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: City of Kotzebue Areawide

Site Name: City of Kotzebue Areawide
Address: Baldwin Peninsula, Kotzebue Sound, Kotzebue, AK 99752
File Number: 410.38.008
Hazard ID: 394
Status: Informational
Staff: Kelly Walker, 9074512166 kelly.walker@alaska.gov
Latitude: 66.903333
Longitude: -162.585417
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

Historical spill of #1 diesel occurred over time from 1950 to 1980. Estimated 100,000 to 200,000 gallons spilled underground in an area up to 10 acres. ADEC was alerted when fuel was discovered seeping into the elementary school basement in 1980. Source undetermined and likely from multiple sources. Top three suspected sources are 1) a ruptured tank at the bulk tank farm in the 1950's 2) the former distribution line from the bulk tank farm to the Kotzebue school and the former Public Health Service Hospital and 3) the tank farm located at the school consisting of ASTs, USTs and various piping systems. An estimated 40,000 gallons of fuel was recovered by several contractors and private individuals between 1980 and 1984. LNAPL noted on the GW between 2 and 6 inches in 1986. It was estimated 20,000 to 40,000 gallons of recoverable fuel was estimated to remain underneath Kotzebue in 1986. In 1988 high snowfall created a visible seep of oil along the beach and sheen was noted on the Kotzebue Sound. In 1989, ADEC installed and operated an oil recovery system, which consisted of a 435-foot barrier along of the beach to prevent oil migration into Kotzebue Sound, additional monitoring wells, and a 74-foot long oil recovery trench in Second Avenue, North of the former hospital. As much as 2-feet of floating fuel was observed in some monitoring wells. An estimated 5,000 to 7,000 gallons of fuel remained in the ground during 1989 after operation of the recovery system. Groundwater at this site is suprapermafrost and under the influence of tides. Years of high snow melt create hydrogeologic conditions favorable for fuel transport via groundwater. Natural soils underneath Kotzebue are heavily disturbed, making prediction of flow pathways and seepage areas difficult. Various thaw bulbs and transport corridors were identified in the 1986 hydrogeology study. Cross reference file 410.02.001. Former staff J. Janssen. LUST Trust # 87-3-2-0-344-1 This site is associated with Hazard ID 25558, IHS Kotzebue Former Hospital - School Pipeline Release (file 410.38.025), which will be used to track further developments with the pipeline release. Hazard ID 394, the City of Kotzebue (file 410.38.008) record documents the site history and will be used for tracking pore water and groundwater conditions, and possibly contaminant migration due to the new sea wall under construction.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
10/24/1980 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = F - Site Treatment, Soil/H2O). Installation of oil recovery equipment in sump in the basement of the elementary school and collection of fuel. Former Staff
1/1/1981 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = F - Site Treatment, Soil/H2O). Oil recovery from 6 wells and installation of 2 additional wells by Lomond Construction from 1981 to 1983. Former Staff
8/31/1981 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = F - Site Treatment, Soil/H2O). Ben Lomond, Inc. contracted to pump oil using sumps. Ceased collection sometime in 1983. Former Staff
9/1/1981 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = F - Site Treatment, Soil/H2O). Installation of 6 plywood collection sump boxes and 10 monitoring wells. Party responsible for action unknown. Former Staff
9/9/1981 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). C. Pearson investigated collection sumps on 9/9/91, 9/2/82, 11/23/82, and 12/28/82. Former Staff
10/1/1984 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = F - Site Treatment, Soil/H2O). ADEC contracted to reactivate sump collection operations. Recovery minimal. Approximately 40,000 total gallons recovered (since 1980) by fall of 1984. Former Staff
10/1/1984 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Investigation of spill by Dewey Moore in October 1984. Former Staff
1/1/1986 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Line testing performed by Dewey Moore detected leakage. Line abandoned. Former Staff
9/1/1986 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Installation of 9 recovery wells and 25 monitoring wells during fall of 1986. No oil recovery performed. Former Staff
8/3/1988 Interim Removal Action Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = SC - Site Control (Emergency Response)). Shannon and Wilson installed a 435-foot long barrier along the beach to prevent migration of oil into Kotzebue Sound. Barrier installation was completed 9/11/88. Report dated June 1989. Former Staff
