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Site Report: Independence Mine Camp and Mill

Site Name: Independence Mine Camp and Mill
Address: Hatcher Pass, 13 Miles NW of Palmer, Palmer, AK 99645
File Number: 2245.38.013
Hazard ID: 3757
Status: Active
Staff: Michael Hooper, 9074515174 michael.hooper@alaska.gov
Latitude: 61.793611
Longitude: -149.285556
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

Potential contaminants observed at the site of the former three mills, Carle Mill, Independence Mill, and Martin Mill includes stained soil at a former aboveground storage tank (AST) farm that had five 4,800-gallon diesel, three 8,000-gallon oil or diesel, and four 4,000-gallon diesel tanks. Surface water flowed through the stained soil area at the aboveground storage tanks and flowed into the WestFork Fishhook Creek. Batteries, oil cans, wires, tin cans, tires and metal was observed at the former dump area. Thirty-six 55-gallon drums were also scattered throughout the area, some partially filled, and an overturned cyanide-processing tank was found at the former Martin mill site. Diesel range organics (DRO) and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) entered as contaminants of concern based on the Preliminary Assessment; no lab data submitted with assessment. Initially, a privately owned hard rock gold mine until 1951, the Camp and Mill Site operated as a lodge until the late 1970s, donated to the State of Alaska in 1980, and was designated as the Independence Mine State Historical Park. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System (CERCLIS) ID# AK0002381549. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a No Further Remedial Action Planned (NFRAP) letter on March 24, 2005. Because this is a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) action, it was opened as a separate site from Independence Mine Historical Site, a diesel spill from a heating oil tank. That project was closed on database in 1995.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
8/27/1997 Update or Other Action EPA Site Discovery, CERCLIS ID# AK0002381549. Bruce Wanstall
12/21/1998 Preliminary Assessment Approved Preliminary Assessment listed on CERCLIS database as completed by Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START). Bruce Wanstall
5/3/2001 Site Added to Database Various contaminants including metals. Bruce Wanstall
5/3/2001 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Preliminary ranking based on observed stained soil only, PA report from EPA pending. Bruce Wanstall
7/16/2004 Update or Other Action File number issued 2245.38.013 Aggie Blandford
6/6/2006 Update or Other Action Site transferred from Pikul to Horwath. Aggie Blandford
6/30/2006 GIS Position Updated Using Figures 1, 2, and 3 from the Independence Mine Camp and Mill Site Preliminary Assessment Report, Hatcher Pass, from Region 10 START, dated October 1998, in conjunction with Matanusak Susitna Borough, and TopoZone Pro, entered the coordinates for this site. Metadata includes Topo Map 1:63K, TopoZone Pro Street Maps, on a Medium Size Map, View Scale 1:48,000, Coordinate Datum WGS84. High degree of confidence in accuracy of location. Alyce Hughey
7/19/2006 Update or Other Action Project manager changed from Horwath to English per Paul Horwath. Alyce Hughey
10/9/2006 Update or Other Action Project manager changed from Monica English to Paul Horwath, per Paul Horwath. Alyce Hughey
3/11/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Paul Horwath
6/10/2009 Update or Other Action File transferred from Soldotna to Anchorage 6-10-09. Project Manager changed from Paul Horwath to Linda Nuechterlein. Alyce Hughey
8/4/2009 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Completed review of the EPA START reports from 1998 and 2004. Issue of possible petroleum contamination has not been fully characterized. Sediment samples showed that Arsenic, Mercury, and Selenium are above cleanup levels. No data was found on petroleum constitutents. Pam Clemens
1/4/2011 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 74732 ASTs. Pam Clemens
1/20/2011 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 74732 name: ASTs Pam Clemens
1/25/2011 Update or Other Action Spoke with Nichole Acevedo with DNR about plans that should be completed by June 2011 for building stabalization and other site preservation. She will send me a copy for review by April 2011. A priority will be the assey office's foundation. Pam Clemens
4/8/2013 Update or Other Action Call from Nicole Acevedo (DNR). Stabilization and preservation plan was never implented. If it is ever implented, the stabilization will include building foundation repairs. Noted that DEC approval is required for off-site transport of soil, if conducted as part of the foundation repairs. Jacob Gano
4/8/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed the 2013 Site Characterization Report for the Hatcher Pass Assay Building foundation work. Contaminated soils were encountered while reconstructing the Hatcher Pass Assay Building foundation. Approximately 226.54 tons of petroleum impacted material was taken to ASR for disposal. The foundation excavation was approximately 50 feet by 50 feet by 1.5 feet deep. All five excavation characterization samples were collected from surface soil approximately 2 feet below ground surface. Two samples collected in the northeast corner of the excavation exceeded cleanup levels. One of those samples had a diesel range organics concentration of 3,040 mg/kg and a naphthalene concentration of 0.0416J mg/kg. Any contamination below the 1.5 feet deep foundation was left in place. Lisa Krebs-Barsis
4/17/2015 Update or Other Action Met with DNR representative to discuss Brownfields funding application that was submitted for the site. Lisa Krebs-Barsis
5/9/2019 Update or Other Action Sent site visit request letter to site. Letter contained potential responsible party language and requested contact to discuss site. Chelsy Passmore
5/16/2019 Meeting or Teleconference Held Phone discussion with RP regarding site, source areas, budget restrictions, drinking water well use, and potential site visit. Chelsy Passmore

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.

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
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