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Site Report: Huffman Road Mercury Site

Site Name: Huffman Road Mercury Site
Address: 3025 East Huffman Road, 12241 Gander, Anchorage, AK 99516
File Number: 2100.38.178
Hazard ID: 2580
Status: Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff: IC Unit, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 61.109320
Longitude: -149.824940
Horizontal Datum:NAD83

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

Mercury and petroleum hydrocarbon contamination was initially discovered as stained surface soils beneath the 'oil shed' and later found to be widespread on two of three adjacent parcels used for processing mercury ore. Lot 10 and Lot 11B were found to be contaminated. Mercury has been detected in site soils and drainage ditch sediments. Liquid mercury was found within a building in a floor drain sediment trap during a preliminary survey. Lots 10 (3025, 3035 and 3045 Huffman, 1.93 acres) and 11B (12241 Gander) Block 2, Thomas L. Boyle Subdivision. Note that the address 3025 is used here to identify Lot 10 as that is the address used by the Municipality of Anchorage to identify the parcel (tax parcel 1528316-000). The Gander Street parcel is directly north of and adjacent to the Huffman parcel. Properties are owned by the Robert Seymour Estate Prospective owner 11/2000; Neil Cameron; 2700 Huffman Road; Anchorage, AK 99516.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
10/2/1996 Update or Other Action Received plan by fax "Sampling and Analysis Plan, Preliminary Site Investigation, Lots 10, 11A & 11B, Block 2, Boyle Subdivision, Anchorage, Alaska" dated October 1996 prepared by Peratrovich, Nottingham and Drage, Inc. Eileen Olson
10/14/1996 Update or Other Action Received report "Phase I Environmental Site Assessment for 3035 Huffman Road, Lot 10, 11A, & 11B, Block 2 Boyle S/D, Anchorage, Alaska, June 1996". Report was prepared by Environmental Management Inc. for Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 2901 East Huffman Road, Anchorage, Alaska. Eileen Olson
3/14/1997 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Reviewed and approved workplan received on 10/3/96; requested additional information including characterization of stained soils around former ASTs and oil shed, investigation of the septic system and floor drain, analysis of stockpiled soils, and on-site water well sampling. Also specified field screening procedures and sample depths and locations. Eileen Olson
8/1/1997 Update or Other Action Received "Preliminary Site Investigation, Lots 10, 11A & 11B, Block 2, Boyle Subdivision, Anchorage, Alaska" dated August 1997 and prepared by Peratrovich, Nottingham & Drage, Inc. for the estate of Robert Seymour. Eileen Olson
1/19/1998 Update or Other Action Date of report "Seymour Property Sampling Results and Recommendations" by ENSR Consulting. Eileen Olson
6/16/1998 Update or Other Action Letter of this date to Jeff Ginalias of DEC by neighboring property owner and operator, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church (and school), expressing concerns regarding mercury contamination in drinking water well serving the church and school and concerns regarding drainage onto church property. Letter received June 20, 1998. Eileen Olson
7/15/1998 Update or Other Action Received "Assessment for Potential Mercury Contamination at the 2901 East Huffman Road Property, Anchorage, Alaska" dated July 6, 1998 from neighboring Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. Eileen Olson
8/24/1999 Meeting or Teleconference Held Met with Chris Hawe of Gilfilian Engineering to discuss site cleanup. Hawe was given EPA contact name (Kim Ogle) on same date by Jim Frechione. Rec'd mercury analytical results for two samples, dated August 12, 1999. Eileen Olson
7/21/2000 Site Added to Database Mercury and petroleum hydrocarbon contamination Former Staff
7/21/2000 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Eileen Olson
9/18/2000 Meeting or Teleconference Held Met with consultant Chris Hawe of Astro Environmental Services (AES) to discuss planned work. Eileen Olson
10/19/2000 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with consultant (ASTRO) regarding additional characterization requirements. Eileen Olson
10/23/2000 Update or Other Action Received workplan "Site Characterization, Cleanup and Restoration Plan for Lots 10 and 11B, Block 2, Boyle Subdivision, 3035 Huffman Road". Plan also includes a drainage control plan that entails filling a large portion of the site to prevent runoff in an existing ditch system. Eileen Olson
11/22/2000 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Letter sent conditionally approving plan to characterize mercury distribution at site. Eileen Olson
11/22/2000 Update or Other Action Letter sent advising RP (Cameron) of Department cost recovery requirements. Eileen Olson
4/13/2001 Meeting or Teleconference Held Met with consultant to look over preliminary results from work plan approved in November 2000, sent letter approving additional characterization work. Eileen Olson
8/13/2001 Update or Other Action Rec'd work plan "Additional Samples for Site Characterization" that amends previous plan approved on 11/22/2000 Eileen Olson
8/13/2001 Update or Other Action Approved amended site characterization plan "Additional Samples for Site Characterization" also rec'd this date. Eileen Olson
8/29/2001 Update or Other Action Site visit and photographs. Elizabeth Stergiou
