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Site Report: St Law NEC Facility Wide

Site Name: St Law NEC Facility Wide
Address: Northeast Cape, Saint Lawrence Island, Savoonga, AK 99769
File Number: 475.38.013
Hazard ID: 207
Status: Active
Staff: Erica Blake, 9074512182 erica.blake@alaska.gov
Latitude: 63.310250
Longitude: -168.964278
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

Site operated 1957-1972. There are 29 separate sites associated with the main facility not including the White Alice site (Site 31) which is uphill about 1/2 mile. Site 30 is the name given to the various background sampling areas. The site has extensive petroleum contamination in soil and groundwater at the Headquarters Area (Sites 13-27). There is petroleum (mainly diesel) at various site throughout the facility. There is scattered PCB contamination in soil at the Headquarters Area, White Alice Site (Site 31-34), Drainage Basin (Site 28), and the landfill (Site 7). Isolated detections of generally low concentrations of VOC's, pesticides and metals have been noted. EPA ID # D981765894. DERP/FUDS. See 475.15.006 for additional information. (rpltr3.1) Last staff assigned were Noland, Ortelee, Markey, Kalu, Rutkowski and Brownlee. A Building Demolition/Debris Removal was completed in 2003 and 2005. All the buildings, above ground structures and debris were removed including those at the White Alice site.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
8/1/1985 Preliminary Assessment Approved Draft Environmental Assessment concluded cleanup operation would cause no significant negative effect on the quality of human environment. Dated August 1985. Former Staff
12/5/1985 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Calista Construction Company, Inc. Environmental Protection, Oil Spill Contingency and Vehicle Use Plans for demolition and removal of hazardous materials. Former Staff
4/1/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Chemical Data Acquisition Plan Northeast Cape prepared by Ecology and Environment proposes site investigation for summer 1993. 25 separate sites to be sampled. Former Staff
5/27/1992 Site Characterization Workplan Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Reviewed sampling work plan dated 4/92. 25 sites to be sampled summer 1993. Laura Noland
6/1/1992 Site Added to Database DERP-FUD. Former Staff
6/1/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Reviewed Chemical Data Acquisition Plan for Northeast Cape and requested that diesel range organic analytical methods be added to plan and that cleanup levels for PCBs be set at 10 ppm as opposed to 25 ppm. Laura Noland
6/8/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). Comments received from ADEC Nome staff/Romenesko informing that 1)drinking water wells located at NE Cape should be closed per 18 AAC 80.015(d); 2) Troutman Lake is used for non-potable items and not the community drinking water source. Drinking water source is an infiltration gallery on the side of the mountain. Jeff Peterson
7/24/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RECN - Site Reconnaissance (CS)). Corps of Engineers, consultant and ADEC conducted site reconnaissance. Former Staff
9/8/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RPL2 - Site Information Request Letter). ADEC sent PRP-CS Database Notification letter to RP requesting update and more environmental information concerning contaminated site. Jim Levine\COE called 10-5-92 and responded by returning updated DECRPTs. Jeff Peterson
11/9/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Received Draft Final Chemical Data Acquisition Plan dated 10/92 completed by Ecology and Environment. Document outlines sampling plan for future site investigation. Former Staff
11/9/1992 Preliminary Assessment Approved Received Site Inventory for Northeast Cape dated 10/92 and completed by Ecology and Environment. Document identifies 24 out of 27 possible contaminated sites which are eligible for DERP cleanup. Former Staff
12/2/1992 Interim Removal Action Approved Received Removal Work plan completed by Ecology and Environment dated 11/92 which outlines plan for removing all items with a high concentration of hazardous and toxic wastes that could pose a health hazard and increase environmental contamination. Former Staff
12/8/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). ADEC sent comments regarding Draft Chemical Data Acquisition Plan for work which was scheduled for 1993. Most critical issue is lack of funding to complete project. Plan appears adequate. Issue of PCB cleanup level remains. Former Staff
12/11/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). ADEC requested information from Colonel at Corps of Engineers regarding priority of Saint Lawrence Island DERP-FUDS and expected schedule of events. Former Staff
12/30/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). ADEC sent comments on hazardous waste removal work plan for N.E. Cape. Requested project schedule and status of funding. Plan adequate. Former Staff
2/18/1993 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC facilitated meeting between Navy, Air Force, and Army Corps of Engineers to plan cooperative work at co-located sites such as NARL and POW Main Dewline and Wales, Tin City and Saint Lawrence Island. Former Staff
5/5/1993 Proposed Plan ADEC received site Inventory and chemical data acquisition plan for HTW removal and disposal. Seven sites with highest contaminants are proposed for removal summer 1993. Submittal for funding for FY94 for remaining sites at NE Cape. Sites 2, 6, 13, 14, 17, 23 and 25 are proposed for removal/disposal. Marcus Ortelee
5/19/1993 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). Navy sent ADEC letter stating their intentions to install warning signs, ground cover for dioxin contaminated areas at Naval Field Station and to secure buildings at Tin City. Laura Noland
5/24/1993 Interim Removal Action Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = SC - Site Control (Emergency Response)). ADEC provided comments regarding Navy proposal to provide warning signs lettered in the native dialect at Naval Field Station, Tin City and Saint Lawrence. Laura Noland
6/8/1993 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). ADEC reviewed plans for removal/disposal action. Sent questions on sites 8-POL site, 12-Gasoline Tank Area and 26-Former construction Camp Area. Suggested sampling be done. Marcus Ortelee
12/16/1993 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Reviewed file in an attempt to rank the site and determined too many unknowns to be able to rank. Site consists of 27 different areas, potentially 27 different contaminated sites. After sampling it should then be determined how many contaminated sites exist. Each site may require a different workplan (to address type of contaminant and conditions). Ranking the site now would imply that it should remain one site. It will, more than likely, become several. Dennis Harwood
12/30/1994 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RI - Remedial Investigation). Received Draft Remedial Investigation (two volumes). Review conference to be 1-23-95. Funding is DERA. Rielle Markey
1/2/1996 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Received FINAL Investigative-Derived Waste Handling Report, Gambell and Northeast Cape, Saint Lawrence Island. Kalu Kalu
5/15/1997 Update or Other Action Reviewed and commented on the Draft Phase II RI and Risk Assessment. Katarina Rutkowski
7/1/1999 Update or Other Action Pre-Final Phase II RI/FS. Jeff Brownlee
12/1/1999 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Reranked. Jeff Brownlee
3/2/2000 Update or Other Action Began a RAB January 27, 2000. Second meeting February 18 to complete administrative duties. Staff is working with Jerry Reichlan (Savoonga Corporation attorney) and the community to assist in technical education and technical report interpretation. Jeff Brownlee
3/2/2000 Update or Other Action Review of Draft work plans for the BD/DR and CON/HTRW work to be done in 2000. Main deficiency is the lack of definable DQOs and cleanup criteria for contaminated soil removals. Jeff Brownlee
3/26/2000 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff attended a RAB meeting to address the FUDS sites at Gambell and NE Cape. Staff held a training the day before for interested community members on technical report interpretation and the specific contaminant issues at the various area at NE Cape. Staff attended and participated in the Share holders meetings at Savoonga and Gambell over the next two days. Jeff Brownlee
4/10/2000 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed a Draft Phase II RI Addendum Report. PCBs were found in fish tissue in the drainage basin over EPA no consumption recommended levels. An RI/FS is planned for next summer. Jeff Brownlee
5/8/2000 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed a draft EE/CA for a large BD/DR and CON/HTRW removal to be started this summer. The BD/DR portion of the work plan was adequate. Staff negotiated to better define the environmental sampling and characterization work with the upcoming RI/FS. The work plan did not adequately address PCB source soil removal and general characterization sampling. Jeff Brownlee
5/8/2000 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed and approved an EE/CA for a large BB/DR and CON/HTRW cleanup to be started this summer. Field work will continue next summer. Jeff Brownlee
5/15/2000 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff attended a RAB meeting at Savoonga for the Gambell and NE Cape FUDS sites. Discussion involved finishing up the administrative business for the RAB formation and the work division between the BD/DR planned for this summer and the RI/FS planned for next summer. Also discussed the toxicity of PCBs in relation to environmental and human receptors. Jeff Brownlee
