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Site Report: FAA Yakutat Airport Quonset Hut

Site Name: FAA Yakutat Airport Quonset Hut
Address: Near Yakutat Airport, Yakutat, AK 99689
File Number: 1530.38.002
Hazard ID: 156
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 59.510767
Longitude: -139.677945
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

Abandoned Storage shed containing a punctured drum of herbicide (Esterone, a.k.a. Agent Orange) found in 1984. A variety of other toxic substances, of an unidentified nature are also located in/and around this collapsed structure. 1999 Site Characterization revealed containers of tars and paint in the collapsed building. Initial date 12/19/93 for site number was extracted from file archives and is the first response date to the punctured drum of herbicide. There have been unconfirmed reports of buried drums in the general area of the Yakutat Airport. Also, samples taken by Alaska Native Health Board have shown levels of dioxin. Information received 7/27 from Alaska Health Project indicates 2,4-D at 1.3 ppm and 2,4,5-T at 7.8 ppm in soil near quonset hut. It should be noted that these levels are below federal Land Disposal Restrictions. Metal structure, surrounding debris, solid waste, and hazardous waste were shipped to Washington State for disposal. Last staff assigned were Rice, Sundet, Mazzitello, and Harwood.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
12/19/1984 Interim Removal Action Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = SC - Site Control (Emergency Response)). Al Kegler and Lester Leatherberry packed and removed drum of Esteron. Al Kegler
7/28/1993 Site Added to Database Response in 84 to report of punctured drum of Esterone (herbicide). Other unknowns at site, unconfirmed reports of buried drums in vicinity. Former Staff
8/3/1993 Meeting or Teleconference Held (Old R:Base Action Code = PUBP - Public Participation)). Rice and Kegler held a public meeting comprised of concerned parties to discuss sampling and possible groundwater contamination. Randy Rice
8/3/1993 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = MS - Monitoring/Sampling). Randy Rice and Al Kegler traveled to site to do sampling and conduct a meeting of concerned parties in Yakutat. Samples done by FAA came back as detectable for dioxin, samples taken by ADEC came back positive for dioxin. Randy Rice
9/1/1993 Meeting or Teleconference Held (Old R:Base Action Code = PUBP - Public Participation)). Randy Rice, Al Kegler and M.J. Freeman (EQ Lab) of ADEC administered a public meeting of concerned citizens regarding the dioxin issue in Yakutat. Randy Rice
9/7/1993 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Ranking modified. SW Exposure Index Value was changed from 0.4 to 4. Former Staff
9/7/1993 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = MS - Monitoring/Sampling). Parallel samples taken by ADEC were sent to two different labs. Results from Weyerhauser were ND (non-detect) for dioxin. Results from Chester LabNet came back positive for dioxin but it was later determined that these results were due to lab error. Former Staff
4/1/1994 Interim Removal Action Approved Draft proposal for interim cleanup and release investigation sampling near abandoned quonset hut. Former Staff
5/25/1994 Preliminary Assessment Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = SA1A - Phase I Site Assessment Approval). Reviewed and approved release investigation sampling proposal. Randy Rice
10/24/1994 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). 5 samples to be collected around quonset hut and analyzed for dioxin. Former Staff
11/4/1994 Site Characterization Workplan Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Expanded Site Investigation Workplan reviewed and approved. Randy Rice
9/15/1995 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed the two volume FAA report titled "Site Cleanup and Investigation Report, Yakutat FAA Station", dated June 1995, submitted to ADEC in July 1995 and provided comments in response to. Staff requested a site visit. Kent Patrick-Riley
9/17/1995 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Staff inspected Quonset Hut with FAA staff J. Holzman. Kent Patrick-Riley
2/23/1996 Update or Other Action FAA requested an ACL of 10 ppm PCBs at Building 607 and 2 ppb for dioxin in soil at Yakutat. Rich Sundet
3/14/1996 Update or Other Action ADEC Peer Review regarding proposed FAA's dioxin cleanup level of 2 ppb in soil and 10 ppm PCBs in soil at the Yakutat Quonset Hut and Building 607, respectively. Rich Sundet
3/18/1996 Update or Other Action ADEC issued a letter to DOT requesting clarification of whether property where the Quonset Hut is located in Yakutat and where the proposed FAA dioxin cleanup is to occur, is on DOT land. Rich Sundet
3/21/1996 Update or Other Action ADEC commented to FAA's 2/23/96 letter to ADEC requesting concurrence for an ACL proposed by FAA of 10 ppm PCBs in soil and 2 ppb dioxin in soil at Building 607 and the Quonset Hut at Yakutat, respectively. Rich Sundet
4/22/1996 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SA2A - Phase II SA Approval / Release Investigation). ADEC staff reviewed, conditionally approved and drafted a letter commenting on FAA's draft report "Pre-field Planning Document, Phase II Expanded Site Investigation and Cleanup, Yakutat", dated 4/16/96. Rich Sundet
8/16/1996 Update or Other Action ADEC received and reviewed a Montgomery-Watson report titled "Final Site Remediation and Remedial Action Goals Report, Yakutat, Alaska", dated 8/14/96. Rich Sundet
8/28/1996 Cleanup Level(s) Approved An ADEC Peer Review regarding proposed FAA dioxin cleanup level of 10 ppb in soil at Yakutat Quonset Hut was held. FAA proposed cleanup goals discussed in report titled "Final Site Remediation and Remedial Action Goals Report, Yakutat, Alaska". Rich Sundet
9/4/1996 Meeting or Teleconference Held An ADEC Peer Review Resolution Meeting was held with staff Klein, Himmelbauer and Sundet to discuss water sampling concerns raised by Himmelbauer. ADEC provided verbal responses to FAA per outcome of the 9/4/96 Peer Review. Rich Sundet
9/9/1996 Update or Other Action ADEC received FAA report titled "Draft Remedial Action Plan, Yakutat, Alaska", dated 9/9/96, from Montgomery-Watson. ADEC provided verbal response per outcome of 9/4/96 Peer Review and review of subject Draft Action Plan. Rich Sundet
9/11/1996 Meeting or Teleconference Held FAA held a Public Meeting at Yakutat regarding proposed cleanup of the dioxin contaminated soil at the Quonset Hut. One person from the public attended. Rich Sundet
9/13/1996 Cleanup Plan Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = RAU - Remedial Actions Underway (General)). FAA excavated dioxin contaminated soil from the Quonset Hut in Yakutat to a dimension of 50' square and 2.5' deep (231.5 cubic yards) and shipped it off-site. This phase of excavation was completed 9/18/96. Rich Sundet
10/9/1996 Update or Other Action FAA provided ADEC with preliminary soil confirmation samples for dioxin at Quonset Hut, Yakutat. Rich Sundet
1/14/1997 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Reranked by staff. Quantity Value changed from 1 to 2; Air Exposure Index Value from 0.1 to 0.2, Population Density Value from 3 to 5; Population Proximity Value from 1 to 0.5; GW Usage Value from 1 to 0.8; SW Exposure Index Value from 0.4 to 0; and SW Exposure Index Value from 0.4 to 0. Rich Sundet
10/11/1999 Update or Other Action Collapsed Quonset Hut building removed from site and barged to Lower 48. Hazardous substances EPA # received from EPA. Philip Services transporting wastes off site week of 10/11/99. Dennis Harwood
11/17/1999 Site Closure Approved Manifests for solid waste and hazardous wastes were signed. Site is closed. Dennis Harwood

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
For more information about this site, contact DEC at (907) 465-5390.

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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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