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Site Report: Elim Old AVEC Tank Farm

Site Name: Elim Old AVEC Tank Farm
Address: Center of town - Former AVEC Tank Farm, Elim, AK 99739
File Number: 600.38.006
Hazard ID: 25432
Status: Informational
Staff: Mollie Dwyer, 9074651076 mollie.dwyer@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.616541
Longitude: -162.263164
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 Native Village of Elim submitted a 2009 DEC Brownfield Assessment Request for the Former AVEC Tank Farm in Elim. The AVEC tank farm has been relocated, but the tanks still remain in the old tank farm. Contamination of soil and groundwater is suspected. FKA file no. 600.57.001

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 that there is "No Historic Properties Affected." Deborah Williams
8/14/2009 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 $14,972 awarded to Native Village of Elim for a property assessment and cleanup plan at Old AVEC Tank Farm - Elim. NTP# 18400213001. Current status: project complete. Deborah Williams
9/24/2009 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC held a stakeholder meeting for the Old AVEC Tank Farm in Elim. Participants of the meeting included representatives from AVEC, the community of Elim, DEC and SLR (consultants 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 give the consultant and the community to ask any questions regarding the field visit. Deborah Williams
10/6/2009 Site Visit SLR, consultant for DEC, conducted a site visit for two days to collect information for the property assessment and cleanup plan. Deborah Williams
12/31/2009 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC received the draft PACP for the Old AVEC Tank Farm in Elim. No sampling was completed during the site visit so the presence or absence of the contamination was not confirmed. One area of stained soil was noted during the site visit in 2009. The area identified is approximately 3 feet by 4 feet and the depth of the contamination is unknown. No other areas of stained soil were observed, however review of aerial photographs indicated that the ASTs have not always been inside a lined and diked containment. Deborah Williams
9/1/2010 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78943 name: Former AVEC tank farm Deborah Williams
5/4/2011 Update or Other Action The following is taken from research by R&R Program staff into the land status resulted in the following information: "All the land in the Elim area does belongs to the Elim Native Corporation. There were no observed records of any exclusions in the conveyance. With regards to this parcel (former AVEC power generation and fuel storage tank farm), the thinking was that the land would become the Elim Native Corporation’s once the cleanup had taken place – but the thinking is that it’s already theirs. The Corporation should not be responsible for the contamination, so there is interest in determining what the implications of ANCSA are for the Corporation liability. There is also question as to whether BIA has any further involvement, since they were the permittor and the permit stipulated that any improvements remaining after one year after the expiration of the permit (4/1/2005) would become the property of the permittor (or BIA). So there are some thoughts that the tanks and connex now the property of BIA, or the Elim Native Corporation. The conveyance occurred in 1979." John Carnahan
12/20/2012 Update or Other Action The City of Elim submitted an application during the DEC Brownfield Assessment and Cleanup (DBAC) program request period for assessment and cleanup at the site (original deadline was June 8, 2012). Though the application was ranked fourth of those received, funding was inadequate to address the site. The City was encouraged to apply again during future DBAC request periods in a letter sent by Benson on December 20, 2012. Melinda Brunner
9/30/2013 Update or Other Action According to Mark Bryan, the Operations Manager for the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC), AVEC removed and disposed of the tanks from the site at the end of 2012. Melinda Brunner
9/19/2018 Update or Other Action Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) reviewed site files of Alaska Village Electric Corp. sites and sent a letter to the AVEC main office requesting they contact ADEC by October 15, 2018 to schedule a meeting to discuss sites at which they are a responsible or potentially responsible party. Chelsy Passmore
9/25/2018 Site Visit Brownfields staff conducted a site visit to the Old Elim Tank Farm. Staff reported that there was no liner in place and that the site was overgrown with vegetation. PID field readings were taken, and indicated the presence of petroleum in surface soil. The fence reported at the property is still present, however it appeared to be in need of repair. Chelsy Passmore
11/20/2018 Meeting or Teleconference Held The ADEC hosted a meeting with the Alaska Village Electric Corporation (AVEC) to discuss the 14 AVEC sites currently on the contaminated sites database. AVEC CEO, and environmental consultant were in attendance as well as ADEC program managers, and site project managers. Individual site status and cleanup needs were discussed for each site, in addition to overall funding sources, level of priority and forward progress at the sites as a whole. Chelsy Passmore
8/29/2022 Meeting or Teleconference Held Brownfield staff met with Kawerak to discuss some assessment work the City of Elim may pursue next year. DEC provided information on Qualified Environmental Professionals. Janice Wiegers

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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