Site Report: Port of Whittier (FUDS - small boat harbor area)

Site Name:	Port of Whittier (FUDS - small boat harbor area)
Address:	Whittier Small Boat Harbor, Whittier, AK 99693
File Number:	2114.38.017
Hazard ID:	6
Status:	Active
Staff:	Curtis Dunkin, 9072693053 curtis.dunkin@alaska.gov
Latitude:	60.777650
Longitude:	-148.693520
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.

Site Chronology
IC / Closure Details
Documents
Associated Sites

Problems/Comments

Approximately 10 million gallons of diesel fuel spilled from ruptured above ground storage tanks as a result of the 1964 earthquake. The fuel caught fire. However, diesel contaminated the surrounding area. Subsequent expansion of the small boat harbor may have removed some of the contamination. The city has plans to further expand the small boat harbor. Unocal is a potential RP - they owned over half of the tank farm that failed. Unocal has not been officially brought on board as an RP as of the summer of 1999. As of the summer of 1999 the harbor expansion is planned to extend into the bay rather than inland. DOT will be paving the harbor parking area in the summer of 2000 and upgrading the storm sewers in the area. All but two of the wells that were installed during the Golder and COE studies have been destroyed or can't be located. Application received by DEC for a DEC Brownfield Assessment in 2005. Ranking did not place it in the top 6 sites that were designated for funding for an assessment. Brownfield tracking file created, for cross-reference: 2114.57.002. Whittier city manager reapplied for brownfield assistance successfully in 2006. Changed focus to Whittier areawide assessment, to include Head of Passage Canal and Small Boat Harbor areas. New Brownfield file (previous numbers reassigned) is 2114.57.005.

