Site Report: NPS Kennecott Mine
| Site Name: | NPS Kennecott Mine |
|---|---|
| Address: | Kennecott Mine, McCarthy, Chitina, AK 99566 |
| File Number: | 2235.38.001 |
| Hazard ID: | 2440 |
| Status: | Active |
| Staff: | Brittani Mack, 9072628205 brittani.mack@alaska.gov |
| Latitude: | 61.484650 |
| Longitude: | -142.887750 |
| Horizontal Datum: | WGS84 |
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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
Milltown has widespread heavy metal contamination in tailings locations. Several areas of fuel contamination also exist from a former AST and its associated piping in the Milltown. Blasting caps from former mining activities also exist near the mill building. Bonanza, Erie, Glacier, and Jumbo Mines all have oil stained areas within structures. As of 2023, NPS is conducting a Phase II Remedial Investigation within the Milltown area of the former Kennecott Mine. From NPS Phase I Remedial Investigations in the Milltown the following metals are contaminants of potential concern (COPC): aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, vanadium, and zinc. Benzene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, chrysene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, naphthalene, and pyrene are COPCs in surface soil.
Action Information
| Action Date | Action | Description | DEC Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/15/1992 | Preliminary Assessment Approved | (Old R:Base Action Code = SA1R - Phase I SA Review (CS/LUST)). Done as a comprehensive SA for the area in 1992. | Mike Krieber |
| 3/23/1995 | Site Added to Database | Petroleum. | Mike Krieber |
| 3/23/1995 | Update or Other Action | Site updated. No further action needed until buildings are moved or dismantled. | Mike Krieber |
| 5/9/1996 | Site Ranked Using the AHRM | Ranked by Shannon and Wilson. | S&W |
| 10/17/1996 | Site Ranked Using the AHRM | Reviewed S&W ranking. Changed Toxicity Value from 1 to 2; Quantity Value from 2 to 1; Site Access Value from 2 to 1; Air Exposure Index Value from 0.2 to 0.1; Population Density Value from 3 to 0; GW Usage Value from 0.8 to 0.1; SW Environments from 2 to 0; and multiple sources from "Y" to "N". | Mike Krieber |
| 2/21/1997 | Update or Other Action | Received Kennicott Mine Pre-Acquisition Environmental Site Assessment Report. Letter sent to RP indicating that CS program staff will take over work on all CS projects, including the remaining items at the Kennicott Mine sites. | Mike Krieber |
| 6/17/1998 | Update or Other Action | Prospective Purchaser Agreement and Covenant Not to Sue between State of Alaska and USA. This allows the National Park Service to purchase the property recognizing the existing contamination at the site. A statement of work and schedule to address contamination issues is attached to the agreement. | Jim Frechione |
| 6/8/1999 | Update or Other Action | NPS submitted 1999 work plan that indicated they would be addressing lead paint issues. | Jim Frechione |
| 7/2/2008 | Exposure Tracking Model Ranking | Initial ranking with ETM completed. | Janice Wiegers |
| 9/30/2014 | Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter | Potentially responsible party letter sent to the National Park Service. | Melody Debenham |
| 9/17/2015 | Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other | Received update from NPS. Lead based paint and asbestos mitigation completed. Petroleum contamination cleanup at Power Plant completed in 2004/2010, including removal of Bunker C from piping in power plant building. | Melody Debenham |
| 6/26/2017 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | NPS officials from the Contaminated Sites Program in Denver and from the regional office in Anchorage traveled to Nabesna and Kennicott mines to develop a strategy for investigation and remediation of the mines. DEC participated in a preliminary meeting to share information on the each agency's contaminated sites program and broad vision for the future of the sites. | Joy Whitsel |
| 3/11/2019 | Update or Other Action | PA received from NPS. NPS is in the process of hiring a CERCLA PM. | Gretchen Caudill |
| 8/13/2021 | Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other | DEC sent comments on the Draft Final Phase I RI SAP. Work was begun at the site before ADEC had the necessary time to review, comment, and correspond to approve the RI SAP. ADEC requires further characterization from what is detailed in the SAP, to be conducted at a later date. A detailed CSM needs to be completed to understand the data gaps to fill in future years. ADEC also requested several reports that had not been delivered to ADEC for review in years' past. | Tim Sharp |
| 6/9/2022 | Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other | Provided comments on Draft Final Phase II ESA to the NPS. | Michael Hooper |
| 8/17/2022 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | ADEC met with NPS and representatives from Ahtna to discuss multiple site histories and potential paths forward for remediation and eventual closure with or without ICs. | Tim Sharp |
| 2/24/2023 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | ADEC met with NPS and representatives from Ahtna to discuss multiple site histories and potential paths forward for remediation and eventual closure with or without ICs. | Arika Garcia |
Contaminant Information
| Name | Level Description | Media | Comments |
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Control Type
| Type | Details |
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Requirements
| Description | Details |
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No associated sites were found.