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Division of Spill Prevention and Response Contaminated Sites

Resources for Property Owners, Residents, & Contractors

Map above shows the results of annual testing performed in 2020 to determine the approximate extent of sulfolane impacts in the North Pole area. version. See the most recent maps on the Maps page

Updated: May 8, 2023

Historical activities on the former North Pole Refinery resulted in contamination of the property’s soil and groundwater by petroleum, sulfolane, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Groundwater containing sulfolane and PFAS has migrated off the refinery and impacted much of the City of North Pole, Alaska, and beyond the city boundaries. This webpage contains resources that may be useful for property owners, residents, and contractors who live or work in the area impacted by sulfolane and/or PFAS in groundwater.

Municipal Water Extends to Properties Affected by Groundwater Contamination

In February 2017, the State of Alaska, Flint Hills Resources Alaska (FHRA), and the City of North Pole reached a settlement agreement to expand the City’s piped water system to all improved properties located within the sulfolane plume or in its anticipated migration path. By the end of 2020, all eligible property owners were offered connection to the service and able to phase out the use of contaminated groundwater wells. Most property owners were eligible to connect at no cost, depending upon the land’s location and improvement status. The expanded system provides permanent protection from contamination in drinking water. Detailed information available from the city about the 2018-2020 piped water expansion project, including maps of the expansion area, may be found at the following:

For New Residents

As mentioned above, historical activities of the North Pole Refinery contaminated the groundwater over a large area to the north-northwest of the former refinery (see map above). Information about Alaska’s contamination disclosure requirements in property sales and rentals is available below.

DEC considers a public water system to be the best way to provide clean drinking water to those affected by contamination in groundwater, now and into the future. New residents are encouraged to investigate the source of their water supply and connect to the City of North Pole’s municipal water system, if possible. The city utility’s website provides information about opening a utility account. Water supply systems for properties developed at this time are at the cost of the property owner. A comparison of well water and municipal water prepared by DEC in 2017 may provide useful insight, although the cost figures are somewhat outdated.

Other options for uncontaminated drinking water are also possible, one of which is a bulk tank to store water delivered from a safe source, a fairly common solution in Fairbanks and surrounding rural areas. Another option is use of a water treatment system with a granular activated carbon filter for well water. A number of homes in the area were provided with similar systems to remove sulfolane. They have been shown to remove both sulfolane and PFAS. If you are developing your land, please read the section below on the contaminated Groundwater Advisory.

An April 2023 fact sheet is available to update North Pole residents and others interested in the state’s response to groundwater contamination at and north of the former North Pole Refinery. Recent project milestones are discussed.

Contaminated Groundwater Advisory

In conjunction with the North Pole piped water expansion project, DEC issued a Contaminated Groundwater Advisory in November 2018 to property owners within the piped water expansion area, where many private water wells contain sulfolane and/or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The advisory assists residents in avoiding unintentional contact with, or spreading of, contamination.

While it is known that the spreading of pollution is not allowed under Alaska law, many may not be aware that using untreated, contaminated well water may cause the spread of pollution. Bringing impacted well water to the surface may expose people or wildlife to the chemicals and/or allow them to spread onto other properties, sloughs, or ponds. In issuing this advisory, DEC is seeking the community’s assistance in minimizing the future spread of these contaminants.

Key points of the advisory include:

  • DEC advises property owners to connect to the expanded water utility service, if able to. Connection to this service will protect the owner and anyone else on the property from any health effects that could be caused by exposure to contaminated well water.
  • DEC similarly advises against using untreated, contaminated well water after a property is connected to the water utility service. Stopping use of untreated, contaminated well water reduces spreading the pollution and eliminates human exposure.
  • DEC is available to help property owners with the information in this advisory. You may call DEC in Fairbanks at 907-451-2143.

Please contact ADEC prior to installing any water wells or digging excavations that could encounter groundwater. For additional information, please contact ADEC at 907-451-2143.

How to Test your Water for PFAS or Sulfolane

If you are concerned you may have sulfolane or PFAS in your well water, DEC has prepared fact sheets to provide step-by-step advice for testing your water. DEC recommends you contact Zuzana Culakova, Chemist, DEC Contaminated Sites Program at 907-465-5346, or the Contaminated Sites Program at 907-451-2143 if you have any questions about testing.

Gardening Information

Within the sulfolane plume, residents on the city’s public water system are encouraged to use city water for gardening. The Alaska Department of Health (DOH) (formerly the "Alaska Department of Health and Social Services," or "DHSS") recommends use of a clean, sulfolane-free alternative water source for growing fruits and vegetables within the sulfolane plume. Further, in its Groundwater Advisory, DEC advises against using untreated, contaminated well water to reduce spreading pollution and eliminate human exposure.

Two small studies investigated whether sulfolane and PFAS from irrigation water in North Pole can be detected in garden plants.

In 2010, produce was sampled from North Pole gardens that used sulfolane-impacted well water for watering. The results were based on the testing of 23 types of plants from seven North Pole gardens. Results reaffirmed that some edible garden plants retain sulfolane from contaminated well water. Sulfolane levels in produce varied depending on the type of plant and part of the plant tested.

In 2018, DEC evaluated the uptake of PFAS into garden produce irrigated with PFAS contaminated groundwater. Produce and soil samples were collected from a farm in North Pole to evaluate impacts from irrigation water containing PFAS.

Disclosure of Contamination in Property Sales and Rentals

Sale of residential property: Alaska law requires that, during the sale of residential property, any environmental hazard must be disclosed to a prospective buyer before completing the sale (Alaska Statute (AS) 34.70.010). Disclosure forms are available through the following link on the Alaska Real Estate Commission's website.

Sale of commercial or industrial property: Prospective purchasers are encouraged to hire environmental professionals to perform Phase I/II Environmental Site Assessments (ESA). The American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) has developed the industry’s Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments.

Landlords and Tenants: Property owners who are landlords and provide rental properties to tenants should use reasonable care to inform tenants and provide remedies for environmental hazards as outlined in the Alaska Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (AS 34.03.010 – 34.03.360), and must supply clean and reliable water and safe and habitable living conditions. For more information, please consult the Department of Law's website and their information on the Alaska Landlord and Tenant Act. That site has contact information to request a copy of a booklet on the Act. You can also email your request to Consumer Protection.

You may seek the service of an environmental professional to evaluate the nature of contamination and any potential risks associated with the specific property under consideration.

Managing Construction and Excavations within the Sulfolane Plume

Releases of sulfolane at the former North Pole Refinery have resulted in a contaminated groundwater plume that extends throughout much of the City of North Pole, Alaska, and beyond the city boundaries. The potential exists for development as well as utility maintenance projects within North Pole and beyond to be impacted by presence of sulfolane in groundwater when excavations require dewatering within the sulfolane plume boundary. A plan for managing excavation dewatering fluids in compliance with applicable regulations is necessary to reduce impacts on projects in North Pole and surrounding impacted areas.

An Interim Excavation Dewatering Management Plan, finalized in 2014 and updated in 2017, provides guidance for managing excavation water generated during construction dewatering activities in the vicinity of the North Pole sulfolane groundwater plume. The overarching management goals are to minimize the volume of contaminated water to be discharged and to manage the discharge so that it does not cause sulfolane contamination in areas that were previously uncontaminated. The Management Plan may be found at the following:

In 2018, PFAS was also discovered in groundwater off the former North Pole Refinery. The extent of the PFAS contamination has not been fully evaluated. The Interim Excavation Dewatering Management Plan does not address PFAS contamination. If you anticipate a need to dewater a trench or excavation in a region with PFAS-contaminated groundwater, find information on this in DEC's Division of Water

A temporary water use permit administered by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR) may also be required for groundwater extraction. For more information, see the following:

If disposal of extracted groundwater involves re-injection into the aquifer, additional permitting may be required. Contact DEC Division of Water - contacts are listed on that page.

Additional Resources

Fairbanks North Star Borough

DEC's page on Contaminated Real Estate in Alaska

Greater Fairbanks Area Contaminated Groundwater

Division of Spill Prevention and Response's page on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

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Department of Environmental Conservation

Mailing Address:  P.O. Box 111800
Juneau, Alaska 99811
Location:  410 Willoughby Avenue, Juneau