Site Report: BLM Legacy Well Umiat Test Wells #2 & #5 (FUDS)

Site Name:	BLM Legacy Well Umiat Test Wells #2 & #5 (FUDS)
Address:	2 Mi N. of Umiat Airstrip, N. Bank of Colville River, Nuiqsut, AK 99789
File Number:	335.38.001
Hazard ID:	3078
Status:	Active
Staff:	Kelly Walker, 9074512166 kelly.walker@alaska.gov
Latitude:	69.383192
Longitude:	-152.084341
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.

Site Chronology
IC / Closure Details
Documents
Associated Sites

Problems/Comments

Site consists of a 4-acre gravel pad shared by Umiat Test Wells 2 and 5. Well No. 2 was drilled in 1947. Well No. 5 was drilled in 1950, and was originally named Umiat Ruby Test Well No. 2, later renamed as Umiat Test Well No. 5. Site has impacts resulting from exploratory oil well drilling activities conducted in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. Site is contaminated by spills and disposal associated with well drilling operations. Site investigation found a mud pit, suspected petroleum staining near a debris pile, a discharge pipe, and evidence that drums and metal debris were buried on site. Exposed drums, debris, and the discharge pipe were observed on the eroding river bank. A historic fire at the site resulted in a spill of diesel fuel into the well pad. The entire pad, consisting of approximately 20,000 cubic yards of soil, was found to be contaminated with diesel and residual range organics. Umiat Test Wells 2 and 5 are located approximately 2 miles northeast of the Umiat airstrip and main gravel pad, adjacent to the north bank of the Colville River. Well No. 5 is located 97 feet north and 74 feet east of Well No. 2. Location of Well No. 2. See Umiat Former Air Force Station, reckey 198931X902511, for actions prior to June 2004. Prior to this time, the entire Umiat facility was managed as one site. In June, 2004, the facility was broken out into separate sites for the Main Gravel Pad, Airstrip Complex, Landfill and Seasonal Slough, 11 former Navy Test Wells, and Umiat Lake.

