Site Report: Fort Learnard

Site Name:	Fort Learnard
Address:	Eider Point, Unalaska Island, Dutch Harbor, AK 99692
File Number:	2542.38.005
Hazard ID:	2623
Status:	Active
Staff:	Kathleen Iler-Galau, 9074512153 kathleen.iler-galau@alaska.gov
Latitude:	53.960180
Longitude:	-166.601610
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.

Site Chronology
IC / Closure Details
Documents
Associated Sites

Problems/Comments

Unexploded ordnance, several underground fuel tanks and associated contaminated soils, other debris and possible contaminants. At the end of the war the military detonated unused munitions, scattering some unexploded ordnance over the hillside and shoreline, other structures and wastes were left in place. Petroleum, lead and munitions contamination remains. This site is also known as Eider Point. It was used by the military during WWII as harbor defense area. It included a six inch gun battery (2 guns), a housing area, a dock area with two fixed and two mobile 90 mm anti-motor torpedo boat positions and a search light position. The Ounalashka Corporation currently owns the land and DNR owns the tidal area.

Action Information

Action Date	Action	Description	DEC Staff
6/13/1994	Preliminary Assessment Approved	PA action added by Shannon and Wilson, Inc., on 2/19/97. Based on FUDS Site Summary dated 02/21/96, PA was completed 6/13/94.	S&W-Miner
4/5/1996	Update or Other Action	ADEC received a Final Report - Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis Phase 2" dated March 1996, by Dames and Moore. It was prepared by the Huntsville Division of the Corps of Engineers and summarized investigation into unexploded ordnance at the site. The site investigation documented unexploded, 6" armor piercing base detonating projectiles. An explosive ordnance disposal team detonated the twelve rounds that they found. The report recommended further investigation, surface clearance, institutional controls and public awareness training for unexploded ordnance.	John Halverson
2/19/1997	Site Added to Database	Ordnance and petroleum contamination. Site added by Shannon and Wilson.	S&W-Miner
11/18/1999	Update or Other Action	ADEC and the Corps developed a cooperative agreement workplan for this site. It calls for preparing cleanup plans for the UXO and abandoned fuel tanks during 2000. Further site investigation will be done concurrently.	John Halverson
9/1/2000	Update or Other Action	ADEC reviewed the Draft workplan for Ordnance and Explosives (OE) removal action, prepared for Huntsville, by UXB International. Draft plan is dated July 2000. ADEC had E&E/Geophex UXO review the plan under contract to the department.	John Halverson
9/5/2000	Update or Other Action	This site Ranking is Justified to High Priority based on the request and information John Halverson provided today: "This site is unranked using the AHRM; however, previous investigation has documented unexploded ordnance (UXO) is present around two former ammunition magazines. UXO has been found along the hillside and along the shoreline and intertidal portion of the beach. Risk to human health and safety is high if someone were to come in contact with the UXO. The Corps is planning a removal action late this fall (weather permitting)."	Former Staff
6/20/2001	Site Characterization Workplan Approved	Staff approved the Interim Removal Action/Remedial Investigation Workplan. It calls for removing fuel tanks, drums, batteries, transformers and associated contaminated soil and conducting a remedial investigation to define the extent of contamination.	John Halverson
6/20/2001	Interim Removal Action Approved	Staff approved an Ordnance and Explosive (OE) Removal Plan. It describes plans to survey part of the hillside and an area along the shoreline for unexploded ordnance and blow up ordnance that is found on-site. The fieldwork is scheduled for July 2001.	John Halverson
2/27/2002	Update or Other Action	DEC received the Final Report Ordnance and Explosive Removal Action Unalaska, Alaska, dated February 2002, by UXB International. A draft report was not provided for State review. The report documents the Hillside Site 4A was sectioned into 80 grids, which were searched; 1224 anomalies were excavated; 168 6-inch armor piercing high explosive projectiles were found. The Beachfront Site 4B was divided into 13 grids; 522 anomalies were excavated; 43 M-71, 90MM HE projectiles were found along with 5 empty or dummy 90MM projectiles. OE items were detonated on-site, but there were problems with kick-outs.	John Halverson
