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Site Report: Haines Light & Power

Site Name: Haines Light & Power
Address: 241 Dalton Street, Haines, AK 99827
File Number: 1508.38.004
Hazard ID: 2379
Status: Active
Staff: Stacee Henderson, 9072628202 stacee.henderson@alaska.gov
Latitude: 59.235852
Longitude: -135.445963
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

In the fall of 1997, a Site Investigation into non-petroleum contamination was completed. Twelve test pits were advanced to collect soil samples. The samples were analyzed for potential contaminants of concern (POCs) polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs), volatile chlorinated compounds, and metals. Lead was detected in all six soil samples in concentrations ranging from 14 to 888 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg); PCBs were detected in four of seven soil samples in concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 860 mg/kg as Aroclor 1260. The facility was capped with asphalt to control migration of the residual soil contamination. In 1998, three temporary monitoring wells were installed on the property to monitor the stability of residual soil contamination and to investigate groundwater for contamination. MW-1 and MW-2 are positioned near the alley on the south side of the property and reach a depth of 13.5 feet below the asphalt grade and MW-3 is positioned in the center of the property and reaches a depth of 15.75 feet below the asphalt grade. In 1998, groundwater levels below the well casing were measured at 8.5 feet in MW-1 & MW-2 and at 11.1 feet in MW-3. Site cleanup is currently in a groundwater long-term monitoring stage. Annually during the fall months Wells 1 and 2 are sampled for diesel range organics and wells 1, 2, and 3 are sampled to monitor for PCB compound Aroclor 1260, both of which are residual soil contaminants of concern (COCs).

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
10/22/1997 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Site Characterization Workplan Approved this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
11/5/1997 Site Added to Database PCBs, TPH. Sally Schlichting
1/29/1998 Site Characterization Report Approved PCBs/TPH in soil, TPH in groundwater. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/9/1998 Update or Other Action Groundwater well installation workplan approved. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/22/1998 Update or Other Action Groundwater wells installed - DRO and RRO are detected in ground water samples but Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are not detected in the tests. Anne Marie Palmieri
8/7/1998 Cleanup Level(s) Approved PCBs - residential. Anne Marie Palmieri
8/21/1998 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Additional PCBs in soil. Anne Marie Palmieri
9/24/1998 Update or Other Action PCBs in soil at various depths. Anne Marie Palmieri
3/1/1999 Update or Other Action HL&P requests commercial cleanup level. Anne Marie Palmieri
4/16/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC comments on TPH CAP. Anne Marie Palmieri
5/25/1999 Update or Other Action PCBs found on adjacent properties. Anne Marie Palmieri
5/31/1999 Update or Other Action Off-site groundwater wells plan approved. Wells not installed. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/10/1999 Site Characterization Report Approved Public comment period ends 6/24/99. Anne Marie Palmieri
7/14/1999 Meeting or Teleconference Held HL&P will appeal residential level; will agree to capping with commercial level. Anne Marie Palmieri
8/7/1999 Cleanup Plan Approved PCBs only. Anne Marie Palmieri
9/30/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC received capping information. Anne Marie Palmieri
10/19/1999 Update or Other Action Record of Decision signed for commercial levels for PCBs; several CAP elements still need to be submitted. Anne Marie Palmieri
11/22/1999 Cleanup Plan Approved PCB cleanup plan approval. Anne Marie Palmieri
11/26/1999 Cleanup Level(s) Approved Petroleum - method 2, table C. Anne Marie Palmieri
11/26/1999 Record of Decision Petroleum. Anne Marie Palmieri
9/20/2001 Long Term Monitoring Established Cleanup actions complete. Air-sparging system for soil operating. Groundwater samples for PCBs, DRO, and RRO will be collected quarterly. Soil samples for DRO and RRO will be collected semi-annually. Anne Marie Palmieri
