Site Report: Thumb Bay Saltery
| Site Name: | Thumb Bay Saltery |
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| Address: | Thumb Bay; Mummy Bay; Knight Island; ~11.7 Miles NE of Chenega Bay, Chenega Bay, AK 99574 |
| File Number: | 2209.38.005 |
| Hazard ID: | 27136 |
| Status: | Active |
| Staff: | Kelly Walker, 9074512166 kelly.walker@alaska.gov |
| Latitude: | 60.205742 |
| Longitude: | -147.822175 |
| 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 property began as a saltery in 1929. In 1939 it was upgraded to a saltery and fish meal plant. According to a 1939 United States Survey 2496 it consisted of fuel oil tanks, meal plant, boilers, herring oil tanks, two warehouses, six above ground diesel tanks, rooming house, mess house, bunk house, two cabins, and a radio cabin. The property was subdivided in 1981 as Port Oceanic Subdivision. The tanks and buildings are located on Lots 4, 5, and 7. The area was heavily impacted by the 1989 Exxon Valdez Oil spill and weathered oil remains on the beach and in the tideland. An additional diesel spill occurred in September of 1989 which also impacted Thumb Bay. A study was conducted in 2003 to identify, map, and quantify polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in sediments along shorelines of the Prince William Sound. This property was one of the sites investigated. 2,540 square meters of PAH-impacted sediment were identified in the study. A phase two environmental site assessment (ESA) was conducted in 2004. The ESA documented historic petroleum releases to the surface soil from bulk fuel storage, miscellaneous petroleum storage, and flaking lead-based paint from tanks. Petroleum and lead were found about the applicable DEC cleanup levels in surface soils. Contamination may have migrated into the subsurface soil, groundwater, sediment and surface waters. Minimal cleanup of scrap metals and solid waste took place in 2015. As of September 2019, the site was not in use.
Action Information
| Action Date | Action | Description | DEC Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/13/2019 | Site Added to Database | A new site has been added to the database | Mitzi Read |
| 9/13/2019 | Exposure Tracking Model Ranking | Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80494 name: Thumb Bay Saltery | Erin Gleason |
| 8/3/2020 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | Meeting with ADEC brownfield, EPA, and Chenega to discuss potential TBA at the site. | Erin Gleason |
| 10/19/2020 | Brownfields Award | EPA Targeted Brownfields Assessment awarded to the Thumb Bay Saltery for further assessment. Covid-19 impacted project. Field work possible in Summer 2021. | Lisa Griswold |
| 2/8/2021 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | Meeting with EPA, ADEC, Chenega, and Weston to discuss summer 2021 work as part of the TBA | Erin Gleason |
| 4/16/2021 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | Meeting with EPA, Weston Solutions, and Native Village of Chenega to discuss the sampling and assessment proposal memo. | Erin Gleason |
| 7/12/2021 | Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other | Received draft sampling and analysis plan from EPA. ADEC will review and provide comment. SAP was written by Weston Solutions. | Erin Gleason |
| 2/18/2022 | Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other | Review completed for Phase II Environmental Site Assessment and comments provided. Report details site characterization activities conducted during 2021 field season. Soil, groundwater, and surface water was sampled for contaminants of concern. Additionally, inventory of unlabeled drums, tanks, and other containers and a hazardous building material assessment was completed. Multiple contaminant exceedances of Method Two Soil Cleanup Levels for Over-40 Inch Zone and Table C Groundwater Cleanup Levels were detected. | Kelly Walker |
| 9/30/2022 | Site Characterization Workplan Approved | 2022 Site Characterization Activities Work Plan reviewed and approved for Thumb Bay Saltery. Additional soil, surface water, and groundwater will be sampled throughout the property to further delineate contamination present. Bedrock observations will be made to determine depth across the site and a background study will also be conducted to determine background/natural concentrations of heavy metals in soils. | Kelly Walker |
| 5/26/2023 | Site Characterization Report Approved | Site Characterization Report reviewed and approved for Thumb Bay Saltery. Surface soil, surface water, and groundwater samples were collected. Background metals samples and a bedrock investigation also occurred during the 2022 field sampling. Surface soil concentrations were detected above migration to groundwater cleanup levels on Lots 4, 7 and 5 for DRO, SVOCs and lead. Groundwater samples indicate concentrations of DRO, residual range organics (RRO) and lead above Table C groundwater cleanup levels. Additional soil delineation and groundwater sampling is recommended for 2023 field season. | Kelly Walker |
| 11/8/2024 | Site Characterization Workplan Approved | DEC reviewed and approved the Work Plan for Site Characterization Activities for Thumb Bay Saltery. Approximately 44 soil samples and seven groundwater samples will be advanced during the 2024 field season across Lots 1, 4, 5, and 7. This is a continuation of delineation of source areas at the location of the former saltery. | Kelly Walker |
Contaminant Information
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Control Type
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Requirements
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No associated sites were found.