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Site Report: Erickson Transformers

Site Name: Erickson Transformers
Address: 10854 North Tongass Highway, Ketchikan, AK 99901
File Number: 1516.38.044
Hazard ID: 25649
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 55.430732
Longitude: -131.789220
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

Upon initial investigation in June 2010 by DEC Spill Response and City of Ketchikan staff, stained soil was observed on the property at 10854 North Tongass Highway. Three large transformers and seven cylindrical ESCO oil-immersed self-cooled (OISC) transformers were stored on the property with apparent signs of recycling activities. Broken insulators and other parts of the transformers were scattered near an area of stained soil. Drums and fuel containers were stored in various areas on the property as was a vehicle. Two follow-up inspections revealed oil sheen on surface water ponds in low areas. R&M collected four samples and field duplicate from stained soil in each quadrant of the 1800 ft2 footprint of the building site on the property. Test America received the soil samples on 1/13/2011. On April 5, 2011 DEC received a copy of the laboratory data for the characterization soil samples. The DRO levels exceeded the ingestion/direct contact cleanup levels and RRO levels exceeded soil migration to groundwater cleanup levels. Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) (Aroclor 1254) and fluoranthene, naphthalene, and phenanthrene polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds were above instrument detection but below DEC migration to groundwater cleanup levels; benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) compounds were all below the laboratory reporting limits. The results indicate that the contaminants of concern are limited to DRO/RRO petroleum hydrocarbons from historical heating oil contamination associated with the landowners former residence. Contaminated soil excavated and stockpiled on-site. Nine out of ten pit confirmation soil sample results are well below the DRO ingestion pathway concentration of 8,250 mg/kg. Sample CS-1 had the highest DRO concentration at 8,950 mg/kg. DEC site visit in March 2016 confirmed that the contaminated soil stockpiles are gone from the site. Confirmation samples of remaining soil at the limits of excavation are needed for site closure.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
6/22/2010 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter State Interest Notice of Environmental Contamination and Cleanup Liability letter sent to Mike Erickson regarding an oil spill at 10854 North Tongass Highway. Spill #10119910703 Bruce Wanstall
4/13/2011 Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program Spill transferred by PERP staff Scot Tiernan. Spill no. 10119910703; spill date = 4/17/10; substance = transformer oil; quantity = unknown. Mitzi Read
4/25/2011 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
5/2/2011 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79081 name: Erickson Transformers Mitzi Read
5/20/2011 Update or Other Action DEC evaluated laboratory data report to coordinate work plan details with Brett Hiatt at R&M Ketchikan for sampling the area of contamination. Discrete soil samples collected from a one hundred square foot area of stained soil had DRO concentrations ranging from 3,150mg/kg to 40,000mg/kg. Bruce Wanstall
6/21/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC reviewed and approved the R&M Engineering site characterization and cleanup workplan prepared for the Erickson Property site; the approval letter with comments was sent by email to project manager Brett Hiatt with R&M. Bruce Wanstall
10/24/2011 Update or Other Action Evaluate the status of the cleanup work plan scheduled for the 2011 season; DEC contacted the RP/owner on mobile phone number in AZ. Mike Erickson stated that he would provide DEC with an update on site cleanup actions as soon as possible. Bruce Wanstall
12/20/2011 Update or Other Action In response to a telephone request, the responsible party (RP) Mike Erickson contacted the DEC and stated that a cleanup report with laboratory soil data would be submitted by R&M Engineering-Ketchikan in January 2012. The RP stated that the transformers were stored securely off-site in Ketchikan. DEC informed the RP that the department may recover its costs for cleanup oversight. The RP acknowledged this and stated that he was making every effort to meet regulatory obligations. The property will be re-zoned to commercial and developed for new construction. Bruce Wanstall
5/15/2012 Update or Other Action DEC confirmed that Mike Erickson agreed to contact First City Electric on Rex Allen Drive in Ketchikan to make arrangements to have the transformers in storage there transported to a location where they can be drained, cleaned and scrapped in accordance with EPA TSCA regulation. The RP also agreed to contact R&M Engineering to make arrangements to have the transformer testing results and the Soil Cleanup Report with lab data for the North Tongass property submitted to DEC. Bruce Wanstall
10/1/2012 Update or Other Action Owner Mike Erickson contacted DEC; the call was returned and message left that DEC would meet on-site with Erickson this week in Ketchikan to facilitate a cleanup. Bruce Wanstall
10/4/2012 Site Visit DEC performed a site inspection while meeting on-site with property owner and responsible party Mike Erickson. DEC confirmed that nothing remained on-site except contaminated soil stockpiled during an interim removal action in 2011. DEC disturbed soil at the edge of water in the open excavation and observed no sheen or signs of contamination in remaining soil. The limits of excavation include buried foundation walls of a former residence and coarse fill material. The contaminants of concern are diesel and residual range (DRO/RRO) petroleum hydrocarbons from historical heating oil contamination associated with the landowners former residence. Confirmation samples of remaining soil at the limits of excavation are needed for site closure. Bruce Wanstall
7/3/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC evaluated and sent approval by electronic mail for the transport of 7.5 cubic yards of contaminated soil in super sacks. RP Mike Erickson submitted the form in conjunction with Power Systems and Supplies Alaska to move the soil from the property on N. Tongass Ave in Ketchikan to the PSSA Warehouse in Ward Cove for temporary storage while soil remediation plan is being developed. Bruce Wanstall
