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Site Report: USCG Kodiak Buskin Lake Commdet Tower Field

Site Name: USCG Kodiak Buskin Lake Commdet Tower Field
Address: East Side of Anton Larson Bay Road, Near Buskin Lake, Kodiak, AK 99615
File Number: 2601.38.124
Hazard ID: 27312
Status: Active
Staff: Curtis Dunkin, 9072693053 curtis.dunkin@alaska.gov
Latitude: 57.778258
Longitude: -152.530120
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

The US Coast Guard (USCG) Kodiak Buskin Lake Communication Detachment (Commdet) Tower Field is a telecommunications facility located on the east side of Anton Larson Bay Road near Buskin Lake, at the USCG Base Kodiak and operates as an industrial site. Communication towers at the site consist of a series of medium- and high-frequency and are used for communicating with ships in the northwest Pacific Ocean. On November 8, 2016, an investigation was conducted of five towers (T11, T10, T9, T8, and VR1) and paint chip samples were collected from each tower. Orange and white paints used on T8 through T11 and VR1 towers were confirmed to contain approximately 10 to 25% lead content. Surface soil sampling was conducted on June 11-12 2020 at T8 through T11 and VR1 towers and determined that paint chips are present in the vicinity of the towers at approximately 1 square inch per square foot (sq ft). Composite samples collected from the top 2 inches of soil were analyzed for total lead content, which was found at concentrations ranging from 320 to 8,900 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), exceeding the ADEC 18 AAC 75.341(c) Method Two soil cleanup level. Composite soil samples were also analyzed for Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) lead concentration, which ranged up to 0.68 milligrams per liter (mg/L). Upon confirming the presence of lead-based paint in the towers and surrounding soils in 2020-21, the USCG has limited site disturbance and activities to above ground work only (e.g. structural tower removal and disposal); with the exception of decommissioning several legacy groundwater monitoring wells in 2021-22 that was approved by ADEC-CS. The USCG is actively managing the site to prohibit site access and disturbance in accordance with the Base Kodiak Land Use Controls and is currently programming a site characterization investigation and possible removal actions that are planned for implementation in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
3/12/2021 Site Added to Database A new site has been added to the database Mitzi Read
3/24/2021 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 80748 name: Buskin Lake Commdet Tower Field Cascade Galasso-Irish
3/25/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC reviewed the “Draft-Final Environmental Management Plan and Lead Soil Sampling Workplan for Tower Field Reconfiguration, United States Coast Guard, Kodiak Communication Station” dated June 2020. The document describes intended excavation and sampling of lead-impacted soil at the USCG Kodiak Buskin Lake Commdet Tower Field site in support of construction. Comments on the document were provided to the U.S. Coast Guard via email. Melinda Brunner
3/26/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC rescinded and replaced comments sent to the U.S. Coast Guard on March 25, 2021 regarding review “Draft-Final Environmental Management Plan and Lead Soil Sampling Workplan for Tower Field Reconfiguration, United States Coast Guard, Kodiak Communication Station” dated June 2020. The document describes intended excavation and sampling of lead-impacted soil at the USCG Kodiak Buskin Lake Commdet Tower Field site in support of construction. The comments sent on March 25, 2021 were incomplete. Melinda Brunner
4/1/2021 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter PRP letter sent on this date. Cascade Galasso-Irish
5/7/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC evaluated and sent comments to the U.S. Coast Guard on the "Final Environmental Management Plan and Lead Soil Sampling Workplan for Tower Field Reconfiguration, United States Coast Guard, Kodiak Communication Station” dated April 2021. The document describes intended excavation and sampling of lead-impacted soil at the USCG Kodiak Buskin Lake Commdet Tower Field site in support of construction. Additional changes to the sampling scheme for excavated soil were requested. Melinda Brunner
7/28/2021 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC reviewed the draft 2021 Base Kodiak Monitoring Well Decommissioning Work Plan and submitted comments to the USCG. Curtis Dunkin
7/30/2021 Site Characterization Workplan Approved DEC issued approval for the "Revised Final Environmental Management Plan and Lead Soil Sampling Work Plan for Tower Field Reconfiguration, United States Coast Guard Kodiak Communication Station" dated June 2021. The document describes intended excavation and sampling of lead-impacted soil, and groundwater as needed, at the site in support of construction. Melinda Brunner
8/3/2021 Site Visit ADEC participated in annual project delivery team meetings at the USCG Base Kodiak with representatives from the USCG, EPA, and their respective contracted technical support representatives, and conducted site visits and inspections of the active USCG Kodiak sites. Curtis Dunkin
