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Site Report: Manokotak School

Site Name: Manokotak School
Address: Salmon Street, Manokotak, AK 99628
File Number: 2611.38.001
Hazard ID: 2197
Status: Active
Staff: Nick Waldo, 9074655270 nick.waldo@alaska.gov
Latitude: 58.980258
Longitude: -159.058445
Horizontal Datum:NAD83

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

Numerous historical spills have occurred in the school area, including the adjacent tank farm where "large" fuel releases have been reported. Most recent spill occurred 12/24/1994 when approximately 125 gallons of diesel fuel spilled with approximately 110 gallons recovered. School crawl space was impacted by this release. ADEC conducted limited site assessment in 1998. Results did not find any soil concentrations above cleanup levels, however additional areas of contamination may exist at the facility. Village of Manokotak obtains drinking water from groundwater well at 100 foot depth drilled by PHS. In 2001 a new school was constructed approximately 3.5 miles south of the old school site. The aboveground storage tank (AST) tank farm was cleared of all but two tanks, one 6,500-gallon one 4,000-gallon AST. The 6,500-gallon tank was slated for removal, while the 4,000-gallon tank was to be used as fuel storage for the emergency generator. The Manokotak Village Council applied to the DEC Reuse and Redevelopment (R&R) Program for a DEC Brownfield Assessment (DBA) in the spring 2009 DBA request period. File was reassigned to 2611.57.001 and assessment tracked under the R&R Program. File reassigned to contaminated sites on 3/19/2020 as Brownfields are no longer tracked under the R&R Program. FKA 2611.57.001.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
12/27/1994 Notice of Violation Notice of violation sent regarding spill. Ray Dronenburg
12/27/1994 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RPL1 - Initiate Dialog with RP). Initiate dialogue with potentially responsible party. Ray Dronenburg
1/10/1995 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RARR - Remedial Action Report Review (CS)). Reviewed a Remedial Action Report. Ray Dronenburg
1/24/1995 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SA2R - Phase II SA Review (CS)). Reviewed progress report on spill cleanup - indoor - air quality. Ray Dronenburg
2/7/1995 Site Added to Database Site added to database. Ray Dronenburg
2/15/1995 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SA1R - Phase I SA Review (CS/LUST)). Approved air quality monitoring plan. Ray Dronenburg
3/3/1995 Update or Other Action Reviewed monthly progress report. Ray Dronenburg
9/5/1995 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Bill Wright
10/26/1995 Cleanup Plan Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPA - Remedial Action Plan Approval). Reviewed and approved a remedial action plan. Bill Wright
12/27/1995 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RPL3 - RP Determined and Action Request). RP letter sent and requested a corrective action plan. Bill Wright
1/9/1997 Update or Other Action On 4/9/1996, Environmental Management, Inc. submitted a "Manokotak School Spill Release Investigation and Corrective Action Report" dated March 1996. The Report documented contaminated soils near the Manokotak School related to the spill that occurred in December 1994. The report also discovered additional contaminated soils next to the 1994 spill location related to past spills at the nearby tank farm. On 1/9/1997, ADEC project manager, Shah Alam, mailed a letter to Mr. Henry Versnick, Maintenance Director of Southwest Region Schools, asking him to submit a work plan to remediate contaminated soils, and to submit information as to the final disposition of the stockpile. ADEC approved a disposal plan for the stockpile next to the school in October 1995. Analytical samples taken in 1996 showed DRO up to 17,500 ppm in one area, and ranging from 18 ppm to 7,100 ppm. Shah Alam
9/10/1998 Site Characterization Workplan Approved ADEC approved work plan submitted by E&E to conduct site assessment activities at the school. The purpose of the work plan is to define the extent of soils and groundwater contamination at the school, and recommend remedial options. John Mazzitello
1/27/1999 Site Characterization Report Approved Report entitled "Final Site Assessment Report, Manokotak School, Manokotak, Alaska" by E&E, dated January 1999 was received by ADEC. Results indicate that contamination of soil and groundwater by DRO above ADEC cleanup standards does exist. However, the number of samples was limited and the extent and volume of contaminated soils may not be entirely assessed. John Mazzitello
