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Site Report: USPS Cantwell Post Office

Site Name: USPS Cantwell Post Office
Address: Mile 210 George Parks Hwy, 0.1 Mi. N. of Denali Hwy., Cantwell, AK 99729
File Number: 150.38.033
Hazard ID: 4029
Status: Active
Staff: Sophia Bracio, 9074511682 sophia.bracio@alaska.gov
Latitude: 63.391885
Longitude: -148.901105
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

Significant diesel contamination was identified during the removal of a short run of fuel line that was between two structures at the Cantwell Post Office. The fuel line provided fuel to the diesel generator from an aboveground fuel storage tank that also supplied heating oil to the main Post Office's furnace. The water table was encountered at approximately 9.5 feet bgs. Excavation of the water well casing, under the generator shed, showed contamination all the way from the ground surface to the water table. Approximately 50 cubic yards of contaminated were removed from several areas between the southwest corner of the building and the generator shed. Excavation was terminated in both directions along the pipe's course due to structural concerns for each of the buildings. An estimated 150 cubic yards of contaminated soil remains in place above the groundwater, but this material is located near remaining piping or beneath the existing structures.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
8/28/2003 Update or Other Action Hazardous and Regulated Substance Release Notification; Greater than 10 gallons, less than 50 gallons. Cause: removing fuel pipe, equipment failure (CS Database update 3/6/2018) Jamie McKellar
10/15/2003 Update or Other Action Contaminated Site Assessment and Cleanup Work Plan. Prepared by Nortech. Dated October 15, 2003. 17 pages. (CS Database updated 3/6/2018) Jamie McKellar
10/24/2003 Site Added to Database DRO contamination. Deborah Williams
10/24/2003 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Preliminary ranking. Deborah Williams
10/24/2003 Update or Other Action Nortech submitted Contaminated Site Assessment and Cleanup Workplan. The objectives of this work include identifying potential for offsite migration of contaminated groundwater and potential receptors of contaminated GW, determine size and magnitude of GW impacts, delineate extent of vadose zone soil contamination, and remove secondary source soils in the vadose zone where possible. Deborah Williams
12/11/2003 Update or Other Action Release Investigation Report. Prepared by: Nortech. 27 pages. (CS Database update 3/6/2018) Jamie McKellar
7/9/2004 Cleanup Plan Approved Spoke with CS staff today who mentioned the above Assessment and Cleanup workplan was approved. Mike Jaynes
1/11/2005 Update or Other Action SIte name changed to reflect USPS identifier for database consistency. Mike Jaynes
1/13/2005 Update or Other Action Spoke with Westin Solutions. Westin will be working on site in upcoming season. Faxed file copy of workplan to Westin for reference. Mike Jaynes
1/22/2010 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 75003 name: USPS - Cantwell Post Office Melody Debenham
8/19/2015 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Melody Debenham
6/15/2016 Update or Other Action Requested update from USPS. Melody Debenham
9/13/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Received the 2003 Release Investigation Report. Six direct push monitoring wells were installed and sampled for gasoline and diesel range organics and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes. Diesel range organics were detected in the well at the source are but results are below cleanup levels. All other results were non-detect. Melody Debenham
10/10/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other WORK PLAN received and approved: Work Plan for Cantwell, Alaska Site Investigation. Prepared by TetraTech. Dated October 5, 2016. Approved site investigation work plan describing redevelopment and sampling of the six existing monitoring wells. Melody Debenham
12/20/2016 Update or Other Action REPORT RECEIVED: Draft Groundwater Investigation Report for Cantwell, Alaska GW Sampling Report. Prepared by Tetra Tech. Dated December 20, 2016. (CS Database updated 3/6/2018) Jamie McKellar
2/8/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT REVIEW & Comments Submitted to USPS: Draft Groundwater Investigation Report for Cantwell, Alaska. Jamie McKellar
6/20/2017 Update or Other Action On December 20, 2016, the Department received a copy of the Draft Groundwater Investigation report for groundwater sampling conducted October 14, 2016. The Department provided comments for the report on February 8, 2017. A new ADEC project manager was assigned to the site in spring 2017. On June 20, 2017, the Department sent an email follow-up to USPS requesting a status update on the previous project manager's February 2017 correspondence. Jamie McKellar
6/28/2017 Update or Other Action On 6/27/2017, a teleconference was held with representatives from ADEC, USPS, and the site contractor. The status of the site and remaining onsite contamination were discussed. Prior to the meeting, a revision to the December 2016 report was submitted. The group will reconvene in July after the Department has had time to review the revised report. Jamie McKellar
7/10/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT Review & Comments Submitted to USPS for Site Investigation Report for the Cantwell Post Office. Dated February 21, 2017. The Department provided comments on a previous draft of this report on February 8, 2017. A revised version of the report was submitted June 27, 2017. ADEC requests additional information and/or clarification on the most recent version of the report. Jamie McKellar
7/19/2018 Update or Other Action Emailed USPS contact to inquire about USPS's RTCs for DEC's July 10, 2017 comments for the Site Investigation Report for the Cantwell Post Office (dated February 2017). DEC has not received a response or new draft of the report in over a year. Jamie McKellar
8/13/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other WORK PLAN RECEIVED: Draft Work Plan for Remedial Actions at Cantwell, Alaska Post Office. Prepared by Tetra Tech. Dated August 13, 2018. Jamie McKellar
8/17/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other COMMENTS SENT TO USPS: Draft Work Plan for Remedial Actions at Cantwell, Alaska Post Office. Prepared by Tetra Tech. Dated August 13, 2018. Jamie McKellar
8/20/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DRAFT FINAL REPORT RECEIVED & APROVED: 2016 Groundwater Monitoring Report. Prepared by Tetra Tech. Dated October 2017. DEC provided comments on July 10, 2017 and received a response on August 17, 2018. DEC approved the 2016 GWM Report on August 20, 2018. Jamie McKellar
10/17/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other WORK PLAN APPROVAL: Remedial Action Work Plan for Groundwater, Cantwell, Alaska Post Office. Prepared by TetraTech. Dated October 2018. Jamie McKellar
1/29/2019 Meeting or Teleconference Held A teleconference was held with USPS on Friday, January 25, 2019 to discuss the following USPS Sites: General Mail Facility (Fairbanks), Cantwell Post Office, Dutch Harbor Post Office, Former Lease Site (Fairbanks; also known as Former Air Cargo HOT), Iliamna Post Office; and Point Lay Post Office Site. A general status update was given for all six sites. Action items from the meeting include: 1) USPS to take a more active role in reviewing documents submitted to DEC by its contractors 2) USPS and DEC to exchange documents about Dutch Harbor Post Office releases 3) USPS to identify the property owner for the former Pt. Lay Post Office site and 4) USPS staff will coordinate with DEC regarding 2019 site visits. Jamie McKellar
8/15/2019 Site Visit Site Visit with USPS environmental staff and contractor (TetraTech). Jamie McKellar
4/2/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Remedial System Installation Report received. Comments sent 04/27/2020. RTC and revised report received 05/05/2021. Email sent 5/10/2021 requesting a revised report be submitted. There was no work plan for the composite soil sample. Shonda Oderkirk
5/11/2021 Update or Other Action Compliance Advisory Letter issued for failure to submit a work plan for DEC approval prior to soil sampling violating 18 AAC 335(b) and/or 18 AAC 75.360(2). By June 14, 2021, Provide a corrective action plan detailing how the USPS will ensure that its contractors obtain a DEC-approved work plan prior to commencing future fieldwork at contaminated sites in Alaska. response received 6/11/2021. No formal response from DEC issued. Shonda Oderkirk
6/16/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft WP for one 5 point composite sample collection this month or next, received. 6/23/2021: comments sent. Final WP received 8/2/2021. Approval sent 8/9/2021. Shonda Oderkirk

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

P.O. Box 111800
Juneau, AK 99811-1800
Phone: 907-465-5066
Fax: 907-465-5245
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