Site Report: Former Alaska Gold Power Plant Shop Bldg
| Site Name: | Former Alaska Gold Power Plant Shop Bldg |
|---|---|
| Address: | North of East 6th Avenue; South of Steadman Street, Nome, AK 99762 |
| File Number: | 400.38.055 |
| Hazard ID: | 26984 |
| Status: | Active |
| Staff: | Emily Adler, 9072694587 emily.adler@alaska.gov |
| Latitude: | 64.502570 |
| Longitude: | -165.400879 |
| Horizontal Datum: | WGS84 |
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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
The shop building is associated with the Former Alaska Gold Power Plant site and historical past operations. During previous site visits, the shop building was vacant and locked at the entrances. A limited site assessment conducted in 2011 indicate there is petroleum, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and chlorinated solvent contamination around the shop building in the surface soils. Visible heavy petroleum staining underneath the northwestern portion of the building was observed. Surface soil spot removal was conducted in 2012 based on the findings from the limited site assessment and 13 cubic yards of contaminated soil were excavated from the eastern and northwestern sides of the building. Confirmation sampling indicates high concentrations of petroleum contamination remains at approximately 2 feet below the ground surface at the northwestern side of the building, in addition to what remains underneath the northwestern side of the building that was inaccessible. The shop building is close to a public museum and is likely an attractive nuisance.
Action Information
| Action Date | Action | Description | DEC Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/15/2008 | Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter | Potentially Responsible Party / State Interest Letter sent to NovaGold by CS staff Tamara Cardona-Marek. | Mitzi Read |
| 8/5/2013 | Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter | Potentially Responsible Party / State Interest Letter sent to City of Nome by CS staff Robert Burgess. | Mitzi Read |
| 8/5/2013 | Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter | Potentially Responsible Party / State Interest Letter sent to Bering Straits Native Corporation by CS staff Robert Burgess. | Mitzi Read |
| 2/7/2019 | Site Added to Database | A new site has been added to the database | Mitzi Read |
| 4/8/2019 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | Teleconference held with BSNC to discuss creation of new site file based on land ownership. BSNC indicated they would be conducting work at other sites in Nome and would be a good time to initiate work at the shop building. DEC Project Manager indicated a letter requesting a work plan and notification of new site file would be mailed. | Megan Roberts |
| 4/9/2019 | Workplan Requested | DEC sent correspondence notifying RP of the decision to split the Former Alaska Gold Power Plant site based on land ownership. The Bering Straits Native Corporation owns the land with the vacant shop building. Additional correspondence sent requesting a work plan for site characterization. | Megan Roberts |
| 11/24/2021 | Update or Other Action | The Department of Law sent letters to Novagold and Bering Straits Native Corporation clarifying their liability status and requesting a response including a schedule for completing work previously requested by DEC. | Robert Burgess |
| 4/6/2022 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | Meeting with City of Nome, Bering Straits Native Corp, and NovaGold to discuss data gaps and path forward at each of the Former AK gold sites. Meeting participants agreed that work at this site can be deferred until 2023 due to NovaGold's planned effort at the former new gold house site | Bill O'Connell |
| 4/3/2023 | Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other | The DEC reviewed a letter submitted by Novagold, Bering Straits Native Corporation, and City of Nome documenting proposed work to be conducted at the Former Alaska Gold Power Plant and the Former Shop Building. Responsible parties (RPs) focused on installing fences/signage to prevent access to remaining surface soil contamination beneath the shop building, but failed to address site characterization needed at the other four known source areas at the sites. DEC informed RPs that letter did not meet the regulatory requirements of a workplan and failed to adequately address the DEC's previous requests for site characterization. A new workplan was requested which addressed these concerns. | Bill O'Connell |
| 7/17/2023 | Site Characterization Workplan Approved | DEC approved the Foremer Alaska Gold Power Plant Shop Building Site Characterization work plan dated June 2, 2023. The work plan describes plans to sample soils at previous excavation areas to define the horizontal and vertical extent of contamination, as well as the installation of chain skirting around the shop building to prevent access to contaminated soils that could not be removed due to being under the building. | Robert Burgess |
| 6/28/2024 | Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other | DEC received the Site Characterization Report documenting 2023 field activities. Unfortunately some of the former excavations were inaccessible due to obstructions that were not identified in the work plan. Inaccessible locations included excavation STS-21 which had the highest concentrations of petroleum as well as co-contamination with chlorinated solvents when sampled in 2012. Additionally, the chain skirting was not installed due to "scheduling and availability." The remaining sampling activities described in the work plan will be carried out in the 2024 field season following removal of obstructions. | Robert Burgess |
| 8/16/2024 | Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other | DEC reviewed the Site Characterization report documenting field activities and sample results from work performed in 2023. The report noted that the work plan could not be completed due to certain areas being blocked by equipment or other obstacles and due to scheduling challenges. The locations that could not be sampled will be accessed during the 2024 field season. Rather than commenting on the draft report, DEC recommended resubmitting when the work is complete. | Robert Burgess |
Contaminant Information
| Name | Level Description | Media | Comments |
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Control Type
| Type | Details |
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Requirements
| Description | Details |
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There are no documents for this site report.
| Hazard ID | Site Name | File Number |
|---|---|---|
| 25216 | Former Alaska Gold Power Plant | 400.38.040, 400.57.002 |