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Site Report: Umiat Airstrip Complex (FUDS)

Site Name: Umiat Airstrip Complex (FUDS)
Address: North Bank Colville River, Nuiqsut, AK 99789
File Number: 335.38.001
Hazard ID: 777
Status: Active
Staff: Kelly Walker, 9074512166 kelly.walker@alaska.gov
Latitude: 69.370556
Longitude: -152.140000
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

Site has been in active use since 1945 and was constructed to support resource exploration in the Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4, now the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska. Soil and groundwater contamination, principally from petroleum products, has been found in the soil apparently originating from a former bulk fuel storage area and previous drum storage areas. Soil contaminants include GRO, DRO, RRO, and DDT. Groundwater contaminants include GRO, DRO, benzene, total BTEX, dissolved lead, dissolved iron, and dissolved thallium. See Umiat Former Air Force Station, reckey 198931X902511, for action prior to June 2004. Prior to this time, the entire Umiat facility was managed as one site. In June, 2004, the facility was broken out into separate sites for the Main Gravel Pad, Airstrip Complex, Landfill and Seasonal Slough, 11 former Navy Test Wells, and Umiat Lake.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
6/7/2004 Site Added to Database Multiple soil and GW contaminants. Tamar Stephens
9/10/2007 Update or Other Action Tamar Stephen (DEC) conducted a site visit by helicopter along with Corps of Engineers project manager Mary Jemin and project engineer Bob Haviland. Tamar Stephens
10/25/2007 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens attended Barrow Restoration Advisory Board Meeting. Tamar Stephens
3/11/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Tamar Stephens
7/10/2008 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens attended Barrow Restoration Advisory Board Meeting. Tamar Stephens
10/13/2008 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens attended Barrow Restoration Advisory Board Meeting. Tamar Stephens
3/12/2009 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens attended Barrow Restoration Advisory Board Meeting. Tamar Stephens
9/17/2009 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens attended Barrow Restoration Advisory Board Meeting. Tamar Stephens
12/3/2009 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens attended Barrow Restoration Advisory Board Meeting. Tamar Stephens
3/18/2010 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens attended Barrow Restoration Advisory Board Meeting. Tamar Stephens
6/17/2010 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens attended Barrow Restoration Advisory Board Meeting. Tamar Stephens
10/13/2010 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens attended Barrow Restoration Advisory Board Meeting. Tamar Stephens
3/17/2011 Meeting or Teleconference Held Contaminated sites staff Tamar Stephens attended Barrow Restoration Advisory Board Meeting. Tamar Stephens
7/28/2011 Site Visit John Halverson (DEC), Lisa Giest, Craig Scola, Dee Ginter and Aaron Shewman (Corps of Engineers) and Chris Darrah (Shannon and Wilson) conducted a site inspection at the Umiat FUDS. At the landfill area scattered drums, a few lead acid battery plates, metal debris were exposed on the ground surface above the known disposal areas. The spring flooding in 2011 was significant and the sand/cobble cover in the slough and along the shoreline had shifted from last year. Corps staff conducted survey transects along the slough and landfill area documenting site conditions and looking for hazardous materials. No obvious hazardous materials were found other than the battery plates and potential material in drums (drums that were breached appeared to contain soil) but not all could be inspected. Inspection at Test Well #9 revealed some ponded water in the lowest areas excavated adjacent to the surface water drainage. Excavated and exposed soils up-slope were dry, contained small to large cracks, and showed some sign of surface erosion. The site was evaluated for further site characterization and cleanup options. Inspection photos and summary are in the project file. John Halverson
10/13/2011 Meeting or Teleconference Held Tamar Stephens attended Barrow Restoration Advisory Board meeting. Tamar Stephens
8/20/2013 Meeting or Teleconference Held Melody Debenham attended RAB meeting in Nuiqsut. Melody Debenham
2/17/2015 Meeting or Teleconference Held Attended RAB meeting Corps of Engineers FUDS program in Nuiqsut. Discussed status of Umiat sites. Melody Debenham
5/16/2016 Meeting or Teleconference Held RAB Meeting in Barrow. Discussed Umiat issues in brief. John Carnahan
6/19/2017 Site Visit Site visit to inspect multiple locations with USCOE representatives. Hike to site locations and inspect current status and recovery. John Carnahan
10/21/2017 Update or Other Action Review of JEP and coordination with RPM indicates that the main pad and Umiat Complex area will be further evaluated in out years. Current priorities are the landfill removal planning. John Carnahan
4/17/2019 Update or Other Action Restoration advisory board (RAB) meeting held in Utqiagvik. Update provided on Umiat and others. John Carnahan
11/13/2019 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC staff participated in the Restoration Advisory Board meeting in Nuiqsut, where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers discussed planned activities for Umiat FUDS sites. Melinda Brunner
7/21/2023 Meeting or Teleconference Held Meeting held with USACE, ADEC, BLM, and Paragon-Central Joint Venture Team to discuss the initial remedial design phase of the landfill relocation project for the former Umiat Air Force Station. Items discussed included contract requirements, remedial design framework, and the upcoming site visit and landfill inspection. Kelly Walker
8/15/2023 Site Visit DEC, BLM, USACE, and contracting staff conducted the annual landfill inspection at Umiat AFS August 15-16. Staff walked the footprint of the former landfill area to inspect condition of cap and to note uncovered debris and status of former monitoring wells. Additionally, the proposed borrow area was inspected and evaluated for possible backfill useage during restoration phase of the project. Staff also walked/hiked to the proposed monofill locations for the inert debris excavated from the former landfill. Kelly Walker
2/27/2024 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC, USACE, and Paragon-Jacobs JV traveled to Nuiqsut, AK on February 27 for the Spring 2024 Umiat Regional Advisory Board meeting. This meeting discussed the progress of the remedial design phase of the landfill removal and site investigation at the location of the former Umiat AFS. Field work is expected to start Fall of 2024. In attendance were members of the public, BLM, DEC, DNR, DOT, USACE, ASRC, Kuukpik Corporation, and North Slope Borough. Kelly Walker
8/21/2024 Meeting or Teleconference Held DEC staff attended the Umiat Landfill Partnering Meeting in Fairbanks on August 21-22. Also in attendance were representatives from FUDS, Paragon Central JV, BLM, DOT&PF, DEC Solid Waste Program, ASRC, Kuukpik Corporation, North Slope Borough, Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS), and a community representative from Utqiagvik. The intent of this meeting was to develop a strong partnership among the many stakeholders of the Umiat Landfill Removal Project and to ensure communication pathways are well laid out. Kelly Walker
8/27/2024 Site Characterization Workplan Approved DEC reviewed and approved with comments the "Remedial Design Investigation Work Plan" for the Umiat Landfill at the former Umiat AFS. The work plan details collection of soil samples from test pits and borehole pits within the known dump area, Colville River channel, and areas surrounding the known landfill area to further characterize the nature and extent of contamination and waste within the landfill; sampling of material handling and borrow areas for the presence of hazardous substances; evaluation of current conditions in areas proposed for the inert waste monofill; and evaluation of treatment options for both contaminated soil and water. The work plan also details additional activities intended to inform future mobilizations, monofill design and infrastructure needs. Kelly Walker

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

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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