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Site Report: Beaver School Tank Farm

Site Name: Beaver School Tank Farm
Address: N. Bank of Yukon River, 60 Miles SW of Fort Yukon, Beaver, AK 99724
File Number: 790.38.002
Hazard ID: 3944
Status: Active
Staff: Brittani Mack, 9072628205 brittani.mack@alaska.gov
Latitude: 66.359685
Longitude: -147.396634
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

Diesel contamination identified at seven sites in 2001 tank farm reconnaissance, most widespread at Cruikshank School Tank Farm and old school generator building. Diesel range organics (DRO) contamination levels at the surface exceed 10,000 parts per million (ppm) and at 8.5 feet below ground surface reach 19,000 ppm. About 5,600 square feet of surface contamination documented, volume of contaminated soil in place estimated at 1,640 cubic yards. Another 400 square feet of surface contamination identified along the washeteria pipeline and is estimated to extend to at least 7.5 feet below ground surface for a volume of 110 cubic yards. Recommended depth for remediation effort is 15 feet. Village drinking water well is located between the Cruikshank School Tank Farm and the Yukon River. 2023 Hazardous Building Material Survey found that paint in the old school building, former generator building, and storage shed contains lead and PCBs. Soil was tested for lead, all but one samples were below field sampling action level of 35 mg/kg at the utilidor running in front of the shed with a lead concentration of 41 mg/kg. Village of Beaver is located in Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. The Beaver Tribe applied to DEC for a DEC Brownfield Assessment in 2009. Brownfield file FKA 790.57.002 file name: Old BIA School - Beaver, originally assigned for brownfield project tracking. Brownfield file consolidated with 38 file on 4/8/2020. This site also includes spill no. 19309900901. On 1/8/2019 approximately 3,000 gallons of diesel were released to the ground during snow clearing activities, when a loader struck and separated a 2-inch fuel line that led to the school generator building. Fuel flowed for approximately 20 minutes before a valve was located and closed, stopping the release.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
4/17/2002 Site Added to Database Petroleum contamination noted during 2001 site reconnaissance. Bruce Wanstall
4/17/2002 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Preliminary ranking. Bruce Wanstall
8/9/2002 Update or Other Action PERP spills database shows reported release on this date of 1,250 gallons of diesel from tank overfill. Spills database record indicates 1,200 gallons were recovered to interim containment. Other entries for this spill include 1/5/2004 site visit and case closed, no further action same date. Sonja Benson
2/11/2003 Update or Other Action Review of Oasis Jan. 2002 report shows multiple RP's on site. School, City and Utilities are also RP's. Mike Jaynes
11/21/2006 Update or Other Action File number issued 790.38.002. Aggie Blandford
11/29/2006 Update or Other Action Staff transferred from Pikul to Jaynes. Aggie Blandford
5/23/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Neal Everson
2/20/2009 Update or Other Action The BJU Electric Plant - site #2 will be tracked under 790.57.001- a brownfield designation. This file and database entry will consist of site 1- School Tank Farm, Site 6- Old School Generator Building, and Site 7- Washeteria Fuel line which are all associated with the school and are in same vicinity. The other sites did not have contamination above cleanup levels and are therefore nonqualifying. Neal Everson
7/8/2009 Brownfields Award NTP# 18902815033 issued for site characterization at the Old BIA School in Beaver and associated tank farm, generator building, and washeteria fuel line. Project will be in conjunction with site evaluation at the site of the burned-down Beaver Joint Utilities generator building. Project is being coordinated with the Beaver Tribe, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service, the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council, and the Yukon Flats School District. The Tribe and the USFWS would like to do a land swap so that the village can reuse the site for a new Tribal office building and community multi-use facility. EPA STRP funds $10,452 awarded to Beaver Tribal Council for a property assessment and cleanup plan for this site and the Beaver Generator Fire Site. Sonja Benson
8/10/2009 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC held a stakeholder meeting for the Beaver School Tank Farm and the Beaver Generator Building Fire sites. Participants at the meeting included representatives from EPA, DEC, Fish and Wildlife Service, the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council and SLR (consultant for the project). The community of Beaver was unavailable to attend that meeting so another meeting was held on 8/14/09 which included representatives from the community of Beaver, DEC and SLR. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the objective of the work planned for the site, confirm logistical support for the contractor's site visit, and provide an opportunity for the everyone to ask any questions regarding the work planned for the sites. Deborah Williams
9/8/2009 Site Visit The consultant, SLR, representing DEC conducted a site visit of the site in order to collect information for the property assessment and cleanup plan. Deborah Williams