4/25/2002	Update or Other Action	DEC provided numerous written comments to the Corps on the Final Report. Concerns were raised that the report did not adequately document site work to demonstrate that the cleanup was completed properly. Questions remain on the adequacy of the removal, accounting for all OE items that were found, clearance in grids around the former magazines and the shoreline.	John Halverson
6/10/2002	Update or Other Action	DEC received a written response to comments from Huntsville. Several issues/concerns were not adequately addressed.	John Halverson
6/13/2002	Update or Other Action	DEC and its contractor (Geophex UXO) participated in a conference call with the Corps of Engineers to discuss outstanding concerns. Notes are in the project file. DEC also received a letter from Huntsville, dated June 7, 2002, with an attachment to the final report, however, there are several errors in the attachment.	John Halverson
5/22/2003	Site Number Identifier Changed	Changed Workplan from X0 to X2.	Former Staff
12/3/2003	Interim Removal Action Approved	DEC received the final report for an interim removal action and remedial investigation conducted during 2001. Fuel tanks, drums, batteries, transformers, paint cans and some of the contaminated soil were removed from the site. Test pits were dug and soil borings drilled so soil samples could be collected and analyzed. Areas of residual petroleum and lead contamination remain as do a few suspected underground fuel tanks, scattered drums on the hillside were ordnance concerns remain, and empty drums near a remote search light structure.	John Halverson
6/3/2004	Update or Other Action	DEC, Corps of Engineers, Jacobs Engineering, and Ounalashka Corp representatives conducted a site inspection focussed on identifying data gaps and developing plans for a follow-on site investigation to better determine the need for and plan future cleanup.	John Halverson
8/19/2004	Update or Other Action	File number issued 2542.38.005	Aggie Blandford
4/20/2006	Update or Other Action	DEC reviewed and commented on a draft Remedial Investigation Workplan prepared by Jacobs Engineering and dated March 2006.	John Halverson
6/5/2006	Site Characterization Workplan Approved	DEC received and approved the final Workplan Addendum for Additional Investigation of Eight Sites at Fort Learnard, dated June 2006.	John Halverson
11/3/2006	Proposed Plan	DEC approved the Proposed Plan for Fort Learnard formerly used defense site (FUDS). The plan addresses 47 separate sites or areas of concern, primarily fuel tanks, drums, transformers and misc wastes including batteries and paint cans. Thirty one sites are propsed for closure as meeting the applicable method 2 soil cleanup levels for ingestion and inhalation. Thirteen sites are proposed for conditional closure due to a de minimus volume and or the depth of contaminated soil. Three sites are proposed for further action including: verfiying whether an underground fuel storage tank remains and, if so, ensuring it is empty and properly closed; cleaning a former transformer vault and concrete sump; removing lead contaminated soil from a former paint storage area.	John Halverson
2/2/2007	Update or Other Action	DEC reviewed and commented on a draft Ft. Learnard Characterization Report, Additional Investigation of Eight Sites, dated Dec. 6, 2006. The report summarizes results of sampling and analysis to determine the extent of residual contamination at several sites and efforts to verify whether a UST remains near the gun emplacement site.	John Halverson
4/18/2007	Update or Other Action	DEC reviewed and commented on a draft decision document for Ft. Learnard FUDS. It calls for further remedial action at three sites, conditional closure on 13 sites, and closure on 31 other sites. In general, the method 2 ingestion/inhalation cleanup levels were used because migration to groundwater was determined to be an incomplete pathway. Petroleum contaminated soil remains at concentrations above the method two ingestion based cleanup levels (up to 70,000 mg/kg DRO) and three of the sites have lead in soil between 400 and 1000 mg/kg. The soil contamination is present in localized areas, limited volumes and is subsurface. Further excavation is limited as some of the sites by shallow bedrock. Site access is limited and further removal would require re-building an access road.	John Halverson
