Site Report: Tin City Air Force Station - LRRS

Site Name:	Tin City Air Force Station - LRRS
Address:	5 Miles SE of Wales, Wales, AK 99783
File Number:	475.38.011
Hazard ID:	296
Status:	Active
Staff:	Livia Bracker, 9072697695 livia.bracker@alaska.gov
Latitude:	65.558600
Longitude:	-167.948100
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.

Site Chronology
IC / Closure Details
Documents
Associated Sites

Problems/Comments

Updated 12/2/2021 Tin City LRRS Site has been operated since 1953. The installation consists of 748 acres of land near the western tip of the Seward Peninsula. Contaminants of concern include petroleum products, PCBs, heavy metals, and solvents. Source areas inlcude: • AOC01 Building 123 Fuel Pump House Spill/Leak #5; • AOC02 Upper Camp Substation and Fuel Tanks Spill/Leak #6; • AOC03 Building 110 Lower Camp Electrical Substation Spill/Leak #7; • SS001 Waste Accumulation Area; • SD004 Runway Oiling; • SS007 Spill/Leak #2; • DP008 Dump #1; • LF02 • LF03 • LF009 Dump #2; • LF010 Midmountain Dump; • DP011 Dump #3 at Beach; • ST012 Four underground storage tanks (USTs); • SS06 • SS013 Spill/Leak #3 at LTT; • SS014 Spill/Leak #4 at Building 76-200 • OT05 Analytical data collected at SS01, SD04, SS07, DP08, LF09, and LF10, indicated that contamination levels are below cleanup standards. These six sites received a No Further Action (NFA) determination in 1993. Sites DP011, ST012, SS013, and SS014 received a NFA determination based on a 2006 Record of Decision (ROD). The only contaminant at these sites is petroleum and it is present below the cleanup standards. Note that SS014 is listed separately in the database under the Hazard ID 24272.

