Skip to content Skip to content

Site Report: Crazy Horse Pad

Site Name: Crazy Horse Pad
Address: 1 Mile East of Airport, Deadhorse, AK 99734
File Number: 300.38.005
Hazard ID: 586
Status: Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff: IC Unit, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 70.206100
Longitude: -148.409600
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 pad was developed as a multi-use facility for oil field development since the 1970s. All structures were removed by 1992. The site contained a tank farm, generator building, and man camp as well as construction camps, vehicle and equipment maintenance shops, and sandblasting areas. Estimated 27,000 cubic yards of DRO contaminated gravel based on a cleanup level of 200 mg/kg. 9800 cubic yards if the cleanup level is modified to 500 mg/kg.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
9/15/1989 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RECN - Site Reconnaissance (CS)). North Slope Borough collected soil samples at 6 locations. 4 of 6 contained elevated TPH concentrations. Brad Fristoe
10/2/1989 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Shannon and Wilson contracted to perform site assessment. 30 soil borings were drilled in random locations in the 14 acre pad. Samples collected at 6" and from the tundra beneath the gravel pad. Only 5 of the sixty samples exceeded cleanup criteria. Brad Fristoe
9/2/1990 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). 45 additional borings installed. 55 soil samples submitted for TPH, 3 samples submitted for metals. All 11 surface samples had TPH values from 562 to 18,000 mg/kg. 40 of the 44 subsurface samples exceeded cleanup criteria. Several samples contained elevated zinc, probably from sandblasting operations. Brad Fristoe
12/4/1990 Update or Other Action Don Thornburgh of the North Slope Borough provided to ADEC and ADNR copies of the Shannon and Wilson report on the extent of hydrocarbon contamination at Crazy Horse Pad titled "Results of Environmental Sampling, Crazy Horse Pad Prudhoe Bay, Alaska" dated October 22, 1990 (S&W cover letter to NSB dated October 24, 1990). Brad Fristoe
2/13/1992 Update or Other Action ADEC provided comments on February 13, 1992 to Don Thornburgh of the North Slope Borough in response to its "Scope of Work Phase 1 Site Assessment for Crazy Horse Site, Prudhoe Bay" dated December 17, 1991. Mehrdad Nadem
3/4/1992 Update or Other Action Shannon and Wilson provided the North Slope Borough comments addressing the February 13, 1992 dated ADEC letter. Mehrdad Nadem
4/21/1992 Update or Other Action ADEC informed the North Slope Borough of its findings from a March 16, 1992 inspection at Crazy Horse Pad. The letter noted that debris from a sand blasting operation was observed on the snow. A sample collected showed chromium at 12 ppm and zinc at 19 ppm. Mehrdad Nadem
5/1/1992 Update or Other Action ADEC provided comments on February 13, 1992 to Don Thornburgh of the North Slope Borough in response to its "Scope of Work Phase 1 Site Assessment for Crazy Horse Site, Prudhoe Bay" dated December 17, 1991. In May 1992, NSB provided ADEC with a revised work plan titled "Project Work Plan Phase 1 Site Assessment Former Crazy Horse Camp Prudhoe Bay, Alaska" dated May 1992. Mehrdad Nadem
5/26/1992 Update or Other Action The North Slope Borough informed ADEC because its project manager was unable to attend a recent meeting, of the meeting's discussion on the status of Crazy Horse Pad. It was agreed that Natchiq would take steps to control activity on the pad and take steps to secure any question area in order to prevent additional contamination. Mehrdad Nadem
6/2/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). 25 additional borings were drilled in the area of the former Crazy Horse Hotel on 100 foot centers. Five samples were collected in a former sandblast area. Samples were analyzed for DRO, GRO, and BTEX and TCLP metals. The north and west edges of the camp and the former sandblast area were found to be impacted. Dennis Timmons
6/15/1992 Update or Other Action The North Slope Borough (NSB) informed ADEC that it discussed with ADOT&PF the possibility of NSB supplying gravel from the Crazy Horse Pad for production of asphalt that would be used to resurface the Deadhorse Airport Runway. Mehrdad Nadem
12/1/1992 Update or Other Action In a report marked by ADEC as "winter 1992", ADEC received a NSB report marked "Preliminary" and titled "Phase 1 Site Assessment Former Crazy Horse Camp Site Prudhoe Bay, Alaska." The report noted that it presented findings from 30 boring that were drilled between June 3 and 6, 1992. Mehrdad Nadem