8/1/2000 Update or Other Action The COE has agreed to include the White Alice site adjacent to NE Cape in the FUDS program. The Navy was previously thought to have jurisdiction. Jeff Brownlee
9/11/2000 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed a draft Health Consultation report prepared by ATSDR for PCBs and PAHs in fish at NE Cape. The HC recommended that residents of Saint Lawrence Island not consume the fish from the Sugitughneq River (NE Cape) as the PCB levels in three samples were over the EPA recommended consumption levels. The State Division of Epidemiology didn't agree with the level of warning (as approaching a fish advisory) and commented to ATSDR to soften the language, which they did in a subsequent draft final. The HC recommends that more sampling and evaluation be done at the site. Jeff Brownlee
9/15/2000 Update or Other Action A risk assessment performed at Northeast Cape in 1997 was determined by our term contractor and ADEC to be deficient and was not approved. Biological sampling of the drainage occurred in 1997 and 1999. Sampling in 1997 was inadequate to fill the data gaps in the risk assessment and the data quality objectives were not approved for the 1999 sampling. Concern has been expressed in Savoonga about the possible relationship between cancer rates in the community and the FUDS sites, particularly at Northeast Cape. PCBs were discovered in fish (Dolly Varden and Blackish) in Sukitegnek Creek (which drains the site) during the 1999 biological sampling. In August 1999 the ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry - a branch of the Public Health Service) presented in both communities and began a Health Consultation. The Draft report was released in September 2000. ATSDR suggested villagers not consume fish from the Sukitegnek or nearby drainages until a more comprehensive sampling effort is completed. A fish advisory has not been issued. RAB meetings continue to address cancer concerns and RI/FS scoping. Jeff Brownlee
9/18/2000 Update or Other Action (Brownlee/Pingree) Staff contacted Dr. John Middaugh with the State Epidemiology Section to coordinate State opinion on the approach to the ATSDR Health Consultation for Northeast Cape. ATSDR has recommended that residents don't consume the fish from drainage's at or near Northeast Cape because PCBs were found in fish above EPA screening levels. CS and Epidemiology agree that a fish advisory is premature until further data is gathered. CS plans to produce a fact sheet to provide current information for the community and request public input on fishing use in the area. Community members have told ADEC that no fishing takes place in the Sukitughneq River (drains the Northeast Cape facility), but some subsistence activity takes place on the nearby Tapisak River. Jeff Brownlee
11/3/2000 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated in a quarterly RAB meeting. Discussion included field work done at the site this summer. Community members again expressed concern about PCBs in the area fish and requested expanded sampling. The RI/FS workplan review has been postponed until about January so that the community can participate in the TAPP grant process and have an independent review of the document. Jeff Brownlee
3/15/2001 Meeting or Teleconference Held (Brownlee/Pingree) Staff participated in an interactive planning meeting for biological sampling at this site. Participants included the COE and their contractor (Montgomery Watson) and the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry and CHPPM U.S. Army Center for Human Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine. Pre-scoping for a risk assessment was also part of the agenda. Discussion included the problems inherent with using data on migratory species such as Dolly Varden, salmon and reindeer. These species, however, are the subsistence species utilized by the community. We discussed the specific data gaps that need to be addressed based on existing data. A preliminary conceptual site model was proposed and a tentative schedule to perform a community dietary survey and biological sampling workplan. Jeff Brownlee
5/1/2001 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed a Remedial Investigation workplan for this former Air Force Early Warning Radar Station. Soil and groundwater characterization is planned for this summer. A nearby White Alice Site is also included in the investigation. Two large areas (the Drainage Basin and the Headquarters Area) are contaminated with petroleum and PCBs. Several smaller sites are potentially impacted. The investigation will be performed at the same time as a large Building Demolition/Debris Removal that was started last year. Jeff Brownlee
6/11/2001 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated in a comment resolution meeting for a Phase III investigation workplan. Also participating was Restoration advisory board members from Savoonga and Gambell, T and M Technologies (TAPP Grant contractor), the COE and Montgomery Watson. Work for the investigation will take place this summer. The former Navy White Alice site is now included in the FUDS and will be included in the investigation. One of the main tasks of the investigation is to delineate vertical and horizontal extent of contamination in the drainage basin and headquarters area. Jeff Brownlee
9/26/2001 Meeting or Teleconference Held (Brownlee, Pingree) Staff participated in a scoping meeting on the Conceptual Site Model and the approach for human and ecological risk assessments. The risk assessment will evaluate the subsistence pathway for area fish and berries. The most sensitive mammal species was determined to be the fox. Further sampling of biota and sediment in the impacted drainage basin of the Suki River will help to determine if PCB impacts have occurred to the marine environment. Jeff Brownlee
10/12/2001 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated in a site inspection with the Corps of Engineers. The contractor has been working on a large BD/DR project and a limited CON/HTW removal for the last two summers. Due to larger material volumes than inventoried and shorter field seasons than anticipated the two-year project will now be in its third year next year. Many CON/HTW items remain to be addressed including PCB source soils at the Headquarters area, petroleum contaminated soils and groundwater at several areas and a complete remedial investigation at the former White Alice site. Jeff Brownlee
12/17/2001 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed a draft risk assessment workplan for human health and ecological risk for the site at Northeast Cape. A term contractor also reviewed the workplan. The chemicals of concern are petroleum and PCBs. A drainage basin at the site was impacted with PCBs and petroleum from historical spills. Subsistence pathways are being evaluated for a variety of plants, reindeer and fish. Jeff Brownlee
1/7/2002 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed two UST closure reports from removals performed last field season. Both tanks had soil contamination (DRO) above cleanup levels. Groundwater needs to be characterized in the area of both tanks. Both USTs were in the Headquarters area at this former Early Warning Radar Station. A phase III remedial investigation is planned for the summer of 2002 and will include groundwater and soil characterization throughout the Headquarters area. Jeff Brownlee
1/14/2002 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated in a comment resolution meeting for a risk assessment workplan for PCBs impacting resident fish and sediment in a drainage basin near the Northeast Cape facility. The PCBs were believed to have commingled with past diesel spills at former early warning radar site. The ADEC is evaluating additional data collected during 2001 to see if contaminants have migrated to the marine environment. Specific subsistence user ingestion rates are also being further evaluated with island residents and published rates. Jeff Brownlee
1/17/2002 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Changed Observed Environmental Impacts value from 5 to 0 because entries exist for Surface Water Environments and Environmental/Recreation Area values. Former Staff
3/11/2002 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated in a Restoration Advisory Board meeting for Northeast Cape and Gambell. Also participating in the meeting was the TAPP grant manager, Alaska Community Action on Toxins, ATSDR, the COE and their contractor. Dr. Bob Johnson with ATSDR presented information on the Reindeer Health Consultation. PAHs were found in low concentrations in reindeer tissue, but at levels well below benchmarks that would be considered a health risk at conservative subsistence use values. It was discussed that the reindeer range over the entire island and contaminant correlation with a particular site would be difficult. The Phase III investigation performed in Gambell was discussed. Jeff Brownlee
7/10/2002 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated in a Restoration Advisory Board meeting in Savoonga for the Northeast Cape and Gambell FUDS. An approximately $10 million contract for work at the Northeast Cape site will be awarded to a contractor this week. The work will include BD/DR of the remaining buildings including the lower White Alice site facility and some HTW work. Work on a Phase III investigation may continue this fall at Northeast Cape if the contracting can be completed before the end of the season. Jeff Brownlee
