1985-1992 Sudden Stream Drilling Mud Removal Program

Rosenkrans, Danny; Rosenkrans, Danny

In 1984 a significant hazardous waste site was discovered near Sudden Stream on the Malaspina Glacier Forelands within the boundaries of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The major concern at the site was a large pile of unused drilling muds abandoned in a storage shed when the Colorado Oil & Gas Corporation terminated operations in 1962. The structure deteriorated and collapsed exposing bags of drilling mud (400+ tons, wet weight) to weathering for a period 15-20 years. Leaching into the surrounding water and soil was reported, with elevated concentrations of barium and chromium found in soil, water, plant and mollusk tissues. As a result of on-site testing, action was taken during May 1990 to remove the stored materials and approximately 3 to 6 inches of soil beneath the stored materials by BPX and Martech USA, Inc. Subsequent post-cleanup sampling of the area was performed by ENSR, and results indicated that residual contamination of soil and surface water still exists in the immediate area of the former waste pile area. Bioaccumulation of chromium was evident in a small pond immediately adjacent to the former waste pile area. However, the low magnitude and limited area of the residual barium and chromium supported a conclusion that the site does not now pose a significant risk to human health or other environmental receptors. Reserve pits later discovered at the site were sampled for levels of heavy metals contamination, but NPS, Alaska Department of Environment Conservation, and BP Exploration consensus was that remediation work would potentially do more harm to the environment than good, so no removal of hazardous wastes within the reserve pits occurred. Official closure by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation of the abandoned exploration site was effective March 8, 1995.

1985-1992 Sudden Stream Drilling Mud Removal Program

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