| Action Date |
Action |
Description |
DEC Staff |
| 8/31/2015 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
DEC met with the Airport Environmental Manager to discuss several sites. The possibility of airport personnel collecting PFAS samples as a cost saving measure was discussed. DEC stated that it was a possibility but would require a third-party waiver and oversight by DEC staff. DEC will continue discussing site characterization and PFAS sampling with DOT |
Robert Burgess |
| 5/26/2016 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
DEC met with the airport environmental manager, who agreed that work on the old and new fire training pits will be contracted this summer and will include a review of files and plans for sampling contaminants of concern or potential concern, including fuels and perfluorinated compounds. |
Robert Burgess |
| 4/5/2017 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
The DEC met with the airport environmental manager and a member of her staff to discuss DEC priorities at the Fairbanks airport. Characterization of the fire training area was stressed as DEC's highest priority at the airport. The FIA environmental manager stated that work in the area of the former fire training pit will be taking place this summer, but is more focused on assessing the shooting range that the FAA is requiring them to decommission. DEC staff suggested that PFAS samples be taken opportunistically during the soil sampling effort for the shooting range. |
Robert Burgess |
| 10/27/2017 |
Update or Other Action |
The Airport Environmental Manager has notified DEC of the results of testing for perfluorinated compounds at several existing wells and surface water bodies throughout the airport property. Samples near the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) and the fire training pit and former fire training area contained perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) at concentrations exceeding the DEC cleanup level, while concentrations of several other samples exceeded the EPA's lifetime health advisory for drinking water. A meeting is planned for the week of October 30. |
Robert Burgess |
| 11/2/2017 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
DEC met with airport staff to discuss detections of PFOA and PFOS above drinking water advisory levels in existing monitor wells at several locations throughout airport property. The airport plans to move forward quickly to sample nearby, downgradient drinking water wells and provide alternative water sources to affected homes and businesses. |
Robert Burgess |
| 11/8/2017 |
Update or Other Action |
DOT has contracted Shannon & Wilson, Inc. to perform a drinking water well search and sampling effort at properties northwest of the airport. Mailing packets and door hangers are being distributed to homes and businesses in the area to notify residents of the issues and the sampling request. |
Robert Burgess |
| 11/15/2017 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
DEC had a teleconference with the Fairbanks Int. Airport Environmental Manager to discuss updates on the ongoing PFOS/PFOA sampling effort for private drinking wells down gradient of the documented PFOS/PFOA contamination on airport property. Shannon and Wilson, Inc. is providing outreach materials, contacting potentially impacted residents, and conducting sampling of drinking water wells. Sample results from the initial effort are expected by early December. |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 11/21/2017 |
Site Added to Database |
A new site has been added to the database |
Mitzi Read |
| 11/21/2017 |
Exposure Tracking Model Ranking |
Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80176 name: FIA - Sitewide PFAS |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 12/4/2017 |
Update or Other Action |
Results from the initial testing of drinking water wells down gradient of the PFAS source areas have been reported. Shannon and Wilson, Inc. have collected samples from 81 drinking water wells thus far, results have been provided for 52, and of those 52, 26 are above EPA's Lifetime Health Advisory level (8 are above DEC's groundwater cleanup level). Fairbanks International Airport is providing alternate drinking water to impacted residents. A public meeting to present information and discuss the site is planned for December 18. Weekly interagency meetings are continuing. |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 12/13/2017 |
Update or Other Action |
Five results packages have been received for drinking water well testing by Shannon and Wilson, Inc. To date, results for 88 samples have been received - 42 total wells have detected PFOA/PFOS above EPA's Lifetime Health Advisory. Of these, sixteen wells have concentrations of PFOS above DEC's cleanup level. Samples are still pending for 14 wells. Alternate drinking water is continuing to be provided to impacted residents by the airport. Weekly interagency meetings are continuing. |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 12/18/2017 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
Public meeting was hosted by DOT for impacted community members. DEC, DOT, and DHSS presented and answered questions from the public. |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 1/16/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
Additional sampling efforts have begun on the west side of the Chena River to evaluate potential PFAS migration. |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 1/19/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
To date 133 wells have been sampled by Shannon and Wilson, Inc. in the impacted area. 123 sample results have been received. 51 wells were above EPA's Lifetime Health Advisory (LHA)of 70 ppt, 19 of those exceeded the DEC cleanup level for PFOS of 400 ppt. 72 wells were below the LHA, 24 of those were non-detect for contamination. |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 2/1/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
To date 149 wells have been sampled, 142 results received. 60 wells are above the EPA's LHA and 82 are below. 19 wells are above DEC's cleanup level. DOT FAI is contracting the design and construction portion of the hookups to College Utilities for impacted properties to take place summer 2018. All residents with sample results have been contacted by Shannon and Wilson, Inc. to provide results and contact information for Risk Management for residents to initiate the individual claims process.
