT Statewide environmental. There is no funding for this site at present. Erin Gleason
10/5/2021 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting held with ADOT, ADEC, and R&M consultants to discuss the revised soil management plan (SMP). ADEC will review and provide comments. Erin Gleason

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