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Site Report: Cape Yakataga Radio Relay Station

Site Name: Cape Yakataga Radio Relay Station
Address: Cape Yakataga (betweenYakatat and Cordova), Cape Yakataga, AK 99574
File Number: 2208.38.002
Hazard ID: 2810
Status: Active
Staff: Jenny Gates, 9072628203 jenny.gates@alaska.gov
Latitude: 60.069661
Longitude: -142.431333
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

PCB contamination identified in soil outside of doorways of the Composite Building. Removal occurred in 2014. Petroleum contamination present in groundwater.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
4/18/1995 Update or Other Action Based on FUDS Site Summary dated 2/21/96, four PAs were completed; last one completed 4/18/95. Former Staff
2/20/1997 Site Added to Database Site added by Shannon and Wilson, Inc. S&W-Miner
3/27/1997 Preliminary Assessment Approved ADEC received a copy of a Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation, done by E&E for EPA under its START contract. It documented elevated PCB levels in three transformers on a platform outside the building, elevated PCBs and metals in the septic tank, PCB contaminated oil in one of eight drums that appeared to be abandoned on-site, elevated fuels in soil around the USTs and ASTs, and fuel contamination in the adjacent disposal area (however, SI results were much lower than site reconnaissance samples {60 mg/kg DRO, vs 210,000 mg/kg DRO}) indicating widespread but varying levels of petroleum. John Halverson
6/15/1997 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SI - Site Investigation). EPA conducted a Site Investigation in 1997. Widespread petroleum contamination. PCBs at elevated levels in the septic tank. Transformers and drums of waste at the site. John Halverson
12/2/1997 Interim Removal Action Approved ADEC reviewed and approved a workplan for removing and properly disposing of transformers which contain high levels of PCBs. John Halverson
12/10/1997 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Site ranked by staff. John Halverson
12/15/1997 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RA - Remedial Action). Corps contractor removed and disposed of the transformers. John Halverson
2/12/1998 Update or Other Action Received After Action Report for PCB Transformer Removal and Disposal conducted during November 1997. Only the transformers were removed, although there was evidence of oil leakage from the transformers. Katarina Rutkowski
10/2/1998 Interim Removal Action Approved ADEC forwarded comments to the Corps on its draft workplan for site characterization. Inadequate time was allotted for ADEC review; contractor planned to start fieldwork before plans were finalized; notified the Corps that ADEC review and comments need to be addressed before fieldwork begins. Verbal approval of removal action workplan through iterative calls, emails and discussions. John Halverson
12/4/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC approved transport of petroleum contaminated soil (~60 cubic yards) to Alaska Soil Recycling in Anchorage and PCB contaminated soil (~ 50 cubic yards) to APC/Chemron in Palmer for thermal treatment. John Halverson
12/18/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC sent a letter to the Corps and the landowner summarizing a planning meeting held on December 18. The letter describes outstanding areas of concern, the status of on-going work and recommendations for coordinating future work. John Halverson
12/29/1998 Update or Other Action ADEC issued a letter of non-objection to HLA/Wilder in response to its request for approval to ship sludge, a fuel-water mixture, and contaminated water to Energy Recovery Services in Anchorage for treatment. The letter noted that some of the waste appeared to be characteristic hazardous waste and needed to be managed in accordance with all applicable regulations. John Halverson
1/19/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC sent HLA/Wilder a letter approving transport of ~100 cubic yards of petroleum contaminated soil containing low levels of PCBs to APC/Chemron. Documentation of treatment to be included in the final report. John Halverson
1/20/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC sent a letter to HLA/Wilder approving transport of another ~58 cubic yards of petroleum contaminated soil to ASR. John Halverson
5/12/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC provided comments to the Corps on the Draft Petroleum Release and Leachfield Investigation report, prepared by Harding and Lawson, dated March 24, 1999. The report documents petroleum contamination in soil and groundwater associated with the ASTs and former USTs. It appears impacts at the leachfield area are minimal. No final report yet. John Halverson
5/18/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC provided comments to the Corps on the Draft Remedial Action Report for the Underground Storage Tank Removal, by HLA/Wilder, March 12, 1999. The draft report documents removal of a 20,000 gallon diesel fuel UST and a 110 gallon and a 500 gallon gasoline tank. Samples from beneath the 20,000 gallon and 500 gallon tanks document residual fuel contamination and the need for further investigation and cleanup. No final report yet. John Halverson
