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Site Report: Adak SWMU 16, 32, & 33 Former Fire Training Area

Site Name: Adak SWMU 16, 32, & 33 Former Fire Training Area
Address: OU A, Adak Naval Air Facility, Adak, AK 99546
File Number: 2501.38.002.01
Hazard ID: 2283
Status: Active
Staff: Jamie McKellar, 9074515175 jamie.mckellar@alaska.gov
Latitude: 51.875803
Longitude: -176.655069
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

The former Adak Fire Training area occupies approximately 4 acres between taxiways about 500 feet south of the west end of Runway 5-23 and is comprised of SWMU 16, SWMU 32, and SWMU 33. Between approximately 1970 and 1989, the fire training area was used for firefighting training exercises, during which time petroleum, waste oil, and solvents were floated on water within burn pits and repeatedly ignited and extinguished. It was estimated that 120 gallons of flammable liquid were used during each exercise. In 1985, 20,000 gallons of waste petroleum were reportedly disposed of at the site and apparently ignited for firefighting training. Site investigations of the Former Firefighting Training Area were conducted between 1992 and 1997. As a result of these findings, the Navy conducted an interim removal in 1997 of soil near the concrete apron, which contained polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exceeding the promulgated cleanup level of 1 mg/kg. The OU A ROD established Aroclor 1260, a PCB, as the primary risk driver for SWMU 16. The OU A ROD selected remedy for SWMU 16 was institutional controls. In 2018, the United States Navy conducted an Initial Basewide Assessment for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), followed by a Site Investigation in 2020. Analytical data provided to DEC indicates that exceedances of the applicable 18 AAC 75 Table B1 (soil) and Table C (groundwater) cleanup levels were detected for PFOS, PFOA, and/or the sum of PFOS and PFOA action level identified in DEC’s 2019 Technical Memorandum, Action Levels for PFAS in Water and Guidance on Sampling Groundwater and Drinking Water. As a result of these PFAS findings, the site status was changed from "Cleanup Complete with Institutional Controls" to "Active."

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
7/29/1994 Site Added to Database Acetone, methylene chloride, TCE, aroclor 1260, PCBs, SVOCs, VOCs. Former Staff
6/16/1995 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Action code added because it wasn't when the site was originally ranked. Former Staff
1/1/1996 Update or Other Action Navy removed and treated burn pit soils (date is estimate). Former Staff
1/1/1997 Update or Other Action Navy disposed of PCB-contaminated soil off island (date is estimate). Former Staff
3/14/1997 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RIFS - Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study). RIFS action added by Shannon and Wilson on 3/14/97, based on Relative Risk Evaluation Worksheet dated 11/8/95. RIFS is current phase listed on worksheet. Human pathways: soil ingestion, particulate and volatile inhalation, groundwater, dermal contact. Ecological pathways: soil ingestion, particulate and volatile inhalation, bioaccumulation, sediment contact. Receptors: Potential future residents and current recreational exposures, ecological (terrestrial, avian, aquatic freshwater). S&W-Miner
5/1/1999 Proposed Plan Site to be included in ROD for OU-A. Christina Goff
9/1/1999 Update or Other Action Site included in OU-A ROD. Selected remedy is institutional controls. Kevin Oates
4/15/2000 Record of Decision The Record of Decision for this site was signed this date. Elim Yoon
12/28/2001 Institutional Control Record Established Institutional Control Established. Includes Equitable Servitude for: Commercial/Industrial Land Use Restrictions, Excavation permit required for areas with Soil Excavation Restrictions, and requirements for Inspections and Reporting. See document “Adak Island Institutional Control Management Plan, Final Edition, December 2001, Prepared by: Engineering Field Activity, Northwest.” Elim Yoon
7/9/2003 Site Number Identifier Changed Changed Workplan from X1 to X9 to reflect presence of hazardous substances. Beatrice Egbejimba
6/4/2004 Conditional Closure Approved ICs and inspections ongoing Jason Weigle
10/19/2004 GIS Position Updated Latitude and Longitude was derived using ArcGIS with either High Resolution Aerial Photography from the Navy with an up to 3 meters error, or line maps used in investigations combined with road layers, +/-25 feet accuracy.  Metadata is as follows: Updated NAD 1983 State Plane Alaska 10 FIPS 5010 Feet; Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic; False Easting: 3280833.333333; False Northing: 0.000000; Central Meridian: -176.000000; Standard Parallel 1: 51.833333; Standard Parallel 2: 53.833333; Latitude of Origin: 51.000000; GCS North American 1983. Jason Weigle
2/9/2005 Update or Other Action Interim conveyance document contains an equitable servitude that restricts residential land use as well as the domestic use of groundwater. Site is also located in the downtown excavation notification zone. Jason Weigle
3/7/2005 Update or Other Action Added MRTS data, derived from ADNR and USGS range, township, and section data overlaid on lat/lon coordinates derived previously. Accuracy is equivalent to the lat/lon coordinates. MRTS information depicts the center point of range fans and target areas; actual target areas or fans may overlap several sections. Jason Weigle
3/8/2005 Update or Other Action Added legal description for site. Jason Weigle
6/16/2005 Update or Other Action Draft Close Out Report for Partial Delisting submitted for review on this date. Jason Weigle
8/16/2005 Update or Other Action Comments on Draft Close Out Report for Partial Delisting submitted to Navy on this date. Jason Weigle
3/20/2006 Update or Other Action Final 2005 Institutional Control Primary Site Inspection Report received on this date. No IC problems noted at this site. Jason Weigle
4/5/2006 Update or Other Action File number 2501.38.002.01 assigned on this date. Jason Weigle
12/18/2006 Update or Other Action Received Draft 2006 Institutional Control Primary Site Inspection Report that details the results of annual Institutional Control (IC) inspections to determine the effectiveness of IC's selected in the OUA Record of Decision. Guy Warren
12/27/2006 Update or Other Action Submitted comment letter to the Navy on the Draft Institutional Control Primary Site Inspection Report. Comments focused on the adequacy of the excavation notification program, the effectiveness of the ordnance awareness program, and visitor notification of ICs. Guy Warren
3/13/2007 Update or Other Action Received the Final 2006 Institutional Control Primary Site Inspection Report. Several Department comments will be addressed through revisions of the Institutional Control Management Plan planned for 2007. The remaining comments were addressed and additional recomendations to increase efforts to notify island visitors of ICs (including the ordnance awareness education program) were included in the final document. Guy Warren
2/16/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The draft 2010 IC Site Inspection Report was received on January 11, 2011 and DEC sent comments on February 16, 2011. There were no observed problems with ICs at this site. Meghan Dooley
5/12/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The Final 2010 IC Site Inspection Report was received by ADEC. ICs appear to be functioning as intended at this site. Meghan Dooley
6/4/2013 Institutional Control Periodic Reporting The Final 2012 Institutional Control Site Inspection Report was received. There were no observed changes to land use and no indications of groundwater use or excavation activities. Signs were present. ICs appear to be functioning as intended. Meghan Dooley
9/10/2014 Institutional Control Periodic Reporting The 2013 Final Institutional Controls Inspection Report was received. No changes to land use were observed, there were no indications of groundwater use or excavation. Signs were present on the site. ICs appear to be functioning as intended. Guy Warren
3/16/2015 Update or Other Action Received Final 2014 Institutional Controls Site Inspection Report, OUA and OUB of the former Adak Naval Complex. No recommendations for site in report, as all IC’s appear to be functioning as intended. Next IC inspection is scheduled to occur in 2019 in coordination with the 5-year review. Guy Warren
7/23/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other WORK PLAN APPROVAL: Final Sampling and Analysis Plan (Field Sampling Plan and Quality Assurance Project Plan) Initial Assessment of Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCS) or Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Sites, Former Naval Air Facility Adak, Adak Island, Alaska (Multimedia Environmental Compliance Group, July 2018) Jamie McKellar
9/27/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Based on very preliminary results of this summer's PFAS investigation ADEC issued a PFAS Tech Memo describing sampling guidance for 6 PFAS chemicals pending regulatory adoption. Darren Mulkey
3/6/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Received the Final Technical Memorandum for Initial Basewide Assessment of Per - and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Soil and Groundwater, Former Naval Air Facility Adak, Alaska, dated March 2019. Only the analytical results for PFOA, PFOS, and the sum of PFOA and PFOS (PFOA+PFOS), and PFBS were evaluated for the presence/absence determination. The results from this evaluation indicate that PFOA, PFOS, and PFOA+PFOS are present in groundwater underlying SWMUs 16, 32, and 33 at concentrations exceeding the non-promulgated federal criteria of 0.07 microgram per liter (µg/L). PFOA and PFOS are present in groundwater underlying SWMUs 16, 32, and 33 at concentrations exceeding both the federal and state cleanup level of 0.07 µg/L. PFOA+PFOS are present in groundwater at concentrations exceeding the nonpromulgated federal criteria and state cleanup level of 0.07 µg/L in all groundwater samples collected. PFBS was not detected at concentrations exceeding the federal screening criteria (400 µg/L) or state cleanup level (2.0 µg/L) in any groundwater samples collected at SWMUs 16, 32, and 33. PFOA and PFOS are present in soil underlying SWMUs 16, 32, and 33 at concentrations exceeding the state cleanup level for migration to groundwater. While select soil results exceeded the state’s soil cleanup level of migration to groundwater, detected concentrations did not exceed risk-based screening levels for PFOA and PFOS. PFOA+PFOS were detected in soil; however, there is no established federal or state cleanup level for PFOA+PFOS. PFBS was not detected in any soil samples at SWMUs 16, 32, and 33. Soil sampling results from sampling locations IP03 and IP05 exceed the state cleanup level for migration to water. Darren Mulkey
3/6/2020 Institutional Control Periodic Reporting The U.S. Navy (Navy) is the lead agency and responsible party for monitoring and ensuring the effectiveness of the institutional controls (ICs) selected in the Operable Unit (OU) A Record of Decision (ROD) and the OU B-1 ROD at the Former Naval Complex, Adak, Alaska. The Navy is required to conduct monitoring for as long as site conditions pose an unacceptable risk for unlimited use and unrestricted exposure to the community and the environment. The ICs will remain in place until those conditions are met. If any of the ICs are ineffective or if significant failures pose harmful risks to the community and the environment, the Navy is responsible for additional remedial actions. Repairs to ICs identified by periodic inspections will be conducted by the Navy approximately every 3 to 5 years, if needed. If severe or unusual failures of ICs are observed, the Navy will conduct additional emergency repairs at that time. Because it has been shown that ICs have generally remained effective since 2005, reductions to the monitoring program began in 2013. Currently, 28 sites are inspected biennially (including Parcel 4) with 39 sites (including 12 remote OU B-1 sites) inspected every 5 years. Darren Mulkey
8/31/2020 CERCLA SI Approved the Adak Sampling and Analysis Plan, Site Inspection for Per- and Plyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), Former Naval Air Facility Adak, June 2020. Darren Mulkey
8/4/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT APPROVAL: Final Site Inspection Report, Investigation of PFAS at Solid Waste Management Units 16, 32 and 33, Adak, Alaska (Multi-MAC Joint Venture, June 2022). DEC and Region 10 EPA issued a joint approval letter for the PFAS SI. DEC and EPA agree that a Remedial Investigation (RI) is an appropriate next step for SWMU 16, 32, and 33. Jamie McKellar
9/19/2022 Site Reopened The Adak Fire Training Center site is being reopened due to exceedances of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) documented in the 2017 Initial Assessment and the 2020 PFAS Site Inspection report. Exceedances of the applicable 18 AAC 75 Table B1 (soil) and Table C (groundwater) cleanup levels were detected for PFOS, PFOA, and/or the sum of PFOS+PFOA (0.07 ug/L) action level identified in DEC’s 2019 PFAS Guidance for Groundwater and Drinking Water. Jamie McKellar
3/11/2024 ANCSA Program Eligible This site meets the criteria for the EPA Contaminated ANCSA Lands program: the site is on ANCSA conveyed land, the contamination occurred pre-ANCSA conveyance, and there is documented proof of contamination that exceeds DEC’s cleanup values in 18 AAC 75. This site will be listed as “verified” on EPA’s contaminated lands inventory. Brittani Mack
8/21/2024 Site Visit CS staff conducted site visits and attended a Regional Advisory Board (RAB) meeting on Adak Island. During the trip, CS staff and representatives from the US Navy also participated in a “RAB Field Day” organized by a RAB member who wanted to highlight some issues of concern - petroleum contamination at Sweeper Creek, the spillway at Lake Andrew, and munitions concerns in Parcel 4. While on the island, CS staff also met with contractors conducting PFAS sampling and long-term monitoring activities, and CS staff attended a community meeting hosted by the Aleut Corporation (TAC) and its contractor to discuss the community’s Brownfields Community Wide Assessment Grant. Jamie McKellar
9/3/2024 Update or Other Action PFAS INFORMATIONAL ENTRY: The 2020 Preliminary Assessment for PFAS recommended investigation at 12 areas of interest: SWMUs 16, 32, and 33 - Former Fire Training Areas; SWMU 13 - Metals Landfill; SWMU 35 - GSE Maintenance Facility, Building 27044; SWMU 45 - Sewage Treatment Plant, Facility 30030; SWMU 51 - SA 78, OU-A, Fire Station No. 2, Building 10354; Site 35, Fire Station No. 1, Building 10197; Aircraft Accident, Runway 18-36; Aircraft Crash Station, Building 10202; Former Airfield Fire Training Building, and NSGA former Fire Station No. 3, Building 10466. The NSGA Former Fire Station No. 3 is not listed on the Contaminated Sites Database. For documentation, and due to the proximity of the NSGA buildings, this informational entry will be tagged to all NSGA sites. Jamie McKellar
9/4/2024 Update or Other Action On 9/3/2024, the Navy notified DEC that during sampling for the PFAS RI, approximately 0.5 ft. to 1 ft. of free product was found in monitoring well MW-4, which was installed during the 2020 PFAS site inspection. This monitoring well is located in the center of the former fire training area. The former fire training area (SWMU 16, 32, and 33) was addressed in the OU A ROD. The primary contaminant of concern identified in the ROD was PCBs, and based on the historical record, soil with concentrations exceeding 1 mg/kg were excavated from SWMU 16. The ROD does not specify whether PCBs were also a COC at SWMU 32 and SWMU 33. The historical record for this site indicates that firefighting exercises were conducted from 1970 to 1989. During these exercises, petroleum, waste oil, and solvents were floated on water within burn pits and repeatedly ignited and extinguished as part of the firefighting training. It was estimated that 120 gallons of flammable liquid was used during each exercise. In 1985, 20,000 gallons of waste petroleum was reportedly disposed of at the site and apparently ignited for firefighting training. Additional sampling/monitoring for petroleum constituents and solvents is required. Jamie McKellar
9/6/2024 CERCLA RI Plan Approved WORK PLAN AND WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN APPROVAL: Final Waste Management Plan for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, Solid Waste Management Units 16, 32, and 33 (AECOM, August 2024) and Final Sampling and Analysis Plan/Quality Assurance Project Plan, Remedial Investigation for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, Solid Waste Management Units 16, 32, and 33 (AECOM, August 2024) Jamie McKellar

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
Aroclor 1260 Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
1,2-Dichloroethane Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil
Benzene Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil

Control Type

Type Details
Equitable Servitude The Equitable Servitude to the Interim Conveyance Document restricts groundwater use and residential land use.
Institutional Control Management Plan The Institutional Control Management Plan, a supbart of the base-wide Comprehensive Monitoring Plan, requires the completion of a dig notification in the Downtown Area and at several outback locations.

Requirements

Description Details
Excavation / Soil Movement Restrictions All excavation within the 'downtown area' of Adak, as defined in the Equitable Servitude to the Interim Conveyance Document, must be submitted to the City of Adak and the Navy for review three days prior to excavation. Annual report of excavation notifications included in the IC Inspection Report.
Restricted to Industrial / Commercial Land Use Equitable servitude restricts land uses to non-residential uses. Site is inspected and reported yearly to ensure there are no residential land uses taking place.
Groundwater Use Restrictions The Equitable Servitude restricts groundwater use in the Downtown Area. Site is inspected and reported yearly to ensure groundwater is not being used in the Downtown Area.

There are no documents for this site report.

Hazard ID Site Name File Number
27909 Adak Island OU A, B1, & B2 2501.38.007.01

Missing Location Data

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