| Action Date |
Action |
Description |
DEC Staff |
| 9/26/2008 |
Site Added to Database |
A new site has been added to the database |
Mitzi Read |
| 5/23/2012 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC received the Surface Soil Sampling Report Nome Legacy Sites from Oasis. |
Tamara Cardona-Marek |
| 5/24/2012 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
DEC met with Novagold and Oasis to discuss the findings of the field work conducted in 2011. |
Tamara Cardona-Marek |
| 6/6/2012 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
Results from the soil sampling conducted in 2011 indicate that multiple areas of contamination exist on the property. Contaminants of concern are mostly DRO, RRO, some PAH's and chlorinated solvents (PCE and TCE in the area near the maintenance shop). A proposal for addressisng the soil stains and conducting addiitonal sampling after soil removal is expected from Oasis and Novagold. |
Tamara Cardona-Marek |
| 8/14/2012 |
Interim Removal Action Approved |
DEC approved workplan for the removal of soil stains and surface contamination submitted by Oasis. Additional site characterization will be required if samples from the bottom of the soil stains indicate contamination remains.
Contaminated soil will be stored in a stockpile at the Satellite Field Site (Novagold Property). |
Tamara Cardona-Marek |
| 9/10/2012 |
Site Visit |
DEC visited site during monitoring well installation and after removal of soil stains and surface soil contamination. |
Tamara Cardona-Marek |
| 9/11/2012 |
Update or Other Action |
The soil resulting from the excavation surface soil is currently stored as a stockpile at the Satellite Field site. Two stockpiles have been created; one with VOC's (~300 cy) and a second one with DRO and RRO contaminated soil (~180 cy). Soil is expected to be treated and removed during the next field season (2013). |
Tamara Cardona-Marek |
| 9/12/2012 |
Exposure Tracking Model Ranking |
Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78530 name: ASTs/ Drums / Debris |
Tamara Cardona-Marek |
| 11/8/2012 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC received notice that Bering Straits Native Corporation acquired Alaska Gold, including the Former Alaska Gold Power Plant property. NovaGold plans to continue to be involved with site cleanup. |
Tamara Cardona-Marek |
| 6/18/2013 |
Exposure Tracking Model Ranking |
A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78530 ASTs/ Drums / Debris. |
Robert Burgess |
| 7/18/2013 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
DEC met with NovaGold, Oasis, GeoEngineers, and representatives from Bering Straits Native Corporation (current property owners) and the City of Nome (purchasing the property) to discuss the Power Plant and the Alaska Gold New Gold House (400.38.028) sites. The remaining contamination and its possible effects on the Gold House site were discussed as well as potential effects on planned uses of the property by the City of Nome; e.g., the city was notified that any excavation work would need to be approved by DEC and conducted in accordance with contaminated sites regulations. The City intends to build a mining museum on the property and to start landscaping and construction of outdoor exhibits as early as 2014. DEC stated that additional delineation and/or remediation of soil and groundwater contamination is needed. Specifics regarding the work to be performed will require further discussion with NovaGold, BNSC, and the city. DEC expressed concerns that petroleum contamination from this site is affecting the New Gold House site and may affect remedial options for the new gold house. |
Robert Burgess |
| 7/19/2013 |
Update or Other Action |
Site symbol relocated using ArcGIS and BING imagery |
Robert Burgess |
| 8/1/2013 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC sent a letter to NovaGold that included a summary of DEC's concerns and decisions made in the July 18 meeting regarding upcoming work at the Gold House and Power Plant sites. The letter also included additional comments on work performed and expectations of future work to be conducted at both sites. Bering Straits and the City of Nome were also sent copies of the letter. |
Robert Burgess |
| 8/5/2013 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC received notification that the sale of a portion of the property to the City of Nome was finalized. |
Robert Burgess |
| 8/6/2013 |
Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter |
PRP letters sent to Bering Straits and the City of Nome |
Robert Burgess |
| 8/13/2013 |
Exposure Tracking Model Ranking |
A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78530 ASTs/ Drums / Debris. |
Robert Burgess |
| 9/5/2013 |
Site Characterization Workplan Approved |
DEC reviewed and commented on the 2013 Sampling and Analysis Plan for the Gold House and Power Plant sites. After discussion and comment response, the work plan was approved. Monitoring wells and Dry Creek sediments will be sampled for petroleum hydrocarbons. |
Robert Burgess |
| 9/9/2013 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
DEC project manager met with the City of Nome, Bering Straits Native corporation, and GeoEngineers (NovaGold's consultant) to discuss the former power plant site. Site history was briefly reviewed to ensure that all parties were up-to date on their knowledge of the site. Also discussed was the current work being performed, including groundwater monitoring by GeoEngineers and geotechnical borings by Bristol on behalf of the City. DEC clarified expectations and regulatory requirements for future development work on the site. |
Robert Burgess |
| 9/9/2013 |
Site Visit |
DEC project managers conducted a visit of the former Power Plant and New Gold House sites. Site features were located and inspected. A few areas of soil staining were noted at the Power Plant site, including one apparently new release of heating oil from an AST into an area previously excavated to two feet and backfilled by ERM. A small number of drums and buckets containing oily substances were also observed. |
Robert Burgess |
| 9/30/2013 |
Site Characterization Workplan Approved |
DEC commented on and approved a revised Geotechnical and Environmental Exploration Workplan prepared by Bristol Environmental Remediation Services LLC for the City of Nome. Geotechnical soil borings intended to inform placement of the proposed museum building and parking lot will be field screened continuously using PID, and sampled at the highest field screen interval as well as at the water table. Grab-samples of groundwater will also be taken if the borings reach groundwater. |
Robert Burgess |
| 11/4/2013 |
Update or Other Action |
Outreach to City of Nome, NovaGold and BSNC regarding Reuse & Redevelopment Program assistance available through DEC Brownfield Assessment, should they choose to apply. |
John Carnahan |
| 2/15/2014 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC reviewed the Richard Foster Building Site Environmental Investigation Report. Hydrocarbons in the diesel range were detected in three of seven soil borings, to the southeast of the investigated area where the building and parking lot will be built, beginning at depths of approximately 15 feet below ground surface and continuing to groundwater. Groundwater in these borings also contained diesel range organics (DRO). A boring to the northwest contained frozen soil beginning at a depth of 11 ft bgs and continuing throughout the length of the boring. The building plans indicate that the building will be placed over the current location of above-ground storage tanks 5 and 6, after the tanks are removed. |
Robert Burgess |
| 2/20/2014 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
DEC met with the City of Nome, Bristol Engineering, and Bristol Environmental and Remedial Services (BERS) to discuss the building site investigation report and ongoing needs of soil management during construction. DEC also clarified that additional site characterization will be necessary throughout the site, however the meeting focused mainly on characterizing soil and groundwater in and around the planned construction area. DEC's reuse and redevelopment coordinator attended the meeting and suggested that the City apply with the EPA for a targeted brownfield assessment, in order to take advantage of a service that can help with site characterization. BERS agreed to put together a workplan for soil management during construction, which will include field screening and sampling of soils. It was also agreed that soil beneath the ASTs will be assessed after their removal through the use of a test pit. |
Robert Burgess |
| 2/20/2014 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
R&R Program sat in on meeting with City of Nome, BSNC, and NovaGold regarding site activities. Followed up in email and attachments on potential for City of Nome to apply for a Targeted Brownfield Assessment through EPA Brownfield Program. Sent appropriate forms and recommended strategy. |
John Carnahan |
| 2/24/2014 |
Exposure Tracking Model Ranking |
A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78530 ASTs/ Drums / Debris. |
Robert Burgess |
| 4/3/2014 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
Meeting with ADEC, NovaGold, Bering Straits Native Corporation, and City of Nome. NovaGold requested meeting with ADEC Commissioner to discuss status of Former Alaska Gold New Gold House and Former Alaska Gold Powerplant. NovaGold recently sold their subsidiary, Alaska Gold Company, to Bering Straits Native Corporation. NovaGold plans to complete cleanup at the New Gold House site but does not plan to conduct additional characterization or cleanup work at the former Powerplant site. Discussions centered around City of Nome's plans regarding the former Powerplant site and NovaGold's plans to cap mercury contaminated soil at the New Gold House site. |
Janice Wiegers |
| 4/4/2014 |
Update or Other Action |
R&R Program reviewed and completed draft of TBA for City of Nome for review and submittal. |
John Carnahan |
| 4/14/2014 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC commented on and approved the Richard Foster Building Soil Sampling Workplan after discussion, comment resolution, and revision. Field screening and analytical sampling will take place during trenching work, and the soil beneath ASTs 5 and 6 will be sampled according to DEC guidance. Soil cuttings from pre-drilled piling holes will also be sampled. |
Robert Burgess |
| 5/15/2014 |
Update or Other Action |
City of Nome submits TBA request to EPA. |
John Carnahan |
| 6/10/2014 |
Brownfields Award |
EPA approves project for TBA and plans scoping meeting. |
John Carnahan |