11/15/2002 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated in a comment resolution meeting for a Phase III investigation and risk assessment for Northeast Cape. The risk assessment had a few deficiencies one of which was making the assumption that shallow groundwater is not a reasonably expected future drinking water source. This conclusion is not supported by the known hydrology and possible future land use by the local residents, so the risk assessment has to be redone to evaluate and include this pathway. There was a question on whether to include background PCB in biota in the risk calculations or subtract it out. The army and EPA risk assessment guidance’s subtract background concentrations out of the risk calculations, however Alaska State guidance specifies that for organics background data is included unless the background concentrations are higher than those measured at the site. Background sample amounts are weak for media other than soil. The validity of the statistics for these background assumptions are questionable because of the small sample set. There were also several problems with editorial and quality of tabulated data in the risk assessment. Summary tables were not utilized as frequently as they should have been, so the assessment was difficult to review. Jeff Brownlee
1/10/2003 Cleanup Plan Approved Staff reviewed workplans for a Building Demolition/Debris Removal (BD/DR) and limited Containerized Hazardous or Toxic Waste (Con-HTW) removal. The workplans detail dismantling and removing from the island the remaining buildings and debris from the former early warning radar and communications site and the nearby White Alice Communication Site. Limited areas of petroleum contamination in soil and miscellaneous drums will be containerized and removed. PCB contaminated concrete over action levels will also be containerized and removed. The DEC is negotiating to have any PCB contamination over action levels in soil also removed during this effort. The majority of the debris will have to be treated as asbestos containing material as the waste streams are too mixed to efficiently separate. Currently the plan calls for all the hazardous waste and solid waste to be shipped to a disposal facility in Oregon, however there is ongoing discussion with the landowner about constructing an on-site monofil for the inert solid waste. Jeff Brownlee
1/29/2003 Update or Other Action Staff coordinated with Health and Social Services Epidemiology Section on responding to a report written by Alaska Community on Toxins (ACAT). The ACAT report, Contaminants in Wildlife and People of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska: A Report to the Communities of Savoonga and Gambell, was released in October 2002. The report claimed that St. Lawrence Islander people had a PCB concentration in blood higher than the norm. The report also claimed a causal effect between PCBs found in community members’ blood and military activity on the island, specifically Northeast Cape. After review of the data Epidemiology concluded that the PCB blood concentration in the people of Saint Lawrence is comparable to other Alaska communities dependant on a subsistence lifestyle. The review also concluded that the PCB blood concentrations detected are likely a result of global contamination through the food chain, although both Epidemiology and the DEC support continued cleanup of the military sites on the island. Jeff Brownlee
2/7/2003 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed a Phase III Remedial Investigation Report for Northeast Cape. About a dozen sites at this former early warning radar and communication station have groundwater and soil contamination. The principle contaminants of concern are Diesel Range Organics, Residual Range Organics and PCBs. Also present are metals (arsenic, chromium, lead) and some low level PAHs in both soil and groundwater. The chromium and arsenic are likely background, but may be anthropogenic at a couple sites. We are still evaluating background data and may require more sampling. Estimated amount of soil impacted above Method 2 Table B levels at the facility are in excess of 100,000 cubic yards. Jeff Brownlee
2/14/2003 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated in comment resolution meeting for work at Northeast Cape planned for this summer and the 2004 field season. The work involves Building Demolition/Debris Removal and some Containerized Hazardous Waste removal. The primary issue that developed during the review was changing the Corps of Engineers anticipated cleanup level in concrete and soil from 25 mg/kg to one. A risk assessment has been performed for PCBs at Northeast Cape, but the risk calculations were not carried through to specific cleanup levels. Much of the building material contains mixed asbestos waste that would not be cost effective to separate into different waste streams, so the majority of debris (approximately 12,000 cubic yards) will be considered asbestos waste and containerized for off-island disposal. Jeff Brownlee
4/10/2003 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated in a Restoration Advisory Board meeting for the two Formerly Used Defense Sites on Saint Lawrence Island. Upcoming projects for the summer were discussed. A Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program (NALEMP) project is scheduled in Gambell this summer. Portions of two military dump sites will be excavated and the debris removed off island. The work is being done because new housing is planned for these areas. A large Building Demolition/Debris Removal is planned for Northeast Cape. The project is scheduled for two years and includes some Containerized Hazardous Waste removal. The Alaska Community Action on Toxins (ACAT) report on PCB in blood serum of the Saint Lawrence Island people was discussed. There was some disagreement on interpreting the State Epidemiology review of the report, which indicated there were statistical and procedural problems with the report. Unfortunately there was no representative from Epidemiology to help clarify the issues. Dr. David Carpenter (State University of New York) was hired by ACAT to conduct the study and produce the report. Dr. Carpenter and ACAT participated in the RAB meeting. Jeff Brownlee
6/19/2003 Update or Other Action CS staff reviewed a final Technical Memorandum for the determination of inorganic background levels at Northeast Cape, Saint Lawrence Island. A conservative technique using outlier tests and probability plots were used to evaluate all the site data for inorganic chemicals in soil (separated into tundra and gravel types) surface water, groundwater and sediment. If there were two populations noted in the plots the lower concentration population was assumed to be the background set. After outliers were eliminated the remaining data was calculated for the 95% background upper tolerance limit (BUTL). The derived 95% BUTL was conservative for most chemicals and within common ranges found in Alaska. Exceptions were lead and nickel in sediment, which were above NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration) “thresholds effects level”. Jeff Brownlee
8/5/2003 Meeting or Teleconference Held CS staff attended a Restoration Advisory Board meeting at Gambell for FUDS on Saint Lawrence Island. The meeting discussed an update of the NALEMP (Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program) project that is going on at Gambell and an update of the cleanup progress at Northeast Cape. The NALEMP project is addressing debris under the footprint of some future HUD housing. So far about 700 empty drums and miscellaneous metal debris have been removed from the scoped work area. Only small amounts of POL contamination has been noted usually associated with oil filters. The COE contractor at Northeast Cape is making rapid progress with taking down the buildings. It appears that they will be finished with the contracted scope of work this season instead of needing the projected two seasons. If the COE decides to exercise optional task work they will need to pay the contractor to keep the camp and equipment on site for the winter or pay for another mobilization. The TAPP (Technical Assistance Program Plan) grant contract expires the end of September. There was some contention at the meeting over the COE suggesting that the current TAPP grant coordinator may have a conflict of interest because he is doing other work on the island with ACAT (Alaska Community Action on Toxins), although he is not being paid for that work. The contract has to go out for bid according to TAPP contract regulation, but of course the community and ACAT want to maintain continuity with the current provider. There was also some emotional concern expressed over the perceived high cancer incidence on the island. Jeff Brownlee
12/4/2003 Update or Other Action CS staff reviewed the previous environmental investigative work at Northeast Cape on Saint Lawrence Island for completeness. There has been stakeholder concern (chiefly Alaska Community Action on Toxins - ACAT) that several sites at the Cape have not been adequately characterized. Several data gaps were identified, but none that would not allow development of the feasibility study. The previous three investigation phases have been done with State approved workplans and reports according to industry standards. Jeff Brownlee
12/12/2003 Update or Other Action CS staff reviewed the previous environmental investigative work at Northeast Cape on Saint Lawrence Island for completeness. There has been stakeholder concern (chiefly Alaska Community Action on Toxins - ACAT) that several sites at the Cape have not been adequately characterized. Several data gaps were identified, but none that would not allow development of the feasibility study. The previous three investigation phases have been done with State approved workplans and reports according to industry standards. Jeff Brownlee
