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Site Report: Galena AFS/Airport CG109 AFFF Release Areas

Site Name: Galena AFS/Airport CG109 AFFF Release Areas
Address: Multiple Areas at Galena AFS/Airport, Galena, AK 99741
File Number: 860.38.071
Hazard ID: 26787
Status: Active
Staff: Jamie McKellar, 9074515175 jamie.mckellar@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.739031
Longitude: -156.954883
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

The Galena AFS/Airport CG109 AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) Areas site is comprised of areas where the polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) and perfluorooctnoic acid (PFOA) have been detected. The following areas were identified during a 2016 Site Investigation at the Former Galena Forward Operating Location (FOL): Area 1 - Fire Protection Training Area (FT001); Area 3 - Building 1549 (Old Fire Station); Area 4 - Building 1556 (Fire Station); Area 5 - Building 1573 (Vehicle Maintenance Facility); and Area 9 - Sanitary Sewer System. The State of Alaska, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities owns AFFF Areas 1, 3, 4, and 5. The City of Galena owns AFFF Area 9 (Sanitary Sewer System). Further investigation is required to delineate the extent of contamination and evaluate potential risks. The approximate locations of the five AFFF Areas are listed below: AFFF Area 1: Fire Protection Training Area (FT001) 64°44'15.72"N, 156°54'24.48"W - AFFF Area 1 is tracked under Site FT001 (Hazard ID 555) AFFF Area 3: Building 1549 (Old Fire Station) 64°44'20.5"N, 156°57'17.5"W AFFF Area 4: Building 1556 (Fire Station) 64°44'20.99"N, 156°57'2.46"W AFFF Area 5: Building 1573 (Vehicle Maintenance Facility) 64°44'22.60"N, 156°57'5.97"W AFFF Area 9: Sanitary Sewer System 64°44'28.46"N, 156°57'22.45"W

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
10/12/2017 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
4/27/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVED: Final Site Inspection Report For Aqueous Film Forming Foam Areas, Former Galena Forward Operating Location, Alaska. Prepared by Aerostar SES LLC. Dated April 2018. This report presents the results of the Site Inspection (SI) for the Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) Areas conducted in July-August 2016; February and October 2017. Jamie McKellar
8/8/2018 Site Visit DEC conducted a site visit at the Former Forward Operating Location in Galena, AK on August 8-9, 2018. A photo log is available in DEC's electronic file. Jamie McKellar
9/27/2018 Update or Other Action PFAS Notification Letter and Tech Memo sent to USAF. This tech memo is applicable to the Former Galena Forward Operating Location (FOL) because per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination has been identified in soil and groundwater. Previous GW sampling at Galena has been conducted using Method 537. The tech memo includes new sampling frequency requirements for PFAS-impacted wells, in addition to rules concerning the treatment of water prior to discharge. Jamie McKellar
10/29/2018 Site Visit On October 23, 2018, DEC participated in the Technical Project Team (TPT) meeting with representatives from USAF and ADOT&PF. A site visit with inspections of each site was conducted the following day (10/24/2018) in Galena, as well as a regional advisory board (RAB) meeting with members of the community and other interested parties. Jamie McKellar
4/5/2019 Site Visit On April 2, 2019, DEC staff participated in a Technical Project Team meeting with representatives from USAF, Parsons, CH2M, and ADOT. The TPT meeting was held at the Fairbanks DEC office. On April 3-4, 2019, DEC staff traveled to Galena to participate in meetings with the City Mayor & RAB chair to discuss community concerns about site cleanup; a Proposed Plan meeting for Site DP023, and a community regional advisory board (RAB) meeting to discuss fieldwork completed during the 2018 field season and upcoming 2019 fieldwork. Site visits were also conducted. Jamie McKellar
9/18/2019 Update or Other Action On 9/6/2019, DEC sent a letter to USAF requesting that USAF provide a current update on all Old Town Galena private wells that were listed as "unknown" in the April 2018 ‘Site Inspection Report for Aqueous Film Forming Foam Areas at Former Galena Forward Operating Location.’ It is DEC's understanding that most Old Town residences obtain potable water from the Galena Water Treatment Plant due to either 1) the taste of private well water or 2) downgradient proximity to the SS015 TCE plume. However, DEC also requested that USAF identify whether any Old Town Galena residences are currently using private wells for potable water. If so, DEC requests that USAF coordinate with homeowners to obtain water samples for PFOS and PFOA. Jamie McKellar
10/23/2019 Meeting or Teleconference Held On October 22, 2019, DEC participated in the Technical Project Team (TPT) meeting with representatives from USAF and ADOT&PF. A site visit was conducted the following day (10/23/2019) in Galena, as well as a regional advisory board (RAB) meeting with members of the community and other interested parties. Jamie McKellar
8/23/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DOCUMENT APPROVED: Uniform Federal Policy for Quality Assurance Project Plan (UFP-QAPP), Revision 1, Addendum 4 approved. This addendum addresses changes to the UFP-QAPP for the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Remedial Investigation (RI). Jamie McKellar
11/15/2023 Site Visit DEC, DOT, USAF, and contractors met at the Fairbanks DEC office on May 2, 2023 for a Technical Project Team meeting. The following day a site visit and Regional Advisory Board (RAB) meeting were held in Galena. Meeting minutes for the TPT and RAB meetings were approved on November 15, 2023. Jamie McKellar
11/20/2023 Update or Other Action REPORT APPROVED: Data Quality Assessment 2022 Remedial Investigation (RI) for Soil, Sediment, and Tissue Sampling Event, Data Quality Assessment 2022 Remedial Investigation (RI) for Soil, Sediment, and Tissue Sampling Event (Parsons, November 2023) Jamie McKellar

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

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