11/3/1999 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Site reranked using data from the most recent reports from the Corps - results in "high priority" John Halverson
12/17/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC approved transport of ~160 cubic yards of petroleum and low level PCB contaminated soil to APC/Chemron for treatment in its calciner. Requested documentation of property treatment/disposal in the final report. John Halverson
3/31/2000 Update or Other Action Three USTs and associated piping were removed. A 20,000 gallon diesel and associated valve boxes adjacent to the northwest corner of the north wing of the composite building, a 110 gallon gasoline UST north of the pumphouse building, and a 500 gallon UST north of the composite building. Final Report. John Halverson
3/31/2000 Update or Other Action A petroleum release investigation was performed to identify the concentration and extent of soil contamination associated with the petroleum pipeline, tanks and the disposal area. Additional investigation included defining the direction of groundwater flow and the extent of groundwater contamination. John Halverson
9/8/2000 Site Characterization Workplan Approved ADEC provided comments on the Additional Sampling/Analysis and Feasibility Study. The plan is to characterize the extent of DRO and GRO plumes and develop site assessment data to support risk-based cleanup levels and remedial alternatives. Areas to be investigated are: possible disposal area, water filled ravine area, fuel pipeline area, fuel off-loading area, composite building area and AST area. Debra Caillouet
5/24/2001 Update or Other Action ADEC received the first quarterly report for the sampling. The DRO and GRO plumes are fairly well defined now. PCBs were found at several doorways. There will be three more sampling events. Debra Caillouet
7/31/2001 Site Number Identifier Changed Changed Workplan from X8 to X9 to reflect presence of hazardous substances - metals and PCBs. Former Staff
5/9/2002 Update or Other Action ADEC recieved Corps comments and fourth quarter groundwater sampling report. Corps has some serious issues with the report and has sent it back for rewrite Debra Caillouet
2/4/2004 Site Characterization Report Approved Staff reviewed the draft final RI/FS based on the field work completed under the work plan approved in September 2000. Significant comments were submitted to the USACE on the FS. Debra Caillouet
8/10/2004 Update or Other Action Staff sent a comment letter on the Groundwater monitoring and free product tech memo requesting programming for an additional well. Debra Caillouet
1/26/2005 Update or Other Action File number issued 2208.38.002 Aggie Blandford
2/2/2005 Update or Other Action Staff sent comments on the draft work plan addendum for additional groundwater monitoring Debra Caillouet
3/16/2005 Update or Other Action Staff replied to comment response from the Corp on the addendum for additional groundwater monitoring Debra Caillouet
8/26/2005 Site Characterization Report Approved Staff approved the draft data report for groundwater monitoring with minor comment Debra Caillouet
10/9/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking AST area Debra Caillouet
10/10/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking composite building area Debra Caillouet
10/10/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking possible disposal area Debra Caillouet
2/12/2009 Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter Letters sent to AT&T, ITT and Lockheed Martin Debra Caillouet
9/9/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Assessment Work Plan, Cape Yakataga Radio Relay Station, Cape Yakataga, Alaska, September 2011 Debra Caillouet
12/22/2011 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Comment sent on the Draft Field Investigation and Assessment Report, Cape Yakataga Radio Relay Station, Cape Yakataga, Alaska, December 2011 Debra Caillouet
2/10/2012 Site Characterization Report Approved Re: Field Investigation and Assessment Report, Cape Yakataga Radio Relay Station, Cape Yakataga, Alaska, February 2012 The investigation was able to further delineate the extent of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination remaining around the Composite Building and Radio Relay Building. The delineation was not complete but does provide a good estimate of the amount of soil impacted. The groundwater investigation showed that the hydrocarbon plume is stable or decreasing and that natural attenuation is occurring. Debra Caillouet
10/29/2012 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Cleanup Work Plan, Cape Yakataga Radio Relay Station, Draft October 2012 Debra Caillouet
12/23/2013 Cleanup Plan Approved Final Cleanup Work Plan for the Cape Yakataga Radio Relay Station, December 2013 Debra Caillouet