9/24/2001 Site Number Identifier Changed Changed Workplan to 09 from 01 to reflect presence of PCBs. Former Staff
11/5/2001 Update or Other Action Quarterly groundwater monitoring results submitted. Groundwater still shows high levels of DRO (3.6ppm) and PCBs (13ppb). MDL for PCBs exceeded the cleanup level; SBL will correct this next sampling event. Anne Marie Palmieri
3/29/2002 Update or Other Action Letter sent on LTM groundwater report for samples collected 2/19/02. Anne Marie Palmieri
7/10/2002 Update or Other Action Letter sent eliminating RRO from all 3 wells and DRO in MW3. Anne Marie Palmieri
1/3/2003 Update or Other Action Letter sent on LTM groundwater report for samples collected 12/5/02. Anne Marie Palmieri
2/26/2003 Update or Other Action LTM plan modifications: GW: DRO - MW1, MW2 and PCB - MW2, MW3; no soil sampling required Anne Marie Palmieri
12/15/2003 Update or Other Action Letter sent on LTM groundwater report for samples collected 11/03. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/4/2004 Update or Other Action Project manager transition site vist. GPS reading obtained. Bill Janes
9/7/2005 Update or Other Action Review of Contaminated Site and Underground Storage Tank files to organize and assume cleanup project management. Update lat/ long data to NAD 83 and add property description data to both CS, LUST and DEC filing database records. Bruce Wanstall
5/18/2006 Update or Other Action Reviewed the 2006 LTM GMR; letter sent to Haines Light & Power requesting inspection of the asphalt cap and quality assurance data on laboratory testing performed on the ground water. Bruce Wanstall
7/11/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Migration to groundwater is the controlling pathway; exposure routes are ingestion of groundwater and subsurface soil. Long term monitoring is established until groundwater reaches Table C cleanup values. Institutional controls need to ensure maintenance of the cleanup remedy cap and notification to ADEC of plans to excavate on the property. Bruce Wanstall
8/14/2007 Update or Other Action Request meeting with Irve Oleson, manager of the Haines AP&T office, next week to examine the site for status and to discuss the ADEC requests to AP&T in 12/06 letter. Bruce Wanstall
1/25/2008 Update or Other Action Payment of $750.80 from Alaska Power & Telephone was received by ADEC for site cleanup and monitoring oversight expenses. Bruce Wanstall
1/31/2008 Update or Other Action ADEC discussed data quality objectives cited in the ADEC letter dated December, 2006 with AP&T manager Danny Gonce. Annual LTM sampling took place in the fall 2007 at the Haines Power Plant ; the data report is in progress. Bruce Wanstall
2/12/2008 Update or Other Action 2007 Annual Long Term Monitoring (LTM) Groundwater Report (GMR) data meet quality assurance standards. PCB (Aroclor 1260) concentrations in MW-1 were again non-detect in 2007, but increased in MW-2 from 0.0166ppm in 2006 to 0.0261ppm in 2007 and also increased in MW-3 from non-detect in 2006 to 0.000692ppm in 2007. An increasing trend is indicated in MW-2 PCB samples and concentrations are above the 0.0005ppm Table C screening level. DRO concentration in MW-1 is up from 1.08ppm in 2006 to 4.8ppm in 2007 and increased in MW-2 from 1.32ppm in 2006 to 1.43ppm in 2007. Field duplicate sample variation in DRO data was 4% while PCB duplicate sample variance in data was again off by an order of magnitude. Annual LTM GMR will continue at the Haines Plant in 2008. Bruce Wanstall
7/14/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC approves 2008 Monitoring Well Sampling by Nortech meeting ADEC field and laboratory quality assurance requirements. The current data do not indicate a decreasing trend in ground water contamination when compared with historical ground water data. The purging of wells before sample collection is required. The ADEC requests resumption of ground water sampling in 2010 according to the ADEC-approved sampling plan. The 2008 analysis of ground water for Aroclor-1260 PCB from MW-1 collected before and after purging were both below instrument detection (0.000115 and 0.000122 mg/L) concentration, which is consistent with the historical data trend. The analysis of ground water for Aroclor-1260 PCB from MW-2 before purging had a concentration 0.0111 mg/L. The analysis of ground water from MW-2 after purging the well had a Aroclor-1260 PCB concentration below instrument detection (0.000118 mg/L). The analysis of ground water from MW-3 collected before and after purging were both below instrument detection (0.000118 mg/L) concentration, which is a reduction in Aroclor-1260 PCB concentration from the 2007 sample concentration of 0.000692 mg/L and the field duplicate concentration of 0.00237 mg/L. The Table C ground water screening level is 0.0005 mg/L. Bruce Wanstall
