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Site Report: Alaska Metal Recycling

Site Name: Alaska Metal Recycling
Address: 9705 King Street, Anchorage, AK 99515
File Number: 2100.38.025
Hazard ID: 923
Status: Active
Staff: Lisa Krebs-Barsis, 9072697691 lisa.krebs-barsis@alaska.gov
Latitude: 61.133003
Longitude: -149.875190
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

An estimated one quart of mercury spilled on site on 5/30/1990 during use of a cutting torch to salvage an old oil field pump, affecting an approximately 10'X10'area. During a 10/8/1990 field inspection of the site by ADEC, staff observed several oil spills covering an area of approximately 10'X40' near the facility's metal shredder. Total extent of contamination and impact to human health unknown. Following initial cleanup the EPA concluded the site was not a CERCLA site, but cleanup levels exceeded ADEC cleanup levels. EPA ID# AKD 983069378. Tract A and Lot 5 Block 2, Higgins Subdivision, Area B, Grid 1238.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
5/15/1990 Update or Other Action Remedial Actions Underway - Martech excavated mercury contaminated soil from the site. Former Staff
8/30/1990 Site Visit ADEC Site visit. Requested that the spill area be marked and that AMR provide a hazardous waste management plan accounting for the wastes generated at the facility, including waste oil, waste antifreeze, used batteries, and other automobile fluids. Former Staff
9/7/1990 Site Visit Brock and Mathis sent FAX stating that Martech excavated soil from site of mercury spill 3 days after it occurred. 3 drums of contaminated soil stored on site. 1.6 ppm to 161 ppm was the range for the 5 random grab samples. Former Staff
10/8/1990 Site Visit Site revisited after spill site was marked properly. Former Staff
1/23/1991 Site Added to Database Mercury contamination, crankcase oil, transmission fluid, and possibly other automotive fluids from recycling operation. Former Staff
1/23/1991 Notice of Violation Letter requesting any further information of past disposal practices of hazardous substances i.e. transmission fluids, brake fluid, etc. from facility be sent to ADEC so it can assess the facility's past disposal practices. Also need a copy of report addressing the cleanup of mercury spill, including workplan, QAQC plan, manifest of transportation/disposal of contaminated soils. Rich Sundet
1/23/1991 Update or Other Action Site Information Request Letter: Letter to Johnny Triesch requesting a workplan be sent to ADEC addressing cleanup of oil spill(s), to identify vertical/lateral level and extent of surface/subsurface contamination from spill (s), cleanup soil/groundwater contaminated areas from site activities, and disposal of subsequent contaminated soils/materials. Former Staff
2/1/1991 Update or Other Action Monitoring/Sampling: Rec'd Brock and Mathis sample reports, sampling plan from both CH2MHil and Martech. Mercury in soil was detected in 3 samples- 17.43mg/kg, 17.54 mg/kg and 19.81 mg/kg. Contaminated equipment and soil placed in drums for Chempro to transport and make appropriate arrangements for disposal. Former Staff
4/1/1994 Update or Other Action Final "Preliminary Assessment, Alaska Metals Recycling Facility, Anchorage, Alaksa, United States Environmental Protection Agency Identification No.AKD983069378, April 1994" on file, as is draft Preliminary Assessment dated December 1993, both prepared for ADEC.(added to DB 5-29-2008 when misfiled reports located). Eileen Olson
4/21/1994 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Former Staff
5/11/1994 Update or Other Action Letter sent to attorney for Alaska Metal Recycling notifying attorney that EPA advised it anticipates no further action at the site under CERCLA, but the state is not precluded from pursuing future remediation efforts at the site.(entered into DB 5-30-2008). Bill Janes
12/8/1997 Site Number Identifier Changed Data from Reckey 1990210128102 combined into Reckey 1990210915001. Scott Pexton
2/7/2005 Update or Other Action Letter sent to Newell Recycling, owner of record, requesting an update on actions taken at this site. The last correspondence in the file is a letter from the Department to Susan Reeves, dated May 11, 1994. Lynne Bush
3/3/2005 Update or Other Action Letter from RP counsel dated March 1, 2005 received. Letter requests site closure for mercury spill and provides background information. Lynne Bush
