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: Residence - Knickerbocker Spill

Site Name: Residence - Knickerbocker Spill
Address: 10665 Glacier Highway, Near Pederson Hill, Juneau, AK 99801
File Number: 1513.38.066
Hazard ID: 4061
Status: Active
Staff: Stacee Henderson, 9072628202 stacee.henderson@alaska.gov
Latitude: 58.377590
Longitude: -134.626807
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

Spilled 200 gallons from heating oil tank piping failure. Oil migration followed surface water runoff pathways; pooled oil was collected with sorbent pads. Oil passed through adjacent private property and entered swale in the right of way along Glacier Highway. Numerous attempts were made by the ADEC to initiate a cleanup with no success. A Notice of Environmental Contamination was placed on the property in April of 2014. In December 2014, Carson Dorn Inc. (CDI) conducted a limited site investigation in January of 2015 and again in February 2015 and found evidence of petroleum contamination both on the east and west sides of the old heating oil tank still on site. Samples tested below detection limits for residual range organics (RRO) and positive for diesel range organics (DRO) having DRO soil concentrations of 190 (sample BH-1) and 290 (sample BH-2) mg/kg, just above the migration to groundwater cleanup level. A drinking water well on site was decommissioned in place with bentonite by CDI at the request of the ADEC because city water is available and no groundwater testing had occurred. The site was subsequently closed with institutional controls. October 2016: CDI conducted some test pitting and analyses indicated that there is DRO up to 5,300 mg/kg present on the property in the vicinity of the now removed trailer. The site has subsequently been reopened.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
9/26/2005 Site Added to Database Heating oil tank spill Bruce Wanstall
9/26/2005 Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program DEC oil spill number 04-11-99-119-01; PERP file number is 1513-02-275; letter of state interest was issued 4/30/04. Bruce Wanstall
9/26/2005 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Potential exposure assessment has ingestion, inhalation, and dermal pathways complete for residential land use scenario. Area serviced by the City and Borough of Juneau Public Water System. Bruce Wanstall
9/29/2005 GIS Position Updated Lat long data entered. Metadata include Topozone Pro web utility used to project data on USGA 1:24,000 topographic map. Image saved at jnusvr G:\SPAR\Spar-Contaminated Sites\38 Case Files (Contaminated Sites)\1513 Juneau\1513.38.066 Residence Knickerbocker Spill; accuracy is medium and estimated at 200 meters. Bruce Wanstall
10/24/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Site status was evaluated using the environmental tracking module. Results found high potential exposure risk for the surface soil, outdoor inhalation and groundwater ingestion pathways. Bruce Wanstall
10/24/2007 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter PRP State Interest letter requesting site cleanup was drafted and sent registered mail to the property owner. Bruce Wanstall
9/11/2013 Update or Other Action Staff changed from Erik Norberg to Denise Elston. Kristin Thompson
2/19/2014 Site Visit Staff Duncan visited the site at 10665 Glacier hwy to determine who is the current owner of the property as Steven and Mary Lou Knickerbocker are both deceased. Spoke with a Mr. Keggar who said that no one is living in the main building and that he is unsure who the owners are; he lives in a travel trailer on site. Danielle Duncan
2/20/2014 Update or Other Action Spoke with Sadie McKenry, daughter in law of Steve Knickerbocker (deceased), and probable RP, about the site's contamination. She informed me that the property is currently in probate court and neither she nor anyone else is in possession of it currently. The property has been in probate court for 8 years. I emailed her the cleanup info sheet available online and informed her of the contaminated status of the site and that the info is available publicly. There is contaminated soil and a drinking water well on the property. Danielle Duncan
2/21/2014 Update or Other Action Property is in probate court, though unconfirmed, and has been for 8 years. There is a drinking water well on the property and soil contamination and possible stream contamination needs to be addressed by future owner. Danielle Duncan
2/28/2014 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter PRP letter sent certified to Knickerbocker Mary Lou and GMK Trust. Was not able to confirm probate status. The property is not in probate court in Alaska or Booneville, MO. Danielle Duncan
4/1/2014 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 75035 Heating Oil Tank. Danielle Duncan
5/15/2014 Institutional Control Record Established NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION As required by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), Grantor, pursuant to 18 AAC 75.375 b (3), Knickerbocker Mary Lou and GMK Trust, Grantee, as the owner [and operator] of the subject property, hereby provide public notice that the property located at: 10665 Glacier Highway, Juneau, Alaska, 99801, and more particularly described as follows: Parcel # 4B2201070020 USS 2386 L F L 4B has been subject to a discharge or release, regulated under 18 AAC 75, Article 3, as revised April 8, 2012. On or before April 30th 2004, approximately 100-200 gallons of diesel oil was spilled on the ground at this property. The oil traveled into ditches and muskeg bordering neighboring properties. Contamination on the property was never addressed by the property owner according to ADEC records. Soil and groundwater may be contaminated with diesel heating oil, benzene, and other compounds and a drinking water well on the property may also be impacted. Due to the lack of characterization and cleanup work at this site as required under 18 AAC 75, exposure risks to human health and the environment are determined to be present. Danielle Duncan
5/30/2014 Update or Other Action Obtained spill photos from PERP and shared with realtor/trustee. Discussed with him that we want BTEX and tPAH data for the groundwater well if they have it tested and I expect a signed NEC soon. He also mentioned that the groundwater pump is broken and that the residents have been hauling water for about 4 months. Danielle Duncan
6/23/2014 Update or Other Action Realtor is having his attorney look at the NEC before he signs. Danielle Duncan
11/28/2014 Update or Other Action Spoke to CDI and they are working on a work plan for this site. Sent all available information to CDI and filed NEC with recording office. Danielle Duncan
12/5/2014 Update or Other Action Spoke to CDI and they are preparing a work plan to include 6-8 samples for DRO analysis in addition to field screening using PID. 2 samples will also be analyzed for BTEX and PAHs. The well casing of the drinking water well on site is broken; the well is inoperable. City water is available. Danielle Duncan