12/23/2003 Update or Other Action CS staff and a term contractor reviewed and commented on a draft final risk assessment (human heath and ecological) for contamination at Northeast Cape, a formerly used defense site on Saint Lawrence Island. The assessment shows several sites exceed acceptable risk levels for both human health and ecological receptors. The majority of sites exceed target hazard index and cancer risk levels based on cumulative risk. We are asking for summary tables that clearly separate the current risks from potential future risks assuming a future residential scenario. A large risk driver at the sites is contaminated groundwater, which is not currently used as a drinking water source. The draft risk assessment does include calculation of proposed method 4 cleanup levels, which would aid in completing the feasibility study and establishing alternative cleanup levels. Staff is working with the COE to incorporate our comments into a final document for department approval. Jeff Brownlee
12/23/2003 Update or Other Action CS staff reviewed and comment on a draft final risk assessment (human heath and ecological) for contamination at Northeast Cape on Saint Lawrence Island. The assessment was also reviewed by our risk assessor and a term contractor. Several sites are over risk departure numbers for both human health and ecological risk. The majority of sites over target hazard index and cancer risk levels are based on cumulative numbers. We are asking for summary tables separating the current exposure scenarios from potential future receptors settings. A large part of the risk drivers at the sites is from contaminated groundwater, which has to be evaluated by regulation, but is unlikely to be a future exposure pathway. The assessment does not carry through to risk based cleanup number which we need to have for the feasibility study and development of potential cleanup levels. Staff is working with the COE to incorporate our comments into a final document for department approval. Jeff Brownlee
1/22/2004 Meeting or Teleconference Held CS staff participated in a Restoration Advisory Board meeting for the FUDS on Saint Lawrence Island. Also participating were approximately 20 RAB members, Alaska Community Action on Toxins (ACAT), the RAB Technical Assistance Program (TAP) coordinator, the attorney for the two Saint Lawrence Island Native Corporations and a reporter for KALM radio in Nome. A summary report was presented of the building demolition/debris removal work done last summer at Northeast Cape. All of the buildings at the White Alice Site and the main Headquarters area have been removed. The COE is intending to award optional contracts for 2005 to remove some remaining items including the tram system to the former radar facility on a nearby mountain. CS staff summarized the characterization effort to date by site and discussed data gaps. The COE has decided to do one more investigation to address these data gaps. The investigation is planned for this summer and will include several groundwater monitoring wells. The Feasibility Study that was done for Gambell was discussed. Three sites remain that require a remedial action. Two sites need some additional hydrogeology information to support the proposed Method Two ingestion cleanup level. The Gambell NALEMP (Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program) report was also discussed. Approximately 50-tons of metallic debris from two former landfills were removed. The debris was mixed empty drums, Marston matting, engine parts, cable, piping and miscellaneous scrap. About 3-tons of incidental contaminated soil was containerized in super sacks and disposed off island with the metal debris. Confirmation sampling showed excavation limit results below Method Two cleanup levels. Jeff Brownlee
1/29/2004 Meeting or Teleconference Held CS staff participated in a comment resolution meeting for a risk assessment at Northeast Cape on Saint Lawrence Island. Also participating were members of the Restoration Advisory Board, Alaska Community Action on Toxins, The Technical Assistance Program coordinator for the RAB, The Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (CHPPM), the Native Corporations attorney, and the COE and their contractor. The risk assessment is in the draft final stage. The COE has incorporated all the draft comment changes and has included groundwater as an exposure pathway. The COE agreed to include summary tables that will allow readers unfamiliar with risk assessments to easily compare the site risks with the different exposure scenarios (for example permanent resident vs. subsistence user) (Brownlee, Smith). CS staff reviewed a preliminary workplan for investigation work at the Northeast Cape FUDS on Saint Lawrence Island. The investigation work will take place this summer and be the final investigation before the feasibility study (FS). Several monitoring wells will be installed as well as sampling of soil, sediment, groundwater and surface water. The work should provide information to fill data gaps and delineate contamination to better prepare volume estimates in the FS (Brownlee). Jeff Brownlee
3/31/2004 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated in a Restoration Advisory Board meeting for the FUDS on Saint Lawrence Island. The Feasibility Study for Gambell was discussed as well as the upcoming Proposed Plan. Dr. Ron Scrudato (New York State University) is the Technical Assistant Program coordinator for the RAB. Dr. Scrudato gave a briefing on the findings of a grant study he is doing in coordination with Alaska Community Action on Toxins (ACAT). The grant is funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and focuses on human health and environmental contamination on Saint Lawrence Island. Sampling of sediment, air and plant tissue for PCBs is showing point source contribution at Northeast Cape and also assumed global contribution at both Northeast Cape and Gambell. By analyzing individual congeners the vapor pressure and likely transport mode and relative time of deposition (sediment) can be determined. The RAB also discussed the upcoming remedial investigation at Northeast Cape this summer Jeff Brownlee
6/24/2004 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Staff reviewed a work plan for a remedial investigation at the Northeast Cape FUDS on Saint Lawrence Island. The site is in the fourth phase of the remedial investigation. Several data gaps have been identified that when filled would aid in the development of the feasibility study. Several groundwater monitoring wells will be installed, developed and sampled. Several areas of known soil and sediment contamination will be further characterized as well as more sampling for soil and sediment background and total organic carbon. Ground water will also be tested for natural attenuation parameters Jeff Brownlee
7/13/2004 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated in a comment resolution meeting for a Phase IV investigation at the Northeast Cape FUDS on Saint Lawrence Island. Participating in the meeting was the Corps of Engineers as the responsible party, the COE consultant, Pam Miller with Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Dr. Ron Scrudato as the communities TAPP (Technical Assistant for Public Participation) grant coordinator, Morgan Apataki from Gambell and the DEC. The investigation is designed to address data gaps identified by the cleanup team over the past several document reviews. Work includes better defining PCB soil contamination at three sites, installation of several monitoring wells, and collection of additional background samples for organics in soil (gravel pad areas and tundra), sediment and surface water. Additional soil samples will be collected to help define lateral extent of contamination at several subareas. The additional data will be used to help develop remedial alternatives to consider in the upcoming Feasibility Study Jeff Brownlee
9/9/2004 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated Sites staff participated in a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting in Savoonga for Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) on Saint Lawrence Island. The meeting was facilitated by a representative of the Keystone Center and attended by members of Alaska Community Action on Toxins, the Technical Assistance Program (TAP) coordinator and members of the RAB. The status of work at Gambell was discussed including the Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program (NALEMP) project and work planned for next year to address the cleanup issues discussed in the Gambell Proposed Plan. The ongoing Phase IV investigation work currently being performed at Northeast Cape was also discussed Jeff Brownlee
9/10/2004 Site Characterization Report Approved Contaminated Sites staff reviewed a draft Removal Action Report for work done at the Northeast Cape FUDS on Saint Lawrence Island. An approximately $10 million building demolition/debris removal was performed by the Corps of Engineers at the site in 2003. A limited Containerized Hazardous and Toxic Waste (CON/HTW) removal was also conducted mostly at the White Alice site which is about a half mile uphill from the main Northeast Cape facility. All of the buildings and the majority of loose debris such as pole lines and antennae were removed and disposed of off island. A contract was approved to finish remaining optional work at the site in 2005. This work includes removal of the former tram system for the mountain top radar station and removal of 100-tons of Polychlorinated Biphenyl impacted soils Jeff Brownlee
