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Site Report: Granite Mountain AFS OT001

Site Name: Granite Mountain AFS OT001
Address: ~30 Miles North of Koyuk, U.C. White Alice Array, Koyuk, AK 99753
File Number: 610.38.001
Hazard ID: 776
Status: Cleanup Complete - Institutional Controls
Staff: Juliana Smit, 9072693064 juliana.smit@alaska.gov
Latitude: 65.428000
Longitude: -161.232700
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

Equipment Building was the primary point of operations for the Upper Camp facilities; disposal of PCB oils from electrical equipment caused soil contamination in areas outside building doorways. Also see file 610.15.002 and archived file 610.23.001. EPA ID #AK5570028659. White Alice site declared excess in 1978. State has selected real estate. Two IRP sites are listed on the Air Force Relative Risk Evaluation Worksheets dated 9/13/95: a White Alice site (IRP site OT001) and a landfill (IRP site LF002). The White Alice site is assigned a HIGH overall risk on the worksheet; the landfill is assigned a LOW overall risk. The worksheets indicate that contaminants are at the ground surface at both sites and that the area is used seasonally by hunters and caribou. In 1994, soil samples identified levels of PCBs ranging from 70.5-407mg/kg. In 1999, 31 surface samples were collected to delineate the extent of PCB contamination. Areas adjacent to the north and south doorways were areas of concern. Tests appeared to indicate limited vertical migration of PCBs. In 2008,95 soil samples were collected and analyzed, with results from 0.08 to 442.37 mg/kg PCBs. Environmental Decontamination (Alaska) Ltd received a permit from EPA to conduct a treatability study of PCB contaminated soil by Mechano-chemical destruction at Granite Mountain during the 2009 remedial action. A total of 487 cubic yards of PCB contaminated soil was excavated from OTO01, 129 cubic yards with concentrations greater that 10 mg/kg were shipped off site, 358 cubic yards with concentrations below 10 mg/kd were disposed of onsite within two concrete valults that were the former foundations of two of billboard antennas. Only 18 cubic yards were successfully treated to below 10 mg/kg during the treatability study. This site is closed under CERCLA and state regulations. No further remedial action is required but, because PCB-contaminated soil remains in an on-site landfill, institutional controls will be applied. The institutional controls are to maintain the integrity of the landfill, prevent unauthorized access and document the restrictions in land use records. The Air Force will monitor the institutional controls to ensure effectiveness and protectiveness. A monitoring report will be filed annually for the first five years and then every five years thereafter until the PCBs are below cleanup levels.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
6/15/1999 Update or Other Action 1999 RI Activities - Samples: 31 surface soil samples field screened for PCBs with EnSys? test kits. 16 soil samples collected for fixed laboratory analysis. Analyses: Fixed lab: PCBs; CSL: PCBs. Significant RI Findings: PCB Aroclor 1260 concentrations reported above risk-based action levels and ADEC cleanup standards. Concentrations ranged from ND to 1,100 mg/kg in surface and subsurface soil to depths of 2 feet. Former Staff
12/21/2001 Site Added to Database PCBs. Former Staff
12/21/2001 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Former Staff
2/26/2002 Update or Other Action Staff commented on Granite Mountain RRS, Draft Decision Documents. Action entered by Sarah Riddle. Patrice Buck
5/20/2004 Site Number Identifier Changed Corrected Region from 32 to 31 and subsequently had to change the Sequence Number from 01 to 14. Former Staff
12/16/2005 GIS Position Updated Verified location data. Colin Craven
1/10/2006 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC meeting with Air Force project manager. See the sitewide "Granite Mountain AFS" database entry for details. Colin Craven
12/30/2008 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The 2008 SRI confirmed the 1999 findings, but provided better delineation of the PCB contamination at OT01 (ther Equipment Building. The Air Force proposes to use Mechanical Chemical Destruction for onsite treatment of PCBs < 10 mg/kg, and landfill the PCB soil with concentrations below 10 mg/kg. Kim DeRuyter
5/12/2009 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The final Engineering Evaluation and Cost analysis (EECA)was reviewed and approved. The EECA describes excavation and disposal of PCB contaminated soil with concentrations between 1 and 10 mg/kg at three sites SS003, OT01, and AOC15. The soil will be placed in an permitted onsite landfill. Kim DeRuyter
3/2/2010 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other The draft Remedial Action report describes the excavation of 487 cubic yards of PCB contaminated soil from the OT001 site. Most of the soil was placed in supersacks and subsequently treated by Mechanical Chemical Destruction as part of a treatability demonstration conducted by Environmental Decontamination Ltd. (EDL). The MCD unit constructed for this remote site was scaled down from the previous version which had successfully treated PCB soil at other sites. The scaled down model was fraught with problems and was finally dismantled after numerous batches of soil did not meet the cleanup goal of 1 mg/kg. All excavated and post treatment soil was sampled and segregated based on sample results. Soil with concentrations below 10 mg/kg was placed within two of the massive billboard antenna concrete foundations. The remaining soil with PCB concentrations greater than 10 were shipped offsite to an approved hazardous waste disposal facility. Only 18 cubic yards of soil were treated to below 10 mg/kg by the MCD unit. Kim DeRuyter
6/9/2010 Site Visit Conducted a site visit to Granite Mountain with Jacobs Engineering. The OT01 landfill cap is in good shape, the antenna foundations are well covered, but taller than the surrounding area, so clearly identifiable. A metal detector survey of disposal area A aka AOC01 indicated a large area in the North Western portion contained significant concentrations of buried metal debris. This disposal pit was not entered as a site in the database because it was thought to have been consolidated with Disposal Area B and C into Disposal Area D or the western portion of LF02. The public meeting in Koyuk was postponed due to a scheduling conflict. Kim DeRuyter
7/1/2010 Site Visit Attended a site visit and public meeting. The site visit allowed time to conduct metal surveys of the remaining disposal pits to confirm whether they still contained any ferrous materials. Several areas referred to as disposal pits were either consolidated into the onsite permitted landfills, or had only been used as drum storage areas which were subsequently cleaned up. Jacobs Engineering has created a site map which reflects the current status and need for ICs at the various landfills and disposal pits. The public meeting was congenial with about 9 members of the community in attendance. They were grateful for the work done to cleanup the site, but requested that the PCB soil in the landfill at OT001 be removed. The Air Force considered this request, and responded in a letter saying that they would continue to monitor the site, but they had meet the legal requirements for PCB cleanups, and would leave the PCBs in place. Kim DeRuyter
1/19/2011 Update or Other Action The CERCLA ROD and Petroleum DD were submitted to the department. Staff provided comments on several versions of the documents. Initially, petroleum contamination at sites with CERCLA contaminants were covered in the ROD. The structure of the CERCLA ROD did not allow for adequate coverage of the petroleum at these sites. Since the petroleum and CERCLA contaminants were not co-located it was decided that the petroleum cleanups at the CERCLA contaminated sites could be covered in the Petroleum Decision Document. Staff provided comments on the draft and draft final versions of these restructured documents. The ROD and Decision Document are currently being prepared for signature. Kim DeRuyter
2/10/2011 CERCLA ROD Approved ROD and Decision Document signed by the department and the Air Force. The selected remedy for this site is No Further Action. Kim DeRuyter
2/10/2011 Institutional Control Record Established This site is closed under CERCLA and state regulations. No further remedial action is required but, because PCB-contaminated soil remains in an on-site landfill, institutional controls will be applied. The institutional controls are to maintain the integrity of the landfill, prevent unauthorized access and document the restrictions in land use records. The Air Force will monitor the institutional controls to ensure effectiveness and protectiveness. A monitoring report will be filed annually for the first five years and then every five years thereafter until the PCBs are below cleanup levels. Kim DeRuyter
6/9/2011 Institutional Control Compliance Review This site is a closed inert waste monofill that contains inert waste, asbestos-containing material and PCB-contaminated soil. The Solid Waste permit for this monofill and the 2011 Granite Mountain Record of Decision require annual inspection reports from 2010 through 2014. Jacobs Engineering, on behalf of USAF, submitted a report regarding its 2010 inspection on 09 September 2010. The 2010 report "found the monofill to be in good condition, with a hard packed rock cap and no evidence of settling, erosion, or water accumulation." The report included a visual inspection checklist and site photos. Another site visit and inspection will be conducted in June 2011. Kathleen Beutel
7/22/2014 Cleanup Complete Determination Issued Record of Decision for Granite Mountain was approved by DEC on January 12, 2011. The selected remedy for OT001 includes institutional controls for maintaining the PCB landfill at the site. Eric Breitenberger
11/6/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC accepted Second Five Year Review for Site OT001, finding that institutional controls in place were effective, and no evidence land use changes were identified. The landfill cap was found to be in good condition. Tim Sharp
11/6/2019 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other ADEC approved the final "Second CERCLA Five-Year Review for Site OT001 and Second Non-CERCLA Periodic Review for Site SS017" The document concluded that institutional controls (ICs) were functioning as intended to meet Remedial Action Objectives (RAOs), and ground or surface water will be tested for lead prior to the termination of ICs at SS017. Tim Sharp
5/18/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided comments for the Draft Final Work Plan, Long Term Management at Granite Mountain Radio Relay Station, Alaska Dated May 2023. The Work Plan presents the approach and procedures for long-term management (LTM) at the Granite Mountain Radio Relay Station. The purpose of the LTM project is to conduct institutional control (IC) inspections, a landfill cover inspection at Site OT001, and sign maintenance, as needed, for the following sites to maintain compliance with U.S. Air Force (USAF) and regulatory requirements: DA020, DA021, DP009, DP010, LF002, OT001, SS016, SS017 and SS019. Dennis Shepard
8/15/2023 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC provided approval for the Final Work Plan, Long Term Management at Granite Mountain Radio Relay Station, Alaska Dated June 2023. The work plan presents the approach and procedures for long-term management (LTM) at the Granite Mountain Radio Relay Station. The purpose of this LTM project is to conduct institutional control (IC) inspections, a landfill cover inspection at Site OT001, and sign maintenance, as needed, for the following sites to maintain compliance with U.S. Air Force (USAF) and regulatory requirements: DA020, DA021, DP009, DP010, LF002, OT001, SS016, SS017 and SS019. Dennis Shepard
3/15/2024 Long Term Monitoring Workplan or Report Review DEC provided comments for the 2023 Long-Term Management Report Granite Mountain Radio Relay Station Sites DA020, DA021, DP009, LF002, OT001, SS016, SS017, and SS019 (dated February 2024). Visual inspections were conducted at the Lower Camp Area sites (DA021 and DP010) on July 5, 2023 and at Upper Camp Area sites (DA020, DP009, LF002, OT001, SS016, SS017, and SS019) on September 16, 2023. Landfill caps and other surface coverings were found to be in good condition. Institutional Control (IC) signage was inspected and signs were repaired and/or replaced as needed with the exception of site DA021 which was recommended for repairs at the next LTM inspection in 2028. Brian Watts
7/5/2024 Long Term Monitoring Workplan or Report Review DEC provided responses to comments for the 2023 Long-Term Management Report Granite Mountain Radio Relay Station Sites DA020, DA021, DP009, LF002, OT001, SS016, SS017, and SS019 (dated May 2024). The report describes long-term management activities completed July 5 and September 16, 2023. All comments were accepted, pending a final comment backcheck to the requested final report. Brian Watts
8/20/2024 Long Term Monitoring Workplan or Report Review DEC provided approval for the Final 2023 Long-Term Management Report Granite Mountain Radio Relay Station Sites DA020, DA021, DP009, LF002, OT001, SS016, SS017, and SS019 (dated August 2024) to the U.S. Air Force. Activities consisted of a visual inspection, sign repair or replacement, and photo documentation of each site. The only institutional control/land-use control recommendation was to install an institutional control sign at DA021 during the long-term monitoring work planned for 2028. Erica Blake
4/11/2025 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other DEC reviewed a draft Notice of Activity and Use Limitation for the OT001 site. The NAUL restricts soil disturbing activities subject to review under the USAF dig permit system and the construction review process to prevent activities that could disturb the cap at the site and result in human exposure to or transportation and/or use of PCB-impacted soil with concentrations exceeding the cleanup level. Signs or monuments are required around the landfill to maintain the integrity of the cap and prevent unauthorized access. Dennis Shepard

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments
Aroclor 1260 Other Soil PCB containing material with > 10 mg/kg was transported off site. Landfill includes material with PCBs between 1 and 10 mg/kg.

Control Type

Type Details
Institutional Control Management Plan Included in 611th CES LUC Management Plan.

Requirements

Description Details
Advance approval required to transport soil or groundwater off-site.
Maintenance / Inspection Of Engineering Controls The AF shall maintain the integrity of the landfill cover to prevent direct exposure. • The AF shall maintain the ICs until the concentration of hazardous substances in the soil are at such levels to allow for unlimited use and unrestricted exposure. • The AF shall include signage or monuments around the landfill to maintain the integrity of the cap and prevent unauthorized access, as implemented by the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron (611 CES).
Excavation / Soil Movement Restrictions The AF shall maintain the integrity of the landfill cover to prevent direct exposure.
Periodic Review The AF shall periodically monitor ICs at the OT001 Monofill to ensure effectiveness and protectiveness. The AF will monitor the area affected by ICs annually for the first 5 years and then every 5 years after that until the COC is below cleanup criteria.

There are no documents for this site report.

No associated sites were found.

Missing Location Data

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