Skip to content Skip to content

Site Report: Fort Greely Asphalt and Tar Disposal Area

Site Name: Fort Greely Asphalt and Tar Disposal Area
Address: South of Delta Junction, Fort Greely, AK 99731
File Number: 141.38.025
Hazard ID: 2948
Status: Active
Staff: Erica Blake, 9074512182 erica.blake@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.000890
Longitude: -145.723546
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

The former Tar and Asphalt Disposal Area (TAADA) consists of 10 to 20 acres on the west side of the Allen Army Airfield (AAAF) and was historically used for aircraft parking and as a disposal area for asphalt drums and tar. In 1992, a preliminary visual assessment identified pools of asphalt tar, timber cribs filled with tar, and debris including drums, cables, pipes, and chunks of graveled asphalt at the site. Investigations at the site have found four asphalt disposal areas and one drum/asphalt burial area. Environmental investigations from 1994 to 2007 found no analytical exceedances of any contaminants of concern (COC). The monitoring well (TAADA) was originally used as an industrial supply well, but is now currently used for groundwater monitoring. Groundwater monitoring occurs twice a year, annually, and is analyzed for gasoline range organics (GRO), diesel range organics (DRO), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes (BTEX). The TAADA well has not had any exceedances since 2010. Since this site still has buried material present and is not suitable for unrestricted use, groundwater monitoring of the TAADA well is expected to continue. The corresponding U.S. Army HQAES site number is: 02341.1027. This site does not have a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) number.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
11/8/1996 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Action date used is the date of the Defense Site Environmental Restoration Tracking System worksheet. Previous sampling detected DRO (110 ppm), GRO (570 ppm), benzene (14 ppm), naphthalene (200 ppm), acetone (7 ppm) and DDD (0.01 ppm). The site was assigned a rank of Low on the Army worksheet. Ronan Short
1/1/1997 Site Added to Database Site added by Shannon and Wilson. S&W
11/26/2004 Update or Other Action Staff received a decision document factsheet from SMDC regarding this site. Test pits and soil borings in 1994 did not encounter contamination above ADEC Method Two cleanup levels. Emily Youcha
12/20/2004 Update or Other Action ADEC reviewed a report titled "Comprehensive evaluation of groundwater monitoring program Fort Greely, Alaska". The report discussed the existing monitoring network at Fort Greely and the parameters evaluated in ground-water sampling events. ADEC recommended additional investigation into infiltration and vertical hydraulic gradients. ADEC also recommended additional monitoring wells in the Old Post area and more ground-water monitoring at certain specific sites. Emily Youcha
5/25/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff conducted a site visit of Fort Greely. Summer fieldwork is underway and includes soil gas surveys, drilling and sampling several deep boreholes, and installation of at least two new monitoring wells. Staff also attended a RAB meeting where the general public recieved an update on site work for this and upcoming seasons. Emily Youcha
9/30/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff particpiated in a Restoration Advisory Board Meeting for Fort Greely on September 28. Emily Youcha
12/5/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held Ft. Greely interagency meeting held in Anchorage. The SMDC remedial project manager summarized the 2006 field activities, stating that no contamination was located at this site. However, DEC has not yet received the report documenting this site investigation. Colin Craven
12/6/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held RAB meeting held in Delta Junction. Topics covered are discussed above in the database action for Dec. 5, 2006. Colin Craven
5/22/2007 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff attended Interagency Coordination Meeting in Fairbanks. A summary of the past years and future remedial efforts was provided. Zachary Richter
5/23/2007 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC Staff attended a RAB meeting held in Delta Junction. The past years work at Fort Greely was summerized and future work projects were presented. Work at the North and South Tank Farms was highlighted. Zachary Richter
