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Site Report: Wrangell Power Plant

Site Name: Wrangell Power Plant
Address: 1064 Case Avenue, Wrangell, AK 99929
File Number: 1529.38.021
Hazard ID: 25529
Status: Active
Staff: Mollie Dwyer, 9074651076 mollie.dwyer@alaska.gov
Latitude: 56.461143
Longitude: -132.379349
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

On June 9, 2010, petroleum-contaminated soil was encountered during excavation activities to install a new outdoor pad-mounted switchgear at the power generating facility. A 300,000-gallon 70 year-old aboveground fuel storage tank (AST) is located on-site. The AST, valve house vault, and piping have been decommissioned without a release investigation. Contaminated soil from the current excavation (~10 cubic yards) was stockpiled under tarps at a nearby rock pit. The excavation was left open pending coordination with ADEC.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
6/24/2010 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
7/12/2010 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78913 name: Petroleum Adjacent to Generator Standby Power Plant. Due to uncertainties human health exposure risk is high for surface soil contact and outdoor/indoor inhalation pathways. Site assessment is needed to gain additional knowledge concerning the historical petroleum release adjacent to fuels tanks, piping and electrical transformers. Bruce Wanstall
8/2/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC evaluated and approved the draft site investigation workplan by Travis Peterson for the Wrangell Power Plant diesel release discovered in July, 2010. Ten cubic yards of petroleum contaminated material was transported for storage at the Spur Road municipally-owned petroleum contaminated soil storage site. Bruce Wanstall
10/6/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC sent letters to the City of Wrangell to first provide legal and financial information on the cleanup process and second to approve the site investigation conducted by their consultant at the Wrangell Power Plant site. Subsurface stained soil is attributed to historical diesel contamination associated with piping between a 10,000 gallon bulk fuel tank and the power plant day fuel supply tank. ADEC requested additional investigation into the extent of soil contamination and into possible impacts to ground water. Bruce Wanstall
10/6/2010 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78913 Petroleum Adjacent to Generator Standby Power Plant. Bruce Wanstall
1/11/2011 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78913 Petroleum Adjacent to Generator Standby Power Plant. Bruce Wanstall
7/30/2014 Site Visit DEC met with City of Wrangell Public Works Director to inspect the contaminated soil removal site and the off-site stockpile on City of Wrangell property under an approved treatment plan. Bruce Wanstall
3/9/2015 Update or Other Action Electronic mail request sent to the Public Works Director for information on the condition and location of the contaminated soil stockpile generated from discovery of an oil release during replacement of a powerhouse switchbox. The manager of the City of Wrangell electrical division arranged for transport of the soil, with DEC approval, for storage between liners at Ishyama Drive (Spur Road). The recommended testing the soil for SPLP found it suitable for land spreading at the capped and closed Wrangell Landfill. Bruce Wanstall
5/5/2015 Update or Other Action DEC met with the new Public Works Director to discuss the stockpile(s) of contaminated soil from several sites in Wrangell stored on City land at the Spur Road rock pit. Bruce Wanstall
2/11/2016 Site Visit Site inspection of power plant building where excavation occurred. Stockpiled contaminated soil was land spread as a cap at the CBW landfill. Bruce Wanstall
10/24/2016 Update or Other Action Confirmed with Director of Public Works that the contaminated soil stockpile was land spread to cap the landfill. Bruce Wanstall
11/10/2016 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78913 Petroleum Adjacent to Generator Standby Power Plant. Bruce Wanstall
2/21/2017 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78913 Petroleum Adjacent to Generator Standby Power Plant. Bruce Wanstall
2/22/2017 Institutional Control Record Established Institutional Controls established and entered into the database. A restriction against future excavation of the utility corridor at the Wrangell Power Plant property without coordinating with DEC prior to beginning such action and a restriction on installing groundwater wells or using groundwater from the site without prior DEC approval. Bruce Wanstall
2/22/2017 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued DEC has determined that the contaminant concentrations remaining on Site do not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment and no further remedial action will be required as long as the institutional controls are maintained. The decision letter summarizes the site history, cleanup actions, regulatory decisions, and specific conditions required to effectively manage remaining contamination at this site. This determination is in accordance with 18 AAC 75.380 and does not preclude DEC from requiring additional assessment and/or cleanup action if the institutional controls are determined to be ineffective or if new information indicates that contaminants at this site may pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. Bruce Wanstall
3/20/2017 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC compliance review conducted. Staff changed from Bruce Wanstall to IC Unit. Reminder system set for follow-up on IC compliance every three years. Kristin Thompson
4/14/2017 Update or Other Action Received the recorded Notice of Environmental Contamination (deed notice) from the State Recorder's Office this date. Kristin Thompson
6/24/2020 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC Reminder sent to the current landowner on this date. The next compliance review will be in two years, in 2023. Cascade Galasso-Irish
2/28/2022 Institutional Control Compliance Review As part of the Phase II report review an IC compliance was completed at the same time. Evonne Reese
3/8/2022 Site Reopened A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment was performed in late 2021. During that investigation PCBs were discovered in one groundwater sample which warrants further investigation. There are preliminary plans being made to upgrade the power plant (when the funding is available) so further investigation should occur during that construction process. A letter was issued to the City of Wrangell on this date. Evonne Reese
5/19/2022 Workplan Requested ADEC work plan request letter issued. Brandi Tolsma

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO > Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil Sample was collected at soil-water interface between the switch box and the building.
1-Methylnaphthalene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
2-Methylnaphthalene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
Naphthalene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil

Control Type

Type Details
Notice of Environmental Contamination Signed by the Manager of the City and Borough of Wrangell. Document ID 2017-000030-0 recorded in the Wrangell District of the State Recorder's Office on 1/30/2017.

Requirements

Description Details
Excavation / Soil Movement Restrictions A restriction against future excavation of the utility corridor at the Wrangell Power Plant property without coordinating with DEC prior to beginning such action.
Groundwater Use Restrictions A restriction on installing groundwater wells or using groundwater from the site without prior DEC approval.
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site. Standard condition.
Movement or use of contaminated material (including on site) in a manner that results in a violation of the water quality standards is prohibited (18 AAC 70) Standard condition.

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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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