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Site Report: USFWS Tetlin NWR Small Arms Firing Range

Site Name: USFWS Tetlin NWR Small Arms Firing Range
Address: MP 1221.8 Alaska Highway; ~37.5 Miles SE of Northway, Northway, AK 99764
File Number: 170.38.048
Hazard ID: 26436
Status: Active
Staff: Jenny Gates, 9072628203 jenny.gates@alaska.gov
Latitude: 62.617818
Longitude: -141.009763
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

12/13/2018: The former small arms firing range (SAFR) in the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge (TNWR) is located approximately 93 miles east of Tok and 37.5 Miles southeast of Northway near the Alcan border south of the Alaska Highway (Milepost 1221.8). Based on historical photos, it appears the SAFR was established between 1952 and 1978. Contamination is believed to be primarily lead from rifle, shotgun, and/or small arms shot. The Airs Hill Trail access point is approximately 300 feet northwest of the SAFR. The nearest surface water body is located approximately 1,700 feet to the northeast along the US/Canadian border. An initial site assessment was conducted in 2015. Sample results indicate that lead, antimony, and arsenic exceed the applicable cleanup levels in Table B1 of 18 AAC 75. Additionally, TCLP sampling for lead exceeded the regulatory level cited in 40 CFR 261.64.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
8/25/2015 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
8/25/2015 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79808 name: Small Arms Firing Range Joy Whitsel
8/28/2015 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter PRP letter sent to USFWS Joy Whitsel
9/17/2015 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Approved the site characterization work plan. The work plan describes the project approach and methods to be used to conduct the initial site assessment to characterize the vertical and horizontal extent of contamination associated with small arms ranges (SARs) (lead, antimony, arsenic, copper, and zinc) and complete a thorough site survey at the suspected former SAR. Joy Whitsel
5/18/2016 Update or Other Action Requested update from Responsible Party Manager regarding results of soil investigation and remediation Joy Whitsel
5/29/2018 Update or Other Action New DEC Project Manager assigned. Jamie McKellar
6/25/2018 Update or Other Action Phone call with Charles Grant (USFWS), and followed up with an email regarding three sites: Sheep Island Boat Maintenance Facility, USFWS Tetlin NWR Small Arms Firing Range, and USFWS Woolard House. Specifically, work plans were approved for Sheep Island and Tetlin NWR SAFR in 2016 and 2015, respectively, but DEC has not received copies of the reports that were generated as a result of that work. DEC has made multiple inquiries to USFWS regarding the Woolard House site and received no reply. Mr. Grant agreed to provide an update in writing for each of the three sites. Jamie McKellar
6/29/2018 Update or Other Action No response received from Charles Grant. Based on our conversation on 6/25/2018, he was going to respond that day with an update. Forwarded Monday’s message to him to follow up and ask for a status update on Sheep Island and Tetlin. Jamie McKellar
7/3/2018 Update or Other Action No response from Charles Grant. Sent an email reminder for a status update on Sheep Island and Tetlin. Jamie McKellar
7/31/2018 Update or Other Action No response received from Charles Grant. Sent an email to check on the status of the Tetlin and Sheep Mountain reports. Mr. Grant responded on the same day and indicated “No, nothing yet.” I asked him to clarify whether the reports were ever generated (work was conducted in 2015 and 2016). He replied, “Yes, they were. I just had some glitches when I changed my computer. I will get them to you soon.” Jamie McKellar
8/15/2018 Update or Other Action No updates from USFWS. Sent an email to Charles Grant requesting an update on the status of the reports for Sheep Island and Tetlin. Jamie McKellar
9/11/2018 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC received a phone call from USFWS in response to an email that was sent on the same day requesting information about POCs for USFWS contaminated sites. In the phone call, USFWS acknowledged that the outstanding reports for Sheep Island and Tetlin Small Arms Range are missing and USFWS is trying to locate them. Jamie McKellar
11/19/2018 Update or Other Action No updates have been received from USFWS: DEC sent an email to USFWS contact requesting an update on the Sheep Island and Tetlin Small Arms Firing Range reports. Jamie McKellar
12/11/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other REPORT RECEIVED: Technical Memorandum, Initial Site Assessment Summary Former Small Arms Range, Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. Prepared by Oneida Total Integrated Enterprises. Dated December 22, 2015. Jamie McKellar
12/13/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided comments on the Site Assessment Summary for the former Small Arms Range (SAR) at the Tetlin National Refuge. Work was conducted at the SAR in fall 2015, and the document was submitted to DEC three years later. The Site Assessment Summary indicates that samples for lead, antimony, and arsenic exceeded the applicable cleanup levels in Table B1 of 18 AAC 75. Additionally, TCLP sampling for lead exceeded the regulatory level cited in 40 CFR 261.64. The approved work plan stated that a complete summary report would be submitted upon available funding. Since the fieldwork was completed more than three years ago, DEC requested that USFWS provide an update on the status of the former SAR in the Tetlin NWR, as well as an estimated date that funding will be available to complete the report. Jamie McKellar
5/1/2019 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC and USFWS staff met at the Fairbanks DEC office on May 1, 2019. The following sites were discussed: Bethel BIA Headquarters, USFWS Wollard House in McGrath, USFWS Tetlin NWR Small Arms Firing Range, USFWS Sheep Island Boat Maintenance Facility, USFWS Becharof NWR Island Bay Barrel Cache, and Becharof NWR King Salmon Facility (Hazard IDs 23210 and 4417). DEC staff also discussed work plan and reporting requirements for contaminated sites. Jamie McKellar
6/19/2019 Update or Other Action Received a memo from USFWS describing how work at contaminated USFWS sites in Alaska will be approached/addressed in the future. Jamie McKellar
2/10/2020 Update or Other Action Received a call from USFWS PM indicating that he is putting together a scope of work for Tetlin. He asked for copies of the files he has previously submitted to DEC and indicated that he will coordinate with us on the scope of work. Jamie McKellar
4/27/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Corrective Action Plan received. 5/12/2022 Comments sent. 6/15/2022: RTC and revised WP received. 6/24/2022: Final approval sent. 9/13/2022 Transport Form sent for approval. For non-RCRA soils only. 9/14/2022 Approval sent. Shonda Oderkirk
8/13/2024 Update or Other Action DEC staff sent an email to the USFWS project manager inquiring about the status of cleanup at the following sites: USFWS Becharof NWR Island Bay Barrel Cache (Haz ID 1036), USFWS Becharof NWR King Salmon Facility (Haz ID 4417), USFWS Becharof NWR King Salmon Facility (Haz ID 23210), USFWS Kodiak NWR Triplex (Haz ID USFWS 27197), Tetlin NWR Small Arms Firing Range (Haz ID 26436), and USFWS Wollard House (Haz ID 26704). Cleanup at these sites has been stalled for several years. Jamie McKellar

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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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
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