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Site Report: Palmer Correctional Fac Med Complex Pipeline Spill

Site Name: Palmer Correctional Fac Med Complex Pipeline Spill
Address: Mile 58 Road, Off Mile 57.9 Glenn Highway, Sutton, AK 99674
File Number: 2245.38.034
Hazard ID: 4574
Status: Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff: IC Unit, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 61.692400
Longitude: -149.004820
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

An estimated 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel leaked out of a broken pipe leading to a heating oil underground storage tank (UST) in August 1998. The area where the spill occurred is located between the housing complexes and the facility’s chapel on the east side of the Palmer Correctional Facility property. To define the vertical extent of the contamination, soil samples were taken on September 1998. The samples were collected at a depth of 10 feet to 112 feet in 10-foot depth intervals. Contamination above ADEC cleanup levels was encountered beginning at the depth of 20 feet below ground surface (bgs) extending to 85 feet bgs. The highest levels were encountered at the 45 foot interval with diesel range organics (DRO) up to 16,700 mg/kg and at the 55 foot interval with benzene up to 2.32 mg/kg. Due to the proximity of buildings, excavation of the contaminated soil was not conducted. A Long Term Monitoring Plan was approved in September 1999. A leeching assessment model indicates that contamination will not migrate to the groundwater, which is located 200 feet bgs, over a 100 year period. A biennial 10 year groundwater sampling program was recommended since the fuel had only migrated to 85 feet bgs, as indicated by the previous 1998 investigation. Groundwater wells were sampled May 2008 as part of the biennial program. Monitoring well 2, used for drinking water, and monitoring well 3, used for landscaping, were sampled for DRO, BTEX, and napthalene. Two primary samples were taken, as well as one duplicate sample. Petroleum hydrocarbons were not detected in any of the samples. Due to the infrastructures (buildings, pipings, utility lines, etc.) excavation is not possible. All contamination is subsurface, which reduces the exposure risk to inmates and staff.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
1/1/1998 Preliminary Assessment Approved Preliminary Corrective Action Plan, Palmer Correction Center from DOWL Engineers dated August 1998 report reviewed and approved with the conditions to start boring by September 16, 1998, for free product to be recovered if encountered, to advise the department of drilling equipment, that the well will not be cased, that the groundwater monitoring frequency to be determined after reviewing the boring data, and the results to be submitted to the department no later than November 4, 1998. Jeff Ginalias
11/11/1998 Update or Other Action Reviewed the Site Investigation Report dated November 11, 1998 from HartCrowser. Soil boring results are DRO 4.58 to 16,700 mg/kg and Benzene 0.185 to 2.32 mg/kg ranging from 10 to 110 feet. Drilling performed on September 21, 1998 vertical migration to 85 feet, horizontal not determined. Jeff Ginalias
12/1/1998 Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program Site transferred to Contaminated Sites. Jeff Ginalias
11/24/1999 Long Term Monitoring Established After reviewing the Long Term Monitoring Plan Palmer Correctional Center, dated Sept 7, 1999, from HartCrowser, Long Term Monitoring was approved based on the results of the site investigation a ten-year, biennial groundwater program was recommended since the fuel had only migrated to a depth of approximately 85 feet, and the results of the leaching assessment model indicate that even allowing for migration processes over a 100 year period the fuel will not impact the groundwater. Jim Frechione
1/24/2008 Update or Other Action File number 2245.38.034 assigned and entered into the Fileroom Database and the Contaminated Sites Database. Alyce Hughey
1/24/2008 GIS Position Updated GIS position updated using Google Maps, and site legal description verified using the Matanuska-Susitna Borough parcel lookup. Alyce Hughey
1/24/2008 Site Added to Database Site added to the database. Alyce Hughey
4/3/2008 Update or Other Action After discussions with program manager, an RFP was developed to sample production well 2 (drinking water well) &well 3 (landscaping/fire suppresion well) during 2008. Donald Seagren
4/11/2008 Update or Other Action Proposal approved for work plan to sample wells 2 & 3. work plan to follow. Donald Seagren
4/15/2008 Update or Other Action Approved work plan for sampling wells 2 & 3. Donald Seagren
6/10/2008 Update or Other Action Site transferred from Don Seagren to Linda Nuechterlein per Linda Nuechterlein. Alyce Hughey
7/22/2008 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Groundwater Monitoring at Palmer Correctional Center, Palmer Alaska, submitted by Shannon & Wilson, dated June 27, 2008 and recieved by ADEC on this date. Groundwater wells were sampled May 2008 as part of the biennial program. Monitoring well 2, used for drinking water, and monitoring well 3, used for landscaping, were sampled for DRO, BTEX, and napthalene. Two primary samples were taken, as well as one duplicate sample. Petroleum hydrocarbons were not detected in any of the samples. Grant Lidren
