Skip to content Skip to content

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

You are here: DEC / SPAR / CSP / SPAR Online Services / Contaminated Sites Search / Site Report

Site Report: Tuluksak Old Power Plant

Site Name: Tuluksak Old Power Plant
Address: Former Power Plant, ~128 Feet From Tuluksak River, Tuluksak, AK 99679
File Number: 2451.38.002
Hazard ID: 25309
Status: Active
Staff: Stacee Henderson, 9072628202 stacee.henderson@alaska.gov
Latitude: 61.096910
Longitude: -160.947647
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

The former power plant was replaced by a new power plant in 2003. The former power plant not only has extensive diesel contamination in the soil surrounding and beneath the power plant but there is concern regarding the contamination from releases related to the 25,000-gallon undiked fuel storage tank located at the facility. According to residents in the area, residential construction in the vicinity of the former power plant was stopped because of the contamination associated with the former power plant. This site is located approximately 128 feet from the Tuluksak River. There is one groundwater well located near the washeteria that provides the majority of the drinking water for the community. Because there is limited storage capacity for water in the village, the community water supply is unable to keep up with demand. As a result, many people in the community also use surface water as a drinking water source. A 2010 Property Assessment and Cleanup Report documented several issues at the site, including solid waste but no samples were taken as part of the field effort. Tuluksak is located 35 miles north of Bethel and approximately 350 miles west of Anchorage. Tuluksak lies near the mouth of the Tuluksak River, which is the tributary of the Kuskokwim River. FKA 2451.57.001.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
1/5/2009 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
1/6/2009 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78660 name: Tuluksak Old Power Plant Deborah Williams
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 that there is "No Historic Properties Affected." Deborah Williams
8/19/2009 Brownfields Award Notice to proceed was awarded to SLR through SPAR term contract. Project managed under Reuse and Redevelopment Program. FY 2010 State of Alaska Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funds $33,242 awarded to Tuluksak Native Community-Middle Kuskokwim Consortium for a site characterization on Tuluksak Old Power Plant. NTP# 18-4002-13-008B. Current status: project complete. Deborah Williams
9/30/2009 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC held a stakeholder meeting for the Old BIA school property and the Old Power Plant located in Tuluksak. Participants of the meeting included representatives from the community of Tuluksak, DEC and SLR (consultant for the project). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the purpose of the work planned for the sites (Property Assessment and Cleanup Plan)and to give an opportunity for the consultants and the community to ask any questions regarding the field activities. Deborah Williams
3/17/2010 Site Visit SLR, consultant for DEC, conducted a site visit in Tuluksak to collect information for the property assessment and cleanup plan. Deborah Williams
5/17/2010 Update or Other Action DEC received a work plan from SLR for assessment work planned for the site. Work plan modified to be a property assessment and cleanup plan based on information collected during the 3/17/10 site visit. Deborah Williams
6/21/2010 Update or Other Action DEC received the Property Assessment and Cleanup Plan for the Tuluksak Old Power Plant site. No sampling was conducted during this field work. Based on the site visit, SLR determined that in order for the site to be reused, used oil, used glycol, derelict equipment and other solid waste should be removed. Once these items are removed then the extent of contamination should be evaluated. SLR estimates a minimum of 75 cubic yards of contaminated soil will need to be excavated. During the site visit, extensive soil contamination from past releases was noted under the building. Hazardous materials consisting of old mechanical devices and other debris, approximately one hundred 5-gallon buckets containing used oil and glycol, lead-acid batteries, generators, and transformers stored with no secondary containment. In addition, three transformers, twenty-five 55-gallon drums, six old generators, and up to 15 heavy equipment batteries are stored on the ground on the west and southwest areas of the Site. The area to the west has a fuel-stained area with a strong petroleum odor. Deborah Williams
