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Site Report: Eareckson Air Station SS14

Site Name: Eareckson Air Station SS14
Address: Base Operations Spill, aka PS-10, at Airport, Amchitka, AK 99546
File Number: 2649.38.001, 2649.38.014
Hazard ID: 47
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 52.716778
Longitude: 174.119675
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

Base Operations Spill. SS14 is located in the south-central portion of Shemya Island on the asphalt parking area near the former Base Operations Terminal. The site consists of a flat, graded parking apron that is partially paved and is still actively used for aircraft maintenance. On August 9, 1983, a cracked fuel tank in a damaged C-5A aircraft spilled approximately 50 gallons of JP-4 fuel on the parking area. The Station Fire Department reportedly hosed the fuel off the asphalt with water. The resulting water/fuel mixture flowed into the sandy soils between the parking apron and the south side of the runway. The fuel-saturated soils were later excavated, containerized, and stored at another location on base. Since 1988, following the soil excavation, several investigations were conducted to ensure that all contamination was removed from the site. During the investigations in 1992, 1993, and 1994, soil and groundwater samples were collected. These samples were analyzed for petroleum hydrocarbons, VOC, SVOC, and metals. The selected remedy for SS14 is no further action with site closure. Contaminants at SS14 are at low levels, appear to be decreasing, and pose no unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. The data support the conclusion that the reported 50-gallon fuel spill on the parking apron has been sufficiently remediated through soil removal and natural attenuation, and no further monitoring is necessary. The Technical Document to Support Installation Restoration Decision, Base Operations Spill (SS14) (Final dated July 2004) was signed by the Air Force on October 7, 2004 and ADEC on November 19, 2004. Eareckson AS is situated on Shemya Island, approximately 1,500 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska at the westernmost tip of the Aleutian Islands. Shemya Island is part of the Near Islands group of the Aleutian Archipelago. Shemya Island is owned by the U.S. Government and is under the jurisdiction of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. The U.S. Army first developed facilities on Shemya Island in 1943 to support operations against the Japanese occupation forces on the nearby islands of Attu, Agattu, and Kiska. In 1954, the site was deactivated, and was turned over to the Civil Aeronautics Authority in 1955. In 1958, the Air Force returned to Shemya Island to support various Air Force and Army strategic intelligence gathering activities. It has remained active in this capacity to the present. In 1995, the station was downsized and reverted to caretaker status and a private operation and maintenance contractor took control of the facility under contract to the Air Force. Longitude is east of Greenwich. RCRA EPA ID#s AK9570028705 Hazardous waste activity: generator 2, storer and burns hazardous waste fuel in burner. AK7570000151 Cleanup. Hazardous waste activity: generator 1 and transporter. Also Huffman Construction Co. of Alaska RCRA EPA ID#AKD982654238 Hazardous Waste Activity: generator 2 at Shemya Air Force Base. Site is located south of buildings 731 and 775, north of runway.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
1/1/1964 Update or Other Action Alaskan Air Command Master Plan base map with update notes of January 1, 1966 and January 1, 1970, and hand-drawn edits reportedly from 1971. Former Staff
1/1/1969 Update or Other Action Corps of Engineers Boring Logs, Shemya AFB, Alaska, AP 526 - AP884, January 1969 - December 1982. Former Staff
1/1/1976 Update or Other Action Corps of Engineers Boring Logs, Shemya AFB, Alaska, DH 885 - DH 1105, January 1976 - May 1985. Former Staff
11/1/1982 Update or Other Action Recoverable, Reclaimable and Waste Petroleum Product Management Plan 19-14. Former Staff
6/15/1984 Update or Other Action (Undated) Shemya ACE Projects, 1984 to date. Internal Report. Prepared by 5099th CEOS. Former Staff
9/1/1984 Preliminary Assessment Approved Installation Restoration Program, Phase I Records Search, 5073rd Air Base Group, Shemya Air Force Base, Alaska (dated September 1984) prepared by JRB Associates. Former Staff
2/15/1985 Update or Other Action Management Action Plan, Eareckson Air Station, Alaska (formerly Shemya AFB, Alaska). Prepared by Jacobs Engineering Group. Former Staff
