Skip to content Skip to content

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

You are here: DEC / SPAR / CSP / SPAR Online Services / Contaminated Sites Search / Site Report

Site Report: AKARNG Kwethluk FSA

Site Name: AKARNG Kwethluk FSA
Address: Unnamed Boardwalk, Kwethluk, AK 99621
File Number: 2424.38.001
Hazard ID: 2814
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 60.810864
Longitude: -161.435168
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

Several fuel spills have been reported for the Kwethluk FSRC. On April 22, 1987, approximately 150 gallons of heating oil spilled when the glass filter bulb broke on the 3,000-gallon, single-walled AST located on the east side of the Old FSRC. Sorbents were used to collect much of the spill and an unknown amount of fuel was recovered and disposed of. In June 1992, an environmental compliance team noted a drum located on the east side of the New FSRC containing petroleum products was leaking onsite. The drum was placed upright and the contaminated tundra was removed and placed in a cardboard box. The disposition of the cardboard box and contents is unknown. In February 1995, approximately 10 to 15 gallons of heating oil was spilled onto the snow covered, frozen tundra. The spill occurred between the 3,000-gallon, double-walled AST and the New FSRC as a result of an incorrectly plumbed day tank. AKARNG personnel removed the contaminated snow, and all contamination was reported to have been removed. No spill report was filed. An IRA was conducted in 2000 to remove soil with diesel range organics (DRO) concentrations greater than 2,000 mg/kg, which was the presumed soil cleanup level for the site at the time of excavation. A total of approximately 25 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil was removed from three areas of concern. In July 2015, a total of 11.85 tons of soil with DRO and gasoline range organics (GRO) concentrations greater than the ADEC-approved site-specific cleanup levels of 10,250 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg, respectively, were removed from the Kwethluk FSRC. Confirmation soil samples were collected from the limits of the excavation, and results confirmed that DRO and GRO concentrations in soil remaining at the excavation limits were less than the ADEC-approved site-specific cleanup levels. Groundwater cleanup levels are 1.5 mg/L for DRO and 1.1 mg/L for residual range organics (RRO). The site is now under a long-term groundwater monitoring plan.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
9/16/1997 Site Added to Database Petroleum contamination. Scott Pexton
2/10/1998 Update or Other Action Letter sent with comments on draft remedial investigation report. Scott Pexton
4/21/1998 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Ranking action added now because it was not added when the site was originally ranked. Bill Petrik
6/29/1998 Update or Other Action A Portage Environmental Site Assessment for a AKANG firing range was recieved. It concludes there is no need for action. John Halverson
7/20/1998 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Letter sent with approval of site sampling plan prepared by Ogden Environmental, Inc. Scott Pexton
1/8/1999 Update or Other Action Received Draft Remedial Investigation Report, prepared by Ogden Environmental. Scott Pexton
5/21/1999 Update or Other Action Received Final Remedial Investigation Report prepared by Ogden Environmental. Scott Pexton
10/14/1999 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Site reranked based on 9/9/1998 letter from William Vagt. Scott Pexton
1/26/2000 Update or Other Action Received draft Corrective Action Plan for six Army National Guard facilities (including Kwethluk). Scott Pexton
2/28/2000 Update or Other Action Received a faxed copy of comments from the Army National Guard project manager, Norm Straub. Scott Pexton
5/16/2000 Update or Other Action Received a revised Corrective Action Plan, prepared by Clearwater Environmental Inc. for the Alaska Army National Guard. Scott Pexton
5/23/2000 Interim Removal Action Approved Letter sent to Norman Straub with approval of interim action plan to excavate up to fifty cubic yards of petroleum contaminated soil for offsite thermal treatment. Plan was prepared by Clearwater Environmental Inc. Scott Pexton
6/29/2000 Update or Other Action Approved transport via barge of 102 drums of petroleum-contaminated soil from Kwethluk armory to the AKNG Bethel AAOF facility. Scott Pexton
