ADNR Former Head Start Building
- View detailed information from the database on this site.
- Database Name: ADNR Former Head Start Bldg - Ruby
- Status: Active
- Location: Ruby
- Latitude: 64.739232
- Longitude: -155.489024
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Key DBAC Services:
- Site Assessment
- Cleanup
- Hazardous Building Materials Survey
- Monitoring
- DBACs Awarded: 2016, 2017, 2019
- DEC File Number: 870.38.004
DEC Contaminated Sites contact: Robert Burgess, Project Manager, 907-451-2153 (Fairbanks)
Site Narrative
- Requested by ADNR
Photo of the Former Headstart Building in Ruby, Alaska. Photo courtesy of 2016 DBAC PACP report.
The property was a school site dating back to 1963, and potentially as far back as 1917. The current building was constructed in 1963 with it being reportedly utilized from 1981 to 2006 as a headstart school by Tanana Chief’s Conference. During a routine inspection, strong petroleum and chemical odors were noted along the base of the building. The community would like to reuse the property and building as a community gathering area for potlatchs, weddings, school functions or emergency housing.
In SFY 2016, Ruby and ADNR were awarded DBAC services to conduct a Property Assessment and Cleanup Plan which included a Hazardous Building Material Survey, soil characterization, and air sampling. The Property Assessment and Cleanup Plan (PACP) identified multiple building materials that contained asbestos; petroleum contaminants above DEC cleanup levels; and air sampling found fuel-related contaminants in the buildings air, but suggested that the contaminants were from an indoor source rather than from the contamination in the soil. In SFY 2017, ADNR was awarded DBAC services to conduct a cleanup. Soil was excavated including underneath an Underground Home Heating Oil Tank and phytoremediation plots were set up in September 2017.
In FY18, DEC conducted monitoring of the phytoremediation plots and ensured that appropriate watering of the grass and was occurring. Plot soil sample results showed that remediation is occurring, but the cleanup levels have not yet been achieved. Although additional cleanup is needed before the site can be closed, the soil contamination has been removed from under the building. Asbestos-containing material (ACM) remains in the building.