12/19/2014 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Approved CDI's sampling and analysis work plan to investigate possible DRO contamination stemming from a heating oil spill in 2005. The investigation will focus on the SW corner of the trailer where the spill is believed to have originated. The use of a PID will guide the investigation and laboratory samples will be submitted from areas having the greatest PID readings. CDI will supply a site map as part of their final report. Danielle Duncan
1/23/2015 Update or Other Action Spoke to CDI and they dug multiple test pits in the area(s) of the reported spill and found no evidence of petroleum contamination using a PID and odor tests. The property is very wet/muskeg and we plan on doing a site visit to further investigate the incident and determine a path moving forward which will include decommissioning of the drinking water well. Danielle Duncan
2/26/2015 Site Visit Site visit and sample collection with CDI. Found contaminated soil near the old heating oil tank with PID reading at 180 ppm. Samples from the other sides of the tank were non-detect. 2 samples were sent for analysis of DRO and RRO as a preliminary assessment. The drinking water well pump and casing are both broken and inoperable. The well will have to be decommissioned because city water is available. It may be beneficial to remove the debris and old tank from the yard ahead of cleanup. Danielle Duncan
3/12/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Rec'd CDI's soil investigation report this date. Danielle Duncan
4/1/2015 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 75035 Heating Oil Tank. Danielle Duncan
4/3/2015 Site Characterization Report Approved Sent letter/report approval letter for the recent soil investigation work completed by CDI. The previously dug test pits were observed and tested with a PID in addition to digging a few more test pits. 2 soil samples were taken near the old heating oil tank and analyzed for DRO and RRO by Test America. The report found that the DRO soil contamination is above migration to groundwater cleanup levels but below ingestion and inhalation levels (290 mg/kg). The CSP requests that the drinking water well on site that is currently inoperable be properly decommissioned because City water service is available and groundwater may be contaminated with DRO. Danielle Duncan
6/17/2015 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 75035 Heating Oil Tank. Danielle Duncan
7/1/2015 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued Cleanup complete with institutional controls determination issued. Remaining concentrations of known petroleum contamination in soil (190 and 290 mg/kg DRO) slightly exceed migration to groundwater cleanup levels (230 mg/kg DRO). In addition, there may be residual contamination below and around the old heating oil tank and other areas on the property that are currently inaccessible. At which time the property is free of debris and the soil can be accessed, an environmental assessment should be conducted. A Notice of Environmental Contamination (deed notice) was recorded on December 2nd 2014 in the State Recorder’s Office as an institutional control (IC) that identified the nature and extent of contamination at the property. Institutional Controls are as follows: Notice Required for any Change in Land Ownership or Land Use, Excavation Restriction, Groundwater Use Restriction, No Offsite Transport of Contaminated Material, and Contamination of Surface Water Prohibited. Danielle Duncan
8/19/2015 Update or Other Action Spoke to CDI and the AST has been removed from the property and the presence of residual contamination has been verified. Danielle Duncan
9/26/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Rec'd the letter report "Knickerbocker Spill – 10665 Glacier Highway – Soil Investigation" this date. Danielle Duncan
10/6/2016 Site Reopened Evonne Reese
10/17/2016 Update or Other Action Sent a response to the recent work on site conducted without an ADEC approved work plan. DRO concentrations in soil on site are significantly greater than previously documented and the site has been reopened on the ADEC database according to 18 AAC 75.380. At this time, the ADEC is requesting that a work plan to address contamination on site be submitted by an environmental professional for ADEC review according to 18 AAC 75.335(b) within 30 days. Danielle Duncan
10/21/2016 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 75035 Heating Oil Tank. Danielle Duncan
11/4/2016 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter PRP letter sent to new property owner this date. Certified: 7014 2120 0001 4210 1015 Danielle Duncan
11/7/2016 Update or Other Action Spoke to the new property owner and significant progress has been made on site to dispose of the trailer, debris including the old heating oil tank, and tires on site. Once the owner has some funding, they will contact an environmental professional and have a work plan prepared for DEC review. Danielle Duncan
7/10/2023 Site Characterization Workplan Approved The DEC approved the 2023 Corrective Action Plan which proposes to excavate petroleum impacted soil. Final excavation limits will be based on field screening and or reaching the maximum extent practical. Confirmation soil samples will be collected and analyzed for DRO, GRO, VOCs and PAHs. Excavated soil will be stockpiled on site until the receipt of laboratory samples. If stockpile samples are above DEC clean levels, they will be transported to Bicknell. Flannery Ballard
7/19/2023 Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved The DEC approved the transport and treatment of 200 cubic yards of petroleum impacted soil to the Bicknell facility in Juneau. Flannery Ballard
1/16/2024 Site Characterization Report Approved The ADEC reviewed the revised "Site Assessment Report" dated Nov. 28, 2023. The revised report is approved. Work included the excavation of nearly 214 tons of impacted soils and collected a total of 12 laboratory samples (seven primary samples from the excavation limits, three samples from the presumed clean stockpile, one duplicate sample, and one disposal characterization sample). Samples were analyzed for GRO (AK101), DRO (AK102), VOCs (EPA 8260), and PAHs (EPA 8270). The western sidewall (CZ-37 SW) exceeds CUL for DRO, 1-Methylnaphthalene, 2-Methylnaphthalene, Naphthalene, and 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene. The bottom (CZ-55) exceeds CUL for Naphthalene. The southern side wall (CZ-62) exceeds CUL for Naphthalene. Stacee Henderson
2/21/2024 Meeting or Teleconference Held Teleconference Held on this date, with ADEC, RP, CDI, and NORTECH. Discussed options toward closure. Groundwater investigation is needed. Stacee Henderson
4/25/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed "Soil Delineation and Well Installation Work Plan," dated April 2, 2024 and sent comments on this date. Stacee Henderson
5/24/2024 Site Characterization Workplan Approved The DEC reviewed/approved the revised "Soil Delineation and Well Installation Work Plan," dated May 3, 2024. The work plan includes: 1. Delineating soil contamination to the south and east; 2. Delineating soil contamination vertically; 3. Installing five (5) groundwater monitoring wells: one in each cardinal direction at the limits where field screening indicates are clean, and one well next to sample CZ-37SW. See approval letter for additional details. Stacee Henderson

