Skip to content Skip to content

Site Report: Thorne Bay Old Fire Hall

Site Name: Thorne Bay Old Fire Hall
Address: Old Fire Hall, Thorne Bay, AK 99919
File Number: 1528.38.020
Hazard ID: 25509
Status: Active
Staff: Julie Fix, 9074655368 julie.fix@alaska.gov
Latitude: 55.684928
Longitude: -132.522440
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 Old Fire Hall was erected in the 1970s for the Thorne Bay's volunteer firefighting squad. The City constructed its newer "Roth Building" in 1991 to house both the EMS and firefighting operations and decommissioned the use of the old fire hall as a municipal building. Currently, City staff utilizes it to store sand for winter road maintenance activities. In 2010, DEC conducted assessment activities on the property through DEC’s Brownfield Assessment and Cleanup (DBAC) program and provided a Property Assessment and Cleanup Plan (PACP). Activities confirmed the building is contaminated with cement asbestos siding on the exterior of the building. In 2021, DEC provided additional DBAC services to fill in data gaps identified in the 2010 PACP. Site assessment activities were conducted in June 2021. The old Fire Hall was in poor structural condition with the northwest wall partially collapsed and potentially partially stabilized by the sand pile located inside the building. Assessment for lead-based paint, asbestos containing materials, and asbestos and petroleum in soils occurred in areas where conditions were considered safe and available data indicated sampling was necessary. Sampling confirmed previous results and indicated that the exterior siding contained asbestos and was considered an asbestos containing materials (ACM). Soil sampling indicated asbestos was also present in the soils along the southeast wall of the building, as well as diesel contamination above 18 AAC 75 Migration to Groundwater Cleanup Levels in the area of an old above ground storage tank. The diesel contaminated area was not delineated to the north as that area was within the building and covered by the remaining sand pile. Petroleum contamination was not vertically delineated as soils were highly compacted and heavy equipment will be needed to conduct vertical delineation of contamination. Lead-based paint (LBP) was not identified on the Site.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
4/27/2010 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Deborah Williams
7/9/2010 Update or Other Action DEC received a response from the Alaska State Historic Perservation Office (SHPO) for the assessment work planned for FY2011 that there is "No Historic Properties Affected." Deborah Williams
7/30/2010 Brownfields Award Notice to proceed was awarded to Oasis through SPAR term contract. Project managed under Reuse and Redevelopment Program. FY 2011 EPA State and Tribal Response Program (STRP) funds $19,970 awarded to the City of Thorne Bay for a Property Assessment and Cleanup Plan (PACP) on Old Fire Hall. NTP# 18400211019. Current status: project complete with additional assessment recommended by consultant. Deborah Williams
10/6/2010 Site Visit Oasis, consultant for DEC, conducted a site visit for two days to collect information for the property assessment and cleanup plan. Deborah Williams
12/29/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC received a Draft Property Assessment and Cleanup Plan for the Thorne Bay Old Fire Hall site. According to the report, the following potential source areas were identified: exterior cement siding contains asbestos; exterior paint contains asbestos (Paint flaking and chipping is extensive and is found all around the building. Cement board and paint chips are found around the entire perimeter of the building.); The soil around the location of the former aboveground fuel storage tank on the SW side of the building should be sampled and analyzed for petroleum; Vehicles were maintained in the Old Fire Hall (There is potential for petroleum hydrocarbon and chlorinated solvent contamination); and Due to the age of the building, the paint may contain lead. Deborah Williams
3/18/2020 Brownfields Award Thorne Bay Old Fire Hall awarded SFY2021 DEC Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Services on this date. OVK had applied for DBAC funding for additional assessment work. Marc Thomas
3/20/2020 Update or Other Action Brownfield file 1528.57.001 consolidated into CS file on this date per phaseout of Brownfield tracking #'s Cascade Galasso-Irish
6/8/2020 Update or Other Action Project manager assigned to this site changed from Christy Howard to Marc Thomas. Anne Marie Palmieri
7/23/2020 Meeting or Teleconference Held Conversation with OVK Brownfield Coordinator regarding project status and planned site assessment activities. Marc Thomas
1/12/2021 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Approved workplan Marc Thomas
6/8/2021 Site Visit NORTECH conducted field screening and sampling activities at the property. Assessment for lead-based paint, asbestos containing materials, and asbestos and petroleum in soils occurred in areas where conditions were considered safe and available data indicated sampling was necessary. Marc Thomas
11/4/2021 Site Characterization Report Approved Final Site Characterization Report received. Sampling confirmed previous results and indicated that the exterior siding contained asbestos and was considered an asbestos containing materials (ACM). Soil sampling indicated asbestos was also present in the soils along the southeast wall of the building, as well as diesel contamination above 18 AAC 75 Migration to Groundwater Cleanup Levels in the area of an old above ground storage tank. The diesel contaminated area was not delineated to the north as that area was within the building and covered by the remaining sand pile. Petroleum contamination was not vertically delineated as soils were highly compacted and heavy equipment will be needed to conduct vertical delineation of contamination. Lead-based paint (LBP) was not identified on the Site. Marc Thomas
7/5/2022 Brownfields Award DBAC funding was awarded for this site to continue with assessment efforts. DBAC application outlined demolition of the structurally unstable building so additional assessment of petroleum hydrocarbons could occur within the current building footprint. Hans Rinke
12/5/2022 Site Visit Project Foreman with Ahtna Global LLC visited the site, meeting with the City Manager and staff gathering data and field intel to develop a Draft Scope of Work. Hans Rinke
12/28/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Work Plan for Demolition, Assessment, and Characterization of the Thorne Bay Old Fire Hall was submitted by Ahtna Global LLC. Site work is tentatively planned for late March. Hans Rinke
3/27/2023 Site Visit Building demolition and site assessment conducted the weeks of March 20th and 27th. Hans Rinke
5/12/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC received draft site characterization report for the Thorne Bay Old Fire Hall Marc Thomas
6/14/2023 Site Characterization Report Approved DEC provided comments on draft Site Characterization Report on 6/8/2023. Final report received on 6/14/2023. Marc Thomas
4/15/2024 Site Characterization Workplan Approved The Draft Remedial Investigation Work Plan was received on 3/11/2024 and was approved on this date. Julie Fix
4/15/2024 Site Characterization Workplan Approved The Draft Remedial Investigation Work Plan was received on 3/11/2024 and was approved on this date. Julie Fix
9/3/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The "Draft Remedial Investigation Report" was received on this date and is currently under review. Initial comments sent on 12/9/2024. Julie Fix

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

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