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Site Report: East Nome Harbor Upgrade

Site Name: East Nome Harbor Upgrade
Address: East Side of Nome Harbor, Turning Basin, Nome, AK 99762
File Number: 400.38.034
Hazard ID: 4043
Status: Active
Staff: Shonda Oderkirk, 9074512881 shonda.oderkirk@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.500889
Longitude: -165.417194
Horizontal Datum:

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

Soil samples were collected in June 2003 from 21 borings drilled in two areas under study for harbor improvement projects at Nome, Alaska. Soils at the proposed project site at the Crowley Marine dock area are extensively contaminated with gasoline and diesel range fuels, at both the surface and at depth. The proposed project site on the sand spit also contains DRO-contaminated soils, in the vicinity of AP-1031. While the contamination in this area appears to not be as pervasive as that in the Crowley dock area, the true extent of contamination is unknown. Low concentrations (1 mg/kg or less) of PCBs were also detected in surface soils across much of the Crowley dock area. High concentrations of arsenic (up to 187 mg/kg) were detected in both areas. While these concentrations tended to be higher than previously noted in Nome harbor area soils, it is possible that these concentrations are consistent with regional background concentrations. PRP letters were sent to Crowley, Chevron, and the USAF in September 2020 in an effort to move the site towards characterization. The City of Nome was sent a PRP letter in April 2007.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
3/24/2004 Site Added to Database DRO, GRO, low levels PCBs. Former Staff
12/1/2006 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking. Mitzi Read
1/24/2007 Meeting or Teleconference Held Teleconference with Sharon Richmond (DEC), Randy Romanesko (City of Nome), COE representatives: Julie Anderson, Mary Jemin, Karl Harvey, and Bret Walters. Discussed what was needed to go ahead complete Harbor upgrade when they will be disturbing contaminated soil. They already had soil borings in the area, and had exceeded the 12,500 mg/kg for DRO in one boring. The disturbance would only involve digging a bucket width to 4 ft bgs for installing tie-rods for the dock face. Sharon informed them that they were late in the game to get DECs help, and informed them they would need to submit a Soil Management Plan. Since the City of Nome owns the land, it is their responsibility to submit the plan and determine any other PRPs. Lisa Maserjian
1/25/2007 Update or Other Action Lisa Maserjian assigned as P.M. for this site. Change name from USACE Nome harbor to East Nome Harbor Upgrade, since USACE is not the RP for this site. City of Nome owns the site. Lisa Maserjian
5/15/2008 Update or Other Action Copies of Navigation Improvements, Final Interim Feasiblity Report and Environmental Assessment, Nome, Alaska (prepared by US Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District) were forwarded to Crowley Maritime. Sharon Richmond
6/17/2008 Update or Other Action Received Nome Harbor Sheetpile Replacement (08-018) HTRW Soil Sampling and Analysis Plan, prepared for the City of Nome by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Electronic copies of the documents were forwarded to Crowley Maritime. Sharon Richmond
9/11/2008 Meeting or Teleconference Held Teleconference in Nome with City engineer (Randy Romenesko), Sharon Richmond (DEC PM), and the Corps on Sept 4, 2008 to discuss excavation and sampling of DRO-contaminated soil stockpiled at the site. DEC requested more information regarding how the soil samples were collected. The Corps submitted this information via email on Sept 5, 2008. On Sept 10, 2008, Richmond met with DEC's Solid Waste Program (Ken Spiers) and the City was given permission (via email) to move the stockpiles to the Beam Road Landfill. Final permission to dispose of the soil in the landfill is pending review of sampling data by DEC. Sharon Richmond
4/1/2014 Update or Other Action Site transferred from Fred Vreeman to Robert Burgess. Characterization efforts were initially completed by the Corps of Engineers with DEC federal oversight. The City of Nome (landowner) is currently planning construction and trenching activities at this location. These efforts will be overseen by DEC's state/private site section. Janice Wiegers
4/24/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The Nome Harbor Improvement Soil Sampling Workplan was reviewed and approved by DEC following comment resolution. Soil will be field screened and segregated during utility trenching and light pole installation. Analytical samples will be taken from the excavation in locations where PID readings are greater than 25 ppmv. Samples will be analyzed for petroleum constituents. A subset of samples will also be analyzed for PCBs. Stockpiled soil will be disposed of based on analytical results. Robert Burgess
5/28/2014 Update or Other Action Contacted John Blees at the City of Nome to discuss other PRPs that may have caused or contributed to contamination at the site. Janice Wiegers
