| Action Date |
Action |
Description |
DEC Staff |
| 5/11/2017 |
Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter |
Potentially Responsible Party / State Interest Letter sent to Bloom Enterprises by PPRP staff Mike Garrett. |
Mitzi Read |
| 7/11/2018 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
The DEC provided comments to the Corrective Action Plan, which proposed disposing of excavated soils by burial near the location from which they were removed, and capping the location. DEC comments included concerns regarding the long-term maintenance of the cap, potential for migration through contact with groundwater, and additional concerns. A letter was sent that provided comments and set deadlines for actions at the site, including sampling groundwater as part of a site characterization effort. |
Robert Burgess |
| 7/24/2018 |
Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program |
Spill transferred by PPRP staff Mike Garrett. Spill no. 17309912901; spill date = 5/9/17; substance = vegetable oil, Seal Cote (petroleum based asphalt coating), aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF); quantity = unknown (>100 gallons); cause = fire started from incinerator. |
Mitzi Read |
| 8/1/2018 |
Site Added to Database |
A new site has been added to the database |
Mitzi Read |
| 8/10/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
The DEC contacted Bloom Enterprise's consultant to inquire about the status of the stockpile, site characterization plans, and other issues documented in the letter sent July 11. A response was received that stated that the portion of the stockpile remaining at the Chena Point location would be moved to the Bloom Enterprises equipment yard by August 17. |
Robert Burgess |
| 9/25/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
The DEC received a complaint from a member of the public concerned about the condition of the stockpile located on Chena Point Road. Complainant stated that water was draining from the uncovered stockpile into the 80-foot deep pit where gravel is mined and is concerned that contaminants may be entering groundwater. |
Robert Burgess |
| 9/26/2018 |
Site Visit |
DEC staff visited the stockpile located on Chena Point Road, following up on a complaint from a concerned citizen. The majority of material had been removed, however the remaining contaminated soil was not covered and water from heavy precipitation in recent weeks was pooled in the stockpiled soil. Observations of grade and erosion suggest that water may drain out of the stockpile from the front side, which is not bermed, then towards the gravel pit. |
Robert Burgess |
| 10/3/2018 |
Enforcement Action |
DEC sent notice of violation (NOV) to Bloom Enterprises for not meeting deadlines for site characterization and cleanup. The NOV establishes a deadline of October 15 for a workplan and deadlines in November for proper containment or disposal of stockpiled soil and wastewater, characterization of ground beneath stockpile at Chena Point Road, and a drinking water well search within 1/4-mile down and cross gradient of the Arvilla Street property. Additional deadlines for reporting and site characterization are established for January 2019. |
Janice Wiegers |
| 10/5/2018 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC received, reviewed, and approved the Corrective Action Work Plan Addendum for the Chena Point Stockpile Soil and Water Containment and Storage. The plan describes the movement of contaminated soil in trucks with covered loads from the Chena Point site to the Arvilla Street location and provides diagrams for construction of a containment area. |
Robert Burgess |
| 10/10/2018 |
Site Visit |
DEC visited the Chena Point stockpile location and the Arvilla street location where the release occurred to observe the progress of moving the stockpiled soil back to the Arvilla street location. The majority of stockpiled soil had been moved from the Chena Point location, and the operator was finishing scraping the footprint and berms. At the Arvilla street location, DEC staff observed a truck transporting materials without a cover. The stockpile was being temporarily placed without a liner or cover. DEC staff discussed with Bloom employees where the lined stockpile containment would be located to ensure that it doesn't interfere with site characterization efforts. DEC staff also observed that large piles of burned and oily debris has not been removed from the site, is surrounded by puddles of oil, and some compromised drums and totes remain on site and may be at risk of releasing additional product. |
Robert Burgess |
| 10/12/2018 |
Site Visit |
At Bloom's request, DEC staff visited the site to observe the stockpile containment berms. DEC staff discussed principles of stockpile management, including berm height and total capacity, with the manager of Bloom Enterprises and advised to increase the height of the berms. |
Robert Burgess |
| 10/15/2018 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC received the Corrective Action Work Plan, which includes a description of characterizing the Chena Point stockpile location and sampling drinking water wells within 1/4 mile of the release site in addition to requesting an extension on the deadline for treating or disposing of contaminated water currently being stored at the Arvilla street location. |
Robert Burgess |
| 10/19/2018 |
Site Visit |
DEC staff visited the site to observe the movement of the contaminated soil stockpile into the containment area. During a previous visit on 10/17, DEC staff had observed small amounts of soil spilling over the berms on two sides. It appeared that this issue had been corrected on 10/19. A cover was being laid down and weighted during the site visit. DEC staff discussed with Bloom employees and Bloom's environmental consultant best practices for folding the seams for the cover material and for managing water and snow. |
Robert Burgess |
| 10/24/2018 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC provided comments on the Corrective Action Work Plan. Comments included requests for clarification on site history and volumes of waste (including recovered product, water, and soil), technical comments, and a request for DEC approval of sampling locations in front of the Chena Point bermed area, where water may have drained from the containment area. |
Robert Burgess |
| 10/26/2018 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC received, reviewed, and approved the revised Corrective Action and Site Characterization Plan describing site characterization of the former stockpile location, results of the preliminary drinking water well search, and management of contaminated soil and water. |
Robert Burgess |
