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Site Report: USGS Government Hill Site

Site Name: USGS Government Hill Site
Address: 132/140 East Manor Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501
File Number: 2100.38.325
Hazard ID: 2743
Status: Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff: IC Unit, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 61.229329
Longitude: -149.881375
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

Contamination was identified when UST heating oil tanks were removed (1997 Phase II). Drywell soils contain 5 ppm PCBs, petroleum, low level HVOCs and metals. Groundwater impacted by DRO. Lots 1, 2, and 3, Block K, North Addition #4 of Original Townsite Subdivision. In 1998 during the Phase III investigation MW-1, MW-2, and MW-3 installed. BTEX ND in soil samples. TCE in one soil sample at 0.0235 mg/kg at 12.5-14.5 ft bgs in MW-1. DRO in one soil sample at 283 mg/kg at 40-42 ft bgs in MW-3. Groundwater – DRO at 14.3 mg/l in MW-2 and 2.37 mg/l in MW-3. Cleanup 2000: Excavation of drywell and soil. No exceedances in Confirmation samples. One soil boring, TH1, had TCE at 0.029 at 4-6 ft bgs and 0.0289 at 8-10 ft bgs. Excavation of 4 test pits. DRO at 325 and 408 in TP at UST #2 Additional Investigation 2001: Two upgradient wells installed, three borings. Wells had BTEX in smear zone, no exceedances in GW samples from upgradient. Onsite well MW-2 had DRO at 2.9 mg/l Limited Cleanup 2002: Removed benzene contaminated soil from Tank #3 excavation. Confirmation samples indicate all benzene-impacted soil has been removed. DRO in MW-2 at 4.1 mg/l, no benzene. 2007 GW sampling: Wells dry in January. Sampled in June, MW-2 had DRO at 2.15 mg/l. 2008 GW sampling: Monitoring well #2 was sampled July 18, 2008 and October 3, 2008. In July DRO was found to be 20.5 mg/l. In September of 2008 efforts were made to reduce the possible contamination of the groundwater by 'air lifting' the sediment from the bottom of the monitoring well and re-developing the monitoring well for the October sampling event. The sample from October resulted in a DRO level of 18.8 mg/l.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
2/7/1997 Update or Other Action Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment 132/140 East Manor Avenue Anchorage, Alaska, dated February 1997 and submitted by Environmental Health Seciences-Alaska and Shannon & Wilson. Potential sources of contamination identified, including two former Quonset hut reportedly used for vehicle maintenance, three USTs and a dry well Grant Lidren
3/5/1998 Site Added to Database Phase II assessment received October, 1997 identifying contamination. Jim Frechione
3/5/1998 Update or Other Action Interim Action performed at the site. Jim Frechione
3/27/1998 Update or Other Action DEC completed review of the October 1997 Follow-up Underground Storage Tank Release Assessment Report. Four soil borings were advanced, soil samples collected and B-4 completed as a groundwater monitoring well. Groundwater contained 1.6 mg/l DRO and 0.32 mg/l methalene chloride. Investigation of a former dry well identified soil contamination DRO-6,000 mg/kg, RRO-26,000 mg/kg, PCB's 5 mg/kg and eleveated metals not attributed to background. Additional work required. David Pikul
8/4/1998 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting at USGS between USGS, ADEC, Shannon and Wilson to discuss additional site work. David Pikul
8/4/1998 Update or Other Action Site visit conducted by ADEC. David Pikul
9/2/1998 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Phase III Soil and Groundwater Assessment Workplan review. ADEC approved the workplan subject to the conditions listed in the comment letter. David Pikul
1/15/1999 Update or Other Action LC 14693060 established. David Pikul
1/29/1999 Update or Other Action DEC completed review of the report: Phase III Soil and Groundwater Assessment of the USGS Facility at 132/140 East Manor Avenue, Anchorage (Government Hill). Three monitoring wells were installed and soil and groundwater collected for laboratory analysis. David Pikul
7/19/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC's January comment letter faxed to Bill Fitzpatrick of USGS as he informed ADEC that he did not have the letter. David Pikul
11/2/1999 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Not previously ranked. David Pikul
11/16/1999 Update or Other Action A letter was issued to USGS stating that a considerable amount of time has passed since a letter was sent to their agency and requested USGS to indicate their intentions regarding the property. David Pikul
5/16/2000 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with RP (USGS) to discuss remaining issues and work plan development. David Pikul
7/27/2000 Update or Other Action ADEC issued a reminder letter to USGS regarding work plan submittal to address outstanding issues. David Pikul
