| Action Date |
Action |
Description |
DEC Staff |
| 7/18/2007 |
Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program |
Site transferred by PERP staff Young Ha. Spill Date = 11/2/06; Spill No. = 06309930602; Substance = Diesel; Quantity Released = 215 gallons; PERP file no. 100.02.294. |
Mitzi Read |
| 7/19/2007 |
Site Added to Database |
Site added to the database. |
Mitzi Read |
| 7/20/2007 |
Exposure Tracking Model Ranking |
Initial ranking completed. |
Mitzi Read |
| 7/20/2007 |
Update or Other Action |
Staff contacted the daycare facility. The facility is open Mon through Friday from 6am to 7pm. There is no basement, but there is a crawlspace. They are on city water. The business is closing on the 31st of July.
Staff spoke with Nortech, the environmental consultant who assisted with the tank removal. They indicated there were clear signs of significant historical releases in addition to the new release. They advised the owner to install a product recovery culvert, but this did not occur and no recovery or assessment efforts have been completed since the tank removal.
Staff has left messages with Mr. Ken Webeck, the building owner, and the insurance adjusters for the fueling company. |
Ann Farris |
| 7/23/2007 |
Update or Other Action |
On July 23, 2007, Staff made a visit to the Circle of Love Daycare, the property at 297 West 5th Avenue, North Pole, Alaska, and spoke with employees of the daycare. Petroleum odors were noticeable in the entryway of the building and the employees indicated that the odors have been present through the winter. There were approximately 20 to 30 children present, ranging from infants to 7 or 8 year-old children. The new AST was visible on the east side of the building, which according to Nortech was also the location of the former UST that was the source of contamination.
Staff later spoke with Ms. Powe, the daycare director, via telephone. She confirmed that petroleum odors have been present throughout the winter and parents have been commenting on them as well. She also indicated that Ken Webeck is not the only owner of the site. She indicated David Cornwall and Mr. Webeck were partners in Home Solutions, Inc. and therefore co-owners of the property.
Staff contacted David Cornwall after speaking with Ms. Powe and gave him a copy of the file. He indicated he did not know of the contamination. He indicated he would contact his lawyer and call back.
Staff contacted Dept. of Health for a consultation and they indicated they would look into the site. |
Ann Farris |
| 7/25/2007 |
Update or Other Action |
A second site visit on the 24th included an evaluation of the crawl space and photos of the site. Staff also attempted to take PID readings in the building, but the equipment failed. There were, however, noticeable petroleum odors in the crawl space and the furnace room. No odors were noted in the daycare classrooms.
Given the limited data, staff completed preliminary modelling with the Johnson and Ettinger Soil-Screen model based on the one soil sample that was collected in April. The model results estimated the indoor air concentration would be below the OSHA level of 1 ppm, but above the MRLS of ATSDR. Dept. of Health felt that since the daycare facility was closing on July 31 that it was not necessary to move the children out early, however they felt that the indoor air quality was a significant concern at the site. |
Ann Farris |
| 7/26/2007 |
Update or Other Action |
Staff met with Mr. Cornwall at the site to discuss the necessary environmental response actions. Staff told him that a release investigation must be completed per the regulations. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to determining the extent of groundwater contamination, conducting a well search, assessing the vapor intrusion into the building, and collecting free product to the extent practicable. He indicated he would contact a consulting firm and try to do the work as soon as possible. |
Ann Farris |
| 7/26/2007 |
Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter |
Letter was sent to Home Solutions, Inc., the Mr. Cornwall/Mr. Webeck partnership that is in the process of being dissolved. The letter was sent to both partners and copied to Badger Fuel, and Badger Fuel's insurance company. |
Ann Farris |
| 7/30/2007 |
Update or Other Action |
Satff was contacted by Wilton Adjustment Services, the representative for Alaska National, one of the insurance companies fo Badger Fuel. They indicated that they tried to work with Mr. Webeck as much as possible over the winter to remove the tank and determine the extent of the release. They felt there were unnecessary delays in the removal and investigation. They also indicated that they felt there was evidence of historical releases and the tank should have been decommissioned prior to the November incident so they were unwilling to assume the cleanup responsibilities. |
Ann Farris |
| 8/2/2007 |
Update or Other Action |
Staff confirmed with the owner, Mr. Cornwall, that the daycare has closed and the building is now empty. He has hired an environmental consultant, who is currently working on a site characterization work plan. Site name changed to "Cornwall Property HOT" from "Circle of Love Daycare HOT". |
Ann Farris |
| 8/7/2007 |
Site Characterization Workplan Approved |
Staff received a workplan from Lyle Gresehover, Mr. Cornwall's consultant via email. Staff reviewed the document and commented. Work is expected to begin on August 9, 2007. Work should include installation of 3 drive points for groundwater monitoring, vapor intrusion assessment, product recovery, and a well search within a 1/4-radius. Also a vent blower will be operated in the crawl space until winter. The building is currently empty, but Mr. Cornwall would like to rent it out to small businesses as soon as possible. |
Ann Farris |
| 9/10/2007 |
Update or Other Action |
Staff received an update on the site characterization activities at the former Circle of Love Daycare Facility in North Pole, Alaska (now listed in the database as the Cornwall Property). Groundwater results have been received. Concentrations in the source area were 9,190 mg/l DRO and 869 µg/l benzene. Other TEX compounds were detected as well. There is indication that the contamination has migrated off the property to the northwest. A well search is in progress. Approximately 75 gallons of product was recovered in August and a fan has been operating in the crawlspace to eliminate vapors. That fan was shut off on Sept. 7 in order to collect indoor air samples this week, but will be restarted once the samples are collected. A final report for these activities should be forthcoming in October. The building has been unoccupied since the Daycare shut down on July 31.