11/28/2013 Update or Other Action Andrew Spokely with PSSA confirmed by email that in accordance with the DEC approved plan, 6.64 cubic yards of petroleum contaminated soil was transported from the Erickson property on North Douglas Highway and shipped to the icensed Republic Services treatment facility by Alaska Marine Lines per lading PRO#767783. Bruce Wanstall
3/23/2016 Site Visit Site inspection to confirm that stockpile was moved off-site and remediated. Bruce Wanstall
4/11/2016 Update or Other Action Mike Erickson sent DEC, by regular mail received today, a Full Cycle LLC invoice confirming completion of the off-site disposal of seven super sacks of DRO contaminated soil to a licensed treatment facility. Bruce Wanstall
4/20/2016 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 79081 Erickson Transformers. Bruce Wanstall
10/10/2017 Update or Other Action Staff assigned changed from Sally Schlichting to Robert Weimer. Kathryne Roldan
8/4/2020 Update or Other Action Updated ETM from Evaluate for Closure to High Risk due to unknown current site conditions of soil and groundwater. Jessica Hall
8/10/2020 Update or Other Action Sent RP, Dennis Erickson, a request for site characterization report following the excavation performed in 2011 through 2013 at the site. At this time, it is unknown if contamination remains onsite that is above ADEC cleanup levels and the site has not been fully characterized. Requested RP to submit the R&M investigated soil report, disposal receipts for the stockpiles that were removed from the site, and any other data reports that may help in assisting ADEC review this sight for closure. Called and left a voicemail with Dennis M. Erickson. Jessica Hall
9/15/2020 Update or Other Action Public records request from Jamie Moss of First Bank. Jessica Hall
9/16/2020 Update or Other Action Spoke with Dennis Erickson and will have a teleconference with Kara and him 9/17/2020 regarding next steps for the site. He advised the site has been sold. Jessica Hall
5/7/2021 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Sent PRP letter to newly found property owners. Jessica Hall
5/7/2021 Workplan Requested Sent Work Plan request letter to newly found property owners. Jessica Hall
7/2/2021 Workplan Requested Sent both documented Responsible Parties a work plan request letter. Jessica Hall
7/2/2021 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 79081 Erickson Transformers. Jessica Hall
7/8/2021 Update or Other Action Received a document from Gateway City Reality Inc., which included a SGS Lab report #1142158, dated June 5, 2014 and a Site Cleanup Plan dated May 31, 2011. This document was placed in the site file. Jessica Hall
8/5/2021 Workplan Requested Re-sent the work plan request letter via email, as the certified letter was returned to ADEC. Jessica Hall
8/5/2021 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Re-sent the Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter via email, as the certified letter was returned to ADEC. Jessica Hall
9/21/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) contaminated sites program (CSP) revised the Draft Site Characterization Work Plan, dated September 4, 2021 and sent comments to the responsible parties. An updated work plan was requested. Jessica Hall
12/9/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Sent RP comments on the revised Draft Site Characterization Work Plan, dated December 3, 2021. Requested an updated work plan be submitted. Jessica Hall
12/21/2021 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Sent RP approval letter for “Site Characterization Report Proposed Work Plan”, dated December 21, 2021. Sampling is planned to begin the first week of February 2022. The scope of work generally consists of expanding the previously defined spill area. This area was partially excavated in 2011 to bedrock and thought to contain all areas of contaminate concentrations. Because the area of concern now has a low spot that holds water, a water sample will be collected for analysis prior to any other on-site activity. Within the area of concern, all soils above bedrock will investigated using a PID meter. Test pits will be excavated to bedrock in the locations shown. Depth of excavation is anticipated to be between 2-4 feet deep. After field screening, one grab sample will be collected from the side wall of the excavation in the area of highest concentration based on field screenings. Jessica Hall
1/17/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Ten test pits were excavated at the site in 2022. Shallow bedrock was encountered in each test pit at 1-2 ft. bgs. Soil samples collected from the test pits contained DRO up to 3,060 mg/kg. Prior to test pit excavation, ponded water at the site was pumped into a tank and sampled. The water did not contain contaminants above applicable regulatory levels and was discharged to the ground surface. Surface water that seeped into the pits was also sampled and although DRO was detected above the Table C cleanup level in several of the samples, the report indicates this was likely due to high sediment levels in the samples and is not representative of groundwater conditions at the site. Due to the presence of shallow bedrock throughout the area, the migration to groundwater pathway is considered incomplete. Bill O'Connell
1/18/2024 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Contaminated Sites Program (DEC) has completed a review of the environmental records associated with the Erickson Transformers site located at 10854 North Tongass Highway in Ketchikan, AK. Based on the information provided to date, it has been determined that the contaminant concentrations remaining on site do not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment and no further remedial action will be required unless information becomes available that indicates residual contaminants may pose an unacceptable risk Bill O'Connell

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil

Control Type

Type Details
No ICs Required

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.
Movement or use of contaminated material (including on site) in a manner that results in a violation of the water quality standards is prohibited (18 AAC 70)

There are no documents for this site report.

No associated sites were found.

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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
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