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Site Report: Galena AFS/Airport - AOC 023 (SS018) Waste Accum. Area

Site Name: Galena AFS/Airport - AOC 023 (SS018) Waste Accum. Area
Address: Galena Airport, Galena, AK 99741
File Number: 860.38.030
Hazard ID: 565
Status: Active
Staff: Tim Sharp, 9074512131 tim.sharp@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.740267
Longitude: -156.957606
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 Waste Accumulation Area (Site SS018; formerly known as Area of Concern 23 [AOC023]) occupies 1.37 acres in the southwest portion of the Former Galena Forward Operating Location (FOL) cantonment “triangle”. In 2009, the property was transferred to the City of Galena. Soil and groundwater investigations were conducted at Site SS018 from 1985-2011. Soil at Site SS018 is contaminated with petroleum-related contaminants, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). From the 1950’s until 1996, waste lube oil, antifreeze, solvents, oil rags, and other wastes from power plant operations and other Former Galena FOL petroleum, oil, and lubricants operational activities were accumulated and stored in drums at the site. In 1984, a secondary containment bermed concrete pad was constructed in the middle of Site SS018. During subsequent site visits, drums were found to be leaking out of the concrete pad and onto the ground. Additionally, many drums were found to be stored outside of the secondary containment area. During 2019 excavation activities, an abandoned fuel pipeline was encountered during that runs east to west underneath the concrete pad and terminated within the 2019 excavation. The abandoned pipeline had not been identified in any historical records. Efforts to trace the location of the pipeline were inhibited by metal rebar in the concrete slab and the presence of metal pumps around the pad. Petroleum contamination in groundwater is present at Site SS018 near the location of the diesel fuel pipeline that crosses the site. Groundwater is also contaminated with trichloroethene (TCE); however, TCE contamination is attributed to and will be addressed under Site SS006. In 2017, ADEC approved the Record of Decision (ROD) for Site SS018. The ROD identifies selected remedies for five subareas at the site including soil excavation, groundwater monitoring, natural attenuation, and land use controls (LUCs) to mitigate potential exposures.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
8/29/1995 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RI - Remedial Investigation). Action date used is the date of the Air Force Relative Risk Evaluation Worksheet, which indicates the site is in the RI phase. Former Staff
2/21/1997 Site Added to Database Site added by Shannon and Wilson. See also Reckey 198831X127201. S&W
2/21/2003 Update or Other Action In 2003 work will be completed to characterize this site. Solvents have been detected in the groundwater near this site, but the source may be another area. Ann Farris
9/17/2003 Update or Other Action Staff received the Draft Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Work Plan for Galena Airport. Staff has begun review of the document. A comment resolution/technical project team meeting is scheduled October 2-3rd in Anchorage. This work plan is intended to address the many outstanding site characterization issues that were raised by Louden Tribal Council, the Environmental Protection Agency, and ADEC as well as the Remedial Process Optimization Evaluation completed in 2002. Ann Farris
4/19/2004 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated in the 9th Galena Technical Project Team meeting on April 19th. The meeting was between representatives of the Air Force, Louden Tribal Council, City of Galena, Galena City School District, and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. The primary objective of this meeting was to complete comment resolution on the the Draft Final Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Work Plan. The team did ultimately come to resolution on the work plan and the final version is expected out by mid-May. Ann Farris
8/30/2004 Meeting or Teleconference Held 11th Galena Technical Project Team in Anchorage. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
10/21/2004 Meeting or Teleconference Held Galena RAB meeting. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
11/5/2004 Meeting or Teleconference Held 12th Galena Technical Project Team in Anchorage. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
11/19/2004 Meeting or Teleconference Held Attended a week long meeting in San Antonio, Texas to participate in the formulation of an outline for the Galena Airport and Campion Air Station Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS). Colin Craven
1/12/2005 Update or Other Action Submitted comments to the Air Force to finalize the 2004 Site Recommendations for the upcoming Remedial Investigation report. The 2004 Site Recommendations were produced during the November 2004 meetings in San Antonio, Texas. Colin Craven
1/28/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Galena RAB meeting. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
1/28/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held 13th Galena Technical Project Team in Galena. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
4/19/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held 14th Galena Technical Project Team in Anchorage. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
4/26/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Galena RAB meeting. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
5/13/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held 15th Galena Technical Project Team meeting in Galena. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
6/9/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held 16th Galena Technical Project Team in Anchorage. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
7/20/2005 GIS Position Updated Updated the site location; interpolated from USGS quadrangle map. Colin Craven
8/29/2005 Update or Other Action The Air Force requested closure on the site based on samples collected during a geotechnical survey performed in the area, however, closure not possible due to the site due to the presence of BTEX, DRO, and TCE above cleanup levels with no documented removal or remedial action. The Air Force decided to have the Compliance program handle the Waste Accumulation Area, despite the former Installation Restoration Program listing of the site. Colin Craven
8/30/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held 17th Galena Technical Project Team in Galena. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
10/12/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Galena RAB meeting. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
10/20/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held 18th Galena Technical Project Team in Anchorage. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
1/26/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held 19th Galena Technical Project Team in Galena. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
3/14/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held 20th Galena Technical Project Team in Anchorage. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
6/20/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held 21st Galena Technical Project Team in Galena. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
10/6/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held 22nd Galena Technical Project Team meeting in Anchorage. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
11/17/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held 23rd Galena Technical Project Team meeting in Fairbanks. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
1/18/2007 Meeting or Teleconference Held 24th Galena Technical Project Team meeting in Anchorage. See the "Galena AFS - Sitewide" listing for more details. Colin Craven
6/28/2010 Meeting or Teleconference Held TPT meeting, site discussed Fred Vreeman
8/1/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other SC work plan reviewed Fred Vreeman
8/11/2010 Site Characterization Workplan Approved SC work plan approved Fred Vreeman
8/11/2010 Conceptual Site Model Submitted CSM submitted Amanda Loomis
9/1/2010 Site Visit Site visit, field work audit Amanda Loomis
4/15/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Step out Memo reviewed Fred Vreeman
4/30/2011 Update or Other Action Stepout Memo approved. Fred Vreeman
6/9/2011 Site Visit Site visit, field work audit Fred Vreeman
6/21/2011 Meeting or Teleconference Held TRIAD meeting, sampling data discussed. Fred Vreeman
7/8/2011 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 71544 name: auto-generated pm edit Galena AFS - Waste Accumulatn. Area Amanda Loomis
8/16/2011 Meeting or Teleconference Held TRIAD meeting held. DEC agrees that nature and extent investigation is complete. Fred Vreeman
5/15/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC received a Draft Remedial Investigation Results Report for AOC023. Dennis Shepard
7/19/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided review comments for the Draft Remedial Investigation report for AOC023. DEC expressed concern about the Risk Assessment methodology used to evaluate the site. Risk assessment issues resolution meetings are being planned. Dennis Shepard
8/1/2012 Meeting or Teleconference Held Risk assessment issues resolution meetings were held at DEC offices in Anchorage, Alaska. The site AOC023 risk assessment methodology was discussed. Dennis Shepard
8/1/2012 Meeting or Teleconference Held Risk assessment issues resolution meetings were held at DEC offices in Anchorage, Alaska. The site AOC023 risk assessment methodology was discussed. Issues requiring resolution require EPA weigh in on Exposure Point Concentration (EPC) calculations. Air Force agrees to resample some locations where Data Quality is questioned (surrogate recovery issues). Dennis Shepard
9/4/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Additional comments on Risk Assessment issues were provided. Dennis Shepard
11/6/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Air Force submitted resampling results and Technical Memo for Pesticides at AOC023. Dennis Shepard
11/8/2012 Meeting or Teleconference Held A meeting was conducted with DEC Staff and contractor Shannon and Wilson to identify all remaining data gaps in the site characterization for all Galena Sites including AOC023. Dennis Shepard
2/6/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC received a Draft Final remedial investigation results report for the site. Dennis Shepard
3/13/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided review comments and completed a backcheck of the Air Force response to comments for the Draft Final Remedial Investigation results report for Site AOC023 Dennis Shepard
3/13/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provided a letter of concurrence with recommendations from a Technical Memorandum concerning re-sampling of pesticides at four locations within the AOC023 site boundaries. ADEC had asked for the re-sampling due to quality control issues in the original laboratory results. Dennis Shepard
6/14/2013 CERCLA RI Report Approved The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) received a Draft Remedial Investigation (RI) results report for Site AOC023, Former Galena FOL, on May 15, 2012. ADEC provided comments for the draft report on July 19, 2012 and sent some additional risk assessment comments on August 30, 2012. On February 6, 2013, ADEC received a response to comments (RTC) and a Draft Final RI results report for Site AOC023. ADEC reviewed the Draft Final RI results report and completed a backcheck of the RTC. ADEC provided comments for the Draft Final on March 13, 2013. In order to address ADEC concerns and to reach agreements on a path forward for the risk assessments at Galena RI Sites, a risk scoping meeting for the Former Galena FOL, Alaska was held from 20 to 21 March 2013 in Austin, Texas. An additional teleconference meeting was held on May 8, 2013 to discuss remaining issues for the report. An approval of the Draft Final Remedial Investigation (RI) results report was provided on June 14, 2013. Dennis Shepard
4/15/2014 Meeting or Teleconference Held A Technical Project Team meeting was held to meet the Air Force newly selected Performance Based Remediation Contractor for Galena. The 6.5 year remediation contract was awarded to Parsons Governmental Services (Parsons). The contract includes completing the risk assessments, remediation feasibility studies, proposed plans and record of decision for remedial investigations at 10 Sites (FT001, SS006, SS013, SS015, SS019, SS018/AOC023, SS022/B400, DP023/DSWD, OW024/OWS1833, and SS025). Dennis Shepard
3/4/2015 Risk Assessment Report Approved DEC approved the Human Health Risk Assessment, Waste Accumulation Area (Site AOC023), Former Galena Forward Operating Location (FOL), Alaska. Dennis Shepard
7/29/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the Pipe Verification and Surface Tar Removal Work Plan, Former Galena Forward Operating Location (FOL), Alaska. Dennis Shepard
9/29/2016 CERCLA FS DEC approved for the Feasibility Study Report for Waste Accumulation Area AOC023(Site SS018), Dennis Shepard
10/20/2016 CERCLA Proposed Plan DEC approved the Proposed Plan Air Force Proposes Environmental Restoration Alternatives for Waste Accumulation Area (Site SS018) with Soil and Groundwater Impacts, Former Galena Forward Operating Location (FOL), Alaska. Dennis Shepard
10/26/2016 Meeting or Teleconference Held A restoration advisory board (RAB) meeting was held in Galena. Prior to the RAB meeting,Proposed plans were presented for sites Fire Protection Training Area (FT001), Waste Accumulation Area (SS018) and West Perimeter Road TCE Spill (SS025). Dennis Shepard
10/26/2016 Meeting or Teleconference Held A restoration Advisory board meeting was held in Galena Alaska to discuss the general and specific status of site investigations and cleanup at Galena. Dennis Shepard
8/3/2017 CERCLA ROD Approved Approval of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Waste Accumulation Area. Jamie McKellar
3/6/2018 Update or Other Action DEC received the signed ROD signature page from USAF. It was signed by DEC on 3/6/2018. Jamie McKellar
8/8/2018 Site Visit DEC conducted a site visit at the Former Forward Operating Location in Galena, AK on August 8-9, 2018. A photo log is available in DEC's electronic file. Jamie McKellar
10/29/2018 Site Visit On October 23, 2018, DEC participated in the Technical Project Team (TPT) meeting with representatives from USAF and ADOT&PF. A site visit with inspections of each site was conducted the following day (10/24/2018) in Galena, as well as a regional advisory board (RAB) meeting with members of the community and other interested parties. Jamie McKellar
4/5/2019 Site Visit On April 2, 2019, DEC staff participated in a Technical Project Team meeting with representatives from USAF, Parsons, CH2M, and ADOT. The TPT meeting was held at the Fairbanks DEC office. On April 3-4, 2019, DEC staff traveled to Galena to participate in meetings with the City Mayor & RAB chair to discuss community concerns about site cleanup; a Proposed Plan meeting for Site DP023, and a community regional advisory board (RAB) meeting to discuss fieldwork completed during the 2018 field season and upcoming 2019 fieldwork. Site visits were also conducted. Jamie McKellar
10/23/2019 Meeting or Teleconference Held On October 22, 2019, DEC participated in the Technical Project Team (TPT) meeting with representatives from USAF and ADOT&PF. A site visit was conducted the following day (10/23/2019) in Galena, as well as a regional advisory board (RAB) meeting with members of the community and other interested parties. Jamie McKellar
10/30/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVAL: Final 2018 Performance Monitoring Report for Sites CPL006, CSS002, OW024, SS006/SS019, SS014/SS017, SS015, SS016, SS018, SS022, SS025, ST009, ST010, and FT001, Former Galena Forward Operating Location, Alaska (Parsons, October 2019) Jamie McKellar
5/21/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVAL: Final Construction Completion Report for Waste Accumulation Area (Site SS018) Subarea 5, Former Galena Forward Operating Location, Alaska (Parsons, May 2020) Jamie McKellar
3/2/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other WORK PLAN APPROVED: Final Supplemental Site Characterization Work Plan for Waste Accumulation Area (Site SS018), Former Galena Forward Operating Location, Alaska (Parsons, February 2021) Jamie McKellar
4/21/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVAL: 2020 Performance Monitoring Report for Sites CPL006, CSS002, SS006/SS019, SS017, SS015, SS016, SS018, SS022, ST009, ST010, and FT001, Former Galena Forward Operating Location, Alaska (Parsons, April 2021) Jamie McKellar
8/29/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVAL: Final Supplemental Site Characterization Report for Waste Accumulation Area (Site SS018). During the 2021 field activities, soil boring SS018_GP016, exceeded the 18 AAC 75 Table B1 Human Health cleanup level for trichloroethylene (TCE; 4.9 mg/kg) with a concentration of 2.6 J mg/kg. This TCE exceedance, collected at 6 to 8 feet below ground surface, is associated with a release at Site SS018 Area 2 and will be addressed as part of the remedy for that subarea. Jamie McKellar
8/23/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVED: Final Remedial Process Optimization Evaluation Report, Former Galena Forward Operating Location, Alaska (Parsons, June 2023) Jamie McKellar
9/14/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other WORK PLAN APPROVED: Final Addendum 3 to Work Plan for Remedial Process Optimization Technical Memorandum, Former Galena Forward Operating Location, Alaska (Parsons, September 2023) Jamie McKellar
11/15/2023 Site Visit DEC, DOT, USAF, and contractors met at the Fairbanks DEC office on May 2, 2023 for a Technical Project Team meeting. The following day a site visit and Regional Advisory Board (RAB) meeting were held in Galena. Meeting minutes for the TPT and RAB meetings were approved on November 15, 2023. Jamie McKellar
4/23/2024 Meeting or Teleconference Held CS staff participated in the biannual Technical Project Team (TPT) meeting with representatives from USAF BRAC, Parsons, Jacobs/CH2M Hill, and EA Engineering. The meeting was held at the EA Engineering office in Anchorage, AK. Jamie McKellar
6/26/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC Approved the Final Addendum 4 to Work Plan for Remedial Process Optimization at the Former Galena Forward Operating Location on this date. Tim Sharp
6/27/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved multiple data quality assessment reports for soil, soil vapor, groundwater, and sediment. Reports were submitted by Parsons and CH2M/Jacobs. Approval letter is dated 6/27/2024. Jamie McKellar

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