5/5/2011 Update or Other Action DEC sent a letter to AP&T requesting they submit an updated work plan to resume annual monitor well sampling. The last sampling event for the facility Source Area 77867 was in 2008. DEC received the Report in January 2010. In the Report Approval Letter DEC requested data from 2009 and a continuation of annual sampling in 2010. Bruce Wanstall
7/21/2011 Update or Other Action DEC evaluated correspondence and monitoring reports for the Haines Light & Power Inc site Source Area 77867 and contacted the manager Danny Gonce by telephone to request that AP&T submit a revised long term monitoring work plan for the site and that annual sampling resume in 2011. Bruce Wanstall
12/12/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approves the 2009 Groundwater Monitoring Report by Nortech for the HL&P PCB contaminated site source area. The Report documents well sampling at the site to monitor groundwater contaminated by subsurface soil contamination associated with a polychlorinated biphenyl compound (PCB) leaking transformer source. In accordance with 18 AAC 75.360, qualified person(s) used data collection methods consistent with DEC methodology in the DEC-approved Corrective Action Plan for long term monitoring of groundwater. The data meet field and laboratory report quality assurance criteria in Contaminated Sites Program guidance documents and the UST Procedures Manual. Bruce Wanstall
12/16/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approves the 2011 Groundwater Monitoring Report by Nortech for the HL&P PCB contaminated site source area. The Report documents well sampling at the site to monitor groundwater contaminated by subsurface soil contamination associated with a polychlorinated biphenyl compound (PCB) leaking transformer source. In accordance with 18 AAC 75.360, qualified person(s) used data collection methods consistent with DEC methodology in the DEC-approved Corrective Action Plan for long term monitoring of groundwater. The data meet field and laboratory report quality assurance criteria in Contaminated Sites Program guidance documents and the UST Procedures Manual. Bruce Wanstall
9/28/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC letter approves a revised corrective action plan involving long term monitoring of soil and groundwater contamination associated with an overfill event from a regulated underground storage tank and a spill from a polychlorinated biphenyl compound transformer source. AP&T and NORTECH will continue management of the risks associated with the complete exposure pathways to the remaining contamination that AP&T is managing through a combination of source control, cleanup, and engineering controls. Bruce Wanstall
12/21/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC letter to Alaska Power and Telephone (AP&T) provided approval and comment with requests regarding the Nortech letter/report titled AP&T, Haines, 2012 Site Assessment and Sampling Results (Report) documenting recent site activity in 2012 at the AP&T facility. The Report documents monitoring of the in-situ cleanup remedies and maintenance of control measures for petroleum releases from a regulated underground storage tank system and from a polychlorinated biphenyl compound (PCB) source area as required by 18 ACC 75.345(H) and 18 AAC 78.240 – 18 AAC 78.276. The DEC letter provides approval for the site activities and laboratory data and provides comments and requests associated with the recommendations made by Nortech in the Report. Nortech observed that monitor well MW-2 is a culvert stand-pipe with a surface mount that allows surface water to flow into the well. The pipe may have been useful for collecting free product floating on groundwater in 1996 but the water samples from this well are not representative of groundwater. The DEC letter requests that the stand-pipe be filled with clean sand and sealed at the surface as soon as weather allows. DEC agrees with Nortech that MW-2 should be replaced and requests that a second new well also be installed at a new location on-site down-gradient of the two source areas. Bruce Wanstall