2/1/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held CS staff participated in Restoration Advisory Board meeting for the Formerly Used Defense Sites on Saint Lawrence Island. The meeting was attended by several RAB members in Gambell and Savoonga, the Corps of Engineers (COE) and their contractors Bristol Environmental and Shannon & Wilson, Alaska Community Action on Toxins, and the Native Corporations legal counsel. Both contractors made presentations to the RAB concerning work at Northeast Cape. Shannon & Wilson completed a Phase IV Remedial Investigation in 2004 and briefly discussed the results. Bristol Environmental discussed upcoming work planned for 2005. Additional debris removals including a tram line, power poles, antennae wire and exposed miscellaneous debris will be removed. The community was interested in the availability of local hire positions. The COE also discussed that the Gambell decision documents are being held up by the Corps legal counsel. They are having problems with including the planned small arms ammunition removal south of Troutman Lake and also with the additional sampling at monitoring wells around the village water supply well Jeff Brownlee
4/13/2005 Update or Other Action Contaminated Sites staff reviewed draft workplans for additional work planned this season at the Northeast Cape FUDS on Saint Lawrence Island. The tram system and water line that served the radar domes and support buildings on top of Kangukhsam Mountain will be removed. Several debris piles left from the 2003 remedial action will be removed. PCB impacted concrete and soil will be tested and removed Jeff Brownlee
12/8/2005 Update or Other Action Contaminated Sites staff reviewed a Removal Action Report for the Northeast Cape Formerly Used Defense Site on Saint Lawrence Island. The work was performed in 2000 and 2001. 6,000 drums were removed from the site, 19 Above Ground Storage Tanks, three Under Ground Storage Tanks, a fuel pipeline, several buildings and miscellaneous debris including antennae poles and associated wire were containerized. Also containerized and removed were 25-tons of PCB impacted soil and 1,650-tons of petroleum impacted soil Jeff Brownlee
12/22/2005 Update or Other Action Contaminated Sites staff reviewed an Inventory Project Report for a new project at the Northeast Cape Formerly Used Defense Site on Saint Lawrence Island. The project will address drums containing petroleum product that were discovered during a removal action this summer. The drums are in the Site 7 landfill. The Corps of Engineers will produce an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) to decide how best to approach the cleanup and search for other drums possibly containing fluid Jeff Brownlee
1/24/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated Sites staff attended a Restoration Advisory Board meeting in Savoonga for the Formerly Used Defense Site projects on Saint Lawrence Island. The meeting was well attended by RAB members, community members, COE, Technical Assistance Program (TAP) coordinator, Alaska Community Action on Toxins, attorney for the corporation, and DEC. Agenda items included discussion on the biogenic vs petroleum fraction in sediment samples taken during the Phase IV RI. The DEC and COE explained how cleanup levels are determined in sediment and the results of the 2001 Risk Assessment. If the AK 102 levels found in sediment were considered to be 100% petroleum the risk would remain about the same and the response would remain the same. The DEC also explained the how remedial actions are determined through weighing the balancing criteria including toxicity reduction, long term solution, cost, community acceptance, etc Jeff Brownlee
1/24/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated Sites staff attended a Restoration Advisory Board meeting in Savoonga for the Formerly Used Defense Site projects on Saint Lawrence Island. The meeting was well attended by RAB members, community members, COE, Technical Assistance Program (TAP) coordinator, Alaska Community Action on Toxins, attorney for the corporation, and DEC. Agenda items included discussion on the biogenic vs petroleum fraction in sediment samples taken during the Phase IV RI. The DEC and COE explained how cleanup levels are determined in sediment and the results of the 2001 Risk Assessment. If the AK 102 levels found in sediment were considered to be 100% petroleum the risk would remain about the same and the response would remain the same. The DEC also explained the how remedial actions are determined through weighing the balancing criteria including toxicity reduction, long term solution, cost, community acceptance, etc Jeff Brownlee
5/4/2006 Update or Other Action Contaminated Sites staff reviewed and commented on a 2005 Interim Removal Action Report for the Northeast Cape Formerly Used Defense Site on Saint Lawrence Island. The work completed the Building Demolition/Debris Removal and Containerized Hazardous Waste project from 2003. Work completed included removal and off-island disposal of about 1,500-tons of debris, burning 370-tons of wood, disposing of approximately 290-tons of PCB contaminated soil and 160-tons of PCB impacted concrete Jeff Brownlee
7/18/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated Sites staff participated in a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting for the Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) on Saint Lawrence Island. Participants included representatives from the Corps of Engineers, the COE contractor, Alaska Community Action on Toxins (ACAT), the Technical Assistance Program coordinator and local community members. The Sivuquq and Savoonga attorney, RAB members from Savoonga and other interested parties also participated by phone. The COE contractor discussed the work at the four sites mentioned above and the ongoing NALEMP project at site 6. The TAP grant coordinator talked about the NIEHS grant sampling that they would be doing at Northeast Cape and four other FUDS in the Norton Sound region. The COE then did an over view of the Feasibility Study. The FS recommends some sites for no further action and presents the options available for remediation at the various sites at Northeast Cape along with the estimated costs and balancing criteria analysis. No preferred remedies were proposed in the study. Several RAB members thought the August 18 comment period was too short and requested an extension. The COE said they would review the document schedule and get back to the members Jeff Brownlee
9/7/2006 Update or Other Action Contaminated Sites staff reviewed and commented on a draft Feasibility Study for the Northeast Cape Formerly Used Defense Site on Saint Lawrence Island. No further action is proposed for 17 out of 30 sites at the facility. The study presents several remedial alternatives for the remaining sites including containment such as capping, insitu such as chemical oxidation and ex-situ treatments such as incineration or excavation and off site disposal. Limited actions such as natural attenuation, long-tem monitoring and institutional controls are also evaluated. The study does not attempt to choose specific alternatives, but evaluates the balancing criteria including cost for each individual site. Remedial alternatives will be chosen during development of the Proposed Plan. It is probable that many of the sites will have chosen remedies that are a combination of the presented alternatives for example excavation and off-site disposal combined with institutional controls and long-term monitoring Jeff Brownlee
10/17/2006 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed and CS management signed a Project Close Out Report for the CON/HTRW portion of the NE Cape FUDS project. Sites included on the report include: 2, 3, 4, 5 , 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 31, 32, 33. Jeff Brownlee
11/7/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated Sites staff participated in a comment resolution meeting for the Northeast Cape Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) Feasibility Study. Discussion included PCB cleanup levels in sediment and concerns with potential drums containing product left in an old landfill. We also discussed a possible 350 determination for site specific areas of the facility where there is low ground recharge during sampling and permafrost Jeff Brownlee
1/25/2007 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated Sites staff participated in a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting for the Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) on Saint Lawrence Island. Participants at the meeting included Alaska Community Action on Toxins (ACAT), the RAB Technical Assistance Program representative, the COE Alaska District, the native corporation attorney, RAB members and DEC. Agenda items included discussion of the remedial actions that took place in Gambell during the summer season included a summary of the Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program (NALEMP) work. The Gambell NALEMP project is the largest in the nation with 290,000 pounds of buried debris removed in 2006. There was discussion on the groundwater sampling event at Site 5 which is several monitoring wells surrounding the village water supply well. There were detected levels of DRO and metals (lead, nickel, barium) in a couple wells, but well below the cleanup levels. We also discussed the Feasibility Study for Northeast Cape and the upcoming final of that document Jeff Brownlee
7/10/2007 Proposed Plan Final approved Jeff Brownlee
7/20/2007 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Contaminated Sites staff reviewed a geophysical survey work plan for a landfill at the Northeast Cape Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) on Saint Lawrence Island. The unpermitted landfill is known to contain drums with petroleum product. There are questions on whether a topographic high feature at the landfill is natural material or covered debris. Jeff Brownlee
7/24/2007 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated Sites staff participated in a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting, public meeting and tribal meeting to introduce the proposed plan for the Northeast Cape FUDS. The meetings were held in Gambell and Savoonga and were well attended with high interest from the community. Alaska Community Action on Toxins (ACAT), the Technical Assistance Program (TAP) coordinator, corporation attorney, and Corps of Engineers were represented at the meeting. The proposed plan outlines the preferred remedies for the 34 sites at the facility Jeff Brownlee
11/1/2007 Site Characterization Report Approved Contaminated Sites staff reviewed a geophysical prove out report for an investigation of two sites at the Northeast Cape Formerly Used Defense Site. Site 7 is an unpermitted landfill that has a topographic high point that was in question of being a natural feature or buried debris. The investigation indicates the feature is natural and that debris was side cast off the point. Site 7 and Site 10 both have known buried drums containing fluid and the investigation was designed to target anomalies for future intrusive investigation to determine if any other fluid filled drums remain buried Jeff Brownlee
11/26/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Intitial Ranking Complete for Source Area: 71187 (Autogenerated Action)
1/8/2008 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated Sites staff participated in a Restoration Advisory Board meeting for the Formerly Used Defense Sites on Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska. The meeting was held in Savoonga and attended by members of the RAB and community, Corps of Engineers, the COE contractor, Alaska Community Action on Toxins, the attorney for the native corporation, and the Technical Assistance Program advisor for the RAB. Agenda items included a discussion of the geophysics results of the investigation at the Site 7 Landfill, Responsiveness Summary for the Northeast Cape Proposed Plan and the changes to the plan that are resulting from those comments Jeff Brownlee
4/17/2008 Update or Other Action Contaminated Sites staff reviewed a draft Proposed Plan for the Cargo Beach Road Landfill at Northeast Cape on Saint Lawrence Island. This Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) was the solid waste disposal area for the U.S. Air Force Aircraft Control and Warning Station from about 1965 to 1972. Cleanups over the last several years have removed the majority of surface debris and polychlorinated biphenyl impacted soil. The preferred remedy for the site is intrusive investigation of metallic anomalies, capping and institutional controls. A geophysics investigation identified areas of suspected buried drums that may contain product. Jeff Brownlee
10/22/2008 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated Site staff participated in a meeting with the leadership from Saint Lawrence Island and Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) concerning the Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) on the Island. The commissioner and SPAR director also participated. The island leadership and ACAT wanted to meet with the department to communicate concern about the environmental cleanups at Gambell and Northeast Cape. There is ongoing concern and perception that the FUDS are causing increased cancer incidence on the island. The community also is concerned about the two landfills that will remain at Northeast Cape and the contaminant impacts to an area creek/drainage area and soil and groundwater. The Corps of Engineers has $23-million programmed to address remaining contamination over the next few years Jeff Brownlee
11/7/2008 Update or Other Action Contaminated Sites staff reviewed a draft Decision Document for the Northeast Cape Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) on Saint Lawrence Island. There are several sites at the former surveillance station and White Alice Site to be remediated. The Headquarters Area has extensive diesel range organics impacting soil and groundwater. An insitu chemical oxidation pilot test will be done at a portion of this area to assess effectiveness for treating the larger contaminant mass. The drainage and wetlands below the Headquarters Area is planned for dredging or excavation of the more highly impacted sediments. There are several sites that will be excavated for petroleum and Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) soil contamination. There will be institutional controls on several areas including two landfills, areas with residual petroleum impacts and shallow groundwater use controls Jeff Brownlee
12/5/2008 Update or Other Action Contaminated Sites staff reviewed a decision document for the Site 7 landfill at Northeast Cape on Saint Lawrence Island. The landfill is part of the larger Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS), but is being addressed separately because of ongoing remedial effort. Several drums of petroleum product were discovered in the landfill. A geophysics study identified metallic anomalies that warrant further investigation using test pits this summer. The landfill will be investigated to determine if there are other drums that contain waste. The remedy after the investigation and removal of drums is capping and institutional controls Jeff Brownlee
3/31/2009 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated Sites staff participated in a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting for the Northeast Cape Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS). The meeting was held in Savoonga on Saint Lawrence Island and attended by the Corps of Engineers, the Technical Assistance Program representative, Alaska Community Action on Toxins, the Island Corporations attorney, RAB members, and interested community members. Discussion items included the Northeast Cape Decision Document which is in draft final review, remedial activities planned for this summer including Site 7 landfill investigation and capping and the Headquarters area chemical oxidation pilot study. We also discussed the ongoing Gambell NALEMP project and a new NALEMP project being started for the Fish Camp at Northeast Cape to remove possible lead based paint and asbestos in cabins built in the area from abandoned facility materials Jeff Brownlee
12/2/2009 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC Contaminated Sites program staff traveled to St. Lawrence Island and participated in a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting for the Northeast Cape Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS). The meeting was held in Savoonga and attended by the Corps of Engineers (incl. USACE-contracted project managers from Bristol Engineering and AECOM), the Technical Assistance Program representative, Alaska Community Action on Toxics, the Island Corporations attorney, RAB members, and interested community members. Discussion items included confirmation of action items from the 3/31/2009 RAB meeting, a report on the recent St. Lawrence Island delegation visit to Washington D.C., the Northeast Cape Decision Document which is in draft final review, remedial activities conducted during the summer including Site 7 landfill investigation and capping and the results from the Headquarters area chemical oxidation pilot study. RAB members discussed the ongoing Gambell NALEMP project and a new NALEMP project being proposed for the Fish Camp at Northeast Cape to remove possible lead based paint and asbestos in cabins built in the area from abandoned facility materials. The USACE also outlined its remediation workplan and goals for the summer field season of 2010, including PCB and POL soil excavations, remediation and capping of the Site 9 landfill, and the removal of miscellaneous debris site wide. Curtis Dunkin
12/31/2009 CERCLA ROD Approved ADEC approved a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Northeast Cape Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste (HTRW) sites 1,3,6,8,13,16,21,28,31, and 32. Contamination at these sites include soil, groundwater, surface water, and concrete structures which are contaminated with one or more of the following: POL contaminants, PCB's and arsenic. A more detailed site-specific summary of the ROD is available at each of the above-listed sites. Curtis Dunkin
8/10/2010 Site Visit Staff conducted site visits to observe the status of ongoing remediation work being conducted by the Army Corps. of Engineers under the 2010 HTRW Removal Action Work Plan. 2010 remediation efforts included the removal of 1,500 tons of PCB-contaminated soil at sites 13, 21, and 31; the removal of 2,700 tons of petroleum-contaminated soil at Sites 3, 6, and 32, the removal of 17 tons of arsenic-contaminated soil at Site 21; construction of a landfill cap at Site 9; and the removal of 38.5 tons of metal and wood debris from Sites 9, 29, and site wide. Other work conducted included a UVOST investigation to delineate the petroleum-contaminated soil at the main operations complex, ground water monitoring at the main operations complex, and monitoring of natural attenuation of diesel contamination at Site 8 via surface water and sediment sampling. Curtis Dunkin
9/12/2011 Site Visit ADEC conducted multiple site visits and inspections of 2011 remedial work being implemented sitewide. Curtis Dunkin
6/21/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC Contaminated Sites program staff reviewed the Army Corps of Engineers' responses to comments on the draft 2011 Northeast Cape Removal Action Report and submitted approval to the Army Corps. Curtis Dunkin
6/27/2012 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC Contaminated Sites program staff participated in Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting via teleconference. Other participants included RAB members, interested residents and representatives from the Native Village of Savoonga, the Alaska Community Action on Toxics, the Norton Sound Health Corporation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the RAB TAPP advisor. The Army Corps and their remedial contractor presented the remedial accomplishments of 2011 and the planned remedial activities for 2012. Curtis Dunkin
7/2/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC reviewed the draft 2012 Northeast Cape Removal Action Work Plan and submitted comments to the Army Corps of Engineers. Remedial activities planned for the 2012 season include continuing the excavation and off site disposal of PCB-, aresenic-, and petroleum-contaminated soils and sediments, debris removal, and investigative sampling of soils, sediments, groundwater, and surface waters to further evaluate monitored natural attenuation of petroleum contamination at Site 8 and the Main Operations Complex. The Army Corps also plans to conduct a Phase I Sediment Removal within the Site 28 drainage system. Curtis Dunkin
7/13/2012 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC Contaminated Sites program staff participated in a comment resolution and technical planning teleconference with the Northeast Cape project delivery team to resolve concerns and issues with the draft 2012 Northeast Cape Removal Action Work Plan. Curtis Dunkin
7/20/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC Contaminated Sites program staff reviewed the Army Corps of Engineers' responses to comments on the draft 2012 Northeast Cape Removal Action Work Plan. ADEC submitted approval of the responses to the Army Corps along with a tentative approval to implement the removal action work plan. Curtis Dunkin
7/31/2012 Site Visit ADEC Contaminated program staff traveled to the Northeast Cape Formerly Used Defense Site and conducted two consecutive days of site inspections at all of currently active sites and remedial facilities (i.e. staging and segregating area for contaminated soils, field laboratory, etc). Remedial activities were underway and being implemented by the Army Corps of Engineers' contractor. Based on observations made by ADEC staff during the inspections, the remedial work was being adequately implemented according to the tentatively ADEC-approved 2012 work plan. ADEC staff traveled to the Top Camp site with the Army Corps' on-site quality assurance representative to evaluate and determine proposed sampling sites intended to address concerns expressed by residents of Savoonga that vegetation appeared to be dead along the road to the Top Camp and that soils there could be contaminated. Curtis Dunkin
9/7/2012 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC Contaminated Sites program staff participated in comment resolution and technical planning meeting with members of the Northeast Cape project delivery team to resolve ADEC's concerns and action requests associated with the remedial plan to conduct removal of contaminated sediment within the Site 28 drainage system. Curtis Dunkin
10/31/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC Contaminated Sites program staff reviewed the draft 2012 Northeast Cape Site 28 Technical Memorandum Addendum and the September 07, 2012 Minutes of Teleconference and submitted comments to the Army Corps of Engineers. The draft Tech Memo documented the results of the 2012 mapping and sediment sampling efforts conducted in the site 28 drainage system. The Minutes of Teleconf. documented the project delivery team's discussions and ADEC's action requests to develop an adequate remedial plan to conduct removal of contaminated sediment within the drainage. Curtis Dunkin
11/6/2012 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC Contaminated Sites program staff participated in a St. Lawrence Island Dialogue Workgroup teleconference with representatives from numerous state and federal agencies, the Native Villages of Savoonga and Gambell, the IRA Council members of Savoonga and Gambell, interested community members and residents of Savoonga and Gambell,the Alaska Community Action on Toxics, the Norton Sound Health Corporation, the Alaska Native Tribe Health Consortium, . State and federal agencies participating in the call included the following: EPA Region 10, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Alaska Department of Law, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services CMS), and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The primary objective of the meeting was to continue dialogue to address health concerns and whether or not they are related to contaminants which have been raised by residents of St. Lawrence Island. The dialogue workgroup members also discussed the status of EPA's review of the remedial history of the Formerly Used Defense Sites (Gambell and Northeast Cape) on St. Lawrence Island. The EPA expects to distribute a final summary report in the near future. Curtis Dunkin
11/14/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC Contaminated Sites program staff received a copy of the Final 2012 Northeast Cape HTRW Removal Action Work Plan and after review, submitted a final approval letter to the Army Corps of Engineers. Curtis Dunkin
11/16/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC Contaminated Sites program staff reviewed and approved the Army Corps of Engineers' responses to comments on the draft 2012 Northeast Cape Site 28 Technical Memorandum Addendum. Curtis Dunkin
11/19/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC Contaminated Sites program staff reviewed the final 2012 Northeast Cape 2011 HTRW Removal Action Report and submitted a final approval letter to the Army Corps of Engineers. Curtis Dunkin
12/5/2012 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC Contaminated Sites program staff traveled to St. Lawrence Island and participated in a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting for the Northeast Cape Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS). The RAB meeting, held in Savoonga, was attended by representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers and their contractor (Bristol), the Technical Assistance Program representative, Alaska Community Action on Toxics, general RAB members, and interested community members. Discussion items included confirmation of the action items from the 6/27/12 RAB meeting, the preliminary results and remedial activies conducted during the 2012 season, and those remedial activities which are planned for 2013. Remedial accomplishments for 2012 include the excavation and offsite disposal of the following: 1) more than 8,600 tons of petroleum-contaminated soil; 2) more than 4,800 tons of PCB-contaminated soil; 3) more than 102 tons of arsenic-contaminated soil; 4)30 tons of debris; and 5) more than 26 tons of contaminated sediment from the site 28 drainage. A spring 2013 RAB meeting is planned in Savoonga during either April or May. The draft 2012 Northeast Cape Removal Action Report is expected to be distributed in late December, 2012. Curtis Dunkin
8/12/2013 Site Visit ADEC Contaminated Sites staff conducted three days of site inspections on August 12-14, 2013 at some two dozen sites at the Northeast Cape FUDS; at the majority of which cleanup and remedial activities were active and ongoing during the 2013 field season. General and site-specific inspections included visually observing the status of 2013 remedial actions as well as the stability and functionability of previously completed remedial actions, collection of soil, sediment, and water samples for both field and fixed laboratory analysis, and field evaluations at sites where future work is planned. ADEC determined that the removal, containerization, and offsite disposal of contamined soil, sediment, and debris was being performed in accordance with the work plan as well as state and federal requirements. Curtis Dunkin
8/23/2013 Site Visit ADEC Contaminated Sites staff conducted a full day of follow up site inspections at several of the Northeast Cape FUDS including the Site 28 Drainage, Site 7 Cargo Beach Landfill, Site 9 Former Housing Landfill, Site 10 Former Drum Disposal Area, the Main Operations Complex, and Site 21 Former Wastewater Discharge Area. Based upon ADEC's visual observations and inspections removal, containerization, and offsite disposal of contaminated soils and sediments were continuing according to the work plan as well as state and federal requirements. Curtis Dunkin
10/13/2015 Meeting or Teleconference Held CS staff participated in the semiannual Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting which was conducted in Savoonga, AK on Saint Lawrence Island. Participants included representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers, ADEC, Savoonga residents and RAB members, the Alaska Community Action on Toxics, and the University of Alaska, Anchorage (UAA). The agenda included presentations by the Army Corps which summarized the 2014 and 2015 remedial efforts and results. The Army Corps conducted the last major removal and offsite disposal actions in 2014 and conducted groundwater monitoring at the Main Operations Complex in 2015; the 2015 draft report is pending. Dr. Frank von Hippel of UAA presented a summary of the results from a multi-year fish tissue sampling and analysis study to evaluate PCBs in Nine-spine Stickleback and AK Blackfish in the Suqi River; the drainage of which flows through the Northeast Cape FUDS. Curtis Dunkin
1/9/2017 CERCLA Removal Action Report ADEC received the Final 2014 Northeast Cape Removal Action Report (which is dated May 2016), and submitted final approval of the report to the Army Corps of Engineers. Site characterization and removal action requirements that are outlined in the 2009 Decision Document were conducted in consecutive years since 2009 and were completed in 2014. Future and ongoing work planned within the current five-year review period (2014-2018) includes monitoring as well as follow-on sampling and analyses of surface waters, sediments, groundwater, and soils; including the development and implementation of land use controls, and notices of environmental contamination with the landowner. Curtis Dunkin
6/1/2018 CERCLA ROD Periodic Review ADEC reviewed the draft 2018 Post Removal Action Review Work Plan and submitted comments to the Army Corps of Engineers. The objectives of the 2018 work plan effort are to support the five-year and period reviews to be conducted by the Corps in 2018-19. Curtis Dunkin
6/1/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC reviewed the draft 2018 Remedial Action Review Work Plan and submitted comments to the Army Corps of Engineers. Curtis Dunkin
8/6/2018 Site Visit ADEC project manager traveled to Northeast Cape, Saint Lawrence Island, overnighted two nights onsite, and conducted three days of site inspections and field work observations with representatives of the Army Corps of Engineers and their technical contracted support who were implementing the 2018 Long-term Monitoring and Addendum Site Investigation Work Plan. Curtis Dunkin
11/15/2018 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC project manager participated in a technical project planning meeting with representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers and their contracted technical support staff to discuss the preliminary laboratory analysis results and field activities, as well as the prospective reporting of the 2018 long-term monitoring and addendum investigation efforts. Curtis Dunkin
2/15/2019 CERCLA ROD Periodic Review CERCLA Five-year Review Questionnaire Submitted: ADEC completed its responses to the questionnaire (5 pages) for the prospective draft Second CERCLA Five-year Review for the Northeast Cape FUDS sites and submitted its responses to the Army Corps of Engineers. Scheduled distribution date of the draft review report is May 2019. Curtis Dunkin
12/13/2019 CERCLA ROD Periodic Review ADEC reviewed the draft 2019 Second CERCLA Five-year Review Report (FYR) for Sites 21 and 28 and submitted comments to the Army Corps of Engineers. The draft FYR document also included draft site assessment reports per the 2018 field inspections for each of the two subject sites, and also included a draft report for the 2018 Site 28 Sediment Survey and Sampling implementation effort; all of which were attached as appendices to the primary document. ADEC reviewed and submitted its comments on the attached supporting documents (assessments and reports) in conjunction with its comments on the FYRs. Curtis Dunkin
1/7/2020 CERCLA ROD Periodic Review ADEC reviewed the draft 2019 Second Periodic Review for the Site 7 Cargo Beach Landfill and submitted comments to the Army Corps of Engineers. Curtis Dunkin
3/20/2020 CERCLA ROD Periodic Review ADEC reviewed the draft 2019 Second Multi-site Sitewide Periodic Review Report and submitted comments to the Army Corps of Engineers. Curtis Dunkin
6/30/2020 CERCLA ROD Periodic Review ADEC received and reviewed the responses to comments from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the draft 2019 Second CERCLA Multi-Site Periodic Review. Curtis Dunkin
7/27/2020 CERCLA ROD Periodic Review ADEC received and reviewed additional responses to comments and participated in a resolution meeting for the draft 2019 Second CERCLA Periodic Review Report with representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers and their contracted technical support. Curtis Dunkin
2/11/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC reviewed the draft 2022 Work Plan for the Site 28 Sediment Removal and Various Follow-up Actions from the Second Five-year and Periodic Reviews and submitted comments to the Army Corps of Engineers. Curtis Dunkin
5/24/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC reviewed the responses to comments for the draft 2022 Northeast Cape Work Plan and submitted review determinations and additional comments to the Army Corps of Engineers. Curtis Dunkin
6/16/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC reviewed an additional second round of responses to comments for the draft 2022 Work Plan and submitted review determinations and approval to finalize the work plan document to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Curtis Dunkin
7/26/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC received and reviewed the final 2022 Work Plan and submitted an approval letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Curtis Dunkin
8/2/2022 Site Visit ADEC staff traveled to Northeast Cape and conducted three days of field inspections and site visits in conjunction with the Army Corps of Engineers' implementation of the 2022 Work Plan effort that includes site 28 sediment removal and various follow-up actions at multiple sites from the Second Five-year and Periodic Reviews. The field team's mobilization to the site began in mid July and field work is anticipated to continue through the month of August. Additional site characterization is being conducted at site 8 and removal actions are occurring at the sites 15 and 28. Curtis Dunkin
4/14/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided review comments for the "Draft Combined Report Site 28 Sediment Removal and Various Follow-Up Actions from the Second Five-Year and Periodic Reviews Formerly Used Defense Site F10AK096903 Northeast Cape, Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska," (dated March 2023) to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE). The remedial action-operation (RA-O) objective work occurred at Site 7 Cargo Beach LF, Site 8 Petroleum Oil and Lubricant (POL) Spill, Site 15 (part of the Main Operations Complex of Sites 13-27), Site 28 drainage Basin and Site 29 Suki River. Erica Blake
4/18/2023 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) held a landowner consultation meeting in Savoonga to discuss the remedial action-operation (RA-O) fieldwork that occurred at several sites on Northeast Cape August 2022. Erica Blake
6/29/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided approval for the "Final Combined Report Site 28 Sediment Removal and Various Follow-Up Actions from the Second Five-Year and Periodic Reviews Formerly Used Defense Site F10AK096903 Northeast Cape, Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska (dated June 2023)" to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE). Remedial action objectives were conducted at Site 7, Site 8, Site 28 and the Main Operations Complex (MOC) Site 15, and improvements were made to the gravel airstrip. Additionally, Site 9 landfill was inspected to confirm the cap is still in tact. The report was approved with the expectation DEC staff and USACE staff will continue discussing site cleanup options. Erica Blake
8/18/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided review comments for two draft Explanation of Significant Differences (ESDs) to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. The two ESDs were for multiple sites at Northeast Cape FUDS. The documents discuss the need to place covenants on several sites with remaining contamination. DEC recommended the covenants be completed, and signed prior to finalization of the ESD documents. Erica Blake
1/31/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided comments for the "Draft Visual Site Inspection Work Plan Northeast Cape Formerly Used Defense Site Remedial Action – Operations, Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska (dated January 2024)" to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. The work plan describes proposed visual inspection activities as part of the Third Periodic Review for multiple sites at Northeast Cape on Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska. Erica Blake
3/6/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided responses to comments for the "Draft Visual Site Inspection Work Plan Northeast Cape Formerly Used Defense Site Remedial Action – Operations, Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska (dated January 2024) to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. All responses to comments were accepted, and a clean final work plan requested. Erica Blake
4/3/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided approval for the "Final Visual Site Inspection Work Plan Northeast Cape Formerly Used Defense Site Remedial Action – Operations, Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska (dated March 2024) to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. The primary objective of the fieldwork described in the work plan is part of the Third Periodic Review for several Northeast Cape sites. Fieldwork is tentatively planned for July/August, and will be primarily observational, there will be no analytical sample collection. Erica Blake

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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