|
Ann Farris |
| 10/10/2007 |
Update or Other Action |
Staff received an update from Mr. Cornwall's consultant, Lyle Gresehover. The well search found wells in the area, but only one is located downgradient and that is over 1000 feet from the site. The air results from September indicated vapor intrusion is occurring and the levels were above the EPA residential screening levels. Based on these results, the owner plans to install a larger fan, heat the crawl space, and seal openings between crawl space and interior floor. Once these modifications have been made, air samples will be collected again.
Additionally, the owner is considering selling the property to be used as a daycare again. |
Ann Farris |
| 11/28/2007 |
Update or Other Action |
Staff received the release investigation report. Approximately 75 gallons of fuel were recovered (approx 215 gals were released). Three direct push wells were installed on site, 1 in the source area and 2 downgradient. Groundwater samples were collected one time on August 14, 2007 and analyzed for BTEX and DRO. The results indicated benzene is above MCLs in the source area and MW-3, downgradient. DRO is above the cleanup level in all 3 wells. Toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes were also detected at the source area in MW-1. No soil samples were collected during this investigation, but no soil was removed during the tank removal and there was evidence the contamination extended to and under the building.
Air samples were collected in September and October. The October sampling was after a larger fan and a new vapor barrier was installed in the crawlspace. Also the crawl space is now being heated. These sample results, collected with the fan running, indicated concentrations in the main floor of the building were all below the EPA residential screening levels. Naphthalene was slightly above the EPA screening level for 10E-05 risk level in the crawl space at 3.3 µg/m3 (screening level is 3.0). The fan is still operational.
Recommendations were made for further work. Staff has left a message for the owner to determine plans for the building before determining the necessary next steps.
|
Ann Farris |
| 12/17/2007 |
Update or Other Action |
Staff spoke with Mr. Cornwall today. He has already sold the building to Julie and James Mechling, who plan to run a daycare in the building. He indicated that he gave them the release investigation report and told them they would need to continue to run the crawl space ventilation system. He indicated their plans are to open the daycare by the end of the year. Staff has left a message for the new owner. |
Ann Farris |
| 12/27/2007 |
Update or Other Action |
Staff conducted a site visit and met with one of the new owners of the building. We discussed the need for additional work at the site. An upgrade to the fan in the crawlspace is underway. |
Ann Farris |
| 1/2/2008 |
Update or Other Action |
Staff spoke with the new owner of the former Circle of Love Daycare facility in North Pole, Alaska. They have reopened the daycare as of January 2, 2008. They are aware of the contamination and have installed a larger fan in the crawlspace. They also are working on a better seal for the vapor barrier in the crawl space. This summer they plan to redesign the heating and ventilation system for the whole building. It seems that they have assumed financial liability for the remaining investigation and cleanup on site. Staff responded in writing to the release investigation report submitted by the previous owner, detailing the additional work that is needed. This includes further groundwater delineation, ongoing monitoring of the vapor intrusion, continued free product recovery to the extent practicable, and evaluating remedial options for the soil and groundwater contamination in the source area. |
Ann Farris |
| 3/26/2008 |
Update or Other Action |
Staff was able to reach the current owner. He installed an additional fan in the crawlspace (for a total of 3), but has not completed any additional sampling. He had problems contacting and scheduling with the consultant. I told him that collecting confirmation air samples was very important and gave him a list of other consultants that could help him. He indicated he would make the sampling a priority and contact me with results. |
Ann Farris |
| 7/20/2012 |
Site Visit |
Staff inspected Lucky-U-Daycare, the property at 297 W. 5th Ave., North Pole, AK, and spoke with property owners. Property owners stated six fifty-five gallon drums of product have been recovered. Owners stated the first three drums were removed by by a waste disposal company. Owners have installed an industrial fan in the crawlspace since the last visit and have stated they are working on replacing the forced air furnace unit. DEC inspected the crawl space and noted the liner is loose and not sealed well in several locations. Staff was informed 2 years ago that snowmelt infiltrated the crawlspace through wall vents, water pipes had frozen and burst and had to be replaced, but have had no other issues with the crawlspace and no longer detect odors in the building. Owners informed DEC staff that ARES conducted air sampling and monitoring well sampling in 2010 and would get DEC the report. Product is still present in the recovery well
but the owners indicated that fuel recovery is slower than past rate and stated last time product was recovered was in April 2012. No noticeable sheen on water. DEC staff noted no noticeable vapor odor in the building, but strong smell of bleach. The 3 monitoring wells on the property appear in good condition and locked. Owners were given building inventory form and said will fax it to DEC when completed.