Action Information

Action Date	Action	Description	DEC Staff
9/1/1995	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). The Corps drilled five borings in the vicinity of the small boat harbor. DRO was encountered in subsurface soil. PCBs detected in surface fill material. The Alaska Railroad may investigate PCB contamination.	Katarina Rutkowski
12/1/1995	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). The Alaska Railroad conducted another site investigation in the vicinity of the small boat harbor. Twelve borings were drilled. Zones of subsurface DRO contamination up to 31,000 m/kg encountered.	Katarina Rutkowski
7/1/1997	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = RIFS - Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study). Draft report for the remedial investigation/feasibility study received. The report includes a risk screening evaluation which shows a potential for human and ecological exposure due to contaminated soil, groundwater and sediment. Expansion of the small boat harbor would effectively remove most of the subsurface soil contamination, which is an on-going source for groundwater and potentially sediment contamination. The feasibility study provides a cursory review of options for in situ and ex-situ remedies.	Katarina Rutkowski
12/2/1997	Update or Other Action	Conceptual plan for water quality protection for the small boat harbor expansion received.	Katarina Rutkowski
2/23/1998	Site Added to Database	QA\QC this day revealed that an ADD action was never entered.	Former Staff
4/21/1998	Site Ranked Using the AHRM	Ranking action not added when site was originally ranked. Suspected S&W oversight.	Bill Petrik
6/16/1999	Update or Other Action	Contaminated Soil Management Plan for the DOT construction project (paving and storm sewer upgrades).	Jeff Brownlee
3/2/2000	Update or Other Action		Jeff Brownlee
9/19/2000	Site Ranked Using the AHRM	Changed Population Density Value from 10 to 5. Old score was 67.	Former Staff
6/10/2003	Site Number Identifier Changed	Changed spill date to 3/27 from 3/24 to reflect the correct date of the 1964 earthquake.	Former Staff
4/7/2004	Site Characterization Report Approved		Jeff Brownlee
5/20/2004	Update or Other Action	CS staff has been working with consultants on coincidental contamination encountered during construction activity near a FUDS site in Whittier. Improvements to the boardwalk area around the harbor are being developed this summer. The area utilities including sewer, water and storm drains are being improved. A large parking area will also be paved. DRO and low levels of PCBs have been detected in subsurface soils in the area. So far contaminant levels have not been high enough to warrant remedial action. The contractor is working with the DEC on a sampling and contingency plan for continuing work	Jeff Brownlee
5/21/2004	Site Number Identifier Changed	Corrected Region from 21 to 24.	Former Staff
6/24/2005	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Contaminated Sites staff participated in a scoping meeting for contaminated sites associated with a Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) in Whittier, Alaska. The meeting was attended by the Corps of Engineers, the City of Whittier and their attorney and consultant, and Mr. Larry Gilman. The site has contamination from previous activity by the city and from a former power plant and large underground storage tank operated by the Army. Mr. Gilman has been leasing the property from the City and is in the process of purchasing it. The purpose of the meeting was to delineate responsibility for the contamination and discuss future work including a potential Brownfield grant to the city to complete characterization on sites they have responsibility for.	Jeff Brownlee
9/16/2005	Update or Other Action	File number issued 2114.38.017 (FKA CS100.234)	Aggie Blandford
9/23/2005	Update or Other Action	Letter sent to city manager notifying him that the site was not selected for a DEC brownfield assessment, but that other assistance may be available from DEC with applying for federal funding programs, and that as funding becomes available a new DBA application cycle would be advertised on our website in 2006.	Sonja Benson
6/7/2006	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Staff participated in a site inspection and meeting with the COE and Alaska Railroad in Whittier at the former 1.5 million gallon Underground Storage Tank Formerly Used Defense Site. The main topic of discussion was well placement to determine if site groundwater impacts are migrating to the marine environment. There are several site restrictions due to a rail track and a barge company operation. The COE proposed installing several temporary wells with push equipment to avoid having well hardware in an industrial area. We discussed that the wells may have to be advanced three or four times to establish a trend and to reflect any seasonal changes. Staff also met with a leaseholder on city property who is interested in purchasing contaminated property.	Jeff Brownlee
3/21/2007	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Contaminated Sites staff participated in a meeting to discuss Brownfield initiatives at the Whittier Small Boat Harbor and the Head of Passage Canal. The city of Whittier is interested in pursuing Brownsfield environmental site assessments at these two sites. The city is planning on expanded the small boat harbor and building a recreational facility on property adjacent to the Defense Fuels tank farm site at the Head of Passage Canal and would like to use Brownfield assistance to help with environmental characterization.	Jeff Brownlee
11/27/2007	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking	Intitial Ranking Complete for Source Area: 70986 (Autogenerated Action)
9/8/2008	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Contaminated Sites staff participated in a comment resolution meeting for Remedial Investigations at two Formerly Used Defense Sites in Whittier. The Former Military Power Plant and the Boat Harbor are both proposed for Method 2 ingestion for primarily DRO in soil. Institutional controls will be established at both sites for possible future soil management and Monitored Natural Attenuation will be the preferred remedy at the Boat Harbor as there are residual soil impacts over ingestion levels	Jeff Brownlee
9/11/2008	Site Characterization Report Approved	Contaminated sites staff reviewed and commented on Remedial Investigation reports for two FUDS in Whittier. The Former Military Power Plant was associated with a 1.5 million-gallon underground storage tank, pump house and pipelines. Remedial actions over the years have removed the tank, and impacted soil associated with the pump house and pipelines. The Corps of Engineers is proposing alternative cleanup levels for benzene, Diesel and Residual Range Organics based on elimination of the migration to ground water pathway. The Boat Harbor FUDS in Whittier is proposed for Monitored Natural Attenuation and Institutional Controls. Residual impacts in soil are over ingestion levels in places, but the migration pathways are minimal if long term monitoring shows that contaminants aren’t leaching into the groundwater	Jeff Brownlee
12/5/2008	Update or Other Action	Contaminated Sites staff reviewed and commented on a draft chemical data report for the Boat Harbor FUDS in Whittier. The Corps of Engineers installed eight groundwater monitoring wells around the harbor to determine if there is migration of contamination from the old tank farm spill caused by the quake in 1964. Diesel Range Organics (DRO) was detected in two wells and Gasoline Range Organics (GRO) in one well over Table C cleanup values. Monitoring will continue to see if trends can be established and determine if Monitored Natural Attenuation is appropriate for the site	Jeff Brownlee
12/30/2008	Update or Other Action	Contaminated Sites staff reviewed and approved the final chemical data report for the Boat Harbor FUDS in Whittier. The Corps of Engineers installed eight groundwater monitoring wells around the harbor and conducted environmental sampling (soil, groundwater, sediment, and surface water)to determine if there is migration of contamination from the old tank farm spill caused by the quake in 1964. Diesel Range Organics (DRO) were detected in two wells and Gasoline Range Organics (GRO) in one well over Table C cleanup values. Monitoring will continue to see if trends can be established and determine if Monitored Natural Attenuation is appropriate for the site	John Halverson
3/18/2009	Update or Other Action	Contaminated Sites staff reviewed draft decision documents for two FUDS in Whittier Alaska. The Small Boat Harbor has residual DRO contamination in soil from above ground storage tank failures caused by the 1964 earthquake. The preferred remedy is Monitored Natural Attenuation with Institutional Controls. Groundwater will be monitored to confirm attenuation trends and ensure contaminant migration to the marine environment is not exceeding ecological screening levels. The Former Power Plant has residual DRO contamination over cleanup levels. The preferred remedy is Institutional Controls for future soil management. Both sites are using Ingestion cleanup levels as area groundwater is not considered a drinking water source	Jeff Brownlee
9/30/2009	Update or Other Action	DEC signed the Port of Whittier Military Reservation Containerized HTRW Project Closeout Report, dated Sept. 22, 2009. The report documents that the Corps of Engineers has removed or emptied all known FUDS Program eligible containerized waste (drums, tanks, pipelines) from the property. No further CON/HTRW work is necessary. This decision may be reviewed and modified if new information indicates addtional containerized waste from past military activities is present. An HTRW project addressing contaminated soil/groundwater remains open.	John Halverson
7/26/2017	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	ADEC received the draft 2017 Monitoring Well, Decommissioning, and Project Closeout Report from the Army Corps of Engineers.	Curtis Dunkin

