| Action Date |
Action |
Description |
DEC Staff |
| 5/1/2017 |
Update or Other Action |
In May 2017, CSP was notified that construction activities were underway at Clear Air Force Station, and that flaking polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated paint had been observed in the soil at the facility. The Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) facility, which has been decommissioned since 2001, is slated for demolition to make room for the new Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR). The BMEWS facility includes ten buildings, three radar arrays, and ~1/2 mile of utilidors. Environmental sampling conducted in 2016, indicated that large areas of the facility were painted with PCB-containing paint. In May 2017, CSP conducted two site visits at CAFS. During the site visits, it was evident that a large amount of PCB-containing paint was flaking into floor drains, and several pools of an oil-like substance were observed throughout the facility. A large amount of PCB paint had flaked into the soil from the base of the radar arrays, and PCB-painted material had been moved into several piles around the facility. The US Air Force, Missile Defense Agency and Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are all involved in the demolition and upgrade. The Spill Prevention and Response Division (SPAR) had not received prior notification of oil or hazardous substance releases that the DOD Services have been aware of them for some time. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 5/5/2017 |
Update or Other Action |
WORK PLAN received: PCB Relocation to Pre-Transportation Area, WORK PLAN NO. 1 REV 05 Amendment 03 Rev 03 for Pacific Region MATOC FY 16 Demolition, Clear, AK. Dated April 20, 2017. Prepared by All Phase Services. The objective of this WP is to plan and complete demilitarization and removal of facilities at CAFS. Buildings 107, 108, and 109, (also ID’d as structures 735, 736, and 737); and demo of three berms (soil and concrete) associated with 735, 736, and 737. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 5/10/2017 |
Site Visit |
SITE VISIT: DEC conducted a site visit at the BMEWS Facility on May 10, 2017. Staff observed flaking PCB paint in the utilidors; free product on flooring inside the BMEWS Buildings; and asbestos-containing insulation. Photos on file. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 5/12/2017 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
WORK PLAN received and approved: Draft Work Plan for PCB Soil Removal and Sampling. Dated May 10, 2017. Prepared by Pika-Pirnie Joint Venture. The work plan details activities consisting of the removal of the above-grade portion of the radar array concrete foundations; removal of the PCB-impacted soil from around the array foundations; confirmation sampling of the soil and concrete; and construction of a stockpile for the concrete and soil. On May 12, 2017, DEC provided a conditional approval with the requirement that DEC comments be fully addressed and integrated into a finalized draft prior to final approval. Note: A final draft was not submitted. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 5/16/2017 |
Update or Other Action |
REPORT received: Clear Air Station - Characterization Report Addendum, dated March 30, 2017. Prepared by Pika Arcadis. The report details characterization activities conducted to identify PCB impacts at CAFS. According to the report, sampling was conducted October 23-28, 2016; November 23, 2016; December 5-8, 2016; and March 24, 2017. Sampling locations included Buildings B101, B102, B104, B106; Utilidor B645; and paint and concrete samples from Arrays 735, 736, and 737. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 5/18/2017 |
Site Visit |
SITE VISIT: DEC conducted a site visit at the BMEWS Facility on May 18, 2017. Staff observed the future staging area for contaminated soil and concrete; Berms 735-737; and former Buildings 126-129. Photos on file. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 6/22/2017 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
WORK PLAN ADDENDUM #1 received and approved: Draft Work Plan for PCB Soil Removal and Sampling, Clear AFS, Alaska. Dated June 22, 2017. Prepared by Pika Arcadis. ADEC conditionally approved this work plan on May 12, 2017. Addendum #1 addresses a proposed change in procedures for cutting the concrete piers. ADEC provided a same-day approval for Draft Work Plan for PCB Soil Removal and Sampling, Addendum #1. As noted on May 12, 2017, a final version was not submitted as required under the conditional approval. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 6/28/2017 |
Update or Other Action |
WORK PLAN ADDENDUM #2 received: Draft Work Plan for PCB Soil Removal and Sampling, Clear AFS, Alaska. Dated June 28, 2017. Prepared by Pika Arcadis. Addendum #2 is titled "Coal Yard Characterization" and addresses the following: 1) Proposed characterization of the coal yard area 2) Discussion of previous testing performed in the coal yard area, and 3) Proposed construction of the temporary pier top laydown area. On 6/23/2017, USACE informed ADEC that sampling was conducted under the baseplates in the coal yard, though there was no approved work plan for this sampling. This is the second addendum to the report; however, no final version of the work plan was submitted as noted on May 12 and June 22, 2017. The conditional approval dated May 12, 2017 required submission of a final report. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 7/11/2017 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
