| Action Date |
Action |
Description |
DEC Staff |
| 4/27/2006 |
Site Added to Database |
Site added to the database. |
Mitzi Read |
| 3/5/2007 |
Exposure Tracking Model Ranking |
Initial ranking. |
Lisa Maserjian |
| 3/21/2008 |
Update or Other Action |
Received the 2007 Draft RI Report. At the VORTAC Building, the transformer pad and doorway were sampled for PCBs. Only one sample from this area detected PCBs at 0.119 mg/kg below the cleanup level of 1. The report recmmend NFA for this area.
The VORTAC Drum Storage Area was sampled; one sample contained lead at 4,460 mg/kg. The concentrations of lead, cadmium, selenium, and mercury in the surface samples indicate a past release. DRO and RRO were detected up to 540 and 5,320 ppm. GRO and VOCs were non-detect. Metalic debris was noted in the subsurface and scattered in the leaf litter on the surface. Further delineation of this area is recommended. |
Kim DeRuyter |
| 3/21/2008 |
Update or Other Action |
ETM ranking updated based on the 2007 RI. |
Kim DeRuyter |
| 12/2/2014 |
Update or Other Action |
Assigned site to new PM for FAA Unalakleet. |
Fred Vreeman |
| 5/28/2015 |
Exposure Tracking Model Ranking |
A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78152 VORTAC Building and Transformer Pad. |
Monte Garroutte |
| 7/2/2015 |
Update or Other Action |
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) finalized a Summary of Determinations: FAA Unalakleet – Direction Finder (DF) West Spill, DF East Spill, Range (SBRAZ) Transformer, and VORTAC Transformer. DEC reviewed the environmental records for the referenced sites in response to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) closure request letter, dated May 1, 2013.
During the 2007 RI, eight soil samples were collect from the VORTAC area and analyzed for PCBs. One sample had a detection of PCBs, with a concentration of 0.119 mg/kg, below the 1 mg/kg cleanup level. There are no other COCs at the site, therefore, this site will receive a “Cleanup Complete” designation on the Contaminated Sites Database. No further remedial action is required at this area of concern. The site identified by the site number 630.38.004, with Hazard ID 4235: FAA Unalakleet – VORTAC, will remain active in the DEC contaminated sites program database, as there are separate source areas at this sites which have not been given a “cleanup complete” determination.
|
Monte Garroutte |
| 8/11/2015 |
Site Characterization Workplan Approved |
DEC approved the Final Work Plan, Decommissioning Infrastructure and Investigating/Remediating Contaminated Soil FAA Unalakleet Station, Alaska. The purpose and objectives of the planned work are to: 1) remove unused and associated debris from the Range Site and CT site and remove towers and ceilometers from the Unalakleet Airport, 2) investigate the nature and extent of contamination at the Range, CT, and VORTAC Drum Storage area sites, 3) excavate soil that exceeds DEC Method 2 cleanup levels from the CT and Range Sites; and 4) test transformer oils and sample soil for presence of PCBs at the VASI and LOC locations. Bethel plans to execute field work for this project in two phases. The first phase will be executed during the summer/fall 2015 field season and will include all field work associated with removing two ceilometers and DF towers/infrastructure from the Unalakleet airport, consolidating debris and infrastructure into piles at the Range and CT sites for winter transport off site, delineating contaminated soil at the Range and CT sites for winter excavation and transport off site, conducting a permafrost study, sampling transformer oil and soil for PCBs at the VASI and Localizer sites, and investigating the extent of contaminated soil at the VORTAC Drum Storage Area. |
Monte Garroutte |
| 3/21/2016 |
Site Characterization Workplan Approved |
DEC approved the Work Plan Addendum, Decommissioning Infrastructure and Investigating/Remediating Contaminated Soil, FAA Unalakleet Station, Alaska. This work plan addendum reports findings of Phase 1 work that affect the execution of the second and third phases of work (Phase 2 and Phase 3) and describes the associated work. Phase 2 is scheduled to begin in late March 2016 and Phase 3 in June 2016. The purpose of the proposed work is to decommission and remove FAA infrastructure in the vicinity of Unalakleet that is no longer in use and to investigate/remediate contamination resulting from operations at the sites. Work was fully completed at the Direction Finder (DF), two ceilometers at the airport, and the Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range Collocated Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) Drum Storage Area during Phase 1. Work remains to be conducted at four sites, including the Range Site (also referred to as the SBRAZ Site), Communication Transmitter (CT) Site, Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI), and Localizer (LOC). Phase 2 work includes 1) the removal of unused and associated debris from the Range Site and CT Site; 2) The excavation of petroleum-contaminated soil that exceeds DEC Method 2 Human Health cleanup levels from the Range Site; and 3) testing transformer oils for PCBs at the VASI and LOC locations. Phase 3 includes 1) Field screening and sampling for lead at the site of two fallen towers at the CT Site; 2) Sampling soil for presence of PCBs at the VASI and LOC locations if the transformer oil is positive for PCBs in Phase 2; 3) Excavation of PCB-contaminated soil at the CT site; 4) Monitoring of the tundra disturbance and surface water quality at the Range Site following the Phase 2 excavation and backfill. |
Monte Garroutte |
| 11/6/2017 |
Update or Other Action |
Approved Decommissioning, Remediation, and Site Investigation Report 2017 addressing five areas of concern including the Range Site, Communication Transmitter (CT) Site, Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range Collocated Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) Drum Storage Area, Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI), and Localizer. Site investigations led to remediation efforts at the Range Site and CT Site with 30 cubic yards and one cubic yard of soil removed, respectively. Petroleum contamination remains at the Range Site with concentrations of DRO ranging 263–151,000 mg/kg and RRO ranging 2,240–12,900 mg/kg, both results with silica gel cleanup. Lead contamination remains at the CT Site with the highest concentration at 56,900 mg/kg, in addition to minimal PCB contamination above cleanup levels (1.2 mg/kg). Contamination at the remaining AOCs is below cleanup levels. DEC concurs that additional work will be required at the Range Site and lead remaining at the CT will have to be addressed through remediation or ICs. |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 2/21/2019 |
Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other |
DEC Approval of 2018 RA and RI for 2 sites - CT Towers and Radio Range Site. |
Gretchen Caudill |
| 12/10/2020 |
Exposure Tracking Model Ranking |
A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed for source area 78337 VORTAC Drum Storage Area. |
Kelly Walker |
| 12/22/2020 |
Cleanup Complete Determination Issued |
DEC has reviewed all environmental records concerning the FAA Unalakleet VORTAC - Drum Storage Area and has issued a closure complete determination. Closure letter is attached to this action for further details. |
Kelly Walker |