3/17/2005 Update or Other Action E-mail correspondence with owner's attorney. ADEC will evaluate remaining requirements for site closure. Noted (1) ADEC requirements for characterization and remediation are separate from EPA’s requirements and misunderstandings occasionally result from this (2) it appears that EPA was considering the addition of AMR to its CERCLA list of contaminated sites, but decided that it did not meet established criteria for inclusion (3) need to confirm that EPA is no longer involved and that it referred further regulatory authority to the Department; (4) need to reconstruct what was done at AMR since the release was first reported; (5) find and submit to ADEC any records regarding cleanup of mercury spill. Lynne Bush
4/26/2005 Update or Other Action 4/20-4/26 Left messages on four occasions for AMR attorney requesting site history summary. Lynne Bush
5/6/2005 Update or Other Action Received an e-mail response from Susan Reeves regarding the Department's request for a historical summary or chronology. She indicated that she and AMR are working on summary and will have it to the Department soon, possibly by next week. Lynne Bush
5/6/2005 Update or Other Action AMR attorney is in the process of finalizing a site history for this site. It should be provided to the Department soon. Lynne Bush
5/20/2005 Update or Other Action Letter dated 5/19/2005 received from RP representative providing timeline for mercury spill and assessments and requesting site closure for mercury spill. Lynne Bush
2/15/2008 Update or Other Action Rec'd cover letter from 'Alaska Metal Recycling (AMR) A Schnitzer Company' (i.e. new owner as of May 2007) re "Notice of Historic Release of Hazardous Substances, Proposed Work Plan, and Analytical Data Submission" notifying ADEC of existing contamination identified during due-diligence work prior to May 2007 acquisition of AMR by Schnitzer Company. Accompanying report are "Semi-Annual Ground Water Sampling Work Plan" and "Preliminary Site Assessment, Alaska Metal Recycling" transmitted by consultant SLR. Eileen Olson
4/18/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Eileen Olson
5/21/2008 Update or Other Action Approved request of 5/20/2008 by consultant SLR to transport and treat impacted soil and groundwater (one drum each) generated in 2006 during the drilling process and from purging groundwater monitoring wells. Eileen Olson
3/9/2012 Update or Other Action Cost recovery notification letter sent to current Alaska Metal Recycling owner as this owner was not notified of cost recovery requirements subsequent to purchasing business and property. Eileen Olson
3/14/2012 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter ADEC letter issued notifying Newell Recycling, LLC of its Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) status, stating "Newell is considered a PRP for contamination occuring prior to May 2007, when ownership of Alaska Metals Recycling changed from Newell to the current owner, Schnitzer Steel (Schnitzer). The letter also notes that in 2005 ADEC accrued regulatory oversight costs related to contamination at the site, and that Newell will be billed for those costs within 30 days of the date of this letter. Eileen Olson
11/3/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC's letter dated 11/3/2015 with subject line 'Summary of site status and request for work plan' requests that Schnitzer Steel submit a revised workplan by May 1, 2016 to include determining the status of monitoring wells; sampling all groundwater monitoring wells for DRO and BTEX; providing a record of any changes to the property such as paving, modifications to drainage, etc.; resampling surface water in the drainage ditch if present; and providing a work schedule that includes submittal of a report by July 31, 2016. Eileen Olson
12/2/2015 Update or Other Action On 11/25/2015 Schnitzer Steel Industries (RP) notified staff that Bristol Environmental Remediation Services has been retained to develop a work plan to progress towards site closure. Bristol followed up on 12/2/2015 stating that the work plan and reporting will be done in accordance with the submittal dates requested in ADEC's letter. Eileen Olson
3/23/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC letter dated 3/23/2016 conditionally approves the work plan submitted on 3/22/2016 by Bristol Environmental to determine status of monitoring wells and perform other actions requested in ADEC's letter dated 11/3/2015. Eileen Olson
10/14/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC letter dated 10/14/2017 granting conditional approval of "Soil Removal Technical Memorandum Work Plan, Revision 1 Schnitzer Steel" for work limited to western approximately 1/3 of property. Eileen Olson
11/13/2017 Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved ADEC approved transport and thermal remediation at Alaska Soil Recycling (ASR) of approximately 35 cy of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil excavated from the west side of the (former) Alaska Metal Recycling property based on a review of laboratory results. Soil contained up to 4,610 mg/Kg diesel range organics (DRO) and up to 41,300 mg/kg residual range organics (RRO). Eileen Olson
7/12/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On 6/22/2018 the "Schnitzer Steel King Street Property Soil Removal Technical Memorandum Report, Draft (Revision 1) Anchorage, Alaska" was received from Bristol Environmental Remediation Services to report on stained soil excavation, stockpiling excavated soil, sampling stockpiled soil, and disposal activities performed at the front lot of the Schnitzer Steel King Street Property at 9705 King Street, Anchorage, Alaska. The purpose of this Tech Memo Report was to report and document all soil excavation, sampling, transport, disposal, and site restoration activities performed in 2017. Activities were limited to the front lot on the site where non-industrial activities (vehicle parking)were conducted. On 7/12/18 ADEC provided comments on the report and requested that a revised report be submitted by 9/1/18. Catherine Beatty
9/4/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC issues second round of comments following the submittal of a revised characterization report (received 8/17/18). Kara Kusche
9/6/2018 Site Characterization Report Approved ADEC issues approval for the "Schnitzer Steel King Street Property Soil Removal Technical Memorandum Report" and requests that a work plan for additional characterization and cleanup be submitted by 11/15/18 because soils remain above ADEC cleanup levels. Kara Kusche
5/29/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provides comment on the work plan titled "2019 Soil Removal Technical Memorandum Work Plan, Schnitzer Steel King Street Property, Anchorage, Alaska" dated March 28, 2019. The work plan proposes to excavate remaining contamination from the front lot and collect confirmation samples. DRO, RRO, mercury, and naphthalene remain onsite in one or more locations in the front lot. Kara Kusche
9/20/2019 Site Characterization Workplan Approved ADEC approves the work plan titled "2019 Soil Removal Technical Memorandum Work Plan, Rev 1, Schnitzer Steel King Street Property, Anchorage, Alaska" dated June 10, 2019 and received by ADEC on August 8, 2019 Kara Kusche
10/8/2019 Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved Approval issued for the soon to be excavated soils from the front lot to be taken to ASR for thermal treatment. Estimated volume 20 yards. Kara Kusche
10/24/2019 Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved Revised TTD form approved. Soils will go to Columbia Ridge instead of ASR. Kara Kusche
8/18/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC provides comment on the report titled "2019 Schnitzer Steel King Street Property, Soil Removal Technical Memorandum (Revision 0), Anchorage, Alaska" dated March 3, 2020. This report documents additional excavations at areas within the parking lot of the facility. All parking lot areas with known contamination now meet cleanup levels with the exception of area P4 which has DRO remaining at 1,510 mg/kg in soil. Kara Kusche
11/24/2020 Site Characterization Report Approved ADEC approves the report titled "2019 Schnitzer Steel King Street Property, Soil Removal Technical Memorandum (Revision 1), Anchorage, Alaska" dated September 8, 2020. Further characterization will be needed at location P4-4 due to the DRO exceedance. Kara Kusche
12/3/2020 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Brief plan submitted to remove soils around location P4-4 and conduct confirmation sampling. Plan approved by ADEC. Kara Kusche
12/3/2020 Offsite Soil or Groundwater Disposal Approved ADEC approved 10 cubic yards of DRO contaminated soil to be transported to and disposed at Columbia Ridge Landfill in OR. Source of the soils is location P4-4. Kara Kusche
1/15/2021 Site Characterization Report Approved ADEC approves the report titled "2020 Schnitzer Steel King Street Property, Soil Removal Technical Memorandum (Revision 0), Anchorage, Alaska" dated December 18, 2020. Characterization and cleanup has been completed at the front lot area of the property (all contamination above cleanup levels has been excavate) and no further action is required at the front lot area. Additional activities will be required at the back lot to reach full site closure. Kara Kusche

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