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Site Report: Eareckson Air Station TU559

Site Name: Eareckson Air Station TU559
Address: ~675 Feet NE of Northern BAK 13 Airccraft Arresting System, Within Swale between Taxiway M and Active Runway, Amchitka, AK 99546
File Number: 2649.38.001, 2649.38.053
Hazard ID: 26303
Status: Active
Staff: Erica Blake, 9074512182 erica.blake@alaska.gov
Latitude: 52.712281
Longitude: 174.118861
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

Site TU559 is a pair of storm sewer vaults connected to the Eareckson Air Station storm sewer system located approximately 675 feet northeast of the northern unit of the BAK 13 Aircraft Arresting System near the 6,000-foot runway on Shemya Island, Alaska. TU559 lies within a swale between Taxiway M and the active runway and is covered by dense native grasses. The primary features of TU559 are the two storm sewer vaults (one older and one newer vault) that are connected to both the current and a former underground storm sewer pipeline that traverses the airfield area from north to south. The two storm sewer vaults are located approximately 100 feet from the southern edge of Taxiway M. The newer storm sewer vault (which presumably replaced the older storm sewer vault system) is located approximately 6 feet west of the older vault and is currently connected to the active storm sewer pipeline. The older vault is connected to the abandoned, inactive storm sewer pipeline. Groundwater at this site has not been encountered. Sediment and surface water at TU559 has been investigated to assess potential impacts to media receiving runoff from Taxiway M and the active runway. In 2022, two surface water samples (one primary and one duplicate) were collected at TU559 from the storm sewer outfall. The surface water samples exceeded the Alaska Water Quality Standards (AWQS) of 10 micrograms per liter (µg/L) for Total Aromatic Hydrocarbons (TAH).

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
11/10/2014 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
11/21/2014 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79693 name: TU559 Jessica Morris
10/22/2015 Update or Other Action The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program reviewed and commented on a draft scope of work for investigation, remedial process optimization, and long term management studies at several sites for Eareckson Air Station. Jessica Morris
8/31/2016 Site Characterization Workplan Approved The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program conditionally approved the 2016 Uniform Federal Policy - Quality Assurance Project Plan (UFP-QAPP) for Site Characterization at 14 Former POL Sites, Eareckson Air Station, Shemya Island, Alaska. The conditions for the UFP-QAPP are as follows: 1) We do not object to the long term monitoring work being completed as outlined in the UFP-QAPP; however ADEC cannot concur that efforts will be counted towards meeting the end point criteria outlined in the decision documents until an adequate monitoring program has been established. 2)The QAPP states that field screening results and field observations will be used to determine additional groundwater monitoring well locations. These locations should to be coordinated with ADEC. 3) The leaking underground storage tank (LUST) sites at Eareckson Air Station will need to be characterized and closed in accordance with LUST regulations that are included in 18 AAC 78. 4) The scope of work for this investigation may not be sufficient to fully characterize the sites listed in the work plan, and additional investigation may be necessary. Jessica Morris
11/14/2016 Site Visit ADEC staff travelled to Eareckson Air Station for 4 days to conduct site visits and become familiar with the ecology and topography of the island. Site visits were conducted to all pertinent sites and meetings were held to with ADEC and USAF to discuss a path forward for the sites. Jessica Morris
11/27/2017 Site Visit ADEC staff travelled to Eareckson Air Station for 3 days to conduct site visits and institutional control inspections. Site visits were conducted to all pertinent sites and meetings were held to with ADEC and USAF to discuss a path forward for the sites. Jessica Morris
2/23/2018 Update or Other Action The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program submitted comments on the Draft Site Characterization Report at 13 Former POL Sites, Phase I, Eareckson Air Station, Alaska. Jessica Morris
2/23/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program provide comments on the Draft Site Characterization Report at 13 Former POL Sites, Phase I, Eareckson Air Station. Jessica Morris
5/2/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program submitted comments on the Draft Remedial Process Optimization Report for Eareckson Air Station. The purpose of the report was to present an evaluation of the effectiveness of the current selected site remedies and make recommendations for optimization of an island-wide monitoring and management program for contaminated sites at Eareckson. ADEC had numerous comments on the document, and requested a project team meeting to further discuss a more effective and efficient program at Eareckson. Jessica Morris
2/4/2019 Site Characterization Workplan Approved The ADEC Contaminated Sites Program approved the Final Addendum Addendum Uniform Federal Policy – Quality Assurance Project Plan (UFP-QAPP) for Site Characterization at 13 Former POL Sites, Eareckson Air Station, Sheyma Island, Alaska. The QAPP Addendum was approved with the following conditions: 1)ADEC requests weekly field meetings during the effort. 2)the LUST regulations in 18 AAC 78 still need to be achieved. 3) the scope of work for this effort may not be sufficient to fully characterize the sites, and additional characterization may be necessary. Jessica Morris
7/9/2021 Cleanup Plan Approved Data Gap Investigation (DGI) for Munition Response Sites: Open Burn/Open Detonation (OB/OD) Range (OD001) and .50 Cal Beach (DU029) and Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricant (POL) Sites: TU559, OT617, and TU568-619-1. After review of the MRSs, AFCEC determined the Open Burn/Open Detonation (OB/OD) (OD001) MRS and .50 Cal Beach (DU029) MRS require additional data to perform a risk assessment and accurately assess what current and future actions should be taken to make the sites safe for short and long-term human and ecological occupation. This UFP-QAPP and associated appendices serve as the work plan to complete the Data Gap Investigation (DGI) and characterization for the OB/OD (OD001) MRS and the .50 Cal Beach (DU029) MRS. The overall goal of the DGI is to collect sufficient data to address all contaminants of concern, including any MEC, and provide recommendations on future land use. Three POL sites were determined to need additional surface and groundwater investigation in order to perform a risk assessment for the sites. The three POL sites are TU559, POL site OT617, and POL site TU568-619-1. Darren Mulkey
4/27/2022 Update or Other Action On 4/27/2022 ADEC approved the Eareckson Air Station, Alaska, REMEDIAL PROCESS OPTIMIZATION REPORT dated April 2022. This Remedial Process Optimization (RPO) Report presents an evaluation of the effectiveness of current selected site remedies and makes recommendations for optimization of the IWM Program, as appropriate to establish a more integrated groundwater monitoring program at Eareckson AS. RPO is a systematic approach for evaluating and improving the effectiveness of site remediation without increasing site risk. This RPO Report presents a site-by-site evaluation of effectiveness of the sites selected remedy and provides recommendations to: • Streamline groundwater monitoring. • Develop a holistic approach to site management. • Maintain the remedial action objectives (RAOs) set forth in established Record of Decisions (RODs) and Decision Documents (DDs). Daniela Fawcett
10/19/2022 Update or Other Action A copy of the 2022 Remedial Process Optimization Report for this site can be found at: Eareckson Air Station Site LF15 (File No. 2649.38.001, Hazard ID 2900), under the Attachments tab. Daniela Fawcett
3/21/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided comments for the Data Gap Investigation Tech Memo, Revision 01, for Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricant (POL) Sites TU559, OT617 and TU568-619-1; Air Force Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP), Feasibility Study (FS), Proposed Plan (PP), Record of Decision (ROD), Eareckson Air Station-Base Wide, Alaska dated January 2023.This report describes the site characterization investigation activities conducted at the OT617, TU568-619-1 and TU559 sites located at the Eareckson Air Station on Shemya Island, Alaska. At the sites OT617 and TU568-619-1 two monitoring wells were installed (one at each site) and groundwater was sampled. Soil and groundwater samples were analyzed for gasoline-range organics (GRO), diesel-range organics (DRO), residual-range organics (RRO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and semi volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). At TU559, surface water was sampled and analyzed for VOCs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), total aromatic hydrocarbons (TAH), and Total Aqueous Hydrocarbons (TAqH). The data presented in this report will be evaluated during the preparation of a Decision Document. Ginna Quesada
6/27/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided comments for the Draft Final 2021 Long Term Management, Land Use and Institutional Controls Report Eareckson Air Station, Shemya, Alaska Sites CS566, DA002/DA002A, DA003, FT001, FT002, FT003, LF015, LF018, LF024, LF026, ML001, MU001, OD001, OT048, OT617, PL560, PL575, SS005, SS007, SS010, SS012, SS023, SS025, ST009, ST035, ST039, ST044, ST046, ST050, ST051, TA555, TA556, TA616, TU553, TU554, TU558, TU559, TU567, TU568, XU912, ZZ001, dated June 2023.The report describes the institutional control inspections and sampling efforts conducted during November 15 through November 30th, 2021. Forty-two different sites were investigated at the Eareckson Air Station located on Shemya Island, Alaska. Groundwater was sampled at nine sites, surface water was sampled at five sites, and sediment sampling was conducted at two sites. Contaminants above cleanup levels remain present at most sites with stable or non-discernable trends. Most land use controls appear to be in good condition and Monitoring and continued inspections were recommended for all sites. Ginna Quesada
7/3/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC submitted responses to comments for the Draft Final 2021 Long Term Management, Land Use and Institutional Controls Report Eareckson Air Station, Shemya, Alaska Sites CS566, DA002/DA002A, DA003, FT001, FT002, FT003, LF015, LF018, LF024, LF026, ML001, MU001, OD001, OT048, OT617, PL560, PL575, SS005, SS007, SS010, SS012, SS023, SS025, ST009, ST035, ST039, ST044, ST046, ST050, ST051, TA555, TA556, TA616, TU553, TU554, TU558, TU559, TU567, TU568, XU912, ZZ001, dated June 2023. Ginna Quesada
8/3/2023 Long Term Monitoring Workplan or Report Review DEC approved the "Final 2021 Long Term Management, Land Use and Institutional Controls Report Eareckson Air Station, Shemya, Alaska Sites CS566, DA002/DA002A, DA003, FT001, FT002, FT003, LF015, LF018, LF024, LF026, ML001, MU001, OD001, OT048, OT617, PL560, PL575, SS005, SS007, SS010, SS012, SS023, SS025, ST009, ST035, ST039, ST044, ST046, ST050, ST051, TA555, TA556, TA616, TU553, TU554, TU558, TU559, TU567, TU568, XU912, ZZ001, dated July 2023." The report recommends continuing with land-use control site inspections and monitoring the groundwater until all remedial objectives are met. Erica Blake
1/3/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided approval for the Data Gap Investigation Tech Memo, Revision 02, for Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricant (POL) Sites TU559, OT617 and TU568-619-1; Air Force Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP), Feasibility Study (FS), Proposed Plan (PP), Record of Decision (ROD), Eareckson Air Station-Base Wide, Alaska (dated December 12, 2023) to the U.S. Air Force. Responses to comments were acceptable and incorporated into the revised version of the document appropriately. Additional evaluation of the data and information about the petroleum, oil, lubricant (POL) sites will be discussed in a forthcoming draft 27 POL Sites Decision Document. Erica Blake
10/15/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided responses to comments for the Decision Document for 23 Petroleum Contaminated Sites, Eareckson Air Station, Shemya Island, Alaska, Draft (dated July 2024) to the U.S. Air Force. Most of the responses to comments were acceptable, with a couple requiring additional text changes to the document. Two sites (CS566 and OT617) have contamination present above human health levels and a Notice of Activity Use and Limitations will be required for those sites. Erica Blake

Contaminant Information

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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
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