8/3/1988 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = F - Site Treatment, Soil/H2O). Shannon and Wilson installed thirty combination recovery and monitoring wells. Data obtained regarding extent of oil contamination and product thickness. 203 gallons of oil were recovered in 1988. Report dated June 1989. Former Staff
7/24/1989 Site Characterization Report Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Shannon and Wilson Phase II Recommendations and Recovery 1989 Field Season, Underground Oil Spill, Kotzebue, Alaska. Study involved installation of culvert, collection of additional data on oil thickness, monitoring effectiveness of beach barrier, fingerprinting of oil, an inventory of tanks and lines in Kotzebue, and vapor monitoring in buildings. Report dated May 1990 and sent to ADEC on 5/16/90. Former Staff
7/24/1989 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = F - Site Treatment, Soil/H2O). Shannon and Wilson installed perforated culvert in Second Avenue as a oil recovery collection gallery. Minimal accumulation of oil prevented effective recovery. Report dated May 1990 and sent to ADEC on 5/16/90. Former Staff
11/28/1990 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Former Staff
1/25/1994 Site Added to Database #1 diesel. Former Staff
6/20/1994 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RPL2 - Site Information Request Letter). Sent PRP-CS Database Notification Letter to RP requesting update and more environmental information concerning contaminated site. Jeff Peterson
3/6/2001 Update or Other Action File number updated from 410.02.001 to 410.38.008. Mitzi Read
1/13/2004 Update or Other Action Project management transfer to Wanstall file review. Update priority ranking: Population density changed from 5 to 8; Site Access changed from 0 to 3 (school on-site, contamination partially controlled). Bruce Wanstall
3/25/2004 Update or Other Action Approval sent by email for transport of contaminated soil from screened from soil borings advanced at the high school (USS 2083 Tract 4) for lined and covered storage at the secure City of Kotzebue Bale-Fill site, Cell #1. Bruce Wanstall
10/22/2004 Proposed Plan Solid Waste Program is in agreement with CS plan to allow auger cuttings with minor weathered petroleum contamination to be used at the city landfill as capping material for common refuse. Once placed as landfill cap, DEC must be notified prior to moving the soil. Bruce Wanstall
1/10/2005 Update or Other Action File transferred to Fairbanks office for project management shift to regional staff. Bruce Wanstall
4/12/2007 Update or Other Action Updated problem statement to better reflect administrative file. Shannon Oelkers
7/27/2007 Update or Other Action Site transferred from Oelkers to Frechione. Shannon Oelkers
6/2/2008 Update or Other Action Staff changed to Farris Ann Farris
6/4/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Tamara Cardona-Marek
8/12/2008 Update or Other Action Responsible party changed to Chevron. Tamara Cardona-Marek
8/14/2008 Update or Other Action Received call from Arcadis (Chevron consultant). Chevron would like to be present if any work is done related to the removal of the recovery trench and vapor intrusion assessment of the school. Tamara Cardona-Marek
12/18/2008 Update or Other Action ADEC hired a consultant to investigate the status of the remaining contamination in the Elementary School/ Former Hospital area. Porewater samples were collected along the beach parallel to 2nd Ave and soil gas samples were collected along the perimeter of the Elementary School . Porewater samples indicate that petroleum contaminants are reaching the Kotzebue sound with TPH above the water quality standards and DRO and some BTEX above cleanup levels for groundwater. Soil gas along the school perimeter is below screening levels for BTEX, however a vapor probe installed about 200 ft northeast of the Ferguson Building detected volatile contaminants above screening levels. Additional investigation and mitigation is needed. Tamara Cardona-Marek
3/13/2009 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC discussed with Chevron the PRP status during a conference call held on 3/3/09. Chevron continues to be listed as a responsible party, however, ADEC has requested assistance from the Dept. of Law to determine who are the potentially responsible parties for this site. Tamara Cardona-Marek
