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Site Report: Kalakaket Creek RRS - Water Pump House [OT001]

Site Name: Kalakaket Creek RRS - Water Pump House [OT001]
Address: South Shore of Kalakaket Creek, 22 Miles South of Galena, Galena, AK 99741
File Number: 860.38.008
Hazard ID: 4671
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.430806
Longitude: -156.836056
Horizontal Datum:NAD27

We make every effort to ensure the data presented here is accurate based on the best available information currently on file with DEC. It is therefore subject to change as new information becomes available. We recommend contacting the assigned project staff prior to making decisions based on this information.

Problems/Comments

The site consists of a small pool at the outfall of a seep located in a natural drainage area. The pool served as a water collection gallery during the operation of the facility and during the demolition and remedial action, The likely source of the soil contamination was leaking 55-gallon drums which stored fuel for the water pump, and used lube oil from oil changes. RRO exceeds ingestion cleanup levels in surface soil to 13000 mg/kg. The maximum concentration of DRO was 4860 mg/kg. The site is very remote from the rest of the camp, and will be difficult to relocate after the small access trail revegetates. It is unlikely that recreational users would be exposed to contamination at the site through ingestion of surface water or dermal contact. The pipeline that carried water to the camp was removed and placed in the on-site landfill, the water pumphouse was demolished, and 21 cubic yards of contaminated soil was excavated during the 2009 Clean Sweep and remedial action. Only one sample from a side wall of the excavation exceeded the migration to groundwater cleanup level. This sample detected 487 mg/kg DRO.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
7/28/2008 Site Added to Database Site added to the database. Mitzi Read
7/30/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Ranked Low Potential Exposure for surface water ingestion, and Future Exposure for direct contact with surface soil. De minimis exposure for direct contact with subsurface soil and outdoor air inhalation. Kim DeRuyter
4/13/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft 2010 Clean Sweep and Remedial Action Report update: The pipeline that carried water to the camp was removed and placed in the on-site landfill, the water pumphouse was demolished, and 21 cubic yards of contaminated soil was excavated during the 2009 Clean Sweep and remedial action. Only one sample from a side wall of the excavation exceeded the migration to groundwater cleanup level. This sample detected 487 mg/kg DRO. Kim DeRuyter
5/24/2010 CERCLA ROD Approved The CERCLA ROD, Petroleum Decision Document, and LF001 Decision Document were signed by DEC and the USAF. Kim DeRuyter
7/25/2010 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued One of five samples slightly exceeded the most stringent Method 2 cleanup level. Kim DeRuyter
9/14/2010 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 75738 Water Pump House. All pathways are either incomplete or deminimis exposure. Kim DeRuyter
12/19/2023 Update or Other Action ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT: Preliminary Assessment (PA) Report for Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) Areas, Kalakaket Creek Radio Relay Station, Alaska. In October 2023, USAF submitted a PA Report for AFFF at the former Kalakaket RRS. While USAF does not have good documentation or information about the activities that occurred when the Kalakaket installation was active, the PA presents several lines of evidence that AFFF was stored at Kalakaket. The conclusion reached in this PA is that no further action is warranted due to a lack of documentation that AFFF was released. However, based on the cited 1991 EPA PA guidance, before 'no further action' can be recommended, USAF must be certain that CERCLA hazardous substances have never been at the site. A lack of information cannot be interpreted to indicate that no hazardous waste is present or has ever been deposited at the site. DEC acknowledges receipt of the Kalakaket AFFF PA but specifically does not approve it. In the future, additional PFAS sampling may be required in areas described in this PA. Jamie McKellar

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil 487 ppm
RRO < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil

Control Type

Type Details
No ICs Required

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.

There are no documents for this site report.

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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