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Site Report: Fort Glenn HTRW

Site Name: Fort Glenn HTRW
Address: SE Corner of Umnak Island, Dutch Harbor, AK 99692
File Number: 2550.38.001
Hazard ID: 2622
Status: Active
Staff: Erica Blake, 9074512182 erica.blake@alaska.gov
Latitude: 53.382993
Longitude: -167.911635
Horizontal Datum:NAD83

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

Following the war, the site was abandoned. An estimated 5600 drums, 41 tanks, other containers, transformers, collapsed buildings and other debris need to be addressed. Petroleum, PCBs and solvents are potential contaminants of concern. Abandoned tanks and lines may still contain fuel. Contaminated soil and possibly groundwater are present. Physical hazards exist due to deteriorating buildings, subsurface vaults, barbed wire and rommel spikes (a rancher reported that a horse was impaled by one). The 2001 RI found GRO, DRO. lead, benzene and PAHs at elevated levels. Further investigation is needed to quantify the contamination found and at other sites that were not investigated due to funding issues. This site was used developed as a military fort during WWII. It included the main fort and two outposts. The main fort was on Otter Point and included a 5,000 feet long runway (built with ~80,000 perforated steel mats, aka marsten matting), hangers, fuel storage (~4 million gallons) and distribution facilities, housing and supporting facilities were constructed. One satellite field was built on Cape Tanka and another was built SW of Otter Point. The satellite field had runways from 6,000 to 7,500 feet long. The main site is currently used as a reindeer, sheep and cattle ranch. Livestock is raised on the site, butchered and sold for food.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
9/15/1985 Update or Other Action Corps of Engineers completed an Inventory Report for Fort Glenn. It documented ~5,000 drums, 31 fuel tanks, hundreds of deteriorating buildings (mainly Quonset huts) and other wastes at the site. John Halverson
6/30/1987 Update or Other Action Corps completed a Contaminant Inventory and Preliminary Risk Assessment, Fort Glenn. It describes observations and sampling results from the site: water contamination (Thirty Mile, Camp Creek and an unidentified lake) identified as the most urgent problem. It described mercury contamination in the 10,000 gallon fuel tanks and states that it should be removed before any more of it spills into the ground. It recommended placing a clean soil cap over low level PCBs in soil near the transformer platforms. It also stated that ownership of drums at the Reeve Aleutian Airways shed should be ascertained. John Halverson
10/15/1989 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). SI action added by Shannon and Wilson, Inc., on 2/19/97. Based on FUDS Site Summary dated 2/21/96, SI for contaminated soil and water started 10/89 by Corps. S&W-Miner
9/17/1993 Update or Other Action Corps received approval from its headquarters to design and conduct a remedial action addressing containerized wastes (drums, fuel tanks etc.) and associated contaminated soil, removal and disposal of deteriorating buildings and other debris, and conducting a site inspection to determine whether there is a need for further remedial investigation and possibly cleanup. John Halverson
8/29/1996 Update or Other Action EPA submitted a Preliminary Assessment Report for Fort Glenn (CERCLIS Id # AK0001366673), prepared by URS Consultants. It documents that ranchers at Fort Glenn had found grenades and fragmentation bombs at the north camp 1.5 miles west of the Birchwood hanger. Corps EOD to respond in near future. The remainder of the PA summarized earlier investigations and existing site information. John Halverson
11/20/1996 Site Added to Database Various contaminants. S&W-Miner
6/15/1997 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). EPA conducted a Site Investigation through URS. Petroleum contaminated soil and sediment is widespread. More localized inorganics at elevated levels. John Halverson
11/9/1999 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Ranked site using available data - "High Priority". John Halverson
12/14/2000 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Changed the GW Exposure Index Value to 0 from 1 because GW is not used as a DW source. Still a Medium Priority site. Former Staff
5/1/2001 Update or Other Action Work plan reviewed for site investigation. Debra Caillouet
9/10/2001 Update or Other Action Site visit report documenting UXO at an OB/OD pit received from ADEC contractor confirming presence and identifying possible other sites for investigation. Debra Caillouet
1/24/2002 Update or Other Action ADEC reviewed and submitted comments on the draft Archive Search Report. Debra Caillouet
8/29/2002 Update or Other Action Staff sent the USACE a letter requesting a schedule for submission of the RI report, UXO detonation and a UXO avoidance plan. Debra Caillouet
11/27/2002 Update or Other Action Staff submitted lengthy comments on the draft RI report for the 2001 field season. The report was written as a data report and did not meet the regulatory requirements. Debra Caillouet
1/2/2003 Update or Other Action Staff met with the USACE project delivery team and their contractor to discuss the RI report. All of DEC's comments were accepted and a new draft RI report will be submitted in 60 days. Debra Caillouet
4/24/2003 Update or Other Action Staff submitted lengthy comments on a draft RI report covering the 2001 field work. Debra Caillouet
8/26/2003 Update or Other Action This RECKEY will be used to track petroleum related releases. In the future it may be necessary to further split the data by sites within the former base. OE related information will be tracked under 199625X232501 Debra Caillouet
11/6/2003 Update or Other Action The final RI report was received. DEC sent a letter to the USACE indicating that the work did not complete characterization of the site. Debra Caillouet
3/17/2005 Update or Other Action File number issued 2550.38.001 Aggie Blandford
10/31/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Intitial Ranking Complete for Source Area: 73598 (Autogenerated Action)
12/1/2016 Meeting or Teleconference Held CS managers participate in the annual FUDS site management action plan meeting. The purpose of the is to collaborate with FUDS management on site progress and prioritization for all of the formerly used defense sites. FUDS prioritization is based on risk, congressional interest, state input and proximity to other sites on the prioritization list. FUDS has increased environmental restoration funding in Alaska for the 2017 and 2018 field seasons to meet National goals for site progress. Darren Mulkey
3/30/2017 Meeting or Teleconference Held Met with USCOE project manager to discuss upcoming projects. Currently it looks like the USCOE is planning additional field work in 2018. Darren Mulkey
7/16/2018 CERCLA SI 'Final Site Reconnaissance, Fort Glenn CON/HTRW (Multiple Projects FUDS, Umnak Island, June 2018'. This primary purpose for the reconnaissance was to assess and document containerized hazardous, toxic, or radioactive water (CON/HTRW) sites for environmental impacts. The sites included: Project 02 - Drums, Project 15 - Tanks with Pipelines and Pumping Stations, Project 16 - Transformers, and Project 17 - Miscellaneous Abandoned Machinery. For Project 02, a total of 54 drum dumps and 17 isolated, individual drums were surveyed; an estimated 2,554 drums were identified. For Project 15, a total of 182 tank locations were inspected; tanks were physically present at 63 of the 182 locations and visual signs of POL impacts were observed at 15 of the tank locations. For Project 16, a total of 101 transformer locations were inspected; a total of 27 transformers were physically present at 11 locations (PCBs were detected in two soil samples). For Project 17, a total of 22 pieces of machinery/equipment were identified; this included four generators, two cranes, an excavator, two cable winches, two bulldozers, equipment on tracks, three vehicles/trucks, one tanker truck, four boilers, and one refrigerator. Sammi Castle
6/26/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC reviewed and commented on the Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis Work Plan, dated 22 May 2020, for the Fort Glenn FUDS Property. This Technical Memorandum presents the project goals, a brief site description, key assumptions, aspects of the EE/CA documents, and the plan for public involvement for four projects: Project 02 - Drum Piles, Project 15 - Tanks with Pipelines and Pump Stations, Project 16 - Transformers, and Project 17 - Miscellaneous Abandoned Machinery. Sammi Castle
2/12/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC submitted comments on the Draft Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis, Fort Glenn Con/HTRW Project 02, Umnak Island, Alaska, dated December 2020, in a letter on this date. This document identifies and assesses non-time-critical removal action (NTCRA) alternatives to support the selection of a remedial action for Project 02 (Drum Piles). Sammi Castle

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

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No associated sites were found.

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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