Former Power Plant, Building T-1451 Petroleum Site

Background
The facility was constructed in 1944 and consisted of a power plant building, three diesel above ground storage tanks (ASTs), a fuel pump shed, a water tank, and a septic tank. Sometime after 1986, the power plant building was expanded and the former ASTs removed. Investigations were conducted at the site from 1992 to 1998. Petroleum hydrocarbons were identified in soil and groundwater.

The OU A Record of Decision (ROD) selected monitored natural attenuation (MNA) as the final remedy in 2000. MNA was initiated in 1999.

Identified Contaminants
Petroleum hydrocarbons in soil and groundwater

Click here to display the data table.

Current Actions
Natural attenuation monitoring is conducted at three wells annually. Concentrations have been increasing at a well adjacent to the East Canal (a man-made ditch that controls water levels around the airport runway). At the request of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (Alaska DEC), the Navy is evaluating alternatives to reduce the potential for petroleum hydrocarbons in groundwater to migrate to the East Canal. As a result of Alaska DEC’s changed stance on surface water criteria, the Navy is monitoring concentrations of total aromatic hydrocarbons and total aqueous hydrocarbons in addition to a sheen on surface water. The Navy is evaluating alternatives to protect surface water.

Petroleum Institutional Controls

Equitable Servitude

Groundwater Restrictions
Domestic use of groundwater in the Downtown Area is restricted because of the potential presence of petroleum compounds and other chemicals in the groundwater. Domestic groundwater use is defined as that used by households or transients for human and animal consumption, cooking, bathing, showering, gardening, irrigation, or use on consumable food products, watering animals and any other domestic use. The excavation notification program at individual sites provides one barrier to drilling; enforcement of the prohibition will also occur through periodic visual inspections. The visual inspections will focus on unauthorized wells in the restricted area. Groundwater use restrictions are included in the equitable servitude.

Inspections and Reporting
The ICs identified in this plan will be inspected and reported on an annual basis, or as necessary. Annual site inspection reports will present the results of inspections. The annual reporting requirements will be included in CERCLA 5-year reviews.

Land Use Restrictions
Commercial and industrial land uses and continuing residential land uses where housing exists in the Downtown Area are permitted in accordance with the Interim Conveyance document. Residential housing is allowed in existing housing units located at Amulet Housing, Arctic Acres Housing and SWMU 62. Future residential housing construction will be evaluated for impacts to ongoing petroleum cleanup activities.

Soil Excavation Restrictions
Soil excavation notifications are required for all the Downtown Area Petroleum sites with ICs. The excavation notifications will be required for each proposed excavation below 2 feet. The notifications will be evaluated to determine whether a proposed project at an IC site is consistent with the land use restrictions. The notifications are an additional tool for the Navy to receive timely information (in the absence of local zoning requirements) to monitor land use restrictions.

Petroleum Engineering Controls

Fencing and Gates

Land Use Control and Ordnance Hazard Signs

Other Engineering Controls
Other engineering controls include landfill caps (CERCLA sites), free-product recovery wells (SAERA sites), and free-product recovery trenches (SAERA sites).

former power plant survey