11/22/2000 Update or Other Action ADEC received Draft Interim Removal Action report prepared by Clearwater Environmental, Inc. Scott Pexton
11/27/2000 Update or Other Action ADEC received Post Treatment Report for Kwethluk Additional Soil Remediation , prepared by BNC International, Inc. Scott Pexton
12/18/2001 Update or Other Action Received Final Interim Removal Action Report prepared by Clearwater Environmental, Inc. A total of twenty-five cubic yards of DRO contaminated soil was removed from the site and placed in one hundred and two 55-gallon drums for transport to the BNCI thermal treatment facility in Bethel. Contirmation samples collected from the excavation area had DRO in one sample reported at 25, 400 mg/kg. The other six confirmation soil samples had DRO reported ranging from undetected to 111 mg/kg. Scott Pexton
8/6/2003 Update or Other Action ADEC sent letter to Norman Straub of Anchorage Army National Guard (AKARNG) with comments regarding Draft Alternative Cleanup Level Demonstration Project dated December, 2002. Beatrice Egbejimba
9/10/2003 Update or Other Action ADEC sent letter to Norm Straub of AKARNG with approval of final ACL Demo. Workplan received September 3, 2003. Beatrice Egbejimba
9/11/2003 Update or Other Action ADEC approval letter sent to Norm Straub (AKARNG). The workplan for ACL demo project was received 9/3/03. Beatrice Egbejimba
4/8/2004 Update or Other Action File number assigned: 2424.38.001. Sarah Cunningham
5/25/2005 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed the Installation Action Plan and sent the following comment. It fairly summarizes the results of the Site Investigation conducted in 1995 and a Remedial Investigation in 1998. Three areas of concern were found to contain diesel range organics (DRO) at concentrations of concern. An Interim Removal Action occurred in 1999 and removed 50 cubic yards of contaminated soil. Confirmation sampling confirmed two of the areas had no contamination remaining above 18 AAC 75.341 Method II levels. One area, adjacent to the old armory and the enclosed walkway to the new armory had DRO at 25,400 mg/kg, benzene at 0.0207 mg/kg and gasoline range organics at 647 mg/kg. An Alternative Cleanup Level (ACL) demonstration is currently pending. Preliminary results show DRO remaining at 11,500 mg/kg in the location that had shown 25,400 mg/kg DRO. The cleanup strategy included in the IAP says that another IRA in underway to excavate soil at the north edge of the armory. This does not seem to belong here. Please verify. This section then states that if a no further action determination cannot be obtained from the ACL demonstration, that long-term monitoring and five-year reviews would be appropriate for the site. When the results of the ACL demonstration are available, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) would like to work with the Alaska Army National Guard to determine the most appropriate remedy for the site. Debra Caillouet
11/18/2005 Update or Other Action Staff prepared a comment letter on the draft Alternative Cleanup Level Demonstration report. Debra Caillouet
2/2/2006 Cleanup Level(s) Approved Staff drafted a Method III cleanup level approval for signature by the section manager Debra Caillouet
4/1/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Debra Caillouet
2/3/2010 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated in the Installation Action Plan meeting. Debra Caillouet
11/30/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff reviewed and sent comment to the Alaska Army National Guard on the Draft Work Plan for Site Characterization at 21 Alaska Federal Scout Readiness Centers, November 2010, including the Site Specific Plans for Akiak, St. Mary’s and Tuntutuliak. Debra Caillouet
4/19/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Site Specific Work Plans, Fort Yukon, Kwethluk, Nightmute, Savoonga, and Toksook Bay, Federal Scout Armories, March 2011 Debra Caillouet
5/23/2011 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Final Work Plan for Site Characterization at 21 Alaska Federal Scout Readiness Centers, April 2011 approved. Debra Caillouet
1/18/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Kwethluk Federal Scout Readiness Center Data Gap Investigation Report Debra Caillouet
4/13/2012 Site Characterization Report Approved Kwethluk Federal Scout Readiness Center, Data Gap Investigation Report, February 2012 Debra Caillouet
