Site Report: Newtok - Old BIA School
| Site Name: | Newtok - Old BIA School |
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| Address: | Old BIA School - Newtok, Newtok, AK 99559 |
| File Number: | 2434.38.002 |
| Hazard ID: | 25427 |
| Status: | Active |
| Staff: | Nick Waldo, 9074655270 nick.waldo@alaska.gov |
| Latitude: | 60.939320 |
| Longitude: | -164.629990 |
| 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
The Nelson Island Consortium submitted a DEC Brownfield Assessment application 2009 for the Old BIA School in Newtok. The Old BIA School consists of the former school building, water well, a warehouse and a former tank farm (five big tanks). There are also two generators in the warehouse. The community is concerned about the potential contamination associated with the former tank farm and other hazardous substances at the site. They are also concerned because erosion of the river is going to encounter the site soon and contamination could migrate into the the surface water. In 2010, DEC received the Property Assessment and Cleanup Plan for the Old BIA School in Newtok. In October of 2009, SLR conducted a site visit in Newtok to assess the current condition of the Site, interview individuals familiar with the property, and evaluate the potential remedial strategies for the Site. SLR recommends that the ASTs at the tank farm and the well at the Old BIA School need to be properly decommissioned. Contaminated soil was observed on the east and west sides of the tank farm, the northeast and northwest corners of the utility building, and in between the Old BIA School and well house. SLR recommends that characterization of the soil be conducted at the Site after the tank removal to characterize human and ecological exposure risk. Remedial alternatives should be evaluated based on the results of the characterization, site-specific conditions,and land reuse objectives. FKA file no. 2434.57.001.
Action Information
| Action Date | Action | Description | DEC Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/13/2009 | Site Added to Database | A new site has been added to the database | 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. SHPO stated that this site may be considered a potentially eligible historic property. They recommend that this site be evaluated for eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Based on this determination, no samples were collected at this site during the site investigation. | Deborah Williams |
| 9/21/2009 | Brownfields Award | Notice to proceed was awarded to SLR through SPAR term contract. Project managed under Reuse and Redevelopment Program. SOA funds $14,712 awarded to Nelson Island Consortium - Newtok Traditional Council for a Property Assessment and Cleanup Plan. NTP# 18400213006. | Deborah Williams |
| 9/25/2009 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | DEC held a stakeholder meeting for the Old BIA School in Newtok with the community of Newtok, the Brownfield coordinator for the Nelson Island Consortium, DEC and SLR (consultant for the project). The purpose of the meeting was to provide the objective for the work planned for the site (Property Assessment and Cleanup Plan) and to give an opportunity for the consultant and the communtiy to ask any questions regarding the field visit. | Deborah Williams |
| 5/25/2010 | Update or Other Action | DEC received the Property Assessment and Cleanup Plan for the Old BIA School in Newtok. In October of 2009, SLR conducted a site visit in Newtok to assess the current condition of the Site, interview individuals familiar with the property, and evaluate the potential remedial strategies for the Site. SLR recommends that the ASTs at the tank farm and the well at the Old BIA School need to be properly decommissioned. Contaminated soil was observed on the east and west sides of the tank farm, the northeast and northwest corners of the utility building, and in between the Old BIA School and well house. SLR recommends that characterization of the soil be conducted at the Site after the tank removal to characterize human and ecological exposure risk. Remedial alternatives should be evaluated based on the results of the characterization, site-specific conditions,and land reuse objectives. | Deborah Williams |
| 1/5/2011 | Exposure Tracking Model Ranking | Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79008 name: Former tank farm (ASTs) | John Carnahan |
| 8/5/2015 | Update or Other Action | Site transferred to Whitsel for evaluation of BIA as PRP and follow up. | Fred Vreeman |
| 8/28/2015 | Update or Other Action | Newtok village is in the process of relocating to the new village of Mertarvik. This is expected to occur over the next three years as the development of community infrastructure and services is completed. | Joy Whitsel |
| 6/22/2017 | Update or Other Action | Sent letter to Lower Kuskokwim School District informing them of the list of schools in their district that are listed as contaminated sites, along with a priority ranking of each school with regard to risk to human health and the environment. The intent of the letter is to help the school district prioritize sites for remediation should funds become available. | Joy Whitsel |
| 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 |
| 7/1/2022 | Site Characterization Workplan Approved | Approved a workplan for initial soil and surface water characterization at the site. | Nick Waldo |
| 11/29/2022 | Site Characterization Report Approved | DEC approved a partial site characterization report. This report confirmed soil petroleum contamination above clean up levels, but did not fully delineate the characterization or sample groundwater. | Nick Waldo |
Contaminant Information
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Requirements
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There are no documents for this site report.
No associated sites were found.