Site Report: Northway ACS/ DERP

Site Name:	Northway ACS/ DERP
Address:	Alaska Highway, Northway Junction, Northway, AK 99764
File Number:	170.38.027
Hazard ID:	862
Status:	Active
Staff:	Jenny Gates, 9072628203 jenny.gates@alaska.gov
Latitude:	63.013014
Longitude:	-141.805349
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.

Site Chronology
IC / Closure Details
Documents
Associated Sites

Problems/Comments

Report of possible contamination of drinking water; possible petroleum, solvent, and heavy metal contamination. Site is near the old Fairbanks/Haines oil pipeline and is a former military site scheduled for cleanup under the DERP program. Quantities disposed, date of disposal, extent of contamination unknown. Cross reference file 170.02.012. EPA ID3 AK981762107--CERCLIS site. Army Corps of Engineers has scheduled preliminary assessment for FY 91. DERP-FUD. Also known as Northway ACS (AK. Communication Sys.). (rpltr3.1) Last staff assigned was Rutkowski.

Action Information

Action Date	Action	Description	DEC Staff
9/9/1985	Preliminary Assessment Approved	Site Inventory report dated March 1986 by Woodward-Clyde Consultants. Report recommends that sampling be done, especially near fuel storage tanks and identifies possible POL contaminated soils, solvents, antifreeze and PCB oils contamination.	Former Staff
7/1/1986	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = MS - Monitoring/Sampling). Sampling was apparently conducted without any QA/QC information and sampling methods and materials is not discussed. Tested for PCBs, metals, semi-volatile organic compounds and volatile organic compounds. 39 ppm arsenic and 300 ppm lead were found in the soil at the tank farm and tentatively identified compounds included 3000 ppm C9 - C25 hydrocarbon substances indicating possible petroleum contamination. No PCBs were detected at the site. 5 ppb carbon disulfide and 10 ppm trichlorofluoromethane found in a drinking well on site, MCLs unknown.	Former Staff
3/18/1991	Site Ranked Using the AHRM	Initial ranking. Score of 65.	Former Staff
9/8/1992	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = RPL2 - Site Information Request Letter). ADEC staff sent PRP-CS Database Notification letter to RP requesting update and more environmental information concerning contaminated site. Jim Levine\COE called 10-5-92 and responded by returning updated DECRPTs.	Jeff Peterson
12/28/1993	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = CP - Closure Pending). UST closure report from USCG.	Bob Couch
1/25/1994	Site Added to Database		Former Staff
6/15/1995	Cleanup Plan Approved	(Old R:Base Action Code = RAPA - Remedial Action Plan Approval). Received "Draft Work Plan and Sampling and Analysis Plan for the Northway ACS Removal Action at Northway Junction, Alaska" Staff had no comment on this document.	Clint Adler
4/4/1996	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Received Draft Remedial Action Report Northway Alaska Communications System Removal Action. Staff did not submit formal comments to COE.	Clint Adler
7/5/1996	Cleanup Plan Approved	(Old R:Base Action Code = RAPA - Remedial Action Plan Approval). Final "Work Plan/Sampling and Analysis Plan Northway ACS Removal Action" and "Waste Management/Offsite Transportation and Disposal Plan" submitted to ADEC. Staff had no comments.	Clint Adler
7/12/1996	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = RARR - Remedial Action Report Review (CS)). Received Final Remedial Action Report Northway Alaska Communications System Removal Action. Staff did not submit formal comments to COE.	Clint Adler
7/12/1996	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = RARR - Remedial Action Report Review (CS)). Staff received Final Remedial Action Report. Staff had no comments for the Corps.	Clint Adler
9/1/1998	Update or Other Action	Site characterization workplan.	Kevin Oates
11/1/1998	Update or Other Action	Call from Suzanne Beauchamp (COE) about detecting DRO in two of three pump tested wells. One well is not in use and the other not used for drinking water.	Jeff Brownlee
5/21/1999	Site Characterization Report Approved	Site characterization report approved.	Jeff Brownlee
9/9/1999	Site Characterization Workplan Approved	Site characterization workplan approved.	Jeff Brownlee
10/11/1999	Update or Other Action	DRO levels above Table C groundwater criteria were detected in two area water wells during pump tests performed in 1998. One of the wells is not used and the other is not used for drinking water. Permafrost and bedrock present at fairly shallow depths (10 - 20 feet below ground surface). A possible source area is the former used oil sump adjacent to the power plant. This sump is the subject of a current investigation to try to determine the extent of contamination.	Jeff Brownlee
10/15/1999	Site Ranked Using the AHRM	Updated ranking.	Jeff Brownlee
4/18/2000	Update or Other Action	Reviewed Draft addendum Site Characterization Report. DRO soil contamination better delineated at the former hillside tank farm and used oil sump. Resampled the three domestic water wells (Spitler, Trooper and Triplex). Consistent levels of DRO in GW over Table C in the Spitler well, detectable levels below Table C in the Trooper well.	Jeff Brownlee
9/18/2000	Update or Other Action	reviewed and commented on a draft work plan for continued remedial action at Nway ACS. Approximately 220-cubic yards of DRO impacted soil will be removed from the Hillside Tank Farm at the limits of a previous excavation that did not remove all the contaminated soil.	Jeff Brownlee
3/5/2001	Update or Other Action	File number updated from 170.02.012 to 170.38.027.	Mitzi Read
6/26/2002	Update or Other Action	The draft Remedial Action report for the 2000 and 2001 field season was received and comments submitted.	Debra Caillouet
12/3/2002	Update or Other Action	The final Remedial Action Report for the ACS hillside tank farm was recieved.	Debra Caillouet
12/23/2002	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Staff met with the USACE project delivery team to scope work for the 2003 field season.	Debra Caillouet
8/27/2003	Update or Other Action	A tech memo for the additional site characterization at the ACS was reviewed. It documents a previously unknown plume of contaminated soil downgradient of a pipeline junction. It also identifies the extent of contamination at the former used oil sump	Debra Caillouet
1/20/2004	Update or Other Action	A draft FS was received for the soils at the ACS site. No recommended actions are included, although several alternatives were evaluated.	Debra Caillouet
3/2/2004	Site Ranked Using the AHRM	Site reranked based on quanity of soil documented in the FS and free product found in the powerhouse well.	Debra Caillouet
3/8/2005	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Staff participated in a public meeting for the OU3 Proposed Plan.	Debra Caillouet
8/26/2005	Update or Other Action	staff set up a meeting to develop the DSMOA	Debra Caillouet
