Site Report: Dutch Hbr-Fort Mears Landfill (North)
| Site Name: | Dutch Hbr-Fort Mears Landfill (North) |
|---|---|
| Address: | Bayside of Airport Beach Road and Salmon Way Intersection, Unalaska, AK 99685 |
| File Number: | 2542.38.029 |
| Hazard ID: | 25819 |
| Status: | Active |
| Staff: | Kathleen Iler-Galau, 9074512185 kathleen.iler-galau@alaska.gov |
| Latitude: | 53.884986 |
| Longitude: | -166.553750 |
| Horizontal Datum: | WGS84 |
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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 landfill is located on the north side of the intersection of Salmon Way and Airport Beach Road and between Airport Beach Road and Unalaska Bay. It is also about 150 feet north of the Dutch Harbor Post Office. The landfill is thought to contain building debris from the Fort Mears Army Post after the Japanese bombed Dutch Harbor in 1942. It is currently covered by irregular and sparse vegetation. Previous investigations found DRO, PCE, arsenic, cadmium, selenium, silver, and lead.
Action Information
| Action Date | Action | Description | DEC Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/1/2001 | Update or Other Action | ADEC received "2000 Islandwide SI/IRA/RI Report". The report summarized the 2000 investigation results. Arsenic was found in two samples and selenium was found in four samples exceeding groundwater cleanup level. Besides, arsenic was found in one sediment sample marginally above regulatory criteria but below background concentration. The report recommended limited further action to confirm the detections for arsenic and selenium. Besides, lead exceedance was found in the beach sediment samples so that more sediment sample should be collected to confirm 2000 results. Background samples were also recommended to be collected from east of the site in the immediate vicinity. | Linda (Qi) Liu |
| 6/1/2003 | Update or Other Action | ADEC received "2001/2002 Islandwide SI/RI/IRA Report". The report summarized the investigation in 2001. Groundwater samples collected from well points FML-1, -3, -4 & -5 and analyzed for arsenic and selenium. None of the arsenic samples were found above the groundwater cleanup level but selenium was detected in three out of four samples exceeding groundwater cleanup level but below 10* cleanup level. The report states that since the sit is subject to seawater intrusion and developable freshwater lens will be relatively thin so that 10* rule applied. Besides,three sediment samples were also collected. Two from near the 2000 sample location and one from east of the sample location to determine background conditions. All three sediment sample were collected with hand tools from an area below the high tide mark during a low tide period and analyze for lead. Lead was not detected in any of the sediment samples. | Linda (Qi) Liu |
| 2/7/2012 | Site Added to Database | A new site has been added to the database | Mitzi Read |
| 11/6/2024 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | The Qawalangin FUDS Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) Meeting was held at the Unalaska Public Library. This regional RAB incorporates five FUDS in the Qawalangin region: Amaknak FUDS, Chernofski FUDS, Cape Wislow FUDS, Fort Learnard FUDS, and Ugadaga Bay FUDS. RAB Board Members, USACE-FUDS, DEC, and members of the public were in attendance in-person, with additional stakeholders participating virtually. FUDS PMs provided updates on the status of FUDS sites. The RAB membership also updated their charter and added new members. | Kathleen Iler-Galau |
| 2/17/2026 | Public Notice | USACE hosted a regional advisor board meeting at the Dutch Harbor Public Library. Anyone interested can attend these meetings. Meetings are being run by a new contractor, Ahtna Solutions. USACE had presentations on reporting a site, FUDS funding, and prioritization. Next RAB will discuss the 2025 subsistence and cleanup levels report, available at https://par.nsf.gov/servlets/purl/10503257. Great questions were asked and the next meeting will be May 13, 2026. | Kathleen Iler-Galau |
Contaminant Information
| Name | Level Description | Media | Comments |
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Control Type
| Type | Details |
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Requirements
| Description | Details |
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| Document name | File Size | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2001/2002 Islandwide SI/RI/IRA Report Amaknak/Unalaska Islands, Alaska Final June 2003 | 75 MB | |
| 2000 Islandwide SI/RI/IRA Report Amaknak and Unalaska Islands, Alaska August 2001 | 72 MB |
No associated sites were found.