Action Information

Action Date	Action	Description	DEC Staff
6/14/2004	Site Added to Database		Tamar Stephens
1/26/2005	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed and sent a comment letter requesting additional information for a draft Phase III Remedial Action Report. This report was substantially delayed in being completed, and addresses work that was done during summer of 2003. During 2003, approximately 20,000 tons of petroleum-contaminated soil, previously excavated from Umiat Test Wells 2 and 5, were treated in a low temperature thermal desorption unit. Treatment of remaining soil continued in summer of 2004 with a different contractor, using a hot air vapor extraction unit. A report on the 2004 work is anticipated soon. Treatment of remaining stockpiled soil will continue in summer of 2005, and is expected to be completed by the end of summer.	Tamar Stephens
1/28/2005	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens received a final work plan for soil remediation at Umiat for summer of 2004. The draft work plan was previously approved in June of 2004, prior to the work beginning, but specific issues raised by the Corps of Engineers (Corps) technical staff prevented the work plan from being finalized until recently. Stephens sent a letter acknowledging receipt of the final work plan, and informed the Corps that the Department of Environmental Conservation would not require a new work plan for the work that will be continued in summer of 2005, unless there are new tasks added or significant changes made.	Tamar Stephens
3/22/2005	Cleanup Plan Approved	Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed and approved a draft work plan addendum for the Umiat Formerly Used Defense Site. The work plan addendum addresses the continuation of treatment of petroleum-contaminated soil by hot air vapor extraction. Soil treatment was conducted during summer of 2004 under a DEC-approved work plan which is still in effect for this summer. The remainder of stockpiled soil is scheduled to be treated this summer. The contactor plans to mobilize to the site in early May, to begin treating the first soil pile by mid-May, and to complete soil treatment by the end of August 2005.	Tamar Stephens
5/4/2005	Update or Other Action	Received Draft Final 2003 Remedial Action Report Phase III, field Activities and Appendices A-G.	Tamar Stephens
5/10/2005	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens participated in a Restoration Advisory Board Meeting on May 10, 2005 in Nuiqsut for the Oliktok, Pt. Lonely, and Umiat sites.	Tamar Stephens
5/13/2005	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens participated in a multi-agency meeting to review upcoming work and associated issues at Umiat. Attending were representatives from the Corps of Engineers, the contractor who is conducting cleanup this year, Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (owner of developed portion of Umiat), and Department of Natural Resources Habitat Division. Bureau of Land Management representatives were expected at the meeting but were unable to attend. The meeting was to ensure that all permits and rights of entry are in place and that all parties know what to expect this year. Approximately 3,000 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil remain to be treated, and will be treated by hot air vapor extraction. Various other activities will be undertaken to leave the site in a tidy condition, including cleaning up and disposing of debris (wood, liners, etc.) left by a previous contractor. The contractor has already mobilized to the site, and soil treatment is scheduled to begin this week.	Tamar Stephens
7/8/2005	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed confirmation data for Treatment Pile (TP) 7 at Umiat and confirmed that it meets the cleanup levels. TP 7 contains approximately 500 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil that were treated by hot air vapor extraction. The contractor has identified a damaged liner under one of the soil stockpiles: CS staff held discussions with the Corps of Engineers and the contractor regarding the level of sampling effort for characterizing potential impacts to the underlying soil. CS staff mediated a conflict between the Corps of Engineers and the contractor regarding the soil to methanol ratio needed for AK101 method. The Corps' chemist has expressed concern that the method detection limits (MDLs) and practical quantitation limits (PQLs) don't always meet the target ones in the work plan. CS staff confirmed that the sampling methodology was acceptable to DEC, and that the MDLs and PQLs are adequate for confirming that soil treatment goals had been met.	Tamar Stephens
7/22/2005	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed confirmation sample data for soil treatment piles #8 and #9 at Umiat and confirmed that soil treatment was complete. The soil is being treated by hot air vapor extraction.	Tamar Stephens
8/12/2005	Update or Other Action	The United States Army Corps of Engineers informed Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens that approximately 1,500 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil at Umiat will remain at the end of the season, due to a miscalculation about the total volume of soil that needed treatment. Petroleum-contaminated soil is being treated by hot air vapor extraction. No funding is currently available to treat this additional volume of soil, so it the only option at present is to stockpile it until more funding is available.	Tamar Stephens
