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Site Report: Eareckson AS - Tank 452-3/#02

Site Name: Eareckson AS - Tank 452-3/#02
Address: Building 452 - Former SATCOM, Amchitka, AK 99546
File Number: 2649.38.001
Hazard ID: 25050
Status: Active
Staff: Erica Blake, 9074512182 erica.blake@alaska.gov
Latitude: 52.713843
Longitude: 174.113269
Horizontal Datum:WGS84

We make every effort to ensure the data presented here is accurate based on the best available information currently on file with DEC. It is therefore subject to change as new information becomes available. We recommend contacting the assigned project staff prior to making decisions based on this information.

Problems/Comments

Site TU568-452-3 consists of Former Tank 452-3, a 6,000-gallon underground storage tank (UST) containing diesel fuel no. 2 (DF2) which was used as the fuel supply for the heating system and backup generator at Building 452 at Eareckson Air Station on Shemya Island, Alaska. At the time of removal in 1997, the UST was inactive, and the building was scheduled for demolition. UST 452-3 was located outside the fenced area and perpendicular to the north side of Building 452 and buried at 4 feet below ground surface. Former Tank 452-3 was removed in 1997 and there were hydrocarbon vapors noted during excavation and the UST was in fair condition with peeling paint observed. Petroleum contamination was detected in the soil. In 2016/2017 several soil borings were advanced to between 20 and 23 feet below ground surface to characterize the site and determine extent of contamination. Groundwater was not encountered in any of the samples. Gasoline range organics (GRO), diesel range organics (DRO), residual range organics (RRO) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) were detected in several soil samples collected between 2.5 and 17.5 feet below ground surface, but at concentrations below the most stringent DEC cleanup levels. The horizontal and vertical extent of the contamination had been defined. Based on the analytical soil sample results being below cleanup levels and the contamination delineated, a Cleanup Complete with no institutional controls determination has been recommended.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
7/23/1997 Site Added to Database Former Staff
7/23/1997 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Release Confirmed - Petroleum LUST Site created in CSP for source area ID 77616 DRO contaminated soil (320 mg/kg0 found during UST closure 7/23/97. Former Staff
7/23/1997 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Initiated - Petroleum Source Removal. UST removed from the ground 7/23/97. Tim Stevens
2/5/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC project manager requested US Air Force to do additional sampling at this site to address the stockpiled soil placed back into the UST excavation without being sampled. Tim Stevens
1/12/2000 Underground Storage Tank Site Characterization or Assessment ADEC received the site assessment report. This site is one of 43 UST SA reports contained in the April 1998 Draft " Project Report" Eareckson AS. Final report dated June 11, 1999 and entitled "Project Report - UST Site Assessment Reports, AST Removal Reports, and Environmental Compliance Activities." Associated ADEC/STP comment letter dated January 12, 2000 prepared by Timothy Stevens. ADEC comment letter states that a No Further Action letter could be issued for these sites based on the level of contamination found during the tank decommissioning (excavation confirmation samples only). However, the site assessment report indicates piping associated with the tanks was pulled but not assessed for contamination. 18 AAC 78.090 requires piping to be assessed for contamination with a minimum of one confirmation sample collected based on proper field screening. If piping confirmation samples were collected and analyzed, this data needs to be submitted to ADEC. Because of the unregulated status of some of these tanks or the close proximity of the tanks to the buildings/equipment they supplied fuel to, sampling could be waived if the Air Force would supply ADEC with information regarding the type of piping used. ADEC specifically requested information on the material of construction, total length on piping, and whether the piping was one continuous piece or made of sections. Gretchen Pikul
2/12/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Need lab data to confirm sampling results. Jill Taylor
11/16/2007 Site Visit ADEC staff travelled to Eareckson Air Station for 4 days to conduct site visits and become familiar with the ecology and topography of the island. Site visits were conducted to all pertinent sites and meetings were held to discuss the plan moving forward for Records of Decision and remedial alternatives. Jonathan Schick
7/28/2011 Update or Other Action Contaminated Sites Staff submitted a letter to the USAF Remedial Project Manager requesting additional information on approximately 30 LUST sites at Eareckson Air Station. All of the Tanks have been removed however in many cases inadequate or no investigation was performed to delineate the nature and extent of impacts from the leaking tanks. Jonathan Schick
1/10/2012 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Initiated - Petroleum Contamianted Sites Staff submitted a letter to the USAF Remedial Project Manager stating that the information provided for the closure of the LUST site did not contain information about this particular tank and additional investigation is being requested in order to move forward with the site investigation and eventual closure. Jonathan Schick
9/25/2014 Meeting or Teleconference Held A project records review and scoping meeting was held between the ADEC and USAF. Additional investigation work is planned for this site during 2015. Jessica Morris
10/22/2015 Update or Other Action The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program reviewed and commented on a draft scope of work for investigation, remedial process optimization, and long term management studies at several sites for Eareckson Air Station. Jessica Morris
8/31/2016 Site Characterization Workplan Approved The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program conditionally approved the 2016 Uniform Federal Policy - Quality Assurance Project Plan (UFP-QAPP) for Site Characterization at 14 Former POL Sites, Eareckson Air Station, Shemya Island, Alaska. The conditions for the UFP-QAPP are as follows: 1) We do not object to the long term monitoring work being completed as outlined in the UFP-QAPP; however ADEC cannot concur that efforts will be counted towards meeting the end point criteria outlined in the decision documents until an adequate monitoring program has been established. 2)The QAPP states that field screening results and field observations will be used to determine additional groundwater monitoring well locations. These locations should to be coordinated with ADEC. 3) The leaking underground storage tank (LUST) sites at Eareckson Air Station will need to be characterized and closed in accordance with LUST regulations that are included in 18 AAC 78. 4) The scope of work for this investigation may not be sufficient to fully characterize the sites listed in the work plan, and additional investigation may be necessary. Jessica Morris
11/14/2016 Site Visit ADEC staff travelled to Eareckson Air Station for 4 days to conduct site visits and become familiar with the ecology and topography of the island. Site visits were conducted to all pertinent sites and meetings were held to with ADEC and USAF to discuss a path forward for the sites. Jessica Morris
11/27/2017 Site Visit ADEC staff travelled to Eareckson Air Station for 3 days to conduct site visits and institutional control inspections. Site visits were conducted to all pertinent sites and meetings were held to with ADEC and USAF to discuss a path forward for the sites. Jessica Morris
2/23/2018 Update or Other Action The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program submitted comments on the Draft Site Characterization Report at 13 Former POL Sites, Phase I, Eareckson Air Station, Alaska. Jessica Morris
2/23/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program provide comments on the Draft Site Characterization Report at 13 Former POL Sites, Phase I, Eareckson Air Station. Jessica Morris
5/2/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program submitted comments on the Draft Remedial Process Optimization Report for Eareckson Air Station. The purpose of the report was to present an evaluation of the effectiveness of the current selected site remedies and make recommendations for optimization of an island-wide monitoring and management program for contaminated sites at Eareckson. ADEC had numerous comments on the document, and requested a project team meeting to further discuss a more effective and efficient program at Eareckson. Jessica Morris
3/11/2019 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 77616 Tank 452-3. Jessica Morris
4/27/2022 Update or Other Action On 4/27/2022 ADEC approved the Eareckson Air Station, Alaska, REMEDIAL PROCESS OPTIMIZATION REPORT dated April 2022. This Remedial Process Optimization (RPO) Report presents an evaluation of the effectiveness of current selected site remedies and makes recommendations for optimization of the IWM Program, as appropriate to establish a more integrated groundwater monitoring program at Eareckson AS. RPO is a systematic approach for evaluating and improving the effectiveness of site remediation without increasing site risk. This RPO Report presents a site-by-site evaluation of effectiveness of the sites selected remedy and provides recommendations to: • Streamline groundwater monitoring. • Develop a holistic approach to site management. • Maintain the remedial action objectives (RAOs) set forth in established Record of Decisions (RODs) and Decision Documents (DDs). Daniela Fawcett
10/15/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided responses to comments for the Decision Document for 23 Petroleum Contaminated Sites, Eareckson Air Station, Shemya Island, Alaska, Draft (dated July 2024) to the U.S. Air Force. Most of the responses to comments were acceptable, with a couple requiring additional text changes to the document. Two sites (CS566 and OT617) have contamination present above human health levels and a Notice of Activity Use and Limitations will be required for those sites. Erica Blake

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

There are no documents for this site report.

Hazard ID Site Name File Number
26298 Eareckson Air Station PL575 2649.38.001, 2649.38.049

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

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