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Site Report: USPS Former Air Cargo HOT

Site Name: USPS Former Air Cargo HOT
Address: 6228 Old Airport Way, Block 3, Lot 6, Fairbanks, AK 99701
File Number: 100.38.179
Hazard ID: 4105
Status: Active
Staff: Sophia Bracio, 9074511682 sophia.bracio@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.822112
Longitude: -147.858538
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 site is owned by the Fairbanks International Airport and was leased by U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Air Cargo Express (ACE) subleased the facility from the USPS. The USPS and ACE had an agreement that ACE would demolish the building when ACE's sublease expired. The 5,000-gallon heating oil tank (HOT) was removed in July 2004. A total of 246.53 tons of contaminated soil was hauled to OIT, Inc. in Moose Creek, Alaska for thermal remediation. The final excavation limits measured approximately 37 feet long, 20 feet wide and 10 feet deep at the deepest point. Soil samples exceeded the applicable cleanup levels for DRO, benzo(a)anthracene, naphthalene, fluorene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and dibenzo[a,h]a nthracene. Soil contamination remains in place. Exceedances in groundwater include DRO, gasoline range organics (GRO), residual range organics (RRO), benzene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, and numerous PAHs. No updates as of 2/2/2022.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
8/23/2004 Site Added to Database DRO contamination present on-site. Deborah Williams
8/23/2004 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Preliminary ranking. Deborah Williams
1/11/2005 Update or Other Action Site name changed to reflect USPS identifier for database consistency. Staff name also changed from Wiegers to Richmond. Mike Jaynes
6/14/2005 Update or Other Action The USPS attorney requested a one-month extension to report findings concerning the USPS financial liability for contamination present at this site. The request was approved. Sharon Richmond
7/28/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated Sites staff attended a meeting with the US Postal Service (USPS)in June to discuss contamination resulting from a leaking underground heating oil tank at the Fairbanks International Airport (FIA). FIA requested that the USPS remove the tank several years ago but the USPS did not respond so FIA removed it. Other areas of concern are a Class V injection well, another heating oil tank, and a pump island with associated piping. The USPS is willing to continue investigation and remedial activities at this site and FIA is seeking reimbursement for remedial actions taken to date. Sharon Richmond
7/28/2005 Update or Other Action ADEC received a response from the USPS lawyer regarding our requst to address contamination at this site. The USPS has hired a consultant to help determine whether the USPS is the only responsible party at this site. The USPS requested all information available to assist with this search. Sharon Richmond
8/2/2005 Update or Other Action Staff forwarded copies of all documents related to this site to the USPS legal rep for the purpose of determining the USPS' liability for necessary cleanup. Sharon Richmond
8/4/2005 GIS Position Updated Updated metadata fields. Site appeared to be on the correct parcel, but unsure. No modification to coordinates made. Torsten Ernst
12/22/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC attended a teleconference with USPS, DOT, and attorneys for both agencies. DOT requested that contamination resulting from a leaking heating oil tank be investigated as well as fuel distribution lines, another former UST a septic leach field and two previously sealed floor drains. The USPS indicated that they would take steps necessary for an investigation to be conducted during summer 2006 while legal matters are being settled. Sharon Richmond
1/5/2006 Update or Other Action USPS contractor called DEC to discuss preparation of a work plan for a site investigation. DEC provided the contractor with scanned documents showing the locations of areas requiring investigation. Sharon Richmond
9/13/2007 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Corrective Action Underway Reviewed and approved work plan to install new monitoring well and sample. Approval to transport contaminated soil and groundwater to OIT for treatment Sharon Richmond
2/29/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Sharon Richmond
4/21/2008 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Reviewed and approved 2008 Groundwater Monitoring Work Plan. Groundwater will be tested for DRO, GRO, BTEX, and metals. Sharon Richmond
8/11/2008 Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved DEC approved via email transport and disposal of petroleum-contaminated IDW (purge water) at OIT Sharon Richmond
8/27/2008 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other 2008 groundwater monitoring report received; report under review Sharon Richmond
12/11/2008 Site Characterization Report Approved The 2008 groundwater monitoring report was reviewed and monitoring recommendations were approved. Annual groundwater monitoring at the source area monitoring well FFLS-MW01 and down-gradient monitoring well FFLS-MW03 will continue. The analytical suite will include diesel range organics (DRO), gasoline range organics (GRO), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during the 2009 monitoring event. Analyzing for PAHs was recommended because elevated concentrations of PAHs required sample dilution, which resulted in elevated practical quantification limits (PQLs) in 2008. No metals were detected above screening criteria during the 2008 monitoring event so additional testing is unnecessary. Sharon Richmond
12/19/2008 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Release Confirmed - Petroleum LUST site created in CSP database for source area leaking gasoline and diesel USTs, 78641 Sharon Richmond
4/8/2010 Meeting or Teleconference Held CS staff met with the USPS and their contractor to discuss the 2010 groundwater sampling. They propose to collect groundwater samples bi-annually in hopes of obtaining enough data to prove that groundwater concentrations are stable or declining. Samples will be collected in June and September. Kim DeRuyter
6/2/2010 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Workplan approval and Sulfolane sampling request sent to USPS. Kim DeRuyter
12/22/2011 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Initiated - Petroleum Adminstrative action addition for grant reporting purposes. Evonne Reese
4/25/2012 Site Characterization Report Approved Approved the groundwater monitoring report documenting groundwater sampling in July and September of 2010. Groundwater samples were analyzed for GRO, DRO, VOCs, and PAHs. Results show GRO, DRO, and benzene above the applicable cleanup levels. One groundwater sample was also analyzed for sulfolane, and results were non-detect. Melody Debenham
7/2/2012 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Approved the final work plan to install ten soil borings around the perimeter and within the former UST excavation area to delineate the horizontal and vertical extent of remaining soil contamination. One of the borings will be completed as a monitoring well. Soil and groundwater samples will be analyzed for gasoline, diesel, and residual range organics; benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes; polunuclear aromatic hydrocarbons; volatile aromatic/aliphatic petroleum hydrocarbons; and extractable aromatic/aliphatic petroleum hydrocarbons. Melody Debenham
11/14/2012 Site Characterization Report Approved Approved the final 2012 characterization report documenting soil and groundwater sampling results. Soil samples were collected from the perimeter and within the former UST excavation area. Results show that benzene, GRO, DRO, and PAHs are present above the DEC cleanup levels. One new groundwater monitoring well was installed and groundwater samples were collected from the 3 wells on site. Results from two of the wells show GRO, DRO, and benzene above the cleanup levels. Melody Debenham
6/18/2013 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Approved final work plan to characterize the extent of remaining contamination. Up to 10 soil borings will be installed around the perimeter of the previously investigated areas. Three borings will be completed as groundwater monitoring wells. Soil and groundwater samples will be collected and analyzed for GRO, DRO,RRO, and BTEX. Melody Debenham
10/11/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved 2013 supplemental soil and groundwater characterization report. Eleven soil borings were installed and three were completed as monitoring wells. Soil and groundwater sample results show contaminants remain on-site above cleanup levels. Melody Debenham
9/2/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved final corrective action plan for groundwater monitoring activities. Melody Debenham
4/16/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved final 2014 First Semi-Annual Groundwater Monitoring Report. Benzene and gasoline, diesel, and residual range organics were detected above the cleanup level. Melody Debenham
9/8/2015 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Melody Debenham
9/15/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved final 2014 Second Semiannual Groundwater Monitoring Report. Results show benzene and gasoline, diesel, and residual range organics above the cleanup level in groundwater. Melody Debenham
1/25/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved 2015 groundwater monitoring report. Four monitoring wells were sampled. Results show benzene, GRO, DRO, and RRO remain above the cleanup level in several of the wells. Melody Debenham
5/4/2016 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 75078 5,000 gal HOT. Melody Debenham
6/14/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved final 2015 2nd annual groundwater monitoring report documenting October 2015 groundwater monitoring. Results show GRO, DRO, RRO, and benzene remain above cleanup levels in groundwater. Melody Debenham
12/8/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved final report for groundwater monitoring in June 2016. Sample results show GRO, DRO, RRO, and BTEX above cleanup levels in groundwater. Melody Debenham
8/14/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other September 2016 Semiannual Groundwater Monitoring Report Approval Jamie McKellar
1/22/2018 Update or Other Action REPORT RECEIVED: 2017 Groundwater Monitoring Report, Former Air Cargo HOT/Former Lease Site. Comments sent to USPS on 2/1/2018. Jamie McKellar
2/28/2018 Update or Other Action RTCs RECEIVED: Received RTCs from USPS Contractor for 2017 Annual Groundwater Monitoring Report. Jamie McKellar
3/15/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVAL: 2017 Groundwater Monitoring Report for the USPS Former Lease Site (FLS), Block 3, Lot 6/Former Air Cargo Heating Oil Tank (HOT). Dated March 2018. Prepared by HDR. Jamie McKellar
6/19/2018 Update or Other Action WORK PLAN RECEIVED: Draft Work Plan Addendum, Former Cargo HOT/Former Lease Site. Prepared by HDR. Dated June 2018. Jamie McKellar
6/25/2018 Update or Other Action COMMENTS SENT: DEC to USPS, Draft Work Plan Addendum, Former Cargo HOT/Former Lease Site. Prepared by HDR. Dated June 2018. Jamie McKellar
12/6/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DRAFT REPORT RECEIVED: USPS submitted a 2018 Draft Groundwater Monitoring Report for the Former Lease Site on 11/30. DEC provided comments on 12/6/2018. 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
2/15/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVED: Revised 2018 Groundwater Monitoring Report, USPS Former Lease Site (AKA USPS Former Air Cargo HOT). Prepared by HDR. Dated February 2019. Jamie McKellar
9/29/2020 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Potentially responsible party letter sent to Tatonduk Outfitters Limited. Tatonduk, operating as Air Cargo Express, occupied the property from September 11, 1995 to October 31, 2001. Jamie McKellar
7/18/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Work plan received. 7/28/2022: Comments sent. 8/23/2022: Final approval sent. Shonda Oderkirk
2/3/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Report received. 3/8/2023: Comments sent. Shonda Oderkirk

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

There are no documents for this site report.

Hazard ID Site Name File Number
26816 FIA - Sitewide PFAS 100.38.277

Missing Location Data

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