1/10/2002 Update or Other Action Returned call from Brian Dean of the MOA Land Use Enforcement Office (343-8336) regarding status of cleanup. Neighbors are complaining that heavy equipment has been parked on the property, not zoned industrial, for years on premise that it is needed for site cleanup. No report yet since approving work plan in November 2000 and subsequent plan for additional characterization April 13, 2001. Eileen Olson
5/21/2002 Update or Other Action DEC received email from community council representative requesting information regarding ongoing apparent fill work underway and cleanup plan. Eileen Olson
5/31/2002 Update or Other Action Staff met with a concerned neighbor and talked to others by telephone who reported that large stockpiles of recently deposited clean fill have obscured the view of this four-acre property located across a narrow street from a school. Neighbors are concerned that the owner has not cleaned up mercury contamination documented at the property, and that the owner will demolish buildings and lose track of where the contaminated areas are through the loss of landmarks and disturbing the ground surface. Staff reviewed the file, noted that a report had not been submitted for a work plan approved in fall 2000, and wrote a follow-up letter to the owner requesting cleanup of the contaminated soil. The letter specifies that, at a minimum, mercury-contaminated soils should be excavated and containerized by July 15, 2002. Eileen Olson
6/3/2002 Update or Other Action DEC letter sent requesting completion of cleanup; letter expresses concern that extensive ongoing fill activities and demolition of structures will make identification and cleanup of contaminated soil difficult. Eileen Olson
9/2/2002 Update or Other Action Workplan dated Sept. 5, 2002: "Contaminated Soil Excavation Plan" (received on 9/6/2002). Eileen Olson
9/17/2002 Cleanup Plan Approved Approved plan dated September 5 for cleanup of Hg contaminated soils, requested additional sample confirmation points. Eileen Olson
8/24/2003 Update or Other Action Date of report "Final Contaminated Soil Excavation and Confirmation Sampling, Lots 10 and 11B, Block 2, Boyle Subdivision, 3035 Huffman Road, Anchorage, Alaska" received August 26, 2003. Eileen Olson
9/30/2004 Update or Other Action DEC letter sent that requests workplan to sample stored mercury-contaminated soil and discusses site status Eileen Olson
9/30/2004 Update or Other Action DEC email to consultant documenting discussion regarding sampling plan for mercury contaminated soil stored at the site. Eileen Olson
11/23/2004 Update or Other Action Rec'd report dated November 21, 2004, titled "Heavily Contaminated Stockpile Soil Sampling". Results showed very high levels of mercury, concentrations in 7 samples ranged from 8,300 to 50,000 mg/Kg. Consultant Astro noted that property operator Neil Cameron will be directly coordinating the disposal of the stockpiled soil. Eileen Olson
3/1/2005 Update or Other Action Discussed review of sampling report and plans to collect samples and run TCLP on them once the stockpile thaws sufficiently. Followed up with email. Eileen Olson
6/26/2005 Update or Other Action Letter report dated 6/26/2005 received 6/27/2005 "TCLP Sampling of Heavily Contaminated Stockpile Soil Sampling" with total mercury sampling results. Mercury levels were as high as 38,000 ppm but the soil did not fail TCLP. Consultant requested approval to dispose at Alaska Regional Landfill. Eileen Olson
8/5/2005 Update or Other Action End date for email consultations August 2-5, 2005 with EPA and Brookhaven Nat'l Lab representatives regarding total mercury levels in soils to be disposed of in a solid waste facility; emails in file. Eileen Olson
8/9/2005 Update or Other Action DEC letter of this date: Request for additional sampling of soil exhibiting high levels of total mercury proposed for disposal at the Highland Road landfill in Eagle River, Alaska. DEC reviewed sample results for an estimated 4 cubic yards of soil at the Huffman Road property documented to have total mercury levels as high as 55, 000 parts per million (ppm). Consultant Chris Hawe of Astro Inc. proposed for the first time in a letter report dated June 26, 2005 that these soils be disposed of at the Municipality of Anchorage Hiland Road landfill. Previously, out-of-state disposal was the only plan under consideration. The basis for Astro’s request was the fact that the soil did not fail TCLP and therefore is not hazardous waste. Department staff consulted with various agencies and mercury experts and determined that additional sampling should be done before disposal if approved. Eileen Olson
9/15/2005 Update or Other Action Rec'd laboratory results by email for 8/15/2005 sampling event. Eileen Olson
9/19/2005 Update or Other Action Rec'd report of same date entitled "Compliance with ADEC Requested Sampling of the Heavily Contaminated Stockpile". Report includes results of TCLP sampling below hazardous waste levels and notes that no elemental mercury was observed. Eileen Olson
10/4/2005 Update or Other Action DEC sent letter re hazardous waste determination and review with subject line "Finding that mercury-contaminated soil is not a hazardous waste, and review of letter report "Compliance with ADEC Requested Sampling of the Heavily Contaminated Stockpile". Eileen Olson
10/5/2005 Update or Other Action Update from consultant that Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) Highland Regional landfill approved disposal of soil. Eileen Olson