8/26/2005	Update or Other Action	changed site name to ACS rather than the RRS that was incorrect	Debra Caillouet
8/26/2005	Update or Other Action	Staff sent a comment leter on the Groundwater Investigation work plan	Debra Caillouet
10/3/2005	Site Characterization Report Approved	Staff sent an approval letter on the ROST/LIF investigation. The report describes an investigation to identify and delineate potential fuel contamination at the Northway Alaska Communication System (ACS) Formerly Used Defense Site located in Northway Junction. The data acquisition method utilized was the Rapid Optical Screening Tool and its laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) probe. Forty LIF probe pushes were completed at the site to delineate the vertical and horizontal extent of petroleum contamination at the ACS site. Completion of the LIF pushes identified the extent of the petroleum contamination near the power plant and on the eastern portion of the site, between the former pipeline and the road. Diesel range organics were identified close to the bedrock interface near the power plant and up to 19 feet below ground surface downhill from the former pipeline. This information will be used along with previously obtained soil data and the groundwater monitoring wells that are being installed this fall to prepare a feasibility study for the ACS site. The report fairly presents the information obtained from the investigation and meets the requirements of 18 AAC 75.355, Site Characterization and is approved.	Debra Caillouet
10/5/2005	Site Characterization Workplan Approved	staff sent an approval letter regarding the groundwater investigation work plan	Debra Caillouet
2/8/2006	Update or Other Action	Five new monitoring wells were placed through competent bedrock to characterize further the groundwater contamination at the Northway ACS. The results of groundwater sampling completed in October 2005 show diesel range organics (DRO) present in three of the new wells above 18 AAC 75.345 Table C Groundwater Cleanup Levels and residual range organics (RRO) above Table C levels in two of the wells. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were not detected above cleanup levels in the groundwater. The soil in each well boring was screened and the highest samples analyzed by a laboratory for DRO, RRO, BTEX and PAHs. The soil in one boring was above 18 AAC 75.341 Method 2 cleanup levels for DRO from 7 feet below ground surface (bgs) to 17 feet bgs. This boring was in the same area the Rapid Optical Screening Test/Laser Induced Florescence sampling in August 2005 identified soil contamination remaining. The other four borings did not contain contaminants above Method 2 levels. The discussion of the groundwater contamination states that the location of the groundwater contaminant plume and groundwater flow direction suggests that there may be multiple sources of contamination. DEC recommends that this be expanded to include the possibility that fractures in the bedrock may have transported contamination in directions not predicted by groundwater flow. The report recommends additional monitoring wells be placed to define the complete extent of groundwater contamination on the west and southwest sides of the site. A well is also recommended east of the site but the report acknowledges that due to the steep gradient this may not be possible. DEC concurs with this recommendation. The recommendation for the treatability study for the soil is to evaluate bioventing with and without augmentation. DEC concurs. The report indicates that the remedial alternatives that were proposed for the groundwater treatability study have been impacted negatively by the findings of this investigation and states that further evaluation will be presented in the Treatability Study Work Plan. DEC suggests that natural attenuation of the groundwater after source removal be included in the treatability study.	Debra Caillouet
2/16/2006	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Staff met with the Corps and their contractor to discuss the results of groundwater sampling at the Northway ACS and the plans for a treatability study this summer for both the soil and groundwater. A biovent study with and without supplemental nutrients will be done for the soil. It was decided that not enough information was known about the groundwater to make a treatability study practical and that sampling to determine the rate of natural attenuation would be the best use of resources. Potentially two additional downgradient wells will be installed to determine a clean point for the groundwater that is impacted by diesel range organics. The Corps is preparing a closure decision document for the CON/HTRW project .	Debra Caillouet
2/28/2006	Update or Other Action	The Draft Final Chemical Data Report, Northway Staging Field and Alaska Communication System, Summer 2005 was reviewed and a comment letter sent to the Corps.	Debra Caillouet
5/3/2006	Update or Other Action	A draft work plan for the Northway ACS Treatability Study was reviewed and comments sent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The treatability study will evaluate bioventing, with and without amendments, as a remedy for DRO contaminated soil located from the surface to 30 feet below ground surface. Additional monitoring wells will be installed through bedrock to determine the groundwater flow and size of the DRO plume that is associated with the DRO contaminated soil. Natural attenuation parameters will be analyzed to determine if it is occurring and the rate.	Debra Caillouet
5/3/2006	Update or Other Action	A draft work plan for additional site characterization and support of the bioventing feasibility study using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ROST at the Northway ACS was reviewed. The plan describes use of the ROST to determine relative contaminant levels before and after the treatability study to support laboratory analysis of soil samples.	Debra Caillouet
8/24/2006	Update or Other Action	Staff drafted minor comments on the ex-situ treatability study for soil from the former used oil sump near the powerhouse.	Debra Caillouet
2/2/2007	Update or Other Action	Staff provided minor comment on the 2006 GW report for Ham Lake and the ACS.	Debra Caillouet
2/23/2007	Update or Other Action	Staff provided comment on the 2006 ACS Soil Treatability Report	Debra Caillouet
2/23/2007	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking		Debra Caillouet
