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Site Report: Duncan Canal Radio Relay Station

Site Name: Duncan Canal Radio Relay Station
Address: Duncan Canal, 9 Miles WSW of Petersburg, Petersburg, AK 99833
File Number: 1521.38.012
Hazard ID: 26
Status: Active
Staff: Anne Marie Palmieri, 9077663184 AnneMarie.Palmieri@alaska.gov
Latitude: 56.754200
Longitude: -133.169700
Horizontal Datum:

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

Site was formerly used as a WACs. Several contaminated material removals have been conducted at the facility without sampling to assess the site for all possible contaminant releases. Petroleum contamination is likely; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are possible due to the presence of transformers during a period of time when PCBs were commonly used in transformer oil.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
11/21/2003 Site Added to Database Petroleum release to soil and PCBs oils stored on-site. Bruce Wanstall
11/21/2003 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Preliminary ranking based on limited site assessment. Anne Marie Palmieri
12/23/2003 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed the 611th's site visit report. Preliminary Assessment is scheduled for FY05. Anne Marie Palmieri
5/20/2004 Site Number Identifier Changed Corrected Region from 11 to 12. Former Staff
4/28/2005 Update or Other Action Staff commented on the draft PA/SI report. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/14/2005 Update or Other Action Site visit conducted this date with the Air Force and USFS; field work for PA/SI. Anne Marie Palmieri
1/18/2006 Preliminary Assessment Approved PA/SI report approved this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/6/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held A public meeting and a tribal meeting were held in Petersburg on 6/6/06. A meeting with the tribe in Kake was held on 6/7/06. Information was given regarding the results of the PA/SI, future actions at the site, and establishing a RAB. 5 people attended the meetings in Petersburg; 3 people attended in Kake. Anne Marie Palmieri
4/27/2007 Update or Other Action Staff provided a letter this date concurring with the Air Force determination for no further investigation or action regarding the Composite Building, Mountain-top AST, Beach AST and Septic Outfall. No contamination was found at any of these sites in the 2005 PA/SI. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/20/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking ETM ranking Anne Marie Palmieri
7/26/2007 Update or Other Action DEC received a copy of a letter from EPA to the Air Force documenting EPA';s decision of No Further Remedial Action Planned under EPA's Superfund Program. This designation does not relieve the Air Force from complying with appropriate State of Alaska regulations. The facility will remain on the Federal Agency Hazardous Waste Compliance Docket, but will be listed for no further action under the EPA Superfund Program. John Halverson
10/18/2007 Meeting or Teleconference Held Triad meeting in Anchorage with USFS, USAF, USACE, Weston, and ADEC. Anne Marie Palmieri
1/10/2008 Update or Other Action A letter was sent this date which documented DEC concurrence with a USAF request to close four sites: 1) SS008: water pumphouse; 2) TA003: 5,000 gallon AST; 3) TU001: 20,000 gallon UST; 4) 1,500 gallon UST. These four sites could not be located during the 2005 PA/SI field activities. In the 1986 demolition of the buildings and other structures, all of the debris and surface soil was pushed against the side of the mountain and covered with soil and shotrock. This debris cell is going to be investigated by the USAF. It is likely that if there is any contamination associated with these sites, that it has been moved into the debris cell and is comingled with all of the other contamination from the rest of the facility. If future contamination is found at these areas, the USAF will be required to address it. Letter is on the Juneau G: drive in the contaminated site electronic files. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/23/2008 CERCLA RI Plan Approved Workplan approved this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
8/25/2009 CERCLA RI Report Approved Final Remedial Investigation and the Final Site Investigation were approved this date. Copies of the reports are on the Juneau g:drive. Anne Marie Palmieri
12/11/2009 Site Characterization Report Approved Final report for SS003b Rock Quarry approved this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
2/4/2010 Site Characterization Report Approved Final Remedial Investigation Supplemental Sampling report (Jan. 2010) was approved this date. Report covers additional sampling at Debris Disposal Area 001 conducted in fall 2008. Report is located in juneau g:drive. Anne Marie Palmieri
2/4/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Initial Screening of Alternatives report approved this date. Report is located in the juneau g:drive Anne Marie Palmieri
6/11/2010 Meeting or Teleconference Held A comment resolution meeting was held to discuss comments made by DEC and USFS on the draft Feasibility Study. The final FS should be released in the next few weeks. Anne Marie Palmieri
7/28/2010 Meeting or Teleconference Held A meeting was held with the FS, USAF, AT&T, and DEC to discuss logistics for the 7/29 site visit as well as how the different agencies will work together (roles/responsibilities) during the development of the record of decision and cleanup. Anne Marie Palmieri
