Skip to content Skip to content

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

You are here: DEC / SPAR / CSP / SPAR Online Services / Contaminated Sites Search / Site Report

Site Report: Hirst-Chichagof Mine aka Kimshan Cove

Site Name: Hirst-Chichagof Mine aka Kimshan Cove
Address: West Chichagof Island, Sitka, AK 99835
File Number: 1525.38.008
Hazard ID: 2989
Status: Active
Staff: Brittani Mack, 9072628205 brittani.mack@alaska.gov
Latitude: 57.685649
Longitude: -136.108307
Horizontal Datum:

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 Hirst-Chichagof Mine is a historic mine that was opened in 1905 and operated until 1942. There was a 10-stamp mill located between the mine portal at approximately 100 feet above sea level and the beach. There is a tailings pile in the uplands (70,000 tons) in addition to the beach (140,000 tons). The ore was processed using mercury amalgamation. 4/27/1998 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Preliminary Assessment documented contaminants in the upland tailings and tailings deposited in the intertidal area. Contaminants: metals - mercury, arsenic, cobalt, copper, lead, and silver. Tailings are located on State intertidal lands managed by the Department of Natural Resources. EPA ID AK0002364776; EPA site name Kimshan Cove. The uplands have not been investigated and there is a mill site between the mine portal and the beach at approximately 100 feet above sea level.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
11/27/1999 Site Added to Database 4/27/98 EPA Preliminary Assessment documented contaminants in the upland tailings and tailings deposited in the intertidal area. Contaminants - metals - mercury, arsenic, cobalt, copper, lead, and silver. Bill Janes
12/13/1999 Site Number Identifier Changed Changed workplan from 01 to 09 to reflect metals contaminants. Former Staff
12/15/1999 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Surface water environments was ranked as a 5 because As and Hg exceed NOAA ERMs and Pb exceeds ERLs in sediment samples. Bill Janes
9/8/2000 Update or Other Action Short memorandum on uplands petroleum product disposal is on file in the site folder in Outlook Public Folders, SPAR Statewide,CSRP, Fbx-Jnu Field Ops Bill Janes
12/5/2000 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Changed Population Proximity Value from 1 to 0.5. Former Staff
1/18/2001 Update or Other Action CERCLIS ID # AK0002364776. Discovery on 5/5/98. Expanded Site Inspection, federal lead, on 5/5/99. Not on the NPL. Bruce Wanstall
1/18/2001 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Environmental Recreation Area changed from 0 to 5. Located in West Chichagof-Yakobi Wilderness Area. Bruce Wanstall
12/12/2001 Site Ranked Using the AHRM The Toxicity Value was missing. Changed GW Exposure Index Value to 0 because the contamination is primarily located in the intertidal zone. Bill Janes
3/14/2002 Update or Other Action Project tickler update - Briefed Carnahan on issue of persistent bioaccumlative toxins issues associated with mine tailings disposal on state intertidal lands. This site and Klag Bay are known; there may be others. He is running it up the chain to see where we want to go with this. Bill Janes
2/26/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Bill Janes
6/2/2010 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter DEC issued a potential responsible party letter to Will Gruening of Kimshan Corporation. We requested that Mr. Gruening conduct a risk assessment to address metal contamination in the uplands and intertidal area. Todd Blessing
7/1/2010 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC staff met with with Win Gruening and Jack Durney to discuss site status. Both individuals were informed that the site is in an active status and that further characterization and/or cleanup will be required. They were also informed of DEC's cost recovery process. Todd Blessing
7/2/2010 Update or Other Action File transferred to Anchorage 1/27/2010 Susan Carberry
2/10/2012 Update or Other Action Transferred to Juneau CS Office to Sally Schlichting on 2/10/2012 Susan Carberry
5/7/2014 Update or Other Action Corrected GIS data. Danielle Duncan
5/21/2014 Update or Other Action Site name changed from Kimshan Cove Mine to Hirst-Chichagof Mine aka Kimshan Cove to reflect historical identification of the site. Reference maintained to former name in order to cross-reference EPA's site name. Mitzi Read
11/25/2015 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Sent a PRP letter requesting more information on the site this date via certified mail: 7014 0150 0000 1161 6913. Was rec'd by RP on 12/1/15. Danielle Duncan
11/25/2015 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 73964 Intertidal Sediments. Danielle Duncan
1/6/2016 Update or Other Action Kimshan Cove is in the Data Collection and Monitoring Track, and was placed on the Section 303(d) list in the 2012 Integrated Report for non-attainment of toxic and other deleterious organic and inorganic substances criteria for metals. Danielle Duncan
9/23/2016 Update or Other Action Requested a work plan for site characterization this date. Certified # 7014 2120 0001 4210 0940. Danielle Duncan
12/28/2017 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 73964 Intertidal Sediments. Danielle Duncan
1/30/2018 Update or Other Action The EPA is planning on conducting a PASI at the nearby Klag Bay Mine. There is a chance that some aerial photos or other information on the Hirst-Chichagof Mine may be provided as a result of that effort. Danielle Duncan
12/21/2023 Workplan Requested Letter clarifying Kimshan Corporation's liability as landowner and requesting a site characterization work plan was sent on this date via certified mail (9589 0710 5270 0622 4710 32). Kelly Ireland

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

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

Public Notices  •  Regulations  •  Statutes
Press Releases  •  Contact

 

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