State seeks comment on expanded soil treatment facility amid Alaska's contaminated soil crisis

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is accepting public comments through April 22 on a plan to expand a soil treatment facility in Anchorage that cleans contaminated dirt using high-temperature processing.

The application comes as Alaska faces a growing need to deal with thousands of tons of petroleum and chemical-contaminated soil from military sites, old fuel spills, and industrial operations across the state. Most of that soil currently gets shipped Outside for treatment at facilities in Washington and Oregon, a process that can cost $400 to $800 per ton once transportation is factored in.

Soil Treatment Technologies wants to increase the capacity of its facility at 2301 Spar Avenue to handle more contaminated soil from around the state. The company uses thermal desorption, which heats soil to remove pollutants, then burns off the contaminated vapors.

The contamination problem

Alaska has hundreds of contaminated sites requiring cleanup, many dating back to World War II military installations and Cold War-era defense facilities. The Department of Defense has identified more than 700 contaminated sites at active and former military bases across Alaska. State and private sites add hundreds more to the list.

Common contaminants include petroleum products from leaking fuel tanks and spills, as well as chlorinated solvents used in industrial operations and military maintenance facilities. These chemicals can make soil unsafe for construction or development and can leach into groundwater.

Right now, Alaska has limited in-state capacity to treat large volumes of contaminated soil. Small amounts can be handled through landfill disposal if contamination levels are low enough. More heavily contaminated soil typically gets trucked to Seattle or Tacoma, then shipped to specialized treatment facilities in Washington state.

That process ties up cleanup projects for weeks or months. It also means Alaska communities pay premium prices to ship heavy loads thousands of miles south.

What the expansion would mean

The expansion would create a larger footprint for the facility and increase wastewater treatment operations. Contaminated soil would be trucked to the site, treated, and tested to ensure it meets state cleanup standards before being released for reuse or disposal.

The facility currently operates under a state permit but needs approval for the expanded operations plan. The process involves storing contaminated soil in containment areas, heating it to volatilize contaminants, then treating the resulting vapors through thermal oxidation.