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Site Report: Kalakaket Creek RRS - POL Tank 1 [OT001]

Site Name: Kalakaket Creek RRS - POL Tank 1 [OT001]
Address: South Shore of Kalakaket Creek, 22 Miles South of Galena, Galena, AK 99741
File Number: 860.38.008
Hazard ID: 4669
Status: Active
Staff: Sophia Bracio, 9074511682 sophia.bracio@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.430806
Longitude: -156.836056
Horizontal Datum:NAD27

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

Leaking aboveground storage tank has impacted groundwater near the Airstrip at lower camp. Fuel lines extend from the Aircraft Offloading Hydrant on the Airstrip and to a above ground fuel stroage tank which discharged to a truck fueling station in close proximity to the tank. Contamination exists in two areas at this site, the Aircraft off loading hydrant, and downgradient of the POL tank and truck fill stand where contaminants impacted groundwater and soil concentrations exceed the health based cleanup levels. The maximum concentration was detected in a sample at the truck fueling station which detected DRO at 36,600 mg/kg in surface soil. However, soil contamination near the off loading hydrant did not exceed health based concentrations, and groundwater was not encountered in borings to bedrock in this area. DRO was detected in groundwater at the truck refueling hydrant at 960 mg/L, RRO also exceeds migration to groundwater cleanup levels at 6.7 mg/L. Site is not located near a reasonable water intake due to the remote nature of the site and the availability of other nearby drinking water sources. In addition recharge on the monitoring wells was extremely slow making it difficult to obtain enought water to collect a sample. The 2009 remedial action concentrated on soil near the truck fill stand because this area exceeded inhalation and ingestion cleanup levels. Confirmation samples taken at the limits of the excavatio contained DRO up to 369 mg/kg, and RRO to approximately 90 mg/kg. Groundwater monitoring is recommended. The February 2010 Decision Document states that the selected remedy for contaminated soil at this site included excavation of soils contaminated with greater than DEC Method 2 ingestion cleanup levels for DRO, GRO, and RRO. The excavated soil would then be landspread. ICs to limit site accesss and and exposure have been implemented and recorded in USAF Real Property Record. This included restricting excavation and disturbance of the petroleum contaminated soil. Site inspection and report on ICs shall be submitted once every 5 years. Finally a SAP will be submitted to DEC for approval prior to removal of ICs. For contaminated groundwater the February 2010 Decision Document states that the MW at PT1 will be monitored annually for VOCs, PAHs, DRO, and RRO. This frequency may be revised after 5 yrs by DEC. A sample report will be submitted that compares the current results with historic results. ICs to limit site access and exposure have been implemented and recorded in USAF Real Property Record. This included restricting excavation and drilling in petroleum contaminated groundwater. --Updated August 2011-- Site is currently in long term monitoring status. The Work Plan for Long Term Monitoring at this site was approved on 8/18/2011. The first round of long term monitoring samples are expected to be taken during the summer of 2011. --Updated November 2014-- Long term monitoring results from 2011 identified DRO above Table C, groundwater cleanup levels. DRO was identified in two wells, PT1-SB01 and PT1-SB09 at concentrations of 1,960 ug/L and 3,600 ug/L respectively.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
7/28/2008 Site Added to Database Site added to the database. Mitzi Read
7/30/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Site ranked Current Exposure for direct contact with surface soil, future exposure for direct contact with subsurface soil and low potential exposure for outdoor air inhalation. Kim DeRuyter
4/13/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft 2010 Clean Sweep and Remedial Action Report update. The site consists of an aircraft offloading hydrant, which transferred fuel to an above ground storage tank which then discharged fuel to a truck fuel stand. The site slopes away from the airstrip with the truck fuel stand at the lowest gradient. Soil contamination near the Aircraft off loading hydrant did not exceed health based cleanup levels, and groundwater was not encountered in soil borings to bedrock in this area. The 2009 remedial action concentrated on soil near the truck fill stand because contaminated groundwater was encountered in this area (960 mg/L DRO, 2007 RI) and soil concentrations exceeded inhalation and ingestion cleanup levels. Confirmation samples taken at the limits of the excavation contained DRO up to 369 mg/kg, and RRO to approximately 90 mg/kg. Contaminated soil below ingestion and inhalation cleanup levels near the Aircraft offloading hydrant was left in place. Groundwater monitoring is reccommended. Kim DeRuyter
