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Site Report: Nikolski RRS SS003 Spill/Leak No.3 former AOC 3

Site Name: Nikolski RRS SS003 Spill/Leak No.3 former AOC 3
Address: POL Pipeline, Umnak Island, Nikolski, AK 99638
File Number: 2621.38.004
Hazard ID: 130
Status: Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff: Axl LeVan, 9074512156 axl.levan@alaska.gov
Latitude: 52.958045
Longitude: -168.860414
Horizontal Datum:NAD83

We make every effort to ensure the data presented here is accurate based on the best available information currently on file with DEC. It is therefore subject to change as new information becomes available. We recommend contacting the assigned project staff prior to making decisions based on this information.

Problems/Comments

This was the POL [fuel] pipeline that was the fuel transport pipeline for the installation. The line lies on the ground surface for most of its length between the fuel storage tank farm and the main installation complex. The pipeline consisted of a single 2 inch welded steel pipe five miles in length. There were three gate valves. RRS operated from 1958 to 1977. All buildings and antennas demolished. Above ground POL storage tanks and POL pipeline above ground are removed. Drum storage area and lighting vault are adjacent to airstrip. POL pipeline runs along sea coast and crossed Sheep Creek. Cleanup complete determination with institutional controls granted by ADEC 12/12/2017 for residual RRO contamination beneath site access road. If in the future the road is removed, the RRO contamination will need to be addressed at that time.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
1/1/1994 Preliminary Assessment Approved CH2MHill was contracted by the USACE to conduct a PA for the Nikolski White Alice Communication System Site. In 1984, the USAF removed PCB soil and transformers. In 1988 the facility was demolished and the debris and asbestos buried in an on-site landfill. Debra Caillouet
11/1/1995 CERCLA SI EMCON was contracted by the USAF 611th to perform a PA/SI. The site was divided into two Installation Restoration Program (IRP) sites and ten areas of concern (AOC). This site-OT01 consists of the former composite building, former transformer building, four former White Alice arrays. Gate Valve No. 1 - A PID headspace reading from the soil sample was 0.0 ppm.Soil Sample Analytical Result: DRO 239 ppm. Gate Valve No. 2 - A PID headspace reading from the soil was 0.1 ppm. Soil Sample Analytical Result: DRO 74 ppm Gate Valve No. 3 - Soil sample 95NIK007SO was collected from 1 to 1.5 feet bgs. A PID headspace reading of soil from 1 to 1.5 feet bgs was 0.5 ppm. Soil Sample Analytical Result: DRO 1,150 ppm DRO concentrations were detected at the pipeline gate valves from 74 ppm up to 1,150 ppm and one patch was seen on the pipeline near Gate Valve No. 2. Impact may have occurred along other parts of the pipeline. Recommendations regarding the pipeline are as follows: • A walking inspection of the pipeline is warranted to look for potential impact. • Conduct field screening and soil sampling approximately every 1,000 linear feet of pipe, and at comers in the piping. • Use a metal detector or geophysical studies to locate and mark the location of underground portions of the pipeline. • Determine a risk-based cleanup level. • Develop appropriate site soil cleanup levels based on risk-based concentrations and regulatory agency negotiations. Debra Caillouet
2/12/1997 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). SI action added by Shannon and Wilson, Inc., based on Air Force Relative Risk Evaluation Worksheet dated 9/14/95. No other information available. S&W-Miner
12/1/2000 Update or Other Action A site survey was conducted with the 611th, Jacobs Engineering and Jeff Brownlee (ADEC). Debra Caillouet
12/21/2000 Meeting or Teleconference Held Scoping meeting for the remedial investigation at this former White Alice site. The site operated on Umnak Island in the Aleutian Islands from 1957 to 1977. All the facilities except a tank farm and pipeline were demolished and buried on site in 1986. A Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation was done in 1995. A drum removal was performed in 1997. Ten Areas of Concern and two IRP sites were identified during the PA/SI. Contaminants of concern include PCBs, petroleum, metals and TCE at one AOC. Jeff Brownlee
2/22/2001 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting was to get to know the team and goals/plans for summer 2001 work. Debra Caillouet
4/11/2001 Site Added to Database Former Staff
5/17/2001 Meeting or Teleconference Held A public meeting was held in Nikolski on May 14. The Air Force, Jacobs Engineering and ADEC presented information on the cleanup process and the RI work scheduled for 6/2001. The meeting was well attended and well received by the community. Debra Caillouet
6/25/2001 Update or Other Action Staff traveled to Nikolski to review the characterization work being done. Work was proceeding well. Debra Caillouet
11/29/2001 Site Characterization Report Approved Concentrations of diesel range organics (DRO) and residual range organics (RRO) greater than regulatory limits were found near the POL pipeline, but were confined to two areas: an area at which drums were evidently stored (termed “Former Drum Storage Area II”) and an apparent break in the pipeline (termed “Possible Pipeline Damage Area”). It is recommended that this 790 cubic yards of RRO impacted soil be removed from Former Drum Storage Area II or other alternatives be further evaluated in the feasibility study. At the possible pipeline damage area, two disconnected pipes were found lying next to the main POL pipeline; the southern pipe contained liquid diesel fuel and it is recommended that the fuel be removed from this pipe. Contaminated soil was found beneath the southern end of this pipe and beneath a leak in the pipe. Highly contaminated soil was removed from beneath the leak during the investigation. However, approximately 4 cubic yards of DRO contaminated soil remains beneath the pipe; it is recommended that this soil be removed. Debra Caillouet
5/15/2002 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff attended a public meeting in Nikolski Debra Caillouet
10/14/2002 Update or Other Action Staff submitted comments on the draft feasibility study. Debra Caillouet
12/11/2002 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated in the Air Force peer review of the proposed plan for Nikolski. In December 2002, the Air Force conducted a peer review of the draft feasibility study. The peer review team concluded that a risk assessment should be conducted at the composite building and associated White Alice arrays (OT-001), the fuel pipeline (SS-003), and the POL tank area (SS-004). Based on the conclusions of the peer review team, a preferred alternative will not be selected for OT-001, SS-003, SS-004, or the POL outfall area (WP-007) until the risk assessment is completed. Because this change significantly impacted the alternatives developed to address POL contamination, a separate alternative to address the remaining sites with POL contamination has been included in this document in order to implement the peer review team's recommendations. See site file for additional information. Debra Caillouet
10/13/2003 Risk Assessment Workplan Approved The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) received the above mentioned report on August 21, 2003. We concur that the work plan meets the requirements of ADEC’s Risk Assessment Procedures Manual, dated June 8, 2000. Thank you for providing a copy of the Final Nikolski RRS Risk Assessment Work Plan. Debra Caillouet
7/30/2004 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff provided comments on the Nikolski Radio Relay Station, Nikolski, Alaska, Baseline Risk Assessment, Final, June 2004. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) received the above document on July 13, 2004, has completed review and concurs with the findings as listed below. The baseline risk assessment evaluates four sites at the Nikolski RRS: Composite Building and Associated White Alice Arrays (OT-001), POL Outfall Area (WP-007), Fuel Pipeline (SS-003), and POL Tank Area (SS-004). Fuel Pipeline Contaminated portions of the fuel pipeline lie adjacent to the shore of Nikolski Bay. Future residential development of this site is not practical because storm tides occasionally inundate the area. No drinking water source is available on the site. The total human health HI and the excess lifetime cancer risk are less than target values. The results of the ecological risk characterization indicate that the ecological HQ for the fuel pipeline is less than 1.0. DEC concurs with the risk assessment conclusions. Debra Caillouet
1/18/2005 Update or Other Action File number issued 2621.38.004 Aggie Blandford
12/28/2006 Update or Other Action DEC reviewed a CERCLA Record of Decision (ROD) for Nikolski, pipeline (SS003). While DEC agrees that the fuel pipeline only contained petroleum products and is thus excluded from the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, (CERCLA) DEC does not agree with no further action under state environmental regulation. Our understanding on current Air Force policy is that, since the site was investigated using a Remedial Investigation under CERCLA, a Proposed Plan and public comment period are required before a ROD can be finalized. Debra Caillouet
12/28/2006 Update or Other Action DEC does not concur with the request for no further action for the following reasons: 1.Contamination significantly exceeding the maximum allowable concentrations remains on-site and may continue to migrate and/or affect surface water. 2.The landowner has not consented to cleanup levels based on non-residential land use. 3.The abandoned fuel pipeline has not been properly closed and constitutes a potential on-going or future contaminant source. 4.Institutional controls have not been developed or implemented. 5.The community has not had an opportunity to comment on the proposed no further action decision. Higher alternative cleanup levels have not been approved and the department requests these areas be cleaned up to ingestion based cleanup levels. Debra Caillouet