5/23/2007 Update or Other Action The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) received the Groundwater Monitoring and Data Analysis Work Plan Fort Greely, Alaska on April 27, 2007. This work plan abides by the 2005 Final Work Plan with modifications to the wells and analytical parameters to be monitored particularly the addition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon analysis at monitoring wells MW-12, MW-13, and MW-14. Additionally, the pump type used in sampling the monitoring wells will be changed by replacing the Grundfos Ready Flow pump with a QED Sample Pro 1.75 inch bladder pump and QED MP10 controller, or equivalent. All other sampling methodology will remain the same as the 2005 Final Plan. The final modification to the 2007 Work Plan is the addition of Volatile Organic Analysis/1,2-dibromoethane monitoring at drinking water wells ECP2 and ISFAC at the missile field. An updated list of wells to be monitored, and the parameter for analysis from each well, for upcoming sampling events has been provided to replace Table 5 of the 2005 Final Work Plan. ADEC has completed its review of this document and has found that the Groundwater Monitoring and Data Analysis Work Plan Fort Greely, Alaska for 2007 adequately meets the requirements set forth in 18AAC75.355, and with the addition of the previously agreed upon amendment, this work plan is approved. Zachary Richter
7/2/2007 Update or Other Action The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) has completed its assessment of the environmental laboratory data and quality assurance requirements as set forth in ADEC Technical Memorandum 06-002 for the Groundwater Monitoring 2006 Analytical Data Report Fort Greely, Alaska, February 2007. The report adequately addresses the requirements set forth by ADEC for both laboratory data packages and Quality Assurance (QA) Summaries, therefore the report is approved. Zachary Richter
12/28/2007 Update or Other Action ADEC provided comments on the 2006 Remedial Investigation. According to the report, two soil borings were completed to a depth of 50 feet. Both soil borings encountered undisturbed soils with no debris. Confirmation samples from the soil borings were non-detect for GRO, DRO, RRO, VOCs, and PAHs. The consultant concluded that the location of the asphalt debris area was incorrect. They recommend further investigation to determine the location, and once identified, the installation of addtional wells. Deborah Williams
1/3/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Deborah Williams
11/5/2008 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC staff participated in the Restoration Advisory Board meeting for Fort Greely in Delta Junction. During the meeting, Glen Shonkwiler with the United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command presented the fieldwork that was completed during the 2008 field season at Fort Greely. The 2008 fieldwork included remediating the soil in the biocell at the South Tank Farm (STF); conducting further delineation of the subsurface soils at the STF; installing four groundwater monitoring wells in the Old Post area and downgradient of the STF; completing the investigation at the MOGAS fuel line in the Old Post area; conducting additional survey of the Jarvis Creek Munitions Burial site; and conducting additional investigation of the Building 675 vault. He also presented the work that was planned to be completed during 2009. Deborah Williams
10/21/2009 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC staff reviewed the document titled Draft 2008 Groundwater Monitoring and Data Analysis Report, Fort Greely, Alaska, dated March 2009. The Fort Greely groundwater monitoring program consists of monitoring wells that were installed during investigation activities on FGA from 1997 to the present. DEC approved a comprehensive groundwater monitoring approach in the 2005 Work Plan. Yearly modifications to the 2005 workplan are incorporated as needed to address environmental program objectives. Monitoring well locations and sampling frequency have been chosen to provide site specific monitoring where necessary, and comprehensive coverage for the old post and main cantonment areas of Fort Greely. Currently, a total of 30 wells are included in the groundwater monitoring program: 11 of these are sampled during the spring and fall on even numbered years, two drinking water wells are sampled quarterly, and 17 monitoring wells are sampled semi–annually. This report summarizes the 2008 groundwater monitoring efforts. A letter detailing staff comments has been provided to the Army. Tana Robert
9/4/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved the final groundwater sampling work plan for Ft. Greely. As part of the multi-year, post-wide groundwater monitoring program, groundwater samples will be collected from 35 wells. Melody Debenham
4/29/2015 Meeting or Teleconference Held Attended Restoration Advisory Board Meeting. Proposed work in 2015 includes post-wide groundwater monitoring, decommissioning unused monitoring wells, developing a Land Use Control and Long Term Maintenance Plan, and completing propose plans/no further action documents for 51 sites. Melody Debenham
