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Site Report: Galena AFS/Airport - SS014 Birchwood Hangar

Site Name: Galena AFS/Airport - SS014 Birchwood Hangar
Address: On the Runway West End, Galena, AK 99741
File Number: 860.38.029
Hazard ID: 3965
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.738536
Longitude: -156.953440
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

Site SS014 (Building 1551) is the site of the former Birchwood Hangar. In historical documents, the site was also referred to as Area of Concern (AOC) 1 or ST014. Birchwood Hangar was built in 1940 and for the next forty years it was the site of an aircraft maintenance facility, base operations, a control tower, communications, civil engineers, air ground equipment, a library, security police, and administration. The building was demolished in 2001 and the concrete slab foundation was left in place. The 2011 and 2013 Site Characterization (SC) and Supplemental SC, along with the 2011 interim removal action identified four source areas within Site SS014: 1) SS021_GP006 soil source area; 2) SS014_GP028 soil source area; 3) ST014_SO1 soil source area; and 4) Chlorinated VOC soil source area. Contaminants of concern at the site include chromium, cis-1,2-Dichloroethene, DRO, GRO, lead, Naphthalene, PCBs, tetrachloroethylene (PCE), 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, trichloroethene (TCE), and 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
8/9/2004 Site Added to Database Potential contamination at this site was determined to not be significant. Deborah Williams
10/2/2009 Update or Other Action Recieved Draft Appendix A, Site Investigations ST014 Birchwood Hangar – Former Building 1551 Former Galena Forward Operating Base, Alaska Fred Vreeman
3/19/2010 Update or Other Action Final Environmental Baseline Survey Air Force Property at Galena Airport, February 2010 received. Fred Vreeman
7/7/2010 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Galena Workplan for site inspection, remedial investigation, and site characterization approved. Fred Vreeman
6/10/2011 Update or Other Action DEC approves proposed sampling procedures and Locations for SS014/SS017/SS021. Fred Vreeman
7/19/2011 Meeting or Teleconference Held Site contamination and interim removal action discussed during TRIAD teleconference. Fred Vreeman
7/26/2011 Interim Removal Action Approved Interim Removal Action workplan approved. Fred Vreeman
8/24/2011 Update or Other Action Draft Final 2011 Field Sampling Plan received. Fred Vreeman
10/11/2011 Meeting or Teleconference Held TRIAD teleconference held. Groundwater data from a newly installed 3 well cluster at the southern boundary of SS014 discussed. Dennis Shepard
12/27/2011 Update or Other Action Draft Final 2011 Field Sampling Plan for SS014/SS017/SS021 Approved. Dennis Shepard
5/16/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC received a Draft Interim Removal Action Excavation Report for Sites SS005, AST1569, SS014, and SS017. Dennis Shepard
5/18/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC received a Draft Site Characterization Report for Sites SS014/SS017/SS021. Dennis Shepard
9/6/2013 Meeting or Teleconference Held A teleconference was held to discuss final resolution of comments for the SS014/SS017/SS021 Site Characterization Report. Dennis Shepard
10/25/2013 Site Characterization Report Approved Site Characterization Results Report for SS014/SS017/SS021 Approved. Dennis Shepard
9/5/2014 Site Characterization Report Approved Supplemental Site Characterization Results Report for SS014/SS017/SS021 approved. Monte Garroutte
10/26/2016 Meeting or Teleconference Held A restoration Advisory board meeting was held in Galena Alaska to discuss the general and specific status of site investigations and cleanup at Galena. Dennis Shepard
11/2/2016 Cleanup Plan Approved DEC approved the Cleanup Plan for Site SS014, Birchwood Hanger and Site SS017, Truck Fill Stands, Former Galena Forward Operating Location, Alaska (October 2016). The plan included interim removal actions from which approximately 12,350 CY total - 3,950 CY and 8,400 CY of petroleum contaminated soil were excavated from SS014 and SS017, respectively. Bioventing for contaminants in unsaturated soil, including the vadose zone and in the variably saturated zone, and Sulfate-enhanced bioremediation for contaminants in saturated soil and groundwater. Air sparging/biosparging is also retained as an alternative to sulfate-enhanced bioremediation. Dennis Shepard
8/8/2018 Site Visit DEC conducted a site visit at the Former Forward Operating Location in Galena, AK on August 8-9, 2018. A photo log is available in DEC's electronic file. Jamie McKellar
10/29/2018 Site Visit On October 23, 2018, DEC participated in the Technical Project Team (TPT) meeting with representatives from USAF and ADOT&PF. A site visit with inspections of each site was conducted the following day (10/24/2018) in Galena, as well as a regional advisory board (RAB) meeting with members of the community and other interested parties. Jamie McKellar
1/2/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVAL: 2017 Performance Monitoring Report for Sites CPL006, CSS002, OW024, SS014/SS017, SS016, SS022, SS025, ST009, and ST010. Parsons, December 2018. The report presents and evaluates performance monitoring data for sites managed by Parsons with an approved Cleanup Plan or Record of Decision (ROD), and an active remedy installed and operating for fiscal year 2017. Jamie McKellar
4/5/2019 Site Visit On April 2, 2019, DEC staff participated in a Technical Project Team meeting with representatives from USAF, Parsons, CH2M, and ADOT. The TPT meeting was held at the Fairbanks DEC office. On April 3-4, 2019, DEC staff traveled to Galena to participate in meetings with the City Mayor & RAB chair to discuss community concerns about site cleanup; a Proposed Plan meeting for Site DP023, and a community regional advisory board (RAB) meeting to discuss fieldwork completed during the 2018 field season and upcoming 2019 fieldwork. Site visits were also conducted. Jamie McKellar
10/23/2019 Meeting or Teleconference Held On October 22, 2019, DEC participated in the Technical Project Team (TPT) meeting with representatives from USAF and ADOT&PF. A site visit was conducted the following day (10/23/2019) in Galena, as well as a regional advisory board (RAB) meeting with members of the community and other interested parties. Jamie McKellar
10/30/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVAL: Final 2018 Performance Monitoring Report for Sites CPL006, CSS002, OW024, SS006/SS019, SS014/SS017, SS015, SS016, SS018, SS022, SS025, ST009, ST010, and FT001, Former Galena Forward Operating Location, Alaska (Parsons, October 2019) Jamie McKellar
6/24/2020 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 74940 name: SS014/Building 1551 Jamie McKellar
7/2/2020 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued On 7/2/2020, a Cleanup Complete Determination was issued for Site SS014 (former Building 1551), consisting of the following source areas: 1) SS021_GP006 Source AreaSS021_GP006 Source Area, 2) SS014_GP028 Source Area, 3) Chlorinated VOC Source Area, and 4) ST014_SO1 Source Area. The SS014 UST 1551-1, tracked under File No. 860.26.002 and Hazard ID 22908 will be addressed under Site SS017, tracked under File No. 860.38.066 and Hazard ID 26312. Jamie McKellar
6/27/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved multiple data quality assessment reports for soil, soil vapor, groundwater, and sediment. Reports were submitted by Parsons and CH2M/Jacobs. Approval letter is dated 6/27/2024. Jamie McKellar

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil DRO was present at the SS021_GP006 Source Area, the SS014_GP028 Source Area the ST014_SO1 Source Area. All residual DRO concentrations are less than the Table B2 Maximum Allowable Concentration of 10, 250 mg/kg.
Trichloroethene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil Residual TCE concentrations at the SS021_GP006 Source Area and Chlorinated VOC Soil Source Area do not exceed the approved TCE ACL or the Table B1 Human Health Cleanup Level.
GRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil Residual GRO at the SS014_GP028 Source Area is below the Table B1 Migration to Groundwater cleanup level.
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil Residual 1,2,4-TMB at the SS014_GP028 Source Area is below the Table B1 Human Health cleanup level.
Naphthalene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil Residual naphthalene at the SS014_GP028 Source Area is below the Table B1 Human Health cleanup level
PCBs - Total Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil Residual PCBs at the SS014_GP028 Source Area are below the Table B1 Human Health cleanup level
Chromium +6 < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil Residual chromium at the SS014_GP028 Source Area is below the Table B1 migration to groundwater cleanup level.
Lead - Total Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil Residual lead at the SS014_GP028 Source Area is below the Table B1 Human Health cleanup level.
1,1,2-Trichloroethane Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil Residual 1,1,2-Trichloroethane is below the approved ACL for migration to groundwater and the Table B1 Human Health cleanup level.
1,2-Dichloroethane Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
Tetrachloroethene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil

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)
Hazard ID Site Name File Number
27830 Galena AFS BRAC Landfarm 860.38.076

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

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