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: FAA Hog Island Radio Range

Site Name: FAA Hog Island Radio Range
Address: Hog Island; 800 Yards West of Amaknak Island, Unalaska, AK 99685
File Number: 2661.38.017
Hazard ID: 26819
Status: Active
Staff: Alena Voigt, 9072697556 alena.voigt@alaska.gov
Latitude: 53.900087
Longitude: -166.574146
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

This Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Hog Island Radio Range is a former radio range that was commissioned in May 1945. Hog Island was relinquished to the Department of the Interior in 1951, sold to J.W. Graham in 1955, and later acquired by Uknadax Native Corporation in 2013. During an August 2017 site visit, possible contamination associated with an engine generator building with two generator pads, a partially exposed 3,000-gallon underground storage tank, propane tanks, engine parts, and other debris was identified. Infrastructure associated with the Radio Range includes five 134' steel towers, an electronics building, an engine generator building, and a Z Marker. Asbestos testing revealed that caulking associated with the transmitter and engine buildings contains 5% friable asbestos. No signs of HAZMAT were discovered during the site visit, but it is likely that they were used during facility operation. Further policing of the area may reveal small amounts of HAZMAT. In June 2019 demolition and analytical sampling activities were performed at the site. Five radio range towers and a Z marker structure were removed during these field activities. Contamination above acceptable cleanup-up levels were found beneath the location of the AST and adjacent to the footprint of the engine generator building. Elevated levels of lead, 3020 mg/kg, arsenic, 12.8 mg/kg and chloroform, 0.0104 mg/kg were reported.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
11/28/2017 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
4/22/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC reviews and provides comment on the document titled "Draft Work Plan, Hog Island Radio Range Release Investigation and Infrastructure Removal, Hog Island, Alaska" dated April 2019. The objectives of this work plan are to remove five radio range towers, remove an AST and potentially contaminated soils surrounding it, perform hydrocarbon sampling around the AST and generator building, and perform lead sampling around the generator building and electronics building. Kara Kusche
6/13/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC reviews a Response to Comments and provides additional comments on proposed changes to the work plan. Kara Kusche
12/20/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC received a draft report for demolition of the FAA Hog Island Radio Range Facility from the FAA. Randy Guintu
3/20/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC issued a comment letter regarding the draft demolition report. Randy Guintu
6/1/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The CSP received a response to comments table and other requested information from the RP, which was in regards to the draft demolition report comment letter. The CSP responded to the RP the same day with a response. Randy Guintu
10/21/2020 Site Characterization Report Approved The Final Demolition and Remedial Investigation Report, Former Radio Range Facility dated July 2020 was approved on October 21, 2020. The report was prepared by Brice Environmental. Randy Guintu
11/16/2020 Workplan Requested The ADEC issued site characterization work plan letter to potential PRPs on November 17, 2020. Randy Guintu
8/26/2021 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC teleconferenced with PRP regarding future site characterization work plan for lead. ADEC provided verbal comments and brainstorming on proposed soil sampling to occur in 2022. Flannery Ballard
10/29/2021 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80676 name: Engine Generator Building Courtney Pegus
12/10/2021 Update or Other Action RP's consultant, Craig Scola, submitted a timeline for work plan (WP) submittal and 2022 field work. A WP will be submitted in March 2022. Flannery Ballard
4/4/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The ADEC provided comments in response to "Draft Work Plan, Hog Island Former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Radio Relay Facility (RRF) Environmental Investigation". Flannery Ballard
4/15/2022 Meeting or Teleconference Held The ADEC teleconferenced with multiple members of the Ounalashka Corporation and ARS Aleut Federal to discuss the potential RCRA requirements for lead contaminated soil that is collected during sampling. The ADEC is consulting the EPA in regards to RCRA requirements and is also considering alterations to the work plan that do not involve the gathering of soil for screening purposes. Flannery Ballard
6/2/2022 Site Characterization Workplan Approved ADEC letter dated 6/2/2022 approves work plan dated May 2022 prepared by ARS Aleut Remediation. The primary project goals are to delineate the extent and magnitude of lead contamination in soil near the engine generator building at the FAA Hog Island RR, and determine a potential source of the contamination. Alena Voigt
3/9/2023 Site Characterization Report Approved The ADEC CSP received the “Draft Report – Former Federal Aviation Administrative (FAA) Hog Island Radio Range Environmental Investigation” dated September 2022, and submitted to the department on September 27, 2022, via electronic mail. The ADEC provided comments to the responsible party on February 28, 2023. The revised “Final Report - Former Federal Aviation Administrative (FAA) Hog Island Radio Range Environmental Investigation” was received on March 7, 2023. Analytical samples were collected from the vicinity of the Engine Generator Building and the former aboveground storage tank (AST) associated with the building to determine the extent of lead contamination, as well as the potential source of the contamination. Sample results from the former AST ranged from 16 mg/kg to 210 mg/kg, less than the ADEC cleanup level of 400 mg/kg. Sample results collected from the perimeter of the Engine Generator Building ranged from 310 mg/kg to 10,000 mg/kg. In addition to the lead analytical samples at the Engine Generator Building, three asbestos samples were collected: one from the exterior wallboard material of the building, one from the insulation material within the wallboard, and one from the roofing material. Asbestos was not detected in any of the three samples. ADEC is requesting a work plan for additional site characterization to further investigate the full extent of lead contaminated soil at the site. Alena Voigt
9/16/2024 Site Characterization Workplan Approved DEC reviewed and approved the “2024 Hog Island Investigation Work Plan Draft” from Aleut Federal on behalf of Ounalashka Corporation. The work plan states field activities will consist of soil sampling focused around the Engine Generator Building and Electronics Building to vertically and horizontally delineate lead contaminated soil. Alena Voigt

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

There are no documents for this site report.

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