5/1/1985 Update or Other Action Corps of Engineers Boring Logs, Shemya AFB, Alaska, AP 1105 - AP 1463, May 1985 - November 1987. Former Staff
11/22/1985 Update or Other Action CH2M Hill trip report dated 1985. Former Staff
12/30/1985 Interim Removal Action Approved (Undated) Alaska Cleanup Effort, Shemya History 1975 - 1985. Internal Report. Prepared by 5099th CEOS. Former Staff
6/1/1986 Update or Other Action Phase II - Task I Presurvey Report, Shemya Air Force Base and King Salmon Air Force Station. Former Staff
12/2/1986 Notice of Violation Notice of Violation letter submitted to Air Force by EPA (Charles Findley, Director of Hazardous Waste Division). A shipment of "salvage materials" violated hazardous waste laws and regulations promulgated under RCRA. Former Staff
9/25/1987 Update or Other Action Shemya Field Trip Notes, September 15-19, 1987. Prepared by CH2M Hill. Former Staff
7/29/1988 Update or Other Action Installation Restoration Program, Stage I Workplan, Shemya Air Force Base, Alaska. Prepared by CH2M Hill. Former Staff
8/15/1988 Update or Other Action Environmental Sampling Data Sheet. Former Staff
8/29/1988 Update or Other Action Comprehensive Plan, Shemya Air Force Base. Prepared by TRA/FARR and Dowl Engineers. Former Staff
9/2/1988 Update or Other Action Pollution Incident Report. Former Staff
9/9/1988 Update or Other Action Installation Restoration Program, Stage I Quality Assurance Project Plan, Shemya Air Force Base, Alaska. Former Staff
9/19/1988 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). CH2M Hill submits the Final Draft Technical report dated 2/28/90 for the Stage I IRP. The report presents the findings of CH2M Hill's site visit and sampling efforts during September and October 1988. 22 individual sites were investigated. Some of the findings include TPH up to 200,000 ppm in soil and 110 ppm in groundwater, PCBs detected in many soil samples and chlorinated compounds detected at several locations. Former Staff
10/1/1988 Update or Other Action Evaluation of Lake at Shemya Air Force Base, Alaska. Technical memorandum prepared by Robert Binovi summarizing an evaluation of water samples collected from lakes at Shemya Island. Former Staff
10/1/1988 Update or Other Action Corps of Engineers Boring Logs, Shemya Air Force Base, Alaska, AP1464 - AP1765, October 1988 - April 1991. Former Staff
10/5/1988 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). CH2M Hill submits final work plans, QA plans and health and safety plans for Stage I IRP Former Staff
10/17/1988 Update or Other Action Trip Report, Shemya Air Force Base, Alaska. Memorandum by Clare Jaeger (COE) summarizing the contamination discovered during soil and water sampling on October 6, 1988. Former Staff
2/8/1989 Update or Other Action Water System, Phase 1B, Surface Water Quality of Several Lakes, Shemya AFB, Alaska Technical memorandum prepared by Thomas Delwyn summarizing a surface water quality investigation conducted at Shemya in October 1988. Former Staff
6/15/1989 Update or Other Action 1988 U.S. Army COE discovery of additional POL Contamination. Former Staff
7/6/1989 Update or Other Action POL Contamination Investigations at Shemya Air Force Base, Alaska, 25 April through 3 June 1989. Memorandum by Thomas Delwyn (COE). Former Staff
7/20/1989 Update or Other Action ADAL Aircraft Equipment Shop, POL Contamination Investigations at Shemya AFB, AK. Former Staff
8/28/1989 Update or Other Action Communication Facility, POL Contamination Investigations at Shemya Air Force Base, Alaska. Memorandum by Thomas Delwyn (COE) summarizing an investigation conducted in May 1989 to obtain data on the extent of POL contamination at the site of the new communication facility and to obtain design information for Worker Safety and Dewatering during construction. Former Staff
9/15/1989 Update or Other Action Preliminary Assessment / Site Investigation report completed. Former Staff
10/5/1989 Update or Other Action Notice of Noncompliance letter to Air Force Shemya Contractors by EPA (Gil Haselberger, Chief of Toxic Substances Section) regarding a June 1989 inspection and violations with TSCA. Former Staff
2/28/1990 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). CH2M Hill Submits draft work plans dated 2/28/90 for IRP Stage 2. Stage 2 is intended to be a more concentrated sampling episode based on the results of the Stage I Technical Report. Former Staff
6/12/1990 Update or Other Action Federal Facility Compliance Agreement between the Air Force (signed by Charles Crabb, Jr., 5073d ABG/CC) and EPA (signed by Charles Findley, Director of Hazardous Waste Division) on March 15, 1991 regarding noncompliance with RCRA. RCRA Docket Number 1090-04-02-3008. Former Staff
