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Profile Information

Government
257846
Old Richardson Highway, Copper Center, AK COPPER CENTER, AK 99573
2.16
61.972317 / -145.319573
1
Labaw, Joanne
Labaw.Joanne@epa.gov
206-553-2594


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Property Location



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Property Progress


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CAs Associated with this Property

CA NameCA #StateTypeAnnouncement Year
Ahtna Taene Nene4W02J32401AKSection 128(a) State/Tribal2023
R10 TBA - Alaska (STAG Funded)n/aAKTBA2004


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Assessment Activities at this Property

ActivityEPA FundingStart DateCompletion DateCAAccomplishment Counted?Counted When?
Phase I Environmental Assessment08/01/200906/17/2010Ahtna Taene NeneN
Phase I Environmental Assessment$27,894.2001/31/202305/24/2023R10 TBA - Alaska (STAG Funded)N
Phase II Environmental Assessment01/25/2023Ahtna Taene NeneN
Phase II Environmental Assessment$132,105.8001/31/202302/05/2024R10 TBA - Alaska (STAG Funded)YFY24


Is Cleanup Necessary? Yes
EPA Assessment Funding: $160,000.00
Leveraged Funding: $143,378.00
Total Funding: $303,378.00


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Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Planning or Assessment

Selected Strategy(ies)Explanatory Text
Evaluate Reuse options that consider impacts from extreme weather events and natural disastersDiscussion of observed and forecasted natural hazard conditions and the associated site-specific risk are part of any reuse considerations. Both current and forecasted extreme weather events and natural disasters may impact the effectiveness of a remedial alternative.
Identify potential risk factors and infrastructure or utility vulnerabilitiesIdentify potential risk factors and infrastructure or utility vulnerabilities resulting directly from the impacts of increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and natural disasters. Possible risk factors and vulnerabilities may include proximity to the ocean, infrastructure vulnerabilities, property affected by a revised FEMA flood plain, drought monitor, or wildfire risk map, vulnerability related to changes in frequency and intensity of precipitation events, vulnerability of soil type due to moisture and hydraulic changes, and ground and surface drinking water vulnerabilities.


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Contaminants and Media


Asbestos
Lead
NOT Cleaned up
NOT Cleaned up
Building Materials
Soil
NOT Cleaned up
NOT Cleaned up

Cleanup Activities

There are no current cleanup activities.


Cleanup/Treatment Implemented:
Cleanup/Treatement Categories:
Addl Cleanup/Treatment info:
Address of Data Source:
Total ACRES Cleaned Up: 2.16
Number of Cleanup Jobs Leveraged:
EPA Cleanup Funding:
Leveraged Funding:
Cost Share Funding:
Total Funding:


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Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Demolition or Cleanup

There is no data for Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Demolition or Cleanup.


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Institutional and Engineering Controls



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Redevelopment and Other Leveraged Accomplishments

There are no current redevelopment activities.


Number of Redevelopment Jobs Leveraged:
Actual Acreage of Greenspace Created:
Leveraged Funding:


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Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Redevelopment

There is no data for Climate Adaption and Mitigation – Redevelopment


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Additional Property Attributes

The Old BIA Copper Center School Site (Site) was developed by as early as 1905 as a BIA school. The abandoned school building and associated generator building currently on the Site were believed to have been constructed by the 1950s. A diesel fuel aboveground storage tank (AST) used to provide heat and electricity to the Site was also likely installed in the 1950s. Three annex classrooms, which were reportedly prefabricated structures, were located on-site from the mid-1970s until the mid-1980s. The Site's use as a school ceased in the late 1970s or early 1980s, when it was abandoned and has remained unused since that time. The buildings are in a severe state of disrepair, with damaged building components located throughout the interior of the buildings.

The Site was owned by the US Department of the Interior BIA until January 1960, when site ownership was transferred to Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR). In November 1983, the ownership of the Site buildings was transferred to the Native Village of Kluti-Kaah, (NVKK). ADNR maintains ownership of the land.

An HBMI (Hazardous Building Materials Inventory) was conducted in 2010. Deteriorated Asbestos Containing Building Materials (ACBM) and chipped and peeling Lead-Based Paint (LBP) were identified throughout the interior and exterior of the onsite buildings at the property at concentrations exceeding the regulatory limit. There is a possibility that deteriorated LBPs have caused the soils to become contaminated with lead as well. Soil samples were collected from the site and tested in 2010 with Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) funding. Results showed the presence of concentrations of DRO (diesel range organics) that exceeded the ADEC cleanup criteria. Contamination associated with a leaking diesel fuel AST may include concentrations of BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes) constituents that exceed DEC cleanup criteria. Because the extent of contamination has not been defined at this site, potential for contamination to have impacted groundwater exists.

A Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) of the Site was approved in January 2023. A Phase I and Phase II ESA were conducted in May and August of 2023, respectively. Soil testing revealed the presence of lead contamination near the building drip lines likely associated with lead-based paint used on the school building's exterior in exceedance of ADEC Method 2 Cleanup Criteria and EPA RSLs for Resident Soil. Current conditions of hazardous building materials were also documented. Soil and groundwater testing throughout the site did not indicate the presence of petroleum contaminated soils or widespread contamination concerns in soil and groundwater. Arsenic was detected in soil and groundwater and mercury was detected in soil at concentrations below ADEC cleanup levels, and may be naturally occurring.

An Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) was developed in February 2024. To address lead contamination in soil at the property, the ABCA recommended removal and proper disposal of the contaminated soil. To address asbestos and other hazardous building materials, it was recommended to completely remove all hazardous building materials with a licensed hazardous material abatement and demolition contractor. Alternatively, if the structures at the site want to be maintained and renovated it was recommended that friable asbestos, asbestos debris and other damaged hazardous building materials by removed, and that any lead-based paint and remaining non-friable asbestos-containing materials be stabilized and an appropriate management plans for future handling and maintenance of any remaining hazardous building materials should be developed.
e Site buildings must be considered contaminated structures with access restricted to only individuals with appropriate training.
Greenspace (1.8)


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