5/24/2010 CERCLA ROD Approved The CERCLA ROD, Petroleum Decision Document, and LF001 Decision Document were signed by DEC and the USAF. Kim DeRuyter
7/11/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft LTM Work Plan reviewed Amanda Loomis
8/19/2011 Long Term Monitoring Established Long Term Monitoring Work Plan approved Amanda Loomis
11/5/2014 Institutional Control Record Established Institutional Controls established and entered into the database. Dennis Shepard
5/27/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the Supplemental Work Plan, Environmental Long Term Management, Kalakaket Creek Radio Relay Station. The Work proposed in the supplemental is consistent with the requirements of 18 AAC 75.375(b)(2) and the approved Work Plan Addendum 2013 Environmental Long Term Management which was approved by DEC on May 29, 2013. The Work includes landfill cap inspections and sampling of monitoring wells for the POL Tank 1 location. Dennis Shepard
8/25/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the Kalakaket Creek Radio Relay Station Supplemental Work Plan 2016 Remedial Action Operations, Land Use/Institutional Control, Kalakaket Creek Radio Relay Station, Alaska. The Work proposed in the supplemental is consistent with the requirements of 18 AAC 75.375(b)(2) and the approved Work Plan Addendum 2013 Environmental Long Term Management which was approved by DEC on May 29, 2013. Dennis Shepard
5/10/2021 Update or Other Action On 5/4/2021, ADEC completed an interview provided by USAF's contractor, in preparation for the 2nd Five Year Review (FYR). In the interview, ADEC noted the following: Metal debris that was observed protruding from the LF1 landfill cap in 2012, as documented in the 2013 report, has not been addressed; the required 18 AAC 60 post closure documentation has not been submitted to the Solid Waste Program; a ROD amendment or ESD has not been completed as recommended in the 1st FYR; and based on review of photographs, multiple monitoring wells appear to be frost jacked. Jamie McKellar
10/27/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVAL: Final 2020 Remedial Action Operations, Institutional Control / Land Use Control Report, Kalakaket Creek Radio Relay Station, Alaska (EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC, October 2021). Recommendations in the 2020 RAO IC/LUC report include, but are not limited to: installation and replacement of signage at LF002, repair and replace several monitoring wells, and a recommendation to sample soil and surface water in the location near the airstrip where sheen was observed in 204, 2015, and 2020. Jamie McKellar
6/29/2023 CERCLA ROD Periodic Review On 6/29/2023, DEC approved the Final 2nd FYR for the former Kalakaket RRS. As part of this approval, USAF is required to complete multiple activities within the next two years: File a NAUL by 12/31/2024; file an ESD by 8/30/2024; inspect the LF1 landfill cap during Federal Fiscal Year 2024; investigate the sheen observed on the Kalakaket runway by 6/29/2024; and file a FYR addendum by 12/31/2025. Jamie McKellar
12/19/2023 Update or Other Action ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT: Preliminary Assessment (PA) Report for Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) Areas, Kalakaket Creek Radio Relay Station, Alaska. In October 2023, USAF submitted a PA Report for AFFF at the former Kalakaket RRS. While USAF does not have good documentation or information about the activities that occurred when the Kalakaket installation was active, the PA presents several lines of evidence that AFFF was stored at Kalakaket. The conclusion reached in this PA is that no further action is warranted due to a lack of documentation that AFFF was released. However, based on the cited 1991 EPA PA guidance, before 'no further action' can be recommended, USAF must be certain that CERCLA hazardous substances have never been at the site. A lack of information cannot be interpreted to indicate that no hazardous waste is present or has ever been deposited at the site. DEC acknowledges receipt of the Kalakaket AFFF PA but specifically does not approve it. In the future, additional PFAS sampling may be required in areas described in this PA. Jamie McKellar

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
DRO > Table C Groundwater See problem statement

Control Type

Type Details
No ICs Required
Land Use Plan / Maps / Base Master Plan ICs to limit site access and exposure have been implemented and recorded in USAF Real Property Record, Kalakaket RRS General Plan, and 611th IRP Records,. This included restricting excavation and drilling in petroleum contaminated groundwater.

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.

There are no documents for this site report.

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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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