5/29/2007	Update or Other Action	The Final 2006 Soil Treatability Study Report, Northway Alaska Communication System Formerly Used Defense Site, Northway Junction, May 2007was reviewed and approved. The report documents the installation of a bioventing system to treat petroleum contaminated soils in-situ at the Northway Alaska Communication System (ACS) and the installation of a second system to treat soils from an excavation in the area of the former used oil sump in a stockpile. Radius of influence testing and respiration testing were performed for the in-situ system. The report recommends the addition of nitrogen and moisture to enhance the rate of bioremediation for the in-situ soil. Baseline samples were analyzed from the soil stockpile to document the beginning conditions. The ex-situ system will be started in 2007 along with the in-situ system. An amended work plan for the 2007 operations at the ACS is planned. The report also presents the results of the confirmation sampling from the excavation at the former used oil sump area. Five of eight confirmation samples exceeded the Method 2 cleanup level of 250 mg/kg diesel range organics. Three of these samples were obtained at the bedrock interface and two of the samples were obtained where the excavation was halted to prevent undermining the existing building. The contaminated soil was removed to the extent practicable until the existing building is removed from the site. The highest concentration detected next to the building was 4720 mg/kg DRO.	Debra Caillouet
8/17/2007	Update or Other Action	Staff reviewed and approved the final 2007 Treatability Study work plan	Debra Caillouet
2/20/2008	Update or Other Action	Staff reviewed the draft 2007 Soil Treatability Study Report and had no comment.	Debra Caillouet
2/21/2008	Site Characterization Report Approved	The 07 groundwater monitoring report was reviewed and approved	Debra Caillouet
7/31/2008	Update or Other Action	Staff reviewed the Draft Northway ACS Feasibility Study Report, Northway Alaska Communication System, Northway Junction. Alaska. The FS evaluates three alternatives for treating the soil and three alternatives for treating the groundwater at the site. Soil sampling has shown a maximum of 9700 mg/kg diesel range organics which is below the ingestion cleanup level of 10,250 mg/kg and the inhalation level of 12,500 mg/kg. It is above the migration to groundwater cleanup level of 250 mg/kg. Groundwater has been found to be contaminated with DRO at one drinking water well, along with several monitoring wells installed at the ACS. The soil treatment alternatives evaluated were excavation to bedrock and off-site treatment, excavation to 10 feet below ground surface and off-site treatment, and institutional controls (ICs) to prevent exposure to the contamination. DEC can support any of these alternatives. The groundwater treatment alternatives evaluated were to provide an alternative water supply for the home effected by the contaminated groundwater well and ICs provide a point of use treatment system for the home affected by the contaminated groundwater well and ICs, or ICs with monitored natural attenuation. DEC supports providing an alternative water supply for the home and institutional controls to prevent exposure to the contaminated groundwater along with monitored natural attenuation.	Debra Caillouet
12/30/2008	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	The final Feasibility Study was approved.	Debra Caillouet
9/2/2009	Site Characterization Workplan Approved	2009 Northway Field Work, Technical Memorandum August 28, 2009 was approved. Monitoring wells at the ACS and Ham Lake Sites will be sampled, monitoring wells at the TACAN site will be decommissioned and the soil stockpile at the ACS site will be sampled. Please provide the results of the sampling and analysis when available.	Debra Caillouet
2/5/2010	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Draft 2009 Groundwater Monitoring Report and Ex-Situ Soil Treatablity Study Report, Northway ACS and Staging Field, Ham Lake and TACAN There are concerns regarding the sampling and analysis that occurred for the Ex-Situ Soil. There appears to have been two sampling events but only one is described in the report. When this is resolved DEC should be able to make a determination on the suitability of the proposed soil disposal	Debra Caillouet
1/26/2011	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	2010 Draft Groundwater Monitoring and Ex-Situ Soil Treatability Study Report, November 2010, Northway ACS and Ham Lake	Debra Caillouet
5/10/2011	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	2010 Groundwater Monitoring and Ex-Situ Soil Treatability Study Report, March 2011, Northway ACS and Ham Lake. The report provides documentation of the sampling events at Ham Lake and at the ACS in 2010. Groundwater contamination continues to exist at both sites although the MAROS evaluation shows it to be stable. The report also recommends continuing the annual sampling program at both sites.	Debra Caillouet
6/13/2011	Update or Other Action	comment sent on a draft proposed plan	Debra Caillouet
6/14/2011	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Draft Treatment System Decommissioning and Groundwater Monitoring Work Plan, Northway ACS and Northway Staging Field (Ham Lake), May 2011 DEC has no objection to the implementation of the described work.	Debra Caillouet
8/15/2011	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Final Treatment System Decommissioning and Groundwater Monitoring Work Plan, Northway ACS and Northway Staging Field (Ham Lake), July 2011 The objective of the project activities is to complete decommissioning of all of the in-situ and ex-situ treatment system equipment and to monitor the groundwater contamination. The treated soil from the ex-situ treatment cell will be placed on the gravel access road in the immediate area. The security fencing will remain in place for future use of the current landowners, Northway Natives Incorporated. Groundwater monitoring wells will be sampled in order to monitor the extent of groundwater contamination at the site. Eight wells are located at the ACS site and seven at the Ham Lake site will be sampled in 2011.	Debra Caillouet
9/26/2011	CERCLA Proposed Plan		Debra Caillouet
3/5/2012	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Final 2011 Treatment System Decommissioning and Groundwater Monitoring Report, Northway Alaska Communication System and Northway Staging Field (Ham Lake), February 2012	Debra Caillouet
5/24/2012	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Draft Long Term Management Plan for Annual Groundwater Monitoring, Northway Alaska Communications System and Northway Staging Field (Ham Lake) Formerly Used Defense Sites, Northway Alaska April 2012 approved	Debra Caillouet
11/26/2012	CERCLA ROD Approved	The Decision Document was signed by the Corps of Engineers	Debra Caillouet
1/14/2013	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Draft 2012 Treatment System Groundwater Monitoring Report, Northway ACS and Ham Lake, December 2012	Debra Caillouet
7/15/2014	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Work plan for investigation of Spitler well was approved.	Debra Caillouet
11/13/2014	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Draft 2014, Spitler Well Inspection and Sampling Technical Memorandum, Northway Alaska, November 2014. The report documents the inspection of the drinking water well located at the Spitler residence in Northway and the continuing contamination of the water with diesel range organics. ADEC approves the report as written.	Debra Caillouet