10/24/2008 Update or Other Action Sanitary Survey Palmer Correctional Center Class B Public Water System PWSID #226240 dated 6/11/2003. The survey indicates that the depth of the wells is as follows: MW1 is 461 ft. bgs, MW2 618 ft. bgs, and MW3 is 566 ft. bgs. Grant Lidren
4/3/2009 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), Contaminated Sites Program, has completed review of the environmental records associated with the Palmer Correctional Facility Medical Complex Pipeline Spill. Based on the information provided to date, the ADEC has determined that the contaminant concentrations remaining on site do not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment, and no further remedial action will be required as long as the site is in compliance with established institutional controls. Grant Lidren
4/3/2009 Institutional Control Record Established ADEC has determined there is no unacceptable risk to human health or the environment, and this site will be granted a Cleanup Complete- Institutional Controls Determination subject to the following: 1-A Notice of Environmental Contamination will be recorded on the ADEC database to document that there is residual contamination remaining on site above the most stringent ADEC cleanup levels. 2-Any proposal to transport soil or groundwater off site requires ADEC approval in accordance with 18 AAC 75.325(i). 3-Movement or use of potentially contaminated soil in a manner that results in a violation of 18 AAC 70 water quality standards is unlawful. 4-The soil contamination located under the buildings is currently inaccessible making removal impractical (see attachment B). When the building is removed and/or the soil becomes accessible, the contaminated soil must be addressed in accordance with an ADEC approved work plan. 5-Any future change in land use may impact the exposure assumptions cited in this document. If land use and/or ownership changes, current institutional controls may not be protective and ADEC may require additional remediation and/or institutional controls. Therefore, PCF will report to ADEC every five years to document land use, or as soon as PCF becomes aware of any change in land ownership and/or use. The report can be sent to the local ADEC office or electronically to DEC.ICUnit@alaska.gov Grant Lidren
5/4/2009 Update or Other Action CC-IC Agreement page signed, recieved and attached to CSP App. Grant Lidren
6/13/2012 Update or Other Action Staff changed from Grant Lidren to IC Unit. Kristin Thompson
7/10/2012 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC review conducted and the reminder system was set for the five year site review. Evonne Reese
5/16/2013 Long Term Monitoring Complete Administrative action added during a quality control check. Kristin Thompson
5/20/2014 Institutional Control Update An IC reminder letter was issued to the responsible party on this date. Kristin Thompson
6/4/2014 Institutional Control Periodic Reporting A letter was received from the Department of Corrections confirming that the contaminated area has not been disturbed and that the building covering the contamination is still in place. Evonne Reese
6/15/2018 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC compliance review conducted. Closure/IC Details updated. Kristin Thompson
6/27/2019 Institutional Control Compliance Review An Institutional Controls reminder letter with request for documentation of visual observation of site conditions mailed on this date. Mossy Mead
8/26/2019 Institutional Control Compliance Review An IC compliance letter was received on this date that the contaminated area has not been disturbed and that the building covering the contamination is still in place. Mossy Mead
8/19/2024 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC compliance review completed on this date. An IC reminder letter was e-mailed to the landowner. The next review will be in five years’ time. Gaige Robinson
9/9/2024 Institutional Control Update The landowner responded to the IC reminder letter and provided a written confirmation that land use has not changed Gaige Robinson

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
Benzene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil

Control Type

Type Details
Signed CS Determination

Requirements

Description Details
When Contaminated Soil is Accessible, Remediation Should Occur The soil contamination located under the buildings is currently inaccessible making removal impractical. When the building is removed and/or the soil becomes accessible, the contaminated soil must be addressed in accordance with an ADEC approved work plan.
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site. Standard condition.
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) Standard condition.
Other A review of site conditions and current land use must be conducted and reported to ADEC once every 5 years, or as soon as the Department of Corrections becomes aware of a potential change in land use. The report must include a visual observation of the site and any information pertaining to changes in land use during the reporting period.

No associated sites were found.

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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
TDD: 800-770-8973
Physical Location: 410 Willoughby