NORPAC Hill Seep Area Petroleum Site

Background
A petroleum sheen has been occasionally observed since 1996, usually during high tide, on the surface of Kuluk Bay in this vicinity. The exact source is unknown, but potential sources include the former local heating fuel systems, a fuel pipeline associated with a shutoff valve located about 250 feet west of and upgradient from the seep area, or a source yet undiscovered. Investigations began in 1996 when free product was initially discovered.

The OU A Record of Decision (ROD) identified free-product recovery as the interim remedy for this site in 2000. Free-product recovery has met the established endpoint specified in the OU A ROD. A Decision Document based on Alaska state regulations was signed in May 2005. The Decision Document identified limited groundwater monitoring as the final remedy. Monitoring activities commenced in 2005.

Identified Contaminants
Petroleum hydrocarbons in soil and groundwater

Current Actions
The Navy conducts annual monitoring of four wells at this site. In addition, because free product was found during monitoring, product is recovered by hand bailing during annual monitoring. The remedy may need to be revisited.

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).

norpac survey