Skip to content Skip to content

Site Report: NORCON Braddock Street

Site Name: NORCON Braddock Street
Address: 3725 Braddock Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701
File Number: 102.38.156
Hazard ID: 25417
Status: Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff: IC Unit, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.810422
Longitude: -147.701156
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 Site is located in a light industrial area consisting of warehouse buildings, shops/garages, and equipment storage yards. The property was formerly a construction yard used for equipment and supply storage. It houses a 6,000 square foot building that was used as a maintenance shop. Sources of potential contamination at this Site have included a former injection well consisting of a floor drain and log-crib style leach field, a heating oil underground storage tank (UST), a waste oil above ground storage tank (AST), and new and used electrical equipment (e.g., transformers) that were stored on site. The injection well was determined to be a Class V motor vehicle waste disposal well. Closure of these wells is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Underground Injection Control (EPA’s UIC) program.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
1/30/2008 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database (Date adjusted from 6/9/2009 for report/query consistency. (Reese)) Mitzi Read
1/30/2008 Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program Spill transferred by PERP staff Ed Meggert. Spill No. 08309902801; PERP File No. 300.02.159; Substance = Waste Oil; Quantity = Unknown. Mitzi Read
8/13/2008 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other A report was submitted on this date to EPA Region X detailing the closure of the UIC well at the NORCON facility. Four soil samples were collected from a borehole immediately adjacent the log crib after the contents of the crib were pumped out and disposed of. Soil samples did not contain contaminants above ADEC cleanup levels. The floor drain was diconnected from the log crib and re-routed to a sealed holding tank Bill O'Connell
6/10/2009 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed Additional Site Investigation Phase II Environmental Site Assessment NORCON Facility. 21 soil borings were advanced at the site with 8 of the borings completed as monitoring wells. Soil samples collected from boreholes contained DRO up to 2,070 mg/kg at 2 feet bgs in borehole SB-20, GRO up to 3,370 mg/kg at 2 feet bgs in SB-18, and benzene up to 8.89 mg/kg at 8 feet bgs in SB-18. Soil samples from SB-3, SB-5, SB-18, SB-20, and SB-21 contained DRO and/or GRO and/or BTEX above method two cleanup levels. Many other samples had a PQL slightly above the cleanup level for benzene. Other analytes detected above cleanup levels in one or more samples include tert-Butylbenzene, vinyl chloride, and 2-methylnaphthalene. PCB Aroclor-1260 was detected at 2 feet bgs in borehole SB-1 at 0.0742 mg/kg, below the cleanup level of 1 mg/kg. Metals concentrations are slightly above method two cleanup levels in several samples but are within the range of expected background concentrations for this area. A surface soil sample collected from the AST area north of the shop building contained DRO at 11,600 mg/kg and RRO at 57,200 mg/kg. Excavation of this area followed and confirmation samples collected following excavation activities did not contain contaminants above cleanup levels. A heating oil UST located south of the shop building was removed and confirmation samples contained DRO up to 293 mg/kg. No further work is anticipated for this area. Soil samples collected following the excavation of stains at the former transformer storage area contained DRO up to 11,400 mg/kg. A total of 60 cubic yards of soil resulting from borehole installation and corrective actions were sent to OIT for thermal treatment. Groundwater samples collected from the newly installed monitoring wells contained benzene at 0.388 mg/l in the sample from MW-18. No other groundwater samples contained contaminants above Table C cleanup levels. Bill O'Connell
6/11/2009 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Following site characterization during the Phase II assessment, immediate corrective action was implemented near the location of boreholes SB-5 and SBs-18-20. To further delienate the extent of contamination in this area, nine additional boreholes were advanced and sampled in the area of concern, with 5 completed as monitoring wells. Following additional characterization, 1,788 cubic yards of material was excavated and transported to OIT for thermal treatment. Confirmation samples collected from the limits of the excavation contained benzene up to 1.78 mg/kg with 16 of the confirmation samples containing benzene above the Method Two cleanup level. Confirmation samples also contained DRO up to 2,070 mg/kg and GRO up to 749 mg/kg. Groundwater was sampled in July and September 2008. Groundwater samples contained benzene up to 0.232 mg/l in the September samnple from MW-29. Benzene was detected above the Table C cleanup level in Wells MW-23, MW-24, and MW-29 during both sample events. Bill O'Connell
6/11/2009 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other 2009 Workplan reviewed. Monitoring wells MW-7, MW-9, MW-11, MW-15, and MW-16 will be decommissioned in 2009 as they are no longer needed. Monitoring wells MW-2, MW-4, MW-22, MW-23, MW-24, MW-25, and MW-29 will be sampled on two occasions in 2009 for DRO, RRO, GRO and BTEX. Bill O'Connell
6/11/2009 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78785 name: Unknown Bill O'Connell
7/21/2009 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed work plan to characterize PCB contamination in soil in the vicinity of SB-1. Five 2 spot composites will be collected from various intervals to evaluate the extent of potential PCB contamination. Bill O'Connell
9/15/2009 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed 2009 Peat Layer Investigation and Removal Work Plan. Previous investigations at the site indicate the majority of soil contamination resides in a buried peat layer about 10 feet bgs. The objective of this investigation is to delineate the extent of the impacts to this peat layer and provide data to support a removal effort. The Work Plan includes details on a pumping test, to be conducted if dewatering of the peat excavation is necessary. Groundwater will be pumped from a well in the area of concern into 10,000-gallon tanks and observations will be collected from two nearby monitoring wells. Contaminated water will be disposed of commercially or treated on-site. Bill O'Connell
2/23/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed Benzene Contaminated Peat Excavation Work Plan, Former VECO NORCON Facility, Fairbanks Alaska. This work plan details activities to address the same peat layer as mentioned in the above action dated 9/15/09. Previous excavation at this site was limited to intervals above the peat layer due to the location of the water table above the peat layer for most of the year. Excavation is planned for late March, which is considered the seasonal low for the water table. Excavation activities will include the removal and stockpiling of clean fill, excavation of a peat layer approximately 1.75 feet thick (appx 500 cy), transport of the material to OIT for treatment, and replacement of monitoring well MW-29 if necessary. Confirmation samples will be collected from mineral soil below the peat. The work plan also included a brief summary of 2009 groundwater monitoring data. Benzene was detected above the cleanup level in wells MW-22, MW-23, and MW-29. MW-2, MW-4, MW-24, and MW-25 did not contain contaminants above cleanup levels except in well MW-4, which had DRO at 3.5 mg/l in June 2009. Bill O'Connell
9/3/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed VECO NORCON Facility Closure report. Following delineation, peaty soil contaminated primarily with benzene was excavated in March 2010 from an interval normally below the water table. At the time of the excavation, the water table was located at 13 feet bgs allowing for the excavation of contaminated peat and mineral soil from 6-13 feet bgs. Clean overburden was excavated and used as backfill. Approximately 533 cy of peat and 825 cy of underlying mineral soil were excavated and thermally treated at OIT. Monitoring wells MW-22 and MW-29 were destroyed during the excavation and reinstalled in June 2010. Confirmation soil samples contained benzene up to 2.69 mg/kg at 13.5 feet bgs. Groundwater samples were collected on three occasions in 2009 and once in 2010. DRO was detected above the cleanup level at 3.5 mg/l in the June 2009 sample from MW-4, however DRO was not detected or detected below the cleanup level the three monitoring events that followed. The primary contaminant of concern at the site in benzene, which was detected above the cleanup level in MW-22, MW-23, and MW-29 with a maximum detected concentration of 0.123 mg/l in the source area well MW-29 in June 2010. Benzene concentrations have generally been stable, except in the source area, where excavation activities likely resulted in an increased benzene concentration in MW-29 in 2010. Bill O'Connell
9/22/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed Biannual Groundwater Monitoring Work Plan for 2011. Samples will be collected twice in 2011 from all 7 wells at the site and analyzed for DRO, GRO, RRO, and BTEX. Bill O'Connell
2/24/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed NORCON 2011 Groundwater Monitoring Report. Groundwater samples were collected from 7 wells on June 29 and again on October 2, 2011. Benzene was the only contaminant detected above Table C cleanup levels with a maximum concentration of 42.6 ug/l inMW-22 during the October sampling event. During the June event, only well MW-22 contained benzene above the cleanup level. In the October event, samples from MW-22, MW-23, and MW-29 all contained benzene above the cleanup level. 2011 results were generally consistent with previous sample results. Bill O'Connell
3/4/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed 2012 groundwater monitoring report for NORCON Braddock street. Groundwater samples were collected from 7 monitoring wells on two occasions in 2012 during July and October. Benzene was detected above the cleanup level in well MW-22 during both sampling events with a maximum concentration of 0.076 mg/l detected during the July sampling event. MW-23 contained benzene above the cleanup level during the October event only, at a concentration of 0.006 mg/l. The report recommends one sampling event for 2013. Bill O'Connell
1/21/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed 2013 groundwater monitoring report for the former VECO NORCON Braddock Street Facility. Groundwater samples were collected from three wells at the property, MW-22, MW-23, and MW-29. The sample from MW-22 contained benzene at 70.3 ug/l, samples from the other two wells did not contain contaminants above cleanup levels during this monitoring event. Bill O'Connell
