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Site Report: ARRC Fairbanks Yard

Site Name: ARRC Fairbanks Yard
Address: Jack Lindsey Lane and Phillips Field Road, ARRC Industrial Area, Fairbanks, AK 99701
File Number: 102.38.050
Hazard ID: 327
Status: Active
Staff: Michael Hooper, 9074515174 michael.hooper@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.848651
Longitude: -147.752247
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

Two above ground storage tanks (ASTs) operated from 1949-1986 to provide diesel fuel for locomotives and heavy equipment. A 7 foot test pit was excavated between the ASTs in 1986. Petroleum contamination was noted. The ARRC found 4 feet of diesel product on the water table at the retired tank farm site in 1988. Quantity of release, date of release, and extent of contamination is unknown. In October and November 2003 the two ASTs and associated piping were removed. The former file number for this file was 102.26.002. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ID #AKD980983183.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
9/25/1984 Preliminary Assessment Approved TetraTech assigned medium priority to site. Former Staff
6/23/1988 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). ARR contracted Woodward-Clyde to determine nature and extent of soil and groundwater contamination. Soil gas survey was performed. Up to 4 feet of floating diesel product was found. Former Staff
8/29/1988 Update or Other Action Fairbanks Fuel Facility dated July 29, 1988, submitted by Woodware-Clyde Consultants, and received by ADEC on this date. A soil gas survey was conducted to determine if soil/ groundwater was contaminated. 17 soil gas probes and 5 probes into the groundwater were installed. Depth of water was found to be 20 feet bgs. Sample 15 indicated 4 feet of product thickness. Significant contaminated soil and water found throughout the site. Groundwater appears to be affected by the Chena River, thus producing a large horizontal and vertical smear zone, which is approximately 400 feet long and 24 feet wide. It is recommended that product recovery measures are taken for future remediation. Grant Lidren
3/19/1990 Site Number Identifier Changed Old Reckey 1987350128901. Also includes old Reckey 1987350127411. Former Staff
11/28/1990 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Former Staff
2/23/1993 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RPL2 - Site Information Request Letter). Sent PRP-CS Database Notification Letter to RP requesting update and more environmental information concerning contaminated site. No response from RP as of this "complete date". Jeff Peterson
1/25/1994 Site Added to Database Diesel. Former Staff
10/24/2001 GIS Position Updated Changed the file number from 102.02.007 to 102.38.050, per Heather Goldman's research. Heather Goldman
7/10/2002 GIS Position Updated Changed the Latitude, Longitude, Method Accuracy, Accuracy and Unit fields. Heather Goldman
10/14/2005 Update or Other Action Site transferred to the Anchorage office. File review. Free product was discovered in one of the wells prior to the ASTs and sand tower being removed. ARRC contact is sending the sampling report. Sarah Cunningham
10/31/2005 Update or Other Action Reviewed Soil and Groundwater Assessment Report performed by Hart Crowser following removal of ASTs and Sand Tower. Soil samples indicate DRO contamination up to 5,500 mg/kg. Groundwater samples indicate DRO contamination up to 5.3mg/L present in monitoring well up gradient of alleged source. Down gradient wells contain free product up to 0.14 feet. Sarah Cunningham
10/31/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with ARRC representative to discuss results of the Soil and Groundwater Assessment. Hart Crowser will be performing more monitoring to more fully characterize the nature and extent of contaminination and to investigate the possibility of off-site sources. Sarah Cunningham