5/4/2007	Update or Other Action	DEC reviewed and commented on a draft remedial action workplan. It calls for determining the presence or absence of the suspected UST at the gun emplacement site, removing any fuel that remains if a tank is present, removing lead contaminated soil from one site and PCB/petroelum contaminated soil from another. Cleanup materials will be shipped off-site for treatment/disposal.	John Halverson
3/28/2008	Update or Other Action	DEC received and commented on a draft report titled, Post Remedial Action Closure Report - Remedial Action of Three Sites, Fort Learnard, dated Feb. 2008. The report describes cleanup work conducted in 2007 including removal of ~650 gallons of fuel from an abandoned underground fuel tank, removal of lead contaminated soil beneath a former shed, and removal of DRO and PCB contaminated soil from a small concrete vault. GPS survey coordinates were obtained for sites proposed for conditional closure. The report documents sucessful completion of the 2007 remedial action workplan objectives. Minor revisions were requested to finalize the report.	John Halverson
1/16/2009	Update or Other Action	Corps of Engineers provided copy of GIS survey maps showing the locations of former buildings and sites that are proposed for conditional closure under the FUDS program. The maps were develped by the Corps and provided to Unalashka Corporation (landowner) for use in future site management, consistent with the institutional control provisions in the draft decision document.	John Halverson
3/25/2009	CERCLA Remedial Action Completion Report	The Final Remedial Action Report for the Remedial Action of Three Sites at Fort Learnard was received on this date. ADEC's comments were addressed.	Meghan Dooley
6/15/2015	Update or Other Action	EOD responded to reports of UXO on the beach at Eider Point. The projectiles were identified by Navy Contractors who were performing underwater UXO survey. EOD responded and disposed of four projectiles located in the intertidal area.	Guy Warren
10/12/2018	Update or Other Action	Site location corrected using data from FUDS.	Eric Breitenberger
8/24/2021	Exposure Tracking Model Ranking	Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 73599 name: auto-generated pm edit Fort Learnard	Darren Mulkey
11/17/2021	Meeting or Teleconference Held	ADEC CS staff attended a virtual Systematic Project Planning (SPP) meeting with FUDs and stakeholders for the Fort Learnard MMRP site on this date. Topics discussed included the Planning Session #1 and #2 objectives: MRS location, site details, summary of potential munitions and previous investigations, the CSM, and DQOs. The schedule for the RI is not yet finalized but will go out for bid in 2022. ADEC requested previous investigation reporting, and EE/CAs and SI reports from the FUDs PMs.	Cascade Galasso-Irish
4/18/2024	Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other	DEC provided comments on the Draft Final Munitions Response QAPP Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study at Fort Learnard Magazines E2 and J Detonation Munitions Response Site, Unalaska Island, Alaska Formerly Used Defense Site Project Number F10AK001703, dated March, 2024.	Sarah Bernhardt
7/12/2024	Meeting or Teleconference Held	DEC staff attended a virtual Systematic Planning Meeting (#5) for Fort Learnard Magazines E2 and J Detonation Munitions Response Site (MRS) Remedial Investigation (RI) Preliminary MRS Characterization Review on this date. The meeting included an overview of Phase 1 of the RI work, proposed grid locations, step-out transects, and the RI Phase 2 schedule.	Sarah Bernhardt
8/23/2024	CERCLA RI Plan Approved	DEC completed a final backcheck review and accepted all response to comments for the red line strike out version of the Final Munitions Response QAPP Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study at Fort Learnard Magazines E2 and J Detonation Munitions Response Site, Unalaska Island, Alaska Formerly Used Defense Site Project Number F10AK001703 on 5/7/2024. The Final document was received on this date.	Sarah Bernhardt
11/6/2024	Meeting or Teleconference Held	During the November 6, 2024 Qawalangin Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, the USACE FUDS program provided the following update on the project: FUDS completed three separate major field events this summer. FUDS and their contractors are currently post-processing data and will be drafting a remedial investigation (RI) report for review. FUDS is planning to host a Systematic Planning Process (SPP) and Public Meetings.	Sarah Bernhardt

Action Date

Action

Description

DEC Staff

6/13/1994

Preliminary Assessment Approved

PA action added by Shannon and Wilson, Inc., on 2/19/97. Based on FUDS Site Summary dated 02/21/96, PA was completed 6/13/94.

S&W-Miner

4/5/1996

Update or Other Action

ADEC received a Final Report - Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis Phase 2" dated March 1996, by Dames and Moore. It was prepared by the Huntsville Division of the Corps of Engineers and summarized investigation into unexploded ordnance at the site. The site investigation documented unexploded, 6" armor piercing base detonating projectiles. An explosive ordnance disposal team detonated the twelve rounds that they found. The report recommended further investigation, surface clearance, institutional controls and public awareness training for unexploded ordnance.

John Halverson

2/19/1997

Site Added to Database

Ordnance and petroleum contamination. Site added by Shannon and Wilson.

S&W-Miner

11/18/1999

Update or Other Action

ADEC and the Corps developed a cooperative agreement workplan for this site. It calls for preparing cleanup plans for the UXO and abandoned fuel tanks during 2000. Further site investigation will be done concurrently.

John Halverson

9/1/2000

Update or Other Action

ADEC reviewed the Draft workplan for Ordnance and Explosives (OE) removal action, prepared for Huntsville, by UXB International. Draft plan is dated July 2000. ADEC had E&E/Geophex UXO review the plan under contract to the department.

John Halverson

9/5/2000

Update or Other Action

This site Ranking is Justified to High Priority based on the request and information John Halverson provided today: "This site is unranked using the AHRM; however, previous investigation has documented unexploded ordnance (UXO) is present around two former ammunition magazines. UXO has been found along the hillside and along the shoreline and intertidal portion of the beach. Risk to human health and safety is high if someone were to come in contact with the UXO. The Corps is planning a removal action late this fall (weather permitting)."

Former Staff

6/20/2001

Site Characterization Workplan Approved

Staff approved the Interim Removal Action/Remedial Investigation Workplan. It calls for removing fuel tanks, drums, batteries, transformers and associated contaminated soil and conducting a remedial investigation to define the extent of contamination.

John Halverson

6/20/2001

Interim Removal Action Approved

Staff approved an Ordnance and Explosive (OE) Removal Plan. It describes plans to survey part of the hillside and an area along the shoreline for unexploded ordnance and blow up ordnance that is found on-site. The fieldwork is scheduled for July 2001.

John Halverson

2/27/2002

Update or Other Action

DEC received the Final Report Ordnance and Explosive Removal Action Unalaska, Alaska, dated February 2002, by UXB International. A draft report was not provided for State review. The report documents the Hillside Site 4A was sectioned into 80 grids, which were searched; 1224 anomalies were excavated; 168 6-inch armor piercing high explosive projectiles were found. The Beachfront Site 4B was divided into 13 grids; 522 anomalies were excavated; 43 M-71, 90MM HE projectiles were found along with 5 empty or dummy 90MM projectiles. OE items were detonated on-site, but there were problems with kick-outs.

John Halverson

4/25/2002

Update or Other Action

DEC provided numerous written comments to the Corps on the Final Report. Concerns were raised that the report did not adequately document site work to demonstrate that the cleanup was completed properly. Questions remain on the adequacy of the removal, accounting for all OE items that were found, clearance in grids around the former magazines and the shoreline.

John Halverson

6/10/2002

Update or Other Action

DEC received a written response to comments from Huntsville. Several issues/concerns were not adequately addressed.

John Halverson

6/13/2002

Update or Other Action

DEC and its contractor (Geophex UXO) participated in a conference call with the Corps of Engineers to discuss outstanding concerns. Notes are in the project file. DEC also received a letter from Huntsville, dated June 7, 2002, with an attachment to the final report, however, there are several errors in the attachment.

John Halverson

5/22/2003

Site Number Identifier Changed

Changed Workplan from X0 to X2.

Former Staff

12/3/2003

Interim Removal Action Approved

DEC received the final report for an interim removal action and remedial investigation conducted during 2001. Fuel tanks, drums, batteries, transformers, paint cans and some of the contaminated soil were removed from the site. Test pits were dug and soil borings drilled so soil samples could be collected and analyzed. Areas of residual petroleum and lead contamination remain as do a few suspected underground fuel tanks, scattered drums on the hillside were ordnance concerns remain, and empty drums near a remote search light structure.

John Halverson

6/3/2004

Update or Other Action

DEC, Corps of Engineers, Jacobs Engineering, and Ounalashka Corp representatives conducted a site inspection focussed on identifying data gaps and developing plans for a follow-on site investigation to better determine the need for and plan future cleanup.

John Halverson

8/19/2004

Update or Other Action

File number issued 2542.38.005

Aggie Blandford

4/20/2006

Update or Other Action

DEC reviewed and commented on a draft Remedial Investigation Workplan prepared by Jacobs Engineering and dated March 2006.

John Halverson

6/5/2006

Site Characterization Workplan Approved

DEC received and approved the final Workplan Addendum for Additional Investigation of Eight Sites at Fort Learnard, dated June 2006.

John Halverson

11/3/2006

Proposed Plan

DEC approved the Proposed Plan for Fort Learnard formerly used defense site (FUDS). The plan addresses 47 separate sites or areas of concern, primarily fuel tanks, drums, transformers and misc wastes including batteries and paint cans. Thirty one sites are propsed for closure as meeting the applicable method 2 soil cleanup levels for ingestion and inhalation. Thirteen sites are proposed for conditional closure due to a de minimus volume and or the depth of contaminated soil. Three sites are proposed for further action including: verfiying whether an underground fuel storage tank remains and, if so, ensuring it is empty and properly closed; cleaning a former transformer vault and concrete sump; removing lead contaminated soil from a former paint storage area.

John Halverson

2/2/2007

Update or Other Action

DEC reviewed and commented on a draft Ft. Learnard Characterization Report, Additional Investigation of Eight Sites, dated Dec. 6, 2006. The report summarizes results of sampling and analysis to determine the extent of residual contamination at several sites and efforts to verify whether a UST remains near the gun emplacement site.

John Halverson

4/18/2007

Update or Other Action

DEC reviewed and commented on a draft decision document for Ft. Learnard FUDS. It calls for further remedial action at three sites, conditional closure on 13 sites, and closure on 31 other sites. In general, the method 2 ingestion/inhalation cleanup levels were used because migration to groundwater was determined to be an incomplete pathway. Petroleum contaminated soil remains at concentrations above the method two ingestion based cleanup levels (up to 70,000 mg/kg DRO) and three of the sites have lead in soil between 400 and 1000 mg/kg. The soil contamination is present in localized areas, limited volumes and is subsurface. Further excavation is limited as some of the sites by shallow bedrock. Site access is limited and further removal would require re-building an access road.

John Halverson

5/4/2007

Update or Other Action

DEC reviewed and commented on a draft remedial action workplan. It calls for determining the presence or absence of the suspected UST at the gun emplacement site, removing any fuel that remains if a tank is present, removing lead contaminated soil from one site and PCB/petroelum contaminated soil from another. Cleanup materials will be shipped off-site for treatment/disposal.

John Halverson

3/28/2008

Update or Other Action

DEC received and commented on a draft report titled, Post Remedial Action Closure Report - Remedial Action of Three Sites, Fort Learnard, dated Feb. 2008. The report describes cleanup work conducted in 2007 including removal of ~650 gallons of fuel from an abandoned underground fuel tank, removal of lead contaminated soil beneath a former shed, and removal of DRO and PCB contaminated soil from a small concrete vault. GPS survey coordinates were obtained for sites proposed for conditional closure. The report documents sucessful completion of the 2007 remedial action workplan objectives. Minor revisions were requested to finalize the report.

John Halverson

1/16/2009

Update or Other Action

Corps of Engineers provided copy of GIS survey maps showing the locations of former buildings and sites that are proposed for conditional closure under the FUDS program. The maps were develped by the Corps and provided to Unalashka Corporation (landowner) for use in future site management, consistent with the institutional control provisions in the draft decision document.

John Halverson

3/25/2009

CERCLA Remedial Action Completion Report

The Final Remedial Action Report for the Remedial Action of Three Sites at Fort Learnard was received on this date. ADEC's comments were addressed.

Meghan Dooley

6/15/2015

Update or Other Action

EOD responded to reports of UXO on the beach at Eider Point. The projectiles were identified by Navy Contractors who were performing underwater UXO survey. EOD responded and disposed of four projectiles located in the intertidal area.

Guy Warren

10/12/2018

Update or Other Action

Site location corrected using data from FUDS.

Eric Breitenberger

8/24/2021

Exposure Tracking Model Ranking

Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 73599 name: auto-generated pm edit Fort Learnard

Darren Mulkey

11/17/2021

Meeting or Teleconference Held

ADEC CS staff attended a virtual Systematic Project Planning (SPP) meeting with FUDs and stakeholders for the Fort Learnard MMRP site on this date. Topics discussed included the Planning Session #1 and #2 objectives: MRS location, site details, summary of potential munitions and previous investigations, the CSM, and DQOs. The schedule for the RI is not yet finalized but will go out for bid in 2022. ADEC requested previous investigation reporting, and EE/CAs and SI reports from the FUDs PMs.

Cascade Galasso-Irish

4/18/2024

Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other

DEC provided comments on the Draft Final Munitions Response QAPP Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study at Fort Learnard Magazines E2 and J Detonation Munitions Response Site, Unalaska Island, Alaska Formerly Used Defense Site Project Number F10AK001703, dated March, 2024.

Sarah Bernhardt

7/12/2024

Meeting or Teleconference Held

DEC staff attended a virtual Systematic Planning Meeting (#5) for Fort Learnard Magazines E2 and J Detonation Munitions Response Site (MRS) Remedial Investigation (RI) Preliminary MRS Characterization Review on this date. The meeting included an overview of Phase 1 of the RI work, proposed grid locations, step-out transects, and the RI Phase 2 schedule.

Sarah Bernhardt

8/23/2024

CERCLA RI Plan Approved

DEC completed a final backcheck review and accepted all response to comments for the red line strike out version of the Final Munitions Response QAPP Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study at Fort Learnard Magazines E2 and J Detonation Munitions Response Site, Unalaska Island, Alaska Formerly Used Defense Site Project Number F10AK001703 on 5/7/2024. The Final document was received on this date.

Sarah Bernhardt

11/6/2024

Meeting or Teleconference Held

During the November 6, 2024 Qawalangin Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, the USACE FUDS program provided the following update on the project: FUDS completed three separate major field events this summer. FUDS and their contractors are currently post-processing data and will be drafting a remedial investigation (RI) report for review. FUDS is planning to host a Systematic Planning Process (SPP) and Public Meetings.

Sarah Bernhardt

Contaminant Information

Name

Level Description

Media

Comments

Control Type

Type

Details

Requirements

Description

Details

Characterization Report Additional Investigation of Eight Sites Fort Learnard, Unalaska Island, Alaska Final October 2007

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

Because the GIS location data for this site has not been entered, we cannot direct you to its position on the map. Click "Continue" to proceed to the Contaminated Sites Web Map or "Close" to return to the site report.

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Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Site Report: Fort Learnard

Site Chronology

IC / Closure Details

Documents

Associated Sites

Problems/Comments

Action Information

Contaminant Information

Control Type

Requirements

Characterization Report Additional Investigation of Eight Sites Fort Learnard, Unalaska Island, Alaska Final October 2007

Missing Location Data

State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation