Site Report: Old BIA Copper Center School
| Site Name: | Old BIA Copper Center School |
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| Address: | Old Richardson Highway , Approximately 0.6 miles SE of Subdivision Road, Copper Center, AK 99573 |
| File Number: | 245.38.003 |
| Hazard ID: | 25349 |
| Status: | Active |
| Staff: | Nick Waldo, 9074655270 nick.waldo@alaska.gov |
| Latitude: | 61.972317 |
| Longitude: | -145.319573 |
| 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
This site was identified through the DEC Brownfield Assessment Requests from Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR). The Old BIA Copper Center School has become an abandoned building suffering from severe vandalism. During the era the school was built, it was common practice to use asbestos in floor tiles and pipe installation. DEC completed an assessment of the site through its Reuse & Redevelopment Program. The subject property has contained structures at least as early as 1950. Petroleum impacts were detected and hazardous building materials were identified. Additional assessment is warranted and in 2010 DNR took steps to secure the building and place signage warning trespassers. The site is strongly sought after by local organizations and the Native Regional Corporation and DNR has sought additional funding to further their management of the site.
Action Information
| Action Date | Action | Description | DEC Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/11/2009 | Site Added to Database | A new site has been added to the database | Deborah Williams |
| 3/4/2009 | Exposure Tracking Model Ranking | Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78729 name: Old BIA Copper Center School | Deborah Williams |
| 5/20/2009 | Brownfields Award | FY 2010 State of Alaska Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funds $143,378 awarded to DNR-Southcentral Regional Office for a property assessment and cleanup plan at the Old BIA School Copper Center. NTP# 18-9028-10019. Current status: Project complete. | Cascade Galasso-Irish |
| 7/22/2009 | Update or Other Action | Notice to proceed was awarded to BGES through SPAR term contract. Project managed under Reuse and Redevelopment Program. | Deborah Williams |
| 7/31/2009 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | DEC held a stakeholder meeting for the former Copper Center School in Copper Center. Participants of the meeting included DNR (landowners), BGES (consultant for the project) and DEC. The purpose of the meeting was to clarify the objectives for the work at the site (Property Assessment and Cleanup Plan) and to provide an opportunity for the consultant to ask any questions pertaining to the field visit. | Deborah Williams |
| 8/25/2009 | Site Visit | BGES, the consultant representing DEC conducted a site visit to collect information for a Phase I and limited Phase II Site Assessment Report. | Deborah Williams |
| 4/20/2010 | Update or Other Action | DEC received a Phase I and Limited Phase II Environmental Site Assessment for the Former BIA School site in Copper Center. Based on a review of historical aerial photographs, it appears that the subject property has contained structures at least as early as 1950. A water-supply well was located in the basement of the abandoned school building. A former heating oil AST had been previously located adjacent to and west of the former generator bldg. One soil sample collected from approximately 1.5 feet bgs, from below the center of the former AST, between the AST concrete support columns exhibited DRO concentrations of 1,170 mg/kg. GRO, RRO and BTEX levels were below DEC cleanup levels. Buried fuel-delivery pipelines were observed extending from the former location of the AST towards the abandoned school building and between the utility connection points located to the north of the abandoned school building. One soil sample collected from a coupling located adjacent to the eastern concrete AST support column exhibited a DRO concentration of 1,360 mg/kg. The consultant recommends that these pipelines be properly decommissioned and the soil sampled. A vertical pipe protruding approximately 4 feet above the ground was identified in the NW portion of the property. As soil sample collected from the vicinity of that pipe did not indicate levels of contamination above cleanup levels. | Deborah Williams |
| 6/23/2011 | Site Visit | During a trip to the Copper River Valley to attend a public meeting, DEC staff made a site visit to the Old BIA Copper Center School to walk the site and take photographs of current conditions. Staff observed that the building has been secured with plywood covering the doors and windows, preventing access to the public, and signage has been placed on all structures warning of the hazards of asbestos and prohibiting access. These measures were taken by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources during the summer of 2010. Attendees at the public meeting noted they were pleased that the building had been secured as they had been concerned about it posing a health and safety hazard to the community. | Sonja Benson |
| 1/30/2015 | Update or Other Action | DNR reportedly submitted a DEC Brownfield Assessment and Cleanup form to assist it in furthering their evaluation of site conditions. | John Carnahan |
| 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 |
| 3/16/2020 | Update or Other Action | Site file reassigned to Contaminated Sites on this date. FKA 245.57.001. | Cascade Galasso-Irish |
| 5/16/2023 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | DEC met with Brownfields contractor team, EPA, and local stakeholders to discuss upcoming Brownfields assessment work at the site. Informed that site is currently underwater due to breakup flooding. | Nick Waldo |
| 9/11/2023 | Site Characterization Workplan Approved | Approved a Quality Assurance Project Plan for Phase II Site Assessment, prepared on behalf of the EPA Brownfields program. Site work with include soil, surface water, and groundwater samples for petroleum constituents and lead, where applicable. | Nick Waldo |
| 2/28/2024 | Site Characterization Report Approved | Approved Targeted Brownfields Assessment conducted by EPA | Nick Waldo |
Contaminant Information
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Control Type
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Requirements
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No associated sites were found.