TARGETED BROWNFIELDS SITE ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE

ORGANIZATION: Native Village of Eklutna 26339 Eklutna Village Rd. Chugiak, Alaska 99567 Marc Lamoreaux (907) 688-6020 SITE: Old Matanuska Townsite East D Street Palmer, AK 99645 Estimated 5 acres

CURRENT SITE OWNERSHIP: Site property is not owned by the applicant. Due to a data gap in the available records, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) is investigating ownership of the right of way to facilitate characterization activities proposed herein. Any access permits required will be obtained prior to the initiation of work. The site encompasses multiple properties in the area of S East Matanuska Spur Road, E D Street, and S 2nd

Street. Legal descriptions for the potentially impacted properties are: Matanuska Townsite Subdivision, Block 4 Lots 1 – 5 and 12 – 15, and Block 2 lots 5 – 15. Lot ownership as follows: Poirier Lots 1,2,13 and 14 of (B)Block 4; Mat-Su ROW streets and between lots; Carl Martin Lot 3 B4; Anne Barnes Lots 15-16 B3. All subject property documented as flood zone by Mat-Su Borough. PREVIOUS OWNER: BLM transferred lands in the subject area to State, Borough, and Native Corporation with some private lots sold prior and after earthquake. Ownership history is varied across the multiple lots under discussion. SITE HISTORY: The subject property and surrounding area was owned by BLM and surveyed for development of the Matanuska Townsite, with small residential lots and smaller commercial lots for storefronts. The area subsided in the Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964 and was never developed as a Townsite because of intermittent seasonal flooding. Eklutna Inc. and Mat-Su Borough are now the largest landowners in the immediate area, with multiple small lots being privately owned. The Poirier family owned 4 lots within the site, (each approximately 50X100 feet) and collected military surplus, transformers, batteries, cars, wires, paint, building materials and petroleum products. These were stored on Poirier’s lots and adjacent properties owned by others. Suspected hazardous material contaminates include: PCB, lead, solvents, gas, diesel, brake fluid, antifreeze and suspected asbestos. Limited characterization performed by NRC for ADEC in 2017 identified significant petroleum contamination above migration to groundwater cleanup standards at maximum depth of sampling of 14 feet below ground surface. Depth to groundwater is not known, but groundwater sampling is recommended by ADEC to understand if adjacent properties are impacted or if contamination is limited to soil in specific locations. REGULATORY HISTORY: The responsible party is Michael Poirier, son of Gerald Poirier identified after Wanda Poirier’s death in 2013. The RP was determined to be non-solvent by ADEC in 2017 so there is no responsible party to address ADEC groundwater characterization requirements or cleanup. Efforts to address the site have been advanced by EPA, ADEC, Eklutna Inc., Mat-Su Borough and Native Village of Eklutna because there is not a viable responsible party. REDEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL: The area has potential for wetlands mitigation conservation for flood control, wetland functions, habitat for wildlife and salmon. Surrounding lots have been included in conservation easements but concern about contamination is currently deterring re-developmental plans and consolidation of these small properties for inclusion in conservation planning. The Mat-Su Borough and local conservation organizations have prioritized conservation of these lands to protect ecological functions. The Native Village of Eklutna has been coordinating efforts to get clean –up at this site addressed for over 15 years due to the areas importance for Tribal subsistence.

MUNICIPAL COMMITMENT: The Mat-Su Borough is an active member of the team addressing this site and has demonstrated commitment by authorizing access, performing limited cleanup actions, and productively coordinating with Tribal efforts to address the site. PRIOR SITE ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES: The Contaminated Sites Program (CSP) was notified of this site in 2003 by DEC's Solid Waste Program, however CSP did not have any luck contacting the RP (Gerald Poirier, who died shortly thereafter in 2003). The Prevention and Emergency Response Program (PERP) was notified of the site in 2006 by the Mat-Su Borough Solid Waste Program. PERP had initial success with getting the RP (then identified to be Wanda Poirier, Gerald Poirier’s widow) to start consolidating debris in 2006. After a CSP site visit in 2008, PERP was asked to follow up on the site. PERP coordinated a cleanup with EPA and Mat-Su Code Compliance, which was completed in 2009. EPA had a site report completed by Ecology and Environment in 2009 under the START program. Executive Summary as follows: This trip report summarizes United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) removal assessment activities performed in August and September 2008 to assess the extent and potential hazards posed by waste materials present on multiple properties in the Matanuska Town Site subdivision. The site is located in Palmer, Alaska. EPA tasked Ecology & Environment, Inc., (E & E), under Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START)-3 contract number EP-S7-06-02, Technical Direction Document (TDD) number 08-07-0007, to perform the removal assessment. Site reconnaissance activities were conducted August 27, 2008, and confirmed the presence of waste materials on multiple properties within the subdivision. The site reconnaissance information was used to determine the scope of subsequent removal assessment activities performed in September 2008. Two samples of building materials also were collected for off-site analysis for asbestos. One subsequent reconnaissance was conducted on May 15, 2009, to further assess the containers present on the Poirier’s property, an assessment which was not possible at the time of the September field work because access had not been granted to enter the property. On September 12, 2008, a field team consisting of EPA and START personnel conducted removal assessment activities to include the collection of samples from a subset of containers observed on the site. Samples were collected from drums believed to have materials which posed a risk to human health or the environment if not properly contained and disposed off site. Samples were collected from four 55-gallon drums, two transformer shells, one small metal container, and one pile of granular materials. Samples were field screened on site using field test kits or hazard categorization methods. Laboratory data indicates that the two building material samples do not contain asbestos. Consequently, these materials can be disposed as solid wastes. Field screening data for product samples collected from drums and other containers present at the site indicate the presence of oil and other hazardous substances, such as solvents. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were not detected above Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) screening levels in the sample collected from a transformer shell located at the site. Two drums marked solvents may require special disposal; additional laboratory analysis is needed to characterize the products in these drums for disposal. Eklutna Inc. (EI) hired Chilkat Environmental to perform a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment in 2009 for adjacent Eklutna Inc. properties. Impacts were documented on the adjacent properties but no sources of contamination were identified on Eklutna Inc.

