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Site Report: Ryan Lode Mine

Site Name: Ryan Lode Mine
Address: Henderson Rd., Ester Dome, 0.5 Miles Beyond Pavement, Ester, AK 99725
File Number: 109.38.001
Hazard ID: 734
Status: Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff: IC Unit, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.862778
Longitude: -147.991111
Horizontal Datum:NAD27

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

Cyanide contamination of soil and ground water from leaking pad liners detected in 5/89. Possible soil contamination from hydrochloric acid. Also contamination of soil by petroleum spills. Extent of contamination and dates of release unknown. Cross reference files 175.62.081, 100.15.026, 100.45.240,109.62.001, and 100.02.106. Also small oil spills during 1988 and 1989. Up to 140,000 ppm TPH in soil. Some sample results are confidential. Permit# 8931-BA005 8731-BA007. (CR) (rpltr9)

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
3/1/1987 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = PER - Permit Action at Site). Draft solid waste disposal permit application prepared by Environmental Services, Ltd. Report addresses impacts of proposed operation. Final application dated 5/26/87. Former Staff
6/29/1987 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Sampling of heap leach seepage and soil and sludge from ponds. Analyses detected up to 11,000 ppm arsenic, 233 ppm barium, and 120 ppm lead in sludges, 34 ppm arsenic and 27 ppm cyanide (6/5/87) in the seepage, and 9,700 ppm arsenic, 276 ppm barium, 40 ppm chromium, and 120 ppm lead in the heap soil. Former Staff
8/8/1987 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = PER - Permit Action at Site). Solid waste disposal permit 8731-BA007. Former Staff
12/1/1987 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = PER - Permit Action at Site). Request for modification of residual cyanide test procedures in solid waste permit. Former Staff
9/26/1988 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). C. Christianson found fluid in leak detection ports at heap leach operation, which is a violation of permit. Samples from ports showed up to 122 ppm cyanide from Pad C on 10/7/88. Also 318 ppm arsenic from unknown sample. Metals in seepage from 1986 test pad. Former Staff
9/30/1988 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = PER - Permit Action at Site). Expiration of permit 8731-BA007. Former Staff
11/23/1988 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = PER - Permit Action at Site). Request for extension of permit 8731-BA007 until February 1989. Former Staff
3/30/1989 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = PER - Permit Action at Site). Application for solid waste permit. Permit 8931-BA005. Citigold objected to conditions of permit in letter dated 6/28/90. Former Staff
5/1/1989 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = F - Site Treatment, Soil/H2O). Neutralizing of pads. Solutions show decrease in cyanide levels from approximately 85 ppm in early June to 30 ppm in early July. Former Staff
5/3/1989 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Samples of wells, runoff, and ponds showed no detected cyanide in May. Pad A preg. pond and barren pond approximately 50 ppm cyanide in June. Cyanide also in soil near Pad A, in Pad B seepage and Well #5 from June sampling. Former Staff
6/1/1989 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Environmental Monitoring Plan prepared by Environmental Services, Ltd. Includes QA and Health and Safety Plans. Proposes 5 monitoring wells to determine if cyanide leaked from pad containment system. Former Staff
6/15/1989 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Site inspection by C. Christianson and R. Cormack. Areas of oil spills observed. Stained area around Well #4 approximately 100 square feet. Soil samples showed up to 140,000 ppm TPH near Well #4, 29,000 ppm near the process building, and 4,200 ppm in the drum storage area. Rich Cormack
8/11/1989 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). BLM/Environmental Services, Ltd. Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact. BLM approved 5-year plan of operations for mining activity by Citigold. Former Staff
10/12/1989 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Samples from 1986 heap leach showed 0.03 ppm total cyanide. Cyanide also in soil at mine. Former Staff
6/5/1990 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Two borings drilled off Pad B. Sample analyses indicated cyanide levels below disposal limit. Citigold states pad is neutralized. Authorized to remove neutralized ore in 6/29/90 letter. Former Staff
7/3/1990 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = MS - Monitoring/Sampling). Soil and liner sampling in Pad B area on July 3, 5, 8 , 9, and 17. July 3 and July 17 samples (all soils) confidential. Former Staff
7/3/1990 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). QA plan for soil contamination. Former Staff
7/3/1990 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = PER - Permit Action at Site). Citigold motion for stay of enforcement of permit 8931-BA005 pending hearing. Former Staff
7/7/1990 Interim Removal Action Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = REM - Removal / Excavation). Removal of final 3 feet of ore and liners. Former Staff
7/18/1990 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Soil sampling of Pad B area. Former Staff
8/1/1990 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = MS - Monitoring/Sampling). Groundwater samples obtained from 11 nearby residential wells during August 1990. Analyses detected cyanide in two wells at up to 0.03 ppm. Wells were resampled on 8/9 and analyses showed no detected cyanide. Former Staff
9/4/1990 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Wells 1, 3, and 4 sampled by C. Christianson. Analyses did not detect cyanide. Nitrate at 47 ppm in Well #4. Samples of Well #5 obtained 9/11/90 showed no detectable cyanide and 14 ppm nitrate. Former Staff