8/25/2005	Update or Other Action	Contaminated Sites program received the Final Report for the 2003 Remedial Action Phase III Activities.	Tamar Stephens
10/14/2005	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed and approved a Remedial Action Report for Phase III cleanup activities that were conducted at Umiat during 2003. The report was substantially delayed due to contractor problems (they laid off all the staff that worked on the project). This report describes work performed at Umiat during summer of 2003, including treatment of 20,006 tons of petroleum-contaminated soil by low temperature thermal desorption, excavation of 435 tons of petroleum-contaminated soil from the Umiat gravel pads, confirmation sampling at three former lead excavation areas, and site restoration activities. DEC previously provided comments on the draft version of this report (January 2005) and requested additional information about sampling and soil tracking; the requested information was provided in the final report.	Tamar Stephens
5/12/2006	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed and sent comment on draft report on 6000 cubic yards of petroleum contaminated soil treated by Hot Air Vapor Extraction during the summers of 2004 and 2005. Treated soil was used for maintenance at the Umiat Main Gravel Pad and the BLMs SeaBee Test Well Pad. Estimated 1600 cubic yards of soil remains to be treated. Army Corps of Engineers is considering performance based contract for completion of the soil treatment.	Tamar Stephens
5/26/2006	Update or Other Action	US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) informed Contamiminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens that they awarded a performance based contract for completion of the treatment of the final estimated 1600 cubic yards of petroleum contaminated soil currently stockpiled at the Umiat Main Gravel Pad. USACE ensures that they will have an onsite representative for quality assurance during treatment and confirmation sampling for this action.	Tamar Stephens
6/15/2006	Update or Other Action	POL-Contaminated Soil Remediation Work Plan received for treatment of remaining stockpiled soil from Test Wells 2 & 5.	Tamar Stephens
6/30/2006	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed and sent comment letter on draft Formerly Used Defense Site POL-Contaminated Soil Remediation Work Plan – Umiat Alaska (June 2006). This work plan describes treatment of the remaining stockpiled soil that was excavated from the Umiat Test Wells 2 and 5 site, and soil from the Umiat main gravel pad that was used as base material in that stockpile. 2. The proposed method of treatment is by use of five 12-cubic-yard thermal desorption units. The major issue to be resolved is that much of the sampling strategy is based on the assumption that the soil from five 12-cubic-yard treatment units can be considered as one 60-cubic-yard batch. Additional explanation/information is needed to show that this approach can be valid.	Tamar Stephens
7/6/2006	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens participated in comment resolution meeting with the Corps of Engineers and the contractor for the 2006 work plan.	Tamar Stephens
10/27/2006	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens approved plan for final round of confirmation sampling at Umiat for the area below the thermal soil treatment area at the Main Gravel Pad, and plans for completing other cleanup related to the soil treatment project including removal of the liner from the soil storage area. This will complete the clean-up of 20,000 cu yds of contaminated soil from the Test Wells Nos. 2 and 5 pad.	Tamar Stephens
6/25/2007	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens attended Nuiqsut Restoration Advisory Board meeting. US Army Corps of Engineers discussed progress of cleanup at Umiat sites.	Tamar Stephens
9/10/2007	Update or Other Action	Tamar Stephen (DEC) conducted a site visit by helicopter along with Corps of Engineers project manager Mary Jemin and project engineer Bob Haviland.	Tamar Stephens
10/17/2007	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed and sent a comment letter on the draft Formerly Used Defense Site POL-Contaminated Soil Remediation Summary Report, Umiat, Alaska, (September 2007). This report describes the thermal treatment of approximately 1664 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil at Umiat during summer of 2006, and site restoration activities completed during summer of 2007.	Tamar Stephens
10/25/2007	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.	Tamar Stephens
3/12/2008	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking	Initial ranking with ETM completed.	Tamar Stephens
7/8/2008	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed and approved final Formerly Used Defense Site POL-Contaminated Soil Remediation Summary Report, Umiat, Alaska. The soil remediation report describes the thermal treatment of approximately 1664 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil at Umiat during summer of 2006, and site restoration activities completed during summer of 2007. The soil was located in Stockpile F, which was one of several soil stockpiles that collectively contained approximately 20,000 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil. The stockpiled soil was excavated from a shared gravel pad at Umiat Test Wells 2 and 5 during a 2002 removal action. The other stockpiled soil, and approximately half of Stockpile F soil, had been previously remediated under other contracts during 2002 through 2005. The report shows that the soil has been adequately remediated and has been used for pad restoration activities at Umiat. The soil was treated to meet the method one arctic zone cleanup levels found in 18 AAC 75.341 Table A2. Site restoration activities included grading the main gravel pad to level the soil stockpile and soil treatment areas and to fill holes and depressions from previous stockpiles. Treated soil from this project was cooled, rehydrated, and spread on the Umiat main gravel pad in the location of former soil Stockpile H, located approximately 200 feet west of the Stockpile F location.	Tamar Stephens
