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 |
| 7/30/2024 | Update or Other Action | The Homer HERC Task Request for Proposal (TRFP) includes: 1) Data Gap Analysis 2) Work plan for a hazardous buildings material inventory & site characterization of contaminants in soil 3) Field work 4) Site characterization report 5) Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives and 6) Community Meeting. | Flannery Ballard |
| 8/28/2024 | Update or Other Action | DEC received the 2024 Data Gap Analysis for the Homer HERC buildings. | Flannery Ballard |
| 9/23/2024 | Update or Other Action | DEC accepts the Homer Data Gap Analysis, submitted by BGES. Attached to the database. | Flannery Ballard |
| 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 |
| 9/30/2025 | Update or Other Action | DEC received draft copies of the Site Characterization report and the ABCA. DEC is reviewing and will provide comments. | Flannery Ballard |
| 11/5/2025 | Update or Other Action | DEC received updated copies and response to comments for Site Characterization Report and the ABCA. | Flannery Ballard |
| 11/11/2025 | Update or Other Action | DEC accepts as final the "Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives" for the Homer HERC buildings. The ABCA discusses 5 alternatives: 1) No action; 2) Encapsulation of lead based paint in both buildings; 3) Further testing and analysis of building materials; 4) Abatement and local disposal of hazardous building materials, offsite disposal for other construction debris; and 5) Abatement via disposal of both buildings outside Homer. The ABCA concludes by recommending option 4. | Flannery Ballard |
| 11/11/2025 | Site Characterization Report Approved | DEC approved the "Site Characterization Report Homer HERC Buildings". The report summarizes field activities that took place in May 2025 where a total of 54 test pits were advanced to a maximum of 2 feet below ground surface. Soil sampling results indicated lead present in the soil in all test pits, but below DEC's cleanup level for lead in residential areas (400 mg/kg). Arsenic was also present, but is presumed background. A Hazardous Buildings Materials Inventory was also undertaken (Appendix A). Results indicated that 45 samples of paint on interior windows of the building exceeded EPA’s 1 mg/ cm2 regulatory limit for lead-based paint (LBP). Results from previous HBM surveys indicate the presence of asbestos containing materials (ACM) and polychlorinated biphenyls-containing materials (PCBCM), which will require abatement. | Flannery Ballard |
Contaminant Information
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Requirements
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No associated sites were found.