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Site Report: Mat-Su Borough Talkeetna Library Subdivision Tract A

Site Name: Mat-Su Borough Talkeetna Library Subdivision Tract A
Address: Talkeetna Library Subdivision Tract A, Talkeetna, AK 99676
File Number: 2258.38.016
Hazard ID: 26055
Status: Active
Staff: Janice Wiegers, 9074512127 janice.wiegers@alaska.gov
Latitude: 62.314113
Longitude: -150.104625
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

In March 2013, petroleum contamination was discovered during a geotechnical investigation at the site of a future library. Initial sample results confirmed GRO and benzene in soil and GRO, DRO, and benzene in ground water above DEC cleanup levels. The source of the contamination was unknown.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
5/17/2013 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
5/17/2013 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79458 name: Petroleum in Soil and Groundwater Mitzi Read
11/6/2013 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 79458 Petroleum in Soil and Groundwater. Katrina Chambon
11/8/2013 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Bill Janes
12/10/2013 Update or Other Action PRP Search initiated. Potential Sources identified include wrecked train cars and gas station North of site. Contacted FAA as a former landowner requesting information on their operations at the site. Fred Vreeman
2/6/2014 Update or Other Action Received information from FAA. This land was part of the original CAA/FAA BLM withdrawal but FAA did not operate any navigation or communication systems near there and would not have had a reason to store or use fuel at the current library site. Fred Vreeman
9/2/2014 Update or Other Action Phone call with Mat Su Borough. There are currently no plans to develop this property. The building currently on site will be vacated some time in the next year and will not be re-used. The library was constructed on a different property in Talkeetna. Bill O'Connell
9/8/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed Site Characterization Report for Mat Su Talkeetna Library site. 22 soil borings were advanced and sampled during two mobilizations and three permanent groundwater monitoring wells were installed. Soil sampling indicated the presence of gasoline contamination at approximately 7-10 feet bgs within the groundwater smear zone with GRO detected up to 1,490 mg/kg and benzene up to 1.34 mg/kg. Contamination in soil was generally found in the central portion of the property. Three groundwater monitoring wells were installed which indicated groundwater flow is to the southeast. The well to the north MW-10, and the well to the east MW-22, did not contain contaminants above cleanup levels. MW-8 in the central portion of the site contained DRO at 2.89 mg/l and GRO at 1.92 mg/l. There is currently no known source for the contamination at the site. Bill O'Connell
10/12/2015 Update or Other Action Site identified for possible brownfields funding for the abatement of hazardous building materials in the Old Talkeetna Library Building. This funding is contingent on the ADEC DBAC application process. If granted funding this project would only include the abatement of hazardous building materials in the existing structure and would not address any petroleum contamination on the property, and any DBAC activities would be restricted as such. Chelsy Passmore
11/10/2015 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Potentially Responsible Party letter sent to the Alaska Railroad. Letter states that historical data regarding the 1956 train derailment spill may have been a contributing factor to the current contamination at this site. Chelsy Passmore
11/13/2015 Meeting or Teleconference Held Teleconference held with site project manager, Anchorage brownfield staff, Juneau brownfield staff, and responsible party to discuss the potential for Brownfield grant eligibility. Chelsy Passmore
6/7/2016 Brownfields Award Brownfields funding was awarded for this site for the abatement of hazardous building materials in the Old Talkeetna Library Structure. These activities and funding are not related to petroleum contamination at this site. Chelsy Passmore
10/12/2016 Site Visit Brownfields funding was awarded for this site for the abatement of hazardous building materials in the Old Talkeetna Library Structure. Site visit to observe the abatement and disposal of the building, as well as property layout. Work was completed on 10/12/2016 This is unrelated to petroleum contamination on site. Area of suspected petroleum contamination is not obstructed by building or the planned reuse of the property (skate park). Chelsy Passmore
3/22/2017 Site Characterization Report Approved ADEC reviewed the "MSB Talkeetna Library - Final Report (Revised)" report. The report details the Brownfields project to remove hazardous buildings materials at the Old Talkeetna Library site. Chelsy Passmore
3/15/2018 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Potentially responsible party (PRP)letter sent to the Mat-Su Borough Chelsy Passmore
5/4/2018 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting held with Alaska Railroad regarding the 1956 train derailment and Old Talkeetna Library Contamination. Alaska railroad agreed to submit a 2018 work plan will be submitted for groundwater direction and monitoring well sampling. Chelsy Passmore
6/7/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The ADEC has reviewed the "ARRC Talkeetna Groundwater Survey Work Plan". The workplan details the methods which will be used to calculate groundwater flow at the site in 2018. The ADEC has no objections to the workplan. Chelsy Passmore
10/23/2018 Update or Other Action The ADEC Received groundwater monitoring data from the Hales Tesoro Site (File 2258.26.002) located approximately 250 feet to the northwest of the Talkeetna Library Site. Wells MW-7 and MW-9 contained VOCs above ADEC Cleanup Levels. Chelsy Passmore
6/5/2019 Update or Other Action The ADEC has reviewed the "ARRC Talkeetna 2018-2019 Groundwater Elevation Survey Letter Report Rev 1". The report provides details regarding 10 groundwater elevation survey events at the site in 2018 and 2019. The report indicates that groundwater on the subject property was found to flow west southwest, towards the Susitna River. When additional information from an adjacent property was included in the model groundwater was found to swing more west than west southwest. Groundwater was observed at approximately 7-11 feet. The ADEC has no objection to the groundwater information in this report. Chelsy Passmore
12/9/2019 Workplan Requested Workplan request letter sent to Alaska Railroad Corporation and the Matanuska Susitna Borough. Chelsy Passmore
4/2/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The Alaska Railroad submitted a Site Investigation Report prepared by RSE. During the 2020 field season, installed three soil borings which were completed as monitoring wells along the west edge of the property. During drilling, soil samples were collected every 2 feet for screening. Two samples were collected from each boring and groundwater samples were collected from each well for laboratory analysis of DRO, GRO, RRO, petro VOCs, and PAH SIMs. The groundwater flow direction was determined to be to the west southwest on October 9th. Janice Wiegers
9/7/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On this date, ADEC received the ARRC Talkeetna Library Site Investigation Work Plan Rev. 1.0 submitted by RSE and dated September 7, 2020. Three borings will be advanced and completed as monitoring wells on the ARRC property. Two analytical soil samples will be collected per borehole. Analytical groundwater samples will collected from the three new monitoring wells. A groundwater elevation survey will be conducted on these three new wells: RSE-1, RSE-2 and RSE-3; and the three historic wells at Tract A of the Talkeetna Library Subdivision: MW-8, MW-10 and MW-22, to determine the groundwater flow direction at the subject property. There are no plans to collect analytical groundwater samples from historic MW-8, MW-10 and MW-22. Grant Lidren
4/2/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Alaska Railroad submitted a Site Investigation Report submitted by RSE. Three soil borings were installed and completed as monitoring wells in fall 2020 along the western boundary of the property. Samples were collected for GRO, DRO, RRO, petro VOCs, and PAHs. GRO and DRO were seen in soil, but below DEC cleanup levels. The highest concentrations in soil were at 12.5 ft bgs in the most southern boring. On October 9th, groundwater was determined to be flowing generally west southwest. Janice Wiegers
6/17/2021 Update or Other Action The Alaska Railroad sent a letter to DEC noting that they believe the recent report from RSE demonstrates that the 1956 railroad derailment uphill from this location is not the source of contamination observed on this property. The letter requests that DEC rescind the PRP letter sent 11/10/2015. Janice Wiegers

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

No associated sites were found.

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