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Site Report: Matanuska Maid Block Parcel E - Palmer Former Power House

Site Name: Matanuska Maid Block Parcel E - Palmer Former Power House
Address: 237 East Dahlia Avenue, Palmer, AK 99645
File Number: 2245.38.047
Hazard ID: 27130
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 61.600414
Longitude: -149.111041
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

The Palmer former power house (fka Matanuska Maid Block Parcel E) was built in the mid-1950s to replace a 1930s structure that burned in a fire. The power house used coal fired boilers from the 1930s to the early 1960s, and fuel-fired boilers from the early 1960s to the mid-1970s. The current structure consists of 60x54 cinderblock walls and a low sloped roof. The interior has been stripped of all equipment and has been exposed to the elements due to voids in the roof from decay. Various piping runs have been documented on the property with unknown endpoints. Red paint on several locations are suspected to contain lead, and it was reported that asbestos-containing material was once stored on the property. A limited phase II environmental site assessment conducted under the Matanuska Susitna Borough Brownfields Areawide grant in 2019 identified areas of debris on the property, several drums, and possible lead-based paint. Limited soil sampling found mercury in the soil at 0.801 mg/kg (14-15 feet below ground surface (bgs), diesel range organics (DRO) up to 610 mg/kg (0-1 foot bgs), 1-methylnaphthalene at 0.563 mg/kg (0-1 foot bgs), and naphthalene up to 0.480 mg/kg (0-1 foot bgs). Phthalates and polychlorinated biphenyls were not detected in soil, while other volatile organic compounds were detected but were not above DEC cleanup levels. Limited groundwater sampling found dissolved lead at 72.8 ug/L, and mercury at 1.80 ug/L. DRO, residual range organics, gasoline range organics, phthalates, and pesticides were not detected in the groundwater, while several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected, but were below DEC cleanup levels in the samples collected. Work conducted under ADEC's Brownfield Assessment and Cleanup (DBAC) service in 2020-2021 included Fraction of Organic Carbon testing and allowed ADEC to develop an alternative cleanup level on the site. Mercury in groundwater appears to be the result of suspended solids as dissolved mercury sample levels were below ADEC cleanup levels. While working to remove an area that contained naphthtalene above the alternative cleanup level, a distinct black layer approximately 9 inches below ground surface that was not previously described in other reports. The black layer is distinct, and the soil beneath it did not contain contaminants above ADEC cleanup levels.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
12/26/2018 Brownfields Award Matanuska Susitna Borough utlized their FY 16 Competitive EPA Assessment grant to conduct a Phase II on this site. Lisa Griswold
9/4/2019 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
9/4/2019 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80488 name: Matanuska Maid Block Parcel E - Palmer Former Power House Mitzi Read
5/6/2020 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC Brownfield Assessment and Cleanup (DBAC) kick off meeting held on this date. Topics included desired services and possible timeline for field work. Lisa Griswold
6/12/2020 Site Visit Site visit conducted on this date. Lisa Griswold
10/13/2020 Brownfields Award SFY 21 DEC Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup awarded to Palmer Arts Council for the purposes of conducting further site characterization. EPA State and Tribal Response Program (STRP) funds $72,193.42. Lisa Griswold
3/16/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC submitted comment on the Site Characterization Work Plan that was received on February 12, 2021. This Work Plan documented the proposed site activities to be conducted at the Former Palmer Power House in Palmer, Alaska under DEC’s Brownfield Assessment and Cleanup SFY 2021 program. Proposed site activities include: conducting surface soil sampling; subsurface investigation, installation of groundwater monitoring wells, with groundwater sampling and possible further groundwater sampling. Lisa Griswold
5/11/2021 Site Characterization Workplan Approved ADEC approved the revised Site Characterization Work Plan referenced below that was received on March 29, 2021. The Work Plan documented the proposed site activities including: conducting surface soil sampling; subsurface investigation, installation of groundwater monitoring wells, with groundwater sampling and possible further groundwater sampling. Lisa Griswold
10/1/2021 Cleanup Level(s) Approved ADEC received technical memorandums on both the soil and groundwater results for the FY21 DBAC project on August 12 and August 18 respectively. Total Organic Carbon was tested as part of the soil sampling to calculate a site specific cleanup level based on the carbon content of the soil via Method 3. Once calculated, it was determined that the cleanup levels for Naphthalene became 0.58 mg/kg, and 1-methylnaphthalene became 6.6 mg/kg for migration to groundwater cleanup level in soil. DRO, which was previously found in soil was not detected in this round of sampling. The concentrations of Naphthalene found in the soil mean that one of the three grid areas sampled requires further investigation. Total and dissolved mercury were tested for in the groundwater. The groundwater was highly turbid. Results indicated that total mercury exceeded cleanup levels while dissolved mercury did not. Due to the fact that the total mercury was the only one to exceed cleanup levels with a highly turbid sample, the exceedance of mercury may be due to suspended solids within the groundwater. As such, ADEC did not request any further sampling of the groundwater and requested that the contractor decommission the monitoring wells in accordance with appropriate guidance. ADEC issued a letter to the landowner on this date with this information and determination. Lisa Griswold
10/12/2021 Update or Other Action S&W contacted ADEC to inform of a distinct black layer located in the excavation of grid 3. This black layer was not described in previous reports and contains a naphthalene concentration above the alternative cleanup level. Lisa Griswold
11/3/2021 Update or Other Action DEC requested S&W conduct additional site characterization to horizontally delineate the extent of the black layer. Due to winter conditions, the additional site characterizations were postponed to Spring 2022. Marc Thomas
12/8/2021 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting held with Palmer Arts Council regarding current field work and unanticipated problems encountered. Palmer Arts Council was introduced to Marc Thomas as the new PM for the site starting on 12/16/2021. Lisa Griswold
12/15/2021 Update or Other Action Staff assigned changed to Marc Thomas. Lisa Griswold
5/3/2022 Update or Other Action On May 3, 2022, six soil samples and one duplicate were collected and analyzed for GRO, DRO, RRO, VOCs, and PAHs. Four soil samples were collected from the black layer. Soil samples collected from the black layer contained DRO, benzene, ethylbenzene, total xylenes, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, chloroform, naphthalene, 1-methylnapthalene, and 2-methylnaphthalene at concentrations greater than the ADEC Method 2 migration to groundwater (MGW) cleanup levels. In addition, benzene and naphthalene were detected in one soil sample at approximately 3 feet bgs at concentrations greater than the ADEC Method 2 MGW cleanup levels. Marc Thomas
7/25/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC received the draft final characterization report and provided comments in early August. Marc Thomas
9/14/2022 Site Characterization Report Approved DEC approved the final site characterization report in September. Method 3 alternative cleanup levels were calculated for contaminants of concern, including DRO, benzene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene, naphthalene, and 1- and 2-methylnaphthalene. Concentrations of contaminants identified in the black layer did not exceed the ADEC Human Health cleanup levels. Based on comparison of contaminant concentrations to ADEC Method 3 alternative cleanup levels, the vertical extent of the impacted soil has been delineated. Marc Thomas
10/13/2022 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued Cleanup complete determination issued to Palmer Arts Council Marc Thomas

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
Benzene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
Naphthalene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil

Control Type

Type Details
No ICs Required

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.
Movement or use of contaminated material (including on site) in a manner that results in a violation of the water quality standards is prohibited (18 AAC 70)

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