Skip to content Skip to content

Site Report: Captain's Choice Motel

Site Name: Captain's Choice Motel
Address: 108 2nd Avenue North, Haines, AK 99827
File Number: 1508.38.024
Hazard ID: 26059
Status: Active
Staff: Bill O'Connell, 9072693057 bill.oconnell@alaska.gov
Latitude: 59.236100
Longitude: -135.444705
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

During spring rains in 2013 a mixture of heating oil and water emerged from the French drain system that collects subsurface water from around the concrete foundation of the motel. Captain’s Choice applied sorbent pads to collect oil at the discharge point down gradient of the main building. Nearly all surfaces on the property are paved with asphalt or concrete and surface water runs to the storm water system in the curb of Dalton Street. Runoff in the storm water system enters the Haines Municipal Sewer System which provides combined treatment before release. DEC approved a Response and Investigation Plan to contain and treat all fluid discharge from the French drain on-site in a system to remove both floating and dissolved oil prior to discharge. During the dry summer months Captain's Choice excavated contaminated soil at the discharge point and installed the oil/water separator treatment system. When water appeared in the French drain system in the fall, product was removed by the oil/water separator (OWS), containerized and transported off-site for remediation. The effluent then passed through carbon filtration before release. Chilkat collected water samples before and after treatment for laboratory analysis. Results support system effectiveness in removing product and dissolved BTEX and DRO/RRO. Captain's Choice is monitoring the system closely to ensure the incoming flow rate matches with capacity of the oil/water separator and filtration unit. DEC approved the transport of a 55-gallon drum of heating oil contaminated soil off-site for remediation.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
5/22/2013 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
6/12/2013 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter DEC letter was sent today to the manager of the facility to inform the responsible party of the Alaska Statutes and Regulations that outline cleanup responsibility and authorize DEC to recovery costs associated with providing oversight during the cleanup, evaluating exposure pathways for contamination, and making determination for site closure. Bruce Wanstall
6/26/2013 Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved DEC approved the transport of heating oil contaminated soil off-site for remediation. Volume is estimated at seven cubic feet. Bruce Wanstall
8/7/2013 Site Visit DEC accompanied Chilkat Environmental, environmental consultant to Captain's Choice Hotel to the site and inspected the buried heating oil tank site and the contaminated groundwater recovery and treatment system that was recently installed. Groundwater levels were low and the system was idle at the time of the visit. The heating oil tank has been thoroughly drained and abandoned in-place due its location under concrete near the foundation of the building. Bruce Wanstall
12/6/2013 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79462 name: Abandoned Heating Oil UST Bruce Wanstall
6/2/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC evaluated and by letter sent approval of the letter report submitted by Chilkat Environmental for semi-annual reporting requirement on implementation of the work plan to maintain and monitor the oil water separator and water discharge filtration system. Laboratory results on discharge water were below laboratory reporting limits for contaminant of concern DRO petroleum hydrocarbons. Bruce Wanstall
10/31/2014 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 79462 Abandoned Heating Oil UST. Bruce Wanstall
11/14/2014 Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program Spill transferred by PERP staff Sarah Moore. Spill no. 13119912601; spill date = 5/6/13; substance = diesel; quantity = unknown (less than 1,000 gallons). Mitzi Read
2/6/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC has evaluated and approved by letter to the RP: February 2015 Update for Captain’s Choice Motel in Haines (Report) submitted by Chilkat Environmental Inc. (CEI). DEC finds the Report is consistent with DEC approved plan for mitigation of heating oil tank failure at the Captain’s Choice Hotel. The plan includes maintenance and monitoring of the oil-water-separator and carbon filter system and biannual sampling for effectiveness. Sampling was not performed in December 2014 because of insufficient water flow. Sampling was performed January 14, 2015 from the outfall of the granulated activated carbon filter without replacement of the media since May of 2014. Media was replaced after the sampling event. The log of maintenance intervals for free product recovery performed on the Oil/Water separator shows a total of 52.5 gallons of fuel recovered during the period. The results of sampling, is that the concentration of diesel range (DRO) petroleum hydrocarbon in the treated discharge water (0.21 milligrams per liter), is below cleanup levels in 18 AAC 75.340 Method Two, Table C. Since the results indicate the water treatment is effective, in accordance with 18 AAC 75.360 Captain’s Choice will continue to implement the approved plan with a biannual schedule for sampling and reporting. Bruce Wanstall
6/2/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Evaluate the Chilkat Environmental Memo Report of treated water analytical results. Results are within the acceptable range for removal of dissolved petroleum from the oil/water separator but need lab report to validate the data. Send email acknowledging receipt and request copy of the lab report. Bruce Wanstall
6/3/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The Friedman & Bruya Inc. sample laboratory report received from Chilkat Environmental Inc. by email, was evaluated and is approved by DEC for water treatment effectiveness at the Captain's Choice site. Bruce Wanstall
2/16/2016 Update or Other Action Collaborate with the consultant Chilkat Environmental regarding regulatory and technical issues associated with the site cleanup, monitoring and reporting schedule now that Larry Beck is no longer managing the business. Bruce Wanstall
5/25/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC has reviewed the memo by Chilkat Environmental Inc. DEC concludes the laboratory data, field data log and description of performance and maintenance of the collection and treatment systems at the reference site is acceptable and in accordance with the approved long term plan. The Report is approved in accordance with 18 AAC 75.335(d). DEC looks forward to the fall 2016 report. Bruce Wanstall
8/29/2016 Update or Other Action Update from Elijah that he will ensure that granulated activated carbon is ready for the change out this fall. Bruce Wanstall
6/15/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved a work plan to replace the old water treatment system with a new one. The anticipated one cubic yard that may get excavated will be stored in Greg Richmond's Shop. DEC will track this when the subsequent report arrives from Chilkat Environmental Inc. Environmental sampling at the limit of excavation is anticipated in this removal action but no water samples will be collected (no water in system) because the system was tested as previously constructed. The granulated activated carbon will be replaced and laboratory samples will be collected and a report with water samples will be submitted to DEC in January 2018. Bruce Wanstall
7/5/2017 Update or Other Action Contaminated Soil Transport and Treatment form approved by ADEC this date. Kristin Thompson
8/3/2017 Update or Other Action Soil sampling results received. Amy Rodman
6/22/2018 Site Visit Site visit: met RP, took pictures and videos of new water treatment system. Amy Rodman
7/3/2018 Site Characterization Report Approved Report approval letter emailed to RP. Requested further information, due July 31, 2018. Amy Rodman

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

There are no documents for this site report.

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