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Site Report: Bethel BIA Headquarters

Site Name: Bethel BIA Headquarters
Address: 4 Miles West of Bethel, Bethel, AK 99559
File Number: 2407.38.007
Hazard ID: 2899
Status: Active
Staff: Tim Sharp, 9074512131 tim.sharp@alaska.gov
Latitude: 60.785381
Longitude: -161.881143
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

Petroleum and PCB contamination, an abandoned sewage lagoon containing low level PCBs, and fuel tanks including a bulk storage tank farm, all were left at this inactive site. The site as defined for this cleanup consists of 27 acres of land which had been used by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It had been part of a much larger site withdrawn from public land for military use. The Air Force developed a portion of the site in 1957 which served as the Aircraft Control and Warning portion of the White Alice Communication System. It later was used as part of the Radio Relay Site. Of the original military withdrawal, 1,467 acres were declared excess and have been portioned out to other land managers and owners over the years. Portions that were transferred out of Department of Defense control may be eligible for investigation and cleanup under the FUDS Program. The Department of Interior (DOI) was given control of 125 acres in 1963. Public law 102-497 stipulates that the Air Force and BIA will jointly cleanup 27 acres of the site so that land can be transferred to the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation. The Air Force and BIA entered into an agreement on how they would jointly conduct any necessary cleanup. In 1993 an estimated 100,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from a line connected to one of the above ground bulk fuel storage tanks. That spill is being addressed by the Department of Interior, BIA and ADEC. In 2010, USFWS documented PCBs and pesticides in the Composite Building and adjacent to the lagoon on Bethel Native Corporation Land. As of 2018, the land resides with USFWS. Composite Building has caught fire twice - 2010 and 2017, the results the from the latter are still unknown.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
6/15/1991 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). The Air Force conducted a Site Investigation in 1991. Issues of concern on the 13 acre FUDS parcel include petroleum and PCB contamination. Additional investigation and possible cleanup are necessary. Petroleum and PCB contamination present at the 27 acre site. John Halverson
3/1/1992 Update or Other Action Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted a preliminary assessment. John Halverson
7/27/1994 Interim Removal Action Approved ADEC received an addendum to previously submitted workplan documents. With this submittal the workplans were determined to be complete and were approved. Called for excavation of petroleum contaminated soil and placement in bioremediation cells to be constructed on the 14 acre Radio Relay Site, which is still controlled by the Air Force. The plan was implemented over the summer and late into the fall. John Halverson
2/9/1995 Update or Other Action ADEC received the Field and Analytical Report for the Interim Removal of Contaminated Soil at the BIA Site, Bethel Alaska, prepared by the 611 CES. Approximately 7000 cubic yards of petroleum contaminated soil were excavated and stockpiled at the RRS. Site characterization indicates there is still a fairly significant volume of residual soil contamination at the site. John Halverson
9/5/1995 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Addendum to Sampling/Analysis and Quality Assurance/Quality Control and Site Safety and Health Plans dated August 1995 and received by ADEC on this date. Sammi Castle
9/29/1995 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Bioremediation Treatment Cell Development, Operation, and Maintenance Workplan dated September 1995 received by ADEC on this date. Sammi Castle
2/2/1996 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Baseline Sampling July and October, 1995 Bioremediation Treatment Cell Bethel BIA Site dated January 1996 and received by ADEC on this date. Sammi Castle
2/18/1996 Site Characterization Report Approved ADEC received the final Site Characterization Report, Bethel BIA Administrative Site, by EMCON, dated February 1996. John Halverson
4/18/1996 Risk Assessment Report Approved ADEC received the final Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment Report, Bethel BIA Administrative Site, by EMCON, dated April 1996. John Halverson
7/18/1996 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Final Quality Program Plan Addendum for Remedial Actions at the Bureau of Indian Affairs Administrative Site dated July 1996 and received by ADEC on this date. Sammi Castle