9/1/1993 Site Characterization Workplan Approved At 9:50 AM on September 1, 1993, Danny Timmons gave verbal approval to Dave McDonnell of Shannon and Wilson (S&W) to implement the S&W "Project Work Plan Phase I Site Assessment Former Crazy Horse Camp Site Prudhoe Bay, Alaska" dated August 1993. Dennis Timmons
10/2/1993 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SA2R - Phase II SA Review (CS)). 38 additional borings were advanced in October 1993 to evaluate the potential for hydrocarbon and metal contamination in the NE portion of the pad. 78 samples were submitted for DRO, GRO and VOCs. The site had been cleared of all buildings since the last investigation.3 areas of contamination were identified with surface areas of 20,000, 18,000, and 9,000 square feet. Dennis Timmons
9/8/1994 Update or Other Action Shannon and Wilson submitted on September 8, 1994 the plan "Project Work Plan for the Site Assessment of the Former Crazy Horse Camp Site, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska" dated September 8, 1994. Dennis Timmons
2/7/1995 Meeting or Teleconference Held On February 7, 1995, a meeting discussing Crazy Horse Pad cleanup was attended by: Scott Rose of DEC; Mike Travis of AGRA; Don Kellerher, Eric Fredeen and Don Thornburgh of the North Slope Bourough; and Leon Lynch and Gary Schultz of DNR. The proposed plan was described as a demonstration in-situ remediation project at one site on the pad involving nutrient enhancement for bioremediation coupled with soil flushing to clenaup the pad to a level of 500 ppm DRO in the interior of the pad and 200 ppm DRO around the perimeter of the pad. No soil flushing was to be allowed a tthe edges of the pad. Proposed work was to begin in summer 1996 and conclude in 1997. At the meeting, NSB presented the plan "Crazy Horse Pad" by AGRA dated February 1996, which proposed two methods of soil remediation: 1) in-situ soil flushing 2) in-situ biotreatment. Scott Rose
5/5/1995 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SA2R - Phase II SA Review (CS)). Field work continued from August 30 thru Septemeber 3, 1994. 39 additional borings were installed, and 127 samples were submitted for DRO, GRO, BTEX, and selected samples were submitted for metals. Report attempts to summarize all of the previous site investigations and presents several remedial alternatives. Scott Rose
6/2/1995 Site Added to Database Scott Rose
11/17/1995 Update or Other Action ADEC provided comments to the NSB regarding Shannon and Wilson's "Environmental Site Assessment, Former Crazy Horse Pad, Deadhorse, Alaska" dated May 5, 1995. The report summarized all site investigations done at the pad from 1989 through the final assessment work conducted in September 1994. ADEC informed NSB that it expected a corrective action plan and schedule a meeting to address this issue. Scott Rose
4/12/1996 Update or Other Action NSB's contractor AGRA Earth and Environmental submitted to ADEC a work plan titled "Corrective Action Plan, Crazy Horse Pad" dated April 12, 1996. Scott Rose
4/12/1996 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RA - Remedial Action). AGRA submitted a corrective action work plan for a pilot project to cleanup the pad on April 12, 1996. ADEC provided comments on the plan in a letter dated July 30, 1996. Rich Sundet
6/3/1996 Update or Other Action In response to AGRA Earth and Environmental work plan titled "Corrective Action Plan, Crazy Horse Pad" dated April 12, 1996, ADNR provided comments. ADNR noted that the plan was essentially the same as the work plan the state reviewed in early spring 1996. Rich Sundet
6/10/1996 Update or Other Action ADEC provided comments to NSB regarding AGRA's work plan titled "Corrective Action Plan, Crazy Horse Pad" dated April 12, 1996. Rich Sundet
8/1/1996 Update or Other Action On August 1, 1996, ADEC received comments from AGRA regarding DEC's June 10, 1996 and DNR's June 3, 1996 letters. Rich Sundet
2/5/1997 Update or Other Action In response to conversations Don Thornburgh of NSB and Richard Mitchells of AGRA on January 10, 1997, ADEC postponed its review of the July 30, 1996 AGRA response letter. ADEC also notified NSB that it is DEC's expectation that another workplan be submitted to ADEC and DNR so that cleanup could commence at Crazy Horse Pad. Rich Sundet