Weekly interagency meetings are continuing and a follow up public meeting is planned for March 13. |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 2/22/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC Contaminated Sites and DEC Drinking Water Programs sent a letter to Fairbanks International Airport and the City of Fairbanks (a separate PFAS plume) informing both parties of the low levels of PFOA and PFOS detected in the Golden Heart Utilities and College Utilities water supply. These levels are not expected to result in adverse health effects, however qualifying residents in the FAI PFAS-impacted area will be hooked up to this utility water in the summer of 2018 and should be made aware of these results. |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 2/23/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
149 wells have been sampled and all results received. 59 wells are above EPA's LHA of 70 ppt(Note: a slight discrepancy in number of results and exceedances were previously reported). All residents have been contacted and properties with results exceeding the LHA have been provided information on how to file a claim with Risk Management to ensure they are hooked up to College Utility's water system. Design planning continues for the summer 2018 hookups to College Utilities for qualifying residents. Contact has been made with residents across Chena River to discontinue water delivery service as no exceedances to date have been found in drinking water wells across the Chena River. A press release announcing the public meeting is expected March 1. |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 3/5/2018 |
Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter |
A notification letter was provided to advise the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Fairbanks International Airport of its liability for the contamination identified at the Fairbanks International Airport (FIA) Sitewide PFAS site. |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 3/9/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
To date, 153 wells sampled and 150 results received. 60 wells are above the EPA’s LHA of 70 ppt, including one across the Chena River, and 90 are below. An upcoming Open House is scheduled for March 13, 2018. DHSS, DEC, FAI, College Utilities, DAS-Risk Management, R&M (env. consultants), PDC (utility hookups), and Shannon & Wilson will all be present. Weekly interagency meetings are continuing.
|
Gretchen Caudill |
| 3/14/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
A public meeting hosted by DOT FAI was held March 13, 2018. DHSS, DEC, FAI, College Utilities, DAS-Risk Management, R&M (env. consultants), PDC (utility hookups), and Shannon & Wilson were present to answer questions. Presentations were given by PDC and R&M. |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 3/29/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
Work plan for PFAS groundwater site characterization has been received from R&M and is currently under review by DEC. To date, 63 wells exceed the EPA LHA for combined PFOA and PFOS. |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 4/6/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC provided a letter to DOT FAI requesting DOT to continue providing an alternative drinking water source to properties with current or future sample results exceeding 65 ng/L total of the six UCMR3 PFAS compounds (PFOS, PFOA, perfluorononoanoic acid [PFNA], perfluorohexanesulfonic acid [PFHxS], perfluoroheptanoic acid [PFHpA], and perfluorobutancsulfonic acid [PFBS]; n=19). DEC also requested any properties with results above 35 ng/L for the six compounds be included in the quarterly sampling effort and annual sampling for any detections. DEC strongly encourages the decommissioning of wells with exceedances of DEC cleanup levels (n=21). |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 4/10/2018 |
Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter |
Additional PRP letters provided to Alaska Fire Chiefs Association; Alyeska Pipeline Service Company; Alaska Department of Public Safety, Fire, and Life Safety; and Alaska State Firefighters Association. |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 4/12/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
To date, 158 wells have been sampled. 63 wells exceed the LHA and 21 exceed DECs cleanup level. |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 5/3/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
The airport responded to the DEC's letter requesting to continue to supply alternative water to properties with wells containing total PFAS above 65 ng/L. The letter stated that in the absence of cleanup or advisory levels for the other PFAS compounds, they cannot act. DEC will continue to discuss the issue with the airport project manager. |
