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Site Report: BLM Alaska Fire Service Fort Yukon Station

Site Name: BLM Alaska Fire Service Fort Yukon Station
Address: Fort Yukon Airport; S End of BLM Main Apron, Fort Yukon, AK 99740
File Number: 740.38.021
Hazard ID: 25596
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 66.571276
Longitude: -145.245299
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

The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service Fort Yukon Station at the Fort Yukon airport has been affected by multiple releases of fire retardant associated with fire-fighting activities. Spills at or near the BLM main apron include releases of retardant from secondary containment due to stormwater overflow and possible releases during decommissioning of retardant storage tanks. In 2005, cyanide above ADEC cleanup levels was detected in surface soil. In 2010, approximately 90 cubic yards of cyanide contaminated soil was removed from the site. Confirmation sample results are all below the ADEC cleanup levels.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
8/30/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved work plan describing cleanup of fire retardant impacted soils. Seven areas of stained soil will be excavated and confirmation samples will be collected from the footprint of each excavation for total cyanide and weak acid dissociable cyanide. The excavated soil will be containerized in supersacks and transported to the Columbia Ridge Landfill in Arlington, Oregon for final disposal. Melody Debenham
12/22/2010 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
12/22/2010 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78999 name: Fire Retardant Releases Mitzi Read
6/27/2012 Final Cleanup Report Reviewed Approved the final Fire Retardant Spill Cleanup Report. A total of 9 visibly stained soil areas were identified for removal. At the completion of removal activities approximately 5500 square feet of affected surface area was excavated from 4 inches to 1.5 feet below the ground surface. Approximately 89 cubic yards of soil were excavated and transported to Columbia Ridge Landfill in Arlington, Oregon for disposal. Confirmation samples were collected from the excavation footprints and analyzed for total cyanide and weak acid dissociable cyanide, and all results are below the cleanup levels. Melody Debenham
2/24/2015 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78999 Fire Retardant Releases. Melody Debenham
2/26/2015 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued Melody Debenham
7/31/2018 Update or Other Action A blue stain was reported at the site in 2016. DEC and AK Fire Service (AFS) concurred that the area should be sampled for cyanide. Cyanide was documented above MTGW cleanup levels at 89 mg/kg, but below HH cleanup levels. The impacted area is estimated at 20 square feet. The area was subsequently tilled and seeded in 2017 (no DEC approved WP was developed). DEC followed up in 2018 and the AFS reported the soils in the area to be compact resulting in slow grass growth in the area. DEC considers the area impacted to be de minimis. Gretchen Caudill

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
Cyanide < 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.
Movement or use of contaminated material (including on site) in a manner that results in a violation of the water quality standards is prohibited (18 AAC 70)

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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