7/10/2008	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.	Tamar Stephens
10/13/2008	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.	Tamar Stephens
3/12/2009	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.	Tamar Stephens
9/17/2009	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.	Tamar Stephens
12/3/2009	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.	Tamar Stephens
2/17/2010	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens attended a Public Meeting in Nuiqsut. The Corps of Engineers presented a refesher on the 2003 Proposed Plan for the Umiat Test Wells, to support development of a decision document for closure of Umiat Test Wells 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11. Umiat Test Well 1 has been closed (cleanup complete) and Test Well 9 will require cleanup of PCB contaminated soil. The Corps also gave update on work that is ongoing or planned for the near future at Umiat.	Tamar Stephens
3/18/2010	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.	Tamar Stephens
6/17/2010	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.	Tamar Stephens
10/13/2010	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.	Tamar Stephens
12/3/2010	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	CS staff reviewed a Decision Document for no further action for Umiat Test Wells 2 and 5, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11. Test Wells 2 and 5 were subject to a major removal action in 2002 to remove 20,000 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil after discovering that the well pad was starting to erode into the Colville River. Thermal treatment of the soil was conducted on the Main Gravel Pad from 2002 through 2007. CS staff has recommended signing the Decision document, subject to review by the Department of Law and to establishing institutional controls for well sites that retain petroleum concentrations above the Method 2 cleanup level. Petroleum contamination remaining at Wells 2 and 5 is substantially below the Method 2 cleanup level, and no institutional controls are needed at this site; however, the decision document addressed multiple well sites, and institutional controls are needed at some of the other well sites before the decision document can be signed.	Tamar Stephens
12/3/2010	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	Contaminated Sites (CS) staff reviewed and approved a final Focused Feasibility Study (FFS) report for Umiat Test Wells 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11. The draft report was written in 2003, but finalization of the report was never done until recently. The final report responded to comments made by CS staff seven years ago, and was finalized for the purpose of supporting a decision document. The test wells in the FFS all share similar characteristics in that they have either very limited pads or no pads, are surrounded by tundra, and have small volumes of soil that are contaminated with weathered fuel products. Accessing the sites to conduct any cleanup would require helicopter access or winter ice roads. The FFS evaluates five alternatives for treatment of soil at these sites, and concludes with the recommendation for no further action based on lack of risk. The department approved the Proposed Plan seven years ago, and a public meeting was held at the time, also recommending no further action at these well sites. The Corps of Engineers held a public meeting earlier this year to revisit the Proposed Plan due to the long lapse of time; CS staff attended the meeting.	Tamar Stephens
3/17/2011	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.	Tamar Stephens
8/20/2013	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Melody Debenham attended RAB meeting in Nuiqsut.	Melody Debenham
2/17/2015	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Attended RAB meeting Corps of Engineers FUDS program in Nuiqsut. Discussed status of Umiat sites.	Melody Debenham
1/22/2016	Update or Other Action	Provide DEC review comments to Umiat Test Well DD and Project Closeout Report.	John Carnahan
11/8/2016	Update or Other Action	Receive preliminary responses to DEC review and comment on Umiat Test Wells Decision Document and Project Close Out Report.	John Carnahan
3/7/2017	Meeting or Teleconference Held	Meeting with USCOE, BLM, DNR and DOT to discuss the status of the LF project. Meeting facilitated by USCOE.	John Carnahan
4/17/2019	Update or Other Action	Restoration advisory board (RAB) meeting held in Utqiagvik. Update provided on Umiat and others.	John Carnahan
11/13/2019	Meeting or Teleconference Held	DEC staff participated in the Restoration Advisory Board meeting in Nuiqsut, where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers discussed planned activities for Umiat FUDS sites.	Melinda Brunner

