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Site Report: Nuvagapak Point DEW Line Composite Building

Site Name: Nuvagapak Point DEW Line Composite Building
Address: 135 Miles East of Deadhorse, ~36 Miles SE of Kaktovik, Kaktovik, AK 99747
File Number: 380.38.004
Hazard ID: 25334
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 69.886944
Longitude: -142.311667
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

From 1953 until 1962, the former Nuvagapak Point DEW Line Station was used as a radar defense facility. Original site improvements consisted of a composite building, shop building, warehouse, a 240-foot-tall radio tower, various storage sheds, a fuel pipeline, and a fuel-storage system consisting of a pump house and aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) (Figure 2). These structures were subsequently removed in 1994 and 2000 during several phases of site investigation and execution of remedial activities. The Nuvagapak Point DEW Line Station was an installation of the DOD under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Air Force until August 10, 1965, when jurisdiction was passed to the Department of the Navy. The Navy filed a Notice of Intent to Relinquish on February 11, 1970. The site acreage was selected for inclusion into ANWR on December 2, 1980; transfer to the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) became effective on March 28, 1985. Management control was given to the USFWS on March 28, 1985. The Composite Building housed the main living quarters and electrical generator during the operation of the Nuvagapak Point DEW Line Station. The Composite Building was demolished in 2000, although the concrete portion of the foundation was left intact and remains at the site (USACE, 2013). Soil around the Composite Building was investigated in 2000, 2003 and 2007, and soil remained in this area that exceeded the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) soil cleanup level of 1 milligram per kilogram (mg/kg). Based on the presence of PCBs in soil immediately adjacent to the concrete pad, it was presumed that the concrete was contaminated above the PCB cleanup level of 1.0 mg/kg.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
5/31/1992 Site Added to Database Reported contamination includes: petroleum hydrocarbons, PCBs and lead. Former Staff
6/18/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). Staff reviewed Pre-Design Final Report dated March, 1992. Report contains previous sampling data and defines regulatory levels for site contaminants. Bob Couch
6/24/1992 Meeting or Teleconference Held Met with Corps of Engineers and USF&WS to establish cleanup levels and cleanup methods for summer of 1993 work. The Corps plan to conduct remediation as they continue to define extend of contamination. Laura Noland
9/8/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RPL2 - Site Information Request Letter). ADEC staff 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
3/26/1993 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Staff received remedial action workplan which describes a removal action to take place. Site would not obtain clean closure with this proposed action. Rielle Markey
4/28/1993 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). Staff sent ADEC proposed action levels for cleanup at site to E&E's Brian Miskel. Marcus Ortelee
5/13/1993 Cleanup Level(s) Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = CORR - Correspondence (General)). ADEC staff to Gail Braten of COE, on action levels for soil and gravel pad cleanup levels. ADEC and USFWS worked together to establish levels based on health and ecological criteria. Marcus Ortelee
8/27/1993 Update or Other Action Bidding Documents received. Bob Couch
2/16/1994 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RAPR - Remedial Action Plan Review (CS)). Staff received Contractor Quality Control Plan - Removal Action. Bob Couch
2/23/1994 Meeting or Teleconference Held Attended pre-construction conference at COE resident engineer office. Bob Couch
1/4/1995 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Jeff Peterson
1/24/1996 Update or Other Action Received "Removal Action" Draft Final Report, Volumes 1, 2, and 3. Kalu Kalu
3/18/1997 Update or Other Action Site updated by Shannon and Wilson, based on FUDS Site Summary dated 2/21/96. S&W
10/5/1999 Update or Other Action Removal occurred in 1996. Additional removal planned for summer 2000. Plans are to remove everything at the site and dispose appropriately. Rielle Markey
4/11/2001 Update or Other Action DEC received a copy of an EPA letter to USFWS and USACE deferring listing on the NPL. Debra Caillouet
6/4/2001 Update or Other Action Sent comment letter on draft removal action report. The report described demolition and site characterization work completed during 2000 field season. All of the structures were removed and disposed of off-site, surface stained soil was excavated, miscellaneous debris removed. Remaining contamination in soil and surface water. Lead at 94 ug/L in surface water and 4.6 mg/kg PCBs in soil is of concern along with cumulative risk from multiple VOCs. Comment letter indicated CSM and cumulative risk calculation should be completed. Ann Farris
5/21/2003 Site Number Identifier Changed Changed Region from 36 to 31. Former Staff
6/10/2003 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Approved plan for additional sampling to further delineate soil, sediment, and surface water contamination. Ann Farris
10/31/2003 Meeting or Teleconference Held Additional sampling was completed during the 2003 field season to determine the extent of contamination detected in the 2000 demolition effort. The results are currently being quality-controlled by the Corps of Engineer’s chemistry section and then will be sent out. The Barter Island RAB indicated there is additional debris washing up at the site, but there is no indication of contamination from the debris. Ron Pflum with the COE indicated the FUDs program is no longer able to remove debris. He indicated the Village could check into NALEMP funds to do the removal themselves. Ann Farris
6/28/2004 Site Characterization Report Approved Staff reviewed a chemical data report for sampling that was conducted in the July 2003. The report indicated there was fuel, arsenic, lead, and PCBs remaining in the soil, sediment, and surface water ponds at the site. The PCBs are relatively low levels, seemingly localized around the composite building. The fuel has been found in the sediment and water at the AST area and the drum site D area. There was also debris found by dump site E, but no samples were collected. The COE recommended further remedial action. ADEC concurred. The COE project manager is working to secure funding for the project. Ann Farris
7/23/2007 Update or Other Action Staff reviewed and provided comment to the USACE on a draft remedial investigation work plan. Debra Caillouet
9/27/2007 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Staff approved Rev 2 of the RI work plan Debra Caillouet
11/16/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Debra Caillouet
6/6/2008 Site Characterization Report Approved The report presents the results of sampling and analysis at the AST Pad, Dump Site D, Composite Building and Kogotpak River Landfill. This data along with data from previous field efforts should allow development of a cleanup plan for three of the sites. The report recommends additional characterization at the Kogotpak River Landfill A survey of the coast line in 2007 was compared to 1997 aerial photograph. The contractor determined that the coast line has eroded 49-110 feet. This equates to an average erosion of 2.5 to 5.5 feet per year. The erosion is rapidly approaching areas of Dump Site D that exceed Method Two cleanup levels for the Arctic Zone. The erosion may result in disposal of the contaminated soil if a removal action is delayed. DEC’s current understanding is the removal action is planned for 2009. Debra Caillouet
12/12/2008 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The draft RI/FS was reviewed and significant comment sent to the Corps. Debra Caillouet
1/12/2009 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
2/22/2010 Update or Other Action The Final Ecoscoping Forms and Ecological Conceptual Site Models, Collinson Point and Nuvagapak Point, DEW Line Stations, February 2010 were received. The ecoscoping indicates the need for a screening level risk assessment. Debra Caillouet
7/28/2010 Risk Assessment Report Approved The Final Preliminary Screening Evaluation and Ecological Conceptual Site Models, Collinson Point and Nuvagapak Point, DEW Line Stations July 2010 were approved. Based on the information in these documents ADEC does not believe there is a need to proceed to an ecological risk assessment. While some of the exceedances if the ecological screening levels are significant, if the sites are cleaned up to Method II levels these will be minimized. It is believed that if a full risk assessment was done, the size of the impacts and the quality of the habitat would demonstrate that there is no significant ecological risk. Debra Caillouet
10/29/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Comments were sent on the Nuvagapak Point Distant Early Warning Line Station, Revised Draft Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Report, October 2010. Debra Caillouet
7/28/2011 CERCLA FS Final Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Report Nuvagapak Point Distant Early Warning Line Station, Nuvagapak Point Alaska, May 2011 Debra Caillouet
10/9/2013 CERCLA ROD Approved Debra Caillouet
5/19/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The draft work plan, Collinson Point and Nuvagapak Point Former DEW Line Stations was reviewed and comment sent to the Corps. Debra Caillouet
10/9/2015 Update or Other Action Oversight temporarily transferred to Carnahan. John Carnahan
1/28/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Provided comments on DRAFT remedial action at multiple sites, including Drum Dump D, AST Pad, Composite Building, Debris Pile A, and Shop Area. Request for increase of cleanup level in Drum Dump D area proposed based on background study. Further cleanup at Shop Area required, and contaminated waste material continues to be staged at site due to difficulties in site access by barges for consecutive field seasons. John Carnahan
2/29/2016 Update or Other Action Provided Response to Comments on DEC Comments on DRAFT remedial action at multiple sites, including Drum Dump D, AST Pad, Composite Building, Debris Pile A, and Shop Area. John Carnahan
9/29/2016 Meeting or Teleconference Held Barrow RAB Meeting held. Debenham in attendance. John Carnahan
5/3/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Provide comments on DRAFT 2017 WP addendum specific to PCB sampling. John Carnahan
4/19/2018 CERCLA Remedial Action Completion Report DEC Approval - Revised Final Remedial Action Report, Nuvagapak Point, Former DEW Line Station, January 2018 John Carnahan
4/19/2018 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78691 Composite Building. John Carnahan
11/16/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Provide comments on FUDS Closeout Report, October 2018. John Carnahan
3/21/2019 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued Soil contaminants remaining at the site are below the approved cleanup levels suitable for residential land use or are considered ‘naturally occurring.’ This site received a “Cleanup Complete” designation on the Contaminated Sites Database, subject to the standard site closure conditions. John Carnahan

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
PCBs - Total < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil

Control Type

Type Details
No ICs Required

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.
Movement or use of contaminated material (including on site) in a manner that results in a violation of the water quality standards is prohibited (18 AAC 70)

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

P.O. Box 111800
Juneau, AK 99811-1800
Phone: 907-465-5066
Fax: 907-465-5245
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