Action Date

Action

Description

DEC Staff

9/1/1995

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). The Corps drilled five borings in the vicinity of the small boat harbor. DRO was encountered in subsurface soil. PCBs detected in surface fill material. The Alaska Railroad may investigate PCB contamination.

Katarina Rutkowski

12/1/1995

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). The Alaska Railroad conducted another site investigation in the vicinity of the small boat harbor. Twelve borings were drilled. Zones of subsurface DRO contamination up to 31,000 m/kg encountered.

Katarina Rutkowski

7/1/1997

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = RIFS - Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study). Draft report for the remedial investigation/feasibility study received. The report includes a risk screening evaluation which shows a potential for human and ecological exposure due to contaminated soil, groundwater and sediment. Expansion of the small boat harbor would effectively remove most of the subsurface soil contamination, which is an on-going source for groundwater and potentially sediment contamination. The feasibility study provides a cursory review of options for in situ and ex-situ remedies.

Katarina Rutkowski

12/2/1997

Update or Other Action

Conceptual plan for water quality protection for the small boat harbor expansion received.

Katarina Rutkowski

2/23/1998

Site Added to Database

QA\QC this day revealed that an ADD action was never entered.

Former Staff

4/21/1998

Site Ranked Using the AHRM

Ranking action not added when site was originally ranked. Suspected S&W oversight.

Bill Petrik

6/16/1999

Update or Other Action

Contaminated Soil Management Plan for the DOT construction project (paving and storm sewer upgrades).

Jeff Brownlee

3/2/2000

Update or Other Action

Jeff Brownlee

9/19/2000

Site Ranked Using the AHRM

Changed Population Density Value from 10 to 5. Old score was 67.

Former Staff

6/10/2003

Site Number Identifier Changed

Changed spill date to 3/27 from 3/24 to reflect the correct date of the 1964 earthquake.

Former Staff

4/7/2004

Site Characterization Report Approved

Jeff Brownlee

5/20/2004

Update or Other Action

CS staff has been working with consultants on coincidental contamination encountered during construction activity near a FUDS site in Whittier. Improvements to the boardwalk area around the harbor are being developed this summer. The area utilities including sewer, water and storm drains are being improved. A large parking area will also be paved. DRO and low levels of PCBs have been detected in subsurface soils in the area. So far contaminant levels have not been high enough to warrant remedial action. The contractor is working with the DEC on a sampling and contingency plan for continuing work

Jeff Brownlee

5/21/2004

Site Number Identifier Changed

Corrected Region from 21 to 24.

Former Staff

6/24/2005

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Contaminated Sites staff participated in a scoping meeting for contaminated sites associated with a Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) in Whittier, Alaska. The meeting was attended by the Corps of Engineers, the City of Whittier and their attorney and consultant, and Mr. Larry Gilman. The site has contamination from previous activity by the city and from a former power plant and large underground storage tank operated by the Army. Mr. Gilman has been leasing the property from the City and is in the process of purchasing it. The purpose of the meeting was to delineate responsibility for the contamination and discuss future work including a potential Brownfield grant to the city to complete characterization on sites they have responsibility for.

Jeff Brownlee

9/16/2005

Update or Other Action

File number issued 2114.38.017 (FKA CS100.234)

Aggie Blandford

9/23/2005

Update or Other Action

Letter sent to city manager notifying him that the site was not selected for a DEC brownfield assessment, but that other assistance may be available from DEC with applying for federal funding programs, and that as funding becomes available a new DBA application cycle would be advertised on our website in 2006.

Sonja Benson

6/7/2006

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Staff participated in a site inspection and meeting with the COE and Alaska Railroad in Whittier at the former 1.5 million gallon Underground Storage Tank Formerly Used Defense Site. The main topic of discussion was well placement to determine if site groundwater impacts are migrating to the marine environment. There are several site restrictions due to a rail track and a barge company operation. The COE proposed installing several temporary wells with push equipment to avoid having well hardware in an industrial area. We discussed that the wells may have to be advanced three or four times to establish a trend and to reflect any seasonal changes. Staff also met with a leaseholder on city property who is interested in purchasing contaminated property.

Jeff Brownlee

3/21/2007

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Contaminated Sites staff participated in a meeting to discuss Brownfield initiatives at the Whittier Small Boat Harbor and the Head of Passage Canal. The city of Whittier is interested in pursuing Brownsfield environmental site assessments at these two sites. The city is planning on expanded the small boat harbor and building a recreational facility on property adjacent to the Defense Fuels tank farm site at the Head of Passage Canal and would like to use Brownfield assistance to help with environmental characterization.

Jeff Brownlee

11/27/2007

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

Intitial Ranking Complete for Source Area: 70986 (Autogenerated Action)

9/8/2008

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Contaminated Sites staff participated in a comment resolution meeting for Remedial Investigations at two Formerly Used Defense Sites in Whittier. The Former Military Power Plant and the Boat Harbor are both proposed for Method 2 ingestion for primarily DRO in soil. Institutional controls will be established at both sites for possible future soil management and Monitored Natural Attenuation will be the preferred remedy at the Boat Harbor as there are residual soil impacts over ingestion levels

Jeff Brownlee

9/11/2008

Site Characterization Report Approved

Contaminated sites staff reviewed and commented on Remedial Investigation reports for two FUDS in Whittier. The Former Military Power Plant was associated with a 1.5 million-gallon underground storage tank, pump house and pipelines. Remedial actions over the years have removed the tank, and impacted soil associated with the pump house and pipelines. The Corps of Engineers is proposing alternative cleanup levels for benzene, Diesel and Residual Range Organics based on elimination of the migration to ground water pathway. The Boat Harbor FUDS in Whittier is proposed for Monitored Natural Attenuation and Institutional Controls. Residual impacts in soil are over ingestion levels in places, but the migration pathways are minimal if long term monitoring shows that contaminants aren’t leaching into the groundwater

Jeff Brownlee

12/5/2008

Update or Other Action

Contaminated Sites staff reviewed and commented on a draft chemical data report for the Boat Harbor FUDS in Whittier. The Corps of Engineers installed eight groundwater monitoring wells around the harbor to determine if there is migration of contamination from the old tank farm spill caused by the quake in 1964. Diesel Range Organics (DRO) was detected in two wells and Gasoline Range Organics (GRO) in one well over Table C cleanup values. Monitoring will continue to see if trends can be established and determine if Monitored Natural Attenuation is appropriate for the site

Jeff Brownlee

12/30/2008

Update or Other Action

Contaminated Sites staff reviewed and approved the final chemical data report for the Boat Harbor FUDS in Whittier. The Corps of Engineers installed eight groundwater monitoring wells around the harbor and conducted environmental sampling (soil, groundwater, sediment, and surface water)to determine if there is migration of contamination from the old tank farm spill caused by the quake in 1964. Diesel Range Organics (DRO) were detected in two wells and Gasoline Range Organics (GRO) in one well over Table C cleanup values. Monitoring will continue to see if trends can be established and determine if Monitored Natural Attenuation is appropriate for the site

John Halverson

3/18/2009

Update or Other Action

Contaminated Sites staff reviewed draft decision documents for two FUDS in Whittier Alaska. The Small Boat Harbor has residual DRO contamination in soil from above ground storage tank failures caused by the 1964 earthquake. The preferred remedy is Monitored Natural Attenuation with Institutional Controls. Groundwater will be monitored to confirm attenuation trends and ensure contaminant migration to the marine environment is not exceeding ecological screening levels. The Former Power Plant has residual DRO contamination over cleanup levels. The preferred remedy is Institutional Controls for future soil management. Both sites are using Ingestion cleanup levels as area groundwater is not considered a drinking water source

Jeff Brownlee

9/30/2009

Update or Other Action

DEC signed the Port of Whittier Military Reservation Containerized HTRW Project Closeout Report, dated Sept. 22, 2009. The report documents that the Corps of Engineers has removed or emptied all known FUDS Program eligible containerized waste (drums, tanks, pipelines) from the property. No further CON/HTRW work is necessary. This decision may be reviewed and modified if new information indicates addtional containerized waste from past military activities is present. An HTRW project addressing contaminated soil/groundwater remains open.

John Halverson

7/26/2017

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

ADEC received the draft 2017 Monitoring Well, Decommissioning, and Project Closeout Report from the Army Corps of Engineers.

Curtis Dunkin

Contaminant Information

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Comments

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Type

Details

Requirements

Description

Details

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Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Site Report: Port of Whittier (FUDS - small boat harbor area)

Site Chronology

IC / Closure Details

Documents

Associated Sites

Problems/Comments

Action Information

Contaminant Information

Control Type

Requirements

Missing Location Data

State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation