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Site Report: Eielson AFB (SER-2) (LF01) Landfill

Site Name: Eielson AFB (SER-2) (LF01) Landfill
Address: West of Richardson Hwy, Eielson AFB, AK 99702
File Number: 107.38.032
Hazard ID: 330
Status: Active
Staff: Sarah Bernhardt, 9072697527 sarah.bernhardt@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.654384
Longitude: -147.097958
Horizontal Datum:

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

General refuse including empty cans and 55-gallon drums; may have received waste oils, spent solvents, paint residues and thinners. Active period 1950-1960/Currently inactive. Last staff assigned were Short and Markey. (rpltr4) Between 1950-1960, LF001 operated as the original Base landfill. The landfill received all refuse from the Base, including household garbage and industrial waste. LF001 was also used for drum disposal, though there are no historical records of this use. In 1960, LF001 was closed and covered with a soil cap. In 1990, field crews observed the landfill cap had eroded in some places. In 1992, 2,500 open, rusting drums were removed and disposed in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Product was found in several drums and disposed of according to regulations. A limited field investigation occurred and samples were collected and analyzed for VOCs, SVOCs, pesticides, herbicides and metals. Other than metals, no other contaminants were detected. Site was placed in the long-term monitoring program during the ROD to satisfy post-closure care requirments under State of Alaska Solid Waste Regulations (although landfill was unpermitted) for Class III landfills. In 1993, approximately 1,000 empty drums remained on site. In 1995, LF001 was included in the Operable Units 3, 4, and 5 ROD. The site did not present an unacceptable risk to human health and the environment and therefore was designated as Site Closed, No Further Action. In 2012, LF001 was reopened under the Settlement Agreement, and in 2013 LF001 was inspected by regulators and a significant amount of debris (consisting of rusted metals, 55 gallon drums, cans, tires, and household waste) was observed. In 2015 - 2017 a Remedial Investigation/Risk Assessment was performed and soil cover was observed to be eroded in some places. In 2023 - 2025 a Supplemental RI is being performed to address data gaps related to incomplete characterization of site contaminants. Site also includes spill no. 15309919101. "Seeps" of a viscous tar or asphalt-like material were discovered in July 2015 between the borrow pit and the Richardson Highway, along the area south of the access road to the borrow pit to just north of a heavily vegetated depression near a roadside memorial cross.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
1/15/1992 Site Added to Database This site is included in the state EPA Eielson FFA 100.38.011. Former Staff
8/11/1992 Meeting or Teleconference Held RPM call regarding removal action to take place summer of 1992. Over 2500 empty crushed drums to be taken to the landfill. 2 Acres in size. 2 Pesticide drums were found. Former Staff
8/27/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Site visit. Drum removal summer 1992. Ronan Short
9/14/1992 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Former Staff
2/23/1993 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RPL2 - Site Information Request Letter). Sent PRP-CS database Notification Letter to RP requesting update and more environmental information concerning contaminated site. Department of the Air Force responded with update of requested site information on 3-17-93. Jeff Peterson
9/24/1996 Record of Decision Final Site-Wide Record of Decision, September 1, 1996; two documents received. Rielle Markey
9/24/1996 Institutional Control Record Established This site is included in the sitewide monitoring Program. This site has administrative controls in the form of the base Dig Permit and work clearance request through 354 CES/CEV. Emily Youcha
9/24/1996 Long Term Monitoring Established Site was monitored under the Sitewide Monitoring Program. Emily Youcha
9/24/1996 Conditional Closure Approved Site remedy during the OU5 ROD was NFA W/ Monitoring under SWMP. Emily Youcha
12/26/2001 GIS Position Updated Worked with Heather Goldman obtaining GIS latitude and longitude from 1:63,300 topographic map. Heather Goldman
8/1/2002 Long Term Monitoring Complete During the 2002 SWMP, one sample was collected from a single well and contamination was below cleanup levels for VOCs and metals. During previous sampling events in 1993, 1994, and 1996, there were hits of lead above the cleanup levels. It was thought that the lead exceedences (which only occurred in 1994 sampling event) were due to a sampling method that yielded highly turbid samples. Subsequent sampling methods (low-flow) have yielded low metals concentrations (below the MCL). Emily Youcha
9/19/2003 Meeting or Teleconference Held Staff attended a meeting with Air Force and EPA personnel to resolve comments on the draft Eielson Five-Year Review. Issues with the document included event-driven groundwater sampling at several contaminated sites, which we denied pending further clarification of the process, and closing numerous sites under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), but keeping them open under the State until 18 AAC 75 diesel range organic cleanup levels are met. Ann Farris
