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Site Report: Alaska Gastineau Mine Tailings

Site Name: Alaska Gastineau Mine Tailings
Address: 4404 Thane Road, Sheep Creek Delta, Juneau, AK 99801
File Number: 1513.38.013
Hazard ID: 404
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 58.261184
Longitude: -134.328217
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

Fifty acre tailings disposal site received milling residuals between 1912-1920. Elevated levels of lead and arsenic in the tailings. Tailings not determined to be contributing to off-site surface water, groundwater, or surficial soil concentrations. Extent of contamination and health impact unknown. Ecology and Environment estimated quantity of hazardous constituents to be 2.9 million pounds. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ID AKD981767320; EPA site name Thane Mine Dump.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
1/1/1987 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Sampled tailings for total lead, arsenic and mercury. Results: 77 ppm lead, 22 ppm arsenic, 0.01 ppm mercury. Bill Janes
10/1/1987 Preliminary Assessment Approved Ecology and Environment, Inc. Bill Janes
12/10/1987 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Ecology and Environment, Inc. site investigation to determine hazardous constituent quantity within tailings dump, determine existence and potential of releases of contamination to groundwater, surface water, soil and air, and evaluate existence/potential of human food chain contamination of fisheries. Included sampling of surface water, sediment, groundwater and benthic organisms. Bill Janes
5/1/1988 Update or Other Action Ecology and Environment SI conducted on behalf of EPA. Bill Janes
4/27/1990 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Bill Janes
8/26/1993 Site Added to Database Metals contamination. Bill Janes
11/5/1999 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Evaluated SI data in reference to our new regulations. Changed value for Release Information from 0.2 to 1.0 based on arsenic values in data tables. Bill Janes
9/18/2000 Update or Other Action EPA funded CERCLIS Site Reassessment changed ranking from High to Low Priority. Bruce Wanstall
2/26/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Bill Janes
3/20/2008 Update or Other Action Name change from Thane Mine Dump to Alaska Gastineau Mine Tailings Bill Janes
7/1/2010 Site Visit DEC staff visited the site on June 28, 2010. The latitude and longitude were accurate based on site inspection. No observable ecological impacts were observed; however, a discussion of the site with one of the tenants revealed the AJT Mining company ownes the majority of the land were the mine tailings were deposited. Todd Blessing
7/1/2010 Update or Other Action File transferred to Anchorage 1/27/2010 Susan Carberry
6/29/2011 Update or Other Action Transferred file from Todd Blessing in Anchorage to Sally Schlichting in Juneau on 6/29/2011 Bianca Reece
3/7/2013 Update or Other Action Reviewed file. Erik Norberg
8/6/2013 Site Visit DEC Staff Erik Norberg and Kristin Brown, and NORTECH staff Cameron Sells, visited the site at low tide on August 6, 2013. Biota samples from six test pits were collected for metals analysis, including worms, clams, and mussels. No cockles were found at any test pits. Kristin Thompson
9/11/2013 Update or Other Action Staff changed from Erik Norberg to Denise Elston. Kristin Thompson
2/19/2014 Update or Other Action Contacted by ERM consultants out of Anchorage to discuss closure details of this site and the transfer of assets from AJT properties to Avista Corp. Sally Schlichting
2/24/2014 Site Visit Site visit w/Avista Corp consultant, ERM. Sally Schlichting
4/29/2014 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting w/Avista Corp to discuss status of site. Sally Schlichting
6/8/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Nortech Site Characterization report approved. Sally Schlichting
6/8/2014 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 71383 Intertidal Mine Tailings. Sally Schlichting
6/12/2014 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued Concentrations of metals in tailings meet ADEC Method 2 cleanup levels. Although no site-specific sediment cleanup criteria were established for this site, sampling of ecological receptors in the tailings area indicated no conclusive trend or elevated levels of metals documented to be related to past mining operations at the site. Sally Schlichting

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
Lead - Total < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil Lead concentrations ranged from 8.14 to 88.1 mg/kg, based on MI-sampling of the tailings in the intertidal area.

Control Type

Type Details
No ICs Required

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.
Hazard ID Site Name File Number
26195 Nowell Mine Old Mill Site 1513.38.093

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
Physical Location: 410 Willoughby