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Site Report: BLM Mayflower Island

Site Name: BLM Mayflower Island
Address: Mayflower Island -Juneau, Mineral Info Center, Douglas, AK 99824
File Number: 1538.38.003
Hazard ID: 2543
Status: Active
Staff: Jenny Gates, 9072628203 jenny.gates@alaska.gov
Latitude: 58.275943
Longitude: -134.384839
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 Mayflower Island Mineral Laboratory (John Rishel Mineral Information Center), is located on Mayflower Island which forms the south facing breakwater for the Douglas Island boat harbor. The Mayflower Island Mineral Laboratory was owned by the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It was constructed in 1949 and from 1950-1974, the laboratory conducted research and laboratory work (processing ore samples). In 1974, the laboratory areas were converted to office space, storage areas, and maintenance areas. The site previously had heavy metals contamination. In 2008, 490 cubic yards of mineral samples and soil was excavated from two adjacent excavations. Also low-moderate levels of petroleum hydrocarbons. There were PCB tar droplets on the basement floor which is currently under cleanup. EPA ID AKN001002950; EPA site name USDOI BLM John Rishel Mineral Information Center.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
5/1/1995 Update or Other Action Easton Environmental phase I site assessment. Bill Janes
2/21/1996 Update or Other Action Phase II site assessment done by PCI. Bill Janes
3/12/1996 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Bill Janes
10/11/1996 Site Added to Database Heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons. Sally Schlichting
12/5/1996 Update or Other Action This action was formerly a Site Closure Approved action that was rescinded on 11/8/01 due to extenuating circumstances that will be outlined in the actions listed hereafter. Status and Staff Assigned field changed from "Closed" to "Jaynes" and "Active". Based on R&M engineering report of less than 8 cubic yards of material. A few hot spots of lead just over the bank but very steep and not practical to excavate. Human exposure very unlikely. Bill Janes
11/5/2001 Update or Other Action Received call from Tymatt stating unregulated heating oil tank was removed. Soil at USR. 10.5 cubic yards of soil transported without approval. Tymatt sending information and will clear this up. Waiting for full information at this time. Mike Jaynes
11/8/2001 Update or Other Action A Site Closure Approved action dated 12/5/96 was rescinded due to extenuating circumstances that will be outlined in the actions listed after 12/6/96. Status and Staff Assigned field changed from "Closed" to "Jaynes" and "Active", respectively. Former Staff
11/23/2001 Update or Other Action Department granted permission for Ralph Horecny transport contaminated soil to USR Juneau facility for thermal remediation. Bruce Wanstall
1/10/2002 Meeting or Teleconference Held Attending BLM meeting describing work onsite this evening at Minerals Management Center. Mike Jaynes
1/11/2002 Meeting or Teleconference Held No members of the public showed up for meeting. Spoke with BLM management staff who will give me a personal tour of the site this month. Mike Jaynes
7/3/2003 Update or Other Action File review and database update for assuming project management. Need tank excavation confirmation soil samples for site closure pertaining to heating oil soil contamination. No groundwater on-site. Bruce Wanstall
4/28/2004 Update or Other Action Project oversight for federal site transferred to Jaynes this date. Bruce Wanstall
6/24/2008 Update or Other Action Received a workplan dated 10/16/2007 from MACTEC for excavation of contaminated materials at the solid waste disposal area, the septic tank outfall area and the ore lab, and the collection of confirmation samples. Evonne Reese
6/25/2008 Update or Other Action Contacted MACTEC project manager Stephen Wrenn to see if the work proposed in the workplan happened. I was told that the work did happen and approximately 900 cubic yards of contaminated soil was removed from the site and shipped to Seattle for treatment. Stephen also told me that the BLM has demolished all of the buildings on the site except for the main building. A draft report has been issued and sent to the BLM. We will receive a copy of the final report as soon as it is issued. Evonne Reese
6/25/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. This ranking is for the above ground storage tank only. Evonne Reese
3/30/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Received copy of final 2008 report documenting removal actions and soil transportation and disposal. Melody Debenham
9/22/2015 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79823 name: Solid Waste Disposal Area Melody Debenham
3/11/2016 Update or Other Action Sent letter requesting additional information regarding petroleum contamination associated with the former above ground storage tank and former PCB containing transformers. Melody Debenham
8/17/2017 Update or Other Action The responsible party is working with the EPA on the PCB issue. Danielle Duncan
1/9/2018 Update or Other Action Indoor PCB tar and paint removal is currently underway under the guidance of the EPA. Danielle Duncan
1/10/2018 Site Visit Site visit and meeting with the BLM while indoor PCB removal is underway. Danielle Duncan
1/12/2018 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 73520 AST. Danielle Duncan
1/12/2018 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 79823 Solid Waste Disposal Area. Danielle Duncan
