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Site Report: Candle Airstrip

Site Name: Candle Airstrip
Address: Candle Airstrip; ~23 Miles WSW of Buckland, Buckland, AK 99727
File Number: 520.38.008
Hazard ID: 25507
Status: Active
Staff: Stacee Henderson, 9072628202 stacee.henderson@alaska.gov
Latitude: 65.910534
Longitude: -161.933261
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

On 5/21/2009 DEC received a report of petroleum being released from a fuel truck at the Candle airstrip into Candle Creek and resulting in a sheen on the Kiwalik River (both are anadromous water bodies). According to U.S. Fish & Wildlife staff, the area is an important and productive nesting and staging area for waterfowl within the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge. Initial soil data from June 2009 indicated the presence of diesel range organics (DRO) and benzene above ADEC cleanup levels, and gasoline range organics (GRO), residual range organics (RRO), ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylenes below cleanup levels. Ground water was encountered 4 to 8 feet below ground surface and free product was noted on the groundwater table. Prevention and Emergency Response Program (PERP) staff oversaw initial excavation activities and preparation of on-site biocell.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
4/14/2010 Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program Spill transferred by PERP staff Brian Jackson. Spill no. 09389914101; spill date = 5/21/09; substance = diesel; quantity = ~600 gallons; PERP file no. 520.02.005. Mitzi Read
4/21/2010 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
4/21/2010 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78875 name: Petroleum Release from Fuel Truck Mitzi Read
5/5/2010 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Prior to sending this letter, ADEC contacted Dave Turcotte. Dave believes that the individual(s) that caused the release were criminal trespassers. He also indicated that a workplan would be forthcoming for ongoing work at this site. Keather McLoone
9/15/2010 Update or Other Action Contacted RP via email to request status of workplan that was expected. Keather McLoone
12/6/2011 Update or Other Action Phone conversation with Dave Turcotte during which he indicated that he had received a planning document that he felt was inadequate and agreed to forward so that DEC comment could be provided in the interest of assisting in moving a resolution to this site forward. Keather McLoone
11/7/2012 Meeting or Teleconference Held Discussion with RP regarding what work needs to be conducted at the site. Requested photos of the area, ADL numbers for new mining claims, and list of equipment at property. Katrina Chambon
12/27/2012 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Katrina Chambon
1/24/2013 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with consultant regarding work that needs to be conducted at Candle Airstrip. Review of file to see what work was conducted. Katrina Chambon
9/2/2014 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78875 Petroleum Release from Fuel Truck. Joshua Barsis
9/10/2014 Update or Other Action The Contaminated Sites Program (CSP) recently reviewed the Candle Airstrip site file. According to the file, roughly 600 gallons of diesel fuel were released from an onsite fueling truck. Initial sampling indicated that the soils were saturated with diesel range organics (DRO) at 67,200 mg/kg, which exceeds the ADEC cleanup criterion of 250 mg/kg. An interim cleanup action was performed in May 2009 in coordination with ADEC’s Prevention and Emergency Response Program (PERP). During the cleanup, soil was excavated and stockpiled north of the airstrip (also known as Tractor Trail). Free product was noted on the groundwater, which was encountered between four and eight feet below ground surface (bgs). Following the removal action, soil samples were collected from the base of the excavation. Results indicated that diesel range organics (DRO) remains in the surface and subsurface soils at concentrations ranging from 38.7 mg/kg to 2,920 mg/kg. The vertical and horizontal extent of contamination was not defined. The CSP requested a work plan by November 1, 2014 to sample the onsite soil stockpile and delineate the nature and extent of any remaining soil contamination and evaluate the potential migration of contaminants to groundwater and creek water. Joshua Barsis
11/4/2014 Update or Other Action Received a letter , dated October 28, 2014 indicating that the RP is aware of the contamination and is willing to perform additional site work/investigation in spring 2015. ADEC responded via letter on 11-7-14. Joshua Barsis
1/2/2015 Update or Other Action Reviewed letter regarding environmental sampling waiver, dated January 2, 2015. ADEC responded via email requesting additional information on January 5, 2015 Joshua Barsis
2/17/2015 Update or Other Action Reviewed letter dated February 17, 2015. ADEC responded via letter March 12, 2015. See file for more information. Joshua Barsis
7/5/2016 Update or Other Action Sent work plan request letter via email to Doug Green and Derek Andersen. Work plan is due July 7, 2016. Doug Green plans to be on site July 9th and hopes to complete site characterization during that trip. Erin Gleason
