Skip to content Skip to content

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

You are here: DEC / SPAR / CSP / SPAR Online Services / Contaminated Sites Search / Site Report

Site Report: Oliktok DEW Module Train ST06

Site Name: Oliktok DEW Module Train ST06
Address: 38 Mi. NW of Prudhoe Bay, NW End of Module Train, Prudhoe Bay, AK 99734
File Number: 300.38.013
Hazard ID: 2656
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 70.498056
Longitude: -149.889444
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

This site initially encompassed the gravel pad beneath the north, north west section of the module train and the tundra located to the north of the train. Site personnel reported a diesel spill in the area and there is evidence of petroleum-impacted gravel, sediment, and surface water. This site also includes the outfall of a sewage pipe. The primary COC appears to be diesel, but there were also some metals detected at the outfall. This site was referred to as Old Sewage Area Petroleum Spill (SS011) in 1993, but SS011 was administratively renamed in 2004 to sites ST06 and SS07. 2004 Remedial Investigation did not find any petroleum concentrations in soil above the Method Two cleanup levels; however, sampling beneath the transformer stand detected Aroclor 1254 at a maximum concentration of 5.27 mg/kg. Until cleanup was completed, capping and signage prevented exposure. Cleanup consisting of soil excavation and removal commenced in 2014 and remedial actions were completed in 2015.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
8/17/2004 Site Added to Database Primarily diesel contamination. Deborah Williams
8/17/2004 Site Ranked Using the AHRM DOD ranking is High. Deborah Williams
8/18/2004 Site Characterization Workplan Approved Staff received the final version of the remedial investigation/feasibility study quality program plan for 8 sites, dated July 2004. Soil, sediment, and surface water samples will be collected at ST06 and analyzed for petroleum constituents. Also metals in a couple of locations. Field work is scheduled for August 2004. Ann Farris
10/13/2004 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated in RAB meeting in Nuiqsut re: Oliktok site. Samples were collected at all 10 sites during summer 2004. Results of the 2004 Oliktok Offshore Debris Survey of Navigational Hazards will soon be available in a report. Anticipated Schedule for Oliktok: 2005 Proposed plan and decision document, 2006 Demolition and debris cleanup, 2006 Clean up of any remaining contaminated soils. Emily Youcha
2/16/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated in a meeting with the 611th Air Force and their contractor to discuss the 2005 Remedial Investigation/Feasibilty Study (RI/FS). PCBs exist up to concentrations above residential cleanup levels (5 mg/kg). Preliminary recommended action is a remedial action. Emily Youcha
7/29/2005 GIS Position Updated Position acquired from topozone. Emily Youcha
7/29/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff participated in a meeting with the Air Force peer review team. The peer review team is pushing for risk assessments and wanted to know what the risk was by leaving this small area of PCB contaminated soil in place. The 611th project manager stated that to conduct a risk assessment would be more expensive than removint the 8 cu. yds. of PCB contaminated soil and the peer review team concurred. Emily Youcha
7/29/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated Sites staff is working with the Air Force on creating a template for ecological and human health risk assessments covering six sites across the North Slope, including this site. The Air Force determined it needs to conduct base-line risk assessments at these sites prior to making cleanup decisions on them. Developing a template is an effort to make the process more efficient. Emily Youcha
8/19/2005 Update or Other Action Contaminated sites participated in a site visit to the Oliktok station with BLM and Air Force representatives. Emily Youcha
12/8/2005 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff attended the Restoration Advisory Board meeting in Barrow and provided a summary of the current activites at the site. Emily Youcha
2/28/2006 Site Characterization Report Approved At the module train, DRO concentrations in one sample exceeded Method One soil cleanup standards, but did not exceed the Method Two soil cleanup standards for the Arctic Zone. Contamination does not appear to be migrating off the pad. PCBs were detected above Method Two cleanup levels below the transformer stand. Additional characterization will be required for the transformer area during cleanup efforts. Emily Youcha