9/10/1996 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Asbestos Abatement Activity Report performed by USAF received by DEC on this date. Sammi Castle
10/2/1996 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Final Quality Program Plan Addendum for Remedial Action at the BIA Administrative Site Bethel, Alaska dated September 1996 and received by DEC on this date. Sammi Castle
12/23/1996 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Technical Memorandum for Sampling Activities Conducted Under Contract No. DACA85-93-D-0013 Delivery Oder 018, June 1996. Dated December 1996 and received on this date. Sammi Castle
1/24/1997 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Performance Report Bioremediation Treatment Cell Bethel BIA Site dated January 1997 and received by DEC on this date. Sammi Castle
2/19/1997 Site Added to Database Site added by Shannon and Wilson. S&W-Miner
12/11/1997 Proposed Plan ADEC received the final version of the Proposed Plan. Public meeting on the plan was held in Bethel on December 15th. John Halverson
7/17/1998 Cleanup Plan Approved ADEC reviewed and commented on the draft remedial action plan and associated documents prepared by BNCI. Several issues needed clarification or resolution. A comment resolution meeting was held and the contractor proceeded with implementing field work. John Halverson
7/20/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC sent a letter to the Air Force recommending it test for PCBs inside the former WACS building since the ultimate objective of the cleanup is to transfer the land and building to YKHC; similar WACS buildings in Alaska have often had PCB contamination in the generator rooms and adjacent areas. John Halverson
10/1/1998 Record of Decision ROD has been signed by the Air Force, BIA and ADEC. It specified: surface soil in the garage (Building 413) contaminated with PCB (less than 10 mg/kg) will be excavated and placed in the landfill at the RRS (if > 10 mg/kg PCB is found it will be shipped to a permitted disposal facility); surface soil outside building 413 that contains low levels of DDT will be excavated and disposed of at the landfill at the RRS; the sewage lagoon will be dewatered, capped and institutional controls will be established documenting the lagoon closure and limitation on future development over it; stockpiled soil from earlier removal actions will be characterized and either treated or used as fill; the biocell at the RRS will be operated until total petroleum hydrocarbon levels are below 1000 mg/kg. John Halverson
11/13/1998 Update or Other Action The Air Force formally notified ADEC that when removing soil from inside the garage area, PCBs were not found however, petroleum contaminated soil was encountered. It was removed to a depth of 4' below ground surface and further excavation was limited due to building foundation/footings. Air Force proposed removing two more feet in depth, placing a liner, backfilling with clean soil and noting the residual contamination in the property transfer documents. John Halverson
11/27/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC responded to and concurred with the Air Force letter of November 13. John Halverson
1/7/1999 Update or Other Action Air Force notified ADEC that wipe samples from concrete in the former generator room and a transformer room contained PCBs above the TSCA cleanup levels for non-porous surfaces in high contact areas. Coordination between the Air Force, ADEC and EPA followed. The Air Force modified its cleanup contract with BNC to include washing and triple rinsing the area following TSCA procedure and re-sampling. John Halverson
1/11/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC sent the Air Force a letter approving transporting nineteen 85-gallon drums of petroleum contaminated soil to Alaska Soil Recycling for thermal treatment. Documentation of treatment/disposal to be included in the final report. John Halverson
4/5/1999 Update or Other Action Air Force notified ADEC that cleaning the concrete was not successful, confirmation samples showed four areas with residual PCB level exceeding the cleanup levels. John Halverson
4/23/1999 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Final Bethel BIA Administration Site Development of Risk-Based Cleanup Levels and Corrective Action Alternatives Report dated April 1999 and received by ADEC on this date. Sammi Castle
5/7/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC reviewed and provided comments to the Air Force on the draft Bethel BIA 27 Acre Administrative Site Lagoon Dewatering and Capping Project, Technical Report dated February 1999. Several items need to be clarified in the final report. These will be addressed in the final site cleanup report that will include documentation on the PCB contaminated concrete cleanup. John Halverson