Action Date

Action

Description

DEC Staff

6/14/2004

Site Added to Database

Tamar Stephens

1/26/2005

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed and sent a comment letter requesting additional information for a draft Phase III Remedial Action Report. This report was substantially delayed in being completed, and addresses work that was done during summer of 2003. During 2003, approximately 20,000 tons of petroleum-contaminated soil, previously excavated from Umiat Test Wells 2 and 5, were treated in a low temperature thermal desorption unit. Treatment of remaining soil continued in summer of 2004 with a different contractor, using a hot air vapor extraction unit. A report on the 2004 work is anticipated soon. Treatment of remaining stockpiled soil will continue in summer of 2005, and is expected to be completed by the end of summer.

Tamar Stephens

1/28/2005

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens received a final work plan for soil remediation at Umiat for summer of 2004. The draft work plan was previously approved in June of 2004, prior to the work beginning, but specific issues raised by the Corps of Engineers (Corps) technical staff prevented the work plan from being finalized until recently. Stephens sent a letter acknowledging receipt of the final work plan, and informed the Corps that the Department of Environmental Conservation would not require a new work plan for the work that will be continued in summer of 2005, unless there are new tasks added or significant changes made.

Tamar Stephens

3/22/2005

Cleanup Plan Approved

Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed and approved a draft work plan addendum for the Umiat Formerly Used Defense Site. The work plan addendum addresses the continuation of treatment of petroleum-contaminated soil by hot air vapor extraction. Soil treatment was conducted during summer of 2004 under a DEC-approved work plan which is still in effect for this summer. The remainder of stockpiled soil is scheduled to be treated this summer. The contactor plans to mobilize to the site in early May, to begin treating the first soil pile by mid-May, and to complete soil treatment by the end of August 2005.

Tamar Stephens

5/4/2005

Update or Other Action

Received Draft Final 2003 Remedial Action Report Phase III, field Activities and Appendices A-G.

Tamar Stephens

5/10/2005

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens participated in a Restoration Advisory Board Meeting on May 10, 2005 in Nuiqsut for the Oliktok, Pt. Lonely, and Umiat sites.

Tamar Stephens

5/13/2005

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens participated in a multi-agency meeting to review upcoming work and associated issues at Umiat. Attending were representatives from the Corps of Engineers, the contractor who is conducting cleanup this year, Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (owner of developed portion of Umiat), and Department of Natural Resources Habitat Division. Bureau of Land Management representatives were expected at the meeting but were unable to attend. The meeting was to ensure that all permits and rights of entry are in place and that all parties know what to expect this year. Approximately 3,000 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil remain to be treated, and will be treated by hot air vapor extraction. Various other activities will be undertaken to leave the site in a tidy condition, including cleaning up and disposing of debris (wood, liners, etc.) left by a previous contractor. The contractor has already mobilized to the site, and soil treatment is scheduled to begin this week.

Tamar Stephens

7/8/2005

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed confirmation data for Treatment Pile (TP) 7 at Umiat and confirmed that it meets the cleanup levels. TP 7 contains approximately 500 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil that were treated by hot air vapor extraction. The contractor has identified a damaged liner under one of the soil stockpiles: CS staff held discussions with the Corps of Engineers and the contractor regarding the level of sampling effort for characterizing potential impacts to the underlying soil. CS staff mediated a conflict between the Corps of Engineers and the contractor regarding the soil to methanol ratio needed for AK101 method. The Corps' chemist has expressed concern that the method detection limits (MDLs) and practical quantitation limits (PQLs) don't always meet the target ones in the work plan. CS staff confirmed that the sampling methodology was acceptable to DEC, and that the MDLs and PQLs are adequate for confirming that soil treatment goals had been met.

Tamar Stephens

7/22/2005

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed confirmation sample data for soil treatment piles #8 and #9 at Umiat and confirmed that soil treatment was complete. The soil is being treated by hot air vapor extraction.

Tamar Stephens

8/12/2005

Update or Other Action

The United States Army Corps of Engineers informed Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens that approximately 1,500 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil at Umiat will remain at the end of the season, due to a miscalculation about the total volume of soil that needed treatment. Petroleum-contaminated soil is being treated by hot air vapor extraction. No funding is currently available to treat this additional volume of soil, so it the only option at present is to stockpile it until more funding is available.

Tamar Stephens

8/25/2005

Update or Other Action

Contaminated Sites program received the Final Report for the 2003 Remedial Action Phase III Activities.

Tamar Stephens

10/14/2005

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed and approved a Remedial Action Report for Phase III cleanup activities that were conducted at Umiat during 2003. The report was substantially delayed due to contractor problems (they laid off all the staff that worked on the project). This report describes work performed at Umiat during summer of 2003, including treatment of 20,006 tons of petroleum-contaminated soil by low temperature thermal desorption, excavation of 435 tons of petroleum-contaminated soil from the Umiat gravel pads, confirmation sampling at three former lead excavation areas, and site restoration activities. DEC previously provided comments on the draft version of this report (January 2005) and requested additional information about sampling and soil tracking; the requested information was provided in the final report.