lands. The report concludes that EI lands are not a source of contamination at the site but that they could be impacted by the contamination in subsurface soils or groundwater. ADEC hired NRC to perform cleanup actions and limited characterization in 2017. Work was performed by a subcontractor (Nortech, Inc). Executive Summary and Conclusions below. 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On May 16, 2017, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), retained NRC Alaska (NRC) to perform activities related to characterization and removal of wastes, as well as conducting surface and subsurface soil sampling of the Old Matanuska Townsite (Site). Shane O’Neill of NRC arrived on Site on July 12, 2017 to conduct waste characterization and removal activities. Drums located on Site contained used diesel, used oil, or glycol. A total of 35 samples were collected from the contents of the on-Site drums and sent to SGS for analysis. Laboratory results indicated that among other analytes, drums contained detectable concentrations of DRO, RRO, Cumene, MIBK, and tetrachloroethene. Drums located on Site were overpacked and removed on July 12 and October 24, 2017. NRC labeled, manifested, transported, and disposed of the 36 drums on Site in accordance with federal regulations DOT Regulation 49 CFR. In addition to characterization of the contents of the 36 drums found on-Site, NRC collected 10 surface soil samples from the previously identified wire burning location, the soil near the drums at the right area, and the area around the flatbed where drums were located. Laboratory results indicate that soils were impacted by DRO and RRO in concentrations above ADEC Method II Maximum Allowable Concentrations. Surface soils were impacted by lead, 2378 TCDD, and Benzo[b]Fluoranthene at concentrations exceeding ADEC Method II Under 40 – inches Zone Human Health Cleanup Levels, and by naphthalene, mercury, and various VOCs and PAHs, in concentrations exceeding ADEC Method II Migration to Groundwater Cleanup Levels. On October 25, 2017, NRC retained NORTECH Environment, Energy, Health & Safety Professional Services (NORTECH) to conduct field screening and sampling of subsurface soils and groundwater at the Site. NORTECH personnel Jennifer Stoutamore arrived on Site on October 26, 2017, along with NRC personnel Shane O’Neill to conduct soil and groundwater sampling activities. Using a GeoProbe drill, three soil borings were advanced to depths of 20 feet below ground surface. Soil borings were located in the area of the right of way, the wire burning area, and next to the flatbed. NORTECH field screened soils at 2.5-foot intervals, or when soil type within the boring changed. The sample with the highest field screening results from each boring was sent to SGS for analysis. Laboratory results indicated soils at a depth of 18.5 feet within the Wire Burning area were not impacted by detected analytes in concentrations exceeding ADEC Method II Migration to Groundwater Cleanup Levels. Laboratory results also indicated that both the Right of Way and Flatbed areas were impacted by naphthalene at concentrations exceeding Migration to Groundwater Cleanup Levels at a depth of 14 feet. Soils at a depth of 14 feet within the Flatbed area were also impacted by DRO, 1,2,4- Trimethylbenzene, benzene, ethylbenzene, and tetrachloroethene at concentrations exceeding Migration to Groundwater Cleanup Levels. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Based on past Site cleanup activities, Site observations, and laboratory results, NRC and NORTECH makes the following conclusions: • The Site was placed on the ADEC Contaminated Sites Database in 2003 • Site cleanup activities between 2006 and 2009 removed o 1,071 gallons of oil o 275 gallons of glycol o 45 gallons of oil/water/glycol mixture o 80 – 100 vehicles o Left 34 drums and one five – gallon bucket of halogenated material for the EPA to dispose of