7/11/2016 Update or Other Action A confidential file exists in the Anchorage office Erin Gleason
7/19/2016 Update or Other Action Field sampling of groundwater, surface soil, and subsurface soil was conducted during July 2016. Results will be available in August. Report from Doug Green to follow. Erin Gleason
8/8/2016 Update or Other Action Alaska Department of Law (ADOL) has conducted an owner records and title search. Information on file at ADOL. Erin Gleason
8/9/2016 Update or Other Action Alaska Department of Law (ADOL) conducted an title search. The current property owner is PADRM Goldmine LLC. Current lessor is Northwest Mining, LLC. Erin Gleason
9/1/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Characterization report received 8/30/2016. ADEC will review and provide feedback to Doug Green by 11/1/2016. Erin Gleason
10/10/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC received revised report on 10/3/2016 from Doug Green. Erin Gleason
10/12/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Review of 2016 report complete. Erin Gleason
10/12/2016 Update or Other Action Sent letter to Derek Anderson (RP's registered agent) requesting additional characterization and/or cleanup work be conducting during summer 2017. Letter also gave a view of the 2016 report and outline data gaps still present at the site. The work plan is due February 1, 2017. Erin Gleason
11/20/2016 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78875 Petroleum Release from Fuel Truck. Erin Gleason
1/23/2017 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Former property owner (PADRM Goldmine Inc.) sold the property to Northwest Mining LLC on 11/16/2016. PRP letter sent to Northwest Mining LLC today. Erin Gleason
4/6/2017 Update or Other Action Spoke with A. Forbes of restoration science and engineer. They have been contracted to prepare a work plan for characterization and/or cleanup during summer 2017. Work plan deadline has been extended to May 15, 2017. Erin Gleason
5/12/2017 Update or Other Action Work plan deadline extended to 5/31/2017 per request of A. Forbes at Restoration Sciences. Erin Gleason
5/22/2017 Update or Other Action received draft work plan on 5/18/2017. ADEC requests revisions to work plan. Emailed A. Forbes at Restoration Sciences requesting changes by June 22, 2017. Erin Gleason
5/26/2017 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Site characterization from A. Forbes at Restoration Science approved by ADEC. Erin Gleason
9/13/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed August 2017 characterization report. Report requires revisions and is not approved. Sent letter for report revisions to Tom Green at Northwest Mining. Revisions due 9/22/2017. Erin Gleason
9/13/2017 Update or Other Action Due date for revisions extended to 10/6/2017 Erin Gleason
10/17/2017 Site Characterization Report Approved Received revised report from Neil Waggoner at Restoration Sciences on 10/17/2017. ADEC reviewed revised report and it is approved pending the submittal of a revised CSM. Erin Gleason
11/29/2017 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78875 Petroleum Release from Fuel Truck. Erin Gleason
12/26/2017 Site Characterization Report Approved Received revised report from Neil Waggoner at Restoration Sciences with revised CSM. report is now approved. Erin Gleason
2/6/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Received land spread work plan. ADEC has reviewed and made comments to Neil Waggoner at Restoration sciences via email. Erin Gleason
2/7/2018 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Received revised work plan. Work plan is now approved. Erin Gleason
8/1/2019 Update or Other Action On this date, a Douglas C 118A aircraft (registration N451CE) crashed into the runway when the landing gear struck the contaminated soil stockpile and spun 180 degrees, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The probable cause was deemed "the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate glidepath during the approach, which resulted in the airplane impacting rocks and dirt at the runway threshold, a separation of the right main landing gear, and a loss of directional control." Following the incident, the owner moved the remaining stockpile to the pad. Naomi Mason
3/30/2021 Update or Other Action Sent letter to Mr. Green with Northweset mining requesting an update on the land-spread. Erin Gleason
8/2/2022 Update or Other Action Spoke with the owner, T. Green when he explained the airplane crash incident. The soil stockpiles remain on the pad as of this date. No funding is available for further site cleanup or characterization at this time. Naomi Mason
8/1/2024 Workplan Requested Work plan request letter sent on this date Stacee Henderson
8/6/2024 Update or Other Action Phone call received from RP. RP stated soils in the stockpile were tested twice and no contamination was detected. Requested those report be sent to DEC for review. RP stated he would try to get them. Stacee Henderson
9/20/2024 Update or Other Action Follow-up email sent to RP, requesting the reports, from phone conversation on August 6, 2024. Stacee Henderson

Contaminant Information

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

P.O. Box 111800
Juneau, AK 99811-1800
Phone: 907-465-5066
Fax: 907-465-5245
TDD: 800-770-8973
Physical Location: 410 Willoughby