The Site is located approximately 4 miles northeast of Nome center off the Beam Road in Nome, Alaska (64.529 latitude and -165.256 longitude). The Site consists of 28 drums and 5 totes, 4 tanks, and 17 buckets in various states of poor condition, that contain a total of approximately 6000+ gallons of used lube, hydraulic and fuel oils and 22 cubic yards of contaminant tainted sorbents and soil. The situation was brought to EPA’s attention by USCG and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation personnel who had originally provided oversight of the cleanup of these materials which originated from a derelict vessel. Oils during this cleanup effort were collected and taken, by the vessel PRP, to the Beam Road Site which posed a threat to navigable waters of the US; “EPA Inland Zone” as defined in a 1994 MOU between USCG and EPA. The vessel had reportedly sunk on two occasions during the 2009 and 2010 winter seasons in Nome Harbor.
The drums and totes were stored approximately 30 feet from a slough that connects to the Nome River; a river that is used for subsistence use by Alaska Tribes from the local area. Soil staining around the drums was evident according to ADEC personnel prior to freeze up. The impact to the soils on-site, slough and river was not evidenced nor evaluated.