12/24/2012 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Letter sent to Tulkisarmute, Inc., landowner, with copy of final report from DEC Brownfield Assessment. Letter notified recipient that the site is listed on DEC's Contaminated Sites Database and that brownfield work to date is not subject to cost recovery. Sonja Benson
3/14/2016 Update or Other Action DEC received a phone call from the Tuluksak Native Community's IGAP director asking for guidance on how to go forward with cleanup and assessment of the Old Power Plant and BIA School site. A phone meeting is planned for March 23. Laura Jacobs
4/5/2016 Meeting or Teleconference Held A teleconference was held between the Tuluksak Native Community, ADEC Brownsfield Coordinator, and ADEC Contaminated Site staff on 3-23-16 . Telephone reception prevented the participants from understanding one another so that meeting notes were drawn up and emailed for clarification (finalized 4-5-16). Laura Jacobs
8/2/2016 Update or Other Action Spoke with Tuluksak IGAP coordinator on the phone. Solid waste has been removed from the site, including old drums. There are two drums containing unknown oil/ mixture that are being place in the old building on site for storage. The building is being boarded up to prevent trespassing. Erin Gleason
8/8/2016 Update or Other Action IGAP coordinator and ADEC are working to prepare and application for an EPA TBA. Erin Gleason
5/12/2017 Update or Other Action Tuluksak did not submit a TBA or DBAC application. Erin Gleason
5/15/2017 Update or Other Action Sent work plan request letter. Work plan due August 15, 2017. Information request included in letter. information request due July 1, 2017. Erin Gleason
12/13/2017 Meeting or Teleconference Held Teleconference held between ADEC, Tuluksarmute tribal staff, EPA, ANTHC, tribal assistance to brownfield staff from Kansas State University, and Center for Creative Land Recycling. Discussed next steps for the site and what is inhibiting site progress. A vision to action plan was proposed. ANTHC is currently assisting Tuluksarmute with their vision to action plan. Erin Gleason
1/8/2018 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting held with EPA, ADEC, and TAB staff from Kansas State University. Erin Gleason
3/7/2019 Update or Other Action ADEC and ANTHC worked with Tuluksak in January and February of 2019 to assemble a DBAC application. The application was started but not able to complete it in 2019. Erin Gleason
7/16/2019 Meeting or Teleconference Held Site discovery investigation meeting held on this day to discuss possible sampling at the site. Erin Gleason
8/19/2019 Site Visit ADEC staff visited Tuluksak August 19-22 to meet community members, collect soil samples at the Tuluksak Old Power Plant, Old BIA School, Tuluksak River water, and miscellaneous drums found adjacent to the river. The work was funded by brownfields, site discovery, and capital improvements. The work was done under a limited site investigation work plan written by ADEC staff. ADEC staff also provided training for IGAP staff on how to collect soil and surface water samples. Erin Gleason
10/1/2019 Update or Other Action Received lab data from ADEC field sampling event. Erin Gleason
11/18/2019 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with EPA to discuss water sample results. Erin Gleason
2/13/2020 Site Characterization Report Approved ADEC wrote a Site Visit Report for the work conducted in August 2019. Sample results from the Old Power Plant indicate Diesel Range Organics (DRO) is present up to 14,000 mg/kg; Residual Range Organics (RRO) up to 38,000 mg/kg; Hexachlorobenzene up to 0.99 mg/kg; Pentachlorophenol up to 13 mg/kg; 2,6 dinitrotoluene up to 1.2 mg/kg; and nitrobenzene at 0.12 mg/kg all above the most stringent ADEC cleanup levels Erin Gleason
2/24/2020 Update or Other Action Sent letter to Tuluksarimute Incorporated and Native Village of Tuluksak copies of the ADEC 2019 sampling report for the school, drums, and power plant. Erin Gleason
4/10/2020 Update or Other Action Site reassigned as a Contaminated Site file on this date. FKA 2451.57.001. Cascade Galasso-Irish

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

There are no documents for this site report.

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

Because the GIS location data for this site has not been entered, we cannot direct you to its position on the map. Click "Continue" to proceed to the Contaminated Sites Web Map or "Close" to return to the site report.
Continue     Close

Public Notices  •  Regulations  •  Statutes
Press Releases  •  Contact

 

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