2/6/2015	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	draft powerhouse demolition and well decommissioning report	Debra Caillouet
11/23/2015	Update or Other Action	Site management transferred to Carnahan.	John Carnahan
6/9/2016	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Provide approval for FINAL 2015 GW Monitoring Report for Northway ACS and Northway Staging Field (Ham Lake) FUDS.	John Carnahan
8/18/2016	Site Characterization Report Approved	DEC provides approval of report for decommissioning and installation of domestic water well at residence previously impacted by site activities.	John Carnahan
12/1/2016	Meeting or Teleconference Held	CS managers participate in the annual FUDS site management action plan meeting. The purpose of the is to collaborate with FUDS management on site progress and prioritization for all of the formerly used defense sites. FUDS prioritization is based on risk, congressional interest, state input and proximity to other sites on the prioritization list. FUDS has increased environmental restoration funding in Alaska for the 2017 and 2018 field seasons to meet National goals for site progress.	Darren Mulkey
8/29/2017	Update or Other Action	Telecon with RPM to discuss JEP development. Will include Draft/Final workplan modifications and reporting for LTM that was identified in DD.	John Carnahan
5/21/2019	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	2018 Groundwater Monitoring Report reviewed and comment letter submitted. Five monitoring wells and one drinking water well were evaluated, measured and sampled over 21-22 September 2018. Diesel range organics (DRO) were the only petroleum, oil, lubricant contaminant that was sampled that had concentrations above cleanup levels, in three wells. Manganese exceeded cleanup levels in two wells, presumed to be attributed to bioremediation. Three wells besides the five sampled could not be used due to presence of free product, dewatering, and heat trace malfunction, respectively. Continued monitoring is recommended on the three-year cycle. DEC provided the following general comments on the field effort and reporting: 1. Inoperable monitoring wells/heat trace should be repaired or replaced, as determined appropriate prior to the next sampling event. Because 2005-05C and 2006-01 could not be sampled, a trend analysis was unable to be completed in 2018. Thus, the objectives of the groundwater monitoring program were not fully met. Trend analysis will be needed for the next, and subsequent, monitoring events to properly characterize the progress of the remedy of monitoring and natural attenuation. 3. Given the extent of uncontrolled use by site visitors evident in the photolog, it seems that institutional control signage may be appropriate at this site to prevent excavation and warn of exposure to contaminated soil.	Kevin Fraley
5/23/2019	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	DEC reviewed and provided comments on the Draft 2018 Northway ACS site Periodic Review	Kevin Fraley
12/30/2019	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	DEC approved the 2018 Final Groundwater Sampling Report, Northway Alaska Communication System, dated November 2019. Five monitoring wells and one drinking water well were evaluated, measured and sampled over 21-22 September 2018. Diesel range organics were the only petroleum, oil, lubricant contaminant that was sampled that had concentrations above cleanup levels, in three wells. Manganese exceeded cleanup levels in two wells, presumed to be attributed to bioremediation. Three wells besides the five sampled could not be used due to presence of free product, dewatering, and heat trace malfunction, respectively. Continued monitoring is recommended on the three-year cycle.	Kevin Fraley
3/4/2020	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	DEC approved the 2018 Final Periodic Review, Northway Alaska Communication System, Formerly Used Defense Site Project Number F10AK017703, Northway, Alaska, dated January 2020. As part of the 2018 periodic review, a site inspection was conducted, the conceptual site model was evaluated, and protectiveness of the remedy was assessed. The site inspection indicated that trespass and land use change may be occurring, as evidenced by the presence of unknown drilling equipment, a recent excavation near the contaminated area, disturbance of surface soil by ATV use, and dumping and burning of debris. The new water supply well has been installed and the former water supply wells have been decommissioned. The conceptual site model evaluation indicated that the contaminants of concern, exposure pathways, and potential receptors were largely unchanged since the Decision Document was issued. The assessment of the protectiveness of the remedy stated that the remedy is functioning and is protective of human health and the environment. However, DEC is concerned about the land use change, excavation, and trespass that appears to have occurred at the site. DEC also notes that a deed notice documenting the contamination at the site and setting requirements for management of the contamination, required as part of the remedy, has not yet been implemented, despite more than five years having passed since the issuance of the Decision Document. Uniform Environmental Covenants Act (UECA) covenants must be filed for the site as soon as possible in order for the remedy to be fully implemented and for protectiveness to be assured. In correspondence with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), it was stated that the process to file UECA covenants for this site has been initiated. Thus, DEC approves this report, but USACE must submit a plan of action and deadline for filing the covenants. DEC has requested that USACE provide this plan and deadline within 30 days of this approval.	Kevin Fraley
6/3/2021	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Received 2020 GW Monitoring report. It had initially been sent to Kevin Fraley. Comments sent 6/11/2021. Final approval sent 7/22/2021.	Shonda Oderkirk
8/15/2023	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Draft work plan received. Comments were sent in three rounds on August 21, September 7, and September 22. Resolution was not reached for comments related to the periodic review portions of the work plan. Only comments related directly to current planned field work for October 2023 were resolved. DEC will not approve of the final periodic review report until the related work plan comments are resolved, as well as whatever comments arise during PR review. 10/3/2023: partial approval for field work portion of the work plan given and letter sent.	Shonda Oderkirk
12/7/2023	Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved	Analytical soil results indicate levels of DRO and RRO were below CULs. The soil will be returned to the site and spread on the ground surface.	Shonda Oderkirk

