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Site Report: Dutch Hbr-Strawberry Hill Landfill

Site Name: Dutch Hbr-Strawberry Hill Landfill
Address: Strawberry Hill, Amaknak Island, Unalaska, AK 99685
File Number: 2542.38.020
Hazard ID: 1369
Status: Active
Staff: Kathleen Iler-Galau, 9074512153 kathleen.iler-galau@alaska.gov
Latitude: 53.884229
Longitude: -166.541029
Horizontal Datum:NAD83

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

During the mid-1980s the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began cleanup of WWII environmental impacts around Unalaska under the Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) Program. The initial cleanup focused on unsightly or unsafe buildings and debris. Building demolition and debris materials (e.g. ashes from burned buildings, wood, metal, concrete and asbestos containing material) were disposed of in a landfill on Strawberry Hill on Amaknak Island (several other landfills were also created on Unalaska island). The active landfill occupied an approximate area of 22,500 square feet. The landfill was closed in 1986, graded flat and covered with fine-grained clay and sandy silt. Landowner and community concern has been raised over iron precipitate and sheen in the surface water drainage coming out of the landfill. Site characterization work during the 1990s documented high iron, arsenic, and cadmium levels in the drainage, and detected other contaminants but did not find other contaminants of concern at levels that would pose a potential risk to human health or the environment. Information on the landfill location and contents was filed in the appropriate land records at DNR and provided to the land owner (Ounalashka Corporation). The Corps of Engineers released a Proposed Plan for public review and comment (Proposed plan #3). It summarized the site history, characterization results, and proposed no further action (beyond institutional controls documenting the landfill location, need to maintain the soil and vegetative cap, and prevent excavation into or construction over the landfill). DEC did not concur with the proposed plan or the draft Decision Document and has recommend further investigation of the site.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
8/3/1998 Site Characterization Workplan Approved ADEC received the "1998 Workplan Addendum for UST/Pipeline Removals, Thermal Treatment Operations Plan, Other RI/IRA/SI Tasks", dated July 1998. It called for installing and sampling two monitoring wells at the Strawberry Hill landfill site (one upgradient and one downgradient). John Halverson
3/9/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC received the 1997 Report - "Interim Removal Actions, Site Investigations, Remedial Investigations", dated March 1999 (Jacobs Eng.). Sediment and surface water samples were collected from the drainage below the landfill. No GRO, BTEX, PCBs, nor pesticides were dectected. DRO, RRO, VOCs, and PAHs in sediments were below freshwater ecological screening levels where they exist. RCRA metals were within the range of background levels or below existing eclogical screening levels. High levels of iron were present. Further investigation was recommended to determine whether the iron is from natural sources or the landfill wastes. John Halverson
8/25/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC received the "1998 SI/RI/IRA Report Amaknak and Unalaska Islands", dated August 1999 (Jacobs Eng.). It documents installation of three borings/monitoring, groundwater sampling and surface water sampling. It indicated GW downgradient from the landfill contains higher levels of both total and dissolved iron than the upgradient groundwater. Further evaluation to be included in the comprehensive RI report. John Halverson
11/23/1999 Site Added to Database Iron leachate from a solid waste landfill constructed during FUDS cleanup work in the mid 1980s. John Halverson
2/11/2000 Update or Other Action ADEC reviewed and commented on the December 1999 draft Comprehensive Remedial Investigation Report for Amaknak and Unalaska Islands. The report summarizes past FUDS characterization and cleanup work on the islands. Soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment samples collected at and around the site indicate metals (most notably iron) from the landfill area are getting into groundwater and the surface water drainage coming from the landfill. Iron precipitate is settling out in a small wetland area along the drainage. The report recommends no further action other than working with the landowner to document the landfill location in the property records and note that excavation and construction should not occur over or into it. John Halverson