1/16/2018 Update or Other Action Sent an update letter this date. Regarding the aboveground storage tank: There is no groundwater on site and there are no complete exposure pathways with regard to the former AST and no further action in this area is needed. The ADEC requests that the pipe discharging into the intertidal zone and the area adjacent and downgradient of it having mercury contamination be formally characterized. No further action is required at the solid waste disposal area because the area was excavated of contaminated material to the extent practicable. No further investigation is required for the incinerator area. Danielle Duncan
5/30/2018 Update or Other Action BLM made award of a contract to cleanup the contaminated soil at the pipe outfall to Agvik Environmental Services, LLC. They want to get it done before end of June while we continue work on the indoors PCB removal. Danielle Duncan
8/15/2018 Site Characterization Workplan Approved The work plan was prepared by AGVIQ Environmental Services on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The objective of the work is to remove lead mercury from the soil at and downgradient of the ore lab discharge pipe (now capped) which is located just above the high tide mark. Groundwater is not present at the location of the mercury contaminated soil just above the high tidewater mark, therefore, the approved cleanup level for mercury of 3.1 mg/kg is for the human health exposure pathway. Mercury contaminated soil will be hand excavated, soil will be scraped off of rocks, and rock will be moved if possible and as necessary. The excavation will be led by x-ray fluorescence detector (XRF) and will continue until all the mercury contaminated soil has been excavated to the extent practicable or bedrock is reached. Danielle Duncan
2/19/2019 Update or Other Action The contract award for indoor PCB removal was made at the end of Sep; too late to get the work plan developed and approved by EPA before winter. The mob for both the pipe outfall and PCBs is to be at the same time. The WP was approved by EPA just in time for the furlough. All the materials have been delivered to the site and the contractor is ready to go in all respects, except the steep slope down to the pipe outfall is pretty treacherous. We hope to get to it before May when there is not frozen ground or ice on that slope - maybe get it done in the next few weeks? Danielle Duncan
5/3/2019 Update or Other Action Per the BLM: We started with concrete removal inside the Mayflower Island building Monday and expect to finish next week. We will then do the cleanup of the pipe outfall area, probably W-Th or Th-F. Danielle Duncan
5/10/2019 Update or Other Action The excavation at the ore lab outfall is complete and all mercury contaminated soil has been scraped from the intertidal bedrock. Danielle Duncan
6/16/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The Department received “Mayflower Island Limited Soil Removal Remedial Action Report 100 Savikko Road Douglas, Alaska” Dated December 2019 on May 14, 2020 via email. The Department has reviewed the draft remedial action report and provided comments. The report summarizes mercury contaminated soil excavation activities. Rachael Petraeus
1/13/2022 Meeting or Teleconference Held On January 13, 2022 ADEC held a meeting with BLM to discuss current status of response to comments on "Mayflower Island Limited Soil Removal Remedial Action Report 100 Savikko Road Douglas, Alaska” Dated December 2019. BLM has completed the PCB portion of cleanup and requirements with EPA. BLM will provide documentation and a copy of the final report that was submitted to EPA to ADEC for records. BLM will also provide the requested information needed in the removal action and closure request report to ADEC. Rachael Petraeus
10/6/2022 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 81230 name: Concrete Floor Flannery Ballard
12/7/2022 Site Characterization Report Approved The ADEC approved the "Mayflower Island Limited Mercury Report", dated August 2020. The report summarizes the final removal action for mercury contaminated soil located at the outfall drainage pipe connected to the former ore lab. Previous soil samples had demonstrated a concentration of mercury in the soil at 5.5 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), exceeding the ADEC cleanup level of 0.36 mg/kg. In May 2019, sections of the drainage pipe were removed, and the area from the point of discharge down to below mean high tide (approximately 10 feet by 5 feet), was excavated to bedrock. Contaminated soil was stored in 55-gallon buckets, and analytical samples for waste characterization demonstrated the mercury in the soil met the RCRA action level of 2.2 mg/kg and so was treated as hazardous waste. The drums were disposed of at the Chemical Waste Management Inc. facility in Oregon. Flannery Ballard
12/7/2022 Site Characterization Report Approved The ADEC approved the "Final Remedial Action Report", dated September 2020. The report summarizes the the final removal actions for exceedances of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) above ADEC cleanup levels in the concrete basement floor of the John Rishel Mineral Information Center. Previous analytical results had indicated exceedances of PCBs in the concrete basement floor in rooms B-3, B-2, the stairwell, the hallway, and at the bottom of the stairs. With approval from the EPA, concrete was removed to varying depths via demolition hammer and chisel. All analytical results were below the cleanup level of 1 milligram per kilogram (mg/kg). All generated waste was disposed of by Waste Management at the Chemical Waste Management facility in Oregon. Flannery Ballard

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

P.O. Box 111800
Juneau, AK 99811-1800
Phone: 907-465-5066
Fax: 907-465-5245
TDD: 800-770-8973
Physical Location: 410 Willoughby