Action Information

Action Date	Action	Description	DEC Staff
9/1/1985	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). IRP Phase I report by Engineering Science involving problem identification and records search. AHRM scores for 7 sites ranged from 51 to 68.	Former Staff
2/29/1988	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Woodward-Clyde Technical Support Document for Record of Decision, Tin City Air Force Station, LRRS Site. Indicated that many of the potential contamination sites have been cleaned and restored (1978 and 1984). Health and environmental risks judged to be negligible. Concluded no further action required. White Alice site not included in document (transferred to Department of the Navy).	Former Staff
9/26/1988	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). VRCA study included 59 borings and four monitor wells. Hydrocarbon contamination indicated in most borings. Soils with up to 5411 ppm TPH, and 21 ppm TPH in groundwater.	Rich Cormack
11/21/1990	Site Ranked Using the AHRM	Initial ranking.	Former Staff
12/7/1990	Site Number Identifier Changed	Old Reckey 1986320108401. Changed to reflect correct workplan.	Former Staff
1/26/1993	Site Ranked Using the AHRM	Ranked site based on draft Site Investigation data that indicates no PCBs/Pesticides above 1 ppm located at the LRRS. PCBs above 1 ppm found at the White Alice site. Ranking = 3.6.	Laura Noland
2/18/1993	Meeting or Teleconference Held	ADEC facilitated meeting between Navy, Air Force and Army Corps of Engineers to plan cooperative work at co-located sites such as NARL and POW Main Dewline and Wales, Tin City and Saint Lawrence Island.	Former Staff
4/2/1993	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = NFA - No Further Action Required (CERCLA)). ADEC does not close site, but informed that site does not score high enough to be proposed for inclusion on the NPL.	Former Staff
8/9/1993	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). ADEC received Site Investigation Final Reports which were prepared for EPA HRS ranking.	Laura Noland
8/17/1993	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). Air Force sent letter indicating that soil contamination found at the north foundation of the lower tramway terminal will be investigated and remediated under the IRP program to be executed in FY94.	Laura Noland
9/23/1993	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). Received letter detailing Air Force responsibilities at site. LUST site with 17,000 ppm EPH will be managed under IRP as Spill/Leak #4 near Building 110. A total of 10 IRP sites recognized by the Air Force.	Laura Noland
11/9/1993	Site Characterization Report Approved	(Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Conducted review of Site Investigation Final Report dated July 1993 which was conducted for HRS ranking purposes to verify contaminants below regulated levels at six sites designated NFA.	Laura Noland
11/9/1993	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). Sent letter which agreed with site designation and status as stated in September 21, 1993 Air Force letter. Requested additional information regarding third party sites, LF02 and Dump #3 at Beach.	Laura Noland
11/12/1993	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = CP - Closure Pending). Facility is not NFA, but sent correspondence granting closure/no further action status for the following sites: SS01 Waste Accumulation Area, SD04 Runway Oiling, SS07 Spill/Leak #2, DP08 Dump #1, LF09 Dump #2, LF10 Mid-mountain Dump. The following sites will be addressed through the IRP program: DP11 Dump #3 at Beach, ST12 Four USTs, SS13 Spill/Leak #3 at LTT, SS14 Spill/Leak #4 near Building 110. LF02 will be managed as a third party site.	Laura Noland
1/25/1994	Site Added to Database	Possible contaminants include unknown quantities of petroleum products, PCBs, heavy metals, solvents, acids, bases, inorganic chemicals.	Former Staff
12/15/1994	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). ADEC and Air Force planned site investigation work plan to concentrate on Airstrip Area, Lower Tramway Building and Old Transformer Pad.	Laura Noland
1/18/1996	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = RI - Remedial Investigation). Received DRAFT Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study, Volumes 1 and 2 (2 copies of each).	Kalu Kalu
3/13/1996	Update or Other Action	(Old R:Base Action Code = RI - Remedial Investigation). Reviewed RI except for risk assessment. Notified RPM Robert Sanders that risk assessment review is pending availability of DSMOA funds. Concurred with determination that three areas are NFA: (1) DP011a, (2) ST12b, and (3) AOC2. For remaining 8 areas, FS only evaluated one option, no action. Advised that FS should evaluate a range of options and that a risk assessment would not guarantee ADEC concurrence with a NFA option.	Tamar Stephens
4/30/1996	Update or Other Action	Received Final RI/FS.	Tamar Stephens
3/24/1997	Update or Other Action	Site updated by Shannon and Wilson, based on the Air Force Relative Risk Evaluation Worksheets dated 9/14/95. The individual IRP sites have not been assigned separate Reckey numbers due to the limited amount of investigation conducted to date.	S&W
