Site Report: USFS Apex and El Nido Mines
| Site Name: | USFS Apex and El Nido Mines |
|---|---|
| Address: | 3 Miles SW of Pelican, Lisianski Inlet, Pelican, AK 99832 |
| File Number: | 1520.38.005 |
| Hazard ID: | 3990 |
| Status: | Active |
| Staff: | Brittani Mack, 9072628205 brittani.mack@alaska.gov |
| Latitude: | 57.950000 |
| Longitude: | -136.292500 |
| Horizontal Datum: |
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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
Elevated concentrations of metals and petroleum hydrocarbons are present at several locations of the former mine operations. Access to the mine is extremely difficult. Waste rock and mine adits present in Sections 13, 23, and 24, T45S, R56E, C.R.M. Tissue samples from mussels in Lisianski Inlet near the mouth of Cann Creek showed elevated concentrations of cadmium, chromium, and copper. There are soil exceedances of diesel range organics (DRO), arsenic, mercury, and selenium. Cadmium, lead, and mercury were 3x background concentrations onsite. The portal for Apex mine has surface water coming out that exceeds drinking water quality criteria but not Alaska Water Quality Criteria for arsenic. Choris bog orchid (Platanthere chorisiana) is a sensitive plant species in the site project area. Elevated soil concentrations of diesel-range organics were found at the industrial center at the upper camp. Elevated soil concentrations of arsenic, lead, mercury and selenium were found at the assay shop and arsenic and mercury at the retort near the mill. Elevated concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury were found in the freshwater sediments in the lower part of Cann Creek. Soil samples were not collected at the former Beach Camp to determine if there are any impacts associated with these potential sources areas.
Action Information
| Action Date | Action | Description | DEC Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/19/2004 | Update or Other Action | Site listed on EPA Haz Waste Compliance Docket this date. | Bill Janes |
| 3/23/2005 | Site Added to Database | Historical petroleum and primary metals contamination. | Bruce Wanstall |
| 3/23/2005 | GIS Position Updated | Multiple sites; location between the Apex and El Nido mine adits used for this record. USGS 1:24K/25K Series topographic map interpolation of property latitude and longitude referenced to North American Datum (NAD) 27 using web-based service. | Bruce Wanstall |
| 11/17/2005 | Site Ranked Using the AHRM | Site ranking completed on this date. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 2/26/2007 | Exposure Tracking Model Ranking | Anne Marie Palmieri | |
| 9/2/2016 | Update or Other Action | On this date, DEC sent a letter to the USFS requesting action on a number of sites. For this site, DEC stated: The USFS conducted an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) in 2001 without input from DEC. Soil sample results showed elevated concentrations of metals and petroleum hydrocarbons and sediment sample results showed elevated concentrations of metals. In 2005, DEC requested that the USFS conduct additional characterization and risk evaluation activities. DEC hereby requests that by October 10, 2016 the USFS provide a timeline by which they will conduct this additional characterization. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 10/11/2017 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | DEC, EPA, and USFS met to discuss roles and responsibilities for each agency. Specific actions regarding this site were not discussed at this meeting. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 2/14/2018 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | DEC, EPA, and USFS met to discuss roles and responsibilities for each agency. Specific actions regarding this site were not discussed at this meeting. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 5/8/2019 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | DEC and the USFS met on this date to discuss many sites and how to move the sites forward in the cleanup process. A next meeting was scheduled for August. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 8/12/2019 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | CS Staff met with the USFS to discuss site issues on this date. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 10/8/2019 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | CS Staff met with USFS to discuss general coordination issues on this date. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 2/12/2020 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | CS Staff met with the USFS to discuss general coordination and site issues on this date. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
Contaminant Information
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Control Type
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Requirements
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No associated sites were found.