7/29/2010 Site Visit Joint site visit with FS, USAF, AT&T, and DEC. Anne Marie Palmieri
10/4/2010 CERCLA FS Feasibility Study report approved this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/28/2011 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meetings have been held every 3-4 weeks over the past year between the USFS, USAF, AT&T and DEC. In a meeting today, DEC was informed that discussions regarding legal issues between the USAF and USFS have remained unresolved. As resolution was not made prior to the contracting deadlines, the USAF has reprogrammed FY11 funding to another site. FY12 funding may be available. Anne Marie Palmieri
8/5/2011 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter PRP letter sent to the USFS. Response requested within 30 days. Anne Marie Palmieri
8/2/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided comments on a USFS work plan for a limited sampling event. USAF-USFS discussions on future actions continue. Anne Marie Palmieri
3/9/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided significant comments on the USAF draft Record of Decision for all 6 sites. Anne Marie Palmieri
4/19/2013 Cleanup Level(s) Approved Cleanup levels for all 6 sites at the former facility approved this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
8/15/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided significant comments on the USAF's draft Record of Decision. DEC requested that the USAF break the ROD into two documents -- one for the 3 petroleum sites and another for the 3 CERCLA sites. The USAF agreed to do this. Anne Marie Palmieri
10/30/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff provided comments on the draft Decision Document for the 3 petroleum sites to the USAF. Anne Marie Palmieri
1/24/2014 Update or Other Action Decision Document for SS001 (Barrel Dump Site), SS002 (Generator Building) and SS003 (Fuel Pump House and Rock Quarry) signed this date. Petroleum contaminated soil at these three sites will be excavated and shipped to an approved landfill in Washington State. Anne Marie Palmieri
2/28/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff provided comments to the USAF on the 3 CERCLA Records of Decision. Anne Marie Palmieri
3/14/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff reviewed the tech memo for Landfill #1 and did not have any comments on this document for the USAF. Anne Marie Palmieri
4/21/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff reviewed the draft work plan for the 2014 cleanup and provided comments to the USAF. Anne Marie Palmieri
5/12/2014 CERCLA ROD Approved Records of Decision were signed this date for: DA001 (Former RRS Dump Site), SS004 (Drum Storage and Burial Site), and SS006 (Demolition Debris Site). Anne Marie Palmieri
6/17/2014 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff met with USAF, USFS, and Bhate staff to resolve agency comments on the 2014 cleanup plan. DEC staff plan to visit the site during the excavation of DA001. Anne Marie Palmieri
7/3/2014 CERCLA Remedial Design/Remedial Action Plan Approved The remedial action plan/quality assurance project plan (QAPP) was approved this date. The plan covers the cleanup of all source areas at the former radio relay station. The USAF consultant will mobilize to the site on July 7, 2014. Field work will be completed during the 2014 field season. Anne Marie Palmieri
8/22/2014 Site Visit DEC conducted a site visit with the USAF, and USFS. CS concerns about field activities centered around management of water in and around the excavations due to the very rainy summer. Anne Marie Palmieri
8/27/2014 Enforcement Action DEC sent a Compliance Advisory Letter to the USAF contractor, Bhate, regarding water management. CS requested additional information as a Storm Water Pollution Protection Plan, as an addendum to the QAPP. A due date of 9/3 was given. Anne Marie Palmieri
9/5/2014 Cleanup Plan Approved The requested SWPPP was received on 9/3 from Bhate. This document was approved by CS on 9/5. Anne Marie Palmieri
5/27/2015 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with USAF and Bhate regarding the 2015 work plan. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/2/2015 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with USAF and Bhate about the 2015 field work. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/15/2015 Cleanup Plan Approved The 2015 work plan was approved this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/20/2015 Site Visit Site visit with the USAF to see the excavation of the debris landfill. Anne Marie Palmieri
7/30/2015 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated on a teleconference with USAF and Bhate regarding field issues. Bhate plans on leaving the site in early-mid August. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/3/2016 Long Term Monitoring Established Draft letter work plan for long term monitoring of groundwater wells approved this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
7/11/2016 Update or Other Action DEC was notified on this date that due to a laboratory problem, the previously collected groundwater samples were not usable. Field work to resample the wells will occur the week of July 25. Anne Marie Palmieri
11/29/2016 Update or Other Action A cleanup complete letter for SS004 was issued on this date. A copy of the letter is attached to the database. Anne Marie Palmieri
