Site Report: Homer HERC Buildings
| Site Name: | Homer HERC Buildings |
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| Address: | 450 Sterling Highway, Homer, AK 99603 |
| File Number: | 2314.38.043 |
| Hazard ID: | 27933 |
| Status: | Informational |
| Staff: | Flannery Ballard, 9074655368 flannery.ballard@alaska.gov |
| Latitude: | 59.642927 |
| Longitude: | -151.552590 |
| 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 Homer Education and Recreation Buildings (Homer HERC Buildings) were constructed in the 1950's when hazards building materials were commonplace. A number of assessments have occurred, but were small scale and incomplete. A 2023 Hazardous Building Assessment (HBA) confirmed the presence of asbestos-containing materials (ACM), lead-based paint (LBP), and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)- containing materials (caulk). A release of LBP and ACM to soil has not been investigated and presents a data gap. In February 2024, the City of Homer applied to the DEC Brownfields Program for an Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) and soil sampling.
Action Information
| Action Date | Action | Description | DEC Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/11/2024 | Site Added to Database | A new site has been added to the database | Daphne Mueller |
| 4/19/2024 | Brownfields Award | The City of Homer applied for and was awarded DEC Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup (DBAC) services to conduct assessment activities and cleanup planning. | Marc Thomas |
| 10/24/2024 | Site Characterization Workplan Approved | DEC approves the "Homer HERC Site Characterization Work Plan" this date. The WP proposes the advancement of 80 test holes using hand tools, screened for lead using XRF. The 40 samples with the highest XRF results will be submitted for laboratory analysis of lead, RCRA metals, and a subset of 8 samples for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). If any field screen samples exceed 100 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) for lead, two samples will be submitted for analysis of Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP). An additional 10 soil samples will be analysed for asbestos. HERC 1 will be inspected for lead-based paint, asbestos, and PCB-containing materials. A report detailing the site characterization activities will be submitted to DEC, and contractor will work with the community of Homer to draft an Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA). | Flannery Ballard |
| 11/4/2024 | Update or Other Action | Contractor requested to delay sampling till the spring due to inclement weather. DEC approved. | Flannery Ballard |
| 4/24/2025 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | DEC has been coordinating with Homer officials to conduct a public engagement event to discuss next steps for the HERC buildings. Meeting is tentatively planned for May 20. | Flannery Ballard |
| 5/20/2025 | Site Visit | DEC conducted a site visit on May 20-21, 2025 while consultant was on site collecting soil samples for lead analysis, and interior samples for analysis of hazardous building materials. DEC toured the building, took photos, and was able to get a better understanding of the layout of the buildings and future sampling needs. DEC also took part in a community engagement meeting to discuss the DEC Brownfields Program, the status of Homer's DEC Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup (DBAC) grant, and address any safety/ risks concerns that the community has with the continued use of the buildings. | Flannery Ballard |
Contaminant Information
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There are no documents for this site report.
No associated sites were found.