In a letter dated July 11, 2017, ADEC advised USAF that Addendum #2 of the Draft Work Plan for PCB Soil Removal and Sampling, dated June 28, 2017 (Pika Pirnie), does not meet the requirements of site characterization under 18 AAC 75.335. Additionally, ADEC recommended that incremental sampling methodology (ISM) decision units be used to characterize the surface soil and access way. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 7/27/2017 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
WORK PLAN ADDENDUM #3 received: Draft Work Plan for PCB Soil Removal and Sampling, Clear AFS, Alaska. Dated July 20, 2017. Prepared by Pika Arcadis. The work plan is labeled Addendum #2; however, DEC has previously received two addendums to the report (6/22/2017 and 6/28/2017) and notes that this is actually Addendum #3. Also, note that the May 12, 2017 Conditional Approval required submission of a final draft of the work plan. Addendum #3 is titled "Proposed Additional Laydown Area". Addendum #3 covers: 1) Pre-characterization of the proposed additional laydown area and 2) Construction of the temporary waste laydown area. The work plan was received on July 27, 2017. On July 28, 2018, DEC approved Addendum #3 (labeled as Addendum #2) and requested submission of "a final of this addendum and a final of the conditionally-approved workplan, referenced above, as soon as possible." |
Jamie McKellar |
| 10/10/2017 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
WORK PLAN received and approved: BMEWS Work Plan for PCB Soil and Concrete Disposal. Dated October 9, 2017. Prepared by Pika-Pirnie Joint Venture. This work plan addresses the proposed disposal of PCB-impacted soil and PCB-painted concrete pier tops (without base plates attached) from the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) Berms. There were six revisions to the work plan. The first version was submitted on September 26, 2017. Revision 6 was submitted on October 10, 2017 and DEC approved it on the same day. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 11/3/2017 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
WORK PLAN ADDENDUM #1 received and approved: BMEWS Work Plan for PCB Soil and Concrete Disposal, Addendum #1. Dated November 3, 2017. Prepared by Pika-Pirnie Joint Venture. This addendum is for the Soil and Concrete Disposal Work Plan, which was approved on October 10, 2017. Addendum #1 describes the characterization, handling, and disposal of material generated from the BMEWS radar array berm removal. This material includes approximately 677 tons of Concrete Pier tops with base plates, and 137 tons of steel base plates. The first draft of the addendum was submitted on October 20, 2017 and DEC approved Revision 3 of Addendum #1 on November 3, 2017. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 11/8/2017 |
Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program |
Spill transferred by PPRP staff Mike Garrett. Spill no. 17309912103; spill date = 5/1/17; substance = PCBs and lead; quantity = unknown; PPRP File No. 151.02.001; Description: aging paint containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and lead were determined to be flaking from metal radar screens and falling onto surrounding soil at the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System at Clear Air Force Station. |
Mitzi Read |
| 11/13/2017 |
Update or Other Action |
On October 20, 2017, DEC sent an information request to the USAF regarding former Buildings 126-129 at CAFS. Previously received analytical results indicated that painted surfaces contained lead concentrations greater than DEC's cleanup levels. DEC requested additional information about the removal of former Buildings 126-129 as well as a current update on the status of the remaining belowground structures. USAF responded to the information request on 11/13/2017. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 11/13/2017 |
Update or Other Action |
On 11/13/2017, USACE submitted test results from sampling conducted under the pre-transport storage area (PTSA) cells that were removed as of 11/13/2017. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 11/16/2017 |
Site Added to Database |
A new site has been added to the database |
Mitzi Read |
| 3/2/2018 |
Enforcement Action |
NOTICES OF VIOLATION: DEC issued Notices of Violation (NOVs) to Clear Air Force Station, the US Army Corps of Engineers (Huntsville, AL), and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) for failure to immediately notify the Department of a discharge or release, as required by 18 AAC 75.300(a)(1)(A). |
Jamie McKellar |
| 3/23/2018 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
REPORT RECEIVED: BMEWS Interim PCB Soil Removal Summary Report. Prepared by Pika-Pirnie Joint Venture. Dated March 23, 2018. The work in this report was conducted under the work plan titled 2017 Work Plan for PCB Soil Removal and Sampling, Prepared by Pika-Pirnie and dated May 8, 2017. On May 12, 2017, DEC issued a conditional approval for this work plan with the condition that DEC comments be fully addressed and integrated into a finalized draft prior to final approval. A final draft of the work plan was never submitted.