6/10/2013 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 73790 Spills/Leaks. Debra Caillouet
9/30/2013 Cleanup Level(s) Approved ROD Debra Caillouet
1/12/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Kwethluk Remedial Action Plan, Federal Scout Readiness Center, Kwethluk, Alaska January 8, 2015 Debra Caillouet
12/16/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Rec'd Draft Kwethluk Remedial Action Report this date. Danielle Duncan
12/17/2015 Update or Other Action Staff changed to Danielle Duncan and hard file transferred to the Juneau office. Kristin Thompson
12/22/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed and approved Draft Kwethluk Remedial Action Report having zero comments. The locations of the monitoring wells are satisfactory and should provide adequate data for use in the decision-making process. Although one of the monitoring wells had a diesel range organics result of 1.72 mg/L (exceeding the 1.5 mg/L cleanup level), the five year groundwater monitoring plan will likely provide the data necessary for site closure without institutional controls. A total of 11.85 tons of petroleum contaminated soil was removed from the site and transported to an approved landfill in Arlington, Oregon. The remaining soil contamination on site is at concentrations less than the approved soil cleanup levels of 10,250 mg/kg diesel range organics and 300 mg/kg gasoline range organics. I will look forward to a final report. Danielle Duncan
3/2/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved the final Kwethluk remedial action report this date. There will be 4 years of groundwater monitoring. Danielle Duncan
12/29/2016 Site Characterization Report Approved Approved the draft long-term groundwater monitoring report this date - no comments. The current report documents the second year (2016) of groundwater monitoring. The amount of DRO in MW1 (located in the footprint of the former aboveground storage tank (AST)) has decreased from 0.687 and 0.861 (duplicate) mg/L in 2015 to 0.395 mg/L this year. MW2 is located north of MW1 and had a DRO value of 1.72 mg/L in 2015 and 0.783 and 0.628 (duplicate) mg/L this year. MW3 is located southeast of MW2 and has had undetectable levels of DRO. These samples were also analyzed for RRO and none of the wells had concentrations greater than the cleanup level. According to the report, the groundwater flow direction is generally towards the north-northwest. MW2 is located the most northwest from the footprint of the AST and has had the highest concentrations of DRO. Danielle Duncan
12/1/2017 Update or Other Action Will be receiving the draft LTM report soon. Danielle Duncan
2/20/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The current draft report documents the sampling of three groundwater monitoring wells on site as part of a five year groundwater monitoring (LTM) plan. The wells are sampled and analyzed annually for DRO and RRO. The monitoring wells were installed in 2015 and at that time, only monitoring well (MW) 2 had contaminants above the cleanup levels. In 2016, all 3 wells were below the cleanup levels. The 2017 results for MW1 and MW3 were below cleanup levels. MW2 was mistakenly analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) instead of DRO and RRO due to a laboratory error. The results of this analysis found naphthalene at a concentration below the ADEC groundwater cleanup levels. Danielle Duncan
1/24/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Provided comments on the draft 2018 LTM Report this date. Danielle Duncan
3/19/2019 Site Characterization Report Approved Approved the Final 2018 Long Time Monitoring Report this date. RRO for all wells has met the cleanup level every year. Monitoring well one (MW-1) and MW-3 have also met the cleanup level for DRO each year. However, MW-2 did not meet cleanup levels for DRO in the first year of sampling and for the latest sample. There appears to be a hot spot of groundwater contamination at MW-2. Danielle Duncan