Tamar Stephens

5/12/2006

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed and sent comment on draft report on 6000 cubic yards of petroleum contaminated soil treated by Hot Air Vapor Extraction during the summers of 2004 and 2005. Treated soil was used for maintenance at the Umiat Main Gravel Pad and the BLMs SeaBee Test Well Pad. Estimated 1600 cubic yards of soil remains to be treated. Army Corps of Engineers is considering performance based contract for completion of the soil treatment.

Tamar Stephens

5/26/2006

Update or Other Action

US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) informed Contamiminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens that they awarded a performance based contract for completion of the treatment of the final estimated 1600 cubic yards of petroleum contaminated soil currently stockpiled at the Umiat Main Gravel Pad. USACE ensures that they will have an onsite representative for quality assurance during treatment and confirmation sampling for this action.

Tamar Stephens

6/15/2006

Update or Other Action

POL-Contaminated Soil Remediation Work Plan received for treatment of remaining stockpiled soil from Test Wells 2 & 5.

Tamar Stephens

6/30/2006

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed and sent comment letter on draft Formerly Used Defense Site POL-Contaminated Soil Remediation Work Plan – Umiat Alaska (June 2006). This work plan describes treatment of the remaining stockpiled soil that was excavated from the Umiat Test Wells 2 and 5 site, and soil from the Umiat main gravel pad that was used as base material in that stockpile. 2. The proposed method of treatment is by use of five 12-cubic-yard thermal desorption units. The major issue to be resolved is that much of the sampling strategy is based on the assumption that the soil from five 12-cubic-yard treatment units can be considered as one 60-cubic-yard batch. Additional explanation/information is needed to show that this approach can be valid.

Tamar Stephens

7/6/2006

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens participated in comment resolution meeting with the Corps of Engineers and the contractor for the 2006 work plan.

Tamar Stephens

10/27/2006

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Contaminated Sites staff Tamar Stephens approved plan for final round of confirmation sampling at Umiat for the area below the thermal soil treatment area at the Main Gravel Pad, and plans for completing other cleanup related to the soil treatment project including removal of the liner from the soil storage area. This will complete the clean-up of 20,000 cu yds of contaminated soil from the Test Wells Nos. 2 and 5 pad.

Tamar Stephens

6/25/2007

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens attended Nuiqsut Restoration Advisory Board meeting. US Army Corps of Engineers discussed progress of cleanup at Umiat sites.

Tamar Stephens

9/10/2007

Update or Other Action

Tamar Stephen (DEC) conducted a site visit by helicopter along with Corps of Engineers project manager Mary Jemin and project engineer Bob Haviland.

Tamar Stephens

10/17/2007

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed and sent a comment letter on the draft Formerly Used Defense Site POL-Contaminated Soil Remediation Summary Report, Umiat, Alaska, (September 2007). This report describes the thermal treatment of approximately 1664 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil at Umiat during summer of 2006, and site restoration activities completed during summer of 2007.

Tamar Stephens

10/25/2007

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.

Tamar Stephens

3/12/2008

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

Initial ranking with ETM completed.

Tamar Stephens

7/8/2008

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens reviewed and approved final Formerly Used Defense Site POL-Contaminated Soil Remediation Summary Report, Umiat, Alaska. The soil remediation report describes the thermal treatment of approximately 1664 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil at Umiat during summer of 2006, and site restoration activities completed during summer of 2007. The soil was located in Stockpile F, which was one of several soil stockpiles that collectively contained approximately 20,000 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil. The stockpiled soil was excavated from a shared gravel pad at Umiat Test Wells 2 and 5 during a 2002 removal action. The other stockpiled soil, and approximately half of Stockpile F soil, had been previously remediated under other contracts during 2002 through 2005. The report shows that the soil has been adequately remediated and has been used for pad restoration activities at Umiat. The soil was treated to meet the method one arctic zone cleanup levels found in 18 AAC 75.341 Table A2. Site restoration activities included grading the main gravel pad to level the soil stockpile and soil treatment areas and to fill holes and depressions from previous stockpiles. Treated soil from this project was cooled, rehydrated, and spread on the Umiat main gravel pad in the location of former soil Stockpile H, located approximately 200 feet west of the Stockpile F location.

Tamar Stephens

7/10/2008

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.

Tamar Stephens

10/13/2008

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.

Tamar Stephens

3/12/2009

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.

Tamar Stephens

9/17/2009

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.

Tamar Stephens

12/3/2009

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.

Tamar Stephens

2/17/2010

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens attended a Public Meeting in Nuiqsut. The Corps of Engineers presented a refesher on the 2003 Proposed Plan for the Umiat Test Wells, to support development of a decision document for closure of Umiat Test Wells 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11. Umiat Test Well 1 has been closed (cleanup complete) and Test Well 9 will require cleanup of PCB contaminated soil. The Corps also gave update on work that is ongoing or planned for the near future at Umiat.

Tamar Stephens

3/18/2010

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.

Tamar Stephens

6/17/2010

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.

Tamar Stephens

10/13/2010

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.

Tamar Stephens

12/3/2010

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

CS staff reviewed a Decision Document for no further action for Umiat Test Wells 2 and 5, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11. Test Wells 2 and 5 were subject to a major removal action in 2002 to remove 20,000 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil after discovering that the well pad was starting to erode into the Colville River. Thermal treatment of the soil was conducted on the Main Gravel Pad from 2002 through 2007. CS staff has recommended signing the Decision document, subject to review by the Department of Law and to establishing institutional controls for well sites that retain petroleum concentrations above the Method 2 cleanup level. Petroleum contamination remaining at Wells 2 and 5 is substantially below the Method 2 cleanup level, and no institutional controls are needed at this site; however, the decision document addressed multiple well sites, and institutional controls are needed at some of the other well sites before the decision document can be signed.

Tamar Stephens

12/3/2010

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

Contaminated Sites (CS) staff reviewed and approved a final Focused Feasibility Study (FFS) report for Umiat Test Wells 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11. The draft report was written in 2003, but finalization of the report was never done until recently. The final report responded to comments made by CS staff seven years ago, and was finalized for the purpose of supporting a decision document. The test wells in the FFS all share similar characteristics in that they have either very limited pads or no pads, are surrounded by tundra, and have small volumes of soil that are contaminated with weathered fuel products. Accessing the sites to conduct any cleanup would require helicopter access or winter ice roads. The FFS evaluates five alternatives for treatment of soil at these sites, and concludes with the recommendation for no further action based on lack of risk. The department approved the Proposed Plan seven years ago, and a public meeting was held at the time, also recommending no further action at these well sites. The Corps of Engineers held a public meeting earlier this year to revisit the Proposed Plan due to the long lapse of time; CS staff attended the meeting.

Tamar Stephens

3/17/2011

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting attended by contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens.

Tamar Stephens

8/20/2013

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Melody Debenham attended RAB meeting in Nuiqsut.

Melody Debenham

2/17/2015

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Attended RAB meeting Corps of Engineers FUDS program in Nuiqsut. Discussed status of Umiat sites.

Melody Debenham

1/22/2016

Update or Other Action

Provide DEC review comments to Umiat Test Well DD and Project Closeout Report.

John Carnahan

11/8/2016

Update or Other Action

Receive preliminary responses to DEC review and comment on Umiat Test Wells Decision Document and Project Close Out Report.

John Carnahan

3/7/2017

Meeting or Teleconference Held

Meeting with USCOE, BLM, DNR and DOT to discuss the status of the LF project. Meeting facilitated by USCOE.

John Carnahan

4/17/2019

Update or Other Action

Restoration advisory board (RAB) meeting held in Utqiagvik. Update provided on Umiat and others.

John Carnahan

11/13/2019

Meeting or Teleconference Held

DEC staff participated in the Restoration Advisory Board meeting in Nuiqsut, where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers discussed planned activities for Umiat FUDS sites.

Melinda Brunner

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Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Site Report: BLM Legacy Well Umiat Test Wells #2 & #5 (FUDS)

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation