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Site Report: Galena High School

Site Name: Galena High School
Address: 299 Antoski Avenue, Galena, AK 99741
File Number: 860.38.011
Hazard ID: 541
Status: Active
Staff: Kelly Walker, 9074512166 kelly.walker@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.746460
Longitude: -156.879000
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

On October 5, 1988, approximately 13,000 gallons of fuel oil was released from an aboveground storage tank (AST) at the Galena School, due to a broken threaded joint in the fuel line. Department records indicate that approximately 5,000 gallons of fuel was recovered and approximately 140 cubic yards of contaminated soil was excavated. In January 2011, fire destroyed the Galena High School shop. Approximately 25 gallons of aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), known to contain per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), was used during firefighting efforts. In November 2016, the City of Galena tested the drinking water wells in New Town, where the Galena High School is located. PFAS compounds were not detected. Additional site investigation is needed to fully characterize contamination at the Galena High School site.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
10/4/1988 Interim Removal Action Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = SC - Site Control (Emergency Response)). Recovery of approximately 5,000 gallons of spilled heating oil immediately following spill. ADEC suggested removal of contaminated soil and installation of monitoring wells. Former Staff
12/16/1988 Interim Removal Action Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = REM - Removal / Excavation). Removed 12 loads (140 cubic years) of contaminated soil and materials to a U.S. Air Force fire training area dump site. Continuous permafrost encountered during excavation. Soils removed to permafrost (depth of 3 to 5 feet). Excavation was backfilled. Stockpiled soil not on liner or in bermed area. Former Staff
6/21/1989 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Follow-up visit by B. Thomas. Soil in backfilled area had strong hydrocarbon odor and is believed to be re-contaminated by fuel seeping back into area. Puddled surface water in area has sheen. Ben Thomas
6/1/1990 Preliminary Assessment Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = SA1 - Phase I Site Assessment (General)). Quest Environmental undertook numerous soil borings and monitor well installation at the site of approximately 13,500 gallon diesel release. Dan Basketfield
7/10/1990 Notice of Violation Issued for failure of school district to initiate adequate cleanup and disposal of oil spill. Request site investigation, corrective action, cleanup, and SPCC plan. Former Staff
7/27/1990 Site Added to Database Former Staff
10/26/1990 Site Characterization Report Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Site assessment by Quest Environmental included 22 soil borings. Fourteen locations indicated contamination above 100 ppm TPH. Analysis of water from city well did not indicate presence of petroleum hydrocarbons. Report states that product appears to be moving north into a wooded area and south into the creek flowing into the Yukon River. Estimated 10,000 cubic yards of contamination. Former Staff
12/5/1990 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Former Staff
6/1/1991 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SA2 - Phase II Site Assessment (General)). Quest Environmental undertook additional soil boring at the site. Dan Basketfield
2/11/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SA1R - Phase I SA Review (CS/LUST)). Former Staff
6/24/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RPL2 - Site Information Request Letter). Sent PRP-CS Database Notification Letter to PRP requesting update and additional environmental information concerning the contaminated site. As of this "complete date" no response has been received. Jeff Peterson
8/1/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SA2 - Phase II Site Assessment (General)). Dames and Moore undertook extensive soil borings and monitor well installation at the site. Dan Basketfield
8/7/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SA1R - Phase I SA Review (CS/LUST)). Basketfield approved. Dan Basketfield
8/24/1992 Site Characterization Report Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = SA2R - Phase II SA Review (CS)). Release investigation and Site Characterization by Dames and Moore, Fbks. Dan Basketfield
12/29/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). Letter to Bill Miller, Superintendent of Galena School District concerning additional cost for mobilizing drilling rig into Galena in late summer of 1992 concurred with necessity of expense. Noted that "preliminary report" was not deliverable, rather only the "final" report was authorized in the workplan. Dan Basketfield
1/28/1994 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Kalu and McCallister attended meeting at Galena School site, meeting with Galena School Board and Dames and Moore representatives. They inspected site work conducted to date. They reviewed D&M's reports and results of data collection, with emphasis on work conducted in 1993. Additionally, they reviewed the D&M proposal and cost estimate for continued development and analysis of Containment and Treatment options. Kalu Kalu
6/7/1999 Update or Other Action Received a telephone call from Carl Knudsen. He had two concerns involving the CS. They wanted to remove the tanks from the tank farm at the school and wanted to know whether or not to remove the liner. The second issue was that of construct concrete pilings through the contaminated soil. Deborah Williams
6/15/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC sent letter to Carl Knudsen with the High School, stating that the tank farm liner could remain in place and that constucting pilings through the contaminated soil into the permafrost to use as a foundation for any buildings was acceptable. Deborah Williams
6/17/1999 Update or Other Action Report received on GW MW samples. The last samples were collected in October 1996 of MW7, MW6, and MW5. Deborah Williams
1/25/2008 Update or Other Action Sent letter to Galena School District requesting current status of site and containment cell. Tamara Cardona-Marek
3/11/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Tamara Cardona-Marek
11/6/2009 Update or Other Action Transferred site management from Tamara Cardona-Marek to Jim Fish. Janice Wiegers
7/8/2013 Update or Other Action Received call from Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium on proposed water and sewer infrastructure repair in response to 2013 flooding event; flood damage repairs are near vicinity of high school. Letter -work plan forthcoming. Jim Fish
2/3/2014 Update or Other Action Site transferred from Fish to Diffenbacher Rebecca Bryan
7/31/2014 Update or Other Action Staff changed from Amy Dieffenbacher to Melody Debenham. Kristin Thompson
8/29/2014 Update or Other Action Site reassigned from Debenham to Garroutte. John Carnahan
4/15/2015 Site Visit DEC staff completed a site visit at Galena High School. Two monitoring wells were located during the site visit, one immediately north of the high school's northwest corner (MW-7), and another near the playground, east of the school (possibly MW-9). The playground well was frost jacked and unusable. MW-7 had a broken lock but appeared to be in working condition. The evaporation pond, part of the original remediation strategy, was not present at the site. All of the buildings near the spill site were observed to be on piling foundations. The tank farm tanks had been completely removed from the area. Monte Garroutte
5/9/2016 Update or Other Action DEC staff reviewed the site file after it was indicated by the local fire department that Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF), potentially containing perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), had been used on a fire at the site of the former tank farm. Future groundwater monitoring events should include PFC sampling. Monte Garroutte
10/25/2017 Site Visit Conducted a site visit with previous Project Manager. Jamie McKellar
12/12/2017 Update or Other Action Spoke with Galena city manager. Advised that DEC's intent is that the wells up-gradient of the high school should be sampled next, and after that a surface water sample collected from a residential site furthest up-gradient. Jamie McKellar
10/29/2018 Site Visit A site visit was conducted at the Galena High School site on 10/24/2018. DEC discussed the site with a representative from Louden Tribal Council during the RAB meeting and will follow up by providing site summary information to the city and Louden. Jamie McKellar
10/23/2019 Site Visit A site visit was conducted at the Galena High School on 10/23/2019. Jamie McKellar
10/20/2022 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting held with DEC and Galena High School superintendent to discuss the site history of site. Site has had no progress since 1996 and further delineation of contaminated soils and groundwater is needed. The last groundwater monitoring event occurred in 1996, results indicating concentrations of DRO, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes above Table C Groundwater cleanup levels. Contaminated soils are still present in the area of the former Tank Farm and downgradient. Kelly Walker
10/26/2022 Site Visit On 10/26/2022, CS staff met with the Galena High School superintendent to discuss contamination at the Galena High School. A brief site walk was conducted in the general locations of the former tank farm and former shop building that burned down in 2011. There are no indications that any of the former monitoring wells or soil stockpile are still present at the site. Jamie McKellar

Contaminant Information

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Control Type

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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