Robert Burgess |
| 5/8/2018 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC provided comments to the PFAS Groundwater Characterization Work Plan. |
Robert Burgess |
| 5/8/2018 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC received responses to comments for the PFAS Groundwater Characterization Plan. |
Robert Burgess |
| 5/22/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
DEC met with the airport and the department of law to discuss the regulatory basis for the request to continue supplying alternative water to properties with total PFAS exceeding 65 ng/L. |
Robert Burgess |
| 6/4/2018 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC received a revised PFAS Groundwater Characterization work plan that includes agreed upon revisions based on DEC comments and responses to comments. |
Robert Burgess |
| 6/15/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
To date 170 wells have been sampled / 164 results have been received. 68 wells are above the EPA’s LHA 70 ppt and 96 are below. Secondary well (outside wells) searches and sampling has begun. 57 claims have been filed with Risk Management for hook ups to College Utilities water system.
|
Gretchen Caudill |
| 6/20/2018 |
Site Characterization Workplan Approved |
DEC approved the Final PFAS Groundwater Characterization Plan. |
Robert Burgess |
| 8/13/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC sent a letter to the Fairbanks International Airport requiring the airport to provide water to properties with well results testing above 70 ppt for the sum of five PFAS: PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFHpA. The letter also clarified other DEC requirements, and required quarterly sampling for any wells testing above 35 ppt for the Sum of 5 PFAS, and annual sampling of any well with any PFAS detection. The letter also requested that the airport work with property owners to ensure that contaminated wells be disconnected and taken out of use or decommissioned, or have treatment systems installed. |
Robert Burgess |
| 8/20/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC published a technical memorandum titled "Action Levels for PFAS in Water and
Guidance on Sampling Groundwater and Drinking Water," which outlines the requirements for responsible parties to take action to provide drinking water based on a sum of the concentration of 5 PFAS exceeding 0.07 ug/L (=70 ppt) or the concentration of a 6th PFAS, PFBS, at a concentration of 2.0 ug/L (=2,000 ppt). |
Robert Burgess |
| 10/2/2018 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC received the November 2017 to April 2018 Private Well Sampling report from Shannon & Wilson, Inc. The report documents results of PFAS sampling in privately owned wells on or downgradient from Airport property. |
Robert Burgess |
| 3/15/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC received the May to December 2018 Private Well sampling report from Shannon & Wilson, Inc. The report documents sampling during that time period for privately owned wells on or downgradient of airport property. |
Robert Burgess |
| 4/8/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC received and reviewed the Final 2018 PFAS Groundwater Characterization report from R&M Consultants, Inc. The report documents the installation and sampling of several temporary well points to begin delineating the vertical and horizontal extent of PFAS contamination on airport property and in areas down- and upgradient from known source areas. |
Robert Burgess |
| 4/9/2019 |
Update or Other Action |
The technical memorandum describing action levels for the Sum of 5 PFAS was revised and now directs responsible parties to take action based on the EPA Lifetime Health Advisory level (LHA) of 70 ppt for the sum of two PFAS, PFOS and PFOA. |
Robert Burgess |
| 6/21/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC received the Fairbanks International Airport Fire Training Pit Corrective Action Work Plan, which describes work intended to treat and discharge the water currently retained in the lined pit, cap the pit, and install two monitoring well clusters up and downgradient of the fire training pit for ongoing monitoring of groundwater. (See "FIA Fire Training Pit" contaminated site, file number 100.38.070) |
Robert Burgess |
| 8/23/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
Staff from DEC's Contaminated Sites Program and Solid Waste Program collaborated on a review of the Fire Training Pit Corrective Action Work Plan and the cap design drawings. Comments were focused on bringing the project closer in line with regulations for industrial waste landfills and ensuring that water does not accumulate in or move through the containment cell. |