| 7/11/2014 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC approved a modification of the Richard Foster Building soil management workplan per a request by Bristol Environmental. Based on the consultant's field observations including PID readings, little contamination is present beneath the tanks and along piping runs. Piping was found to contain product, and piping was cleaned and decommissioned. Based on the field observations of little to no impacts, DEC allowed a decrease in the number of analytical samples to be submitted, allowing samples to be taken every 40 feet along piping runs instead of every 20 feet. |
Robert Burgess |
| 7/22/2014 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC has received notice from Bristol Engineering that work associated with the Richard Foster Building project has begun. Tanks 5 and 6 have been removed, as has piping associated with the tanks, and samples were field screened and taken according to the modified workplan. The City, DEC, and EPA will meet to discuss the scope of the targeted brownfield assessment. |
Robert Burgess |
| 8/27/2014 |
Site Visit |
DEC project manager visited the site and met with the City of Nome and the EPA brownfields program. A site walk identified several areas of contamination not previously noted, including some soil staining and staining of building cribbing, broken insulators from transformers, outbuildings with petroleum odors, miscellaneous equipment leaking including a sluice, etc. The scope of the targeted brownfield assessment was discussed, and it was decided that a Phase 1 environmental assessment would be conducted before proceeding with sampling. |
Robert Burgess |
| 1/22/2015 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC received the Nome Richard Foster Building Site Investigation Report - Site Work and Utilities from Bristol Engineering (contracted with the City of Nome). The report documents field screening results and contamination encountered during trenching and excavation work for utility installation at the building site. |
Robert Burgess |
| 3/24/2015 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC received the Phase I report from Ecology and Environment, Inc. (E&E) as part of the targeted brownfield assessment (TBA) at the site. The report documents and summarizes historical activities at the site as well as environmental investigation that has occurred over the past several decades through EPA and DEC. It also describes observations made by E&E during a walk-through of the property. |
Robert Burgess |
| 4/7/2015 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
DEC met with the EPA Targeted Brownfield Assessment (TBA) program and the City of Nome to discuss the proposed sampling approach. The sampling plan that formerly included sampling activities only around Tank 9 will be revised to include sampling around tanks 7, 8, and 9 and in their footprints following their demolition. Several trenches will be dug to take soil samples. Additionally, borings will be installed and soil and groundwater samples will be taken from the borings. At least one monitoring well will be installed downgradient of the tanks in order to evaluate the migration of petroleum hydrocarbons and other contaminants. |
Robert Burgess |
| 8/24/2015 |
Exposure Tracking Model Ranking |
A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78530 ASTs/ Drums / Debris. |
Robert Burgess |
| 6/15/2016 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC received and reviewed the Former Alaska Gold Power Plant Site Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) report from the EPA. The report documents the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons and related contaminants around tanks 7, 8, and 9; and provides an estimate of capping the contaminated soil and managing in place. |
Robert Burgess |
| 12/19/2017 |
Exposure Tracking Model Ranking |
Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79931 name: Tanks 5 & 6 |
Laura Jacobs |
| 12/20/2017 |
Exposure Tracking Model Ranking |
Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79932 name: Tanks 7 & 8 |
Laura Jacobs |
| 1/22/2018 |
Exposure Tracking Model Ranking |
Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79933 name: Tank 9 |
Laura Jacobs |
| 2/7/2019 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC made the decision to split the site based on land ownership. The portion of the property that housed the vacant shop building is owned by Bering Straits Native Corporation and a new file was created, 400.38.055. |
Megan Roberts |
| 4/9/2019 |
Workplan Requested |
DEC sent correspondence requesting additional site characterization and controls to limit access to contamination. |
Megan Roberts |
| 5/24/2019 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC received a response regarding additional site characterization and controls to limit access. The City of Nome does not believe that additional site work is warranted and has refused to characterize the site unless and until they plan additional development. The City will begin process to budget for the installation of signage at a portion of the site. |
Megan Roberts |
| 11/24/2021 |
Update or Other Action |
The Department of Law sent letters to Novagold, Bering Straits Native Corporation, and the City of Nome clarifying their liability status and requesting a response including a schedule for completing work previously requested by DEC. |
Robert Burgess |
| 4/6/2022 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
Meeting with City of Nome, Bering Straits Native Corp, and NovaGold to discuss data gaps and path forward at each of the Former AK gold sites. Meeting participants agreed that work at this site can be deferred until 2023 due to NovaGold's planned effort at the former new gold house site |
Bill O'Connell |