9/2/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved the Final 2014 Groundwater Monitoring and Data Analysis Report documenting the 2014 post-wide groundwater monitoring activities at Fort Greely. Analytical results from four monitoring wells at the BRAC 94 site were above cleanup levels for diesel range organics, gasoline range organics, and/or benzene. Results from one monitoring well at the South Tank Farm site were above the cleanup level for ethylene dibromide. All other results were either non-detect or below the cleanup level, including all supply well results. Melody Debenham
9/2/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved the Final 2015 Groundwater Monitoring and Data Analysis Work Plan Addendum for long-term post-wide groundwater monitoring at Fort Greely. Groundwater samples will be collected from 25 monitoring wells and 5 supply wells. Melody Debenham
6/2/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved addendum to 2015 groundwater monitoring work plan. Groundwater samples from this site will be analyzed for GRO, DRO, and BTEX. Melody Debenham
9/20/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved final 2015 groundwater monitoring report. Melody Debenham
4/25/2018 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC (Brunner) attended the Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting for Fort Greely in Delta Junction on 29 May 2018. Sites discussed at the RAB included the Asphalt and Tar Disposal Area, Building 163, the Fenced Salvage Yard, and the South Tank Farm. Melinda Brunner
4/25/2018 Site Visit DEC performed a site visit, accompanied by G. Shonkwiler of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. Melinda Brunner
4/24/2019 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC staff attended the Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting held on April 24, 2019. Sites discussed were Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Sites 85 North, 85 South, 133 (all three sites former firefighter training areas), 94 (former fuel facility), South Tank Farm, Tar and Asphalt Disposal Area (TAADA) and the Former Scrapyard (~5 acre former fenced salvage area with military munitions debris). The Army presented their status on the Preliminary Assessment (PA) investigation for Per- and Polyfluorinated alkyl Substances on Fort Greely. The next RAB is planned for April 22, 2020. Erica Blake
4/25/2019 Site Visit DEC conducted a site visit on Fort Greely. Army Environmental Command staff and Fort Greely Directorate of Public Works (DPW) Environmental staff accompanied DEC staff on a tour of Fort Greely. The main areas visited were; Tar and Asphalt Disposal Area (TAADA), Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Sites 85N, 85S, 133, 94 and the former South Tank Farm. During the visit, the integrity of the monitoring wells in the areas visited, were inspected. Erica Blake
10/30/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the Groundwater Sampling and Environmental Support Services Fort Greely, Alaska Final Work Plan (dated October 30, 2019). The purpose of this groundwater monitoring work plan is to guide groundwater sampling activities at selected locations with known or suspected contaminant releases present on Fort Greely, Alaska (FGA). Areas on FGA to be investigated under this work plan are; Robin Road Fuel Spill [Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Site 30], Evergreen Road Pipeline Fuel Spill Area (BRAC Site 73), Former Landfills 4 and 5 (BRAC Site 88), BRAC Site 94, BRAC Sites 85N/85S and 133, Tar and Asphalt Disposal Area (TAADA), BRAC Site 92 and 134, Petroleum, oil and lubricant (POL) facility, and South Tank Farm. In addition to collecting groundwater samples and water level measurements, this work plan discusses installation activities for five monitoring wells. The location of these five wells will be provided to DEC in a work plan addendum prior to the spring/summer 2020 work. This work plan describes activities to be conducted fall 2019, and spring/summer 2020. Erica Blake
11/25/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the Groundwater Sampling and Environmental Support Services Fort Greely, Alaska Final Groundwater Monitoring Report 2019, Fort Greely, Alaska (November 24, 2020). The document describes 2019 groundwater sampling activities conducted on nine Fort Greely sites. Twenty-three monitoring and potable water supply wells were sampled. Long-term monitoring is expected to continue at these nine sites on Fort Greely, Alaska. Erica Blake
12/16/2020 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC had a teleconference with the Fort Greely Directorate of Public Works (DPW) environmental staff, the U.S. Corp of Engineers, and contractors assisting with the restoration projects to discuss the status of various site cleanup work (specifically discussing sites associated with the Fort Greely Groundwater Monitoring Program). Erica Blake
4/28/2021 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC staff attended the 2021 Fort Greely Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting in Delta Junction, Alaska at the Delta Junction City Hall. Updates on fieldwork conducted during 2019 and 2020 were presented to community members, RAB members and Fort Greely staff in attendance. Erica Blake
6/8/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided review comments for the "Groundwater Sampling and Environmental Support Services, Fort Greely, Alaska, Draft Groundwater Monitoring Report 2020, Fort Greely, Alaska" (dated April 19, 2021) to the U.S. Army. The document discusses results from the 2020 groundwater sampling and includes updated UFP-QAPP pages for the upcoming 2021 field season. Erica Blake
7/19/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided responses to comments for the Groundwater Sampling and Environmental Support Services, Fort Greely, Alaska, Draft Groundwater Monitoring Report 2020, Fort Greely, Alaska (dated April 19, 2021) to the U.S. Army. Sites discussed in the document for a recommended No Further Action, ADEC will review site information for closure separately. A redline version of the document was requested for conducting a comment backcheck. Erica Blake
7/30/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided approval for the "Groundwater Sampling and Environmental Support Services, Fort Greely, Alaska, Final Groundwater Monitoring Report 2020, Fort Greely, Alaska" (dated July 29, 2021) to the U.S. Army. The document includes results from groundwater monitoring activities conducted in 2020, and includes work plan pages describing proposed sampling activities for the upcoming 2021 field season. Erica Blake
9/14/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC has provided approval for the "Groundwater Sampling and Environmental Support Services Fort Greely, Alaska Final Work Plan 2021, Fort Greely, Alaska" (dated September 13, 2021) to the U.S. Army. The document includes the final Section 7 Waste Handling (approved April 27, 2021), final updated work plan and UFP-QAPP pages (approved July 30, 2021), and the final Appendix E land use control implementation plan (approved September 14, 2021). All the finalized sections have been compiled in this final work plan describing groundwater monitoring activities and a land use control implementation plan for various sites around Fort Greely. Erica Blake
7/27/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided review comments for the Groundwater Sampling and Environmental Support Services Fort Greely, Alaska, Draft Groundwater Monitoring Report 2021, Fort Greely, Alaska (dated June 6, 2022). The document described results from land use control (LUC) inspections, well decommissioning, repair and redevelopment and groundwater sampling activities conducted during the 2021 field season. The document also included updated work plan addendum pages for upcoming 2022 fieldwork. Erica Blake
9/9/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided responses to comments for the Groundwater Sampling and Environmental Support Services Fort Greely, Alaska, Draft Groundwater Monitoring Report 2021, Fort Greely, Alaska (dated June 6, 2022) to the U.S. Army. The document described results from land use control (LUC) inspections, well decommissioning, repair and redevelopment and groundwater sampling activities conducted during the 2021 field season. The document also included updated work plan addendum pages for upcoming 2022 fieldwork. Responses to the review comments were received September 7, 2022. All responses were accepted except for one comment regarding decommissioning a monitoring well at the Tar and Asphalt Disposal Area. A draft-final redline version of the final document was requested for review and comment backcheck prior to ADEC providing any approvals on a final version of the document. Erica Blake
9/20/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided approval for the "Groundwater Sampling and Environmental Support Services Fort Greely, Alaska, Final Groundwater Monitoring Report 2021, Fort Greely, Alaska" (dated September 16, 2022) to the U.S. Army. Appended to the document were updated work plan pages for the upcoming 2022 field season, and the 2021 land use controls report. ADEC will work with the Army to obtain copies of background studies referenced in the 2021 Groundwater Sampling Report and verify the site boundaries for Landfill #7. With this document approval, the 2022 field work is expected to start September 26, 2022. Erica Blake

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

There are no documents for this site report.

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