Robert Burgess |
| 8/28/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
The DEC received and reviewed the revised Fire Training Pit Corrective Action Work Plan (REV01), and provided additional comments. Comments focused on waste disposal and development of an operation and maintenance plan and institutional controls to monitor the groundwater levels, water accumulation in the cap (if any), and long-term preservation of the cap area. |
Robert Burgess |
| 8/30/2019 |
Update or Other Action |
Following a brief discussion with FAI's consultants and the receipt of responses to comments, the DEC approved starting work on the Fire Training Pit Corrective Action Plan, on the condition that a revised work plan be submitted that includes a discussion of institutional controls and long-term maintenance of the cap. Starting work immediately is necessary to keep the project on schedule and complete the cap within the field season. Work will be focused on work plan sections for which comment resolution is complete until the final work plan is approved. |
Robert Burgess |
| 9/11/2019 |
Update or Other Action |
FAI reported a diesel release estimated to be less than 2 gallons in volume from piping that was being removed as part of the site preparation for construction of a cap over the existing fire training pit. The piping led from the above ground fuel storage tank to the pit, and is presumed to be diesel fuel. The spill was immediately cleaned up, generating approximately 5.3 cubic yards of contaminated soil. Excavation limits were guided by PID field screening. DEC approved of disposing of the soil by adding it to the contaminated soil already in the fire training pit during cap construction, since the contaminants are already present in soil that will be capped. |
Robert Burgess |
| 9/25/2019 |
Update or Other Action |
The Fire Training Pit Corrective Action Work Plan was reviewed and approved by DEC. For additional details, see the FIA - Fire Training Pit contaminated site (HazID 1071; File Number 100.38.070)
|
Robert Burgess |
| 10/30/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
DEC and FAI met to discuss the current site status and ongoing plans. FAI reports that the capping is underway, with the liner being deployed currently. Additional dewatering, fencing, seeding, and addition of a sump monitoring mechanism will be completed in the spring. The DEC reiterated that the institutional controls and operations & maintenance plan for the cap and its components needs to be expanded, per the conditional approval of the corrective action plan. In addition, the PlumeStop pilot study is underway at two locations. PlumeStop is a carbon slurry that is designed to increase the sorption of contaminants to soil in the subsurface, effectively stopping the migration of PFAS through the injection area. Monitoring will take place over the next year. Except for a small number of unique situations, all of the properties with exceedances of PFAS action levels have been connected to public water sources. The FAI reports that they may not be able to complete site characterization work in 2020 due to FAA requirements to address the shooting range sites and competing funding. |
Robert Burgess |
| 4/24/2020 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
The DEC reviewed the Fire Training Pit Corrective Action Institutional Controls Addendum and provided comments. Comments include requesting historical groundwater elevation data from high precipitation years, documentation of inspections, and extended monitoring. The DEC requested a meeting to discuss comments. |
Robert Burgess |
| 6/7/2021 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
The Contaminated Sites Program (CSP) and the Prevention, Preparedness, and Response program (PPRP)reviewed and approved the AFFF Release Characterization Work Plan, which describes sampling of soils in an area where AFFF was accidentally discharged in 2020. The plan includes soil sampling as well as sampling of the fire truck's foam systems to identify sources of PFOS detected in samples from the initial response area. The truck was carrying foam that was advertised as being free of PFOS and PFOA. |
Robert Burgess |
| 6/29/2021 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC received the Fire Training Pit Corrective Action Report documenting the dewatering and capping of the lined fire training pit to prevent migration of contaminants in pit sediments. The report also documents institutional controls for maintaining the cap, preventing flooding, and ensuring receptors do not come into contact with contamination. |
Robert Burgess |
| 2/8/2022 |
Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program |
