No.15-04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Heating Oil Leak Clean-up Efforts Temporarily Close Nome State Office Building

November 16, 2015, JUNEAU - The Nome State Office Building (NSOB) has been closed after a heating oil leak was discovered by building staff. The source of the spill is not immediately known. Approximately 45 state employees working in the NSOB have been informed of the closure.

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has been made aware of this situation and is working with the Department of Administration to further assess the spill.

The department offices in the NSOB that have been impacted are:

• Legislative Information Office
• Division of Elections
• Division of Motor Vehicles
• Department of Corrections
• Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
• Department of Fish and Game
• Department of Health and Social Services
• Department of Law

The NSOB was reopened months ago after extensive renovation of the building. The renovation project spanned from March 2014 to May 2015 and cost $11.7 million. Renovation started with stripping the building down to the support structure and replacing all fixtures to meet modern construction standards. The project was completed on budget and on schedule.

Questions about impacts to specific agency operations should be directed to the relevant departments.

Inquiries about the spill response should be direct to the Department of Environmental Conservation's public information officer Candice Bressler at 907-465-5009 or candice.bressler@alaska.gov.

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