5/28/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed 2014 Groundwater Monitoring Report for Former VECO NORCON Facility. Groundwater samples were collected from 3 wells at the site, MW-22, MW-23, and MW-29. The sample from the source-area well, MW-22 contained benzene at 61.6 ug/l, above the cleanup level of 5 ug/l. No other samples exceeded cleanup levels. Wells MW-2, MW-4, MW-24, and MW-25 were decommissioned in 2014 in accordance with ADEC guidance. Bill O'Connell
5/20/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed 2015 Groundwater Monitoring Report for Former VECO NORCON Facility (May 2016). Results of the 2015 groundwater monitoring event indicated benzene impacts in MW-22 (49.5 ug/L; blind duplicate, MW-XX = 53.2 ug/L) above ADEC Table C groundwater cleanup level of 5 ug/L. Monitoring wells MW-23 (2.47 ug/L) and MW-29 (non-detect at 0.200 ug/L) were below the ADEC Table C groundwater cleanup level for benzene. Darren Mulkey
8/2/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other I have reviewed the 2016 work plan for the Former VECO NORCON Facility in Fairbanks and approve the plan with the following clarification: All of the current wells will be properly decommissioned. Three new wells will be installed and developed as discussed (MW-22X, MW-29X and MW-30X). The three new wells will be protected for future sampling purposes. Work will be scheduled to occur before October 2016. Darren Mulkey
9/22/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other RSE submitted preliminary results of the 2016 groundwater monitoring event with a request to discharge MW IDW to the ground onsite. MW GW IDW that tested below ADEC Table C groundwater cleanup levels can be discharged directly to the ground onsite. MW GW IDW that tested above ADEC Table C groundwater cleanup levels will be treated through a GAC filter prior to discharge to the ground onsite. Darren Mulkey
1/19/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On August 30 & 31, 2016, Restoration Science & Engineering collected groundwater samples from two (2) existing groundwater monitoring wells (MW-22 & MW-29) located at the former VECO NORCON facility in Fairbanks, Alaska. RSE personal also oversaw the installation of a monitoring well (MW-30) located down gradient of the existing source area (MW-29). From this well RSE personnel collected soil samples during the well boring installation, and collected two (2) replicate groundwater samples (one sample collected using a bladder pump and the other using a peristaltic pump) after completion and development of the monitoring well. Additionally, MW-23 was decommissioned during this field event as determined in the August 2016 ADEC approved work plan. Samples from MW-22 exhibited concentrations of benzene exceeding ADEC cleanup standards(MW-22 = 38.7 ug/L; blind duplicate MW-XX= 36.8 ug/L). All other laboratory samples were non-detect or below cleanup standards. Monitoring well MW-30 (down gradient of the contaminant source area) yielded results below cleanup standards for all analytes for both soil and groundwater. Darren Mulkey
3/12/2018 Institutional Control Record Established Institutional Controls established and entered into the database. Wendy Hansen
10/24/2018 Update or Other Action DEC Staff issued letter to VC Sellers Reserve and new property owner MIRAE-B2, LLC requesting that site monitoring wells be decommissioned, or a plan for maintenance and sampling and/or further remediation be provided. Wendy Hansen
10/24/2018 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter PRP letters sent to VC Sellers Reserve and MIRAE-B2, LLC to provide information regarding liability for contamination at the site. Wendy Hansen
11/29/2018 Update or Other Action DEC staff was notified of plan to decommission site wells. Wendy Hansen
12/10/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC staff reviewed a plan for decommissioning of all three remaining site wells. Decommissioning is planned for December 11, 2018. Wendy Hansen
1/10/2019 Update or Other Action DEC received a report documenting that the three remaining site groundwater compliance monitoring wells (MW-22, MW-29, and MW-30X) were decommissioned on December 11, 2018. Wendy Hansen
4/16/2019 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued Decision Document Issued - Cleanup Complete with Institutional Controls Wendy Hansen
6/3/2024 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC compliance review completed on this date. An IC reminder letter was issued to the landowner. The next review will be in three years’ time. Gaige Robinson

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO > Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
Benzene > Table C Groundwater

Control Type

Type Details
Notice of Environmental Contamination

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.
Movement or use of contaminated material (including on site) in a manner that results in a violation of the water quality standards is prohibited (18 AAC 70)
Excavation / Soil Movement Restrictions ADEC-approved soil management plan required prior to ground disturbing activities.
Groundwater Use Restrictions No groundwater wells shall be installed without prior ADEC approval.
Periodic Review Landowner shall report to ADEC every 5 years to document the status of compliance with institutional controls.
Other Landowner shall notify ADEC prior to any sale or transfer of the property.

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