5/1/1998	Update or Other Action	ADEC received Draft Proposed Plan for DP011, ST012,SS013,SS014, OT099, .AOC01,AOC02,AOC03. This plan was not approved by ADEC. Letter sent 6/3/98.DEC sent a comment letter June 3,1998 stating DEC was not given sufficient time to review the Plan prior to release for public comment. Further DEC management was not briefed prior the release. Therefore, the statement in the Plan that indicates that DEC has reviewed the Plan and concurs with it is not accurate	Patrice Buck
6/1/1998	Update or Other Action	ADEC received Clean Sweep and Remedial Action Work Plan in March and June of 1998. Letter sent 6/12/98.	Patrice Buck
3/1/1999	Update or Other Action	ADEC received Clean Sweep Work Plan Modifications.	Patrice Buck
7/14/2000	Update or Other Action	Staff sent comments on seven draft decision documents. Eleven different sites were considered in these documents. At six sites, no further action was proposed because contaminants found were below Method 2 levels. At the Top camp the Air Force propose excavation to achieve an industrial level PCB clean up of 10 ppm at the surface. Residential PCB level of 1 ppm are proposed at the old power plant. In two area close to the beach area they propose using excavation to clean soil to 10x the Method 2 levels for DRO.	Patrice Buck
9/8/2000	Update or Other Action	Staff visited the facility to inspect the soil remediation project. Remediation if the soil was completed by excavation. Approximated 16 connexes with contaminated soil are waiting for off site shipment by barge to Anchorage. The Clean Sweep demolition work has been completed. One area with petroleum contamination level over Method 2 was not excavated because equipment was not able to reach the area due to weather. Staff has review and sent comments on seven draft decision documents of these source areas earlier this summer.	Patrice Buck
12/1/2000	Update or Other Action	Staff commented on 11 Draft Final Decision Documents for Tin City LRRS.	Patrice Buck
6/21/2002	Site Characterization Workplan Approved	Staff conditionally approved Tin City LRRS Work Plan for Remedial Action at Site AOC1 and Lower Tramway. Action entered by Sarah Riddle.	Patrice Buck
4/14/2005	Site Characterization Workplan Approved	Reviewed and approved work plan to sample to fill data gaps at areas designated by Air Force as DP011 and SS014. Existing data shows that the sites may be able to be closed; once data gaps are filled, Air Force hopes to close these.	Tamar Stephens
12/16/2005	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Received FINAL 2005 Supplemental Investigation Report.	John Carnahan
11/1/2006	CERCLA ROD Approved	Final ROD for four sites signed 3/27/2007 by DEC. Sites are DP011, ST012, ST013, and ST014. DEC concurs with the Air Force remedy that No Further Action is necessary, as only petroleum is present at concentrations below DEC cleanup levels.	John Carnahan
6/20/2008	Exposure Tracking Model On Hold	This is a facility-wide record. Individual sites within the facility are either closed or will be individually ranked.	Tamar Stephens
10/3/2014	Update or Other Action	Transferred from Shephard to Debenham.	John Carnahan
9/4/2015	Update or Other Action	Oversight changed to Carnahan.	John Carnahan
10/12/2015	Update or Other Action	Sent request to AF regarding update to outstanding issues at facility. Multiple areas appear ready for closure; however, based on 2002 report, Former AOC1 (spill leak no. 5), and former ASTs 1 & 2 and fuel line require further action.	John Carnahan
10/11/2016	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking	Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79975 name: SS013	Maya Shapiro
10/20/2016	Update or Other Action	Site file reviewed and a request sent to Air Force requesting follow up on open site status.	John Carnahan
2/21/2019	Update or Other Action	See 2016.10.19 for letter to USAF requesting answers to specific questions. This was handed to FUDS and they were intent on responding to some of the outstanding issues. A JEP was developed for in 2017 and summarized in 2017.03.30 JEP Review Comment in Confidential File.	John Carnahan
12/2/2021	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking	Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 81127 name: AOC01 Building 123 Fuel Pump House Spill/Leak #5	Sarah Mutter
12/2/2021	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking	Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 81128 name: AOC2 Upper Camp Substation and Fuel Tanks Spill/Leak #6	Sarah Mutter
12/2/2021	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking	Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 81129 name: AOC03 Building 110 Lower Camp Electrical Substation Spill/Leak #7	Sarah Mutter
12/7/2021	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking	A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 81129 AOC03 Building 110 Lower Camp Electrical Substation Spill/Leak #7.	Sarah Mutter
12/7/2021	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking	A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 81128 AOC2 Upper Camp Substation and Fuel Tanks Spill/Leak #6.	Sarah Mutter
11/15/2022	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	DEC received and commented on the Revised Draft Land Use Control Management Plan (LUCMP) for the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center Remote Installations	Sarah Mutter