11/30/2016 Update or Other Action DEC issued a cleanup complete letter for operable units SS001, SS002, and SS003 on this date. A copy of the letter has been attached to the database. The remaining open operable units are SS006 (mountain-top landfill) and DA001 (mountain top debris disposal area). The USAF has stated that it intends on addressing DA001 in the next year or so, depending on funding. Anne Marie Palmieri
1/9/2017 Update or Other Action ADEC sent a letter to the USAF regarding the cleanup requirements for the contamination found at SS17, located near DA001. The USFS characterization of the area found only petroleum and metals contamination. Anne Marie Palmieri
5/1/2017 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff met with the USAF, USFS, and USAF contractor for scoping of the DA001 cleanup this summer. A site visit is planned for June 22, 2017. Anne Marie Palmieri
5/5/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The 2017 Long Term Monitoring Event report was approved this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/9/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC reviewed and provided comments on the draft remedial action work plan for DA001. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/22/2017 Site Visit DEC staff visited the site and discussed the planned work at DA001 with the USAF, USAF contractors, and the USFS. Anne Marie Palmieri
7/19/2017 CERCLA Remedial Design/Remedial Action Plan Approved The remedial action plan for DA001 was approved this date. The USAF plans to excavate all remaining contamination at this site this summer. Anne Marie Palmieri
9/13/2017 Cleanup Plan Approved DEC approved a work plan addendum to clean up limited contamination at SS17, located adjacent to DA001. The contaminants of concern are petroleum and lead. The Air Force will excavate the contaminated soil and backfill with clean fill. Work is planned to begin this week. Anne Marie Palmieri
11/13/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On this date, DEC approved the 2017 Long Term Monitoring Report for SS006. During the 2017 field inspection, no structural concerns or deficiencies were found with the engineered cap. The signs were replaced. DEC requested that new signs be installed in 2018 which state that a landfill is present and specify "no digging allowed". Anne Marie Palmieri
1/8/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC reviewed and approved the temporary monitoring well decommission report for SS001, SS002, and SS003 on this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
2/28/2018 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Follow-up sampling from the area used for staging supersacks in 2018 showed low-levels of PCBs and DRO. A work plan for additional sampling in this area to was approved this date. The field work is planned to begin on March 12, 2018. Anne Marie Palmieri
8/1/2018 CERCLA Remedial Action Completion Report The Site Closeout Report for DA001 was approved on this date. All of the contaminated soil and debris at DA001 and SS17 was excavated and properly disposed of. The USAF is currently finalizing an Explanation of Significant Differences to address changes in cleanup levels for chromium and chloroform. When the ESD is finalized, the site can be closed. Anne Marie Palmieri
9/6/2018 Cleanup Level(s) Approved The Explanation of Significant Differences for DA001 was finalized by the USAF on this date. The cleanup levels for chromium and chloroform were revised to be consistent with the newly promulgated values. Anne Marie Palmieri
12/21/2018 Update or Other Action A cleanup complete letter was issued for DA001 on this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
2/5/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff reviewed and approved the December 2020 Environmental Long Term Monitoring report for SS006 on this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
2/11/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff provided comments on the draft Five Year Review. Anne Marie Palmieri
5/17/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC reviewed the USAF's responses to DEC's comments on the draft 5 year review and provided a written response. Anne Marie Palmieri
8/12/2022 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff met with the US Air Force and US Forest Service to discuss remaining actions that need to be conducted at the site. Anne Marie Palmieri
12/2/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff provided concurrence on the 2022 Five Year Review. Signed report is attached. Anne Marie Palmieri
8/9/2023 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC met with the USAF and USFS to discuss actions remaining at the site prior to closure. Anne Marie Palmieri
8/10/2023 Site Visit DEC conducted a site visit with the USFS and USAF. Anne Marie Palmieri
3/20/2024 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC staff met with the USAF today to discuss site issues, including details about the Explanation of Significant Differences for the Record of Decision for SS006. Anne Marie Palmieri

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details
Hazard ID Site Name File Number
3281 AT&T Alascom Duncan Canal Repeater 1521.38.004

Missing Location Data

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

P.O. Box 111800
Juneau, AK 99811-1800
Phone: 907-465-5066
Fax: 907-465-5245
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