4/10/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Debra Caillouet
12/5/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff provided comments on the Nikolski Radio Relay Station Nikolski, Alaska Draft Proposed Plans, LFOOl, AOCOl, SS002, SS003 and SS004, November 2011. Page 3 2003 Include the when and how the 350 determination was documented. Also explain why the migration to groundwater pathway is considered incomplete, just saying a 350 determination does not provide information to the public. Page 4 Summary of Site Risks Include an explanation on why remedial action is planned if the risk assessments concluded no unacceptable risk. What are the contaminant levels? Are there groundwater impacts? Debra Caillouet
2/13/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Evaluation of Remediation Alternatives for Sites SS003, SS004 and SS006 at Nikolski Radio Relay Station (Draft) 10 February 2012 Debra Caillouet
7/23/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Comment sent to the AF on the Tech Memo: Evaluation of Remediation Alternatives for Sites SS003, SS004 and SS006 at Nikolski Radio Relay Station (Final) 19 July 2012 Debra Caillouet
11/15/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Evaluation of Remedial Alternatives for Sites SS003, SS004, and SS006 at Nikolski Radio Relay Station, Revised Final, November 2012 Debra Caillouet
2/22/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff provided comments on the Draft CERCLA ROD, Nikolski AOC01, LF001, SS002, SS003, SS004 and SSOO5,January 2013. Page 1-4 1.3.2 ERP Site LFOOl. The appropriate regulations for this are 18 AAC 60, 18 AAC 75.325(i) does not apply. Please review 60.270, 60.390 and .396 for more specific requirements. Page 1-6 1.4.3 3rd paragraph. Please delete the last sentence, since the COPC was petroleum, NF A under CERCLA doesn't necessarily mean it meets state cleanup requirements and replace it with "DEC has determined the site meets applicable cleanup levels defined in 18 AAC 75." Page 1-7 1.4.4 3rd paragraph, excavation and off-site disposal is not required under state regulations, the Air Force has chosen this remedy to meet the state regulation that releases be cleaned up to applicable levels. Rephrase to say "in accordance with" instead of required by. Page 1-9 1.4.6 Remedy Required under State of Alaska Regulations. No remedy is required for SS005 under State of Alaska Regulations. Delete "The Air Force has selected a CERCLA remedy for this site that meets" and replace with "Prior environmental response actions implemented by the Air Force have met" Page 2-48 2.6.1 This section should explicitly state which parcels are being transferred and which are being retained. It should also include who will be responsible for the long term monitoring and maintenance of the LUCs and the submission of the reports. See site file for additional information. Debra Caillouet
5/15/2013 CERCLA ROD Approved Record of Decision signed by John Halverson. This Record of Decision (ROD) presents the selected remedies for Environmental Restoration Program (ERP) Sites AOC01, LF001, SS002, SS003, SS004, and SS005 at Nikolski RRS in Nikolski, Alaska. AOC01 Dam and Pump House Foundation, LF001 Landfill Disposal Area, SS002 Former Water Supply House and Aboveground Storage Tank (AST), SS003 Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants (POL) Pipeline, SS004 POL Tank Area, & SS005 Runway Lighting Vault Building and Underground Storage Tank (UST). Debra Caillouet
12/11/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Remedial Action Work Plan for Remedy Implementation at the Former Nikolski Radio Relay Station, Alaska December 2014, The plan is deficient in many details and requires significant revision. A complete revised DRAFT document is required. Debra Caillouet
5/4/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff commented on the Draft-Final RA WP for Remedy Implementation at SS003, SS004, SS006 and OT010. Page 3-6 Table 3-1 Review and correct. Holding time for VOCs is not 180 days. There are six methods in EPA 540-R-09-03 Jan 2011, Appendix B for low level VOCs in soil, the method you have chosen has this caveat This option is NOT a Preferred Option for the CLP because: NaHS0-1 preservation creates low pH conditions that will cause the destruction of certain CLP target analytes (e.g., vinyl chloride, trichloroethene, trichlorofluoromethane, cis- and trans-1,3-dichloropropene). As vinyl chloride and trichloroethene are two of the COCs please chose one of the three recommended methods. VOC water samples are not collected in 1 liter bottles nor are TLC caps used. This also has to be corrected in the UFP-QAPP. Provide method for RRO in water. Table 4-2 The sub-sites/areas that are shown in this table are not identified in the figures. The RODs do not include sub-sites. Provide figures with the sub-sites identified, once that occurs ADEC may or may not concur with the analytes for each area. Duplicates are to be collected at a rate of 10% minimum. 24 is less than 10% of 245. Verify all and correct, as there are others also shown at less than 10%. At SS004 confirmation sampling is to include PAH. Long-Term monitoring at SS006 is to include GRO and DRO. Page 4-1 4.3 The volumes in this section, 39 cy TCE and 186 cy DRO are not in the ROD. The ROD states "estimated volume of soil to be excavated at SS006 is approximately 200 cubic yards". See comment 7, sub-sites are not shown on Figure 4-4. Also note that sample SS6-HA31 has TCE at 0.484 mg/kg which is above the cleanup level but the value is not bolded on Figure 4-4. UFP-QAPP Page 11 Worksheet 6 should be Communications Pathways. Worksheet 10 is the Conceptual Site Model. The information in the table does not apply to either. Please review and fix. The rest of this UFP-QAPP, is not being reviewed. Please do an internal review of this document to assure that the contents of each worksheet is what is explained in the Intergovernmental Data Quality Task Force Uniform Federal Policy for Quality Assurance Project Plans Optimized UFP-QAPP Worksheets March 2012. Please note that the Executive Summary of said document includes this: ... "the information contained in the worksheets continues to capture the elements that would comprise related project-planning documents, such as a Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP), Work Plan (WP), and Field Sampling Plan (FSP)" and" ... the final, approved QAPP is designed to be a stand-alone document containing all specifications and procedures necessary for project personnel to carry out their assigned responsibilities. For example, the field team should be able to rely on the QAPP for complete sampling instructions, including how to sample, where to sample, how many samples to collect, the types of bottles, preservatives, related QC, etc. If the approved QAPP provides insufficient procedures to carry out all tasks, then SOP's must be attached to the QAPP. If required elements are contained in other documents, those documents may be referenced; however the documents must be available to all personnel responsible for reviewing and implementing the QAPP" ADEC can review this document with the separate Work Plan and Waste Management Plan Quality Control Plan Page 5-2 5.7 The UFP-QAPP has many obvious omissions/errors. Please explain what type of review occurred and why future QA/QC on the actual performance of the work should be trusted. See site file for additional information. Debra Caillouet
6/1/2015 Site Characterization Workplan Approved G:\SPAR\SPAR-CS\38 Case Files (Contaminated Sites)\2621 Nikolski\2621.38.004 Nikolski Radio Relay Station\2015 Remedial Action\Nikolski WP approval ltr_6-1-15.docx Remedial Action Work Plan for Remedy Implementation at the Former Nikolski Radio Relay Station, May 2015 The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) received a copy of the final workplan referenced above today via electronic mail. Based on a quick review, it appears that ADEC comments on the draft final version of the workplan have been adequately addressed and incorporated into the plan. Therefore, the plan is approved for implementation. Please note that any modifications of the workplan also must be approved by ADEC. John Halverson
7/2/2015 Update or Other Action Letter work plan sent for silica gel cleanup at Nikolski and Driftwood Bay RRS. The purpose of this Letter Work Plan is to establish procedures for field work for the collection & analysis of silica gel clean up samples for highly organic soils encountered at the Nikolski Radio Relay Station (RRS). Silica Gel Clean Up Procedure The project laboratory, SGS, will follow the methods outlined in the ADEC Technical Memo for silica gel analysis as well as TOC analysis, including but not limited to methods regarding QC samples, column preparation, extract preparation, & overall quality control. Silica gel cleanup samples will only be collected for those locations where highly organic soils are present. If silica gel cleanup analysis is deemed appropriate based on field screening results, field observations, analytical results above cleanup levels, & chromatogram review indicating potential biogenic interference, then silica gel analysis would be requested, including reanalysis of the target analytes DRO & RRO. Site Specific Details Of the four sites at the Nikolski RRS where remedial activities are taking place (SS003, SS004, SS006, & OT010), two sites, SS003 & SS004, have encountered highly organic soils that may interfere with the AK102 & AK103 analyses. At SS003, initial confirmation extent samples from highly organic soils had detections of DRO & RRO above what was anticipated based upon field screening with no visual or olfactory indications of contamination that would otherwise indicate an exceedance of 8,250 mg/kg for DRO or 8,300 mg/kg for RRO. Soil was excavated from these areas with additional confirmation samples collected from the new extents along with two additional 4 ounce volumes to accommodate silica gel cleanup if the results are in excess of the cleanup levels. If the results are in excess of the cleanup levels, the chromatograms will be reviewed prior to requesting silica gel cleanup procedure, & if it does not indicate a potential biogenic influence, then silica gel will not be requested & additional soil removal will occur. At SS004, highly organic soil has been encountered; however it has thus far been heavily contaminated. If during additional excavation highly organic soil that appears to be uncontaminated is encountered & AK102 analysis indicates DRO above 250 mg/kg, & there is no PID, visual, or olfactory indication of contamination, then silica gel cleanup may be requested for those samples as well with the same protocols outlined above for SS003. A minimum of four TOC samples would be collected from beyond the known contaminated extents in the vicinity of each of the sites from similar strata & material per the TOC requirements outlined above Debra Caillouet
11/30/2015 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with MWH scoping 5 year review for Nikolski sites. 5YR under CERCLA will not include this site as remedy was implemented in 2015 and cleanup report is not final. Fred Vreeman
12/1/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff provided comments on the RI/FS Work Plan. 5.6.2, 5-12 The pipeline according to the figure appears to primarily run on the side of the road paralleling the bay. The beach should be visually surveyed for the presence of any seeps or other indications that contamination has migrated toward the marine environment, especially at any areas that sod sampling identifies as potentially contaminated. If any seeps are detected, provisions should be made for sampling to determine the extent of the contamination. 2.5.2, A2-11 It is unclear how a sample will be collected adjacent or immediately below the pipeline if the boring is directly above. See site file for additional information. Debra Caillouet
3/11/2016 Update or Other Action Draft-Final Follow-on 2016 Remedial Action Work Plan received for review & comment. SS003 – POL Pipeline. The 2015 RA at SS003 resulted in the excavation & disposal of 1,510 tons of contaminated soil. The 2016 RA will include excavation & disposal of an additional estimated 280 tons POL-impacted soil which remain. Contamination remains at two locations of the site, & ranges in depth from 1 & 10' bgs). Confirmation soil samples will be collected at the extents of excavation & compared to the cleanup criterion for the site, which consists of 18 AAC 75 Method Two soil cleanup levels (SCLs) for DRO at 8,250 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) & RRO at 8,300 mg/kg. SS004 - POL Tank Area. The 2015 RA at SS004 resulted in the excavation & disposal of 3,737 tons of contaminated soil. It is estimated that an additional 7,491 tons of POL impacted soils remain. The 2016 RA will include excavation & disposal of additional POL-impacted soils, though funding is currently only available for a total of 5,250 additional tons to be removed & disposed. Additional funding has been requested by AFCEC for the remaining tons, & is anticipated to be received in time to allow for removal during the 2016 RA. Contamination remains in three locations of the site & range in depth from 0.5 to 9.0' bgs. Confirmation samples will be collected from the extents of excavation & compared to cleanup levels for the site, which consist of 18 AAC 75 (ADEC, 2015) Method Two MTGW levels for DRO (230 mg/kg). Additionally, further investigation will be required to delineate the extent of contamination in the soil/sediment of the ephemeral pond at the southeastern portion of SS004 where 2015 & 2002 samples indicated the presence of DRO in exceedance of the site cleanup level. A well point will also be installed, along with one found of GW sampling as part of the long term monitoring (LTM) at SS004 following completion of the RA. SS006 (aka SA593) – Former Drum Storage Area. The 2015 RA at SS006 resulted in the excavation, containerization, & disposal of 525 tons of contaminated soil. Unsaturated soil at SS006 met the cleanup levels for the site. Upon receipt of additional funding, one round of GW monitoring will be conducted at the two well points installed in 2015 as part of LTM for SS006. OT010 resulted in the excavation of 102 tons of PCB-contaminated soil of which 34 tons were disposed. The remaining 68 tons (12 bulk bags) of the excavated soil from the OT010 excavations were characterized with analytical data exceeding the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) regulatory threshold of 50 mg/kg & remain onsite due to various constraints associated with the transportation of TSCA-regulated waste & insufficient funding at the time of field execution in 2015. Per direction of AFCEC, CAPE containerized the 12 bulk bags into four empty shipping containers (3 bulk bags per shipping container). These four shipping containers were locked & staged at the highest elevation within the Mona Lisa staging area. Upon receipt of additional funding, the 2016 RA will include the transportation & disposal of the TSCA regulated soils. PCB-contaminated soil remain onsite in exceedance of the 18 AAC 75 (ADEC, 2015) Method Two SCL of 1 mg/kg. However, no additional excavation at Site OT010 is planned for 2016. See site file for additional information. Louis Howard
3/24/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff provided comments on the follow-on WP for remedy implementation. Main comments were regarding the lack of coordination and not providing information (tech memo, summary report, laboratory data packages) from the 2015 field season prior to submitting the work plan for the 2016 field season. Other comments were to ensure that the proper number and frequency of field duplicates taken match the requirements in the 2016 Field Sampling Guidance and to sample for 1,4-dioxane since chlorinated solvents appear to be a COC. See site file for additional information. Louis Howard
5/24/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On behalf of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), I have reviewed the draft final Interim 2016 Remedial Action Report for SS003, SS004, SS006, and OTO10 at Nikolski RRS. ADEC has reviewed and commented on the work plan for follow-on work in 2016 which is based upon on this report. ADEC requests the field work interim reports precede the subsequent work plans in the future be at least forty five days. Please finalize this document. Louis Howard
2/6/2017 Update or Other Action ICs control report received for review and comment. ICs at Site SS004 (Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants [POL]Tank Area) and Site SS006 (Former Drum Storage Area) are part of the selected remedy for the Nikolski RRS Record of Decision (ROD) for each of the respective sites (USAF, 2013a,b). As a result of the findings of the 2015 Remedy Implementation, Site SS003 (POL Pipeline) was added to the 2016 IC inspection. ICs at SS004, SS006, and SS003 consist of the following: 1. Land Use Controls for each site will be incorporated into the 611th Civil Engineering Squadron Land Use Control Management Plan. 2. A Notice of Environmental Contamination will be placed in the Alaska Department of Natural Resources’ (ADNR’s) land records. 3. Warning signs placed at the boundary of each site will provide contact information for Land Use Control Management. See site file for additional information. Louis Howard
9/26/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff approved the draft final version of the Remedial Action Report as final. Louis Howard
12/12/2017 Institutional Control Record Established Institutional Controls established and entered into the database. Residual range organic soil contamination remains at the site beneath the Nikolski access road. If in the future, the road is removed where the contamination is present or "realigned", then the residual contamination will need to be addressed at that time. A notice of environmental contamination with institutional controls will need to be filed by AFEC with AK DNR Land Records by June 2018 documenting the location of the RRO soil contamination left in place. See site file for additional information. Louis Howard
12/12/2017 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued Cleanup complete with institutional controls determination made by ADEC. Based on the information provided to date, it has been determined by ADEC that the contaminant concentrations remaining on site do not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment and no further remedial action will be required as long as the institutional controls are established in a timely manner, maintained, effective and no new information becomes available that indicates residual contamination poses an unacceptable risk. See site file for additional information. Louis Howard
1/31/2018 Update or Other Action Draft RAO LTM report received for review and comment. Site observations at SS003 indicated the presence of occasional recreational land users, subsistence hunting, cattle, and wildlife. Two LUC warning signs were installed at the site in 2016. During the 2017 site inspection, one of the LUC signs was observed to be damaged and not standing, and the other LUC sign could not be located. The located signpost was sheared just above the ground surface, and was likely damaged by cattle in the area. The field staff stood the sign up and placed boulders around the base to prop the sign up, however it is recommended that two new LUC warning signs be installed at SS003. Revegetation along sections of the former pipeline corridor closer to High Hill is sparse in areas. However, along the coastal corridor running towards the former POL Tank Area (SS004) revegetation has been successful. See site file for additional information. Louis Howard
2/28/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Remedial Action – Operations/LTM Report for Nikolski RRS reviewed. Staff concurred with the recommendations for replacing two land use control signs at SS003 and recommends sturdier posts be used as well as stainless steel fasteners to secure the signage. See site file for additional information. Louis Howard
5/9/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff approved the Supplemental Work Plan for Various Sites at Nikolski RRS, Alaska dated April 2019. Louis Howard
9/8/2020 Update or Other Action DEC approved the "Final Supplemental Work Plan, 2020 Remedial Action Operations, Land Use/Institutional Control, Former Nikolski Radio Relay Station, Alasak, Sites LF001, OT001, SA593, SS003, SS004, TU019, and WP007” dated September 2020. This work plan addresses inspection of the institutional controls/land use controls, as well as groundwater, surface water, pore water, soil, and sediment sampling activities associated with long term monitoring (LTM) at the Former Nikolski Radio Relay Station Sites LF001, OT001, SA593, SS003, SS004, TU019, and WP007, located in Nikolski, Alaska. Melinda Brunner
6/1/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff provided comments on the 2021 Draft Final Uniform Federal Policy for Quality Assurance Project Plan for Long-Term Management and Remedial Action Operations Activities, Nikolski Radio Relay Station, Alaska, March 2021. The Work Plan described the approach and procedures for site-specific long-term management and remedial action-operation activities at Nikolski Radio Relay Station sites, including annual groundwater sampling for site SS004. The Work Plan covers work being performed over a 5-year period. Axl LeVan
6/24/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC reviewed and provided comments on the "2020 Remedial Action operations, Institutional Control/Land Use Control Report, Nikolski RRS, Alaska, May 2021", received on May 26, 2021. The report presented the results of the 2020 Long Term Maintenance (LTM) performed at the Former Nikolski Radio Relay Station sites LF001, OT001, SA593 (also known as SS006), SS003, SS004, TU019, and WP007. The site visit was conducted in September of 2020 and included groundwater sampling at Site SS004. Axl LeVan
8/17/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the "Final 2020 Remedial Action operations, Institutional Control/Land Use Control Report, Nikolski RRS, Alaska, August 2021", received on August 17, 2021. The report presented the results of the 2020 Long Term Maintenance (LTM) performed at the Former Nikolski Radio Relay Station sites LF001, OT001, SA593 (also known as SS006), SS003, SS004, TU019, and WP007. The site visit was conducted in September of 2020 and included groundwater sampling at Site SS004. Axl LeVan
8/20/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff approved the 2021 Final Uniform Federal Policy for Quality Assurance Project Plan for Long-Term Management and Remedial Action Operations Activities, Nikolski Radio Relay Station, Alaska, August 2021. The Work Plan described the approach and procedures for site-specific long-term management and remedial action-operation activities at Nikolski Radio Relay Station sites, including annual groundwater sampling for site SS004. The Work Plan covers work being performed over a 5-year period. Axl LeVan
7/21/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Contaminated Sites Program received a copy of the Draft-Final 2021 Land use/Institutional Controls and Long-Term Management Report, Nikolski Long Range Radar Site, June 2022 on June 27, 2022. This report presents the results of the 2021 Long-Term Monitoring (LTM) performed at the Former Nikolski Radio Relay Station Sites LF001, OT001, SA593, SS003, SS004, SS010, TU019, and WP007. This work was performed October 15 through 18, 2021 and included institution control (IC) and land use control (LUC) inspections. Groundwater sampling also occurred at site SS004. Axl LeVan
9/7/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Contaminated Sites Program approved the Final 2021 Land use/Institutional Controls and Long-Term Management Report, Nikolski Long Range Radar Site, August 2022 on August 26, 2022. This report presents the results of the 2021 Long-Term Monitoring (LTM) performed at the Former Nikolski Radio Relay Station Sites LF001, OT001, SA593, SS003, SS004, SS010, TU019, and WP007. This work was performed October 15 through 18, 2021 and included institution control (IC) and land use control (LUC) inspections. Groundwater sampling also occurred at site SS004. Axl LeVan
2/8/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC reviewed and approved the "Draft-Final 2022 Land Use/Institutional Controls and Long-Term Management Report, Nikolski Long Range Radar Site, January 2024". The remaining DEC comment was addressed by the most recent update to the document. Axl LeVan

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
RRO > Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil Residual range organics are not typically considered an inhalation risk.

Control Type

Type Details
Notice of Environmental Contamination Due in 180 days (June 2018) from AFCEC for SS003.

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.
Movement or use of contaminated material (including on site) in a manner that results in a violation of the water quality standards is prohibited (18 AAC 70)

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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