|
Jamie McKellar |
| 3/27/2018 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
TECH MEMO RECEIVED: Crushed Concrete Stockpile Technical Memorandum. Prepared by Pika Arcadis. Dated March 23, 2018. This tech memo describes the crushed concrete stockpile located at Clear Air Force Station. The source of the concrete stockpile is concrete array foundation piers. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 3/30/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
NOV RESPONSE: DEC received a combined response from USAF, USACE, and MDA for the Notices of Violation that were issued on March 2, 2018. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 5/3/2018 |
Site Visit |
On May 2, 2018, DEC conducted an onsite visit at Clear Air Force Station. During the visit, a sheen was observed on standing water present west of building 101 and next to the crushed concrete stockpile(s). Some of the sheen had a rainbow appearance and some areas had an accompanying milky appearance and the two intermingle in many areas. During the onsite visit, DEC and an onsite representative for Clear AFS were unable to determine whether the sheen originated from the stockpiles, which contain PCBs, or from some other source. On May 3, 2018, DEC sent an email to USAF advising that the sheen needs to be recovered and investigated. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 5/11/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
On May 11, 2018, DEC sent a letter to USAF regarding review of the combined response (USAF/MDA/USACE) response to Notice of Violation Nos. 17-R0986-40-0001, 17-R0986-40-0002, and 17-R0986-40-0003. DEC has completed a review of the response, as well as Clear AFS's Spill Management Plan.. The only substantial remaining request is that a schedule be proposed regarding how often written reports are submitted. DEC recommends that interim written reporting be conducted monthly during the construction season (May-October), and every two months during the off-season. More frequent reporting is acceptable as appropriate based on field activities & developments. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 6/1/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
LETTER: On 6/1/2018, DEC sent a letter to USAF regarding DEC's review of the Crushed Concrete Stockpile Technical Memorandum. The tech memo was prepared by Pika Arcadis and dated March 23, 2018. DEC requested an update on the recovery and investigation of the sheen observed May 2, 2018, information about the composition of the second stockpile (adjacent to the main stockpile and west of BMEWS Building 101), and measures taken to prevent further migration of contamination from the PCB-containing stockpiles by June 22, 2018. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 6/4/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
LETTER: From DEC to USAF regarding submission of final work plans and reports. Since May 2017, DEC has received and reviewed multiple draft work plans for contaminated site characterization and removal activities associated with the Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) project at CAFS. To date, DEC has not received final work plans or initial reports for the majority of the work conducted at CAFS. A summary of the submitted reports and work plans, along with the current status of reporting was included in the letter. DEC requested a timeline for submission of the outstanding work plans and reports within two weeks of receipt of the letter. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 6/6/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
LETTER: From USAF to DEC, response to DEC's May 11, 2018 letter. USAF advised that the interim reports required by the NOV will be submitted the first Friday of each month during construction. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 7/17/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
Phone conference with USAF representative, Robert Tomlinson. We discussed the historic releases discovered near Building 800; the deposition of PCB-contaminated concrete curbs at the Denali Borough Landfill, which were later found to have been used as fill at a private residence; the crushed concrete stockpiles; and ongoing issues with spill reporting at Clear Air Force Station. Meeting notes are in the electronic file. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 7/20/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 7/26/2018 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DRAFT WORK PLAN RECEIVED: Draft Final Work Plan and Addendums: Final PCB Soil and Removal Work Plan and Addendums, Clear Air Force Station – Anderson, Alaska. Prepared by Pika Arcadis. Dated July 18, 2018. On June 4, 2018, DEC advised the United States Air Force (USAF) that a number of final work plans and
initial reports had not been submitted for work conducted at Clear Air Force Station in 2017-2018. This
submission was provided in response to that request. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 7/31/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
On 7/31/2018, DEC issued a letter to the Commander of Clear Air Force Station requesting an in-person meeting, with legal counsel, to discuss various environmental concerns at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/22/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
