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Site Report: Yakutat AFB Army Airways Communication System Transmitter Station

Site Name: Yakutat AFB Army Airways Communication System Transmitter Station
Address: 1.5 Miles SW of Yakutat Airport; 1,000 Ft. W of Cannon Beach Road, Yakutat, AK 99689
File Number: 1530.38.001
Hazard ID: 26286
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 59.504791
Longitude: -139.714076
Horizontal Datum:WGS84

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

The Army Airways Communication System (AACS) Transmitter Station site is located about 1,000 feet west of Cannon Beach Road, approximately 1.5 miles southwest of the Yakutat Airport. A 1943 oblique aerial photograph shows that a gravel road, Radio Road, was constructed to the west of Cannon Beach Road to provide access to the AACS site. The aerial shows Radio Road continues to the northwest past the AACS site for approximately 2,860 feet, and loops back around to the AACS site. Two Quonset Huts were constructed at the AACS site; one to the east and one to the west of Radio Road. According to the 1984 Environmental Restoration Defense Account Debris Cleanup and Site Restoration Design, buildings in the AACS area were to be demolished, buried in excavation pits, and covered with soil. During a remedial investigation in 2010 DRO contaminated soil was found adjacent to an AST saddle. Elevated barium concentrations were also detected in surface water samples.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
7/12/2000 Update or Other Action ADEC reviewed the Draft Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Work Plan. The ADEC commented that the proposed work addresses only the site that the USACE determined were FUDS program eligible. Additional information was requested to determine whether the proposed work is sufficient to address hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants resulting from past military activities in and around Yakutat. Due to the time schedules for the contracts and proposed work, these determinations were agreed to be addressed at a later time. The AACS site was not included in the remedial investigation, but was recommended for further investigation. John Halverson
9/11/2000 Update or Other Action ADEC received the Final Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Work Plan. John Halverson
4/17/2003 Update or Other Action The ADEC received the Final 2001 Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study Report. The USACE did not request comments on the report, and it was not formally approved by ADEC. Debra Caillouet
4/5/2004 Update or Other Action A draft remedial investigation/feasibility study was reviewed. Access to the AACS site was not possible at the time of the investigation due to high surface water in the drainage ditch along the west side of Cannon Beach Road. Additional investigation was recommended for this area. The ADEC determined that each site had insufficient site characterization data available to select appropriate remedies or to effectively evaluate them against CERCLA criteria. Based on the information provided, the Feasibility Study is premature. ADEC recommended that the USACE not incur further expense to finalize the document until further site characterization was done. Work should occur to identify the data gaps and resolve them before any additional actions are taken. Debra Caillouet
8/19/2004 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff attended the Restorative Advisory Board meeting in Yakutat. Debra Caillouet
11/23/2004 Update or Other Action Response to comments on the draft feasibility study were received and reviewed. While the responses will add clarification to the document, DEC believes there is insufficient site characterization data. The Feasibility Study is premature. Work should occur to identify the data gaps and resolve them before any additional actions are taken. Debra Caillouet
1/13/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff attended the Restorative Advisory Board meeting in Yakutat. Debra Caillouet
1/17/2008 Update or Other Action ADEC Staff participated in a site visit to various sites around the Yakutat area. Snow inhibited access to many of the sites but the purpose of the trip was to get an understanding of the distribution of sites and to attend a Restoration Advisory Board Meeting. Jonathan Schick
8/13/2008 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC staff attended a Restoration Advisory Board meeting in the community of Yakutat. Debra Caillouet
3/7/2010 CERCLA FS ADEC Staff issued a letter to the USACE approving the finalization of the Feasibility Study Report as all of the State's comments have been responded to and incorporated in the document. The AACS site was not included in the feasibility study because additional investigation was warranted. Jonathan Schick
8/6/2010 Site Characterization Workplan Approved ADEC staff sent a letter to the USACE project manager approving the implementation of the final work plan for the Supplemental Remedial Investigation for several sites in Yakutat. The work plan included a remedial investigation at the AACS site. The field work is scheduled to begin immediately and will be continuing for approximately one month. Jonathan Schick
10/22/2010 CERCLA FS Contaminated Sites Staff submitted a letter to the US Army Corps of Engineers approving the Final Version of the Feasibility Study Report. The ACCS site was mentioned in the feasibility study, but was not evaluated. Additional investigation was recommended. Jonathan Schick
4/5/2012 Site Characterization Report Approved Contaminated Sites Staff submitted a letter to the US Army Corps of Engineers Remedial Project Manager approving the final version of the Supplemental Remedial Investigation Report. The report contained the agreed upon changes and the final version is approved. The report indicated that an AST saddle, drums, debris mounds, and excavation pits were observed at the site. Soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment samples were collected at the AACS site. Concentrations of DRO in surface soil, and barium in surface water exceed applicable cleanup and/or screening levels. Additional investigation was recommended for this site. Jonathan Schick
5/30/2014 Site Characterization Workplan Approved The ADEC Contaminated Site Program approved the 2014 Supplemental Remedial Investigation Work Plan. The objectives of the investigation at AACS were to 1) determine the nature and extent of POL-contaminated soil found near the concrete saddle; 2) determine the upgradient and down gradient concentrations of barium in surface water; 2) identify the possible source of barium in surface water. Jessica Morris
9/29/2014 Meeting or Teleconference Held The ADEC contaminated Sites staff participated in a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting, a tribal meeting, and site inspections in Yakutat with the Army Corps of Engineers to share information on the status of Formerly Used Defense Site investigation and cleanup activities around Yakutat. Jessica Morris
10/10/2014 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
10/14/2014 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79676 name: AACS Transmitter Station Jessica Morris
10/15/2015 Site Visit The ADEC contaminated Sites staff participated in a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting and site inspections in Yakutat with the Army Corps of Engineers to share information on the status of Formerly Used Defense Site investigation and cleanup activities around Yakutat. Jessica Morris
7/7/2016 Site Characterization Report Approved The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program approved the 2015 Final Supplemental Remedial Investigation Report for the Former Yakutat Air Base FUDS. The investigation results for the Army Airways Communication System (AACS) showed that contamination was below applicable regulatory criteria and risk standards. Therefore, site closure was recommended for AACS. Jessica Morris
10/11/2016 Site Visit The ADEC contaminated Sites staff participated in a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting and site inspections in Yakutat with the Army Corps of Engineers to share information on the status of Formerly Used Defense Site investigation and cleanup activities around Yakutat. Jessica Morris
10/9/2017 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program approved the Declaration of Project Closeout Decision for the Yakutat Air Base FUDS AACS Receiver Station Powerhouse. Jessica Morris

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil No contamination in groundwater above regulatory limits.

Control Type

Type Details
No ICs Required

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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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

P.O. Box 111800
Juneau, AK 99811-1800
Phone: 907-465-5066
Fax: 907-465-5245
TDD: 800-770-8973
Physical Location: 410 Willoughby