6/16/2014 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78263 name: AST Area Debra Caillouet
6/16/2014 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 78267 name: Possible Disposal Area Debra Caillouet
1/29/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Cleanup Report Cape Yakataga Radio Relay Station, Cape Yakataga, Alaska, January 2015 The report documents of the excavation of 213 cubic yards of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) soil at the former Radio Relay Station. Confirmation sampling at the limits of the excavations show all areas to be less than the most stringent cleanup level in 18 AAC 75.341 Table B1 of 1 mg/kg. The majority of this contaminated soil was shipped off-site and properly disposed. But, due to unfavorable weather, 46 super sacks of PCB contaminated soil are stored on-site pending transportation and disposal when conditions allow in the spring/summer of 2015. The groundwater was sampled at the site. The results demonstrate that natural attenuation is occurring and that eleven of twelve sampling locations were below the 18 AAC 75.345 Table C value for diesel range organics (DRO) of 1.5 mg/l. The sample results show that the DRO concentrations in groundwater are decreasing. One sample at 1.53 mg/l was above the cleanup level. No other contaminants were detected in the groundwater above the Table C cleanup levels. SLR intends to collect an additional round of groundwater samples concurrent with the shipment of the remaining PCB soil. When this occurs please submit a hard copy of this report (appendices may be electronic) including disposal documentation for the remaining 46 super sacks. A report addendum or appendix can be prepared to present the groundwater monitoring results. Debra Caillouet
1/29/2015 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78264 Composite Bldg. Debra Caillouet
10/15/2015 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Cleanup Report Addendum dated 10/15/2015 submitted to ADEC. 2015 field activities consisted of the removal and disposal of the remaining 46 supersacks containing PCB contaminated soils; PCB sampling in soil; and groundwater sampling for GRO, DRO, and natural attenuation parameters in 12 groundwater monitoring wells. The PCB confirmation sampling shows that there was not a release of PCBs resulting from supersack storage and all samples were below the soil cleanup level of 1 mg/Kg. GRO sample results were all below the groundwater cleanup level of 2.2 mg/L. DRO samples results were below the groundwater cleanup level of 1.5 mg/L at 10 monitoring wells, but was detected at 2.49 and 1.81 mg/L at the other 2 monitoring wells. Continued natural attenuation monitoring sample results show that the concentrations of both GRO and DRO are decreasing due to natural attenuation. Kara Kusche
11/6/2015 Final Cleanup Report Reviewed Letter sent to RPs following ADEC review of 10/15/2015 Cleanup Report Addendum. Cleanup of PCBs in soil and GRO in groundwater appears complete. However, the requested site closure cannot be granted because the site does not meet the groundwater cleanup level of 1.5 mg/L for DRO. Groundwater to be sampled again in 2018. Kara Kusche
12/1/2016 Meeting or Teleconference Held CS managers participate in the annual FUDS site management action plan meeting. The purpose of the is to collaborate with FUDS management on site progress and prioritization for all of the formerly used defense sites. FUDS prioritization is based on risk, congressional interest, state input and proximity to other sites on the prioritization list. FUDS has increased environmental restoration funding in Alaska for the 2017 and 2018 field seasons to meet National goals for site progress. Darren Mulkey
2/6/2017 Update or Other Action Letter sent to Responsible Parties as a reminder to continue to plan for and budget for groundwater DRO sampling in 2018. Kara Kusche
4/13/2018 Update or Other Action Letter sent to Responsible Parties reminding them and requesting that groundwater be sampled for DRO in 2018. Kara Kusche
9/21/2018 Update or Other Action ADEC approves work plan scheduling deviation to the 2019 field season, with a goal of sampling in May 2019. Consultant attempted to fly to site 5x during 2018, with flight canceled every time. Kara Kusche
8/7/2020 Site Characterization Report Approved Sent RPs and consultant an Approval Letter for the "Cape Yakataga Radio Relay Station Cleanup Report Addendum II2019 Groundwater Monitoring Report." ADEC has no objections given the consistency in concentrations over time, to sampling once every 5 years until the DRO concentrations are at or below the groundwater cleanup level (1.5 mg/L). Alternatively, the site may explore remediation techniques to accelerate the cleanup of groundwater. Past continued natural attenuation monitoring sample results show that the concentrations of DRO are decreasing due to natural attenuation, but do not fully meet the cleanup level for DRO. Jessica Hall

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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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