Action Date

Action

Description

DEC Staff

9/1/1985

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). IRP Phase I report by Engineering Science involving problem identification and records search. AHRM scores for 7 sites ranged from 51 to 68.

Former Staff

2/29/1988

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Woodward-Clyde Technical Support Document for Record of Decision, Tin City Air Force Station, LRRS Site. Indicated that many of the potential contamination sites have been cleaned and restored (1978 and 1984). Health and environmental risks judged to be negligible. Concluded no further action required. White Alice site not included in document (transferred to Department of the Navy).

Former Staff

9/26/1988

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). VRCA study included 59 borings and four monitor wells. Hydrocarbon contamination indicated in most borings. Soils with up to 5411 ppm TPH, and 21 ppm TPH in groundwater.

Rich Cormack

11/21/1990

Site Ranked Using the AHRM

Initial ranking.

Former Staff

12/7/1990

Site Number Identifier Changed

Old Reckey 1986320108401. Changed to reflect correct workplan.

Former Staff

1/26/1993

Site Ranked Using the AHRM

Ranked site based on draft Site Investigation data that indicates no PCBs/Pesticides above 1 ppm located at the LRRS. PCBs above 1 ppm found at the White Alice site. Ranking = 3.6.

Laura Noland

2/18/1993

Meeting or Teleconference Held

ADEC facilitated meeting between Navy, Air Force and Army Corps of Engineers to plan cooperative work at co-located sites such as NARL and POW Main Dewline and Wales, Tin City and Saint Lawrence Island.

Former Staff

4/2/1993

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = NFA - No Further Action Required (CERCLA)). ADEC does not close site, but informed that site does not score high enough to be proposed for inclusion on the NPL.

Former Staff

8/9/1993

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). ADEC received Site Investigation Final Reports which were prepared for EPA HRS ranking.

Laura Noland

8/17/1993

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). Air Force sent letter indicating that soil contamination found at the north foundation of the lower tramway terminal will be investigated and remediated under the IRP program to be executed in FY94.

Laura Noland

9/23/1993

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). Received letter detailing Air Force responsibilities at site. LUST site with 17,000 ppm EPH will be managed under IRP as Spill/Leak #4 near Building 110. A total of 10 IRP sites recognized by the Air Force.

Laura Noland

11/9/1993

Site Characterization Report Approved

(Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Conducted review of Site Investigation Final Report dated July 1993 which was conducted for HRS ranking purposes to verify contaminants below regulated levels at six sites designated NFA.

Laura Noland

11/9/1993

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). Sent letter which agreed with site designation and status as stated in September 21, 1993 Air Force letter. Requested additional information regarding third party sites, LF02 and Dump #3 at Beach.

Laura Noland

11/12/1993

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = CP - Closure Pending). Facility is not NFA, but sent correspondence granting closure/no further action status for the following sites: SS01 Waste Accumulation Area, SD04 Runway Oiling, SS07 Spill/Leak #2, DP08 Dump #1, LF09 Dump #2, LF10 Mid-mountain Dump. The following sites will be addressed through the IRP program: DP11 Dump #3 at Beach, ST12 Four USTs, SS13 Spill/Leak #3 at LTT, SS14 Spill/Leak #4 near Building 110. LF02 will be managed as a third party site.

Laura Noland

1/25/1994

Site Added to Database

Possible contaminants include unknown quantities of petroleum products, PCBs, heavy metals, solvents, acids, bases, inorganic chemicals.

Former Staff

12/15/1994

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). ADEC and Air Force planned site investigation work plan to concentrate on Airstrip Area, Lower Tramway Building and Old Transformer Pad.

Laura Noland

1/18/1996

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = RI - Remedial Investigation). Received DRAFT Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study, Volumes 1 and 2 (2 copies of each).

Kalu Kalu

3/13/1996

Update or Other Action

(Old R:Base Action Code = RI - Remedial Investigation). Reviewed RI except for risk assessment. Notified RPM Robert Sanders that risk assessment review is pending availability of DSMOA funds. Concurred with determination that three areas are NFA: (1) DP011a, (2) ST12b, and (3) AOC2. For remaining 8 areas, FS only evaluated one option, no action. Advised that FS should evaluate a range of options and that a risk assessment would not guarantee ADEC concurrence with a NFA option.

Tamar Stephens

4/30/1996

Update or Other Action

Received Final RI/FS.

Tamar Stephens

3/24/1997

Update or Other Action

Site updated by Shannon and Wilson, based on the Air Force Relative Risk Evaluation Worksheets dated 9/14/95. The individual IRP sites have not been assigned separate Reckey numbers due to the limited amount of investigation conducted to date.

S&W

5/1/1998

Update or Other Action

ADEC received Draft Proposed Plan for DP011, ST012,SS013,SS014, OT099, .AOC01,AOC02,AOC03. This plan was not approved by ADEC. Letter sent 6/3/98.DEC sent a comment letter June 3,1998 stating DEC was not given sufficient time to review the Plan prior to release for public comment. Further DEC management was not briefed prior the release. Therefore, the statement in the Plan that indicates that DEC has reviewed the Plan and concurs with it is not accurate

Patrice Buck

6/1/1998

Update or Other Action

ADEC received Clean Sweep and Remedial Action Work Plan in March and June of 1998. Letter sent 6/12/98.

Patrice Buck

3/1/1999

Update or Other Action

ADEC received Clean Sweep Work Plan Modifications.