| 1/9/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC received the "Corrective Action and Site Characterization Report" from Bloom's consultants. The report documents the detection of DRO and PFAS above cleanup levels in composite samples from the former stockpile location drainage area and stockpile berms, in addition to identifying nearby wells that are privately owned during a preliminary well search. Well owners report that they do not use the water for drinking due to general poor water quality in the area. (However, additional follow-up interviews by the DEC project manager suggests that some residents may use water for cooking). The report also documents agreements for deadline extensions for waste treatment or disposal. |
Robert Burgess |
| 6/21/2019 |
Update or Other Action |
Due to reports from the former point of contact and business manager for Bloom Enterprises, Inc., the company may be going out of business and has sold some of its assets. Because of this and lack of any groundwater sampling at the site, the State has elected to contract with an environmental consultant to sample up to four drinking water wells downgradient from the release site. Residents in the area report poor water quality, however some report using the water for cooking, and some wells are at businesses where customers or employees may be able to drink water. DEC met with the environmental consultants to discuss how to proceed. Sampling will be occurring during the week of 6/24/19. |
Robert Burgess |
| 7/17/2019 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC received the sample results from private well sampling at properties downgradient of the release. DEC's contractors sampled wells for PFOA, PFOS, and VOCs. Results showed low level detections of PFOA and PFOS in most wells at concentrations well below applicable regulatory levels and advisories. One well also had detections of toluene and trichlorofluoromethane at concentrations well below cleanup levels. |
Robert Burgess |
| 7/30/2019 |
Update or Other Action |
Letter sent to Bloom Enterprises, Inc. and the registered agent for the company. Letter requested an update on plans to address contamination, information regarding status of the company, and a new contact for the site work. Operations manager for the company indicated she is no longer the contact for Bloom Enterprises. |
Robert Burgess |
| 12/19/2019 |
Update or Other Action |
The Department of Law sent a letter to Bloom Enterprises reiterating the need for additional work at the site and requesting a response by January 6, 2020. |
Robert Burgess |
| 3/5/2020 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
The DEC project manager made contact with Gene Bloom via telephone and discussed ongoing site needs including the requirement for stockpile maintenance. |
Robert Burgess |
| 3/5/2020 |
Update or Other Action |
The DEC sent a letter to Gene Bloom summarizing the February 21 telephone conversation, outlining regulatory compliance issues, and requesting a response with a deadline of March 31, 2020. |
Robert Burgess |
| 7/10/2020 |
Update or Other Action |
The Department of Law sent a letter to Eugene and Cynthia Bloom describing the correspondence history, noting the lack of response, and reiterating the need for action due to the threat of harm to the public and the environment. The letter required a response acknowledging receipt by July 14, 2020, and included a deadline for a written response by August 10, 2020. |
Robert Burgess |
| 7/15/2020 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
Gene Bloom contacted the DEC in response to the letter from Department of Law. Mr. Bloom stated that he had replaced the stockpile cover and that he is planning to contract with an environmental consultant to complete the stockpile disposal by the end of July, as he believes he will have more funding available at that time. Mr. Bloom stressed that he has been unable to complete work at the site due to a lack of funding, but that he believes he will have funds at the end of July and requested additional time to get the work done. The DEC project manager requested written responses to correspondence from the state. |
Robert Burgess |
| 7/22/2020 |
Update or Other Action |
The DEC sent an email to Mr. Bloom that summarized the July 15 telephone conversation, reiterated the need for a written response, and included a short list of DEC priorities for site investigation. Fact sheets on the cleanup process and selecting an environmental consultant were attached to the email along with an approval to transport form. |
Robert Burgess |
| 8/30/2021 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC sent email requesting maintenance of contaminated soil stockpile and requested a call back to discuss stockpile maintenance. |
Shawn Tisdell |
| 9/1/2021 |
Site Visit |
DEC staff met with landowner on site to discuss stockpile maintenances and management. The stockpile cover had blown off sections of the pile and the plastic had severely degraded and was no longer functioning to keep precipitation from infiltrating into the pile. Water had collected at the base of the pile to the level of the berm. Infiltration of leachate into the surrounding soil was likely. |
Shawn Tisdell |
| 6/16/2023 |
Cleanup Assumed by ADEC |
A Notice of State Action letter was sent to the RP requiring additional characterization and cleanup of the contamination on the property. Deadline for submittal of a workplan by the RP is July 10, 2023. |
Shawn Tisdell |
| 11/14/2023 |
Site Visit |
Project manager and supervisor conducted site visits to 2900 Chena Point Ave, Fairbanks where the PFAS and petroleum stockpile had been temporarily located and the 2448 Arvilla St., Fairbanks location where the original releases occurred and where the stockpile is currently located. |
Shawn Tisdell |
| 11/17/2023 |
Site Visit |
Site visit to Bloom Enterprises at 2448 Arvilla St., Fairbanks. Viewed stockpile and documented current condition of pile. Met with friend of responsible party (RP) at that location and discussed communication with RP and potential assistance to add a new cover to the stockpile. |
Shawn Tisdell |
| 4/3/2024 |
Site Visit |
Visited the 2448 Arvilla St. location to view the stockpile to document and assess its condition. Snow is mostly melted off on the south side of the pile. Cover was still present along the west end of the pile but not effective over the rest of the pile. Water has collected within the berm. Trees and brush are growing on the pile. |
Shawn Tisdell |
| 5/15/2024 |
Update or Other Action |
Liner was placed on the stockpile by a friend of the landowner. It has been maintained and adjusted as necessary. |
Shawn Tisdell |
| 10/2/2025 |
Site Visit |
Visited the site to view current conditions and met with a friend of the property owner. The pile is covered by a liner and is weighed down with tires. The lot is being cleaned up but a lot of materials, including burned debris remains. |
Shawn Tisdell |