1/28/2022 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC reviewed the responses to comments and the redline revised draft final 2022 Monitoring Well Decommissioning Work Plan and submitted review determinations and approvals to the USCG to finalize the document and and implement the work plan in the field. Curtis Dunkin
9/13/2022 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC participated in two full days of annual project delivery team meetings with representatives from the USCG, EPA, and their respective contracted technical support staff. Curtis Dunkin
10/27/2022 Site Visit DEC conducted site visits with the USCG on 27 OCT 2022 at the USCG's Buskin Lake Commdet Tower Field, Buskin River Army/Navy USTs, Former Nemetz Housing, Site 6A, Site 03 Laundry, Site 06B Nyman Penin FF, Site 07A Barrel Stor. 1, Site 23 Old Power Plant, and Site 32 Marine Sediment sites to evaluate current conditions, including discussion of land use control implementation. Melinda Brunner
2/8/2023 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC met with USCG and EPA-RCRA representatives on 2/8/23. The USCG indicated that potentially lead-contaminated soil was excavated and transported off-base without approval. Melinda Brunner
2/10/2023 Update or Other Action DEC sent the USCG a letter requesting information about the implementation of the “Revised Final Environmental Management Plan and Lead Soil Sampling Work Plan for Tower Field Reconfiguration, United States Coast Guard Kodiak Communication Station” dated June 2021, including the current disposition of soil excavated at the site. Melinda Brunner
2/14/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC reviewed the draft 2023 Commdet Towers Offsite Waste Management Plan and submitted review comments to the U.S. Coast Guard. Curtis Dunkin
2/15/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC reviewed the responses to comments and revised redline final 2023 Commdet Towers Offsite Waste Management Plan and submitted an approval letter to the U.S. Coast Guard. Additionally, DEC signed and approved the USCG's Contaminated Media Transport and Treatment/Disposal form for the transport of an estimated 120 cubic yards of soil back onto Base Kodiak property from an off-Base location. Curtis Dunkin
5/12/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On this date, DEC reviewed the responses to comments and revised Waste Management Plan for Commdet Towers, dated May 2023, and submitted an approval letter to the U.S. Coast Guard. Additionally, DEC signed and approved the USCG's Contaminated Media Transport and Treatment/Disposal form for the transport of an estimated 302 cubic yards of lead-contaminated soil to the Chemical Waste Management of the NW. Cascade Galasso-Irish
5/31/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC reviewed the draft 2023 T1 Abatement Pad Sampling and Analysis Report and submitted comments to the U.S. Coast Guard. Curtis Dunkin
4/22/2024 Site Visit ADEC staff conducted 4 full days of site visits and inspections of all active contaminated sites located on USCG Base Kodiak during the week of April 22, 2024 including comprehensive site walks, land use and site condition evaluations, and in-situ inspections and observations of field work implementation; including multiple ADEC-approved site characterization and cleanup removal action efforts at multiple sites across the Base. Curtis Dunkin
6/26/2024 CERCLA PA ADEC reviewed the draft 2024 Base USCG Kodiak PFAS Preliminary Assessment (PA) Report and submitted comments to the U.S. Coast Guard. The draft PA effort evaluated both confirmed as well as potential historical AFFF use and/or release locations across the contiguous USCG Base Kodiak as well as other adjacent USCG properties. The report also ranked the inventory of sites and proposed future actions and investigation efforts. Curtis Dunkin
7/10/2024 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC staff reviewed the draft 2024 Environmental Managment Summary Report for the Commdex Antenna Tower Demolition and submitted comments to the U.S. Coast Guard. The report summarizes the activities that were implemented by the U.S. Coast Guard during 2021-23 and involved the demolition, removal, and cleanup of tower infrastructure materials. Curtis Dunkin
8/26/2024 Meeting or Teleconference Held ADEC staff participated in 3 days of annual project delivery team planning and prioritization meetings in Seattle, WA at the EPA Region 10 Headquarters with stakeholders from the U.S. Coast Guard, EPA-RCRA, and ADEC. Curtis Dunkin
5/7/2025 Site Visit ADEC staff traveled to Kodiak and conducted site visits at multiple active Base Kodiak sites to evaluate current site conditions and considerations in support of ongoing site management and oversight during the 2025-26 field season. Curtis Dunkin

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

There are no documents for this site report.

Hazard ID Site Name File Number
23828 USCG Kodiak T-40 2601.26.064

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

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