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: American River FUDS

Site Name: American River FUDS
Address: Igloo, ~22 miles NE of Teller, Teller, AK 99778
File Number: 475.38.018
Hazard ID: 3104
Status: Cleanup Complete
Staff: No Longer Assigned, 9074655229 dec.icunit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 65.147570
Longitude: -165.063310
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

A camp, equipment, and fuel products were abandoned at the site. There is some lead contamination in one isolated location, minor DRO contamination documented, about 20 compressed gas cylinders, and a few hundred drums in a pile. The drums are believed to be mostly empty. No information in whether there is contamination under the drum pile. Located on the Seward Peninsula, on the west bank of the American River, approximately across the river from Igloo, about 58 miles north of Nome and 22 miles NE of Teller. Igloo is shown on USGS maps, but is uninhabited. American River is sometimes referred to as Igloo, but I think that Igloo is actually across the river from the site. Teller is the closest inhabited town. No precise coordinates for the site, but it is about ½ mile west of the American River, about 3 miles upriver of the mouth of the American River, which flows into the Agiapuk River. Update: A removal action was performed in 2002 to remove all drums, gas cylinders, and other containerized waste. On drum was left behind in an overpack. In 2008, another removal action was implemented to remove the drum, but the drum was no longer there. During the same mobilization, additional sampling was done in area A, where lead was previously detected, and in area B, former location of the drum pile. No lead samples exceeded the residential cleanup level, and no significant concentrations of petroleum contamination were identified.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
12/7/1998 Update or Other Action Reviewed draft Field Investigation Report on investigation conducted summer 1998. Identified data gap for sampling under large drum pile; recommended sampling when drums are removed. Tamar Stephens
12/13/1999 Site Added to Database Lead contamination in one isolated location, minor DRO contamination documented, about 20 compressed gas cylinders, and a few hundred drums in a pile. Tamar Stephens
12/20/2002 Update or Other Action Reviewed Removal Action Report for a removal action conducted in summer 2001. Corps of Engineers removed 229 55-gallon drums, two 100-gallon drums, 5 compressed gas cylinders, and 24 Blazo containers. Field testing of one drum identified chlorinated hydrocarbons; drum was overpacked and left on site. High levels of DRO under drum pile ranging from 16,800 mg/kg to 70,500 mg/kg. Tamar Stephens
9/30/2003 Update or Other Action Staff Tamar Stephens developed DSMOA work plan with Corps of Engineers project manager. Intent is to develop decision document and work plan for site cleanup during fiscal year 2005. Tamar Stephens
12/16/2005 Update or Other Action Staff Tamar Stephens held telephone call with Corps of Engineers project manager. No progress on site due to lack of funding. Tamar Stephens
3/20/2007 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Drum storage area ranked using AHRM. Ranking did not include housing pit with lead contamination (separate source area) Tamar Stephens
4/1/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Tamar Stephens
7/14/2008 Cleanup Plan Approved Approved work plan for removal of an over-packed drum with unidentified chlorinated contents; excavation and removal of lead contaminated soil, if present, to the extent removal can be accomplished without compromising historical elements of the site; and removal of petroleum-contaminated soil from a former drum location. Due to historical nature of site, an archeologist will be on site, and all actions must be approved by archaeologist to protect historical integrity of site. Tamar Stephens
9/16/2008 Update or Other Action Reviewed and sent comments on draft report American River Formerly Used Defense Site Remedial Action Report, dated August, 2008. DEC received this report electronically on September 10, 2008. Tamar Stephens
10/1/2008 Final Cleanup Report Reviewed Reviewed and approved final report: American River Formerly Used Defense Site Remedial Action Report (September, 2008). DEC received this report electronically on September 30, 2008. Previous investigation of this site identified two areas of concern. Area A was suspected to have lead-contaminated soil in a 25 ft x 40 ft bermed pit. Area B is the location of a former drum pile. The report documents that no lead was detected in soil above the cleanup level of 400 mg/kg; therefore no soil was removed. No petroleum contamination was found above Method 2 cleanup levels in the former drum pile area, and that the site has fully revegetated since the 1999 removal action. The overpacked drum could not be located. Review of this report shows that no further cleanup is needed at this site. The site has been adequately characterized for soil contamination, and there is no evidence of the presence of remaining contamination at concentrations that would require cleanup under the site cleanup rules in 18 AAC 75.325-390. Tamar Stephens
3/27/2009 Record of Decision Decision document titled "Containerized, Hazardous, Toxic, or Radiologic Waste (CON/HTRW) Project Closure Decision and No Department of Defense Action Indicated for American River Air Base, Seward Peninsula, Alaska" was signed by Lt. Col. James R. Stone, Corps of Engineers District Commander on March 10, 2009, and by John Halverson, DEC Environmental Program Manager on March 27, 2009. The reports documents that all containerized waste has been removed from the site and that no contamination remains above cleanup levels. Field screening and analytical samples from 2008 removal action did not identify any soil contamination above method 2 direct contact cleanup levels. Tamar Stephens
12/12/2011 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 74079 Drum Storage Area. Tamar Stephens
12/13/2011 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued Decision document titled "Containerized, Hazardous, Toxic, or Radiologic Waste (CON/HTRW) Project Closure Decision and No Department of Defense Action Indicated for American River Air Base, Seward Peninsula, Alaska" was signed by Lt. Col. James R. Stone, Corps of Engineers District Commander on March 10, 2009, and by John Halverson, DEC Environmental Program Manager on March 27, 2009. The reports documents that all containerized waste has been removed from the site and that no contamination remains above cleanup levels. Field screening and analytical samples from 2008 removal action did not identify any soil contamination above method 2 direct contact cleanup levels. Tamar Stephens
12/13/2011 Institutional Control Record Removed Institutional Controls have been removed. Tamar Stephens

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
DRO < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil
Lead - Total < Method 2 Most Stringent Soil

Control Type

Type Details
No ICs Required

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.

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