PPRP Transfer Information: Airport FD, FAI West Side Inside Fence, 10gal AFFF; Spill #: 20309925901; File #: 100.02.024; PPR Staff: Valerie Delaune
Problem: An accidental activation of the AFFF system on an ARFF truck resulted in upwards to 10 gallons of foam concentrate mixed with approximately 300 gallons of water. A Tornado Vac was utilized to clean up surface water/foam mix from the impacted waterway. This site might be a continual source of PFAS. |
Mandy Salminen |
| 6/6/2022 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC reviewed and approved the revised Tall Spruce Well Installation work plan, which provided plans to install a well cluster of wells screened at various depths in along Tall Spruce road. DEC had previously provided minor comments to the draft plan, which were addressed in the revision. |
Robert Burgess |
| 6/17/2022 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC reviewed the Fairbanks International Airport PlumeStop Pilot Study summary report, dated December 2021, which describes the injection of a colloidal activated carbon (CAC) product (PlumeStop) around a monitoring well on airport property within the PFAS plume. The goal of the study was to determine if CAC injection would reduce contaminant concentrations in groundwater by increasing the sorptive capacity of the subsurface and to provide information that could be used to refine potential future injections. The report documented that CAC did reduce PFAS concentrations over a period of 1.5 years. Although all PFAS measured were reduced in concentration initially, short chain PFAS were detected in groundwater in some of the post-injection samples, indicating that the treatment is less effective for short chain PFAS compared to long chain PFAS. The report recommended continued groundwater sampling in order to monitor long-term effectiveness of CAC injection. |
Robert Burgess |
| 11/22/2022 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
The DEC provided comments on the FAA EMPP Fairbanks International Airport Site Characterization Work Plan. This plan describes sampling to prepare for an environmental remediation project funded by an FAA grant. The grant application includes use of innovative technologies for PFAS destruction, including thermal treatment of soil and hydrothermal alkaline treatment for liquids. The site characterization work plan is designed to identify areas where soil remediation can take place as well as to continue the site characterization process. DEC comments were primarily focused on ensuring that contaminants of concern other than PFAS are also sampled so that they can be appropriately addressed. |
Robert Burgess |
| 2/10/2023 |
Site Characterization Workplan Approved |
Following several discussions, DEC received the revised EMPP Site Characterization Work Plan, and provided approval after review. |
Robert Burgess |
| 5/16/2023 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC reviewed the Tall Spruce Summary Report, documenting the installation of wells of varying depth on Tall Spruce Road. PFAS concentrations were similar at all depths, and were below 10 ng/L in all cases. No exceedances of cleanup levels or action levels were noted. |
Robert Burgess |
| 6/29/2023 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC provided comments on the Aquagga water treatment work plan, which describes treating water from the fire training pit via foam fractionation and hydrothermal alkaline treatment (HALT), innovative technologies for treating PFAS contaminated liquids. Water will be removed from the fire training pit and treated first with foam fractionation to remove PFAS and concentrate it into a foamate. Remaining bulk liquids will be polished with GAC treatment to remove residual PFAS. Foamate will then be treated with HALT. Samples will be collected and waste streams will be shipped to a hazardous waste management facility. |
Robert Burgess |
| 7/5/2023 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC approved the Aquagga Water Treatment work plan after receipt of a revised plan that addressed comments. |
Robert Burgess |
| 10/6/2023 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC approved the FY24 Tall Spruce Work Plan Addendum which proposes sampling activities for a well cluster on Tall Spruce Road, across the Chena River from the airport near a residence that had PFAS detections above the action level in a water supply well. |
Robert Burgess |
| 10/15/2024 |
Update or Other Action |
Fairbanks International Airport submitted the final Environmental Mitigation Pilot Project (EMPP) report to the FAA following review by all project participants. The report documented the treatment of fire pit wastewater and PFAS contaminated soils using innovative technologies as part of reporting requirements for the matching grant from FAA. |
Robert Burgess |