3/1/2010 Update or Other Action DEC received a Draft PACP for the Village of Beaver Old BIA School Tank Farm and the Burned Generator Building. According to the report, the extent of soil contamination at the Old BIA School and washeteria fuel line source areas have changed and the consultant recommends that this be addressed immediately. They estimate a total of 2,048 cy of contaminated soil in place. The consultant also recommends that the potential impacts to drinking water resources should be investigated since the village of Beaver drinking water well is located approximately 425 feet south of the Old BIA School building. Deborah Williams
7/14/2010 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with school district, USFWS, DEC, YRITWC, and community on status of project and reporting. There was a concern identified with the control of the property as information was presented by Mr. Tim Slathis, representing the school district. Site is on list for AST upgrade, and former generator building is in use, precluding action at this time. USFWS can help with SHPO assessment. Need to locate asbestos audit, check with DEED on property ownership, identify location for potential local asbestos mono-cell, and identify potential asbestos abatement services in the area. John Carnahan
2/3/2012 Update or Other Action Email to Angela Matz of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service requesting follow up on status of possible land swap between USFWS and the Beaver Tribe, given that the building on the site is in use. Sonja Benson
5/16/2017 Update or Other Action DEC called USFWS A. Matz to enquire about these sites and whether land trade had occurred. She needed to talk with staff and would get back with us. Laura Jacobs
5/24/2017 Update or Other Action Second phone call to USFWS A. Matz regarding the land exchange that was to happen with the Beaver School Tank farm. Left a message. Laura Jacobs
5/25/2017 Update or Other Action Email exchange with USFWS A. Matz and Beaver Village Council N. Hawkaluk regarding where cooperative work had left off in 2010. The letter accompanying the PACP issued in 2010 included items requiring further attention and asks for a followup meeting. Laura Jacobs
7/12/2017 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC met with USFWS, USFWS refuge staff, DEC Brownfields Program staff to discuss potential avenues to address current exposure to contaminants on the two sites in Beaver. Agreed to gather additional information and meet again in September 2017. Laura Jacobs
7/20/2017 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter PRP letter sent to BIA, Alaska Region with a questionnaire to receive information regarding the school tank farm, activities there, and who was in control of the contaminants that were released on site. Laura Jacobs
9/18/2017 Update or Other Action DEC received a letter reply from Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) explaining they planned a thorough search through archived materials for documents that are important to this site. It may take some time. Laura Jacobs
1/22/2019 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Potentially Responsible Party / State Interest Letter sent to Beaver Tribal Council by PPRP staff Paul Lhotka for spill no. 19309900901. Mitzi Read
6/28/2019 Update or Other Action Letter provided to BIA providing a list of 31 sites where BIA is a PRP and requesting a meeting to discuss long-term planning for cleanup at these sites. Gretchen Caudill
10/30/2019 Update or Other Action ADEC staff compiled an inventory of the contaminated sites within the Yukon Flats School District and sent it to the Superintendent to request updates on site status and suggest means of requesting funding. Laura Jacobs
4/8/2020 Update or Other Action Brownfield tracking file #790.57.002 consolidated with 790.38.002 on this date. Cascade Galasso-Irish
7/9/2020 Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program Spill transferred by PPRP staff Paul Lhotka. Spill no. 19309900901; spill date = 1/8/2019; substance = diesel; quantity = 3,000 gallons; source = aboveground tank fuel line that lead to school generator building; PPRP file no. 790.02.001; description: During snow clearing activities a loader struck and separated a 2-inch fuel line that led to the school generator building. Fuel flowed for approximately 20 minutes before a valve was located and closed, stopping the release. Mitzi Read
7/20/2020 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter ADEC staff reviewed spill reports and sent a Potentially Responsible Party letter to the Yukon Flats School District and included a request for a work plan to conduct site characterization by 60 days (September 19, 2020). Laura Jacobs
9/30/2021 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC staff spoke with the staff from the Alaska Energy Authority regarding future work at the Beaver Village Tank Farm. While there, AEA could assist the Yukon Flats School District with closing the school tank farm while contractors and equipment are available. The District must first find money to use for this effort. School Tank Farm tanks would be emptied, opened, cleaned, and lines cut to prevent future releases, but removing the tanks, site remediation, or site characterization work is not planned. Laura Jacobs

Contaminant Information

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

P.O. Box 111800
Juneau, AK 99811-1800
Phone: 907-465-5066
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