12/23/2003 Update or Other Action During the 2003 ROD Review, site was closed under CERCLA. Emily Youcha
6/25/2012 Site Reopened Site reopened per Settlement Agreement. Bri Clark
12/12/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other During landfill inspection, a significant amount of debris was observed on the landfill surface. Debris consisted of rusted metal, old drums, glass bottles and cans, tires, household wastes, and military items. It did not appear that the debris was impacting Piledriver Slough, but some debris was observed in the older growth trees near that area. Kim DeRuyter
7/21/2015 Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program Spill transferred by PERP staff Patrik Sartz. Spill no. 15309919101; spill date = 7/10/15; substance = unknown; quantity = unknown; PERP file no. 107.02.004; description: "Seeps" of a viscous tar or asphalt-like material were discovered in July 2015 between the borrow pit and the Richardson Highway, along the area south of the access road to the borrow pit to just north of a heavily vegetated depression near a roadside memorial cross. Mitzi Read
9/22/2015 CERCLA RI Plan Approved Joint approval issued by EPA and DEC for the final "Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study Management Plan For Operable Units 3, 4, and 5 Source Areas, Eielson Performance-Based Remediation, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska" dated September 2015 (OU 3, 4 & 5 RI/FS MP). The OU 3, 4 & 5 RI/FS MP describes planned remedial investigations at 23 contaminated sites at Eielson Air Force Base, including LF01. Melinda Brunner
9/22/2015 CERCLA RI Plan Approved DEC and EPA jointly approved the "2015 Annual Field Sampling Plan, Eielson Performance-Based Remediation, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska" dated September 2015 (FSP). The FSP describes remedial investigations planned for 2015 at 21 contaminated sites at Eielson Air Force Base, including LF01. The FSP is meant to be used in conjunction with the appropriate remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) management plan(i.e. OU 3,4,& 5) and the Programmatic Quality Assurance Project Plan. Melinda Brunner
9/23/2015 Site Visit USAF, EPA and DEC remedial project managers visited the site to evaluate current conditions. Soil and groundwater at the site was sampled during summer and fall of 2015 under an approved work plan; the sample locations were clearly marked during this site visit, and had been appropriately filled. Also apparent at the site were the brushed transects used to complete a geophysical survey of buried debris during the summer and fall of 2015. Melinda Brunner
12/21/2015 Update or Other Action DEC and EPA issued a letter jointly approving the "Operations and Maintenance (O&M) and Implementation Plan for Landfills LF001 Through LF007, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska" dated November 2015 (the Landfill OMIP). The Landfill OMIP describes the inspection, maintenance, and repair activities to be performed at Landfills LF001 through LF007 at Eielson Air Force Base. Melinda Brunner
12/14/2016 Institutional Control Compliance Review Controls for this landfill regarding gate locations were discussed with the Air Force during the December 2016 RPM meeting. Monte Garroutte
4/25/2017 Update or Other Action DEC reviewed and provided comments on the Draft Programmatic Quality Assurance Project Plan, Addendum No. 2, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska (March, 2017). John O'Brien
12/19/2018 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC reviewed and issued a secondary round of comments on the, "Draft Final Supplemental Remedial Investigation/Risk Assessment Report for OU3,4,5 Source Areas, Eielson Performance-Based Remediation, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska," dated October 2018. Bri Clark
8/11/2020 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC received a response to comments and a Final Revision 1 Supplemental Remedial Investigation/Risk Assessment Report for OU- 3,4,5 Source Areas, Eielson Performance Based Remediation, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, dated August 2020. This report summarizes remedial investigation (RI)/risk assessment (RA) activities conducted from 2015 through 2018 at Source Areas LF001, LF002, LF003/FT009, LF004, LF006, WP032, WP033, SS036, SS037, DP044, WP045/SS057, DP055, ST056, SS061, and SS064 on Eielson Air Force Base. Dennis Shepard
6/2/2021 CERCLA RI Report Approved The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) provided joint approval of the Final Supplemental Remedial Investigation/Risk Assessment Report for OU3,4,5 Source Areas, Eielson Air Force Base (May 2021). The report summarizes remedial investigation (RI)/risk assessment (RA) activities conducted from 2015 through 2018 at Source Areas LF001, LF002, LF003/FT009, LF004, LF006, WP032, WP033, SS036, SS037, DP044, WP045/SS057, DP055, ST056, SS061, and SS064 on Eielson Air Force Base. Dennis Shepard
9/19/2022 CERCLA RI Plan Approved EPA and DEC provided a joint approval for the Final Supplemental Remedial Investigation Work Plan Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska (September 2022). The scope of this Supplemental RI is to address current data gaps at the CERCLA source areas on Eielson AFB. The data gaps are generally related to the incomplete characterization of site contaminants under the 2015-2021 Performance Based Remediation (PBR) and emerging contaminants identified since the 2015-2021 PBR. Axl LeVan
9/30/2025 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other On this date DEC approved the Draft Final Landfill Survey Desktop Investigation Report, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, September 2025. The report summarizes the findings of a desktop investigation performed for seven landfill sites at Eielson Air Force Base (LF001, LF002, LF003, LF004, LF005, LF006, and LF007). The purpose of the investigation was to determine regulation applicability based on current applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements, historical landfill extents, identify on-site and offsite sources of potential contamination and receptors, and identify contaminants of concern. Problem comments and contaminants of concern for each of the sites in this report have been updated following the approval of this report. The final document will be attached to the database file for each site. Sarah Bernhardt
11/26/2025 Long Term Monitoring Workplan or Report Review On this date DEC approved the Final 2024 Institutional Controls/Land Use Controls Annual Report, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, November 2025. During 2024 twelve sites had boundary updates (SO066, CS074, SO075, SS078, SS079, CS082, SO501, SO503, SO504, CG505, MY512, MY518, CG527, MY529, SS530, TU531). Sarah Bernhardt
12/1/2025 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC approved the Final 2025 Environmental Restoration Program Atlas, Eielson Air Force Base, AK, November 2025 on this date. The goal of the document is to present the Land Use Controls for the source areas at Eielson Air Force Base. The figures in the Atlas provide the Decision Document (DD) Controls, Base Administrative Controls, and ICs for each site, along with present groundwater plumes, restricted soil excavation areas, and contaminants of concern at the sites. The Restoration Atlas is required per the Institutional Control/Land Use Controls (IC/LUC) Settlement Agreement signed April 15, 2013. The Atlas was issued for the first time in 2017 and is updated annually. Sarah Bernhardt
12/10/2025 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC received the Final Desktop Investigation Report, Eielson Air Force Base Landfill Survey, dated October 2025 on this date. A desktop investigation was performed for seven landfill (LF) sites at Eielson Air Force Base (LF001, LF002, LF003, LF004, LF005, LF006, and LF007) to determine regulation applicability based on current applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements, conduct a records search and photograph interpretation for historical landfill extents, identify on-site and offsite sources of potential contamination and receptors, and identify contaminants of concern (COCs). Historical documents were searched to determine previous investigations conducted at the seven landfills, regulatory applicability, and reported data gaps related to landfill extents, presence/absence of landfill caps, and landfill cap thicknesses. Historical imagery obtained from public and commercial sources and the Air Force Civil Engineer Center was examined to determine land use changes at the landfill sites and estimate the maximum extent of the landfills. Sarah Bernhardt
1/28/2026 Meeting or Teleconference Held The Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska Remedial Project Managers’ (RPMs) Monthly Meeting took place virtually 27-28 January, 2026. Updates included: North Pole PFAS Public Involvement Planning coordinate, general PFAS investigation updates, site progress for CERCLA and petroleum only sites, upcoming OU Supplemental Risk Investigations, and remedial investigation documents currently under review. This site was discussed during the meeting. Sarah Bernhardt

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
Lead - Total > Table C Groundwater

Control Type

Type Details
Land Use Plan / Maps / Base Master Plan Base General Plan - Dig Permit Process

Requirements

Description Details
New Construction Restrictions No specific access restrictions are indicated for LF01, however, any construction or other activity that may result in exposure to subsurface soil or groundwater at LF01 will comply with general procedures outlined in the Base Plan.
Groundwater Monitoring ADEC agreed to decrease sampling of the North Boundary Wells from annual sampling to biennial. Upcoming measurements will be summer 2007, 2009, 2011, etc. Concentrations of VOCs, SVOCs, and metals in the sentinel wells have been monitored annually since 1992 and there has been no detection of contamination.

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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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
TDD: 800-770-8973
Physical Location: 410 Willoughby