6/9/1999 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC received the Final Report for Sampling Activities Conducted Under Contract No. DACA85-94-D-0016. Work completed under this project included groundwater sampling of wells located between the 27-acre BIA site and the 14-acre USAF site, bioattenuation soil sampling of surface soils in the foot print of a historical 1993 fuel-oil spill, and PCB wipe sampling of the floor surface of the electrical generation and distribution facility within Building 413 on the 27-acre BIA site. Sammi Castle
6/9/1999 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Final 1998 Performance Report Bioremediation Treatment Cell dated March 1999 and received by ADEC on this date. Activities conducted during 1998 operating season included continuation of the treatment and discharge of precipitation water that had accumulated in the biocell and the collection of performance samples after three seasons of biocell operation. Sammi Castle
10/7/1999 Interim Removal Action Approved ADEC received the draft Report for 1996 Remedial Actions at the BIA Administrative Site, Bethel, prepared by EMCON, and dated October 1997. It documents additional petroleum contaminated soil excavation and placement in the biocell, capping low level DRO contaminated soil, additional site characterization in the former sewage lagoon (characterizing low level PCB contamination), and supra permafrost groundwater monitoring. John Halverson
10/7/1999 Update or Other Action Per Air Force, their contractor is cutting concrete out from the floor around each sampling point that exceeded cleanup levels. Planned to remove 5'X5'X12" deep around each point and then take core samples; found out floor is 4" of concrete, 2" cork and then another 4" of concrete. Initial results indicate only the top 4" is impacted, however, the PCB extends laterally farther than they anticipated. Work is continuing. Will compile a cleanup report for all work done in 1996-1999. John Halverson
3/23/2000 Update or Other Action ADEC reviewed and commented on the draft Performance Report Bioremediation Treatment Cell, by EMCON, dated December 1999. The majority of the treatment cell has been flooded since 1996 and efforts to dewater it have not been successful. During 1999 water in the bottom of the cell was determined to be frozen and reportedly did not thaw during the summer. Air injection lines in the lower portion of the cell were determined to be in this frozen layer. The Air Force recommended changing the soil cleanup levels to the Arctic Zone level in 18 AAC 75. ADEC responded that the Arctic Zone levels are not applicable at this site, but that the Air Force may be able to demonstrate that an alternative level using method three is applicable. If this is done, it would warrant further community involvement and would require an amendment to the Record of Decision. ADEC requested evaluation of alternative treatment technologies and/or a much more aggressive dewatering effort. John Halverson
4/4/2000 Update or Other Action ADEC reviewed and commented on the draft PCB removal report, prepared by BNC. Several issues need to be clarified in the report. ADEC also requested clarification on whether documentation on cleanup work done in 1998 will be included in the PCB cleanup report or if a separate report will be finalized (see May 7, 1999 action above). John Halverson
5/30/2000 Update or Other Action ADEC received the Final Technical Report for PCB Removal at the Bethel BIA - 27 Acre Administration Site, Building 413, by BNCI. The report documents that PCB contaminated concrete was removed from portions of the generator and transformer rooms and that samples from the remaining concrete met cleanup levels. John Halverson
5/31/2000 Update or Other Action ADEC received the Final Technical Report August 1999 for BIA 27 Acre Administration Site Lagoon Dewatering and Capping Project, prepared by BNCI. The report documents cleanup work completed at the sewage lagoon, management of soil removed from the lower lagoon, dewatering the upper lagoon and capping both the upper and lower lagoon, soil removal within building 413 and efforts to wash PCBs from concrete in the building. John Halverson
10/25/2000 Conditional Closure Approved ADEC sent a letter to the Air Force stating that no further cleanup is required. An institutional control still needs to be established by placing a notice in the property transfer documents. The land is slated to be transferred from the federal government to the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation in the near future. John Halverson
1/1/2001 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Year 2000 Biocell Performance Report - Bethel BIA Administrative Site dated January 2001. Sammi Castle
9/17/2001 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Groundwater Use Determination Bethel Biocell Site dated September 2001 and received by ADEC on this date. Sammi Castle
10/16/2001 Site Number Identifier Changed Workplan changed from X1 for oil to X9 for hazardous substances (PCBs and pesticides present). John Halverson
1/24/2002 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Field Activities Report for Biocell Performance and Sampling Activities received by ADEC on this date. Sammi Castle
10/14/2002 Update or Other Action START 2 PA July 2002. Two tracts owned by Bethel Native Corp. investigated. Tract A is the southern one and contains two borrow pits with drums and debris on the east side of borrow pit (BP) 1. Two surface samples were collected, results were all below ADEC Method II levels, but low level (22 ug/kg) PCBs were present in one sample. EPA assigned a no further action status under CERCLA. Debra Caillouet
10/29/2002 Update or Other Action DEC and the Air Force signed an Explanation of Significant Difference amending the ROD for the ex-site soil treatment at the Radio Relay Site. Following plan review and approval, the biocell will be dismantled and the petroleum contaminated soil will be landfarmed. John Halverson
11/4/2002 Update or Other Action DEC received a copy of a letter from EPA to the Bethel Native Corporation stating it completed a Preliminary Assessment on the site and determined No Further Action is needed under the federal Superfund Program. John Halverson
3/14/2003 Update or Other Action DEC reviewed and commented on a workplan for dismantling the biocell and creating a landfarm in which petroleum contaminated soil would be tilled to promote bioremediation. Several concerns were raised and requested to be incorporated into the final workplan. John Halverson
6/30/2003 Update or Other Action DEC received the final workplan for the Bethel BIA Biocell Remedial Action, Bethel Radio Relay Station. Bob Glascott
10/14/2003 Update or Other Action After the NFRAP letter was signed in 2000, the administrative building at the site was destroyed in a fire, the remaining portions of the structure are heavily damaged. Also, it has been determined that the USFW has jurisdiction over the property, rather than BIA. All involved parties had thought BIA still had jurisdiction. These issues have complicated the land transfer to YKHC and establishment of institutional controls, which have yet to be developed. John Halverson
2/8/2005 Update or Other Action DEC received a Final Technical Memorandum on the biocell landfarming remedial action. The report describes tilling of the soil, site monitoring and confirmation sampling and results. It recommends no further action on the landfarmed soil. John Halverson
4/8/2005 Update or Other Action Unable to locate a copy of the final workplan for the biocell dismantling and landfarming or a report on the work. John Halverson
6/10/2005 Update or Other Action Copies of the biocell dimantling and landfarm setup workplan and tech memo were found, DEC received them on June 30 and Dec 19, 2003. John Halverson
6/10/2005 Update or Other Action DEC sent the Air Force a letter approving the soil treatment/landfarming and stating no further soil treatment is required. Institutional controls still need to be established for the former BIA headquarters site. John Halverson
5/15/2009 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff met with BIA and their contractor to discuss characterization needs prior to land transfer. Debra Caillouet
7/10/2009 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Site Investigation Workplan received on July 6, 2009. Staff prepared comment on the draft Site Investigation plan. Debra Caillouet
1/20/2010 CERCLA PA ADEC received the final 2009 Preliminary Assessment Report that was conducted by the USFWS. Curtis Dunkin
6/8/2010 CERCLA SI ADEC received the draft 2009 Site Investigation Report that was conducted by the USFWS. ADEC staff reviewed the draft report and participated in a planning meeting with representatives from the USFWS and their contractor to discuss ADEC's preliminary comments on the draft report as well as ADEC's request that the USFWS conduct future work and also development and implement adequate and appropriate institutional controls. The USFWS informed ADEC that at the current time the USFWS did not have funding available to complete the draft report. Curtis Dunkin
10/19/2010 CERCLA SI ADEC staff contacted the USFWS to follow up on the status of finalizing the draft 2009 SI report. The USFWS currently does not have an RPM assigned to this site, and further follow up will be necessary to complete the draft SI report and determine the required future actions to achieve protectiveness. Curtis Dunkin
