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Site Report: Sanak Island Sanak Harbor Area

Site Name: Sanak Island Sanak Harbor Area
Address: Former Sanak Village Site on Sanak Island; ~35 Mi. SE of False Pass; ~5 Mi. W of Pavlof Harbor, False Pass, AK 99583
File Number: 2547.38.002
Hazard ID: 25611
Status: Active
Staff: Kathleen Iler-Galau, 9074512153 kathleen.iler-galau@alaska.gov
Latitude: 54.480904
Longitude: -162.813608
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

The site is located to the east of Sanak Harbor, and encompasses a former Very High Frequency (VHF) Radio Station and tower that are located within the abandoned Sanak Village School building. The VHF radio station was associated with the Aircraft Warning System Station located approximately 5 miles to the west at Pavlof Harbor. The school building that houses the VHF equipment is likely in disrepair and any containerized waste likely remaining at the site should be removed. Batteries, radio transmitters, corroded drums, a vehicle fuel tank, vehicle parts, and various debris piles are located at the site. Field investigations were conducted at this site in 1997, 2010, 2012, and 2014. Lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, benzo(a)pyrene, DRO, and PCBs have been detected in surface soil at the site at concentrations above the ADEC cleanup levels. Lead, nickel, pyrene, and PCBs were detected in sediment at the site at concentrations above the screening levels.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
2/15/2011 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
12/6/2011 Update or Other Action Contaminated Sites Staff received the Read Ahead Package for the scoping meeting for Sanak Island FUDS. The Island is owned by the Sanak Corporation and also the Pauloff Harbor Tribe and there are the remains of housing and communications equipment at three areas on the island. The Site Investigation is planned for June and July 2012 in coordination with the Remedial Investigation at neighboring Caton Island. The Site Investigation is planned to span 10 days and includes geophysical mapping of the FUDS area, visual surveys and collection of approximately 50 soil samples, 10 surface water samples and 10 sediment samples. Jonathan Schick
12/7/2011 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated Sites Staff attended a scoping meeting for the Sanak Island FUDS Site Investigation Project. The meeting was held at the office of AECOM, the contractor for the USACE and was attended by members of the USACE, ADEC, Pauloff Harbor Tribe, Sanak Corporation, Aleut Corporation, and the contractor. The plans for the Site Investigation for the summer of 2012 were discussed. Another site which is the responsibility of the USCG is located in the vicinity of the FUDS area and coordination with the USCG to initiate a cleanup effort to coincide with the USACE effort at the site. Jonathan Schick
2/8/2012 Update or Other Action Contaminated Sites Staff received the Read Ahead Package for the scoping meeting for Sanak Island FUDS for a second meeting being held in Sand Point. The Island is owned by the Sanak Corporation and also the Pauloff Harbor Tribe and there are the remains of housing and communications equipment at three areas on the island. The Site Investigation is planned for June and July 2012 in coordination with the Remedial Investigation at neighboring Caton Island. The Site Investigation is planned to span 10 days and includes geophysical mapping of the FUDS area, visual surveys and collection of approximately 50 soil samples, 10 surface water samples and 10 sediment samples. Jonathan Schick
2/14/2012 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated Sites Staff attended a scoping meeting for the Sanak Island FUDS Site Investigation Project over the phone as staff was not available to travel to Sand Point to attend the meeting in person. The meeting was held in Sand Point and was attended by members of the USACE, ADEC, Pauloff Harbor Tribe, Sanak Corporation, Aleut Corporation, and the contractor. The plans for the Site Investigation for the summer of 2012 were discussed. Another site which is the responsibility of the USCG is located in the vicinity of the FUDS area and cooridination with the USCG to initiate a cleanup effort to coincide with the USACE effort at the site. Jonathan Schick
3/13/2012 Update or Other Action Contaminated Sites Staff recieved the revised Read Ahead Package for the scoping meeting for Sanak Island FUDS for a second meeting being held in Sand Point. The Island is owned by the Sanak Corporation and also the Pauloff Harbor Tribe and there are the remains of housing and communications equipment at three areas on the island. The Site Investigation is planned for June and July 2012 in coordination with the Remedial Investigation at neighboring Caton Island. Jonathan Schick
4/4/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Contaminated Sites Staff received a Draft version of the Site Investigation Work Plan for Sanak Island FUDS. The work plan includes a Field Sampling Plan and Quality Assurance Project Plan that will also be reviewed and commented on. The Plan details the Army Corps of Engineer's plans to inspect all of the known sites with geophysical equipment and to collect analytical samples in areas where impacts are suspected. The work is scheduled to be performed during the Remedial Investigation/Removal Action work that is occurring on neighboring Caton Island in July, 2012. Jonathan Schick
4/11/2012 Update or Other Action Emails were exchanged between the USACE And the USCG and Contaminted Sites Staff in an effort to coordinate the Federal Government's efforts to investigate the lighthouse in Pauloff Harbour while there is the environmetal personnel on the island collecting samples and information. At this point it looks like cooperation between the federal government agencies may be pushed back to the next phase of work at the island Jonathan Schick
4/19/2012 Update or Other Action Contaminated Sites Staff submitted comments on the Draft Site Investigation Work Plan for Sanak Island FUDS. The comments were regarding the quality of the geophysical investigation and an attempt was made to increase the sampling scope to include additional sampling and also to try to include the unmanned lighthouse that is located in the vicinity of the FUDS property boundary but is outside of the scope of this investigation. Jonathan Schick
5/1/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Contamianted Sites Staff received responses to our comments on the Draft Work Plan for the Sanak Island FUDS Site Investigation. The responses are acceptable and the agreed upon changes should be incorporated into a revised Final version. Jonathan Schick
11/1/2012 CERCLA SI Comment sent to the Corps on the Draft SI Debra Caillouet
4/1/2013 CERCLA SI The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program conditionally approved the Final version of the March 2013 Site Investigation Report for Sanak Island, Alaska FUD Site. An inventory of the site area showed the presence of the former VHF Radio Station tower, batteries, radio transmitters, corroded drums, a vehicle fuel tank, vehicle parts, and various debris piles. A geophysical survey was conducted at the majority of the former VHF Radio Station tower area. The results of the survey indicate that substantial subsurface metal is not present at the location. Soil and sediment samples were collected and analyzed for GRO, DRO, RRO, VOCs, PCBs, PAHs, and metals. Surface water samples were collected and analyzed for VOCs, PAHs, GRO, DRO, RRO, TAqH, TAH, and metals. Lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, benzo(a)pyrene, DRO, and PCBs have been detected in surface soil at the site at concentrations above the ADEC cleanup levels. Lead, nickel, pyrene, and PCBs were detected in sediment at the site at concentrations above the screening levels. Target analytes were not detected above screening levels in surface water samples. Jessica Morris
6/19/2014 CERCLA RI Plan Approved The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program conditionally approved the Final version of the May 2014 Work Plan/QAPP Sanak Island Remedial Investigation and Limited CON/HTRW Removal, Sanak Island. Jessica Morris
7/25/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program conditionally approved the Final version of the June 2014 Risk Assessment Work Plan, Sanak Island Remedial Investigation and Limited CON/HTRW Removal, Sanak Island. Jessica Morris
10/20/2015 Update or Other Action The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program submitted comments on the Draft Sanak Island Remedial Investigation and Limited CON/HTRW Removal Action Report. Jessica Morris
2/3/2016 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC Contaminated Sites Program participated in a public meeting to discuss the results of the 2014 Sanak Island FUDS Remedial Investigation. Jessica Morris
7/14/2016 CERCLA RI Report Approved The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program approved the June 2016 Remedial Investigation and Limited CON/HTRW Removal Report. A removal action was conducted in 2014 at this site, and petroleum and metals contaminated soil and sediment remain at this site above cleanup levels Jessica Morris
8/1/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program submitted comments on the Draft Sanak Island Risk Assessment Report, Sanak Island, Alaska. Jessica Morris
8/1/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program submitted comments on the Draft Sanak Island Remedial Investigation and Limited CON/HTRW Removal Action Report Addendum, Sanak Island, Alaska. Jessica Morris
10/17/2018 Meeting or Teleconference Held The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program staff participated in a comment resolution for the Sanak Risk Assessment Report with representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers FUDS Program, Sanak Corporation, Pauloff Harbor Tribe, Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Inc., AECOM Technical Services, Inc., and Bristol Environmental Services, LLC. Jessica Morris
6/2/2021 Update or Other Action Updated lat/long of site location to reflect status on ANCSA conveyed lands. Updated site location of VHF Radio Station (located at the school house) from old coordinates: 54.4804 -162.8139 on CSP database to new coordinates: 54.480904 -162.813608 with figures in F10AK020402_01.09_0500_a.pdf located in the following folder: \\An-svrfile\groups\SPAR\CS\38 FilesCS\2547 False Pass\2547.38.005 Sanak Island General File\2013 Ginna Quesada

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

There are no documents for this site report.

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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