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Site Report: BLM Maclaren Glacier Mine Dump Site

Site Name: BLM Maclaren Glacier Mine Dump Site
Address: 43.3 Miles West of Paxson, 10 Mi. N. of Denali Hwy., Paxson, AK 99737
File Number: 190.38.002
Hazard ID: 1701
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 63.271222
Longitude: -146.535878
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

Former Copper Mine in 1950-60s. 35 drums of liquid on-site. Evidence of leakage observed in course of EPA PA on site. Stained soils adjacent to drums. 4 soil samples, four drum samples, and three surface water samples taken. 100+ drums, empty to partially filled, scattered around glacier floodplain near old copper mine site. Soil staining associated with drums; streams and surface water nearby. Soil samples found evidence of 2-methylnapthalene (3900 ppb), fluorene (2700 ppb), hydrocarbons (300 ppm), and VOCs BTEX found in drum samples (page 1 of PA), also. Drum samples taken adjacent to the soil samples confirmed presence of these compounds. Surface water samples did not detect any contaminants. The BLM Maclaren Glacier Mine Dump Site is an abandoned copper mine located in the Maclaren River Valley, near terminus of the Maclaren Glacier on the south side of the Alaska Range (Figure 1). The mine was active from the early 1950s to the 1960s. The site includes a collapsed copper mine adit, a pond, an abandoned mine camp and two gravel airstrips that were used to access the site. During operation, ore was transported from the adit to the camp, then placed into 55-gallon drums and flown out for processing. In 1999, 220 drums, 18.5 tons of metallic debris and construction material, and 800 gallons of liquids recovered from the drums were removed from the site and properly disposed of. In 2000, approximately 730 cubic yards of petroleum contaminated soil was removed from 5 areas of concern. The excavated soil was treated with fertilizer and placed in two landspread areas onsite. Sampling of the landspread areas in 2013 showed results below the cleanup levels.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
8/29/1990 Preliminary Assessment Approved PA performed by site. Declined as candidate for NPL, but significant soil contamination found with PNAs and VOCs in drums. Dan Basketfield
4/1/1992 Site Added to Database Multiple contaminants. Dan Basketfield
11/13/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = NFA - No Further Action Required (CERCLA)). Score too low for NPL. "No Further Remedial Action Planned" recommended by EPA. Former Staff
12/7/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SA1R - Phase I SA Review (CS/LUST)). Reviewed EPA PA concerning the site. Significant soil contamination found PNAs and VOCs. Dan Basketfield
4/9/1993 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Former Staff
7/20/1993 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). ADEC taken to site for field inspection. Former Staff
2/14/1994 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RPL2 - Site Information Request Letter). Sent PRP-CS Database Notification Letter to RP requesting update and more environmental information. RP responded with update and completed information form. Jeff Peterson
7/6/1999 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Letter sent approving "Draft Work Plan/Sampling and Analysis Plan, Maclaren Glacier Mine Site Characterization, Maclaren Glacier, Alaska" dated July 2, 1999. Since site work was underway at the time of work plan approval, the Department requested that photo documentation of site conditions and site activities be submitted to the Department within 30 days of completion of field work. In addition, ADEC requested that a meeting be held to determine requirements for interim removal or containment of drums and/or stained soils. Eileen Olson
1/4/2000 Update or Other Action To date the Department has not received the requested photographic documentation of site conditions and site work. Project manager changed from Eileen Olson to Deborah Williams. Eileen Olson
1/13/2000 Update or Other Action Site Characterization and Removal Action report received. Renee Evans
2/24/2000 Meeting or Teleconference Held Teleconference with HLA, and BLM regarding Site Characterization. Renee Evans
2/25/2000 Update or Other Action Method 3 parameters received by ADEC. Renee Evans
2/29/2000 Update or Other Action Revised matrix score sheet received by ADEC. Renee Evans
4/3/2000 Site Characterization Report Approved Site Characterization Report Approved this date. Renee Evans
6/26/2000 Update or Other Action Method 3 calculations/corrections faxed to HLA. Renee Evans
6/30/2000 Cleanup Level(s) Approved Method 3 level for DRO and Benzene approved by Jim Frechione. Jim Frechione
7/11/2000 Record of Decision Record for Decision for alternative cleanup levels signed by Jim Frechione. Jim Frechione
7/11/2000 Update or Other Action Cover letter with ROD requesting cleanup plan sent to BLM by ADEC. Renee Evans
8/31/2000 Cleanup Plan Approved Cleanup plan approved for landspreading DRO and benzene contaminated soils. Renee Evans
7/29/2004 Update or Other Action Recieved File from Anchorage. Review of the file indicates that work has been performed and BLM should be sampling soil stockpiled for bioremediation onsite. Will follow up with BLM project manager, Mike Sondergaard in Glenallen. File is limited and contains no letters or copy of ROD. Mike Jaynes
1/25/2010 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 72679 name: BLM Maclaren Glacier Mine Dump Site Melody Debenham
8/9/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved the work plan for collecting multi-increment soil samples from the two landspread cells at the site to be analyzed for diesel range organics. Melody Debenham
12/3/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved the 2013 Maclaren Glacier Landspread Monitoring letter report describing multi-incremental sampling at the two landspread areas for diesel range organics. All results were below the applicable cleanup levels. Melody Debenham
12/3/2013 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 72679 BLM Maclaren Glacier Mine Dump Site. Melody Debenham
2/13/2015 Update or Other Action Provided Department of Natural Resources (landowner) update of site status. Melody Debenham
12/7/2015 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued Melody Debenham

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil
Benzene < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil

Control Type

Type Details
No ICs Required

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.
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)

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