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Site Report: ADOC Hiland Mountain Correctional Center Former Shooting Range

Site Name: ADOC Hiland Mountain Correctional Center Former Shooting Range
Address: 9101 Hesterberg Road, Eagle River, AK 99577
File Number: 2107.38.024
Hazard ID: 25438
Status: Active
Staff: Michael Hooper, 9074515174 michael.hooper@alaska.gov
Latitude: 61.302300
Longitude: -149.574950
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 project site is located East of the Glenn Highway frontage road. The site is defined as the former shooting range located East of the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center structures. The site was used as a shooting range by the Alaska Department of Corrections between 1980 and 1998. Weapons used at the range were primarily handguns and shotguns. Shotguns were fired at stationary targets using slugs or 00-buckshot, not at moving targets as at trap or skeet ranges. The Property is to be subdivided, and remediation of the site will be necessary prior to redevelopment. On April 28, 2009, a representative from Shannon & Wilson collected and screened surface soil samples from the former firing range. The samples were collected from three separate areas: grid area, target line, and berm backstop. The grid comprised of four approximately equal areas, between the firing line and the target line. Using hand tools, the samples were collected from the upper 4 inches of surface soil. The target line and the berm backstop areas were qualitatively evaluated to a maximum depth of 12 inches below ground surface (bgs). Spent ammunition casings were observed throughout the project site, although no visible lead fragments were noted in the sample areas. A total of 43 surface soil samples were screened for lead, and eight analytical samples were collected. Based on the field investigations and analytical sample results, six of the eight analytical soil samples collected contained lead concentrations that exceed the DEC cleanup level; concentrations in five of the six soil samples collected also exceed the lead Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) standard (highest leachable lead concentration was 684 milligrams per liter (mg/L)). The highest concentrations were reported in the samples from the berm backstop (49,800 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)).

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
7/31/2009 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Deborah Williams
7/31/2009 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78802 name: Former Shooting Range Deborah Williams
8/5/2015 Update or Other Action Recommended follow up and transferred the site to State-Owned sites PM in Anchorage Fred Vreeman
10/6/2015 Update or Other Action DEC sent a letter to DOC on this date requesting further action Grant Lidren
11/23/2015 Meeting or Teleconference Held On this date, ADEC had a meeting with ADOC and their consultant S&W to discuss the next course of action for site cleanup. ADOC will be sending ADEC a letter with their attended actions. Grant Lidren
7/7/2016 Site Characterization Workplan Approved On this date, ADEC received and reviewed the Work Plan for Site Characterization Hiland Mountain Correctional Center Shooting Range submitted by Shannon & Wilson dated July 6, 2016. The ADEC has no objections to this work plan and Shannon & Wilson may proceed. Grant Lidren
5/25/2017 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC meeting with DOC on this date to discuss the 2016 work plan and future field work. Based on this meeting, it does not appear DOC will complete field work in 2017. Grant Lidren
11/17/2017 Update or Other Action On this date, ADEC received a letter from ADOC dated November 2, 2017 titled "HMCC Inactive Shooting Range; Request for Further Action - Response. ADOC anticipated funding for site characterization work in the Spring of 2018. Grant Lidren
6/14/2018 Update or Other Action Correspondence from DOC on this date. Field work will begin on June 18th in accordance with the approved "Work Plan for Site Characterization Hiland Mountain Correctional Center Shooting Range" submitted by Shannon & Wilson dated July 6, 2016. Grant Lidren
6/19/2018 Site Characterization Workplan Approved After review of the June 2016 work plan and correspondence with S&W, ADEC has no objections to exclude one rectangular impact area from the backstop decision unit. This rectangle will encompass the eight oval impact areas shown in figure 2 of the June 2016 work plan. The future plans for this excluded rectangle area is treatment and/or removal. Grant Lidren
10/23/2018 Site Characterization Report Approved On this date, ADEC received the Shooting Range Site Characterization Hiland Mountain Correctional Center submitted by Shannon & Wilson and dated October 2018. The work involved site characterization of lead contamination through incremental sampling methodology, collection of discrete soil samples from the berm impact area, and conducting bench-scale testing to evaluate the effectiveness of stabilizing the lead in soil (which was not affective). Soil samples collected to a depth of 1 inch bgs from decision units DU3 and DU4 (located at the target line and around the backstop impact area) contained total lead, 95% UCL lead, and TCLP lead above the applicable levels. DU3 contained total lead up to 2,420 mg/kg, 95% UCL lead at 2,700 mg/kg, and TCLP lead up to 26.7 mg/L. DU4 contained Total lead up to 11,900 mg/kg, 95% UCL lead at 16,184 mg/kg, and TCLP lead up to 27.6 mg/L. Discrete soil samples collected 0 to 18 inches bgs from the berm impact area contained total lead and TCLP lead above applicable levels up to 69,000 mg/kg and 788 mg/L respectively. Soil samples collected below this, 18 to 24 inches bgs, were below total lead and TCLP applicable levels. Grant Lidren
2/26/2019 Site Characterization Workplan Approved On this date, ADEC received the Work Plan for Cleanup Activities, Hiland Mountain Correctional Center Shooting Range, submitted by S&W and dated February 25, 2019. Lead impacted soil will be excavated from: the impact area, DU3, and DU4 to a depth of 18, 4, and 18 inches bgs respectively. The soil will be transported to a permitted RCRA Subtitle C landfill. After excavation, confirmation ISM soil sampling will be conducted. Field work is planned to take two days and should be completed by the end of the 2020 summer season. Grant Lidren
6/20/2023 Update or Other Action Contacted by Alaska Department of Corrections regarding future funding for cleanup. Funding has been requested and is under consideration. Janice Wiegers
8/8/2023 Update or Other Action DEC was copied on a letter to ADOC that states the inactive shooting range is a hazardous waste regulated unit requiring closure un 40 CFR 265 Subpart G. EPA is requesting a site closure plan be submitted, per 40 CFR 265.112, by 9/6/23. Janice Wiegers
8/18/2023 Update or Other Action DOC provided a cleanup plan previously approved by DEC to EPA and requested EPA approval of that plan. EPA requires a plan that meets RCRA requirements. Janice Wiegers
5/20/2024 Update or Other Action DOC notified EPA that they are waiting final approval for funding to develop a plan for range abatement. DOC plans to work with Shannon & Wilson. The DOC point of contact will be the HMCC Facility Manager, John Gard. Janice Wiegers

Contaminant Information

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No associated sites were found.

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