LETTER: DEC to USAF. On August 22, DEC sent a letter to the USAF Commander at Clear Air Force Station advising that DEC approval is required prior to any disposal of the crushed concrete stockpiles. Any unauthorized/unapproved disposal of the crushed concrete stockpiles is a violation of State law. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/23/2018 |
Update or Other Action |
The Contaminated Sites Program received a copy of the analytical test results for the sheen collected around the crushed concrete stock piles in May 2018. The analytical results indicate that PCBs were detected at 3,840 ug/kg (3.84 mg/kg). |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/24/2018 |
Site Visit |
Staff from DEC's Solid Waste, Spill Response, and Contaminated Sites programs visited Clear AFS on August 24, 2018. A photo log is available in DEC's electronic file. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/27/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
DEC participated in a teleconference with representatives from USAF, MDA, and USACE. Topics of discussion included Sample QA issues with a Pika Arcadis report; the August 24 site visit; the crushed concrete stockpiles; and various spill reporting issues. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/28/2018 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
COMMENTS SENT: To USAF for the Draft PCB Soil and Removal Work Plan and Addendums. Prepared by Pika Arcadis. Dated July 18, 2018. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 9/10/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 9/17/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 9/20/2018 |
Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program |
Spill transferred by PPRP staff Jill Stockbridge. Spill no. 18309916004; spill date = 6/9/17; substance = PCB-contaminated concrete/gravel; quantity = unknown; PPRP file number = 151.02.001; lat/long: 64.2876, -149.1982; datum = WGS84; description: an unknown amount of PCB-contaminated concrete/gravel, excavated from beneath a radar screen, was used as base fill material beneath the Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) facilities. |
Mitzi Read |
| 9/25/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 10/1/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 10/11/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
ONSITE MEETING at Clear AFS with representatives from USAF (including Base Commander), MDA, USACE, DEC, DOL, and contractors. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 10/11/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
A meeting was held at Clear Air Force Station with representatives from DEC, DOL, USAF, USACE, and MDA. Topics of discussion included the crushed concrete stockpile, reporting, release management, and Installation Restoration Program site(s). The meeting was followed by a tour of areas discussed during the meeting. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 10/22/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 10/29/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 11/5/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 11/19/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 11/28/2018 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
On November 6, 2018, DEC received a Technical Memorandum (TM) for the Crushed Concrete Piles for the BMEWS demolition. The source of the concrete was 120 6x8x20-foot piers from the former antenna array berms. The aboveground surface of the piers was painted in white paint that had PCB detections above 50 mg/kg. The painted tops were subject to Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regulation, and were disposed of in the lower 48. The lower portions of the concrete piers contained a clear/light grey surface coating with PCB concentrations up to 44 mg/kg. In the TM, USAF asserted that the surface samples were not valid and that the concrete piers containing a PCB clear coat are not subject to regulation under TSCA or state regulations. DEC responded to USAF on November 27, 2018 asserting that 1) the surface samples are valid and 2) the EPA used the concentrations from those surface samples to determine that the PCB clear coat was not subject to TSCA regulation. If the surface samples are thrown out, the material will be regulated under TSCA and must be disposed of in the lower 48. If the surface samples are accepted, USAF must submit a formal request to dispose of the concrete as a polluted material under 18 AAC 60.025 or use the crushed concrete as a fill material under 18 AAC 60.008. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 11/29/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 12/3/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 12/10/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 12/17/2018 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 1/7/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 1/14/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 1/28/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 1/31/2019 |
Update or Other Action |
The Contaminated Sites Division and Solid Waste jointly issued letter to USAF requesting additional information about the 2017-2018 work seasons and a revised work plan that discusses how concrete curbs will be handled and disposed of during the 2019 field season. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 2/5/2019 |
Workplan Requested |