1/27/1999 Update or Other Action Analytical results from the E&E Final Report were as follows: DRO was detected at 720 mg/kg at 9.5 feet bgs, and 3,000 mg/kg at 24.5 feet bgs. GRO was not detected. BTEX results were low-level, however cross contamination was suspected, due to to BTEX being detected in the trip blank sample. Detection limits for benzene were above ADEC Method 2 cleanup levels. Groundwater sample results show DRO (280 mg/L) and GRO (1.6 mg/L) present, along with BTEX consituents (0.089 mg/L total). PAH's were not detected above ADEC cleanup levels. Shannon Oelkers
5/20/2002 Update or Other Action ADEC received the report "Aboveground Storage Tank Farms Site Reconnaissance: Manokotak, Alaska." Report identifies the construction of a new school building and the clearing of the old school tank farm. Added to database in 2007 to reflect administrative file. Shannon Oelkers
2/5/2007 Update or Other Action Site transferred to Shannon Oelkers. Linda Nuechterlein
7/18/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source Area ID: 73175 School AST Tank Farm Shannon Oelkers
7/18/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Intitial Ranking Complete for Source Area: 73175 (Autogenerated Action)
7/18/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Updated Ranking Complete for Source Area: 73175 (Autogenerated Action)
7/27/2007 Update or Other Action Site transferred from Oelkers to Horwath. Shannon Oelkers
5/28/2009 Update or Other Action File Transferred from Soldotna to Anchorage 6-1-09. Project Manager changed from Don Fritz to Linda Nuechterlein. Alyce Hughey
6/4/2009 Update or Other Action Site transferred to Fairbanks for work under the R&R Program, in response to request from community. File number reassigned to 2611.57.001. Cross-reference former CS file no. 2611.38.001, contains previous reports and cleanup history. Sonja Benson
6/17/2009 Brownfields Award Letter of notification sent to Manokotak Village Council, informing them that their site is slated for work during Fiscal Year 2010 under the R&R Program. SOA CIP budget funds moved up from FY2014 to FY2010. Project scope is a property assessment and cleanup plan of the Manokotak Old BIA School. NTP# 18400210009C funds $34,755. Current status: Cleanup complete. Sonja Benson
8/13/2009 Update or Other Action DEC received a response from the Alaska State Historic Perservation Office (SHPO) for the assessment work planned for FY2010/2011. SHPO stated that this site may be considered a potentially eligible historic property. They recommend that this site be evaluated for eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Deborah Williams
3/25/2010 Update or Other Action Notice to proceed was awarded to Hoefler through SPAR term contract. Project managed under Reuse and Redevelopment Program. Deborah Williams
12/8/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC received a Property Assessment and Cleanup Plan for the former Manokotak School. September 21 - 24, 2010, SLR conducted a site visit in Manokotak. SLR observed the Former Manokotak School site, which includes the abandoned BIA School building, two former teacher housing buildings, and an equipment storage/old generator building. In additon to the buildings, three ASTs were present at the site: One 500-gallon AST on the east end of the generator shed building, one 750-gallon AST within the former school generator area, and one 8,000-gallon AST within the former AST tank farm area. A total of 98 field screening soil samples were collected from 21 test borings and three test pits that were excavated across the Site. Hydrocarbon odors were noted at the Site near areas of recently disturbed soil. Areas of stained soil and gravel were also noted at the Site, particularly near ASTs. During this field effort, ninety-seven field screening soil samples were collected from multiple depth intervals. Eight analytical samples including one duplicate were also collected and analyzed for GRO, DRO, RRO, BTEX, lead, and PAHs. The maximum detected concentration of DRO was 39,600 mg/kg and the max. concentration for GRO was 637 mg/kg and ethylbenzene was 8.11 mg/kg. Two drinking water samples were collected from the "Old Village" drinking water system. The results from the wells had a detection of trichlorofluoromethane, but below drinking water cleanup levels. SLR estimates approximately 1,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil in the top 5 feet (1994 Spill Area, Former Tank Farm Area, Former Generator Area, and other isolated spots) that should be excavated and treated.SLR also recommends that the solid waste be removed, asbestos abatement and sampling be conducted, buildings be demolished (if not needed), and the contaminated soil in the area be excavated to five feet bgs at a minimum. Sonja Benson
3/22/2012 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 73175 School AST Tank Farm. Melinda Brunner
6/27/2012 Update or Other Action Letter sent to Manokotak Village Council informing them that their application for a DEC Brownfield Assessment or Cleanup (DBAC) of this site ranked sixth among those received, and that funding of all ranked projects was unlikely. Sonja Benson
8/5/2015 Update or Other Action Evaluating site history for evidence of contamination during Bureau of Indian Affairs ownership. Joy Whitsel
9/14/2015 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter PRP letter was sent to Bureau of Indian Affairs and to Southwest Region School District. Alaska Department of Education and Early Development was also identified as a PRP but was sent an email notification of responsibility. Joy Whitsel
9/15/2015 Institutional Control Update Institutional controls (ICs) were established in 2012 restricting drinking water wells, but no confirmation from Southwest Region School District (SWRSD) was ever documented. A letter was sent to SWRSD requesting agreement and verification of the ICs. Joy Whitsel
9/25/2015 Institutional Control Update Received signed agreement from SWRSD establishing institutional controls: 1) Installation of groundwater wells on the property of the Former Manokotak School requires DEC approval; 2) Access controls need to be established, site characterization completed, and a cleanup plan must be proposed as required by 18 AAC 75.325; 3) No excavation or demolition activity on school property may proceed without an ADEC approved work plan; 4) Any proposal to transport soil or groundwater off-site requires ADEC approval in accordance with 18 AAC 75.325. 5) Movement or use of contaminated material in a manner that results in a violation of 18 AAC 70 water quality standards is prohibited; 6) In the event that the property is transferred prior to meeting ADEC approved cleanup levels, a Notice of Environmental Contamination (deed notice) shall be recorded in the State Recorder’s Office as an institutional control that identifies the nature and extent of contamination at the property. Joy Whitsel
6/16/2017 Update or Other Action DEC received an email from Manokotak mayor stating that the City has agreed to accept environmental indemnity of the contaminated property. DEC advised the mayor that a Notice of Environmental Contamination is required to be filed with the State Recorder's Office upon transfer of the property. Joy Whitsel
10/9/2017 Institutional Control Update On this date, a Notice of Environmental Contamination (NEC) was signed by Southwest Region School District (SWRSD) and the City of Manokotak and was sent to the Recorder's Office. The institutional controls (ICs) outlined in the NEC are similar to the previous ICs: 1.) The Landowner shall restrict access to the contaminated areas of the site, by erecting a fence and placing ADEC approved signage notifying the public of the presence of hazardous contamination; 2.) Installation of groundwater wells on the property of the Former Manokotak School requires ADEC approval; 3.) For excavation or demolition work in areas where surface and sub-surface soil contamination is located a work plan must be submitted to ADEC for managing the contaminated material that may be encountered. ADEC approval is required prior to moving any soil or groundwater off-site (see 18 AAC 75.325(i)); 4.) Movement or use of contaminated material in a manner that results in a violation of 18 AAC 70 water quality standards is prohibited; 5.) In the event that the property is transferred prior to the cleanup being completed and ADEC approving removal of the institutional controls, the new owner must agree with and establish procedures to implement the required institutional and engineering controls, and the Notice of Environmental Contamination shall be updated and recorded in the State Recorder’s Office. SWRSD transferred the property to the City on 6/2/17 via quitclaim deed. Joy Whitsel
5/14/2018 Update or Other Action Participated in a conference call with the mayor of Manokotak regarding funding options and cleanup progression. The next step is to arrange a conference call with the SW Region School District, a PRP, and the mayor. Gretchen Caudill
6/28/2019 Update or Other Action Letter provided to BIA providing a list of 31 sites where BIA is a PRP and requesting a meeting to discuss long-term planning for cleanup at these sites. Gretchen Caudill
8/8/2019 Update or Other Action Buildings reported as demolished 2017 by the mayor. Gretchen Caudill
3/19/2020 Update or Other Action File reassigned to contaminated sites on this date. FKA 2611.57.001. Cascade Galasso-Irish
11/14/2024 ANCSA Program Ineligible This site was evaluated for eligibility for the EPA ANCSA contaminated lands program funding. The Village of Manokotak lands, including the former school location, were never ANCSA conveyed, making this site ineligible for the EPA ANCSA funding. Shonda Oderkirk

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

No associated sites were found.

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