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Site Report: AFSC AIA Former Bulk Fuel Tank Farm

Site Name: AFSC AIA Former Bulk Fuel Tank Farm
Address: 4565 W. Int'l Airport Rd., Anchorage, AK 99502
File Number: 2100.38.028.15
Hazard ID: 2742
Status: Active
Staff: Shawn Tisdell, 9074512752 shawn.tisdell@alaska.gov
Latitude: 61.175308
Longitude: -149.974564
Horizontal Datum:

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

Diesel and gasoline contaminated soils and groundwater from numerous surface and subsurface releases, including a major release during the 1964 earthquake.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
5/15/1996 Update or Other Action DEC rec'd letter requeting permission to place contaminated soil from a cross-town pipeline tie-in located behind AFSC Plant #2, back in the trench. Lease agreement attached showing timeline for cleanup. Eileen Olson
6/29/1999 Proposed Plan Proposed Plan approved and presented to public for review and comments. Jim Frechione
7/26/1999 Site Characterization Report Approved The submittal of organic carbon data completed the characterization of this site and is considered approved for the purposes of establishing cleanup levels. Jim Frechione
8/19/1999 Record of Decision Record of Decision established alternative cleanup levels and listed cleanup alternative actions. Jim Frechione
10/29/1999 Cleanup Plan Approved ADEC approved of high vacuum extraction system to treat soil and groundwater at the site. Jim Frechione
12/22/1999 Site Added to Database Diesel and gasoline contamination in site soils and groundwater. Eileen Olson
1/24/2000 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Score was 118.8. Eileen Olson
4/11/2000 Update or Other Action AFSC was approved to decommission monitoring wells that were in the road or railroad right-of-ways. They were DM 7 and DM 17 and MW 11 through 15. Jim Frechione
10/25/2000 Update or Other Action :etter to ADEC regarding contaminated soil managment. Renee Evans
4/5/2001 Cleanup Plan Approved Cleanup plan for May - ADEC 2000 activities received and approved. Renee Evans
5/1/2001 Update or Other Action Submittal of request to consultants to propose cost to estimate in situ contaminated soil volumes. Renee Evans
5/7/2001 Update or Other Action Draft plan of proposal for quarterly monitoring. Renee Evans
5/18/2001 Update or Other Action Letter to AIA regarding ICs at AFSC tank farm site incorporated into AIA Master Plan. Jim Frechione
5/24/2001 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Characterization plan approved for contaminated soil management and landspreading. Renee Evans
6/15/2001 Update or Other Action No-purge technique for sampling monitoring wells not approved. Renee Evans
7/20/2001 Cleanup Plan Approved Cleanup plan for disassembling treatment pile at site approved. Renee Evans
7/30/2001 Update or Other Action Groundwater monitoring plan submitted and approved with conditions. Renee Evans
2/27/2003 Meeting or Teleconference Held Met with ASIG staff, URS staff and Department members. Anticipate work plan submittal to modify HVE system. Lynne Bush
3/20/2003 Update or Other Action Drafted a request for more information concerning their recently submitted work plan to remediate the petroleum release at this site, located at the Ted Stevens International Airport. During an earlier meeting with ASIG and their consultant, it was decided to discontinue operation of the Central high vacuum extraction system and begin passive collection of remaining free product. The work plan failed to address this, as well as other points agreed upon at the meeting. Lynne Bush
3/26/2003 Update or Other Action After review by senior staff for accuracy, letter to ASIG asking for additional information regarding work plan activities and schedule finalized and sent. Lynne Bush
8/5/2003 Update or Other Action The June 2003 Site Status and Modified Corrective Action Plan (URS report) provided information regarding status of the high vacuum extraction (HVE) system and requested a number of monitor wells to be decommissioned. The east and central HVE system were shut down and the west system would continue to operate until it reached 1.5 gal/day or less of product recovery. ADEC approved 21 monitor wells for decommission based on no and/or declining trends in contaminant levels. The site is being considered for re-use by a rental car agency whereby they would pave and park vehicles there. Jim Frechione
