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Site Report: Huslia Water Treatment Plant TF

Site Name: Huslia Water Treatment Plant TF
Address: Near the Post Office, Huslia, AK 99746
File Number: 820.38.005
Hazard ID: 3675
Status: Active
Staff: Laura Jacobs, 9074512911 laura.jacobs@alaska.gov
Latitude: 65.701832
Longitude: -156.392255
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 former WTP tank farm consists of three horizontal tanks used to store fuel oil for the City Washeteria/Pumphouse. The two 5,000-gallon tanks are contained inside a lined 3-foot high dike located adjacent to the City Shop and the Post Office. The 5,000-gallon tanks supply fuel to a 1,500-gallon AST day tank through underground piping. The day tank is contained inside a 3-foot high dike and is located adjacent to the washeteria. The 5,000-gallon tanks are filled by a tanker truck. An estimated 1,500 gallons of diesel fuel was spilled when an underground line ruptured in 1986. Approximately 246 cubic yards of fuel soaked soil was excavated from the site. The spill occurred in the spring due to a 14-foot section of fuel line that ruptured due to freezing. The buried fuel line, connecting the 10,000-gallon tank with the day tank, reportedly had water inside it and froze in October 1985. Based on a memorandum from the State of Alaska on June 3, 1986, approximately 90% of the fuel soaked soil in the particular area of the spill is believed to be removed. Visual contamination and diesel odor were noted in the subsurface soil approximately 3-feet bgs. Soil in Huslia is silty/sandy loam deposited from the Koyukuk River. Depth to groundwater is approximately 25 feet. The drinking water well currently used to supply Huslia with drinking water is located within the Washeteria Building and is 50 to 75 feet from the Washeteria tanks. This well is recorded as being 265 feet bgs, but local residents stated that they felt is was much shallower due to a problem during the drilling of the well. According to locals the area around the well and the tanks is a low spot in the village and in the spring a large puddle forms from spring run-off around the Washeteria building. In October 2007 two new wells located near the old air strip are scheduled to begin providing drinking water to the village of Huslia. The old well will not be used once this transition takes place, however, it is unknown if the well will be decommissioned.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
4/22/2003 Site Added to Database DRO contamination. Deborah Williams
4/22/2003 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Preliminary ranking. Deborah Williams
4/27/2004 Update or Other Action Site evaluation funded through TAPL funding. With loss of TAPL funds to Alaska Energy Authority, ADEC will not be able to fund work on the site at this time. Other funding sources will be evaluated as needed. Mike Jaynes
7/14/2004 Update or Other Action File number changed from 820.42.006 to 820.38.004 Sarah Cunningham
11/29/2006 Update or Other Action Staff transferred from Pikul to Jaynes. Aggie Blandford
6/25/2007 Update or Other Action ADEC staff Oelkers visited site, obtained GPS reading and observed general site conditions. Two 5,000 gallon tanks containing arctic grade diesel remain on site, however the three foot berm is lined and fenced, although the fence has several holes in it allowing access, probably to recover baseballs (the site is adjacent to a baseball field). The Oasis Site Assesment submitted in 2000 reported that the tanks were located within a three foot unlined berm and pictures of the site did not show a fence. The liner seemed intact and was holding water. A submerged drum and several plastic containers of oil and aerosol cans were observed within the pooled water. The two tanks rested on wooden cribs and are above the water line. There was a visible sheen of oil on the water, and a noticeable odor of fuel. The tanks are within 75 feet of the well that serves the village of Huslia with it's drinking water. Shannon Oelkers
4/16/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Bill O'Connell
6/18/2009 Update or Other Action ANTHC contacted DEC to discuss a project replacing water/wastewater piping around the WTP. Test holes indicated contamination in the area. DEC discussed options for dealing with contamination, including a biocell present in Huslia, and requested a workplan be submitted before beginning work. Janice Wiegers
10/27/2009 Update or Other Action Received word from Devan Currier at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) that the alignment for the new water/wastewater piping was revised to avoid known contaminated soil. ANTHC's intention is to complete the piping changes during Summer 2010. Janice Wiegers
3/11/2013 Update or Other Action The waterline relocation project has been completed. The old well is not decommissioned, but the pump was pulled and top of well welded closed. Contact person related there were no funds remaining for well decommission. Laurel Gale
3/11/2013 Update or Other Action Site symbol visually relocated using ArcGIS.com and documents from the file. Laurel Gale
5/3/2016 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter PRP letter sent to City of Huslia. Confirmation of receipt on May 12, 2016. Janice Wiegers
5/17/2016 Update or Other Action Received call from City administrator. Left message. Janice Wiegers
12/6/2018 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 74650 ASTs. Megan Roberts
6/10/2019 Workplan Requested DEC sent correspondence requesting additional site information and submission of a workplan. Meeting requested with the EPG Environmental Coordinator. Megan Roberts
6/26/2019 Update or Other Action DEC received the completed building inventory and indoor air sampling questionnaire for the building onsite. Megan Roberts

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

There are no documents for this site report.

No associated sites were found.

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