Site Report: USCG Eldred Rock Light Station
| Site Name: | USCG Eldred Rock Light Station |
|---|---|
| Address: | Lynn Canal, 20 Miles SSE of Haines, Haines, AK 99827 |
| File Number: | 1508.38.008 |
| Hazard ID: | 2699 |
| Status: | Active |
| Staff: | Sophia Bracio, 9074511682 sophia.bracio@alaska.gov |
| Latitude: | 58.971633 |
| Longitude: | -135.221495 |
| 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 station began operation in 1906 and has been automated and unstaffed since 1973. In May 1997 during a Phase I ESA, slight fuel odors were noted coming from the soil near a former AST saddle. The former tank was one of seven ASTs that were used to store diesel fuel south of the light tower. The May 1997 site visit also noted a floor drain that discharged from the paint shop directly to the ground surface on the north side of the building. Samples were collected in August 1997 as part of a Phase II investigation. Analyses included DRO, RRO, GRO, VOC, SVOC, TOC, and metals. Maximum concentrations of DRO, RRO, lead, and arsenic were 5,000 mg/kg, 20,000 mg/kg, 560 mg/kg, and 6.6 mg/kg respectively. Low levels of barium, cadmium, chromium, and mercury were detected. The volume of petroleum-contaminated soil near the paint shot drain was estimated at 25 square feet, a depth of 2 feet, and 1.9 cubic yards. A Phase III investigation was performed in 2002 to collect data to support Alternative Cleanup Levels. Last staff assigned were Palmieri and Schlichting.
Action Information
| Action Date | Action | Description | DEC Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/11/1997 | Site Ranked Using the AHRM | Initial ranking. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 8/11/1997 | Voluntary Cleanup Program | Application into VCP accepted. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 11/6/1997 | Site Added to Database | Sally Schlichting | |
| 5/15/2002 | Update or Other Action | A Phase III site investigation was performed. Forty-two soil samples were collected at various locaitons and tested for lead, metals, RRO, DRO, PAH, and VOC. The maximum concentration of lead was 1,600 mg/kg, and site-wide average 608 mg/kg. The highest concentrations were closest to painted buildings, tanks, and saddles. The highest concentration of DRO was 6,000 mg/kg, and RRO 20,000 mg/kg. | Wendy Hansen |
| 1/20/2004 | GIS Position Updated | Updated locational data. | Cliff Walden |
| 11/17/2004 | Update or Other Action | USCG removed materials from the site identified as a potential hazard, including approximately 1,000 pounds of miscellaneous waste and debris, 926 feet of fuel pipeline, 10 feet of asbestos-insulated pipe, and one lead-acid battery. | Wendy Hansen |
| 4/21/2006 | Update or Other Action | Letter sent this date outlining steps needed to obtain conditional closure. A site characterization report was released dated 7/04 showing a small volume of DRO contaminated soil with a maximum concentration of 6000 mg/kg. RRO is present up to 20,000 mg/kg and lead up to 1,600 mg/kg. DEC has determined that the DRO does not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment as there is no groundwater at the site. The USCG is developing a strategy to evaluate lead contamination at light stations and will need to include Eldred Rock for evaluation. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 3/28/2008 | Exposure Tracking Model Ranking | Initial ranking with ETM completed. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 4/2/2008 | Update or Other Action | USCG provided memorandum report of draft October 2007 sample results. Forty-five field screening samples were collected from ground surface to 6 inch bgs. The average lead screening concentration was 434 ppm. Analytical samples were collected from the same locations, and depths. Subsurface samples were not collected due to refusal at less than 1 foot bgs. Eight of the samples were analyzed for TCLP, based on the highest field screening. Results were used to calculate a site-wide average lead concentration of 1,492 mg/kg. This was above a calculated site-wide ACL of 1,064 mg/kg. Concentrations ranged from not detected to 31,200 mg/kg. The maximum concentration of 31,200 mg/kg was determined to be an outlier; the sample was split and re-analysis yielded a result of 7,990 mg/kg used in calculation of the site-wide average. Near the paint shop field screening was performed to guide RRO delineation. Of 17 field screening (PID) samples, the average concentration was 6.3 ppm. Ten analytical samples for RRO were collected from the highest PID reading locations. No locations exceeded cleanup levels. The average RRO concentration was 187 mg/kg. The maximum concentration was 1.300 mg/kg. | Wendy Hansen |
| 6/19/2019 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | Staff (E. Breitenberger and W. Hansen) met with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and Eldred Rock Lighthouse Preservation Association (ERLPA) (https://www.eldredrocklighthouse.org/) to discuss ERLPA interest in the historical Eldred Rock Lighthouse. The ERLPA is pursuing a lease from the USCG for access to the Eldred Rock lighthouse property. | Wendy Hansen |
| 10/17/2019 | Update or Other Action | Staff responded to USCG request for comments to draft lease language between USCG and ERLPA. No comments were provided since the DEC is not party to the lease. Information was provided regarding what ICs would be applicable based on known site conditions. ICs specified included a DEC-approved work plan prior to any disturbance of soils at the site, that a mitigation plan be written for managing the potential release of flaking paint (and shared with DEC), and that any new discharges of lead or other hazardous substances, be reported to DEC in accordance with 18 AAC 75.300. | Wendy Hansen |
| 5/15/2024 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | Teleconference held with USCG and DEC to discuss active USCG contaminated sites and Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) renewal. | Sophia Bracio |
Contaminant Information
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Control Type
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Requirements
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There are no documents for this site report.
No associated sites were found.