4/21/2006 Proposed Plan Staff reviewed and approved the Proposed Plan for nine environmental restoration program sites (LF01, ST03, ST04, SS05, ST06, SS07, ST08, SS09, and SS10) at Oliktok Long Range Radar Station. The Proposed Plan was received on March 29, 2006. Emily Youcha
5/26/2006 Update or Other Action Contaminated Sites staff recently obtained term contractor review of a draft Air Force North Slope Risk Assessment Work Plan (RAWP). Comments were received from the term contractor, and a comment review teleconference was held with the term contractor risk assessor on 5/10/06. The RAWP seeks to develop risk based cleanup levels based on exposure pathways for categories of sites (e.g., garage sites) at Air Force radar stations in the north slope region. The work plan is generally well written, but some of the key items that need clarification are how data gaps will be handled at individual sites; determination of background levels for organics and inorganics; how it will be determined whether a large water body is potentially affected by a site; and how toxicity will be determined for trichloroethylene. Emily Youcha
7/11/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff performed a site visit to Oliktok with the North Slope Risk Assessment team. No sites were included in the N Slope Risk Assessment template for Oliktok but specific attention was paid to the Garage site. Emily Youcha
7/13/2006 Update or Other Action Staff was informed by the Air Force that the Proposed Plans for Oliktok will be changed due to the upcoming performance-based contract. The Air Force will update the Proposed Plans to include only the no further action (NFA) sites and will also write the Record of Decision for the NFA sites. The performance-based contractor will write the Proposed Plan and Record of Decision for any site with further action, monitoring, or institutional controls. This could change the anticipated remedies for the sites. Any compliance-funded sites will be removed from the Proposed Plans (such as the two landfills, LF01 and LF02) and cleaned up during the performance-based contract for building demolition and debris removal under a DEC approved cleanup workplan. Staff will issue a letter to the Air Force rescinding our agreement with the previous draft Proposed Plans and request additional review of the new Proposed Plan and also request frequent communications with the contractor and the Department of Defense contracting officer during the Proposed Plan and Decision Document process. Emily Youcha
5/18/2007 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed and sent comments on of a draft work plan titled Oliktok Long Range Radar Station Work Plan for Site Activities. DEC received this work plan on May 11, 2007. Review included review of the Work Plan, Field Sampling Plan, and the Waste Management Plan. Review found significant inadequacies with work plan including lack of confirmation sampling for PCB areas, and lack of information on identification of contaminants during excavation of LF001 and LF002, lack of information on segregation of landfill soil and wastes, and lack of information on how different wastes streams will be staged, stored, and managed. Contractor was already in the field conducting work before the plan was received. (Note: a final work plan was never submitted to DEC) Tamar Stephens
5/25/2007 Update or Other Action Received e-mail from contractor with draft approach to confirmation sampling. E-mail response sent by Tamar Stephens same day stated that proposed confirmation sampling was insufficient; identified required number of confirmation samples as per regulations and guidance documents. Tamar Stephens
5/30/2007 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Contractor sent revised waste management plan by e-mail on 5/29; DEC reviewed and sent response by e-mail on 5/30 that it was acceptable. Tamar Stephens
10/3/2007 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed and sent comments on draft Proposed Plan for ST006, SS010, SS009a and SS09b; comments were sent by e-mail, with an attached copy of the draft Proposed Plan showing DEC markup. Tamar Stephens
10/15/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Intitial Ranking Complete for Source Area: 73632 (Autogenerated Action)