• A 2016 ADEC Site visit revealed the 34 drums left in 2009 were still on Site and in poor condition o The five – gallon bucket of halogenated material was missing o An addition three drums were found on Site • Between July and October 2017, NRC o Overpacked 36 drums found on Site Drums were in poor condition, some with leaks and/or with bullet holes present o Sent in characterization samples from the 35 drums that still contained liquid Laboratory results indicate • Drums contained used oil or a mixture of used/oil and glycol • 33 of the 35 characterization samples had detectable concentrations of Tetrachloroethene • 19 of the characterization samples had concentrations of Tetrachloroethene above 1,000 mg/Kg • Drum 10 contained concentrations of benzene above 100 mg/Kg o Other analytes were in concentrations below Hazardous Waste criteria o Labeled, manifested, transported, and disposed of 16 drums and their contents as non-hazardous material • Drums whose contents contained analyte concentrations below RCRA regulated levels were disposed of as non-hazardous waste o Labeled, manifested, transported, and disposed of 20 drums and their contents as hazardous material • Drum contents contained Tetrachloroethene concentrations above 1,000 mg/Kg and/or Benzene concentrations above 100 mg/Kg o Collected ten surface soil samples from the Wire Burning Area, the Right of Way Area, and the Flatbed Area o Surface soil samples laboratory results indicated • All sampled areas had arsenic levels above ADEC Method II Migration to Groundwater Cleanup Levels • Arsenic levels were within naturally occurring concentrations • Wire Burning Area • Concentrations of arsenic and lead were greater than ADEC Method II Under 40 – inches Zone Human Health Cleanup Levels • Concentrations of DRO, RRO, benzene and naphthalene exceeded ADEC Method II Migration to Groundwater Cleanup Levels • Right of Way Area • Concentrations of DRO exceeded ADEC Method II Maximum Allowable Concentrations • Concentrations of arsenic and lead exceeded ADEC Method II Under 40 – inch Zone Human Health Cleanup Levels • Concentrations of RRO, naphthalene, benzo (a) anthracene, and mercury were above ADEC Method II Migration to Groundwater Cleanup levels • Flatbed Area • Concentrations of DRO and RRO exceeded ADEC Method II Maximum Allowable Concentrations • Concentrations of arsenic and Benzo[b]Fluoranthene exceeded ADEC Method II Under 40 – inches Human Health Cleanup Levels ♣ Concentrations of benzo (a) pyrene and naphthalene were above ADEC Method II Migration to Groundwater Cleanup Levels o Contamination of Surface soils in the Right of Way and Flatbed Areas are most likely due to leaking drums observed in the area • As Tetrachloroethene was found within most sampled drums, Tetrachloroethene contamination is most likely also due to the presence of leaking drums o Geotech advanced three subsurface soil borings at the Site to depths of 20 feet • B1 was located next to the flatbed truck • B2 was located in the middle of the wire burning area • B3 was located in the Right of Way area in the previous location of drums 37 and 38 • NORTECH field screened soil borings every 2.5 feet or when soil types changed o Evidence of water in volumes large enough to sample was not encountered within the borings • NORTECH did not collect groundwater samples o NORTECH collected one subsurface soil sample from each boring for laboratory analysis • Laboratory samples were collected from the depth of highest field screening results within each boring o Subsurface soil laboratory results indicate • Wire Burning Area • Detected analytes were below ADEC Method II Migration to Groundwater Cleanup Levels • Right of Way Area

• Soils at depths of 14 feet are impacted by naphthalene at concentrations exceeding ADEC Method II Migration to Groundwater Cleanup Levels • Contamination is most likely due to leaking drums previously found in this area • Flatbed Area • Soils at a depth of 14 feet are impacted by Naphthalene, DRO, 1,2,4 – Trimethylbenzene, Benzene, Ethylbenzene, and tetrachloroethene at concentrations exceeding their respective ADEC Method II Migration to Groundwater Cleanup Levels • Contamination is most likely due to leaking drums previously found in this area Based on the above conclusions, NRC and NORTECH make the following recommendations: • Further data should be collected to determine: o Lateral extent of impacted surface soils in each of the previously identified impacted areas o Whether impacted soils are contiguous throughout the Site o Total depth of impacted soils throughout the Site o Concentrations of potential contaminates within the groundwater • Groundwater monitoring wells should be installed to properly sample groundwater throughout the Site SITE ASSESSMENT NEEDS:

• Limited (Phase II) site assessment, including sampling activities to determine

groundwater level, whether groundwater is contaminated, and to define the vertical and horizontal extent of documented soil contaminated above state standards. Scope of investigation has been developed between NVE and ADEC to include three GW wells and characterization of 3 areas for extent of petroleum contamination and one area for lead and dioxin.

SITE CLEANUP: Native Village of Eklutna is working with ADEC and local conservation organizations to identify possible in-kind services and funding options for cleanup to optimize available resources for addressing this site, however further characterization is required to define cleanup requirements. FOR PRIVATELY OWNED SITES: The responsible party caused all known contamination of the site but is not viable to respond to site characterization and cleanup requirements according to ADEC. ACCESS: The ADEC Site Manager (Lisa Griswold) has investigated, but been unable to determine ownership of the right of ways where groundwater characterization is requested, and which provide access thereto. It is being referred to ADEC Department of Law for review. Lisa writes that we can work on figuring out ownership while the TBA application is being evaluated. SUBMIT COMPLETED FORMS TO: BROWNFIELDS TARGETED SITE ASSESSMENTS c/o Brandon Perkins Targeted Brownfields Site Assessments Coordinator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region I0 1200 Sixth Ave., Suite 900 Seattle, WA 98101