Action Date

Action

Description

DEC Staff

9/9/1985

Preliminary Assessment Approved

Site Inventory report dated March 1986 by Woodward-Clyde Consultants. Report recommends that sampling be done, especially near fuel storage tanks and identifies possible POL contaminated soils, solvents, antifreeze and PCB oils contamination.

Former Staff

7/1/1986

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = MS - Monitoring/Sampling). Sampling was apparently conducted without any QA/QC information and sampling methods and materials is not discussed. Tested for PCBs, metals, semi-volatile organic compounds and volatile organic compounds. 39 ppm arsenic and 300 ppm lead were found in the soil at the tank farm and tentatively identified compounds included 3000 ppm C9 - C25 hydrocarbon substances indicating possible petroleum contamination. No PCBs were detected at the site. 5 ppb carbon disulfide and 10 ppm trichlorofluoromethane found in a drinking well on site, MCLs unknown.

Former Staff

3/18/1991

Site Ranked Using the AHRM

Initial ranking. Score of 65.

Former Staff

9/8/1992

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = RPL2 - Site Information Request Letter). ADEC staff sent PRP-CS Database Notification letter to RP requesting update and more environmental information concerning contaminated site. Jim Levine\COE called 10-5-92 and responded by returning updated DECRPTs.

Jeff Peterson

12/28/1993

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = CP - Closure Pending). UST closure report from USCG.

Bob Couch

1/25/1994

Site Added to Database

Former Staff

6/15/1995

Cleanup Plan Approved

(Old R:Base Action Code = RAPA - Remedial Action Plan Approval). Received "Draft Work Plan and Sampling and Analysis Plan for the Northway ACS Removal Action at Northway Junction, Alaska" Staff had no comment on this document.

Clint Adler

4/4/1996

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Received Draft Remedial Action Report Northway Alaska Communications System Removal Action. Staff did not submit formal comments to COE.

Clint Adler

7/5/1996

Cleanup Plan Approved

(Old R:Base Action Code = RAPA - Remedial Action Plan Approval). Final "Work Plan/Sampling and Analysis Plan Northway ACS Removal Action" and "Waste Management/Offsite Transportation and Disposal Plan" submitted to ADEC. Staff had no comments.

Clint Adler

7/12/1996

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = RARR - Remedial Action Report Review (CS)). Received Final Remedial Action Report Northway Alaska Communications System Removal Action. Staff did not submit formal comments to COE.

Clint Adler

7/12/1996

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = RARR - Remedial Action Report Review (CS)). Staff received Final Remedial Action Report. Staff had no comments for the Corps.

Clint Adler

9/1/1998

Update or Other Action

Site characterization workplan.

Kevin Oates

11/1/1998

Update or Other Action

Call from Suzanne Beauchamp (COE) about detecting DRO in two of three pump tested wells. One well is not in use and the other not used for drinking water.

Jeff Brownlee

5/21/1999

Site Characterization Report Approved

Site characterization report approved.

Jeff Brownlee

9/9/1999

Site Characterization Workplan Approved

Site characterization workplan approved.

Jeff Brownlee

10/11/1999

Update or Other Action

DRO levels above Table C groundwater criteria were detected in two area water wells during pump tests performed in 1998. One of the wells is not used and the other is not used for drinking water. Permafrost and bedrock present at fairly shallow depths (10 - 20 feet below ground surface). A possible source area is the former used oil sump adjacent to the power plant. This sump is the subject of a current investigation to try to determine the extent of contamination.

Jeff Brownlee

10/15/1999

Site Ranked Using the AHRM

Updated ranking.

Jeff Brownlee

4/18/2000

Update or Other Action

Reviewed Draft addendum Site Characterization Report. DRO soil contamination better delineated at the former hillside tank farm and used oil sump. Resampled the three domestic water wells (Spitler, Trooper and Triplex). Consistent levels of DRO in GW over Table C in the Spitler well, detectable levels below Table C in the Trooper well.

Jeff Brownlee

9/18/2000

Update or Other Action

reviewed and commented on a draft work plan for continued remedial action at Nway ACS. Approximately 220-cubic yards of DRO impacted soil will be removed from the Hillside Tank Farm at the limits of a previous excavation that did not remove all the contaminated soil.

Jeff Brownlee

3/5/2001

Update or Other Action

File number updated from 170.02.012 to 170.38.027.

Mitzi Read

6/26/2002

Update or Other Action

The draft Remedial Action report for the 2000 and 2001 field season was received and comments submitted.

Debra Caillouet

12/3/2002

Update or Other Action

The final Remedial Action Report for the ACS hillside tank farm was recieved.

Debra Caillouet

12/23/2002

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Staff met with the USACE project delivery team to scope work for the 2003 field season.

Debra Caillouet

8/27/2003

Update or Other Action

A tech memo for the additional site characterization at the ACS was reviewed. It documents a previously unknown plume of contaminated soil downgradient of a pipeline junction. It also identifies the extent of contamination at the former used oil sump

Debra Caillouet

1/20/2004

Update or Other Action

A draft FS was received for the soils at the ACS site. No recommended actions are included, although several alternatives were evaluated.

Debra Caillouet

3/2/2004

Site Ranked Using the AHRM

Site reranked based on quanity of soil documented in the FS and free product found in the powerhouse well.

Debra Caillouet

3/8/2005

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Staff participated in a public meeting for the OU3 Proposed Plan.

