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Site Report: Alitak Cannery

Site Name: Alitak Cannery
Address: Lazy Bay; ~4 Miles SW of Akhiok; Kodiak Island NWR, Akhiok, AK 99615
File Number: 2504.38.003
Hazard ID: 26374
Status: Active
Staff: Bill O'Connell, 9072693057 bill.oconnell@alaska.gov
Latitude: 56.900672
Longitude: -154.251228
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

Alitak cannery was constructed by Pacific American Fisheries, Inc. in 1910s as a salmon and seafood processing plant. It was owned by Wards Cove Packing Company from 1964-2003, and has been owned by Ocean Beauty Seafoods since 2003. Historically the cannery used the intertidal area and natural spit as a unpermitted class III landfill. Based on photographs solid waste was placed on the spit between 1960 and 1990s when the unpermitted landfill was closed with ADEC solid waste. As materials accumulated, compacted, and decomposed on the spit, it grew in elevation. Since the closing of the unpermitted landfill, waste is incinerated or barged off site. The initial assessment documented elevated concentrations of metals in sediment and surface water.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
4/7/2015 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
4/8/2015 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79757 name: Dump Mitzi Read
4/10/2015 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter DEC letter was sent certified by regular mail to the owner/operator of the Alitak Cannery in Lazy Bay on Kodiak Island. The objective of the letter is to inform Ocean Beauty Seafoods of the Alaska statutes and regulations that outline the responsibilities they have as landowner and/or operator to pursue the investigation and monitoring of contaminated environmental media (soil, groundwater, sediment, interstitial and surface water) on property(s) on which the facility resides and any adjacent property affected by facility operations. The purpose of these site activities is to ensure that the pollution is contained and that the migration of contamination is not presenting a risk of exposure that could affect human health and safety or the environment. Bruce Wanstall
4/10/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided approval and comment for Site Characterization Work Plan Alitak Cannery Lazy Bay Kodiak Island, Alaska (Plan), dated January 28, 2015. Environmental Partners Inc. (EPI) completed the Plan to further investigate preliminary evidence of contamination of intertidal lands in Lazy Bay at the Alitak Cannery on Kodiak Island, Alaska (Site). The peninsula on which the closed Class III Landfill (Solid Waste Permit Authorization Number 8921-BA008) is located and, where the burial of waste materials occurred, lies within the parcel designated USS No. 2536. The perimeter of the peninsula is surrounded by parcel ATS No. 140. These properties, and USS 1256 on which the cannery structures are located, are surrounded by Lazy Bay, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean, to the north, south, and west. The facility and Site are located in the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. The Plan states that after closure of the Class III Landfill, waste materials were burned at the Facility incinerators located on the northeastern portion of the spit. It appears that incinerator ash and non-combustible materials removed from the incinerators were buried between the low and high tide water elevations (intertidal zone) of the beach located north and east of the closed Class III Landfill. This practice reportedly no longer occurs since materials removed from the incinerators are now placed in bins and transported via boat for disposal at licensed Subtitle-D landfills in Washington State. Bruce Wanstall
10/7/2015 Update or Other Action DEC received by regular mail Site Characterization Report Alitak Lazy Bay Kodiak Island, Alaska prepared for Ocean Beauty Seafoods LLC and dated September 18, 2015 by Environmental Partners Inc. Based on available data, EPI concludes additional action does appear necessary as buried materials do not appear to be having an adverse impact on human health, or the environment at the Site. Inorganic and organic compound concentrations detected in sediment and pore water occurring at the interface with tidal waters are either naturally occurring, less than a cleanup level, and/or they are not bioavailable to benthic organisms and have not affected the environment or human health in an adverse manner. DEC will review the Report for departmental acceptance criteria. Bruce Wanstall
7/22/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC reviewed and approved Site Characterization Report Alitak Lazy Bay Kodiak Island Alaska by Environmental Partners documenting conditions at the Site resulting from historical burial of discarded materials within the operational facility of Ocean Beauty's Alitak Cannery. The Report concluded that inorganic and organic compound concentrations detected in sediment and pore water occurring at the interface with tidal waters are either naturally occurring, less than a cleanup level, and/or they are not bioavailable to benthic organisms and have not affected the environment or human health in an adverse manner. Bruce Wanstall
7/22/2016 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 79757 Dump. Bruce Wanstall
11/29/2016 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 79757 Dump. Bruce Wanstall
12/19/2017 Update or Other Action Sent information questionnaire to Joe Frazier at Ocean Beauty Seafoods. Information is due 1/15/2018. Erin Gleason
1/5/2018 Update or Other Action Received complete information questionnaire from Joe Frazier at Ocean Beauty Seafoods. Erin Gleason
2/20/2018 Update or Other Action The unpermitted class III landfill was closed with ADEC Environmental solid waste program in August 1994. Erin Gleason
3/16/2020 Update or Other Action ADEC has evaluated the Alitak Cannery contaminated site for closure based on the electronic files at ADEC. Contamination is present in the sediments surrounding the spits above the National Oceanagraphic and Atmospheric Adminstration (NOAA) screening quick reference tables (SquiRTs) and State of Washington Sediment Management Standards. As such ADEC must ensure that there is not an unacceptable risk to ecological receptors. To evaluate the ecological receptors at the site, ADEC request that an ecological scoping form be submitted for the site. ADEC sent letter to Ocean Beauty on this date requesting a ecological scoping be completed. Erin Gleason
9/16/2020 Update or Other Action Received ecological scoping form and ecological CSM from Ocean Beauty on 7/7/2020. ADEC has reviewed the documents and request additions. Letter sent on 9/16/2020 requesting additions. ADEC and Ocean Beauty will meet on 9/17/2020 to discuss the details of the letter and next steps. Erin Gleason
9/17/2020 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting held with ADEC, Ocean Beauty Seafoods on this date to discuss the requested additions to the ecological scoping form. All parties are in concurrence on the revisions and Ocean Beauty will submit a revised eco scope. Erin Gleason
11/10/2020 Update or Other Action Received response to comments table, figures, and ADEC comments from Ocean Beauty Seafood on this date. ADEC will review and respond. Erin Gleason
1/4/2021 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting held today with ADEC, OBS, and TRC Consulting to discussion last revisions to ecological scoping. All comments have been resolved. TRC will revise the ecological scoping form and submit the final draft to ADEC for review and approval. Erin Gleason
3/16/2021 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with ADEC managers and risk assessor held on this date to discuss the draft ecological scoping for the site. Erin Gleason
4/29/2021 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with ADEC and TRC on this date to discuss Arsenic data in sediment. Erin Gleason
6/29/2021 Update or Other Action ADEC received the final draft ecological scoping from TRC on June 29th, 2021. ADEC will review and respond. Erin Gleason
8/23/2021 Update or Other Action ADEC has reviewed the ecological scoping and it is now approved. ADEC has determined that there is no unacceptable risk to ecological receptors and the site is eligible for closure with institutional controls. Erin Gleason
8/26/2021 Update or Other Action Covenant template sent to Ocean Beauty Seafoods on this date for their review and consideration. ADEC proposes to close the site with the control of no digging, excavating, and drilling on the site without prior ADEC approval. Erin Gleason

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

No associated sites were found.

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