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Site Report: Haines-Fairbanks Pipeline MP 569 - Birch Lake

Site Name: Haines-Fairbanks Pipeline MP 569 - Birch Lake
Address: Richardson Highway Mile 305, Birch Lake Storage Area, Salcha, AK 99714
File Number: 900.38.001
Hazard ID: 4483
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.316306
Longitude: -146.640694
Horizontal Datum:NAD83

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

Location of Birch Lake Storage Area. The Corps of Engineers has identified the most likely locations where petroleum contamination might be present, including: 1) valves, 2) locations of documented spills, 3) locations where contamination has been noted by local residents or other persons, and 4) scraper traps and pump stations. These locations were the basis for the Site Investigations that were conducted in order to determine if petroleum contamination is present along the pipeline.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
7/17/2007 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Workplan approved this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
10/22/2007 Site Added to Database Site added to the database. Mitzi Read
4/29/2008 Site Characterization Workplan Approved USACE ROST workplan approved this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
9/4/2008 Site Characterization Report Approved Report covering 2007 activities approved this date. Two tanks were located at the Birch Lake Storage area. Samples collected at the South Tank did not show contamination, however samples collected at the North Tank showed contamination to 15 feet bgs. Additional investigation needed. Anne Marie Palmieri
3/5/2009 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 75470 name: auto-generated pm edit Haines-Fairbanks Pipeline MP 569 Anne Marie Palmieri
9/29/2010 CERCLA SI 2008 ROST SI report approved this date. 37 probes were installed. 5 primary samples and 1 duplicate were collected. 1 sample showed elevated concentrations of DRO (1800 mg/kg), Chromium, arsenic, 1,2 dibromoethane, and methylene chloride. Contamination was found only at Tank 1 (north) and not at Tank 2 (south). Additional investigation will be conducted in 2010-11. Anne Marie Palmieri
2/4/2013 Update or Other Action project manager changed from Palmieri to Morris. Anne Marie Palmieri
8/25/2015 Update or Other Action The ADEC and USACE participated in a scoping meeting regarding this site, however the project has been delayed because right of entry was not granted by the landowner. Jessica Morris
12/17/2015 Update or Other Action Staff changed to Danielle Duncan and hard file transferred to the Juneau office. Kristin Thompson
4/20/2016 Update or Other Action RP received right of entry to conduct work. Danielle Duncan
8/2/2016 Site Visit Joint site visit by ADEC, DNR, USACE, and FES. The site had 2 ASTs. One of them does not need further investigation per the prior data. The other one does need further investigation. The site is relatively flat and is characterized by compacted gravel. No obvious signs of contamination were observed, but there is potentially fuel contamination below ground. Work is planned for the near future to include test pitting and/or excavation from 0-15 ft. Although no groundwater monitoring wells are planned, I requested that the camp drinking water well on site be tested. The camp drinking water well is down gradient of the site and is potentially shallow as evidenced by discoloration likely due to the presence of tannins as a result of its close proximity to the lake. Danielle Duncan
11/8/2016 Update or Other Action The brush clearing has been completed and the contaminated soil removal action will occur in summer/fall 2017. Danielle Duncan
1/25/2017 Update or Other Action Provided comments on the draft work plan for Scottie Creek, Birch Lake, and Timber Pump Station. Danielle Duncan
3/23/2017 Update or Other Action Approved the work plan this date for removal of tanks, piping, etc. and some petroleum contaminated soil. Danielle Duncan
10/10/2017 Update or Other Action The following contaminants were found in soil beneath the pesticide containers above ADEC cleanup levels: 4,4'-DDD, 4,4'-DDE, 4,4'-DDT, chlordane, heptachlor, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes. Work on site has stopped and the responsible party will determine a disposal method for the stockpiled soil and a work plan for the pesticide contaminated soil still in the ground. Danielle Duncan
3/8/2018 Update or Other Action Removal action is complete. Next step is likely a geophysical study of the extent of buried debris. Danielle Duncan
3/13/2018 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 75470 auto-generated pm edit Haines-Fairbanks Pipeline MP 569. Danielle Duncan
3/14/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Sent comments on the draft Scottie Creek/Birch Lake/Timber Pump Removal Action report. Danielle Duncan
4/5/2018 Update or Other Action Accepted responses to my comments on the Scottie/Birch/Timber Draft RmAR (Rev 0), February 2018 this date. Danielle Duncan
5/24/2018 Update or Other Action A geophysical investigation has been completed. at Birch Lake. It appears that they delineated the extent of the burial pit and that it extended between Tank 1 and Tank 2. CRREL needs to process that data and will provide a figure showing the geophysical results that we can use for estimating the amount of potentially hazardous debris and soil that needs to be excavated. Danielle Duncan
5/30/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed and approved the report titled: 2017 Source and Contaminated Soil Removal Report Final (Revision 1). The planned work for Birch Lake was to excavate petroleum contaminated soil that was remaining at the footprint of aboveground storage tank (AST) #1 only - AST #2 was previously investigated and no further action is planned. During the work, debris including domestic waste, crushed 55-gallon drums, and pesticide cans dating to the 1950’s containing dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and chlordane were encountered. Additional removal action site investigation (RA/SI) activity is warranted. Danielle Duncan
6/29/2018 Meeting or Teleconference Held Was interviewed by KUAC re: the DDT cans discovered on site. http://fm.kuac.org/post/corps-engineers-halts-cleanup-after-workers-discover-buried-ddt-tainted-junk Danielle Duncan
8/23/2018 Update or Other Action Per B. Astley: the site is still eligible for FUDS depite the DDT cans. IF the groundwater is contaminated and IF has migraed to AF property adjacent - have no access to AF property. Geophysical data suggests metal anomaly larger than empty DDT cans. Going to do additional characterization. Plan is to sample the groundwater in summer 2019. Danielle Duncan
11/27/2018 Meeting or Teleconference Held Met with the DNR and the USACE on projects. The USACE is going to evaluate FUDS eligibility after finding the pesticide contamination - site should be eligible. This process may take two years. In the interim, the DNR will not issue any permits to dig on site which prevents access to the contamination located belowground. There appears to be a historic dump and berms which have debris - may be an indicator of the magnitude of the historic dump. However, we are able to continue looking at the groundwater contamination in the interim as it was part of the original scope of work. Danielle Duncan
3/5/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The Contaminated Soil Removal Work Plan Revision 1 was reviewed, comments sent. Lisa Krebs-Barsis
4/2/2021 Cleanup Plan Approved A plan for excavating petroleum contaminated soil comingled with pesticide contamination was approved. Lisa Krebs-Barsis
9/16/2021 Site Visit Site visit conducted with DNR and USACE FUDS personnel. Lisa Krebs-Barsis
7/16/2022 Site Characterization Report Approved FUDS conducted a removal action near the former Tank 1 to remove and dispose of all petroleum contamination at the site related to the use of the two former tanks and appurtenances. A total of 1,907 cubic yards of comingled pesticide and petroleum contaminated soil were excavated and disposed at Moose Creek Facility. The 2021 excavation encompassed the Tank 1 source areas identified by laboratory sampling in the previous investigations. Bedrock was encountered throughout the excavation and no groundwater was observed during this removal action or at any time throughout the project. A total of 27 primary laboratory confirmation samples were collected from the base and sidewalls of the excavation. Samples were analyzed for RRO, DRO, GRO, VOC, EDB, PAH, pesticides, PCB, and RCRA metals. No PCB were detected in the confirmation samples. All RRO, DRO, GRO, VOC, PAH and RCRA metals, except for arsenic, were well below the most stringent cleanup levels. Following the excavation the site was re-seeded. Collocated pesticide contamination is under the associated site Eielson AFB (SER-2) (DP55) Birch Lake. Lisa Krebs-Barsis
2/16/2024 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued All petroleum contamination previously identified on the site has been removed to concentrations below the most stringent cleanup levels. Lisa Krebs-Barsis

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
1,2-Dibromoethane < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil
1-Methylnaphthalene < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil
2-Methylnaphthalene < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil
Benzene < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil
DRO < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil
Ethylbenzene < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil
GRO < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil
Naphthalene < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil
Toluene < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil
Xylenes (total) < Method 2 Most Stringent 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
359 Eielson AFB (SER-2) (DP55) Birch Lakes 107.38.051

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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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