6/13/1990 Update or Other Action Notice of Noncompliance letter to 5073 ABG/CC Air Force by EPA (Charles Findley, Director of Hazardous Waste Division) regarding RCRA violations; RCRA Docket Number 1090-04-02-3008. The attachment included a Federal Facilities Compliance Agreement with a Notice of Noncompliance, a Compliance Schedule, and a Notice of Necessity for Conference. The Air Force response letter (signed by Colonel Charles Crabb, Jr., Commander) is dated April 1991, and includes attachments. Former Staff
8/10/1990 Update or Other Action Installation Restoration Program, Stage I Final Technical Report for Shemya Air Force Base, prepared by CH2M Hill. Former Staff
9/14/1990 Update or Other Action Installation Restoration Program, Stage 2 Final Workplan, Shemya Air Force Base. Prepared by CH2M Hill. Former Staff
10/26/1990 Update or Other Action Memorandum from Environmental Contaminants Coordinator, USFSW, to Supervisor, Fisheries Management Services regarding fish from Shemya Lakes. Former Staff
11/1/1990 Update or Other Action Volume III, Concept Approved Draft of the Coastal Management Plan. Former Staff
6/25/1991 Update or Other Action Site Summaries for Shemya Air Force Base, Alaska Installation Restoration Program. Dan Hartung
7/26/1991 Update or Other Action Notice of Violation / Request for Corrective Action letter to 5099th CEOS Air Force (Captain Kenneth Brown, Chief of Environmental Contract and Planning Section) from ADEC (Ron Klein, Manager of Regional Contaminated Sites) regarding numerous sites and the status of site assessments and remedial actions. The Air Force response letter is dated August 29, 1991. ADEC letter dated September 23, 1991 serves as a formal notification that the terms of the NOV were satisfied. Dan Hartung
8/27/1991 Update or Other Action Shemya Soils and Groundwater Database. Dan Hartung
10/4/1991 Update or Other Action Installation Restoration Program (IRP) Field Investigation Plan, Shemya Air Force Base, Alaska (2 volumes). Dan Hartung
6/23/1992 Site Characterization Workplan Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). EPA has reviewed the Field Investigation Plan submitted for Shemya Air Force Base. Ray Burger
6/23/1992 Update or Other Action EPA has reviewed a preliminary assessment submitted for Shemya Air Force Base. Ray Burger
1/1/1993 Update or Other Action Trip Report: Winter Wildlife and Oil Contamination Surveys, Shemya I., Alaska, 4-8 January 1993. Ray Burger
1/13/1993 Update or Other Action Chemical Data Report, Shemya Seawall/Erosion Protection, Shemya Air Force Base, Alaska. Memorandum prepared by Thomas Delwyn documenting a sampling effort to investigate potential soil contamination in areas to be excavated at Eareckson AS. Ray Burger
2/1/1993 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Former Staff
2/1/1993 Update or Other Action Shemya Air Force Base, Alaska 1992 Installation Restoration Program Field Investigation Report, prepared by CH2M Hill; report finalized in February 1993. Ray Burger
3/29/1993 Update or Other Action Chemical Data Report, Hazardous Waste Management Facility and Hazardous Material Storage Facility, Shemya AFB, AK. Ray Burger
5/20/1993 Update or Other Action Status of Shemya Air Force Base in Relation to Proposal for the National Priorities List. Ray Burger
6/1/1993 Update or Other Action Shemya Air Force Base, Alaska General Stockpiling Plan for Contaminated Soil. Ray Burger
6/15/1993 Update or Other Action Installation Restoration Program Technical Document to Support No Further Action, Shemya Air Force Base, Site PS-10: Base Operations, Terminal JP-4 Spill. Prepared by CH2M Hill. Undated, listed as 6-15-93 based on similar reports prepared during this time for other facility sites. Ray Burger
12/1/1993 Update or Other Action Eareckson Air Force Station (formerly Shemya AFB, Alaska) 1993 Installation Restoration Program Basewide and Limited Source Investigation Workplan. Prepared by Jacobs Engineering Group. Ray Burger
4/18/1994 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Ray Burger
5/2/1994 Site Added to Database JP-4/TPH contamination. Ray Burger
9/30/1994 Notice of Violation Notice of Violation letter to 673rd ABG Air Force (Colonel Johnny Jarnigan, Commanding Officer) from ADEC (Janice Adair, Regional Administrator) regarding the April 1994 RCRA Compliance Evaluation Inspection. Ray Burger
12/15/1994 Update or Other Action Final Remedial Investigation, Workplan and Sampling and Analysis Addendum, 1994 Field Season, Eareckson Air Station, Alaska (formerly Shemya AFB, Alaska). Prepared by Jacobs Engineering Group. Ray Burger
1/1/1995 Update or Other Action Natural Resource Plan, Eareckson AS, Shemya Island, Alaska, draft. Ray Burger
