Site Report: Alaska Commercial Co. Former AC Value Center - Kotlik
| Site Name: | Alaska Commercial Co. Former AC Value Center - Kotlik |
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| Address: | Airport Road aka Main Street, Kotlik, AK 99620 |
| File Number: | 2423.38.008 |
| Hazard ID: | 27072 |
| Status: | Active |
| Staff: | Stacee Henderson, 9072628202 stacee.henderson@alaska.gov |
| Latitude: | 63.034240 |
| Longitude: | -163.542230 |
| 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
In January 2013, approximately 5-30 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from the aboveground heating oil tank (300-gallon capacity) at the manager housing of the former Alaska Commercial (AC) Co. Former Value Center in Kotlik when it was drug by a snowmachine from the adjacent property onto the AC Value Center Lot. At the time, both properties were managed by the AC store. The tank was reportedly emptied prior to being moved; however, the following summer there was an approximately 25 feet by 20 feet area of distressed/dead vegetation along with odor and sheen. It is a very wet marshy area, basically a wetland at most times of the year. The spill was reported to DEC on September 13, 2013 after the dead vegetation was observed. The initial response was limited to surrounding the area with absorbent boom and putting up an orange snow fence barrier around the area using posts. A report detailing the October 2013 activities was completed in November 2016 and provided to DEC. There was a major flood event in November 2013 that destroyed the utilidor system in the area. There have also been many other minor flooding events according to nearby residents. In 2016 the former AC Value Center building and attached former generator connex were removed. The water/sewer utilidor system was also reconstructed in roughly the same location as the former utilidor system. Sample results from 2017 indicate the diesel range organics, naphthalene, and 1-methylnaphthalene above ADEC maximum allowable cleanup levels. The spill is about 60 feet from the Kotlik River and there are erosion issues in this area. Concern has been expressed for the potential to damage permafrost and possibly increase erosion. The location of the highest concentrations is within 40-50 feet of a previous 2,000 gallon diesel spill from 1994 (Hazard ID 2153 / File no. 2423.38.003).
Action Information
| Action Date | Action | Description | DEC Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/13/2017 | Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter | Potentially Responsible Party / State Interest Letter sent to Alaska Commercial Company by PPRP staff Cynthia Kirkham. | Mitzi Read |
| 3/7/2019 | Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program | Spill transferred by PPRP staff Cynthia Kirkham. Spill no. 13279925602; spill date = 9/13/13-reported (spill most likely occurred in January 2013); substance = diesel; quantity ~5-30 gallons; source = 300-gallon above ground heating oil tank. | Mitzi Read |
| 3/22/2019 | Site Added to Database | A new site has been added to the database | Mitzi Read |
| 4/17/2019 | Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter | PRP Letter sent to Alaska Commerical Company | Erin Gleason |
| 4/17/2019 | Update or Other Action | Work plan request letter sent to ACC. Due June 1, 2019 | Erin Gleason |
| 6/26/2019 | Site Characterization Workplan Approved | Received work plan from Golder on 5/20/2019. ADEC has reviewed the work plan and requests revisions. ADEC received revised work plan from Golder on 6/14/2019. The work plan includes all requested changes and is now approved. The work plan includes surface and subsurface soil samples to determine the lateral extent of petroleum contamination. | Erin Gleason |
| 12/14/2020 | Update or Other Action | Due to Covid-19 pandemic travel restrictions field work has been rescheduled to fall 2021. | Erin Gleason |
| 4/1/2022 | Update or Other Action | Received work plan from Golder on 2/10/2022. ADEC has reviewed the work plan and requests revisions, letter sent on this date. | Naomi Mason |
| 7/12/2022 | Site Characterization Report Approved | ADEC has reviewed the revised 2021 Site Monitoring report received on 6/28/2022, provided a response to comments, and the report is now approved. On October 14, 2021, six soil borings were advanced via hand auger to a maximum depth of 3 feet below ground surface. Laboratory analytical samples were not collected from locations with the highest PID readings. Laboratory analytical results revealed concentrations of diesel range organics (DRO), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) above migration to groundwater cleanup levels. Groundwater has not been investigated at the site and permafrost appears to exist in some soil borings. The site is not eligible for closure based on several data gaps, including the need for groundwater characterization. The potential exists for contaminated groundwater to be migrating into the Kotlik River. | Naomi Mason |
| 9/19/2022 | Update or Other Action | Typhoon Merbok affected this community resulting in major flooding and storm damage. | Naomi Mason |
| 7/18/2023 | Workplan Requested | Work plan request letter sent on this date. | Naomi Mason |
| 7/30/2024 | Workplan Requested | Work plan request letter sent on this date | Stacee Henderson |
| 12/18/2024 | Update or Other Action | Received Additional Site Characterization Work Plan | Stacee Henderson |
| 1/22/2025 | Update or Other Action | Submitted comments for the Additional Site Characterization Work Plan | Stacee Henderson |
| 5/15/2025 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | Teleconference with RP, DEC, and consultant. Key points: The vertical and horizontal extent of contamination must be delineated/characterized; Current site-specific data is required to demonstrate the presence of permafrost; A method three migration to groundwater ACL calculation is inappropriate if there is continuous permafrost; Wells should be installed in accordance with the ADEC Monitoring Well Guidance (2013); The point of compliance is the surface water/active water layer interface not the Kotlik river; Recommend placing a piezometer along the shoreline of the Kotlik River to evaluate surface water exceedances; VOCs have been detected above method two migration to groundwater levels within the top 5 feet of soil, therefore Future VI risk should be evaluated or an IC established to inhibit the construction of a building. | Stacee Henderson |
| 5/21/2025 | Update or Other Action | DEC sent Responses and additional comments for the Additional Site Characterization work plan | Stacee Henderson |
| 8/27/2025 | Update or Other Action | Received Additional Site Characterization work plan and RP response to comments | Stacee Henderson |
| 9/2/2025 | Update or Other Action | DEC sent additional responses for the additional site characterization work plan | Stacee Henderson |
| 9/3/2025 | Site Characterization Workplan Approved | The revised Additional Site Characterization Work Plan, dated September 2, 2025, is approved on this date. The work plan includes: Vertical and horizontal delineation and characterization of contamination within the source area and to the north, south, east, and west directions; Install and sample three (3) temporary monitoring wells to assess groundwater flow direction and contamination migration toward the Kotlik River; Evaluation of future vapor intrusion risk; Soil and groundwater samples will be analyzed for gasoline range organics (GRO), diesel range organics (DRO), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs); Collect samples and data to calculate site-specific Method Three soil cleanup levels for GRO and DRO. | Stacee Henderson |
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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| Hazard ID | Site Name | File Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2153 | Alaska Commercial Prop. - Kotlik | 2423.38.003 |