Debra Caillouet

8/26/2005

Update or Other Action

staff set up a meeting to develop the DSMOA

Debra Caillouet

8/26/2005

Update or Other Action

changed site name to ACS rather than the RRS that was incorrect

Debra Caillouet

8/26/2005

Update or Other Action

Staff sent a comment leter on the Groundwater Investigation work plan

Debra Caillouet

10/3/2005

Site Characterization Report Approved

Staff sent an approval letter on the ROST/LIF investigation. The report describes an investigation to identify and delineate potential fuel contamination at the Northway Alaska Communication System (ACS) Formerly Used Defense Site located in Northway Junction. The data acquisition method utilized was the Rapid Optical Screening Tool and its laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) probe. Forty LIF probe pushes were completed at the site to delineate the vertical and horizontal extent of petroleum contamination at the ACS site. Completion of the LIF pushes identified the extent of the petroleum contamination near the power plant and on the eastern portion of the site, between the former pipeline and the road. Diesel range organics were identified close to the bedrock interface near the power plant and up to 19 feet below ground surface downhill from the former pipeline. This information will be used along with previously obtained soil data and the groundwater monitoring wells that are being installed this fall to prepare a feasibility study for the ACS site. The report fairly presents the information obtained from the investigation and meets the requirements of 18 AAC 75.355, Site Characterization and is approved.

Debra Caillouet

10/5/2005

Site Characterization Workplan Approved

staff sent an approval letter regarding the groundwater investigation work plan

Debra Caillouet

2/8/2006

Update or Other Action

Five new monitoring wells were placed through competent bedrock to characterize further the groundwater contamination at the Northway ACS. The results of groundwater sampling completed in October 2005 show diesel range organics (DRO) present in three of the new wells above 18 AAC 75.345 Table C Groundwater Cleanup Levels and residual range organics (RRO) above Table C levels in two of the wells. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were not detected above cleanup levels in the groundwater. The soil in each well boring was screened and the highest samples analyzed by a laboratory for DRO, RRO, BTEX and PAHs. The soil in one boring was above 18 AAC 75.341 Method 2 cleanup levels for DRO from 7 feet below ground surface (bgs) to 17 feet bgs. This boring was in the same area the Rapid Optical Screening Test/Laser Induced Florescence sampling in August 2005 identified soil contamination remaining. The other four borings did not contain contaminants above Method 2 levels. The discussion of the groundwater contamination states that the location of the groundwater contaminant plume and groundwater flow direction suggests that there may be multiple sources of contamination. DEC recommends that this be expanded to include the possibility that fractures in the bedrock may have transported contamination in directions not predicted by groundwater flow. The report recommends additional monitoring wells be placed to define the complete extent of groundwater contamination on the west and southwest sides of the site. A well is also recommended east of the site but the report acknowledges that due to the steep gradient this may not be possible. DEC concurs with this recommendation. The recommendation for the treatability study for the soil is to evaluate bioventing with and without augmentation. DEC concurs. The report indicates that the remedial alternatives that were proposed for the groundwater treatability study have been impacted negatively by the findings of this investigation and states that further evaluation will be presented in the Treatability Study Work Plan. DEC suggests that natural attenuation of the groundwater after source removal be included in the treatability study.

Debra Caillouet

2/16/2006

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Staff met with the Corps and their contractor to discuss the results of groundwater sampling at the Northway ACS and the plans for a treatability study this summer for both the soil and groundwater. A biovent study with and without supplemental nutrients will be done for the soil. It was decided that not enough information was known about the groundwater to make a treatability study practical and that sampling to determine the rate of natural attenuation would be the best use of resources. Potentially two additional downgradient wells will be installed to determine a clean point for the groundwater that is impacted by diesel range organics. The Corps is preparing a closure decision document for the CON/HTRW project .

Debra Caillouet

2/28/2006

Update or Other Action

The Draft Final Chemical Data Report, Northway Staging Field and Alaska Communication System, Summer 2005 was reviewed and a comment letter sent to the Corps.

Debra Caillouet

5/3/2006

Update or Other Action

A draft work plan for the Northway ACS Treatability Study was reviewed and comments sent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The treatability study will evaluate bioventing, with and without amendments, as a remedy for DRO contaminated soil located from the surface to 30 feet below ground surface. Additional monitoring wells will be installed through bedrock to determine the groundwater flow and size of the DRO plume that is associated with the DRO contaminated soil. Natural attenuation parameters will be analyzed to determine if it is occurring and the rate.

Debra Caillouet

5/3/2006

Update or Other Action

A draft work plan for additional site characterization and support of the bioventing feasibility study using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ROST at the Northway ACS was reviewed. The plan describes use of the ROST to determine relative contaminant levels before and after the treatability study to support laboratory analysis of soil samples.

Debra Caillouet

8/24/2006

Update or Other Action

Staff drafted minor comments on the ex-situ treatability study for soil from the former used oil sump near the powerhouse.

Debra Caillouet

2/2/2007

Update or Other Action

Staff provided minor comment on the 2006 GW report for Ham Lake and the ACS.

Debra Caillouet

2/23/2007

Update or Other Action

Staff provided comment on the 2006 ACS Soil Treatability Report

Debra Caillouet

2/23/2007

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

Debra Caillouet

5/29/2007

Update or Other Action

The Final 2006 Soil Treatability Study Report, Northway Alaska Communication System Formerly Used Defense Site, Northway Junction, May 2007was reviewed and approved. The report documents the installation of a bioventing system to treat petroleum contaminated soils in-situ at the Northway Alaska Communication System (ACS) and the installation of a second system to treat soils from an excavation in the area of the former used oil sump in a stockpile. Radius of influence testing and respiration testing were performed for the in-situ system. The report recommends the addition of nitrogen and moisture to enhance the rate of bioremediation for the in-situ soil. Baseline samples were analyzed from the soil stockpile to document the beginning conditions. The ex-situ system will be started in 2007 along with the in-situ system. An amended work plan for the 2007 operations at the ACS is planned. The report also presents the results of the confirmation sampling from the excavation at the former used oil sump area. Five of eight confirmation samples exceeded the Method 2 cleanup level of 250 mg/kg diesel range organics. Three of these samples were obtained at the bedrock interface and two of the samples were obtained where the excavation was halted to prevent undermining the existing building. The contaminated soil was removed to the extent practicable until the existing building is removed from the site. The highest concentration detected next to the building was 4720 mg/kg DRO.