8/27/2003 Update or Other Action ASIG submits plan to decommission 25 monitor wells at the site. Jim Frechione
9/25/2003 Update or Other Action ASIG reports to airport leasing that 25 monitor wells were decommissioned and other utilities (storm water culverts; electric and water lines; conexes; etc) removed or capped. ASIG requests "non-exclusive" use status which would allow AIA to lease property to another tenant. Jim Frechione
10/23/2003 Update or Other Action ASIG submits plan to drill 4 soil borings to evaluate contaminant levels in vadose zone soil. The borings will be located in areas where the HVE (east and central) units operated. Jim Frechione
11/3/2003 Long Term Monitoring Established ASIG submit long term groundwater monitor plan. They identified 22 monitor wells to be sampled on a semi-annual basis. They propose to sample: depth to water; product thickness (in wells with free phase product); sample collection in wells w/out free product; and sample for DRO and BTEX. ADEC approves the plan. Jim Frechione
4/13/2004 Update or Other Action ASIG submits First Quarter 2004 remediation system results. 165.5 gallons of free product were recovered in the first quarter of 2004. 95% of the free product was recovered via the HVE system. Todd Blessing
8/12/2004 Update or Other Action Reviewed April 2004 Groundwater and Product Monitoring Report. Groundwater flow direction is generally east to northeast. Free product was detected in 8 of 22 monitoirng wells. For wells that did not contain free product, gasoline constituents appear to exhibit long-term stable or decreasing trend. Todd Blessing
9/27/2004 Update or Other Action Reviewed Apil-June 2004 Site Status Report. HVE System operated 1,935 hours, or 89% of quarter. A total of 145 galons of free product was collected during the first quarter of 2004. The rate of free product recovery from the HVE ststem has declined slightly fromt eh prevous quarter, and is approaching the minimum free-product recovery rate of 1.5 gpd that has been established as a criteria for permanent system shutdown. Submitted letter to Laurie Butler requesting ADEC be notified when system was to be shutdown. Todd Blessing
12/8/2004 Update or Other Action ASIG submits Groundwater Monitoring Plan to monitor groundwater free product thickness in wells DM-2A, DM-18, DM-34, DM-8, DM-31, DM-35, DM-14, DM-33, and DM-36 every two years. In cases were free product is not present, groundwater will be sampled and analyzed for DRO and benzene. Groundwater monitoring will continue until cleanup goals are met. If data indicates that a change in monitoring schedule is warranted, a proposal to modify sampling schedule will be proposed to the Department. Submitted letter to ASIG conditionally approving of monitoring plan. ASIG is also required every five to seven years to sample and analyze groundwater for DRO and benzene from wells suspected to contain hydrocarbon concentrations that exceed 18 AAC 75.345 Table C values. Todd Blessing
2/8/2005 Update or Other Action ASIG submits letter dated January 31, 2005. ASIG proposes to drill two confirmation soil borings adjacent to existing wells MW-16 and DM-36. Soil samples will be collected at depths where elevated hydrocarbon concentrations were identified earlier. Each collected soil sample will be analyzed for GRO, DRO, and BTEX according to Department approved methods. Letter was submitted to ASIG on February 8, 2005 approving of confirmatory soil boring plan. Todd Blessing
2/17/2005 Update or Other Action Department received letter dated January 28, 2005. The letter proposes to decommission 13 monitor wells. The rationale for this request is to reduce potential sources of environmental liability and/or minimize impacts to Airport property. The Department discussed this plan with ASIG on February 16, 2005. An approval letter was submitted on February 17, 2005 approving of the well decommissioning plan. However, the Department recommended that ASIG reconsider decommissioning isolated wells in which the levels of contaminants in groundwater consistently exceed 18 AAC 75.345 Table C values. Todd Blessing
3/31/2005 Update or Other Action URS proposed in a groundwater monitoring plan letter to monitor groundwater from ten wells every two or seven years. Monitor wells in which free product is found will be gauged very two years to determine the thickness of the free product. Monitor wells which do not contain free product will be sampled and analyzed for DRO and benzene every seven years. Department submitted a letter approving of the groundwater monitoring plan. Todd Blessing
5/17/2005 Update or Other Action Department approved of decommissioning monitoring wells DM2A and DM33 for health and safety reasons; Department requested that these wells be replaced and monitored for free product every two years. Todd Blessing
7/11/2005 Update or Other Action Reviewed two year groundwater monitoring report. Ten wells were gauged for free product thickness and groundwater elevations. Wells DM36, DM35, DM34, DM31, and DM18 contained free product. Todd Blessing
10/25/2005 Update or Other Action Reviewed West HVE Zone Soil Evaluation Report. Two soil borings (SB-1 and SB-2) were advanced near the locations of wells Mw-16 and DM-36; respectively. Three soil samples were collected from each boring and analyzed for GRO,DRO, and BTEX. The analytical results revealed that at both locations the levels GRO, DRO, and benzene exceeded Department cleanup levels. Moreover, the analytical results, at this time, do not suggest that the levels of contaminants of concern have declined significantly. Todd Blessing
1/25/2007 Update or Other Action Reviewed a report documenting the replacement of monitor well DM-2A. The replacement well was installed at a depth of 64 feet below ground surface, with a 15 foot screened interval from 49 to 63 feet below ground surface. Field screening sample results of soil samples collected from the borehole, revealed elevated levels of fuel odors. Todd Blessing
3/23/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking. Todd Blessing
7/3/2007 Institutional Control Record Established In accordance with 18 AAC 75.350, ADEC has determined that the unconfined groundwater (above the Bootlegger Cove Formation) at the Anchorage International Airport (AIA) is not a current or future drinking water source. This determination is subject to the following conditions: 1. It applies only within the Airside and Commercial RMZ’s, as described in the Airport-Wide Remediation Management Plan. It does not apply within the Ecological RMZ. 2. It does not establish alternative cleanup levels within those zones but allows ADEC to use the determination in making decisions in accordance with 18 AAC 75.345(b)(2) - (3). 3. Any drinking water wells located on AIA property must be properly abandoned in accordance with ADEC decommissioning procedures within two years of this decision. 4. AIA shall prohibit the installation of any water wells, used for drinking, cooling, washdown, or any other purposes, on the AIA either through 17 AAC 42.410 (b) (27) of the airport leasing regulations or in their individual lease agreement documents. 5. The existing AIA water well used to maintain the water level in Lake Hood is not considered a drinking water well. However, AIA is responsible for determining its wellhead protection area and ensuring that it maintains levels at or below 18 AAC 75.345 Table C values, unless otherwise approved by ADEC. March 19, 2007 Amendment: DEC has determined that the shallow groundwater along the Lake Hood shoreline is not a current or future drinking water source in accordance with 18 AAC 75.350. Therefore, the March 2001 groundwater use determination is amended to include the shallow groundwater in the Ecological RMZ in that determination. Todd Blessing
12/1/2009 Update or Other Action DEC staff reviewed URS’ “Letter Report Former Bulk Fuel Storage Facility Groundwater/Product Survey and Product Recovery Oversight“, Dated August 17, 2009. URS evaluated the levels of free product and groundwater elevations in ten monitoring wells located downgradient of AFSC’s former Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, Anchorage International Airport. The wells evaluated include: MW-17, DM-2A-R, DM-6, DM-8, DM-14, DM-18, DM-31, DM-34, DM-35, and DM-36. The levels of free product in these wells ranged from 0.01 to 3.4 feet. Following a review of free product thickness, URS recovered free product in four wells (i.e. DM-18, DM-31, DM-34, and DM-35). Well DM-18 was not accessible during recovery efforts due to a damaged well casing. A total of 2.55 gallons of free product were removed from the three accessible wells. DEC requested in a letter dated December 01, 2009 that monitor well DM-18 be replaced and that historical free product measurements be provided in future monitoring reports. Todd Blessing
2/15/2011 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC staff met with Amber Deem of ASIG to discuss site status. Amber informed DEC that free product recovery was stopped during the past winter due to complications with identifying and accessing wells. Amber suggested a bail down test on wells this summer would be beneficial during the next groundwater monitoring event. Todd Blessing
5/3/2011 Update or Other Action DEC staff has completed a review of ASIG's letter discussing 2009 through 2010 fuel recovery and fuel thickness evaluation in wells within the groundwater contaminant plume. According to AFSC's letter, well DM34 and DM35 were not evaluated since a limited amount of fuel was found in these wells. DM18 was determined to be damaged and was consequently, replaced in October 2010. Well DM31 was evaluated and the thickness of free product and volumes of free product recovery were reported. The amount of fuel recovered from this well declined during the summer months and spiked in winter. The levels of free product thickness in the well also followed this trend. Review of groundwater elevations in this well over time suggests that in general, groundwater elevations drop during the summer months suggesting a correlation between groundwater elevation and free product thickness. Todd Blessing
5/3/2011 Update or Other Action DEC staff reviewed AFSC's Old Tank Farm Fuel Recovery 2010 Summary letter dated April 6, 2011. The letter discusses the levels of free product thickness and recovery volumes in wells within the groundwater contaminant plume. According to AFSC's letter, well DM34 and DM35 were not evaluated since a limited amount of fuel was found in these wells. DM18 was determined to be damaged and was consequently, replaced in October 2010. Well DM31 was however, evaluated and the thickness of free product and volumes of free product recovery were reported. The amount of fuel recovered from this well declined during the summer months and spiked in winter. The levels of free product thickness in the well also followed this trend. Review of groundwater elevations in this well over time suggests that in general, groundwater elevations drop during the summer months which may precipitate an increase in free product volume. Todd Blessing
11/23/2011 Update or Other Action DEC staff reviewed and approved of URS' November 16, 2011 Groundwater Monitoring Work Plan ASIG Old Tank Farm. URS proposes to collect groundwater samples from well (DM-2A, DM-8, DM-14, DM-17, DM-18, DM-31, DM-33, DM-34, DM-35, DM-36, and MW-17 for analysis of GRO, DRO, BTEX, and ethylene dibromide. Todd Blessing
3/12/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff reviewed ASIG's "Old Tank Farm Fuel Recovery 2011 Summary", dated March 6, 2012. This report documented the fuel recovery and monitoring of wells in 2011. Fuel was recovered and monitored from wells DM18A, DM31, DM34, and DM35 during the 2011 field season. The total amount of fuel recovered (i.e. 22 gallons) decreased from the 2010 season. Todd Blessing
10/10/2012 Update or Other Action DEC staff reviewed URS "Groundwater Monitoring Report AFSC Old Tank Farm", dated September 27, 2012. Free phase product was noted in five on-site wells: DM-18, DM-31, DM-34, DM-35, and DM-36. MW-17 was found to be compromised. Depth to groundwater was approximately 47 to 55 feet below ground surface. Groundwater elevations suggested groundwater generally flowed north. Groundwater samples were collected from DM-2A, DM-8, and DM-14. DRO and benzene were detected above 18 AAC 75.345 table C levels in groundwater samples collected from DM-8 and DM-14. DRO and benzne were detected at maximum levels of 0.122 and 179 mg/L. Todd Blessing
10/29/2012 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed URS'"Letter Report - Well Survey & Product Recovery Oversight". The report documented URS oversight of fuel recovery efforts by ASIG on October 10, 2012. Four wells were evaluated during this effort and included: DM-18, DM-31, DM-34, and DM-35. The volume of free product removed ranged from 0.203 to 1.15 gallons. 1.15 gallons fo fuel were removed from well DM-34. The total amoount of fuel removed from all four wells was 2.04 gallons. Todd Blessing