5/15/2009 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC met with Shanon and Wilson to further discuss the DOT project along Front St. in Kotzebue. Items discussed during meeting included: - recent DOT amendment to final plan (new amendment includes specs on what procedure to follow if contaminated soils are encountered) - backfill material that will be used on the sheet pile (material has been described as porous, therefore allowing for the lateral movement of water) - sheet pile material was described as being “almost” impermeable (water is expected to flow along the ends of the pile) It was determined that remaining data gaps need to be identified as well as alternatives to fill those gaps, if it is determined to be necessary. Among the data gaps discussed were: - Hydrology – normal flow of water throughout the beach will change due to the sheet pile wall being installed by DOT, but is unclear exactly how it will change the flow or how this will affect contaminant transport? -What is the current contaminant distribution along the shoreline? What is the mass of contaminants to be treated? Since all of the pore water samples exceeded water quality standards, the full extent of contamination entering Kotzebue Sound is unknown. Additionally there may be other sources of contamination besides the old pipeline leak further southwest along the shoreline. The data gaps are an issue for the consideration of mitigation alternatives. However, the timeline to interface with DOT’s project is relatively short. DEC suggested that the contractor consider installing a pilot-scale treatment system while DOT is doing construction with the goal of treating the known contamination and testing the recommended remediation alternative. The results of the pilot-scale system could be used to design a larger scale system later or be used in conjunction with another treatment system, but would take advantage of DOT’s schedule, initiate some treatment to improve the situation, and help fill some of the data gaps. The cost effectiveness and benefits of a pilot scale study will be considered as part of the feasibility study . The monitoring wells specs and number of wells needs to be provided to DOT. It was decided that a well every 200 ft along the 4000 ft sheet pile was a reasonable distribution. This would total 20-21 monitoring wells. Tamara Cardona-Marek
6/17/2009 Update or Other Action ADEC continues to discuss with the Department of Law potential responsible parties. DOL is searching for information regarding who maintained the pipeline that supplied fuel to the school and hospital. Chevron has been requested to provide additional information on the property. Tamara Cardona-Marek
6/18/2009 Update or Other Action ADEC received from Shannon and Wilson a report summarizing existing data gaps identified during the development of the feasibility study. Tamara Cardona-Marek
2/16/2010 Update or Other Action Changed DEC project manager from Tamara Cardona-Marek to James Fish. Janice Wiegers
5/25/2010 Update or Other Action Workplan for soil characterization and handling during storm drain and manhole installations (as part of the ADOT/PF Shore Avenue improvements) approved 5/25/10. Test pits will identify contaminated soil (above migration to groundwater cleanup level) at manhole/storm drain installation locations, and be used determine fate of excavated soils. Report will be submitted to DEC by Qualified Person. Depth to groundwater will be noted if encountered. Jim Fish
7/9/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft test pit and DRO/RRO/GRO sample analysis received from consultant for Prime Contractor of ADOT/PF sheet pile and manhole installations. Reviewed and concurred with contaminated vs. clean soil location determinations & soil handling requirements for contractor. Jim Fish
9/13/2010 Update or Other Action This site is associated with Hazard ID 25558, IHS Kotzebue Former Hospital - School Pipeline Release (file 410.38.025), which will be used to track further developments with the pipeline release. Hazard ID 394, the City of Kotzebue (file 410.38.008) record documents the site history and will be used for tracking pore water and groundwater conditions, and possibly contaminant migration due to the new sea wall under construction. Mitzi Read
9/22/2011 Update or Other Action Based on discussions with Bill Janes, CS State/Private Program Manager, the CIP management plan (currently known as the 2021 plan) will be updated to reflect estimated costs of $50,000 for FY14. This funding is anticipated to be used for follow-up sampling associated with the seawall built along Shore Avenue in 2011 or associated with characterization of contamination associated with the school district. Update: It was later determined funding would not be allocated for this project. Janice Wiegers
7/30/2015 Update or Other Action Site status changed to informational to relect that this work was completed on an areawide scale for potentially multiple sources. Current characterization and cleanup efforts are ongoing but tracked under Hazard ID 25558, IHS Kotzebue Former Hospital - School Pipeline Release (file 410.38.025). Janice Wiegers

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

There are no documents for this site report.

Hazard ID Site Name File Number
25418 Kotzebue Areawide 410.38.021
25558 Kotzebue Former IHS/BIA Hospital - School Pipeline Release 410.38.025

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