1/11/2006 Site Characterization Report Approved Recieved Fairbanks Rail Yard Soil and Groundwater Assessment Report. December, 2005. Report states two new GW monitoring wells installed, three soil borings advanced. New wells are MW-5 and MW-6. Soil samples were collected from the borings for these wells and from boring B-1. DRO was detected at 4,490 mg/kg at 15-17 feet bgs at the GW interface in boring MW-6, and at 4,510 mg/kg at the same interval in boring B-1. Free-phase product was observed in wells WC-3, MW-1, and MW-2 and in the purge water from MW-6. Groundwater samples were collected from MW-3, MW-4, and MW-5 and analyzed for DRO, GRO, RRO, and BTEX. DRO was above Table C in each of the three wells sampled ranging from 2.71 mg/l in MW-3 to 6.07 mg/l in MW-4. Report recommends GW sampling in Spring 2006. Bill O'Connell
3/23/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Bill O'Connell
1/25/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On this date, ADEC received the Groundwater Sampling Report Fairbanks Rail Yard, submitted by Clarus, dated January 2010. Groundwater was measured approximately 15 ft. bgs and found to flow west. Free-phase product was measured to 0.04 foot in MW-2 and 0.02 foot in WC-3, therefore these MWs were not sampled. Four of the five MWs sampled; MW-1, MW-4, MW-5, and to MW-6; which were analyzed for BTEX, GRO, DRO, and RRO; contained DRO concentrations above ADEC cleanup levels with the highest concentration in MW-1 with 154 mg/L DRO. Two of the five MWs sampled, MW-1 and MW-6, contained RRO concentrations above ADEC cleanup levels, with 11.8 mg/L and 1.51 mg/L respectfully, as well as a hydrocarbon sheen. MW-6 also contained benzene up to 0.00635 mg/L. MW-3 was the only MW sampled, which did contain concentrations above ADEC cleanup levels. Grant Lidren
12/9/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On this date, ADEC received the Groundwater Sampling Report Fairbanks Rail Yard, submitted by Clarus, dated October 2010 (Note: ADEC did not receive a work plan for this field effort). MW-3 and MW-6 were repaired prior to sampling. Groundwater was measured approximately 15 ft. bgs and found to flow southwest. Free-phase product was measured to 0.04 foot in MW-1 and 0.06 foot in WC-3, therefore these MWs were not sampled. The location of MW-5 could not be confirmed. Three of the four MWs sampled; MW-2, MW-4, and MW-6; which were analyzed for BTEX, GRO, DRO, and RRO; contained contaminants above ADEC cleanup levels. MW-2 was most contaminated with DRO up to 187 mg/L, RRO up to 6.81 mg/L and benzene up to 0.0088 mg/L. Grant Lidren
8/17/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On this date, ADEC received The Work Plan for Groundwater Sampling Fairbanks Rail Yard submitted by RSE. A historic MW located down gradient of MW-6 formerly known as MW-2 will be replaced and relabeled MW 7. The seven onsite groundwater wells will be sampled. One groundwater sample will be collected from each MW plus one duplicate. Grant Lidren
1/18/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On this date, ADEC received the Site Characterization Report December 2011 submitted by RSE dated December 2011. The historic MW located down gradient of MW-6 formerly known as WC-2 was replaced and relabeled MW 7. Groundwater samples collected from four MWs contained: benzene at 0.00527 mg/L and DRO at 99.5 mg/L in MW-1; DRO at 3.37 mg/L in MW-4; DRO at 118 mg/L in MW-6; and DRO at 19.6 mg/L in MW-7. The other four onsite MWs were not sampled, because MW-2 and WC-3 contained free product and MW-3 and MW-5 could not be located. The groundwater gradient is fairly flat, but trends in a south direction toward Chena River. Grant Lidren
9/12/2012 Site Characterization Workplan Approved On this date, ADEC received The Work Plan for Groundwater Sampling Fairbanks Rail Yard submitted by FES. Two soil borings will be advanced and completed as MWs downgradient. Two soil samples will be collected per bore hole; one at the GW interface and one at highest PID reading. The new monitoring wells, MW-8 and MW-9, will be sampled as well as the historic MWs(MW-1,MW-2,WC-3, MW-4, MW-5, MW-6, and MW-7). It is anticipated that free product will be encountered in WC-3 and MW-2 Grant Lidren