|
Laurel Gale |
| 1/23/2013 |
Update or Other Action |
Staff has been in contact with the current owner to discuss the air sampling requirement and to assist the owner go through their file of information. After review of the owners information, it was determined that air samples have not been collected after installation of the vapor barrier and ventiliation. The 2010 report was never submitted and does not appear to exist. |
Janice Wiegers |
| 3/20/2013 |
Update or Other Action |
Site symbol visually relocated using ArcGIS.com, Bing satellite imagery, and documents from the file. 3/20/2013 LG. |
Laurel Gale |
| 5/22/2013 |
Update or Other Action |
Letter sent to property owners and current daycare operators requesting that previous DEC requirements for monitoring be completed. Requested response by June 15. |
Janice Wiegers |
| 8/6/2013 |
Update or Other Action |
No response to May 2013 letter received. Called owner on this date and left message. |
Janice Wiegers |
| 5/19/2014 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC sent letter to Day Care and property owner requesting an update by June 7th. |
Janice Wiegers |
| 6/6/2014 |
Update or Other Action |
Owner left voicemail regarding letter sent by DEC. |
Janice Wiegers |
| 7/28/2014 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
Met with Mr. Mechling to discuss current sampling needs for the site. |
Janice Wiegers |
| 1/21/2016 |
Update or Other Action |
After coordination with DEC Environmental Program Manager, sent letter requiring air sampling and additional assessment efforts requested in previous letters. Workplan required within 60 days. |
Janice Wiegers |
| 5/5/2016 |
Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter |
Sent second letter to RP for current year workplan. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 7/29/2016 |
Update or Other Action |
According to land records, property transferred "as-is" from Little "U" Child Care, LLC to New Beginnings Child Care, LLC. |
Janice Wiegers |
| 7/29/2016 |
Update or Other Action |
Mr. Mechling called to ask what additional samples need to be collected to close the site. We discussed what has been requested in the past and he replied that he will get with a consultant to move forward. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 9/1/2016 |
Update or Other Action |
Consultant called to request information about the site. DEC sent documents regarding necessary site characterization. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 11/29/2016 |
Update or Other Action |
RP stopped working with consultant. It is DEC's understanding that the property has been sold, without working with DEC. Email sent to current owner and prior consulting company. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 12/9/2016 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC has not received a reply to enquiries. Another email sent to prior consulting company to enquire about the status of the site. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 2/17/2017 |
Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter |
PRP letter sent to new bulding owner with deadline of March 25, 2017. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 3/1/2017 |
Update or Other Action |
Letter sent to new RP (as of July 2016), requesting an update of information and attaching the May 22, 2013 from DEC explaining what needs to be accomplished on site. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 3/21/2017 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
DEC met with Mr. Cornwall to discuss how to move the site characterization forward, who was responsible, how to find other PRP's, and the potential for property to be sold under loan default. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 3/31/2017 |
Update or Other Action |
PRP letter sent to J. Mechling for cost recovery of final efforts at the site. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 8/10/2017 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC submitted a Notice of Environmental Contamination to the DNR Recorder's Office to be recorded in the Property Deed for the site. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 9/18/2017 |
Update or Other Action |
The signed copy of Notice of Environmental Contamination filed with the ADNR Recorder's Office was received by ADEC. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 9/28/2017 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC sent compliance notifications to RPs: A. Sambois, D. Cornwall, and J. Mechling with an October 30, 2017 deadline for a work plan submittal by a Qualified Environmental Professional. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 11/13/2017 |
Update or Other Action |
Staff sent a Notice of Violation to three RPs for not completing the investigation and cleanup in a timely manner; not preventing, eliminating or minimizing potential adverse impacts to human health, safety and welfare; and failure to determine the extent of contamination that resulted from the release. Deadlines include: December 31, 2107 for an indoor air monitoring work plan to be submitted, February 15, 2018 for receipt of indoor air sample results; March 1, 2018 for a site characterization work plan to be submitted. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 12/11/2017 |
Enforcement Action |
NOV was sent November 14 to past and present property owners. Two of three have received and signed for the letter. The third party is aware of the NOV; ADEC will resend it. The first deadline is for a work plan by December 31. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 2/28/2018 |
Institutional Control Record Established |
Institutional Controls established and entered into the database in the form of a Notice of Environmental Contamination recorded with the deed notice. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 3/20/2018 |
Site Visit |
ADEC staff conducted a building survey prior to next day air sample event. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 3/21/2018 |
Site Visit |
ADEC staff met with contractor to sample crawlspace in two locations using EPA Method TO-17 VI and TO-17 Tenax TA. One sample location was successfully sampled. Waiting for additional sample tubes to sample second location. Contractors did building walk through with day care staff to look at air handling systems and sources of contaminants. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 3/21/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
ADEC Project Manager and Supervisor met with Alaska Home Solutions, Mr. Cornwall. He was in town and wanted to know what was occurring at site. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 4/25/2018 |
Enforcement Action |
DEC staff met with the past and current owners of the site: D Cornwall, J. Mechling, and A. Sambois at the invitation of the Department of Law staff. Items discussed included who will pay outstanding invoices owed to the state, and how to accomplish the necessary site characterization to get closer to closure. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 5/3/2018 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC staff reviewed the indoor air quality report "Air Sampling Report, Cornwall Property HOT, Hazard ID 4439, North Pole, Alaska". Two indoor air quality samples were collected from the daycare crawlspace to determine the status of indoor air quality. Samples returned either non-detect or detections below the DEC Residential Target Level as listed in the DEC "Vapor Intrusion Guidance for Contaminated Sites, January 2017". |
Laura Jacobs |
| 5/4/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
DEC staff sent letter to Department of Health and Social Services, Child Care Program Office in response to their request for the results of indoor air sample event March 21, and 29, 2018. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 10/19/2018 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
ADEC received the Final Report for the Indoor Air Quality Sample Event collected in March 2018 from Nortech. The data were compared to the residential ADEC target levels, which are conservative, risk-based screening levels. Two compounds were detected in samples, Isopentane and Freon 11, although ADEC does not have a target level for those compounds. No other compounds were detected in samples that were above ADEC residential target levels. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 8/1/2022 |
Site Characterization Workplan Approved |
Conditional approval was sent for a work plan that includes Radiello-135 air samplers to sample the crawlspace air in the building. DEC requested that the sample period be extended to two weeks and that DEC be included in the initial building survey and inspection of the modified vapor barrier and ventilation in the crawlspace. |
Laura Jacobs |
| 10/12/2022 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC gave a conditional approval of a work plan to use different air samplers in the crawlspace with the air handling system not in operation to determine the worst-case scenario for vapor intrusion in the crawlspace of the daycare. The report was received October 6, 2022. DEC comments were provided, and a revised report sent.
All detected results were less than 1/10 the commercial target level with the exception of 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene. The Residential target levels would apply if the building continues to be a daycare or school in the future. Prior to the sample event, an acoustical sealant was used in the crawlspace to seal the vapor barrier. The product that was used listed 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene as an ingredient and may be contributing to the detected concentrations. DEC requested another sample event to determine whether that was true or not. It was determined that an unbiased sample on the first floor would not be possible while the daycare is in use given the use of deodorizers, sanitizers and other cleaning products. The air handling system would provide reduction in the contaminants of concern, but further evaluation of the indoor air quality is appropriate. DEC requested additional sample event to understand the source of the 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene which exceeded the DEC Residential Target Levels for Indoor Air.
|
Laura Jacobs |
| 10/12/2022 |
Update or Other Action |
Contractor interviewed the business owner for information regarding a reported flood event. According to the property owner, a flooding event occurred in February 2022. A neighbor's saddle broke off of the water main, sending water down a utilidor which connected to the Cornwall property crawlspace. The entire crawlspace filled with water until it overflowed the sill and ran down the outside of the building. Staff reported standing water on all sides of the building. The west side of the foundation and wall was excavated and replaced. The crawlspace was pumped dry and mud was removed. The old vapor barrier was replaced after the flood. A new vapor barrier of 10 mil Visqueen was installed using Tremco sealant against the foundation walls and red vapor barrier tape on the overlapping seams in the middle of the floor. |
Laura Jacobs |