12/1/2016 Meeting or Teleconference Held CS managers participate in the annual FUDS site management action plan meeting. The purpose of the is to collaborate with FUDS management on site progress and prioritization for all of the formerly used defense sites. FUDS prioritization is based on risk, congressional interest, state input and proximity to other sites on the prioritization list. FUDS has increased environmental restoration funding in Alaska for the 2017 and 2018 field seasons to meet National goals for site progress. Darren Mulkey
5/25/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC Approval - Remedial Investigation and Limited Removal Report for the Bethel Airport and Bethel BIA Headquarters, FUDS. This work addresses the 18 acre parcel only at the former BIA Headquarters area. POL and related contaminants were present in the Pit 3 Area, Drum Storage Areas (1 and 2), the 4,000-Gallon Fuel Storage Area, and the Kerosene Drum Area. Subsurface contamination is present to 8 ft bgs in Pit 3, 6 ft bgs in Drum Storage Area (Area 1), and 4 ft in Drum Storage Area (Area 2). Solvents (TCE) were present in the Pit 3 Area at 7 ft bgs. Further delineation work remains for several sites. Gretchen Caudill
4/11/2018 Site Reopened Based on new information including: the documentation of PCBs in soil above cleanup levels inside and outside of Building 413 from the presence of PCB-paint, the documentation of PCBs in soil outside of the fenced lagoon cap, and changes in DEC's POL cleanup levels the Bethel BIA HQ site consisting of the 27 acre parcel is reopened. Gretchen Caudill
4/23/2018 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter PRP letters have been provided to the BIA, USFWS, and USAF. Gretchen Caudill
4/23/2018 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 73875 name: auto-generated pm edit Bethel BIA Headquarters Gretchen Caudill
6/28/2018 Update or Other Action Request for response to PRP notification sent to BIA, USFWS, and USAF. Response requested within 15 days. Gretchen Caudill
8/6/2018 Update or Other Action DEC Request for Interim Engineering Controls. Known conditions at the site are currently not protective of human health and as the landowner, USFWS should prevent exposure to site visitors and trespassers by implementing controls to inform and prevent access. DEC is requesting interim engineering controls be placed on the site as follows access to areas of known contamination should be restricted by fencing or other means; and trespassers should be alerted to the presence of hazardous substances by signage. DEC requested a response within 30 days with a plan to implement institutional controls on the site. Gretchen Caudill
9/7/2018 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting was held between USFWS, DEC, and USAF to determine past and future actions on the site. Discussion of engineering controls also took place. DEC was made aware actions since the 2010 SI Have been conducted without DEC oversight. DEC has requested these documents. BIA did not attend the meeting. D Gretchen Caudill
1/3/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC Comments - 2010 Site Investigation Report for Bethel BIA 27-Acre Parcel provided to USFWS. Gretchen Caudill
2/14/2019 Update or Other Action Documents requested from USFWS: • 2011 Hazard Abatement • 2012 Soil Sampling • 2016 Cost Estimate for cleanup activities (YKHC) Gretchen Caudill
2/15/2019 Update or Other Action 2012 Soil Sampling and 2011 Hazard Abatement provided to DEC Gretchen Caudill
2/19/2019 Update or Other Action Document requested from YKHC - 2016 Cost Estimate for cleanup activities Gretchen Caudill
5/2/2019 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting was held with USFWS to discuss plans for the site. USFWS intends to build a fence to comply with DEC's request for engineering controls at Building 413 to prevent exposure through trespass. Future plans include demo of all facilities. Responsibility for future cleanup work remains undefined. Comprehensive meeting notes are included in the site file. Gretchen Caudill
6/10/2019 Update or Other Action A letter was provided to BIA and USAF advising them of demolition work scheduled for the facility and their responsibility for characterization and cleanup work at the Composite Building 413 upon demolition. BIA and USAF were also made aware of the failing remedy and the closed and capped sewage lagoon and their responsibility to address migrating contamination and fencing failures. A plan was requested by July 10. Gretchen Caudill
9/20/2019 Site Visit Visited the Bethel BIA site on the invitation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Viewed remaining structures and institutional controls. Sat in on meetings and public consultation regarding the cultural and historical value of the site. Took photos of the site and discussed plans for demolition, cleanup, and beneficial reuse of the site. There is a recurring problem of trespassers on the site, new fences and gate to be installed and demolition of structures attracting trespassers will commence in a piece-by-piece fashion. Kevin Fraley
9/23/2019 Update or Other Action DEC issued a concurrence letter for the FUDS Bethel Aircraft Control and Warning Station Fuel Drums Project F10AK0510-01 Closeout Report. This report concludes the Remedial Investigation and CON/HTRW removal for the F10AK0510-01 project. Diesel Range Organics (DRO) and fuel constituent cleanup level exceedances were found in soil at the Pit 3 Area, Drum Storage Area 1, 4,000-Gallon Fuel Storage and Drum Storage Area 2, and the Kerosene Drum Area. Additionally, a used vehicle battery and three 55-gallon drums were removed from the site and properly disposed. Soil samples from the drum locations showed exceedances for diesel range organics (DRO), ethylbenzene, xylenes, naphthalene, 1-methylnapthalene, and 2-methylnapthalene. Sampling of soil beneath the battery location showed no exceedances of cleanup levels. It is stated that an upcoming project (F10AK51002) will be undertaken in FY21 to address the remaining TCE and petroleum contamination in the soil at the site. Kevin Fraley
12/17/2019 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80527 name: Broken lead acid batteries. Broken lead acid batteries were found at 3 locations within the Bethel AC&W Dump Site during the 2019 ONC NALEMP Debris Removal project. Batteries were removed and disposed of. Because soil samples were not taken at the locations the batteries was found, and the batteries were broken indicating a release, a new source area has been added until potential contamination can be ruled out. Kevin Fraley
3/31/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the Final Demolition Work Plan, Bureau of Indian Affairs Bethel Headquarters, Bethel, AK Dated December 2019. Demolition of eleven buildings, the sewer line, and aboveground piping at the Bethel BIA Headquarters is planned. Hazardous materials previously surveyed or that may be opportunistically encountered such as oils, asbestos-containing material, generators, fridges, tanks, and HVAC equipment will be abated or removed before demolition occurs. Areas previously found to have paint with lead or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) contamination, and the sewer pipe known to contain PCBs, will be handled and disposed of separately. Following the demolition, areas with physical hazards will be graded and lightly backfilled, but no further site restoration will occur until a planned site investigation to characterize the remaining contamination at the site is conducted. Kevin Fraley
6/30/2021 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC CS held a meeting with FWS and SW to discuss the current SOW for the site and to get a path forward for the work plan. Topics of concern that should be covered in a following work plan: Amt of asbestos remaining in debris, determination of contaminants of concern (PCBs, ACM, dioxins, furans, arsenic, DRO, etc), delineation of PCB contaminated sediment samples that may be migrating/deposited on refuge land, sewage line releases, refrigerant trailer contaminants, and utility pole contaminants. Also discussed construction of a one-time monofill for asbestos. 2020 Demo report is expected in August. Tim Sharp
9/13/2021 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 73875 auto-generated pm edit Bethel BIA Headquarters. Tim Sharp
11/29/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the 2020 Demolition Work Plan developed by Ahtna, submitted Oct 26 2021. The work plan was an amendment of the 2020 Demolition Work Plan developed by Bratslavsky. DEC requires work plans to be approved before work is completed at the site, and FWS neglected to submit the newer version for review before demolition was completed. The Ahtna work plan was reviewed and DEC found no comments of note, and the original approved work plan had been attached as an amendment. Given these factors, DEC approved the work plan while alerting FWS of the violation. Tim Sharp
11/29/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC sent comments on the 2020 Demolition Report. Multiple sections expected are missing, such as sample results, recommendations, figures, and deviations from the work plan. Lead and PCB contaminated waste was also removed from site without obtaining a transport approval form from DEC beforehand. All buildings on site were demolished save for the foundation of the main HQ building, which contained more ACM that couldn't be remediated under the current contract. Future removal is recommended, and FWS has been referred to SW for further information on ACM disposal. Tim Sharp
5/19/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC sent comments on the Draft Work Plan for Supplemental Phase II ESA, which details soil and groundwater sampling in the vicinity of two Drum Area areas of concern (AOC), the “Pit 3” AOC, and the Former Building 413 AOC. Additionally, asbestos will be investigated under the slab of Building 413, at other former buildings, and in stockpiles of building materials. Tim Sharp
6/2/2022 Site Visit DEC conducted a site visit of the recently demolished BIA HQ building and surrounding area. All buildings except the cement footprint of the HQ building have been removed. The sewage lagoon is fenced off in good condition. Some debris still present, with at least one drum present off the trail in the woods to the south. Tim Sharp
6/9/2022 Site Characterization Workplan Approved DEC approved the Limited Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Work Plan. Substantive work planned is unchanged from previous comment. Minor clarifications added to the work plan. Tim Sharp
7/8/2022 Site Characterization Workplan Approved DEC approved a request to deviate from the sampling methodology described in the "Final Work Plan for Limited Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), Bethel Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Administrative Site, Bethel AK" dated June 2022, and instead sample with bailers and do no purging of the monitoring wells during the 2022 field season. The monitoring wells will be sampled for diesel range organics only. Melinda Brunner
9/28/2022 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 73875 auto-generated pm edit Bethel BIA Headquarters. Tim Sharp
4/12/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC reviewed the Limited Phase II Site Assessment (SA) Report for the Bethel BIA Administrative Site. The SA details efforts to characterize soil contamination present at the BIA Administrative Site, also known as Building 413, as well as contamination identified on the southeastern portion of the property. These other areas were identified as the 4000-gallon Fuel AST Area, the Kerosene Buried Drum Area, the Drum Storage Area, and the Pit 3 Area. 21 soil borings were advanced and sampled for one or more of the following, as appropriate: diesel and residual range organics (DRO, RRO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The report states that the 4000-gallon Fuel AST Area, the Drum Storage Area, the Pit 3 Area, and the Kerosene Buried Drum Area are at least horizontally delineated. The report recommends excavation of these areas for treatment. Building 413 is not horizontally or vertically delineated, and further sampling and excavation is recommended. Tim Sharp
4/26/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the Limited Phase II Site Assessment. Groundwater sampling did not occur at the BIA HQ Building as the eleven wells presumed to be present during development of the work plan were decommissioned at some point without DEC knowledge. Tim Sharp
7/24/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC completed a review of the Sampling Analysis Plan and Quality Assurance Project Plan (SAP, QAPP) for the Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program (NALEMP) Step II Site Assessment in Bethel. These two documents detail assessment and sampling efforts proposed at a number of NALEMP sites in the area. The Bethel Aircraft Control and Warning (AC&W) Station partially falls on US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)land and has a Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) identification number. The Bethel Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Headquarters contaminated site is also present on USFWS land. DEC issued comments for these documents for Orutsararmiut Native Council (ONC) review and response. Tim Sharp
8/10/2023 Site Characterization Workplan Approved DEC Approved the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) and Sampling Analysis Plan (SAP) for the Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program (NALEMP) Step II Site Assessment at the Bethel Aircraft Control and Warning (AC&W) Station. Tim Sharp

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
Aroclor 1260 Other Soil
DRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil

Control Type

Type Details
CS Database Notation And Letter To Landowner/RP The need for an IC is documented in the record of decision and the CS database; however, to date no ICs have been established beyond notice in the database.

Requirements

Description Details
Excavation / Soil Movement Restrictions Areas of the site have DRO contaminated soil that has been capped with clean soil and revegetated. Petroleum contaminated soil remains beneath the former composite building and if exposed in the future it needs to be managed in accordance with regulations applicable at that time. Low level PCB contaminated sewage sludge capped in place. None clearly established yet.
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site. Offsite transport of contaminated soil requires prior DEC approval.

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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