9/26/1997 Update or Other Action Glenn Miller of DEC's Solid Waste Program approved NSB's request for a waiver dated September 17, 1997 to dispose of soil from the Crazy Horse Pad cleanup to establish final elevations in the Oxbow oily waste pit. The request quoted that CSRP tenatively agreed to allow untreated soil below 500 ppm TPH to be taken to the landfil if landfill regulators agreed. Rich Sundet
1/5/1998 Update or Other Action On January 5, 1998, ADEC received from the NSB dated December 31, 1997 a proposed Corrective Action Plan for the Crazy Horse Pad and a copy of "Crazy Horse Lease Tract Sampling Report". Rich Sundet
1/13/1998 Update or Other Action Glenn Miller of DEC's Solid Waste Program replied to NSB's proposal about disposing of materials from the Crazy Horse Pad cleanup into the Oxbow Oily Waste Pit. Rich Sundet
1/21/1998 Update or Other Action DNR provided comments to NSB on its proposed Corrective Action Plan for Crazy Horse Pad. Rich Sundet
2/23/1998 Meeting or Teleconference Held A meeting was held to discuss the December 31, 1997 NSB dated proposal to cleanup Crazy Horse Pad. Attending were: Rich Sundet of DEC; Morgan Merrit of the NSB; on teleconference was Leon Lynch and Gary Schultz of DNR. Issues discussed were: 1) cleanup levels previously agreed to for 500 ppm in the interior of the pad for DRO and for 200 ppm DRO as a 50 foot wide buffer around the edges of the pad. DNR also noted that the road may need to be addressed as well. 2) Addressing lead in one area that had elevated lead levels. 3) Leave the tundra in-place. ADEC and DNR recommended that the tundra be left in-place instead of NSB's proposal to remove the upper 0.5 feet of the tundra. 4) ADEC informed NSB that it has approved more liberal sampling schemes than in accordance to its 1991 Guidance Document, e.g. has approved up taking one confirmation sample per 1,000 square feet. 5) Plan needs to include more QA/QC procedures than what is in the current proposal. 6) Plan needs to address cleanup levels for constituents of concern other than DRO. 7) Plan needs to elaborate on "significant" levels of hydrocarbons and how to use the PID. Rich Sundet
3/20/1998 Update or Other Action NSB submitted on March 20, 1998 a revised "Corrective Action Plan for the Crazy Horse Pad Prudhoe Bay, Alaska" dated March 19, 1998. Rich Sundet
4/21/1998 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Ranking action added now because it was not added when the site was originally ranked. Bill Petrik
4/21/1998 Update or Other Action On April 21, 1998, ADEC provided comments to NSB regarding its revised "Corrective Action Plan for the Crazy Horse Pad Prudhoe Bay, Alaska" dated March 19, 1998. Rich Sundet
4/21/1998 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RA - Remedial Action). NSB submitted a revised work plan on March 19, 1998 based upon the February 23, 1998 meeting. ADEC provided written comments on the corrective action work plan on April 21, 1998. Rich Sundet
4/21/1998 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RA - Remedial Action). On December 31, 1997, North Slope Borough (NSB) submitted a corrective action work plan to excavate contaminated petroleum soils above 500 ppm DRO and dispose of the soils in the Oxbox Landfill, pending ADEC Solid Waste approval. ADEC met with NSB staff on February 23, 1998 and DNR staff to discuss the plan. Rich Sundet
5/20/1998 Update or Other Action In response to DEC's April 21, 1998 letter, NSB submitted on May 20, 1998 a revised "Corrective Action Plan for the Crazy Horse Pad Prudhoe Bay, Alaska" dated May 19, 1998. Rich Sundet
6/1/1998 Meeting or Teleconference Held Rich Sundet of ADEC met with Mike Travis representing NSB to discuss its May 20, 1998 submittal for corrective action at Crazy Horse Pad. Rich Sundet
6/3/1998 Update or Other Action On June 3, 1998, ADEC received from NSB a cover letter dated June 3, 1998, which enclosed a revised "Corrective Action Plan for the Crazy Horse Pad" dated June 1998. Rich Sundet
6/5/1998 Cleanup Plan Approved On June 5, 1998, ADEC conditionally approved the NSB work plan titled "Crazy Horse Pad Corrective Action Plan" dated June 1998. Target cleanup levels were approved. Rich Sundet
8/1/1998 Interim Removal Action Approved In August 1998, Alaska Interstate Construction contractors for NSB began implementing the corrective action plan which was approved by ADEC on June 5, 1998. The removal of the contaminated soils was completed in September 1998. Rich Sundet
11/20/1998 Update or Other Action On November 20, 1998, ADEC received from the NSB: 1) the letter report titled "Crazy Horse Pad Final Report Spill #88703124402, CS File Number 300.38.005" dated November 19, 1998 and, 2) its accompanying report "Crazy Horse Pad Corrective Action Final Report Sample Analysis and Field Notes" dated September 1998 by Alaska Interstate Construction L.L.C. Rich Sundet
12/11/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC requested NSB's consultant Mike Travis P.E. further information regarding the activities of the cleanup. Based upon that request, on December 11, 1998, NSB provided ADEC additional reporting information in a report titled "Crazy Horse Pad Supplemental Analytical Data Package" dated December 1998. Rich Sundet
8/23/1999 Update or Other Action On August 23, 1999, ADEC received a request by the NSB to provide a response regarding the November 19, 1998 cleanup report. Rich Sundet
7/28/2005 GIS Position Updated TopozonePro. NAD83. A large size map was used in conjuntion with existing data in database to convert to NAD83 from NAD27. No topo base map. 1:100,000 scale. Sarah Cunningham
9/21/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Intial ranking completed Grant Lidren
10/3/2007 Update or Other Action File organized and letter sent to North Slope Borough regarding remaining contamination at the pad. Bill O'Connell
3/4/2008 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting today with NSB and their attorney. The information lacking in the 1998 report was provided to ADEC and will be reviewed for potential conditional closure eligibility. Bill O'Connell
4/23/2008 Conditional Closure Approved The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Contaminated Sites Program (ADEC) reviewed the environmental records associated with the Crazy Horse Pad in Deadhorse, Alaska. This site had been contaminated by the release of a hazardous substance; however, based on the information provided to date, ADEC has determined that no further remedial action is required, and that Crazy Horse Pad can be closed subject to the conditions outlined in the Record of Decision. The hazardous substance contamination has been adequately addressed and does not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. Bill O'Connell
4/23/2008 Institutional Control Record Established There is contamination remaining above established cleanup levels at Crazy Horse Pad, but ADEC has determined there is no unacceptable risk to human health or the environment, and this site will be conditionally closed. This decision is subject to the following conditions: 1. A Notice of Environmental Contamination will be recorded on the ADEC database to document that there is residual contamination remaining on site above the most stringent ADEC cleanup levels; 2. Any proposal to transport soil off site requires ADEC approval in accordance with 18 AAC 78.274(b) Bill O'Connell
5/10/2012 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC review conducted and staff changed from O’Connell to IC Unit. Evonne Reese
9/8/2014 Update or Other Action Change staff name from IC Unit and to Joshua Barsis. Evonne Reese
10/6/2014 Institutional Control Update Current project manager chooses to retain management of the site at this time. Kristin Thompson
10/31/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other A letter was received on October 31, 2014, which documented the removal of roughly 18 cubic yards of soil from this site. The soil was excavated on August 29, 2014 during general cleanup activities, and was temporarily containerized. A sample collected from the containerized soil exhibited a concentration of DRO at 15 mg/kg. Therefore, it was requested by the ADEC that the source area be identified and investigated. Five (5) soil samples were collected on September 26, 2014 from below the original source area excavation (roughly 30 feet long and 15 feet wide); none of which exhibited DRO above laboratory detection limits. The containerized soil was later disposed of at Alaska Interstate Construction Inc. (AIC). Joshua Barsis
10/21/2016 Institutional Control Compliance Review Staff changed from Joshua Barsis to IC Unit. IC compliance review conducted. Closure/IC Details updated. IC reminder letter issued. Reminder system set to follow-up every five years. Kristin Thompson

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO > Method 1 (Arctic only) Soil

Control Type

Type Details
CS Database Notation And Letter To Landowner/RP

Requirements

Description Details
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.
Excavation / Soil Movement Restrictions
Periodic Review Review the effectiveness of the ICs every five years.

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