1/31/1995 Update or Other Action Memorandum from 611 CES/CEOR to 611 CES/CEVR regarding Asphaltic Tar Soil Samples, Eareckson AS, Alaska. Ray Burger
2/1/1995 Update or Other Action Community Relations Photo Notebook; Remedial Investigations, Feasibility Studies and Remedial Actions. Ray Burger
4/15/1995 Update or Other Action Revised 1994 Well Abandonment Summary Report. Prepared by Jacobs Engineering Group. Ray Burger
8/1/1995 Update or Other Action Eareckson AS, Shemya Island, Alaska Fact Sheet Numbe 2 "Public Involvement in the Decision Making Process". Ray Burger
9/16/1995 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RI - Remedial Investigation). RI action added by Shannon and Wilson on 3/14/97, based on relative Risk Evaluation Worksheet dated 9/16/95. Site description on Worksheet stated "...50 gallon spill. NFAD prepared and closure due December 1995." Pathway: Groundwater and soils. S&W-Miner
10/23/1995 Update or Other Action Notice of Violation letter to USAF (Colonel Samuel Johnson III) from ADEC (Michael Conway, Industrial Operations Section Chief) regarding the June 1995 hazardous waste inspection. Ray Burger
12/1/1995 Update or Other Action Management Action Plan, Eareckson Air Station, Alaska (formerly Shemya AFB, Alaska). Ray Burger
1/15/1996 Site Characterization Report Approved Final Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study Report, Volume III, Eareckson Air Station, Alaska (Formerly Shemya Air Force Base Alaska). Ray Burger
2/20/1996 Update or Other Action Memorandum for the record: Possible Mercury Site at Eareckson AS. Ray Burger
3/15/1996 Update or Other Action Final Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study Report, Volume IV, Eareckson Air Station, Alaska (Formerly Shemya Air Force Base Alaska). Ray Burger
10/30/1998 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with Air Force on response to comments for Decision Documents Volumes 3 and 4. Two main issues - (1) documents lacking detail necessary to describe remedial investigation, risk assessment, remedial, and no-further-action decisions and (2) Air Force determination that no analyses will be performed for DRO, GRO and RRO based on a 1994 Department approval of specific petroleum constituents for risk assessment studies. No resolution reached on these 2 main issues - outcome resulted in potential for dispute resolution process. Gretchen Pikul
11/23/1998 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meetings with Air Force on Decision Documents Volumes 3 and 4. Two main issues - (1) level of detail needed in documents, and (2) no DRO, GRO and RRO analyses in long-term monitoring. No resolution reached on these 2 main issues - outcome resulted in potential for dispute resolution process. Gretchen Pikul
12/11/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC sent out letter outlining the remaining unresolved issues from the 3 Decision Document comment resolution meetings. Gretchen Pikul
12/17/1998 Update or Other Action Final Management Action Plan (updated December 1998). Gretchen Pikul
12/30/1998 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with Air Force on Decision Documents Volumes 3 and 4. Two main issues - (1) level of detail needed in documents, and (2) no DRO, GRO and RRO analyses in long-term monitoring. Avoided formal dispute resolution process - began working on document detail needed and necessary analyses for long-term monitoring. Gretchen Pikul
1/20/1999 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with Air Force to discuss appropriate sites to be included within the Decision Documents Volumes 3 and 4 and the appropriate site status (transfer to Compliance, RCRA, Remedial Actions, and No-Further-Remedial-Action-Planned). Gretchen Pikul
1/20/1999 Update or Other Action Final Basewide Monitoring Program Workplan - note DRO, GRO and RRO were not included as requested by ADEC Gretchen Pikul
1/26/1999 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting with Air Force on 4 potential NFRAP sites (SS12, SS14, ST39 and LF28), ADEC prepared briefing papers with questions for Air Force. Gretchen Pikul
2/5/1999 Update or Other Action Remedial Investigation Basewide Groundwater Monitoring Report, August - September 1998, Basewide Monitoring Activities and Findings (dated January 1999). Gretchen Pikul
6/22/1999 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC participated in a facility-wide site visit from June 22 - 25. The 24 site inspections and discussions were designed to aid in the development and review of upcoming Decision Documents. Gretchen Pikul
11/30/1999 Update or Other Action Decision Documents (review draft dated November 1999, received November 30, 1999, meeting on January 4, 2000). Gretchen Pikul
1/4/2000 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC participated in a Decision Document meeting with Air Force and USFWS; ADEC reviewed, commented and participated in internal briefing meetings during January and February. Gretchen Pikul
1/16/2001 Meeting or Teleconference Held Decision Document and general status meeting with new Air Force project manager, Larry Opperman and staff. Gretchen Pikul
7/3/2001 Update or Other Action Technical Memorandum - Risk Assessment Assumptions for Decision Documents (draft final dated January 8, 2001, ADEC comment letter dated March 19, 2001, comment resolution meeting on May 18, 2001, final received June 11, 2001, ADEC e-mail comments after reviewing final document dated July 3, 2001). Gretchen Pikul
12/10/2001 Update or Other Action Decision Document Report Volumes III and IV (draft dated March 1996; draft final dated April 1997 and received May 1997; ADEC comment letter dated October 1, 1997 with extensive comments; related meetings in 1998 on October 30, November 23, November 24 and December 30; related meetings in 1999 on January 20 and 26, February 2 and 25, June 22-25 during site visit, August 24 during FY00 project scoping meeting, and October 1; received Review Draft Decision Documents on November 30, 1999 ADEC comment letters in February 2000; related meetings in 2000 on January 4; related meetings in 2001 on January 4 and 16; ADEC comment letter on Draft Final Technical Memorandum - Risk Assessment Assumptions for Decision Documents (dated March 19) with comment resolution meeting on May 18, final memorandum dated June 2001; draft Proposed Plan for 6 sites received August 24, ADEC comment letter dated September 19, 'response to comments' received December 10, 2001). Gretchen Pikul
5/2/2002 Proposed Plan Proposed Plan for Remedial Action - 6 sites (North Beach Landfill - LF18, Barrel Bay and Scrap Metal Disposal Area - LF24/LF26, Scrap Metal Landfill - LF28, Water Gallery - OT48, Base Operations Spill - SS14, and Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) at Building 110 - ST39) - draft received on August 24, 2001; ADEC comment letter dated September 19, 2001; 'response to comments' received on November 13, 2001, additional ADEC questions/comments sent on December 10, 2001; comment resolution meeting on January 29, 2002; received draft final dated April 2002 on March 14, 2002; final plan dated March 2002 and received on April 1, 2002; public comment period from May 1 - May 31, 2002 and public meeting on May 2, 2002. Gretchen Pikul
11/3/2003 GIS Position Updated Updated latitude and longitude entered by Tom McGrath using Microsoft MapPoint 2004. Torsten Ernst
2/6/2004 Update or Other Action Technical Document to Support Installation Restoration Decision, Base Operations Spill (SS14) (draft final dated April 2003 and received May 21; comment resolution meeting on August 6; final received September 15 and signed by ADEC in September 2003; Air Force Addendum One signed by ADEC on February 6, 2004). Gretchen Pikul
11/19/2004 Record of Decision Technical Document to Support Installation Restoration Decision, Base Operations Spill (SS14) (Final dated July 2004) Air Force signed October 7, 2004; ADEC signed November 19, 2004. Jeff Norberg
11/16/2007 Site Visit ADEC staff travelled to Eareckson Air Station for 4 days to conduct site visits and become familiar with the ecology and topography of the island. Site visits were conducted to all pertinent sites and meetings were held to discuss the plan moving forward for Records of Decision and remedial alternatives. Jonathan Schick
2/20/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Jonathan Schick
1/12/2012 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued On November 19, 2004 ADEC Contaminated Sites Staff signed the Technical Document to SUpport Installation Restoration Decision for Bae Operations Spill (SS014) at Eareckson Air Station, Alaska. In the document, the selected remedy for SS014 is protective of human health and the envrionment, complies with ARARs, and is cost effective. It has been determined that no further remedial action is necessary at the site. The reported 50-gallon spill on the parking apron has been sufficiently remediated throguh soil removal and natural attentuation, and no further monitoring is needed. Jonathan Schick

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil 50-gallon spill was successfully remediated.

Control Type

Type Details
No ICs Required

Requirements

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

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

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