11/28/2012 Site Characterization Report Approved On this date, ADEC received the Groundwater Monitoring Report Fairbanks Rail Yard submitted by FES. Two soil borings were advanced into the saturated zone at 20 feet deep and completed as MWs 8 and 9 downgradient of the site. At least two soil samples collected per bore hole, one at the GW interface 12 to 15 feet bgs and one at the surface 1 to 2 feet bgs, were below ADEC method two migration to groundwater cleanup levels. The new monitoring wells, MW-8 and MW-9, were sampled as well as the historic MWs: MW-1, MW-2, MW-4, MW-5, MW-6, and MW-7. The historic monitoring well WC-3 was not sampled due to 0.01 feet of free product. Groundwater samples from MW-8 and MW-9 were below table C Ground Water Cleanup Levels. Ground water samples collected from MW-1, MW-2, MW-4, MW-5, MW-6, and MW-7 contained petroleum constituents above Table C Groundwater Cleanup Levels. The highest DRO and RRO water samples were collected from MW-1 with 69.5 mg/L DRO and 4.38 mg/L RRO. The highest benzene water sample of 0.0187 was collected from MW-2. Sheen was noted in MW-1 and MW-4. Petroleum odor was noted in MW-1, MW-2, MW-4, MW-5, MW-6, and MW-7. . Depth of GW at the site varied from 13.2 feet bgs to 15.4 feet bgs. The groundwater gradient was fairly flat but flowed to the southwest. Grant Lidren
5/13/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On this date, ADEC received the 2013 Groundwater Monitoring Work Plan Fairbanks Rail Yard submitted by FES dated May 9, 2013. The eight onsite monitoring wells will be analyzed for GRO, DRO, RRO, and BTEX. Grant Lidren
8/29/2013 Site Characterization Report Approved On this date, ADEC received the 2013 Groundwater Monitoring Work Plan Fairbanks Rail Yard submitted by FES dated May 9, 2013. The eight onsite monitoring wells were analyzed for GRO, DRO, RRO, and BTEX. Laboratory results from all wells except the two furthest downgradient wells (MW-8 and MW-9) exceeded the ADEC Table C cleanup level for DRO. In addition, wells MW-2 and MW-7 exceeded the ADEC cleanup level for RRO and wells MW-2 and MW-6 exceeded the ADEC cleanup level for benzene. MW-2 contained the highest level of contaminants with DRO at 19.9 mg/L, RRO at 2.11 mg/L, and benzene at 0.0239 mg/L. A product thickness of 0.01 feet was measured in WC-3, and MW-1 was found damaged; neither well was sampled. A petroleum odor was noted in all the MWs except MW-8 and MW-9. Petroleum sheen was noted in MW-2, MW-4, and MW-6. Groundwater 13.5 ft. bgs to 15.7 ft. bgs was fairly flat flowing to the southwest. Grant Lidren
6/5/2014 Site Characterization Workplan Approved On this date, ADEC approved the 2014 Groundwater Monitoring Work Plans submitted by FES and dated June 3, 2014. Monitoring wells MW-2, MW-4, MW-5, MW-6, MW-7, MW-8, and MW-9 will be sampled and analyzed for GRO, DRO, RRO, and BTEX. Grant Lidren
8/14/2014 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter ADEC sent PRP letter to ARRC on this date Grant Lidren
1/15/2015 Site Characterization Report Approved On this date, ADEC received the 2014 Groundwater Monitoring Report (Rev 1) Fairbanks Rail Yard submitted by FES dated January 14, 2015. The six monitoring wells MW-4, MW-5, MW-6, MW-7, MW-8, and MW-9 were analyzed for GRO, DRO, RRO, and BTEX. Laboratory results from all wells except MW-5 and the two furthest downgradient wells (MW-8 and MW-9) exceeded the ADEC Table C cleanup level for DRO. In addition, well MW-6 exceeded the ADEC cleanup level for RRO. MW-6 contained the highest level of contaminants with DRO at 6.94 mg/L and RRO at 1.41 mg/L. A product thickness of 0.01 feet was measured in WC-3 and 0.33 feet in MW-2; neither well was sampled. A petroleum odor was noted in all the MWs except MW-5, MW-8 and MW-9. Petroleum sheen was noted in MW-2, MW-4, MW-6, and WC-3. Groundwater was 3 feet higher in August 2014 than previous sampling events in September 2012, and June 2013.Groundwater 10.45 ft. bgs to 12.77 ft. bgs was fairly flat flowing to the west. Grant Lidren
5/18/2015 Site Characterization Workplan Approved On this date, ADEC approved the 2015 Groundwater Monitoring Work Plan submitted by FES and dated May 5, 2015. Monitoring wells MW-2, MW-4, MW-5, MW-6, MW-7, MW-8, MW-9, and WC-3 will be sampled and analyzed for GRO, DRO, RRO, and BTEX. Grant Lidren
2/4/2016 Site Characterization Report Approved On this date ADEC received the 2015 Groundwater Monitoring Report Fairbanks Rail Yard submitted by FES dated September 29, 2015. Monitoring wells MW-2, MW-4, MW-5, MW-6, MW-7, MW-8, MW-9, and WC-3 were sampled and analyzed for GRO, DRO, RRO, and BTEX. Laboratory results from all wells except the two furthest downgradient wells (MW-8 and MW-9) contained contaminant concentrations above ADEC cleanup levels. DRO was detected up to 16.4 mg/L (WC-3), RRO up to 2.19 mg/L (MW-7), and benzene up to 0.0263 mg/L (MW-2). A petroleum sheen was noted in MW-2, MW-5, and MW-6. Free phase product was noted in WC-3. Petroleum odor was noted in MW-2, MW-5, MW-6, MW-7, and MW-9. Groundwater was 0.5 lower in September 2015 than the previous sampling event in August 2014. Groundwater flow was fairly flat to the west/northwest. Historically the groundwater flow has been to the southwest and the water table has been much lower. Grant Lidren
10/3/2017 Site Characterization Workplan Approved On this date, ADEC approved the Fairbanks Rail Yard Groundwater Monitoring Work Plan submitted by Shannon & Wilson dated October 2017. Grant Lidren
12/5/2017 Site Characterization Report Approved On this date, ADEC received the October 2017 Groundwater Monitoring Summary Report Fairbanks, Alaska submitted by S&W and dated December 2017. Monitoring wells MW-2, MW-4, MW-5, MW-6, MW-7, MW-8, MW-9, and WC-3 were sampled and analyzed for GRO, DRO, RRO, and BTEX. Additionally, MW-2 was sampled for VOCs by 8260 and PAH by 8270. (note: MW-1 was found in good sampling condition). Laboratory results from all wells except the two furthest downgradient wells (MW-8 and MW-9) contained contaminant concentrations above ADEC cleanup levels. Monitoring well MW-2 contained the highest concentrations (with one exception) with DRO up to 16.5 mg/L, RRO up to 2.83 mg/L (MW-7), benzene up to 13.8 ug/L, 1-methylnapthalene up to 45.3 ug/L, 2-methylanpthalene up to 50.3 ug/L, and naphthalene up to 51.7 ug/L. A petroleum sheen was noted on the purge water from MW-2, MW-4, and MW-6. A strong hydrocarbon odor was noted in WC-3. A groundwater survey conducted indicate the groundwater flows to the southwest which is consistent with historical results. Grant Lidren
10/15/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC received the Fairbanks Rail Yard Groundwater Monitoring work plan submitted by S&W and dated September 2018. Grant Lidren
12/19/2018 Site Characterization Report Approved On this date, ADEC received the Environmental Report Fairbanks Rail Yard submitted by S&W and dated December 2018. Monitoring wells MW-4, MW-5, MW-6, MW-7, MW-8, and MW-9 were sampled and analyzed for GRO, DRO, RRO, PAHs, and BTEX. MW-1 , MW-2, and WC-3 were not sampled due to free product. Laboratory results from all wells sampled except the two furthest downgradient wells (MW-8 and MW-9) contained contaminant concentrations above ADEC cleanup levels with DRO up to 12.0 mg/L (MW-7), RRO up to 1.34 mg/L (MW-7), ethylbenzene up to 38.2 ug/L (MW-6), 1-methylnapthalene up to 60.0 ug/L (MW-4), 2-methylanpthalene up to 65.1 ug/L (MW-4), and naphthalene up to 64.9 ug/L (MW-4). A petroleum sheen and odor were noted on the purge water from MW-4 and MW-6. A groundwater survey conducted indicate the groundwater flows to the southwest which is consistent with historical results. Grant Lidren
9/28/2020 Site Characterization Workplan Approved ADEC received the Fairbanks Rail Yard Groundwater Monitoring work plan submitted by S&W and dated September 2020. Grant Lidren
1/26/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC has reviewed a groundwater monitoring report received on this day. The report indicates that 9 monitoring wells (MWs) inspected for free product and groundwater elevations were measured. MW-1, MW-3, and WC-3 contained free product so 6 wells were sampled (plus one duplicate) to include MW-4 through MW-9. Samples analyzed for GRO, DRO, RRO, BTEX, and PAHs. MW-8 and MW-9 had no observed exceedances of ADEC Approved Groundwater Cleanup Levels (GCLs). All other wells contained one or more of the following COCs which exceed GCLs: DRO, RRO, Benzene, 1-Methylnaphthalene, 2-Methylnaphthalene, and Naphthalene. A Mann-Kendall Trend analysis using new and historic analytical results was conducted to determine if data indicates an increasing, stable, or decreasing concentration of COCs. Increasing trends in GRO, DRO, RRO, benzene, and ethylbenzene at multiple monitoring wells downgradient from the former storage tanks suggests that contamination may be migrating in a downgradient direction. Jamie Grant

Contaminant Information

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