12/11/2007 Risk Assessment Report Approved ADEC received the Final Risk Evaluation Report – Alaska North Slope Radar Installation Sites on November 6, 2007. This report meets the requirements of the ADEC Contaminated Sites Program Risk Assessment Procedures Manual, adopted by reference in 18 AAC 75.340. An approval letter was sent to Dave Cook, Program Manager HQ PACAF/A7NR, on December 10, 2007 This project identified categories of sites that are common on remote Air Force installations in the North Slope region of Alaska and developed conceptual site models and human health and ecological risk based screening levels for four of these categories: garage sites, fuel storage sites, non-fuel storage sites, and transformer sites. The project developed templates for conducting human health and ecological risk evaluations for these categories and performed a risk evaluation as a test case for one example of each type of site. The final report contains guidance on applying the process to other North Slope region sites. It may be used on a site-specific basis as a tool to assist in assessing potential risks posed by North Slope Air Force installation sites. Tamar Stephens
9/3/2009 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed and sent comments on Draft Remedial Action Report for the Oliktok Long Range Radar Station (LRRS). DEC received this report on March 3, 2009. This report describes cleanup activities performed at four sites and construction of one long-term soil storage cell at the Oliktok Long Range Radar Station in 2007 and 2008. (1) Old Landfill (LF001) and Dump Site (LF002) – LF001 had experienced erosion of some contents into the ocean and LF002 was threatened with erosion resulting from storm action. These two sites were completely excavated and backfilled with clean gravel. (2) Garage (SS010) - Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated soil adjacent to garage building was excavated, fencing to prevent access and exposure to soil underneath the garage was inspected, and warning signs were installed. (3) Module Train Spill (ST006) - A small area with PCB contaminated soil beneath a transformer stand was capped and a warning sign was installed. (4) Soil Cell (LF001a) – A soil cell was constructed for long-term storage of PCB-contaminated soil excavated from LF001, LF002, and SS010. The soil cell was constructed to drilling waste monofill standards. Tamar Stephens
4/30/2010 CERCLA Remedial Action Completion Report Approved the Final Remedial Action Report for the Oliktok Long Range Radar Station. DEC received this report on April 6, 2010. This report describes cleanup activities performed at four sites and construction of one long-term soil storage cell at the Oliktok Long Range Radar Station in 2007 and 2008. Cleanup actions at Module Train Spill (ST006) consisted of capping PCB soil beneath the transformer stand and installing a warning sign. The approval letter stated that monitoring activities should be performed at this site. The capped soil is adjacent to the road and the cap could conceivably be damaged by vehicular traffic, road grading, or snow removal activities. Visual inspection and photo documentation should be performed to assess the integrity of the soil cap and to ensure that the warning sign is in place. Tamar Stephens
8/5/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed and sent comments on Draft Proposed Plan – LF001, LF002, ST006, SS010, SS009a, and SS009b, Oliktok Long Range Radar Station. Draft Proposed Plan recommends capping as final remedy. DEC letter recommendd removal of the PCB soil at ST006. Tamar Stephens
9/14/2010 Site Visit Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens and USAF remedial project manager Robert Johnston conducted a site visit and inspection. Warning sign was not present, and was found to have been removed by painters. Sign was located and re-attached at the transformer stand. Tamar Stephens
1/6/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed and sent comments on draft Technical Report. This report describes inspection and monitoring activities performed on September 14, 2010, at four sites at the Oliktok LRRS: LF001, LF002, ST006, and LF001a. Tamar Stephens
3/29/2011 Meeting or Teleconference Held The Air Force presented the Proposed Plan for sites LF001, LF002, SS010, LF001a, ST006, SS009a, and SS009b in a public meeting in Nuiqsut on March 29, 2011. Tamar Stephens from ADEC attended. The public comment period is March 29 through April 29, 2011. Tamar Stephens
3/29/2011 Meeting or Teleconference Held The Air Force presented the Proposed Plan for sites LF001, LF002, SS010, LF001a, ST006, SS009a, and SS009b in a public meeting in Nuiqsut on March 29, 2011. Tamar Stephens from ADEC attended. The public comment period is March 29 through April 29, 2011. Tamar Stephens