9/16/2013 Update or Other Action DEC requested AP&T provide an update on the 2013 site work plan. Bruce Wanstall
10/30/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC has reviewed the work plan Long Term Monitoring for Haines Light and Power by Nortech and waives a previous request that Alaska Power & Telephone install an additional well west of the bioventing system (former UST site). A properly repaired well MW-2 and well MW-1 are adequate to monitor groundwater contamination migrating from two petroleum release sources of soil contamination on the property: a former regulated underground storate tank system and former PCB-containing electrical transformers. DEC review of this specific work plan is to ensure that the work is done in accordance with State of Alaska environmental conservation laws and regulations. Therefore the draft Plan is approved in accordance with 18 AAC 75.335(b) and 18 AAC 78.260. Bruce Wanstall
5/2/2014 Institutional Control Periodic Reporting AP&T notified DEC of plans to install a new transformer east of the power plant building. The project requires removal of the asphalt cap to build a containment bay that drains to the oil-water separator system. DEC approved the plan in replay by electronic mail. Bruce Wanstall
1/15/2015 Update or Other Action DEC received 2014 Site Assessment and Sampling Results Report by Nortech Environmental Inc. with laboratory data on annual groundwater monitoring in accordance with the Site Corrective Action Plan Bruce Wanstall
11/17/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC reviewed 2014 Site Assessment and Sampling Results Alaska Power and Telephone 241 Dalton Street, Haines, Alaska 99927 ADEC File Number: 1508.38.004 (Report). The Report was completed by Nortech documenting well sampling to demonstrate effectiveness of the in-situ cleanup remedies and maintenance of control measures for petroleum releases from a regulated underground storage tank (UST) system and from a PCB transformer source area. As a result of three successive sampling events with PCB levels below instrument detection and the site cleanup level of 0.5ug/L, DEC requested AP&T submit a plan to decommission monitoring well MW-3 in accordance with the DEC Monitoring Well Guidance dated November 2011. DEC requested a report on well sampling in 2013. Bruce Wanstall
9/16/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC reviewed Site Assessment and Sampling Results, an annual 2015 well sampling report submitted by Nortech Environmental Inc. Approval with requests was sent by letter sent electronically to AP&T today. DEC requested that AP&T decommission well MW-3 in accordance with the 2013 DEC Well Guidance, discontinue collecting samples from MW-1 for PCB analysis, submit inspection photos of the asphalt cap over PCB soil on-site, submit a report on operation of the air sparge unit to the UST excavation, and continue to sample MW-2 for PCBs and DRO and MW-1 for DRO. Bruce Wanstall
11/22/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC has reviewed and approved the 2016 Alaska Power and Telephone Annual Sampling, dated November 2016. Nortech Environmental completed the report of annual sampling of groundwater wells monitoring petroleum and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) soil contamination. The Report documents the condition of the air sparging system, condition of the asphalt cap, and annual sampling of wells MW-1 and MW-2. DRO above cleanup levels was detected in samples from both wells; PCBs were below the laboratory reporting limit and cleanup level in well MW-2 for the second year. Bruce Wanstall
12/15/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other 2017 Alaska Power and Telephone Annual Sampling report (dated October 6) reviewed and approved. Visual inspection, well survey data collected, groundwater sampling for laboratory analysis occurred. MW1 and MW2 samples analyzed for DRO, both wells contained values above ADEC migration to groundwater cleanup levels. MW2 sampled for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and value returned as non-detect. ADEC requested at annual sampling continue, specifically for DRO analysis of samples from MW1 and MW2. Amy Rodman
1/15/2019 Site Characterization Report Approved ADEC Contaminated Sites Program reviewed and approved the “2018 Alaska Power and Telephone Annual Sampling” (report) dated December 14, 2018 for the Haines Light & Power Company by NORTECH, Inc. (Nortech). The described field effort was conducted on October 16, 2018 and generally consisted of well survey data collection, a visual inspection of two monitoring wells, and groundwater sampling for laboratory analysis of diesel range organics (DRO) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). ADEC concurs with NORTECH’s following recommendations: •DRO concentrations within MW-1 are above ADEC Table C groundwater cleanup levels. Please continue annual groundwater sampling for DRO from MW-1. •DRO concentrations within MW-2 meet ADEC’s Table C groundwater cleanup levels. •ADEC approves discontinuing sampling for PCB and DRO in MW-2. Additional GW MWs are needed to bound GW contamination plume. MW-1 needs to have VOC's, PAH's analyzed. WP due March 1, 2019. Amy Rodman
12/5/2019 Site Characterization Report Approved ADEC Contaminated Sites Program reviewed and approved the “2019 Alaska Power and Telephone Annual Sampling” (report) dated December 4, 2019 for the Haines Light & Power Company by NORTECH, Inc. (NORTECH). The described field effort was conducted on November 12, 2019 and generally consisted of well survey and a visual inspection of monitoring well MW-1, and groundwater sampling for laboratory analysis of diesel range organics (DRO). Two consecutive samplings for DRO at below Table C groundwater cleanup levels are needed for the site closure evaluation. Amy Rodman
4/23/2020 Update or Other Action During May 2020, Alaska Power and Telephone Company intends to construct an additional diesel generator at the site. ADEC is reviewing plans and will provide comment. Erin Gleason
4/27/2020 Update or Other Action In 2019 there was a spill of glycol on the site. PPR responded and soil was excavated and disposed of offsite. When the soil was sample, PCB were detected. This indicates that the PCB from the other areas of the site have migrated into a region that was previously presumed clean. PCB needed to be delineated in the surface and subsurface soil. In addition, diesel range organics (DRO) remain in groundwater above ADEC groundwater cleanup levels (see 12/2019 report). Erin Gleason
4/28/2020 Update or Other Action Alaska Power and Telephone contact ADEC regarding the installation of a new diesel generator (unit 2A) on the site. The generator installation does not involve and soil disturbance and it does not open any new indoor air inhalation pathways. As such ADEC does not require a work plan for the work at the site. A letter was sent on this data approving the project and stating that ADEC recommends removing any contaminated soil beneath the new generator location to allow for future site closure. Erin Gleason
12/8/2020 Site Characterization Report Approved ADEC approves the "2020 Alaska Power and Telephone Annual Groundwater Sampling" report. DRO remains in groundwater at 5.8 mg/L in MW-1. Kara Kusche
7/21/2021 Update or Other Action J. Fix assigned as new Project Manager. Julie Fix
10/15/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other 2021 "Annual Groundwater Monitoring Report" received on this date. Comment table and letter sent on 11/12/2021. Additional comments sent to RP on 1/27/2022. A revised report was received on 3/22/2022. Julie Fix
2/4/2022 Meeting or Teleconference Held Teleconference with RP and consultant to discuss report comments. Meeting summary saved in the site file. Julie Fix
5/3/2022 Site Characterization Report Approved The revised 2021 "Annual Groundwater Sampling" Report was approved on this date. A groundwater sample was collected from MW-1 on September 22, 2021 and analyzed for DRO. DRO was detected at 7.17 mg/L. Annual groundwater monitoring at MW-1 should continue. Julie Fix
8/3/2023 Site Characterization Report Approved The “2022 Alaska Power and Telephone Annual Groundwater Sampling” report, dated June 14, 2023, was received via email on June 15, 2023. MW-1 was sampled for DRO. DRO remains above cleanup levels. The report was approved on this date. Julie Fix
1/9/2024 Update or Other Action The ADEC reviewed and submitted comments to the RP for the “2023 Alaska Power and Telephone Annual Groundwater Sampling” report. A groundwater sample was collected from monitoring well MW-1 and analyzed for diesel range organics (DRO). Concentrations of DRO were detected at 1.87 mg/L and 2.26 mg/L (duplicate), which are above the ADEC Table C groundwater cleanup level of 1.5 mg/L. Annual groundwater monitoring at this site should continue. Stacee Henderson

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