6/5/2000 Site Characterization Report Approved ADEC received the final Comprehensive Remedial Investigation Report - Amaknak and Unalaska Islands, May 2000, by Jacobs Engineering under contract to the Corps. The report recommends no further action. The only contaminant of concern was iron, which is being naturally attenuated in the wetland area below the landfill. Taking further action could result in iron remaining in solution until it reaches the marine environment, where it would then precipitate out. John Halverson
9/6/2002 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed a draft final lanfill closure report for strawberry hill and other FUDS debris cleanup landfills on Amaknak/Unalaska Islands. It covers ten different disposal sites that were authorized under three separate permits from DEC in 1985 and 1989. Staff concurred with the report and the Corps of Engineers will record it at the DNR recorders office. John Halverson
9/30/2002 Institutional Control Record Established The Corps of Engineers recorded a landfill closure report with the Aleutian Islands Recording District (#305) that is numbered 2002-000436-0 and is nine pages long. A copy is in the project file. John Halverson
1/28/2004 Proposed Plan DEC received the final proposed plan for the Strawberry Hill landfill on Jan. 28, 2004. The plan summarizes the site history and prior site investigation activities and results. No contaminants of conncern have been identified; a few inorganics (iron, arsenic, cadmium and selinium) were found above ecological screening levels or water quality standards for freshwater organisms, however, they were determined to be within representative background levels. No Further Action was identified as the preferred alternative. A formal public comment period was scheduled from Feb 2 through March 2, 2004, with public meetings scheduled for Feb 10th. John Halverson
6/10/2005 Update or Other Action File number issued 2542.38.020. Aggie Blandford
12/23/2021 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 72347 name: auto-generated pm edit Dutch Hbr-Strawberry Hill Landfill Cascade Galasso-Irish
11/8/2023 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 72347 auto-generated pm edit Dutch Hbr-Strawberry Hill Landfill. Cascade Galasso-Irish
7/5/2024 Update or Other Action Petroleum Eligibility Determination – Strawberry Hill The review was performed to determine if the site is eligible to receive funding from an EPA grant or service. Based on the review of available information, DEC has determined the site meets eligibility criteria and is eligible to receive funding. Kathleen Iler-Galau
10/7/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved a sampling and analysis plan for testing the Cell (one of 4 distinct landfill areas) at the Strawberry Hill Landfill. This has already been approved by EPA. The landfill is believed to contain friable asbestos. The contractor is aware and trained asbestos abatement personell are handling excavation work. The majority of the work is being completed by non-intrusive means. The plan is to remove all contaminants from the land and build a hospital for the region. Kathleen Iler-Galau
11/6/2024 Site Visit On this date DEC personnel visited Strawberry Hill Landfill. The asbestos site in the approved workplan did not yield any asbestos, although clearly marked as such. The site is in good condition, minor debris showing in the harbor side in a shallow ditch. There are four landfill sites in the complex. Rocky Point water-oil separators on the backside were observed in good condition. Kathleen Iler-Galau
11/6/2024 Meeting or Teleconference Held The Qawalangin FUDS Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) Meeting was held at the Unalaska Public Library. This regional RAB incorporates five FUDS in the Qawalangin region: Amaknak FUDS, Chernofski FUDS, Cape Wislow FUDS, Fort Learnard FUDS, and Ugadaga Bay FUDS. RAB Board Members, USACE-FUDS, DEC, and members of the public were in attendance in-person, with additional stakeholders participating virtually. FUDS PMs provided updates on the status of FUDS sites. The RAB membership also updated their charter and added new members. Kathleen Iler-Galau

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
Asbestos Other Soil

Control Type

Type Details
Notice of Environmental Contamination The US Army Corps of Engineers recorded a landfill closure notice in the State land records. It documents the location of hte landfill and types of waste disposed of in it. A proposed plan was released for public comment in 2004. It recommended no further action. A decision document has not been completed.

Requirements

Description Details
Excavation / Soil Movement Restrictions Deed notice documents the location of buried solid waste and that excavation should not ocurr in that area. None
Maintenance / Inspection Of Engineering Controls Soil cover over the landfill needs to be maintained. As of 2004 it was revegetated and stable. None

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