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Site Report: Muklung Hills GCI Plane Crash

Site Name: Muklung Hills GCI Plane Crash
Address: Muklung Hills; ~9 Miles NE of Aleknagik, ~20 Miles N of Dillingham, Aleknagik, AK 99555
File Number: 2510.38.003
Hazard ID: 25606
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 59.332833
Longitude: -158.378333
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

On August 10, 2010, the Prevention and Emergency Response Program (PERP) received notification from General Communication Inc. (GCI) that a GCI-owned and -operated airplane had crashed on the evening of August 9, 2010 in the Muklung Hills, northeast of Dillingham. Five of the nine people were killed in the crash, including Alaska Senator Ted Stevens. The plane crashed on a west-southwest-facing mountainside at an elevation of ~900 to 1,000 feet. The volume of Jet A fuel released to the ground surface is unknown, but estimated by GCI to be less than 100 gallons; lube oil for the turbine engine was likely no more than 5 gallons. The wreckage was removed from the site on 8/14/2010. Diesel range organics (DRO) and residual range organics (RRO) were detected in soil above ADEC cleanup levels. These early concentrations were recorded to be up to 42,900 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) DRO and 11,900 mg/kg RRO from soil samples collected to refusal at a depth of up to 6 inches bgs at the soil/rock interface. Soil at the site is a thin layer of less than 6 inches in depth of loamy peat that is unevenly distributed over rock material. Underlying the site appears to be bedrock.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
1/31/2011 Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program Spill transfered by PERP staff Neil Huddleston. Spill no. 10269922101; spill date = 8/9/10; substance = Jet A fuel and lube oil; quantity = unknown (potential estimated by RP at less than 100 gallons); source = single-engine turbine-powered DeHavilland Otter aircraft. Mitzi Read
2/1/2011 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
2/1/2011 Update or Other Action Receipt via email of a document entitled Remedial Options Proposal. Responded with comment and questions via email and phone. A site sketch and chromatograms were previously provided. Clarification provided by email on 3/17/2011 stated that the samples that were collected were collected in Ziploc bags and then transfered to the appropriate containers and preserved about 3 hours later. Data quality issues are associated with the samples such as the delayed preservation. Additonal laboratory data would be helpful in making future decisions about this site as the nature and extent of contamination has not been fully delineated. Keather McLoone
2/1/2011 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79037 name: Jet A and Lube Oil from Aircraft Mitzi Read
3/11/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Receipt of Site Assessment & Remedial Workplan for GCI Crash Site, Muklung Hills, Alaska. OES is proposing to return to the site and do some more sampling and possibly remove a limited amount of contaminated soil. Plan also proposes to use a smart ash burner that they own to dispose of the soil. After following up with questions regarding smart ash burner, CSP will send a work plan comment letter. Keather McLoone
5/20/2011 Update or Other Action Date of receipt of Site Assessment & Remedial Workplan for GCI Crash site, Muklung Hills, Alaska. ADEC commented in a letter but has no objection to this workplan. The nature and extent of the contamination at this site must be characterized in order to evaluate potential risks. Keather McLoone
12/13/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Date of receipt of letter reporting on investigation conducted on August 22, 2011. Extent of contamination was bounded horizontally by screening results, but only the highest PID reading locations have laboratory analytical data associated. Concentrations found at the site this year up to 43,400 mg/kg DRO, 433 mg/kg GRO, 0.957 mg/kg benzo(a)pyrene, 15 mg/kg 1-methylnaphthalene, and 15.2 mg/kg 2-methylnaphthalene. BTEX should be considered usable for screening purposes only. BTEX was not originally requested when the samples were submitted to the laboratory, therefore the lab reported BTEX results off a run that had no batch QC for BTEX associated with it. Keather McLoone
2/3/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Receipt of updated report which includes clarification regarding the estimate of the extent of contamination. DEC response indicated that a Cleanup Complete decision without Institutional Controls may not be appropriate at this time given the high concentrations of known contaminants remaining, the BTEX data gap, and the current difficulty distinguishing physical damage to the site from direct ecological impacts due to contaminants. Keather McLoone
4/3/2012 Update or Other Action Date of letter received from consultant expressing consultant concerns about DEC position regarding a closure request for this site. Keather McLoone
7/6/2012 Update or Other Action Email on this date from consultant stating that, after consulting with BLM, the plan was to conduct three years of visual monitoring and then another round of sampling in attempt to confirm natural attenuation, and then consider another request for a closure decision. Also, a workplan will be submitted. Keather McLoone
11/21/2013 Update or Other Action On this date, ADEC received the Re: Monitoring Activities for 2013 Field Season; GCI Communication Corporation Crash Site, Muklung Hills, Alaska submitted by BGES dated October 14, 2013. Photos taken during the 2013 effort show recent growth of ferns, mosses, forbs, and tall grasses in the central and periphery sections of the impact footprint. Three primary areas remained less vegetated than the rest of the site. These areas include: the upslope 30-foot section of the footprint, a 25-foot sub-midsection of impact area, and a downslope 20-foot section. Dead alders and charred materials were noted throughout the impact site. No petroleum odors or staining were noted throughout the site. The nearest surface body, located 0.5 mile to the SW of the site, did not contain surface water sheen. Grant Lidren
8/14/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) Contaminated Sites Program (CSP) has received and reviewed the 2012 Monitoring and Assessment Plan for GCI Crash Site submitted by OES and the 2014 Response to ADEC Comments on Monitoring & Assessment Plan for GCI Crash Site submitted by BGES. ADEC has no objections to the Work Plan/Response and OES/BGES may proceed. Grant Lidren
11/21/2014 Site Characterization Report Approved On this date, ADEC received the GCI Crash Site Muklung Hills 2014 Monitoring and Assessment Report dated October 2014 submitted by BGES. No visual or olfactory evidence of contamination was identified during the collection of soil screening samples. A total of 171 screening samples collected were nondetect on the PID. Four soil samples were collected from the impacted zone based off historic high PID readings from the last sampling event. Four soil samples were also collected from the perimeter of the impact zone. Soil samples collected 3 inches bgs in the impact zone contained DRO up to 3, 510 mg/kg; soil samples collected 3 inches bgs along the perimeter contained DRO up to 810 mg/kg. Note: benzene was ND, but the LOQs were elevated above ADEC method 2 MTG cleanup levels in all soil samples. Compared to photographs taken in 2013, vegetation seems well established in the impact zone with minimal areas of exposed soil. Grant Lidren
12/16/2014 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), Contaminated Sites Program, has completed a review of the environmental records associated with the Muklung Hills GCI Plane Crash. Based on the information provided to date and the administrative record, the ADEC has determined that the contaminant concentrations remaining on site do not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. No further remedial action will be required and this site is considered Cleanup Complete. Grant Lidren

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO < 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
TDD: 800-770-8973
Physical Location: 410 Willoughby