Debra Caillouet

8/17/2007

Update or Other Action

Staff reviewed and approved the final 2007 Treatability Study work plan

Debra Caillouet

2/20/2008

Update or Other Action

Staff reviewed the draft 2007 Soil Treatability Study Report and had no comment.

Debra Caillouet

2/21/2008

Site Characterization Report Approved

The 07 groundwater monitoring report was reviewed and approved

Debra Caillouet

7/31/2008

Update or Other Action

Staff reviewed the Draft Northway ACS Feasibility Study Report, Northway Alaska Communication System, Northway Junction. Alaska. The FS evaluates three alternatives for treating the soil and three alternatives for treating the groundwater at the site. Soil sampling has shown a maximum of 9700 mg/kg diesel range organics which is below the ingestion cleanup level of 10,250 mg/kg and the inhalation level of 12,500 mg/kg. It is above the migration to groundwater cleanup level of 250 mg/kg. Groundwater has been found to be contaminated with DRO at one drinking water well, along with several monitoring wells installed at the ACS. The soil treatment alternatives evaluated were excavation to bedrock and off-site treatment, excavation to 10 feet below ground surface and off-site treatment, and institutional controls (ICs) to prevent exposure to the contamination. DEC can support any of these alternatives. The groundwater treatment alternatives evaluated were to provide an alternative water supply for the home effected by the contaminated groundwater well and ICs provide a point of use treatment system for the home affected by the contaminated groundwater well and ICs, or ICs with monitored natural attenuation. DEC supports providing an alternative water supply for the home and institutional controls to prevent exposure to the contaminated groundwater along with monitored natural attenuation.

Debra Caillouet

12/30/2008

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

The final Feasibility Study was approved.

Debra Caillouet

9/2/2009

Site Characterization Workplan Approved

2009 Northway Field Work, Technical Memorandum August 28, 2009 was approved. Monitoring wells at the ACS and Ham Lake Sites will be sampled, monitoring wells at the TACAN site will be decommissioned and the soil stockpile at the ACS site will be sampled. Please provide the results of the sampling and analysis when available.

Debra Caillouet

2/5/2010

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Draft 2009 Groundwater Monitoring Report and Ex-Situ Soil Treatablity Study Report, Northway ACS and Staging Field, Ham Lake and TACAN There are concerns regarding the sampling and analysis that occurred for the Ex-Situ Soil. There appears to have been two sampling events but only one is described in the report. When this is resolved DEC should be able to make a determination on the suitability of the proposed soil disposal

Debra Caillouet

1/26/2011

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

2010 Draft Groundwater Monitoring and Ex-Situ Soil Treatability Study Report, November 2010, Northway ACS and Ham Lake

Debra Caillouet

5/10/2011

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

2010 Groundwater Monitoring and Ex-Situ Soil Treatability Study Report, March 2011, Northway ACS and Ham Lake. The report provides documentation of the sampling events at Ham Lake and at the ACS in 2010. Groundwater contamination continues to exist at both sites although the MAROS evaluation shows it to be stable. The report also recommends continuing the annual sampling program at both sites.

Debra Caillouet

6/13/2011

Update or Other Action

comment sent on a draft proposed plan

Debra Caillouet

6/14/2011

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Draft Treatment System Decommissioning and Groundwater Monitoring Work Plan, Northway ACS and Northway Staging Field (Ham Lake), May 2011 DEC has no objection to the implementation of the described work.

Debra Caillouet

8/15/2011

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Final Treatment System Decommissioning and Groundwater Monitoring Work Plan, Northway ACS and Northway Staging Field (Ham Lake), July 2011 The objective of the project activities is to complete decommissioning of all of the in-situ and ex-situ treatment system equipment and to monitor the groundwater contamination. The treated soil from the ex-situ treatment cell will be placed on the gravel access road in the immediate area. The security fencing will remain in place for future use of the current landowners, Northway Natives Incorporated. Groundwater monitoring wells will be sampled in order to monitor the extent of groundwater contamination at the site. Eight wells are located at the ACS site and seven at the Ham Lake site will be sampled in 2011.

Debra Caillouet

9/26/2011

CERCLA Proposed Plan

Debra Caillouet

3/5/2012

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Final 2011 Treatment System Decommissioning and Groundwater Monitoring Report, Northway Alaska Communication System and Northway Staging Field (Ham Lake), February 2012

Debra Caillouet

5/24/2012

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Draft Long Term Management Plan for Annual Groundwater Monitoring, Northway Alaska Communications System and Northway Staging Field (Ham Lake) Formerly Used Defense Sites, Northway Alaska April 2012 approved

Debra Caillouet

11/26/2012

CERCLA ROD Approved

The Decision Document was signed by the Corps of Engineers

Debra Caillouet

1/14/2013

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Draft 2012 Treatment System Groundwater Monitoring Report, Northway ACS and Ham Lake, December 2012

Debra Caillouet

7/15/2014

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Work plan for investigation of Spitler well was approved.

Debra Caillouet

11/13/2014

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Draft 2014, Spitler Well Inspection and Sampling Technical Memorandum, Northway Alaska, November 2014. The report documents the inspection of the drinking water well located at the Spitler residence in Northway and the continuing contamination of the water with diesel range organics. ADEC approves the report as written.

Debra Caillouet

2/6/2015

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

draft powerhouse demolition and well decommissioning report

Debra Caillouet

11/23/2015

Update or Other Action

Site management transferred to Carnahan.