Patrice Buck

7/14/2000

Update or Other Action

Staff sent comments on seven draft decision documents. Eleven different sites were considered in these documents. At six sites, no further action was proposed because contaminants found were below Method 2 levels. At the Top camp the Air Force propose excavation to achieve an industrial level PCB clean up of 10 ppm at the surface. Residential PCB level of 1 ppm are proposed at the old power plant. In two area close to the beach area they propose using excavation to clean soil to 10x the Method 2 levels for DRO.

Patrice Buck

9/8/2000

Update or Other Action

Staff visited the facility to inspect the soil remediation project. Remediation if the soil was completed by excavation. Approximated 16 connexes with contaminated soil are waiting for off site shipment by barge to Anchorage. The Clean Sweep demolition work has been completed. One area with petroleum contamination level over Method 2 was not excavated because equipment was not able to reach the area due to weather. Staff has review and sent comments on seven draft decision documents of these source areas earlier this summer.

Patrice Buck

12/1/2000

Update or Other Action

Staff commented on 11 Draft Final Decision Documents for Tin City LRRS.

Patrice Buck

6/21/2002

Site Characterization Workplan Approved

Staff conditionally approved Tin City LRRS Work Plan for Remedial Action at Site AOC1 and Lower Tramway. Action entered by Sarah Riddle.

Patrice Buck

4/14/2005

Site Characterization Workplan Approved

Reviewed and approved work plan to sample to fill data gaps at areas designated by Air Force as DP011 and SS014. Existing data shows that the sites may be able to be closed; once data gaps are filled, Air Force hopes to close these.

Tamar Stephens

12/16/2005

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Received FINAL 2005 Supplemental Investigation Report.

John Carnahan

11/1/2006

CERCLA ROD Approved

Final ROD for four sites signed 3/27/2007 by DEC. Sites are DP011, ST012, ST013, and ST014. DEC concurs with the Air Force remedy that No Further Action is necessary, as only petroleum is present at concentrations below DEC cleanup levels.

John Carnahan

6/20/2008

Exposure Tracking Model On Hold

This is a facility-wide record. Individual sites within the facility are either closed or will be individually ranked.

Tamar Stephens

10/3/2014

Update or Other Action

Transferred from Shephard to Debenham.

John Carnahan

9/4/2015

Update or Other Action

Oversight changed to Carnahan.

John Carnahan

10/12/2015

Update or Other Action

Sent request to AF regarding update to outstanding issues at facility. Multiple areas appear ready for closure; however, based on 2002 report, Former AOC1 (spill leak no. 5), and former ASTs 1 & 2 and fuel line require further action.

John Carnahan

10/11/2016

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79975 name: SS013

Maya Shapiro

10/20/2016

Update or Other Action

Site file reviewed and a request sent to Air Force requesting follow up on open site status.

John Carnahan

2/21/2019

Update or Other Action

See 2016.10.19 for letter to USAF requesting answers to specific questions. This was handed to FUDS and they were intent on responding to some of the outstanding issues. A JEP was developed for in 2017 and summarized in 2017.03.30 JEP Review Comment in Confidential File.

John Carnahan

12/2/2021

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 81127 name: AOC01 Building 123 Fuel Pump House Spill/Leak #5

Sarah Mutter

12/2/2021

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 81128 name: AOC2 Upper Camp Substation and Fuel Tanks Spill/Leak #6

Sarah Mutter

12/2/2021

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 81129 name: AOC03 Building 110 Lower Camp Electrical Substation Spill/Leak #7

Sarah Mutter

12/7/2021

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 81129 AOC03 Building 110 Lower Camp Electrical Substation Spill/Leak #7.

Sarah Mutter

12/7/2021

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 81128 AOC2 Upper Camp Substation and Fuel Tanks Spill/Leak #6.

Sarah Mutter

11/15/2022

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

DEC received and commented on the Revised Draft Land Use Control Management Plan (LUCMP) for the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center Remote Installations

Sarah Mutter

Contaminant Information

Name

Level Description

Media

Comments

Control Type

Type

Details

Requirements

Description

Details

There are no documents for this site report.

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Site Report: Tin City Air Force Station - LRRS

Site Chronology

IC / Closure Details

Documents

Associated Sites

Problems/Comments

Action Information

Contaminant Information

Control Type

Requirements

Missing Location Data

State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation