Site Report: Tern Mountain
| Site Name: | Tern Mountain |
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| Address: | ~5.5 Miles S of Cherfornak, Chefornak, AK 99561 |
| File Number: | 2408.38.003 |
| Hazard ID: | 4281 |
| Status: | Active |
| Staff: | Jamie McKellar, 9074515175 jamie.mckellar@alaska.gov |
| Latitude: | 60.078083 |
| Longitude: | -164.279472 |
| Horizontal Datum: | WGS84 |
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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
Tern Mountain (FUDS ID F10AK1060) was used by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) from 1956 to 1958 as a radio relay station to support communications from Bethel to USAF facilities in Cape Romanzof and Cape Newenham. The Village of Chefornak refers to the site as the Tern Mountain Army Base. The site consists of 56 batteries, remnants of an oil furnace, thirty-two 55-gallon drums, a solar panel, and various metal and wood debris. Lead has been confirmed in soil above DEC cleanup levels (644 mg/kg), possibly from the discarded batteries. Potential contamination from petroleum products or other unknown chemicals contained in the 55-gallon drums has not yet been identified.
Action Information
| Action Date | Action | Description | DEC Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/31/2006 | Site Added to Database | Site added to the database. | Mitzi Read |
| 11/16/2007 | Exposure Tracking Model Ranking | Intitial Ranking Complete for Source Area: 75247 (Autogenerated Action) | |
| 6/7/2019 | Spill Transferred from Prevention Preparedness and Response Program | Spill transferred by PPRP staff Bernie Nowicki. Spill no. 19279910201; spill date = 6/20/19; substance = lead; quantity = unknown; source = possibly batteries. | Mitzi Read |
| 6/13/2019 | Exposure Tracking Model Ranking | Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 75247 name: broken batteries and drums | Mitzi Read |
| 11/30/2022 | Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other | DEC received a FUDS Findings and Determination of Eligibility. DEC acknowledged receipt of the FDE package and recommended further research into site history be done before a final eligibility determination. | Nick Waldo |
| 8/7/2024 | Site Visit | DEC, ANTHC, and EPA visited contaminated sites and provided community outreach as part of the ANCSA Contaminated Lands Program. Interviews with local residents were conducted to gather site history and general knowledge of the areas. During the site visit to Tern Mountain, over 25 rusted drums were observed on top of Tern Mountain and below Tern Mountain, to the south. Several areas of miscellaneous metal and plastic debris were observed on top of Tern Mountain and below Tern Mountain, to the south. Vegetation was growing around the drums and miscellaneous debris and did not appear to be stressed. No smells were noted. | Shonda Oderkirk |
Contaminant Information
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Control Type
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Requirements
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There are no documents for this site report.
No associated sites were found.