8/4/2000 Update or Other Action ADEC conducted a site visit to inspect the newly installed fence that was to restrict access to the drywell and excavated soils left on the ground surface. The fence is free standing, 8' x 8' chain-link enclosed dog kennel. Its placement did not enclose the soils removed from the dry well that are situated on the ground surface. The RP was notified by e-mail of the site status. David Pikul
9/18/2000 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC met with RP's consultant (Shannon and Wilson) to discuss site activities to be conducted without an ADEC approved workplan. Driller and excavator scheduling was short notice and did not allow for ADEC review prior to work activities. ADEC verbally concurred with the basics of the workplan and will review ASAP. David Pikul
9/29/2000 Interim Removal Action Approved Site visit conducted during drywell excavation, direct haul soil transport and disposal approval given. David Pikul
10/2/2000 Site Characterization Workplan Approved ADEC issued comment letter to site characterization work plan submitted, approval given, however, an amendment was requested to investigate pipe from drywell. David Pikul
10/4/2000 Update or Other Action Site visit conducted. Use of down-hole camera indicates that the pipe from the drywell may go into the sewer. AWWU verification requested by ADEC. David Pikul
12/5/2000 Update or Other Action Cost Recovery Referral Memorandum issued to Department of Law. David Pikul
1/16/2001 Update or Other Action Received Additional Investigation and Limited Cleanup report, prepared by Shannon and Wilson. Scott Pexton
4/3/2001 Site Characterization Report Approved Letter sent to Bill Fitzpatrick of USGS with approval of report entitled "Additional Investigation and Limited Cleanup" prepared for the USGS by Shannon and Wilson, Inc. Scott Pexton
4/3/2001 Record of Decision ADEC signed Record of Decision regarding alternative cleanup levels for soil using Method Three. The default foc and hydraulic gradient parameters were modified by ADEC to calculate these levels. Since the levels are different than those proposed by USGS (and their consultant), they shall be afforded the option to collect additional data from the site to be considered in establishing alternative cleanup levels. As a condition of establishing alternative cleanup levels, ADEC requires the installation of groundwater monitoring wells north of the site within the road right-of-way to evaluate on-site transport of contaminants from adjacent property. In addition, ADEC requests another groundwater sample event from monitoring wells MW-2 and MW-3 with samples analyzed for BTEX and DRO. The MW-2 sample should also be analyzed for methylene chloride. Following the review of the analytical data from these samples, ADEC shall evaluate the need for additional sampling and/or other cleanup actions. Scott Pexton
4/3/2001 Cleanup Level(s) Approved ADEC approved Method Three alternative soil cleanup levels as documented in Record of Decision. Cleanup levels approved were 0.03 mg/kg for benzene, 700 mg/kg for DRO, 0.02 mg/kg for methylene chloride, and 0.05 for trichloroethylene. Scott Pexton
4/12/2001 Site Number Identifier Changed Site Number Identifier Changed this date. Former Staff
6/14/2001 Update or Other Action Received faxed copy of Workplan for Additional Investigation prepared by Shannon and Wilson. Scott Pexton
6/20/2001 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Letter sent to Bill Fitzpatrick of USGS with conditional approval of workplan. Conditions include: field work tasks must be completed by August 15, 2001; at least two soil samples collected from each monitoring well soil boring will be submitted for laboratory analysis of DRO, BTEX, and HVOs; and, soil samples will be collected and submitted for DRO/RRO analysis at the same locations as the two soil samples collected for analysis for total organic carbon. Scott Pexton
8/14/2001 Update or Other Action ADEC received copy of letter from Department of Law indicating receipt of a check from the U.S. GSA for cost recovery (Bill #CO15427). Scott Pexton
1/2/2002 Update or Other Action Received Additional Investigation report prepared by Shannon and Wilson. Two groundwater monitoring wells (MW-4 and MW-5) were installed upgradient of MW-2 and sampled. Analytical results of samples from MW-4 and MW-5 indicated that BTEX, DRO, and RRO were undetected at the method detection limit. One of the conclusions in the report was that "the results of the investigation indicate that an upgradient source of contamination from Monitoring Well MW-2 is unlikely and the possible source remains unknown." Scott Pexton
2/12/2002 Site Characterization Report Approved Letter sent to Bill Fitzpatrick of USGS with approval of site characterization report based on information provided in the "Additional Investigation, 132/140 East Manor Avenue" report prepared by Shannon and Wilson, Inc. ADEC concurred with the recommendation to excavate the benzene-impacted soils at the former Tank 3 area for transport to the Alaska Soil Recycling facility in Anchorage for thermal treatment. The action will require ADEC approval of a cleanup plan prepared in accordance with 18 AAC 75.360. Based on the information provided, ADEC concluded that groundwater results have adequately demonstrated that RRO, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, total xylenes, methylene chloride, and trichloroethylene did not exceed applicable groundwater cleanup levels. Therefore, ADEC does not require further groundwater sampling for these chemicals in the monitoring wells installed to evaluate groundwater at this site. With respect to DRO in groundwater, sampling results have adequately demonstrated that DRO did not exceed applicable cleanup levels at monitoring wells MW-1, MW-4, and MW-5. Therefore, in accordance with 18 AAC 75.345(h), ADEC will discontinue the requirement for groundwater monitoring at monitoring wells MW-1, MW-4, and MW-5. These monitoring wells may be decommissioned. ADEC concluded that DRO in groundwater did not exceed the applicable cleanup level during October 2001, but did exceed the cleanup level during previous sampling events at monitoring wells MW-2 and MW-3 within Lot 3. Based on the information provided, the concentration trend of DRO in groundwater appears to be stable and decreasing. However, ADEC requested another groundwater sampling event to collect and analyze DRO in groundwater from monitoring wells MW-2 and MW-3. The report suggested that the DRO contamination of 1,500 mg/kg in soil previously sampled at soil boring B-4 be allowed to naturally attenuate. The report suggested that because the soil contamination was located below the water table at 38 feet and was not observed above the water table, that no further action may be appropriate. ADEC may consider this type of request after the cleanup and monitoring actions discussed above are completed, provided an institutional control is established for the property in accordance with 18 AAC 75.375. In accordance with the cleanup operation requirements of 18 AAC 75.360, a cleanup plan was requested by May 1, 2002. The cleanup plan should provide detailed specifications of the proposed soil removal action and groundwater sampling at MW-2 and MW-3. The plan should also include a soil confirmation sampling and analysis plan to confirm that remaining soil after excavation and removal meets applicable cleanup levels. The plan should include a schedule for conducting fieldwork, monitoring, and submittal of a final cleanup report. The site cleanup must be conducted or supervised by a qualified person. Scott Pexton
4/24/2002 Update or Other Action ADEC received a letter from the Department of Law indicating that a check was received from USGS for cost recovery (Bill # CO25145). Scott Pexton
5/10/2002 Update or Other Action ADEC received Workplan for Limited Cleanup and Groundwater Monitoring, prepared by Shannon & Wilson, Inc. The primary purpose is to excavate and remediate benzene-impacted soil from the former Tank 3 excavation and to collect groundater samples from monitoring wells MW-2 and MW-3. Scott Pexton
5/20/2002 Cleanup Plan Approved Letter with plan approval sent to John Spielman of Shannon & Wilson, Inc. (copy to Bill Fitzpatrick of USGS).Benzene-impacted soil will be excavated from former excavation area of Tank #3. Soil will be transported for thermal treatment to the Alaska Soil Recycling facility in Anchorage. Groundwater samples will be collected from monitoring wells MW-2 and MW-3 for DRO lab analysis. Monitoring wells MW-1, MW-4, and MW-5 will be decommissioned. Approval letter had a request to submit the final cleanup report to ADEC by July 15, 2002. Scott Pexton
8/1/2002 Update or Other Action Limited Cleanup and Groundwater Monitoring report with this date submitted by Shannon & Wilson Grant Lidren
8/14/2002 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with USGS rep Bill Fitzpatrick and Shannon&Wilson consultant, John Spielman. Was given a copy of the latest report to review. Lynne Bush
8/15/2002 Meeting or Teleconference Held Site visit. Lynne Bush
10/8/2002 Update or Other Action Telephone conversation w Fitpatrick about long-term monitoring and IC issues. Lynne Bush
10/9/2002 Update or Other Action Follow-up on IC issues - sent copy of draft guidance to Mr. Fitzpatrick. Lynne Bush
5/5/2003 Update or Other Action Letter to Fitzpatrick asking for information Lynne Bush
5/6/2003 Update or Other Action Fitzpatrick will be sending in a long-term monitoring work plan and information to be used to complete a ROD/NEC for this site. Lynne Bush
1/29/2004 Update or Other Action File number changed from CS80.01 to 2100.38.325 Former Staff