John Carnahan

6/9/2016

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Provide approval for FINAL 2015 GW Monitoring Report for Northway ACS and Northway Staging Field (Ham Lake) FUDS.

John Carnahan

8/18/2016

Site Characterization Report Approved

DEC provides approval of report for decommissioning and installation of domestic water well at residence previously impacted by site activities.

John Carnahan

12/1/2016

Meeting or Teleconference Held

CS managers participate in the annual FUDS site management action plan meeting. The purpose of the is to collaborate with FUDS management on site progress and prioritization for all of the formerly used defense sites. FUDS prioritization is based on risk, congressional interest, state input and proximity to other sites on the prioritization list. FUDS has increased environmental restoration funding in Alaska for the 2017 and 2018 field seasons to meet National goals for site progress.

Darren Mulkey

8/29/2017

Update or Other Action

Telecon with RPM to discuss JEP development. Will include Draft/Final workplan modifications and reporting for LTM that was identified in DD.

John Carnahan

5/21/2019

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

2018 Groundwater Monitoring Report reviewed and comment letter submitted. Five monitoring wells and one drinking water well were evaluated, measured and sampled over 21-22 September 2018. Diesel range organics (DRO) were the only petroleum, oil, lubricant contaminant that was sampled that had concentrations above cleanup levels, in three wells. Manganese exceeded cleanup levels in two wells, presumed to be attributed to bioremediation. Three wells besides the five sampled could not be used due to presence of free product, dewatering, and heat trace malfunction, respectively. Continued monitoring is recommended on the three-year cycle. DEC provided the following general comments on the field effort and reporting: 1. Inoperable monitoring wells/heat trace should be repaired or replaced, as determined appropriate prior to the next sampling event. Because 2005-05C and 2006-01 could not be sampled, a trend analysis was unable to be completed in 2018. Thus, the objectives of the groundwater monitoring program were not fully met. Trend analysis will be needed for the next, and subsequent, monitoring events to properly characterize the progress of the remedy of monitoring and natural attenuation. 3. Given the extent of uncontrolled use by site visitors evident in the photolog, it seems that institutional control signage may be appropriate at this site to prevent excavation and warn of exposure to contaminated soil.

Kevin Fraley

5/23/2019

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

DEC reviewed and provided comments on the Draft 2018 Northway ACS site Periodic Review

Kevin Fraley

12/30/2019

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

DEC approved the 2018 Final Groundwater Sampling Report, Northway Alaska Communication System, dated November 2019. Five monitoring wells and one drinking water well were evaluated, measured and sampled over 21-22 September 2018. Diesel range organics were the only petroleum, oil, lubricant contaminant that was sampled that had concentrations above cleanup levels, in three wells. Manganese exceeded cleanup levels in two wells, presumed to be attributed to bioremediation. Three wells besides the five sampled could not be used due to presence of free product, dewatering, and heat trace malfunction, respectively. Continued monitoring is recommended on the three-year cycle.

Kevin Fraley

3/4/2020

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

DEC approved the 2018 Final Periodic Review, Northway Alaska Communication System, Formerly Used Defense Site Project Number F10AK017703, Northway, Alaska, dated January 2020. As part of the 2018 periodic review, a site inspection was conducted, the conceptual site model was evaluated, and protectiveness of the remedy was assessed. The site inspection indicated that trespass and land use change may be occurring, as evidenced by the presence of unknown drilling equipment, a recent excavation near the contaminated area, disturbance of surface soil by ATV use, and dumping and burning of debris. The new water supply well has been installed and the former water supply wells have been decommissioned. The conceptual site model evaluation indicated that the contaminants of concern, exposure pathways, and potential receptors were largely unchanged since the Decision Document was issued. The assessment of the protectiveness of the remedy stated that the remedy is functioning and is protective of human health and the environment. However, DEC is concerned about the land use change, excavation, and trespass that appears to have occurred at the site. DEC also notes that a deed notice documenting the contamination at the site and setting requirements for management of the contamination, required as part of the remedy, has not yet been implemented, despite more than five years having passed since the issuance of the Decision Document. Uniform Environmental Covenants Act (UECA) covenants must be filed for the site as soon as possible in order for the remedy to be fully implemented and for protectiveness to be assured. In correspondence with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), it was stated that the process to file UECA covenants for this site has been initiated. Thus, DEC approves this report, but USACE must submit a plan of action and deadline for filing the covenants. DEC has requested that USACE provide this plan and deadline within 30 days of this approval.

Kevin Fraley

6/3/2021

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Received 2020 GW Monitoring report. It had initially been sent to Kevin Fraley. Comments sent 6/11/2021. Final approval sent 7/22/2021.

Shonda Oderkirk

8/15/2023

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Draft work plan received. Comments were sent in three rounds on August 21, September 7, and September 22. Resolution was not reached for comments related to the periodic review portions of the work plan. Only comments related directly to current planned field work for October 2023 were resolved. DEC will not approve of the final periodic review report until the related work plan comments are resolved, as well as whatever comments arise during PR review. 10/3/2023: partial approval for field work portion of the work plan given and letter sent.

Shonda Oderkirk

12/7/2023

Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved

Analytical soil results indicate levels of DRO and RRO were below CULs. The soil will be returned to the site and spread on the ground surface.

Shonda Oderkirk

Contaminant Information

Name

Level Description

Media

Comments

Control Type

Type

Details

Requirements

Description

Details

Decision Document

CERCLA Proposed Plan

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

Because the GIS location data for this site has not been entered, we cannot direct you to its position on the map. Click "Continue" to proceed to the Contaminated Sites Web Map or "Close" to return to the site report.

Continue Close

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Site Report: Northway ACS/ DERP

Site Chronology

IC / Closure Details

Documents

Associated Sites

Problems/Comments

Action Information

Contaminant Information

Control Type

Requirements

Decision Document

CERCLA Proposed Plan

Missing Location Data

State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation