Skip to content Skip to content

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

You are here: DEC / SPAR / CSP / SPAR Online Services / Contaminated Sites Search / Site Report

Site Report: Drift River Facility Ballast Tank

Site Name: Drift River Facility Ballast Tank
Address: Mouth of Drift River, 1 Mile from Drift River, Kenai, AK 99611
File Number: 2320.38.024
Hazard ID: 3762
Status: Active
Staff: Dawn Wilburn, 9072628200 dawn.wilburn@alaska.gov
Latitude: 60.590262
Longitude: -152.162339
Horizontal Datum:NAD83

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

In 2001, crude oil-contaminated soil was found during an excavation to install a secondary containment at the Ballast Tank. In July 2001, 400 cubic yards of contaminated soil was removed. In September 2001, an additional 1,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil was removed. In 2022, soil borings were advanced for further characterization. Analytical samples were not collected from the source area to determine the nature of the POL contamination; however, field indications of POL contamination were noted at one location in the northeast part of the site. The contamination was generally observed from 2 to 5 ft deep, with the groundwater interface noted at approximately 3 ft. Samples results collected from the contaminant source boundary did not detect contamination above DEC cleanup levels.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
7/12/2001 Update or Other Action Verbally notified by John Hammelman about petroleum contaminated soil found during work for installation of secondary containment liner. Contaminated soils are being visually excavated and stockpiled. Donald Seagren
7/16/2001 Proposed Plan Discussed stockpile and site sampling with Dave Brailey. Approved deleting field screening at this stage of the project. Dave also said that a sheen was observed on the groundwater and it appeared contaminated. Donald Seagren
7/18/2001 Update or Other Action Received a call from John Hammelman with concerns surrounding contamination issues and not wanting to slow/stop liner project. I told John to excavate and stockpile all visually contaminated soils. At the water table they should excavate about a bucket depth below the water table and stockpile the soils for later analysis. Thermally treated soils can be used as fill to bring area up to grade for liner. Confirmation sampling should be conducted prior to backfilling the excavation and bringing it up to grade. Donald Seagren
7/20/2001 Update or Other Action Received a phone call from John Hammelman. Drift River superintendent will have crew excavate all visibly contaminated soil and stockpile it. Dave Brailey will conduct confirmation sampling prior to backfilling. Donald Seagren
9/21/2001 Site Characterization Report Approved Approximately 1000 cubic yards of contaminated soil were excavated in conjunction with the installation of a secondary containment liner. Paul Horwath
10/1/2001 Update or Other Action Reviewed proposed landfarm workplan. Discussed with John Hammelman. Agreed in concept, but the proposed workplan lacked construction and operational details. Final approval is pending submission and review of detailed workplan. Donald Seagren
10/26/2001 Meeting or Teleconference Held Met with John Hammelman after reviewing landfarm (cell bioremediation) workplan. Discussed new facilities guidance, regulatory requirements and operational details that need to be added to the draft work plan. The work plan will be revised and re-submitted for approval. Donald Seagren
11/5/2001 Update or Other Action Reviewed and approved revised workplan for cell bioremediation of crude oil contaminated soil discovered during installation of secondary containment liner around BWT. Donald Seagren
7/19/2002 Cleanup Plan Approved Reviewed and approved workplan for adjacent former burn pit project. Required the submission of a closure sampling and analysis plan prior to closure for both treatment cells. Donald Seagren
10/16/2002 Update or Other Action Reviewed proposed sampling plan to assess leachate quality to allow for on-site disposal. Requested revised plan to include ADEC concerns. Donald Seagren
10/23/2002 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with Unocal and OilRisk Consultants to discuss WQ sampling of treatment cell. Donald Seagren
11/13/2002 Record of Decision ROD signed denying use of ACLs under 10X Rule under 18 AAC 75.350. Donald Seagren
3/5/2004 Update or Other Action File number assigned and entered into the Fileroom DB and CS DB. Alyce Hughey
8/19/2005 GIS Position Updated Using Figure 1 and 2 from a Landfarming Work Plan for Contaminated Soils form the BWT Containment, from OilRisk Consultants, dated November 2001, in conjunction with TopoZone Pro, entered the coordinates for this site. Metadata includes USGS Topo Map 1:63K, TopoZone Pro Street Map, Black and White Aerial Photo, on a Medium Size Map, View Scale 1:24,000, Coordinate Datum NAD83. Moderate to high degree of confidence in accuracy of location. Alyce Hughey
1/2/2007 Update or Other Action Reviewed the 2006 Landfarm soil analysis report. Final confirmation samples showed the initial lift of soil in the landfarm is below cleanup levels. Approval was granted to remove the top 1 foot os soil and place it in the adjacent burn pit excavations area. Tilling and remediation will continue in 2007. Donald Seagren
7/5/2007 Update or Other Action Reviewed data report and approved removal of second lift of soil from each of the treatment cells. After reviewing data, approved request to waive PAH sampling on the next lift of soil from each treatment cell. Donald Seagren
6/12/2008 Update or Other Action Site transferred from Don Seagren to Paul Horwath per Linda Nuechterlein. Alyce Hughey
5/29/2009 Update or Other Action File transferred from Soldotna to Anchorage 6-1-09. Alyce Hughey
9/14/2010 Update or Other Action File transferred back to Paul Horwath Susan Carberry
6/30/2015 Update or Other Action ADEC searched its project file, looking for the post cleanup excavation sampling data. Could not locate a report. Contacted David Brailey, consultant overseeing the cleanup excavation, in the effort to obtain a copy of the report. Paul Horwath
3/9/2017 Update or Other Action No additional reporting received to date. Contact Hilcorp Alaska and request any additional reports or records they might have. Paul Horwath
3/1/2019 Update or Other Action Hilcorp Alaska has informed ADEC that their Drift River Facility will no longer be used, and is being decommissioned. ADEC will address remaining assessment/cleanup requirements during facility decommissioning. Paul Horwath
12/17/2019 Update or Other Action Requested monitoring reports and any files regarding this site from Greg Rutkowski at Hilcorp. The electronic file is sparse. Need files to review to update ETM and for potential site closure. Jessica Hall
3/3/2020 Update or Other Action In July 2001, 400 cubic yards (cy) of contaminated soil was removed. In September 2001, an additional 1,000 cy of contaminated soil was removed. ADEC does not have a copy of the post-excavation cleanup report and submitted a request for documentation from Harvest on 3/9/2017. A search of the currently available records did not locate this report; however, additional documents are still being cataloged by Harvest’s records department. Jessica Hall
3/4/2020 Update or Other Action Received records on behalf of Harvest Alaska, LLC (Harvest), from Jacobs Technology Inc. (Jacobs) found regarding the Drift River Facility Ballast Tank site. They were placed in the electronic site file. Jessica Hall
7/9/2020 Update or Other Action Emailed RP requesting info on the post-excavation cleanup report reports for July 2001, 400 cubic yards of contaminated soil removed and September 2001, additional 1,000 cy of contaminated soil removed. Jessica Hall
12/23/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC reviewed and prepared comment on the Water Management Plan for the Drift River Terminal Landfarm, Contaminated Sites, and Spill Sites. Awaiting Final draft with updates. Jessica Hall
1/27/2021 Update or Other Action Cook Inlet Pipe Line (CIPL) is 100% owned by Harvest Alaska, LLC. Updated Affiliates from Hilcorp, Alaska, LLC. to Harvest Alaska, LLC. and Point of Contacts. Jessica Hall
6/17/2021 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Sent RP approval letter for Water Management Plan for the Drift River Terminal, dated June 2021. Jessica Hall
7/14/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Sent RP comments on Delineation Work Plan Drift River Terminal, dated July, 2021. Requested updated work plan be submitted for approval. Jessica Hall
10/6/2021 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Sent RP approval for the “Delineation Work Plan Drift River Terminal”, dated September, 2021. Work is ongoing at the site and expected to continue through the Fall of 2022. Crude oil-contaminated soil was found during an excavation to install secondary containment at the BWT (Figure A-3) in 2001. In July 2001, 400 cubic yards (cy) of contaminated soil was removed. In September 2001, an additional 1,000 cy of contaminated soil was removed. ADEC does not have a copy of the post-excavation cleanup report and submitted a request to Harvest for that documentation on 9 March 2017. Jessica Hall
3/3/2022 Update or Other Action Attached February 10, 1998 EPA consent order to the database. Jessica Hall
9/11/2023 Site Characterization Report Approved Sent RP approval letter for Drift River Terminal Site Characterization report dated August 2023.This report summarizes site characterization activities (soil borings and groundwater sampling) at 9 different DEC contaminated sites within the Drift River Terminal facility. More site characterization is needed at most sites and DEC requested a new site characterization work plan. Dawn Wilburn
9/11/2023 Site Characterization Report Approved Sent RP approval letter for Drift River Terminal Site Characterization report dated August 2023.This report summarizes site characterization activities (soil borings and groundwater sampling) at 10 different DEC contaminated sites within the Drift River Terminal facility. More site characterization is needed at most sites and DEC requested a new site characterization work plan. Dawn Wilburn
5/28/2024 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Reviewed and approved the revised "Site Characterization Work Plan - Former Drift River Terminal," dated May 2024. This work plan proposes soil and groundwater site characterization activities at 9 different DEC contaminated sites within the Drift River Terminal facility. Dawn Wilburn
10/28/2025 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed the 2024 Site Characterization Report dated September 2025. Sent comment to the responsible party and requested a revised report. Dawn Wilburn
12/2/2025 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Provided additional comments to the 2024 Site Characterization report. Dawn Wilburn
2/19/2026 Site Characterization Report Approved Reviewed and approved the 2024 Site Characterization Report dated February 2026. Soil and groundwater was investigated at 9 contaminated sites. Similar contaminants were identified across sites, and included petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POLs),petroleum related volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Dawn Wilburn

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

Because the GIS location data for this site has not been entered, we cannot direct you to its position on the map. Click "Continue" to proceed to the Contaminated Sites Web Map or "Close" to return to the site report.
Continue     Close

Public Notices  •  Regulations  •  Statutes
Press Releases  •  Contact

 

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
Physical Location: 410 Willoughby