The Solid Waste Division issued a letter to USAF requesting a characterization sampling plan for concrete associated with the BMEWS Demolition Project. The letter requested that DEC have an opportunity to review the work plan prior to the start of the 2019 field season. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 2/11/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 2/19/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 2/25/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 3/11/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 3/18/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 3/26/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 3/28/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
SCOPING MEETING (teleconference) with representatives from DEC, USAF, MDA, and USACE. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 4/1/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 4/8/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 4/15/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 4/16/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
On 4/10/2019, DEC received a list of
proposed tasks to be accomplished at Clear Air Force Station within the first sixty days of the
2019 field season. DEC provided a written response on 4/16/2019. DEC's response specifically excluded all concrete containing a suspected PCB coating and the concrete pedestal in Building 102. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 4/18/2019 |
Update or Other Action |
On 4/16/2019, DEC (Contaminated Sites, Solid Waste, and Spill Response Programs) issued a letter to USAF, concurring with the commencement of the 2019 field season. The concurrence was based on a number of assumptions outlined in the letter, and specifically excluded all concrete with a PCB coating and the remaining portion of the concrete pedestal in former Building 102. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 4/19/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
CS and SW staff had a meeting with USAF to discuss the above grade concrete in Buildings 104 & 105. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 4/22/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 4/29/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 5/6/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 5/14/2019 |
Update or Other Action |
On 5/7/2019, USAF submitted the Sampling and Analysis Plan, Clear Air Force Station, Alaska, Civil Improvements Project 2019. The work plan indicates that the project area overlaps open site 151.38.008. On 5/8/2019, USAF notified DEC that field work under the Sampling and Analysis Plan had already commenced and field crews were working without an approved work plan. DEC conducted an expedited review of the submitted work plan and USAF for an expedited turnaround. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 5/15/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 5/16/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
On May 7, 2019, the United States Air Force (USAF) submitted the Sampling and Analysis Plan, Civil Improvements Project 2019, Clear Air Force Station to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The following day, May 8, 2019, USAF advised DEC that work had already commenced under the Sampling and Analysis Plan without DEC approval. On May 8, DEC provided an accelerated review of the Sampling and Analysis Plan. DEC also requested that USAF provide an expedited turnaround on its responses to comments since crews were already working within the footprint of an open contaminated site without a DEC-approved work plan. On May 16, 2019, DEC received an incomplete response to comments from USAF. The outstanding information was subsequently provided in a May 16 phone call and email. The sampling plan was approved on 5/16/2019. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 5/20/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 5/28/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 5/28/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
On 5/22/19, USAF submitted a Sampling and Analysis Plan for the LRDR Power Plant. Based on the information provided and a review of the Contaminated Sites database, the project area is not located within the boundaries of any known contaminated sites. As such, the Contaminated Sites Program will not be providing a review of this work plan. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 5/28/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
On 5/22/2019, USAF submitted a work plan titled Sampling and Analysis Plan for CLR039C, LONG RANGE DISCRIMINATION RADAR (LRDR) CP#3, LRDR POWER PLANT (LPP). The plan was prepared by Travis Peterson Consulting, Inc and dated May 2019. Based on the information provided and a review of the Contaminated Sites database, the project area is not located within the boundaries of any known contaminated sites. As such, the Contaminated Sites Program will not provide a review of the work plan. USAF was notified of this decision on 5/28/2019. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 5/29/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
WORK PLAN APPROVAL: ECP Sampling & Analysis Work Plan (ECC, March 7, 2019). USAF submitted an incomplete response to comments on 5/16/2019. In the interest of getting field crews in compliance with the regulatory requirement to have an approved work plan, DEC gathered the outstanding information via a follow up phone call and email. A work plan approval letter was sent to USAF on 5/16/2019. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 6/3/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 6/10/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 6/14/2019 |
Site Visit |
DEC site inspection at Clear Air Force Station. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 6/24/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 6/28/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 7/1/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 7/16/2019 |
Site Visit |
DEC site inspection at Clear Air Force Station. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 7/22/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 7/31/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/5/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/6/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
DEC/EPA Teleconference to discuss concrete surface sampling. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/8/2019 |
Update or Other Action |
On February 5, 2019, DEC’s Solid Waste Program issued a letter to USAF requesting submission of a concrete sampling plan for concrete associated with the former BMEWS facility. In several subsequent meetings, including one on June 28, 2019, DEC reiterated that the clear/light grey coating needs to be sampled. During the July 16, 2019 site visit,
DEC representatives specified that samples of the clear/light grey coating should be collected to a depth of no more than 1/8-inch. On 8/8/2019, DEC sent a letter to USAF with additional clarification regarding these requests, which are needed by DEC and EPA for the following reasons: 1) To determine PCB concentrations of the clear/light grey coating. Based on the available data and observations made at Clear AFS, the clear/light grey coating, which is known to contain PCBs, is present on concrete throughout the former BMEWS facility. 2) To determine the concentrations of contamination associated with all sources of PCB contamination on the concrete slabs (PCB oils, etc.). This includes contamination that occurred because of BMEWS demolition work practices. To clarify further, the expectation is that samples will be taken as shallow as possible and not to exceed 1/8-inch. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/12/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/14/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
Call with USACE Huntsville staff regarding vertical surface sampling and Fairbanks office visit. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/19/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/21/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
Meeting at DEC Office in Fairbanks with Jeff Watts and Brandon Talbot from USACE Huntsville. Discussion of ongoing issues at Clear AFS, vertical surface sampling. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/22/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
On 8/22/2019, DEC approved Final Field Work Variance #10, Characterization/Remediation/Demolition of BMEWS Structures at Clear Air Force Station, Alaska (HGL, August 20, 2019). Field Work Variance #10 proposes to remove at least one-inch of concrete at a time rather than the 0.25 to 0.50-inch depth specified in the April 2018 Final Demolition Work Plan Addendum. The submitted work variance would also require a change in equipment since needle scalers/grinders are not designed to remove concrete to a depth of one inch or more. FWV #10 was approved for Buildings 102, 105, and 106 only. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/23/2019 |
Update or Other Action |
On 8/23/2019, the Solid Waste Program provided a written "Authorization to Initiate Project for the Use of Crushed PCB-Containing Concrete Material as Fill for Construction of the Concrete Load-Out Pad." The load out pad will be constructed with crushed concrete from the former BMEWS array piers. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/26/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
On 8/26/2019, DEC approved Final Field Work Variance #10, Revision 1 Characterization/ Remediation/Demolition of BMEWS Structures at Clear Air Force Station, Alaska (HGL, August 20, 2019). Field Work Variance #10 proposed to remove at least one-inch of concrete at a time rather than the 0.25 to 0.50-inch depth specified in the April 2018 Final Demolition Work Plan Addendum. The variance included language specific to former Buildings 102, 105, and 106. As such, DEC approved Field Work Variance #10 for former Buildings 102, 105, and 106 only. On August 26, 2019, a revised version of Field Work Variance #10, Characterization/ Remediation/Demolition of BMEWS Structures at Clear Air Force Station was submitted to DEC. The revision specifies that the Field Work Variance was intended for implementation on all BMEWS foundations including Buildings 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106 and the 645 Utilidor. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/26/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
On 8/26/2019, DEC approved the Partial Notice to Proceed under Concrete Sampling Work Plan Characterization/ Remediation/Demolition of BMEWS Structures, Clear Air Force Station (HGL, June 2019) with the following clarifications: 1) This approval is for horizontal surfaces in Buildings 105 and 106 only.
2) Sampling of the vertical concrete faces is still required and will be addressed separately. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/26/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 8/28/2019 |
Site Visit |
DEC site inspection at Clear Air Force Station. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 9/6/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
On 9/6/2019, DEC Approved the Partial Notice to Proceed for Building 104 and Utilidor 645 section between Buildings 102 and 105, Concrete Sampling Work Plan Characterization/ Remediation/Demolition of BMEWS Structures, Clear Air Force Station (HGL, June 2019). DEC also notes that horizontal surface sampling is now approved for the following areas: Former Building 105 slab; Former Building 106 slab; Former Building 104 slab; 645 Utilidor section between former Buildings 102 and 105. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 9/9/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 9/11/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
Meeting with USAF, MDA to discuss DEC's 9/6/2019 clarification email and the updated Concrete Sampling Plan. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 9/16/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 9/17/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
On 9/17/2019, DEC approved the Final
Concrete Sampling Work Plan, Characterization/ Remediation/Demolition of BMEWS Structures. (HGL, September 2019). The work plan documents the rationale and technical approach for characterization of concrete structures subject to demolition & off-site disposal and ground level slabs that are proposed to be left in place. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 10/1/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
On 10/1/2019, DEC approved the Final Technical Memorandum for Soil Sampling, Characterization/ Remediation/ Demolition of BMEWS Structures, Clear Air Force Station, Alaska (HGL, September 30, 2019). The tech memo describes the proposed approach for soil sampling adjacent to the vertical edges of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System concrete slabs. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 10/1/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
On 9/20/2019, USAF submitted "Draft Revision 1" for the Concrete Sampling Work Plan. DEC responded via email and requested that USAF instruct its contractor to submit a standalone document rather than revising the Concrete Sampling Work Plan to include soil sampling. HGL submitted the Final Technical Memorandum for Soil Sampling, Characterization/ Remediation/ Demolition of BMEWS Structures, Clear Air Force Station, Alaska (HGL, September 30, 2019) on October 1, 2019 and it was approved on the same day. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 10/2/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
On 9/30/2019, DEC received a letter from HydroGeoLogic, Inc. (HGL) requesting approval to sample the Building 103 concrete slab vertical faces in only one location. The basis for this request is that HGL’s sampling team found that there are significant sections with no exposed edges and that onsite personnel including HGL, Missile Defense Agency, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have identified only one location where sufficient foundation is accessible for sampling. DEC reviewed the request with staff from Region 10 EPA and denied the request to sample in only one location on 10/2/2019. DEC and EPA provided recommendations for collecting samples from the Building 103 slab. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 10/7/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 10/21/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 10/28/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
WEEKLY MEETING: Representatives of USAF, MDA, USACE, DEC, and DOL have a weekly scheduled meeting to discuss various issues at Clear AFS. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 10/30/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
Meeting with USAF, DEC, EPA to discuss capping requirements for BMEWS concrete. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 10/31/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
On 10/31/2019, DEC approved Revised Field Work Variance #11, Characterization/Remediation/Demolition of BMEWS Structures, Clear Air Force Station, Alaska (HGL, October 2019). FWV #11 addresses the proposed field changes for the abatement of PCB-painted concrete and remediation of PCB oil-stained areas. The FWV also requests approval of the design for covering the concrete foundations at the former BMEWS Facility. FWV #11 was approved with the following understanding:
1. The United States Air Force will submit a design for the final cap to DEC and EPA for approval.
2. The final cover design will incorporate the components of the interim cap. That is, the final cap will be installed on top of the interim cap. The interim cap will not be removed.
3. A final cap will be installed within a reasonable amount of time. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 11/4/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
On 11/4/2019, DEC reviewed the Building 105 data package and the request to install a temporary cover over the B105 foundation per the design described in
Section 3 of FWV #11. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 11/5/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
On 11/5/2019, DEC reviewed the 645 Utilidor data package and approved the request to install a temporary cover over the 645 utilidor foundations per the design described in Section 3 of FWV #11.
|
Jamie McKellar |
| 11/7/2019 |
Meeting or Teleconference Held |
Meeting with EPA, USACE, DEC, USAF to discuss vertical sample results greater than 10 ppm. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 11/8/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
On 11/8/2019, DEC reviewed the B103 data package adn requested that USAF, MDA, and its contractors incorporate a number of comments into the document. One vertical sample for B103 had a PCB concentration of 23 mg/kg and requires additional delineation and potential remediation prior to installation of the final cover. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 11/13/2019 |
Update or Other Action |
On 11/13/2019, DEC provided a response to USAF, MDA, and HGL regarding the comment table titled "HGL Photo Logs and Work Plans." Additional information about the 2018 field season was requested on 1/31/2019. As part of the response to DEC’s request, HGL provided a photo log that included details on certain components of the project. DEC provided comments on January 31, 2019 and May 7, 2019. The most recent response to comments was submitted by USAF/MDA on June 25, 2019. The delay in responding to the HGL Photo Log & Work Plan responses to comments was due to competing priorities and reviews for Clear AFS during the 2019 field season. The letter issued by DEC on 11/13/2019 is for clarification purposes only. No further responses are required from USAF, MDA, or their contractors. |
Jamie McKellar |
| 4/14/2021 |
Exposure Tracking Model Ranking |
Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80170 name: BMEWS Antenna Arrays |
Jamie McKellar |
| 5/20/2021 |
Cleanup Complete Determination Issued |
|
Jamie McKellar |