3/31/2020 Site Characterization Report Approved January 15, 2020, ADEC received a copy of "Kwethluk 2019 Long-Term Monitoring Report, Federal Scout Readiness Center, Alaska Army National Guard FY14 DERP” dated December 2019. On February 19, 2020 ADEC provided comments on the report. On March 25, 2020 ADEC received response to comments via electronic mail. ADEC’s comments have been adequately addressed. The draft report is approved in accordance with 18 AAC 75.335(d). Monitoring well MW-1 and MW-3 have met the cleanup level for DRO for all five years. However, MW-2 did not meet cleanup levels for DRO in the 2015 and 2018 year. Groundwater contamination is still present at MW2. The trend over the five year span of the LTM program signaled an increasing trend for RRO and no identifiable trend for DRO. ADEC agrees that LTM should continue at the site until a definitively decreasing trend of DRO and RRO is established. Rachael Petraeus
4/7/2020 Site Characterization Report Approved On April 07, 2020 ADEC received the final copy via email of "FINAL Kwethluk 2019 Long-Term Monitoring Report Federal Scout Readiness Center Alaska Army National Guard FY14 Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP)" dated April 2020. Rachael Petraeus
4/17/2020 Meeting or Teleconference Held On April 17, 2020 new ADEC PM and AKARNG PM held a meeting to discuss site status and plans for field season 2020 and future work. Rachael Petraeus
9/15/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On September 15, 2020 ADEC received “Draft Kwethluk 2020 Long-Term Monitoring Work Plan Addendum Federal Scout Readiness Center Alaska Army National Guard dated September 2020” dated September 2020. The work plan includes preparation and production continual groundwater long term monitoring activities and analyzing for diesel range organics and residual range organics Rachael Petraeus
10/7/2020 Site Characterization Workplan Approved On October 05, 2020 ADEC approved “Draft Kwethluk 2020 Long-Term Monitoring Work Plan Addendum Federal Scout Readiness Center Alaska Army National Guard dated September 2020” work plan dated October 2020. Rachael Petraeus
12/8/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On December 08, 2020 ADEC received an updated and revised workplan. The work plan addition requests for additional LTM for spring and fall 2021. Rachael Petraeus
12/11/2020 Risk Assessment Workplan Approved On December 11, 2020 ADEC approved the “Amended FINAL Kwethluk 2021 Long-Term Monitoring Work Plan Addendum Federal Scout Readiness Center Alaska Army National Guard” dated December 2020. The work plan includes additional sampling during the spring of 2021. Rachael Petraeus
5/15/2023 Long Term Monitoring Complete The DEC received the last LTM report which concludes 5 years of groundwater monitoring at the site. Contamination in all monitoring wells has been below DEC cleanup levels for 4 monitoring events and the DEC approved the report. Flannery Ballard
7/27/2023 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Workplan to decommission the monitoring wells at the Kwethluk FSA was received, reviewed, and approved this date. The AKARNG will provide a report at the conclusion of site activities. Flannery Ballard
1/24/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Kwethluk Federal Scout Readiness Center 2023 Monitoring Well Decommissioning Report received 01.24.2024. ADEC comments sent on 02.23.2024. AKARNG RTCs and final draft received 04.01.2024. ADEC comments sent on 05.03.2024 and final approval letter for the report was sent on 05.06.2024. Jenny Gates
5/17/2024 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued Jenny Gates

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
Benzene < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil
DRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
DRO < Table C
Ethylbenzene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation
GRO < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil
Xylenes (total) < Method 2 Most Stringent
Xylenes (total) < Method 2 Most Stringent

Control Type

Type Details
No ICs Required

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.
Movement or use of contaminated material (including on site) in a manner that results in a violation of the water quality standards is prohibited (18 AAC 70)

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

Because the GIS location data for this site has not been entered, we cannot direct you to its position on the map. Click "Continue" to proceed to the Contaminated Sites Web Map or "Close" to return to the site report.
Continue     Close

Public Notices  •  Regulations  •  Statutes
Press Releases  •  Contact

 

State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

P.O. Box 111800
Juneau, AK 99811-1800
Phone: 907-465-5066
Fax: 907-465-5245
TDD: 800-770-8973
Physical Location: 410 Willoughby