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil Known residual DRO contamination is at 290 mg/kg DRO near the old heating oil tank and other unknown areas of contamination may exist and an environmental assessment should be completed when the soil on the property is free of debris and is accessible.

Control Type

Type Details
Notice of Environmental Contamination A Notice of Environmental Contamination (deed notice) was recorded on December 2nd 2014 in the State Recorder’s Office as an institutional control (IC) that identified the nature and extent of contamination at the property at the time of filing.
Other Groundwater well on site has been decommissioned and no groundwater may be used on site until groundwater has been tested and is free of petroleum contamination. The property has access to the City and Borough of Juneau drinking water supply.
Other Any future change in land use may impact the exposure assumptions cited in this document. If land use and/or ownership changes, these management conditions may not be protective and the ADEC may require additional remediation and revised conditions. Therefore the property owner shall report to ADEC every 2 years to document land use, or report as soon as the property owner becomes aware of any change in land ownership and/or use, if earlier. The report can be sent to the local ADEC office or electronically to DEC.ICUnit@alaska.gov.
Other No excavation shall occur on the property without DEC approval; characterization will have to be completed before excavation activities begin. Soil contaminated with DRO may be located near the old heating oil tank, underneath derelict debris, or elsewhere on site. When the soil becomes accessible, the soil must be evaluated and contamination addressed in accordance with an ADEC approved work plan.
Other No excavation shall occur on the property without DEC approval; characterization will have to be completed before excavation activities begin. Soil contaminated with DRO may be located near the old heating oil tank, underneath derelict debris, or elsewhere on site. When the soil becomes accessible, the soil must be evaluated and contamination addressed in accordance with an ADEC approved work plan.

Requirements

Description Details
When Contaminated Soil is Accessible, Remediation Should Occur
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.
Movement or use of contaminated material (including on site) in a manner that results in a violation of the water quality standards is prohibited (18 AAC 70)
Excavation / Soil Movement Restrictions
Groundwater Use Restrictions

No associated sites were found.

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