4/15/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved Final Technical Project Report for inspection and monitoring activities performed at LF001, LF002, ST006, and LF001a on September 14, 2010. Tamar Stephens
4/28/2011 CERCLA Proposed Plan Sent approval letter for the Final Proposed Plan, LF001, LF002, SS010, LF001a, ST006, SS009a, and SS009b, Oliktok Long Range Radar Station, Alaska. DEC reviewed and commented on the draft Proposed Plan and received the final Proposed Plan on March 22, 2011. The Proposed Plan was presented in a public meeting in Nuiqsut on March 29, 2011, with a 30-day public comment period from March 29 to April 29, 2011. The Proposed Plan describes each site, summarizes past sampling results and cleanup actions, describes the remedial alternatives that were evaluated, and presents a preferred remedial alternative. The Air Force conducted various cleanup activities at these sites in 2007. In summary, ST006 consists of two areas, a former diesel spill underneath the building train, and a localized area of PCB contaminated soil underneath a transformer stand. Sampling shows that the soil impacted by the diesel spill is below the Method 2 cleanup level. PCBs remain in the soil under the transformer stand above the Method 2 cleanup level. The PCB contaminated soil was capped in 2007 to prevent exposure and a warning sign was been posted. The Proposed Plan recommends land use controls and monitoring to ensure the cap stays in good condition and the sign remains posted. DEC’s letter stated that DEC recommends removal of this small quantity of soil instead of land use controls, long-term monitoring, and maintenance of the cap. Tamar Stephens
7/11/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Reviewed and sent comments on draft Environmental Long Term Monitoring and Maintenance Work Plan for 2011. Tamar Stephens
8/18/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Sent approval letter for final Environmental Long Term Monitoring and Maintenance Work Plan for 2011. This work plan describes plans for conducting monitoring activities at four sites at Oliktok. Activities will include visual inspections of two former landfill/dump sites, LF001 and LF002; visual inspection of the cap placed over polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) soil at ST006; and visual inspection, collection of temperature data, and groundwater and/or surface water sampling at the LF001a Soil Cell. Work is planned for September, 2011. Tamar Stephens
6/6/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Stephens sent an approval letter for the Final Technical Project Report, Environmental Long Term Monitoring and Maintenance, Oliktok Long Range Radar Station. Stephens previously reviewed the draft report and send comments in a letter on January 3, 2012. This report describes visual inspections and monitoring activities conducted at four sites at the Oliktok Long Range Radar Station during August 26-28, 2011. Visual inspections were performed at the Old Landfill Site (LF001), Dump Site (LF002), Module Train Spill Site (ST006), and the Soil Cell (LF001a). At the LF001a Soil Cell, active zone and surface water samples were collected to evaluate for migration of contaminants and temperature data was collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the freeze-back design. At ST006, inspection found some erosion of the cap along the northeast and northwest corners. The report recommends repair of the northeast and northwest corners of the cap. DEC concurs with this recommendation. Tamar Stephens
8/8/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Stephens sent an approval letter for the final Work Plan – Environmental Long Term Monitoring and Maintenance, Oliktok Long Range Radar Station. Stephens previously reviewed the draft work plan and sent comments in a letter on July 6, 2012. This work plan describes plans for conducting monitoring activities at four sites at Oliktok. Field work is currently planned for September 4-5, 2012. Activities will include: visual inspections of two former landfill/dump sites, LF001 and LF002; visual inspection of the cap placed over polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) soil at ST006; and visual inspection, collection of temperature data, and groundwater and/or surface water sampling at the LF001a Soil Cell. Tamar Stephens
2/21/2013 CERCLA ROD Approved A Record of Decision (ROD) was signed by John Halverson, Environmental Program Manager, Federal Facilities Section, Contaminated Sites Program, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, on 11/16/12 and by U.S. Air Force Colonel Robyn Burk, U.S. Air Force, Commander, 611th Air Support Group, on 11/20/12 for seven sites at the Oliktok Long Range Radar Station: LF001 (Old Landfill), LF002 (Dump Site), SS010 (Garage Site), ST006 (Module Train Spill Sites), SS009a (Diesel Storage Tank Site), SS009b (Fuel Tank Farm Site), and LF001a (Soil Cell). The remedy selected for the ST006 site is soil removal and off-site disposal of the PCB contaminated soil beneath the transformer stand. Engineering controls and land use controls will be maintained until the soil removal is completed. Tamar Stephens
2/21/2013 Institutional Control Record Established Institutional Controls established and entered into the database. Tamar Stephens
4/1/2013 Update or Other Action Final Technical Project Report was recv'd by John Halverson in Anchorage on 3/28/2013 Susan Carberry
10/8/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved the final 2013 Site Characterization Work Plan describing field screening and analytical sampling of PCB contaminated soil at the transformer stand using a grid based sampling approach. The results of this characterization effort will be used to define the boundaries of the remaining PCB contamination and estimate the volume of contaminated soil to be excavated in 2014. Melody Debenham
1/9/2014 Update or Other Action Site transferred from Debenham to Caillouet. Rebecca Bryan
2/21/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Draft Oliktok Long Range Radar Site, Environmental Long Term Management Technical Project Report, February 2014 ST006 was not inspected in 2012 (a wrong location was inspected). No inspection occurred in 2013. A work plan was submitted to further delineate the extent of the contamination but ADEC is not aware that the work occurred. At a minimum this document should explain any association between the lack of inspection and the work planned. The ROD also states that the remaining contamination would be removed by December 31, 2013. The Air Force should provide a plan to resolve this issue. Debra Caillouet
8/21/2014 CERCLA Remedial Design/Remedial Action Plan Approved Final 2014 Site Characterization and Remedial Action Work Plan Addendum, Site ST006—Modular Train, Oliktok Long Range Radar Station, August 2014 Debra Caillouet
12/19/2014 Institutional Control Periodic Reporting Draft 2014 Environmental Long Term Management Technical Project Report for Sites LF001, LF002, ST006 and SS010 Oliktok Long Range Radar Station, December 2014 Debra Caillouet
8/18/2015 Update or Other Action Received copy of Draft Supplemental Work Plan for Remedial Action Activities Site ST006 – Modular Train Electrical Transformer PCB Oil Spill Oliktok Long Range Radar Station, Alaska. Update is that work is planned for August-September. John Carnahan
8/19/2015 Cleanup Plan Approved Reviewed and provided comment on supplemental workplan to remove and sample PCB contamination adjacent to modular train on Aug 19. Approval letter sent Aug. 26 pursuant to updated Figure 4. John Carnahan
8/27/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Approved LRRS LTM Addendum for 2015 efforts. John Carnahan
10/5/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Review and approve final LTM Workplan addendum for 2016 activities. John Carnahan
12/22/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Provide comments on 2015 LTM Technical Project report. Shoreline is eroding as evidenced by loss of monitoring stakes, and minor repairs and activities were completed associated LF002. Approve final reporting. John Carnahan
12/31/2015 CERCLA Remedial Action Completion Report (12/15/15) Provide approval of DRAFT Remedial Action Completion and Site Closure Report, ST006 Modular Train Transformer cleanup. Final draft provided 12/31/2015. John Carnahan
12/31/2015 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued John Carnahan

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
PCBs - Total Between Method 2 Migration to Groundwater and Human Health/Ingestion/Inhalation Soil All confirmation samples were below the ADEC Method Two Cleanup Standard except for one sample which was slightly above the cleanup standard.

Control Type

Type Details
No ICs Required

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.
Movement or use of contaminated material (including on site) in a manner that results in a violation of the water quality standards is prohibited (18 AAC 70)

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.
Continue     Close

Public Notices  •  Regulations  •  Statutes
Press Releases  •  Contact

 

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