10/20/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC reviewed the Site Investigation Report for Nome Harbor Repairs and Upgrades prepared by Tutka, LLC. Samples were taken at locations exhibiting staining and results indicate that DRO and benzene remain above cleanup levels at several locations in the trench and lightpole excavations furthest south at the site. Because field screening and analytical sampling was conducted only at sites exhibiting visual or olfactory evidence of petroleum contamination, it is possible that contaminants exist at other locations as well. Robert Burgess
6/14/2017 Update or Other Action DEC sent a letter to the City of Nome requesting a workplan to characterize the nature and extent of contamination at the site. Robert Burgess
6/21/2017 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC met with the City of Nome to discuss several sites. The Nome harbor master stated that the City of Nome believes that the nearby Crowley tank farm is responsible for the contamination at the East harbor, stating that there was or is historical piping that ran through the contaminated area, and that the topography of the area would cause releases from the tank farm to flow towards the location of known contamination. The DEC requested documentation of Crowley's location and underground piping. Robert Burgess
10/25/2017 Update or Other Action DEC sent a letter to the City of Nome formally requesting documentation of any information regarding past use and potential sources, as the City stated in meetings that the nearby Crowley tank farm was the likely source of contamination. Robert Burgess
11/1/2017 Update or Other Action The City of Nome forwarded documentation of fuel lines and historical sampling for petroleum contamination at the East harbor. Robert Burgess
6/27/2019 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Based on the City of Nome's statements, a letter was sent to Crowley Fuels Alaska, LLC, to notify them of their potential liability at the site. Robert Burgess
1/24/2020 Workplan Requested The DEC sent a letter to Crowley Fuels Alaska, LLC requesting a work plan for site characterization with a deadline of February 28, 2020. Robert Burgess
2/6/2020 Update or Other Action The DEC received a response from Crowley via email. Crowley states that they do not believe that the contamination at the East Dock is not related to current or historical Crowley infrastructure and has retained a consultant to review reports and site history. Crowley requested an extension of the February 28 deadline. Robert Burgess
2/19/2020 Update or Other Action The DEC received and granted a request to extend the deadline for a background report and/or work plan from February 28 to March 13, 2020. Robert Burgess
3/13/2020 Update or Other Action In order to allow for additional time to gather information, the DEC granted an additional deadline extension to April 10 for the background report being compiled by DNA environmental. Robert Burgess
4/7/2020 Update or Other Action The DEC granted another extension due to a lack of response to requests for property information from DNA environmental to the City of Nome and the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The new deadline is April 17. Robert Burgess
4/13/2020 Update or Other Action The DEC granted a final extension of the deadline for a background report due to logistical concerns related to COVID-19 and a lack of response from parties with potential property interest. The new deadline is April 24. Robert Burgess
4/22/2020 Update or Other Action The DEC received a request from DNA Environmental for a one-week deadline extension to allow adequate time for Crowley to review the draft report. The DEC granted a final extension to April 30, 2020. Robert Burgess
4/30/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The DEC received the Background Report letter from DNA environmental. Robert Burgess
8/13/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC reviewed the Background Report letter by DNA Environmental on behalf of Crowley Fuels, LLC describing property history and ownership research. The report reviewed environmental sampling data, existing and historical infrastructure including piping and fuel headers, and property ownership, and claimed that Crowley is not a liable party. The report also concluded that the City of Nome, Chevron, and the United States Air Force are all potentially liable or responsible parties based on ownership of property and infrastructure or operation and management of the dock and associated infrastructure. Based on evidence presented, all of the parties mentioned are potentially liable, including Crowley. Robert Burgess
9/24/2020 Update or Other Action DEC sent a letter to Chevron notifying them that the site has been identified as another source area for the west nome tank farm (see file number 400.38.002, HazID 575). Robert Burgess
9/24/2020 Update or Other Action DEC sent a letter to Crowley notifying them that the site has been identified as another source area for the west nome tank farm (see file number 400.38.002, HazID 575). Robert Burgess
9/24/2020 Update or Other Action DEC sent a letter to the US Air Force notifying them that the site has been identified as another source area for the west nome tank farm (see file number 400.38.002, HazID 575). Robert Burgess

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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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