11/5/1990 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = PER - Permit Action at Site). Citigold requested amendment to permit 8931-BA005. Former Staff
12/26/1990 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Former Staff
1/25/1994 Site Added to Database Cyanide contamination of soil and ground water. Former Staff
6/20/1994 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RPL2 - Site Information Request Letter). Sent PRP-CS Database Notification Letter to RP requesting update and more environmental information concerning contaminated site. Letter returned unclaimed-box closed! Jeff Peterson
2/3/1999 Update or Other Action D. Bauer assigned CS project manager by R. Sundet. Douglas Bauer
2/18/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC and Kinross sign prospective purchase agreement. Douglas Bauer
3/2/1999 Meeting or Teleconference Held Introductory meeting with Bill Jeffress, Manger Environmental Services, for Fairbanks Gold, Inc. (operator of Fort Knox mine and subsidiary of Kinross). Douglas Bauer
3/18/1999 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Outline of site characterization workplan approved. Detailed workplan elements will be reviewed and approved as they are developed. Douglas Bauer
4/7/1999 Meeting or Teleconference Held Interagency meeting at DNR. Douglas Bauer
4/22/1999 Meeting or Teleconference Held Evening Public Meeting at BLM. Douglas Bauer
6/4/1999 Update or Other Action Stockpile Management Plan approved. Separation of fire assay components (hazardous waste) from soil removed from Heap EF. Douglas Bauer
11/29/1999 Meeting or Teleconference Held D. Bauer and Peter McGhee made presentation at Dr. Perkin's UAF class along with Kinross, and Neighborhood Mine Watch. Douglas Bauer
8/6/2000 Meeting or Teleconference Held Met with Nortech who is now working for Kinross. Reviewed site characterization and investigative requirements from master workplan submitted approved 3/18/99. Douglas Bauer
9/20/2000 Update or Other Action Telephone conversation with Clark Milne, Nortech. Soil sampling associated with ponds complete and floor drain complete, GPR survey and UST area investigation upcoming the next several weeks. Discussed grid spacing for GPR search: closer grid in alleged disposal area and courser grid for general survey. Summarized discussion in fax to Milne. Douglas Bauer
12/26/2000 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Changed the Release Information Value from 0.5 to 1 and GW Exposure Index Value from 0 to 1 based on the Problem Statement. Priority changed from Low to Medium. Former Staff
3/2/2001 Update or Other Action Updated file number from 109.62.001 to 109.38.001. Mitzi Read
8/23/2001 Update or Other Action Received excavation results and liner installation for Four Bear UST site. Douglas Bauer
8/24/2001 Update or Other Action Approved backing filling of excavation and liner installation at Four Bear. Douglas Bauer
8/15/2002 Update or Other Action Pete McGee issued joint closure letter for A Pregnant pond, Upper Barren pond, and Agglomeration pond. Pond sediments and soil meet CS cleanup levels. Pond liners will be folded back onto themselves and buried in place. Douglas Bauer
10/12/2002 Update or Other Action Received facility Monitoring plan and Process Component Closure Plan for Solid Waste Permit 0231BA004. Douglas Bauer
6/3/2003 Conditional Closure Approved NFRAP letter issued for Four Bears UST site. Douglas Bauer
6/4/2003 Update or Other Action Soil from Four Bear site meets Level C criteria for incorporation into Heap EF pad. Douglas Bauer
11/3/2003 Institutional Control Record Established Institutional Control established at Four Bears UST site. Douglas Bauer
5/2/2005 GIS Position Updated Used TopoZone Pro topographic maps and aerial photography, 1:10,000 scale, NAD27 to update lat/long to closer reflect actual location than USGS Place Name coordinates formerly did. Low confidence of accuracy but an improvment over USGS Place Name for sure. Site map needs to be referenced for improved coordinates. Former Staff
1/3/2006 Update or Other Action Updated IC tracking database Douglas Bauer
6/4/2015 Update or Other Action Change staff name from Cardona-Marek to IC Unit. Evonne Reese
2/25/2016 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC compliance review conducted. The Notice of Environmental Contamination was notarized in 2003 but never recorded. The historic 2003 document along with a DEC affidavit was sent to the Fairbanks Recorder's Office on this date. Set the internal reminder system to send an IC reminder letter on this property after the recorded document is returned. Evonne Reese
3/25/2016 Institutional Control Update Received the recorded deed notice (Notice of Environmental Contamination) back from the Fairbanks Recorder's Office on this date. An IC reminder letter was issued to the responsible party on this date. Kristin Thompson
3/15/2017 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC compliance review conducted. Reminder system is set for follow-up every five years. Kristin Thompson
8/19/2024 Institutional Control Compliance Review IC compliance review completed on this date. An IC reminder letter was issued to the responsible party and cc’d to the landowner. The next review will be in five years’ time. Gaige Robinson

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil

Control Type

Type Details
CS Database Notation And Letter To Landowner/RP ADEC approval required prior to excavation.

Requirements

Description Details
Excavation / Soil Movement Restrictions ADEC approval required prior to excavation.
Other Excavated soil land farmed on Heap Leach pad EF and incorporated in solid waste facility closure. Per Solid Waste Permit 0231BA004.
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site. Standard condition.
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) Standard condition.
Periodic Review Every five years.

No associated sites were found.

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