8/16/2004 Update or Other Action File tranferred to Juneau office Sarah Cunningham
2/13/2007 Update or Other Action Corrected 3/27/1998 and 1/29/99 entries to reflect administrative file. Shannon Oelkers
6/24/2007 Update or Other Action File sent to Anchorage, PM changed to O'Connell. Bill O'Connell
6/25/2007 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Approved work plan to sample MW-2. Bill O'Connell
7/23/2007 Site Characterization Report Approved Received 2007 groundwater monitoring report. One sample was collected from monitoring well MW2 which contained DRO at 2.15 mg/l. Bill O'Connell
8/30/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Bill O'Connell
10/9/2007 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Reviewed work plan for groundwater monitoring at MW-2. Samples will be collected infall 2007 and spring 2008 and analyzed for DRO. Bill O'Connell
2/7/2008 Site Characterization Report Approved Groundwater sampling report dated December 17, 2007 submitted by Shannon & Wilson and recieved by the ADEC on this date. One sample was collected, on October 24, 2007, from monitoring well MW2 which contained DRO at 0.940 mg/L Grant Lidren
2/8/2008 GIS Position Updated Updated using Arc GIS SPAR_StatewideLocator (ArcReader) Grant Lidren
1/6/2009 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Received January 5, 2009 from Shannon & Wilson the Groundwater Sampling, 132/140 East Manor Avenue report that was completed November 2008. Monitoring well #2 was sampled July 18, 2008 and October 3, 2008. In July DRO was found to be 20.5 mg/l. In September of 2008 efforts were made to reduce the possible contamination of the groundwater by 'air lifting' the sediment from the bottom of the monitoring well and re-developing the monitoring well for the October sampling event. The sample from October resulted in a DRO level of 18.8 mg/l. Pam Clemens
2/20/2009 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 73719 Drywell and Heating Oil Tanks. Bill O'Connell
5/19/2009 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Contaminated Sites Program (ADEC) has completed a review of the environmental records associated with the USGS Government Hill Site located at 132/140 East Manor Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska. Based on the information provided to date, it has been determined that the contaminant concentrations remaining on site do not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment and no further remedial action will be required as long as the site is in compliance with established institutional controls. Bill O'Connell
5/19/2009 Institutional Control Record Established Institutional Controls established and entered into the database. Bill O'Connell
6/29/2009 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Report received detailing the decommissioning of monitoring well MW-3 in accordance with the ROD. Well was overdrilled and filled with bentonite. Bill O'Connell
10/12/2009 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed groundwater monitoring report for 2009. Well MW02 was sampled as part of Cleanup Complete ICs. The well was purged dry, then allowed to recharge overnight. DRO was detected at 10.3 mg/l, however it was noted that there was sediment in the water sample, potentially biasing the results high. Bill O'Connell
4/7/2010 Update or Other Action USGS is moving forward with a transfer of this property to the Municipality of Anchorage/Anchorage Historical Society for development of a museum and interpretive center. Bill O'Connell
9/15/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed 2011 groundwater monitoring report for USGS Government Hill, aka 132/140 East Manor Avenue. One sample and a duplicate were collected from well MW-2. DRO was detected up to 7.68 mg/l. This concentration is lower than, but consistent with previous sample results Bill O'Connell
9/11/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed 2012 Groundwater Sampling Report. One sample was collected from MW-2 after the well was purged dry. DRO was detected at 21.2 mg/l. Bill O'Connell
11/18/2013 Institutional Control Compliance Review Groundwater contamination in MW-2 has been stable over the last several years of sampling, therfore this requirement is removed and groundwater monitoring will no longer be required at the site. Bill O'Connell
5/13/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Work plan for well decommissioning approved Bill O'Connell
6/5/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Monitoring well MW-2 was decommissioned in accordance with ADEC guidance in May 2014. Bill O'Connell

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil

Control Type

Type Details
Signed CS Determination

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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