Site Report: ConocoPhillips West Sak SWPT #1 Fire Training Area PFAS
| Site Name: | ConocoPhillips West Sak SWPT #1 Fire Training Area PFAS |
|---|---|
| Address: | 2 Miles East of Kuparuk Operations Unit, Deadhorse, AK 99734 |
| File Number: | 300.38.325 |
| Hazard ID: | 27215 |
| Status: | Active |
| Staff: | Laura Jacobs, 9074512911 laura.jacobs@alaska.gov |
| Latitude: | 70.326734 |
| Longitude: | -149.524295 |
| Horizontal Datum: | WGS84 |
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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
Prior to being a fire training area, one oil well was drilled at the West Sak Single Well Production Test (SWPT) #1 pad in 1983 and operated until 1985. The site was utilized for fire training activities at Kuparuk after 1985. From 1985 to 1986, diesel was ignited in a steel tank placed directly on the gravel pad for fire training purposes. Around 1987, a synthetic lined gravel burn pit was installed at the northwest end of the SWPT pad for additional fire training activities. In 1989, a synthetic-lined containment pond was added to the southeast of the burn pit to contain the fire-fighting water runoff. By 1993, all fire-training activities had been moved to the lined area. A new state-of-the-art liner and sump were installed in the central portion of the pad in 1997. Potential run-off from the area at the north end of the pad was monitored. In 2001, a Reserve Pit Closure Plan was submitted to ADEC and pit closure was granted on September 14, 2001. Fire training using firefighting foam within the triple-lined bermed area began at the site in 1994 and was discontinued in 2014.
Action Information
| Action Date | Action | Description | DEC Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/18/2019 | Update or Other Action | Sent letter on this day requesting that Conoco evaluate PFAS contamination at this site. See file for letter. | Joshua Barsis |
| 5/28/2019 | Update or Other Action | CPAI sends response letter to ADEC’s request | Erin Gleason |
| 5/29/2019 | Update or Other Action | ADEC reviewed Conoco's response letter, dated May 28, 2019 concerning the use of firefighting foam at the ConocoPhillips West Sak SWPT #1 site (Hazard ID 155). The letter indicates that firefighting foam was used for training at this site, however surmises that it is not a concern because of liners and limited use. ADEC will require an investigation to determine if PFOA and PFOS are present in the soils and/or porewater at this site. A work plan is due by July 1, 2019. | Joshua Barsis |
| 7/9/2019 | Site Characterization Workplan Approved | Workplan titled 2019 PFAS EVALUATION AT CONOCOPHILLIPS WEST SAK SWPT #1 approved on this day. | Joshua Barsis |
| 11/27/2019 | Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other | Reviewed the report titled 2019 PFAS Evaluation West Sak SWPT #1, dated November 27, 2019. Completed activities included collected surface soil samples (6" bgs) from 11 predetermined locations on the gravel pad, and 11 water samples from the surrounding surface water. All soil samples were below state cleanup levels. All water samples exceeded PFOS and PFOA above the LHA of 0.07 µg/L, most of which also exceeded the State cleanup level of 0.4 µg/L. The nearest drinking water source is approximately 2 miles to the southwest of the investigation area. | Joshua Barsis |
| 12/6/2019 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | ADEC and CPAI meet to discuss results and a path forward | Erin Gleason |
| 12/10/2019 | Site Characterization Report Approved | ADEC sends letter approving report and requesting a work by March 1, 2020. | Erin Gleason |
| 3/18/2020 | Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other | CPAI submits draft work plan for further characterization of PFAS in surface water ponds | Erin Gleason |
| 4/28/2020 | Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other | ADEC has reviewed the March 18th, 2020 PFAS work plan and requests revisions. A letter was sent to CPAI on this date detailing the revisions required. The work plan includes surface water sampling around the pad and is a continuation of the 2019 sampling. The goal of the work plan is to delineate the extent of the PFAS contamination at the site. | Erin Gleason |
| 5/6/2020 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | ADEC, CPAI, and Rescon held teleconference today to discuss the work plan revisions. CPAI concurs with all requested revisions and will submit the revised work plan to ADEC for final approval prior to the start of field sampling. During the meeting, applicable cleanup levels were discussed. At present, there is not a surface water cleanup level for PFOS and PFOA. For this work samples will be compared to the EPA LHA of 0.07ug/L and the ADEC groundwater cleanup level of 0.04 ug/L. However, all parties acknowledge that this water is neither drinking water nor groundwater. Field sampling is planned for summer 2020, however that may need to be rescheduled due to the covid-19 pandemic. Field sampling may occur in either 2020 or 2021. | Erin Gleason |
| 5/21/2020 | Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other | CPAI submits draft surface water characterization work plan | Erin Gleason |
| 5/21/2020 | Site Added to Database | A new site has been added to the database | Mitzi Read |
| 1/28/2025 | Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter | Laura Jacobs | |
| 1/28/2025 | Update or Other Action | Copy of 2021 PFAS Investigation at West Sak SWPT#1 was received by staff. | Laura Jacobs |
Contaminant Information
| Name | Level Description | Media | Comments |
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Control Type
| Type | Details |
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Requirements
| Description | Details |
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| Hazard ID | Site Name | File Number |
|---|---|---|
| 155 | ConocoPhillips West Sak SWPT #1 | 300.38.225 |