10/19/2005 Update or Other Action Callback from Municipality of Anchorage property appraisal division, informed MOA that NFRAP letter is in progress. Eileen Olson
10/25/2005 Update or Other Action Date of "Submittal of Receipts for Delivery of Mercury Contaminated Soil to the ARL (Alaska Regional Landfill)" documenting the DEC-approved transport and disposal of all stockpiled mercury-contaminated soil stored at the site since excavation in 2002. Total disposed of was 156.58 tons. Eileen Olson
12/29/2005 Conditional Closure Approved Conditional Site Closure with Institutional Controls granted and signed by Jim Frechione. Record of Decision (ROD) and Notice of Environmental Contamination (NEC) to be recorded on property deeds issued same date. Institutional controls pertain to mercury contaminated soil only. Eileen Olson
12/29/2005 Institutional Control Record Established See NFRAP or Conditional Site Closure of same date. Institutional control in the form of a Notice of Environmental Contamination (NEC) to be recorded on each of two property deeds provided to prospective purchaser. Eileen Olson
12/29/2005 Record of Decision Record of Decision signed by Jim Frechione. Eileen Olson
1/3/2006 Update or Other Action Copy of Conditional Site Closure letter, NEC and Record of Decision to Municipality of Anchorage Real Estate at request of Ron Brown, Property Appraisal Division. Eileen Olson
5/24/2006 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC letter rescinding until further notice the Conditional Site Closure with Institutional Controls approved for the two lots (Lot 10 and Lot 1lb) comprising the site based on the report that elemental mercury was discovered in soil on Lot 10 and, for Lot 10 and Lot 11b, based on non-compliance with the requirement of the December 2005 Record of Decision (ROD)that deed notices be filed with the State Recorder's Office. The letter states that for Lot 10, reinstatement of Conditional Site Closure status will take place 1) once ADEC approves a report showing that the newly discovered contamination has been characterized and cleaned up to the applicable site cleanup levels outlined in the ROD, and 2) ADEC receives documentation showing that the required Notice of Environmental Contamination (NEC) is recorded on the deed for Lot 10 as required by the ROD. The letter states that for Lot 11b, Conditional Site Closure status will be reinstated when ADEC receives documentation showing that the required NEC is recorded on the deed for Lot 11b as required by the ROD. Eileen Olson
3/25/2007 Update or Other Action Date of report titled "Environmental Assessment During Removal of the Shop Concrete Floor and Floor Sump" for the site. The report documents work done on May 19 and 23, 2006, when the concrete floor slab and sump were removed. Mercury was discovered below the concrete base of an in-slab sump. Analytical results following the initial cleanup of mercury exceeded the ADEC cleanup level of 18 mg/Kg. Additional cleanup was done and confirmation samples collected on July 9, 2006 were below the cleanup level. Eileen Olson
4/13/2007 Update or Other Action Received copy of recorded deed notice "Notice of Environmental Contamination". Eileen Olson
4/13/2007 Update or Other Action DEC reinstatement of Conditional Site Closure with Institutional Controls based on completion of requirements set forth in 5/24/2006 letter rescinding closure status. Eileen Olson
6/6/2007 Update or Other Action Date of filing of Addendum to Deed Notice prepared by ADEC. Addendum reflects the fact that condition no. 2 of the 12/29/2005 decision document has been met based with the completion of building demolition and cleanup of contaminated soil beneath former buildings on Lot 10. Eileen Olson
9/20/2012 Update or Other Action Staff changed from Eileen Olson to IC Unit. Kristin Thompson
9/27/2012 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC review conducted. Evonne Reese
6/9/2015 Institutional Control Compliance Review Documented the two current landowners' name for the lots associated with this site, Lot 10 and Lot 11B. Schedule to send IC reminder letter to both parties. Evonne Reese
7/15/2015 Institutional Control Update IC reminder letters were issued separately to the owner of Lot 10 and also to the owner of Lot 11B on this date. Kristin Thompson
6/30/2022 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC compliance review completed. This action entry is to clarify that all buildings have been removed from Lot 10 and that the required investigation of the soils under the buildings was completed in 2007. The report from that investigation is attached to this database record. At that time all soil samples met the cleanup levels for Inhalation, but not for the most stringent level of Migration to Groundwater, therefore the standard condition of no offsite transport of soil or groundwater from the site without prior DEC approval still applies. Evonne Reese

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
Mercury - Total Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation

Control Type

Type Details
CS Database Notation And Letter To Landowner/RP
Notice of Environmental Contamination

Requirements

Description Details
Excavation / Soil Movement Restrictions
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.

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
TDD: 800-770-8973
Physical Location: 410 Willoughby