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Site Report: Atka Puvaankix Creek NALEMP

Site Name: Atka Puvaankix Creek NALEMP
Address: North Bank of Puganax Creek, Atka, AK 99547
File Number: 2513.38.006
Hazard ID: 26527
Status: Active
Staff: Sarah Durand, 9072628223 sarah.durand@alaska.gov
Latitude: 52.196661
Longitude: -174.198525
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

Drums reportedly containing fuel, oil, tar, and grease had been stored on the north bank of Puganax Creek in coordination with activities at the Atka Air Force Auxiliary Field used by the Army, Air Force, and Navy between 1942 and 1945 during WWII. Many of the drums were buried when the cliff above them was reported to have collapsed. Remaining drums at the surface were removed during the 1986 cleanup, but the Tribe remained concerned about the buried drums. A site investigation by the EPA in 2002 included limited soil and water sampling that identified surface water quality violations and soil that was saturated in petroleum. The report states that the site contained nearly 100 buried drums. Assessment by the USACE Alaska District in 2003 identified oil leaking into Puganax Creek but at that time the community was using the site for storing and selling fuel, therefore historic impacts could not be discerned from current. In 2011, Chilkat Environmental under contract with the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association (APIA), located buried drums and contaminated soil. Partially intact drums containing free product were not disturbed during the investigation. Investigators observed unused grease, unused heavy oil and tar consistent with military origin. Four soil samples were analyzed to determine contaminants of concern. Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOC) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) were analyzed in one sample and results indicated Benzene above the ADEC cleanup level. Results indicate contaminants of concern are DRO, RRO (observed above cleanup levels), and Benzene while GRO, PCB, and SVOC results were below cleanup levels. This site is affiliated with the adjacent Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) Atka Air Force Auxiliary Field. Funding for cleanup has been made available through NALEMP and is being coordinated by Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
2/25/2016 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Nathan Maxwell
2/26/2016 Update or Other Action Bethel Environmental is under contract with the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association to submit a work plan for the clean up of the Puganax Creek Buried Drum Site with NALEMP funding. Holly Weiss-Racine
3/21/2016 Meeting or Teleconference Held Project kickoff meeting held at the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association Office. Holly Weiss-Racine
4/12/2016 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter PRP Letter sent to the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association and the Atka IRRA Council on 4/4/16. Holly Weiss-Racine
4/19/2016 Site Visit ADEC, USACE, APIA and Bethel Environmental Solutions visited the project site in Atka. An open-house style public meeting was held at the Atka School from 6-8 pm. The community was in support of the project. Holly Weiss-Racine
7/8/2016 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC approved the “Puganax Creek Buried Drum Removal - Former Atka Air Force Auxiliary Field - Atka, Alaska” Work Plan. Field work is scheduled to occur at the end of July/early August with the objective of removing all buried drums and associated soil contamination (up to the 100 ton contract maximum). The removal objective is Cleanup Complete (without ICs). Holly Weiss-Racine
3/24/2017 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The work at Puganax Creek scheduled for 2016 was postponed until 2017 due to unavailability of equipment and lodging during the scheduled work timeframe. ADEC received an update, Puganax Creek Buried Drum Removal Work Plan Update, dated 3-23-2017. The updates to the approved 2016 Work Plan were administrative changes and do not change the scope of the approved 2016 Work Plan. The field work is currently scheduled for April 2017. Darren Mulkey
5/15/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC approves the 'Final Removal Action Report, Puganax Creek Buried Drum Removal, Former Atka Air Force Auxiliary Field, Atka, Alaska, May 2018' in a letter dated May 15, 2018. This report details the excavation of 105.39 tons of heavily contaminated soil, and the removal of approximately 1.6 tons of corroded drums and drum carcasses, some containing residual product, from the subsurface. Analytical data from confirmation soil samples collected from the excavation sidewalls and floor showed that DRO, RRO, arsenic, chromium, lead, VOCs, and PAHs remain at the site in concentrations exceeding ADEC Method Two most stringent cleanup levels. Sammi Castle
8/8/2019 Update or Other Action Site location was updated on this date. Coordinates for this site are used to determine the presence and position of the site on BLM’s ANCSA Conveyed Land web map. Rebekah Reams
6/21/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Final Contaminated Site Characterization Report, Puganax Creek Buried Drum Site, Native Village of Atka, Atka IRP Council, June 2021. The project objectives addressed in this report are: Completion of a geophysical investigation of the site to determine where buried drums may still be present; Digging test pits for the collection of field and analytical data to determine extent of contamination remaining at the site; and Approximating the extent and tonnage of contaminated soil. Darren Mulkey
8/24/2021 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79889 name: Drum Storage Area Darren Mulkey
5/2/2022 Update or Other Action On May 02, 2022 ADEC approved the Final 2022 Puvaankix Creek, Cleanup Workplan 2022, Native Village of Atka, NALEMP, Atka Island. Daniela Fawcett
11/28/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On 11/28/2022 DEC emailed the comment letter and table to Atka Tribe for the Puvaankix Creek: Cleanup Work Plan 2022 Addendum – Additional Site Characterization Draft Work Plan, Dated November 2022. This work plan addendum is intended to supplement the Final 2022 Puvaankix Creek, Cleanup Work Plan (Chilkat Environmental 2022) and guide the additional site characterization activities to better delineate the soil contamination and determine the extent of free-flowing product prior to proceeding with removal activities. Daniela Fawcett
1/20/2023 Update or Other Action On 01/20/2023 DEC requested the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to make a finding of determination of eligibility for newly discovered contamination during the 2022 site investigation work near the Atka Puganax Creek NALEMP site located on Atka Island, Alaska. Daniela Fawcett
3/3/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC emailed an approval letter for the Puvaankix Creek: Cleanup Work Plan 2022 Addendum – Additional Site Characterization Draft Work Plan, Dated March 2023. This technical memorandum work plan is intended to supplement the Final 2022 Puvaankix Creek, Cleanup Work Plan (Chilkat Environmental 2022) and guide the additional site characterization activities to better delineate the soil contamination and determine the extent of free-flowing product prior to proceeding with removal activities. Daniela Fawcett
12/14/2023 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC project manager (PM) had a teleconference to discuss the site with the USACE FUDS PM. Sarah Bernhardt
1/7/2025 Update or Other Action Site name has been updated from Puganax Creek to Puvaankix Creek. 2024 site documents reflect the updated place name. Sarah Durand
4/17/2025 Site Characterization Workplan Approved 2024 Workplan Addendum approved for remediation work associated with the Puvaankix Creek NALEMP project. Sarah Durand
4/18/2025 Site Characterization Report Approved 2023 Additional Site Characterization report approved for the NALEMP Puvaankix Creek project. Sarah Durand

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
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Physical Location: 410 Willoughby