5/9/2013 Site Characterization Report Approved Reviewed ASIG's Old Tank FarmFuel Recovery 2012 Summary report. 34.2 gallons (total) of fuel were recovered in 2012 from wells DM18a, DM31, DM34, DM35. Jacob Gano
4/14/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC received the Old Tank Farm Fuel Recovery 2013 Summary. 22.7 gallons of product was recovered from three of the four wells (DM31, DM34, and DM35). Product thickness was insufficient for recovery at DM18a. Meghan Dooley
2/24/2015 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC met with AFSC/ASIG and consultant. ADEC approved of waiver of third party manual recovery requirement. ADEC approved that third party certification of methods is required once a year and since methods are the same, certification of the North Terminal and North Terminal Gate N2 product removal can be used as quality assurance of removal methods at this site. Lisa Krebs-Barsis
2/1/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed Letter Report - Former Bulk Fuel Storage Facility Product Recovery Certification. AECOM conducted the product recovery oversight at three locations during this event to include wells DM-31, DM-34, and DM-35 on October 14, 2016. During the 2016 event, wells DM-31, DM-34 and DM-35 were included in the product recovery efforts and the following volumes of product were removed: DM-31 0.58 gallons; DM-34 1.14 gallons; DM-35 0.29 gallons. Total product recovered = 2.03 gallons. Well DM-14 had over 6 feet of product measured in the well but the bailing/recovery was not overseen by AECOM. AFSC should report the total recovery on all of the wells in a follow-up report. Darren Mulkey
7/25/2017 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC Staff met with ASIG and consultant AECOM to discuss status of site and path forward. A letter dated September 22, 2017 documents the meeting and subsequent communications. Long term monitoring (biennial) monitoring is performed at this site. Product recovery is ongoing, with biennial oversight and annual reporting by AECOM. The ADEC approved sampling monitoring wells with no free product every 7 years. Wells were last sampled in 2012. Wendy Hansen
7/12/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff reviewed a work plan for product removal and groundwater sampling, and provided comments. The plan was written by AECOM and submitted on June 12, 2019. Wendy Hansen
8/29/2019 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff meet with Menzies Aviation Environmental Manager and representatives from AECOM to discuss the status of the site and a path to closure, in consideration for current regulations. Wendy Hansen
9/17/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff issued a letter formally approving of 2019 field work as presented in the final work plan for product removal and groundwater sampling submitted July 30, 2019. Field work was previously approved via email correspondence on August 14, 2019. The plan was issued for long-term monitoring. Further evaluation is needed to determine what level of product recovery and groundwater monitoring may or may not be warranted in the future. The letter also documented discussions that occurred during an August 29, 2019 meeting regarding cleanup levels and path forward to closure for this site. Wendy Hansen
9/20/2019 Site Visit Staff conducted a site visit during 2019 work plan implementation to observe sampling activities at one well and perform a site walk. Sampling was being conducted in accordance with the work plan. Wendy Hansen
1/28/2020 Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved Staff approved for transport of less than 55 gallons of well investigation derived waste water with some free product to be treated at the US Ecology Viking Drive facility in Anchorage. The water potentially contained PFAS based on a composite sample collected of water from four Menzies Aviation sites, this site, AFSC - Former Plant #4 Hazard ID 23582, AFSC AIA Kilo Gates Hydrant System Hazard ID 25860, and AFSC AIA North Terminal Hazard ID 595. Wendy Hansen
7/29/2020 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed the report titled "AIA Former Bulk Fuel Tank Farm 2019 Free- Product and Groundwater Monitoring Report". Based on the review, staff provided comments to Menzies following the review. Staff requested that filter pack recharge effects be evaluated for the LNAPL transmissivity measurements. Additionally, staff requested that damaged monitoring wells be repaired, if possible. Todd Blessing
1/11/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC received a letter report from AFSC and AECOM evaluating the potential that contamination from this site was responsible for petroleum contamination at the National Car Rental Facility found by EAN Holdings during soil removal for canopy footings on the south side of the Enterprise building. The contaminated soil was found at a depth less than 10 feet and contained ethylbenzene and xylenes above cleanup levels. The canopy was installed during construction of a permanent EAN defueling station. Groundwater is approximately 50 feet deep at this location and AECOM pointed out that contaminated groundwater from the AFSC Bulk Fuel Tank Farm would not impact shallow soil. This entry is associated with EAN Holdings AIA Defueling Station (Hazard ID 27448). Janice Wiegers
5/17/2022 Site Characterization Report Approved DEC reviewed the Anchorage International Airport Former Bulk Fuel Tank Farm Long-Term Groundwater Monitoring Report (see attachments). Well conditions were assessed and repaired as necessary. Free product was recovered in 2019 and 2021. Groundwater was collected from DM-2AR in 2019. BTEX was below detection levels. GRO was 0.50 mg/L and DRO was 0.50 mg/L. Several VOCs and PAHs were observed, but all were below groundwater cleanup levels. A baildown test was conducted in well DM-34. Product transmissivity was calculated at 1.64ft2/day. Shawn Tisdell
2/23/2023 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC met with AFSC (responsible party) and SLR (environmental consultant) to discuss a pathway to closure for the site. SLR presented a brief history of the site, summarized overall closure goals as outlined by DEC in 2019 and presented a path forward with a goal of site closure with institutional control by the end of 2023. Recommendations by SLR were to complete 2023 fluid level monitoring per existing work plan, develop a conceptual site model, evaluate natural source zone depletion, work with DEC to identify data gaps and prepare work plan for additional data collection if needed for closure decisions. Shawn Tisdell
1/3/2024 Site Characterization Report Approved DEC reviewed the October 2023 Long Term Monitoring Report. Well gauging was conducted on nine wells in May 24 and again in August 29 to assess the depth to groundwater and free product thickness in each well. Twenty-six gallons of free product were recovered from seven wells (DM-14, DM-18R, DM-31, DM-34, DM-35, DM-36, and MW-17R). Groundwater samples were collected from monitoring wells DM-8 and MW-2AR. DRO exceeded groundwater cleanup levels in both wells. In addition, GRO, benzene, ethylbenzene and xylene exceed groundwater cleanup levels in DM-8. The consultant, SLR, recommends the site should be considered for closure, pointing out that conditions including adequate characterization of the extent of contamination, free product removal to the extent practicable, and stable and/or decreasing contaminant level trends, have been demonstrated. DEC is considering this request. Shawn Tisdell

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO Other SoilGroundwater
GRO Other SoilGroundwater
BTEX Other SoilGroundwater

Control Type

Type Details
Other Commercial and Airside Remediation Management Zones as well as the Lake Hood shoreline are not a present or future drinking water source.

Requirements

Description Details
Groundwater Use Restrictions Any drinking water wells located on AIA property must be properly abandoned in accordance with ADEC decommissioning procedures within two years of this decision. AIA shall prohibit the installation of any water wells, used for drinking, cooling, washdown, or any other purposes, on the AIA either through 17 AAC 42.410 (b) (27) of the airport leasing regulations or in their individual lease agreement documents.
Groundwater Monitoring AIA shall establish a facility-wide groundwater monitoring plan in accordance with 18 AAC 75.345(h), (i), and (j). The plan shall ensure that applicable cleanup levels are monitored in the RMZ’s and that the Ecological RMZ maintains groundwater cleanup levels at or below 18 AAC 75.345 Table C values, unless otherwise approved by ADEC. Annual Groundwater Monitoring Report.

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