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Site Report: Alaska Pacific Powder Company Plant - Salcha

Site Name: Alaska Pacific Powder Company Plant - Salcha
Address: 7400 Old Site Road, Salcha, AK 99714
File Number: 100.38.232
Hazard ID: 25547
Status: Active
Staff: Sarah Durand, 9074655229 sarah.durand@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.526838
Longitude: -146.963618
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 July 10, 2010 an employee turned on a fuel pump to transfer #1 diesel fuel to a 500-gallon aboveground heating oil tank. The fuel transfer was left unattended and ~2342 gallons were released to the ground surface. During initial cleanup activities evidence was noted of contamination that may have been from an additional source. This facility is at the same location as the former federal facility Nike Site JIG; Hazard ID 3248. Interim removal actions consisting of excavation of the spill were immediately executed by the responsible party. Upon recognition of possible evidence of historical contamination, DEC required submission of a work plan before continuing with removal activities. This work plan agreed to test the possible area of historic contamination with a full suite analysis, as well as to perform forensic testing to separate the recent release from weathered diesel fuel. It was originally thought that excavation would be able to reach the extent of the contamination. However, the excavation was limited by the building foundation and boiler conex on the north side of the spill, and by depth on the southern end of the spill. In order to restore safe operations at the Alaska Pacific Powder Company Plant, an addendum to the work plan was submitted and approved by DEC. This work plan allowed the excavation to be backfilled, with bioventing pipes installed at the southern end of the spill. An additional work plan for further site characterization will be submitted in the spring of 2011. Contaminants of concern from lab results include DRO, Arsenic, Chromium, 1,2,4 Trimethylbenzene, 2 Methyl Napthalene, and Benzene. At this time, the contamination found at this site appears to be petroleum related. A discussion of the results for arsenic and chromium will be included in a future conceptual site model. --Updated 2011--- The Phase I Site Characterization Work Plan was approved on July 26, 2011. A work plan for a second effort to deal with the potential groundwater and vapor intrusion issue at the site is expected to be submitted for review in Sept. 2011.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
8/18/2010 Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program Spill transferred by PERP staff Paul Lhotka. Spill no. 10309919101; spill date = 7/10/10; substance = #1 Diesel; quantity = ~2,342 gallons; PERP file no. 100.02.202. Mitzi Read
8/20/2010 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
8/23/2010 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78939 name: ~2,342-gallon #1 Diesel Release Mitzi Read
9/3/2010 Cleanup Plan Approved Soil Excavation Work Plan response to comments has been reviewed and approved. Amanda Loomis
9/15/2010 Site Visit Site visit for site inspection during cleanup process. Inspected area of concern regarding historic contamination, new stock pile site, possible land farm location, contamination under boiler connex,and excavation site. Observed screening and sampling techniques. Amanda Loomis
10/28/2010 Cleanup Plan Approved Initial interim cleanup actions at the site were expected to reach the extent of contamination at the site. The limits of excavation that could be safely reached were met with contamination still in place. Backfilling operations with bioventing pipes installed was approved by the Department. The additional site characterization work plan will be developed for 2011 field season. Amanda Loomis
10/29/2010 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78939 ~2,342-gallon #1 Diesel Release. Amanda Loomis
3/9/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Interim removal report sent to DEC. Amanda Loomis
3/14/2011 Site Characterization Report Approved Interim Removal Action Report Approval Letter sent to Orica, USA. Amanda Loomis
3/15/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Interim removal action report reviewd and approved Amanda Loomis
6/24/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Site characterization work plan reviewed, comment provided to Orica. Amanda Loomis
7/22/2011 Site Characterization Workplan Approved ADEC recieved the response to comment of the site characterization work plan, as well as a redline version of the SC Work Plan. These documents were reviewed and approved. Amanda Loomis
8/8/2011 Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved Soil to be transported to OIT for disposal approved. Amanda Loomis
9/27/2011 Meeting or Teleconference Held Met with ORICA and APPCO representatives to discuss 2011 Site Characterization Workplan and remaining work. Dennis Shepard
5/16/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC received a draft Site Characterization Report No2: Diesel Fuel Spill at Orica USA, Inc. Facility, Salcha, Alaska, dated April 2012. Dennis Shepard
5/17/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided review comments for the Site Characterization Report No2: Diesel Fuel Spill at Orica USA, Inc. Facility, Salcha, Alaska, dated April 2012. Dennis Shepard
7/16/2012 Cleanup Plan Approved The Department provided approval of the Addendum to 2011 Site Characterization Report Workplan: Additional soil borings, excavations, and sampling, Diesel Fuel Spill at Orica USA, Inc. Facility, Salcha, Alaska. Dennis Shepard
10/22/2012 Update or Other Action Approved transport of 400 tons POL contaminated soil to OIT for thermal remediation. Dennis Shepard
7/31/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC received a Site Characterization and Removal Report No. 3 which documents the characterization, cleanup and removal of Diesel fuel contamination at the site during 2011 and 2012 field efforts. Dennis Shepard
8/22/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC received a Draft Burn Area Clean-up Waste Classification Plan for review and comment. The plan addresses a Burn area and Fly Ash cleanup removal action that began in 2012. DEC has provided comments for this Draft Burn Area Clean-up Waste Classification Plan that addresses the waste disposal sampling requirements and interim storage of containerized materials. Comments also focus on previous site characterization analytical results (soil sampling and soil borings)that were collected in August 2012 without a DEC approved work plan. Dennis Shepard
10/7/2014 Meeting or Teleconference Held A meeting was held between Orica Inc. (RP/Owner-Alaska Pacific Powder Company Plant), its contractor (AECOM)and DEC. Discussions focused on the previous site characterization analytical results (soil sampling and soil borings)that were collected in August 2012 without a DEC approved work plan. DEC has asked the RP and its contractor to document the 2012 site characterization activities in a site report including all elements required of a Site characterization report. The contractor is to provide recommendations for additional site characterization required to establish nature and extent. Dennis Shepard
9/14/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC sent comments and conditional approval for the Burn Area Preliminary Soil Investigation Report and Additional Characterization Plan (Rev 1), Orica USA, Inc. Facility, Salcha, Alaska. Dennis Shepard
9/17/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC received a Final version of the Burn Area Preliminary Soil Investigation Report and Additional Characterization Plan (Rev 1)that addresses DEC comments for additional site characterization required. Dennis Shepard
4/20/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Phone call with contractor and former PM to discuss risk evaluation and path forward. Jamie McKellar
2/13/2018 Update or Other Action TECH MEMO RECEIVED: Method 3 Calculations for Burn Area of the Orica Facility Located in Salcha, AK Jamie McKellar
2/16/2018 Meeting or Teleconference Held TELECONFERENCE: ADEC and an Orica representative had a brief teleconference to discuss a path forward for site cleanup. Orica will follow up with ADEC following promulgation of new PAH cleanup levels. Jamie McKellar
11/13/2018 Meeting or Teleconference Held TELECONFERENCE: ADEC and an Orica representative had a phone call to discuss the status of the Alaska Pacific Powder Company Plant site in Salcha. Jamie McKellar
8/7/2019 Update or Other Action Site location was updated on this date. Coordinates for this site are used to determine the presence and position of the site on BLM’s ANCSA Conveyed Land web map. Rebekah Reams

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

There are no documents for this site report.

Hazard ID Site Name File Number
3248 Nike Site JIG 100.38.141

Missing Location Data

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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