Cape Romanzof Long Range Radar Site

Site Narrative

Description

The Cape Romanzof Long Range Radar Site covers 4,900 acres within the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. It was one of 10 original Aircraft Control and Warning sites in the Alaska Air Defense System. The nearest communities, Scammon Bay (pop. 498 in 2011) and Hooper Bay (pop. 1,137 in 2011), are located 15 miles east and south respectively. The Air Force has identified 15 contaminated sites that include landfills, drum storage areas, fuel spill areas and leaking underground storage tanks, or USTs. The facility continues to be operated as a minimally attended radar site.

Site History: 1985 through 2022

• 1985: The Air Force had a release of roughly 14,000 gallons from a fuel bladder being pulled across the site. In 1991, a release of 46,000 gallons of diesel fuel occurred from an active pipeline.
• 1992: The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service released a report of its findings on an investigation at the facility. Creek sediments were contaminated with petroleum, and tissue samples from dolly varden, voles and red fox contained petroleum, PCBs and DDT-related compounds. The Environmental Protection Agency conducted a preliminary site assessment at the facility and determined it did not score high enough to added to the National Priorities List.
• 1995: The Air Force excavated contaminated soils from three source areas – SS015 (a spill site/USTs), SS008 (a waste accumulation area) and SS014 (a drum storage area). At LF003 (a landfill site), a soil cover was installed as a remedial action.
• 1997: Three above-ground biocells were constructed to remediate the petroleum-contaminated soil. In 2000, the Air Force proposed to remove the three biocells and use them as cover on the active landfill since cleanup was not progressing as planned.
• 2002: A Record of Decision for Interim Remedial Action was signed for SS013 (a spill site), SS015 and LF003. The selected remedy for SS013 and SS015 is monitored natural attenuation with institutional controls for petroleum-contaminated soil, sediment, groundwater and surface water. At LF003, the selected remedy is landfill closure with PCB hotspot removal of PCB-contaminated soil.
• 2007: A Record of Decision for SS001 (a waste accumulation area), SS008, LF002 (a landfill), OT005 (road oiling site), OT006 (drums and building debris site) and LF012 (a disposal pit/landfill site) was signed. The selected remedy is no further action. A cleanup complete determination was given for the sites.
• 2008: A Record of Decision was signed for SS007 (a spill/leak site), ST009 (a spill/leak site), SS014 and DP011 (a dump area). No further action is required for SS007, and a cleanup complete determination was given for it. The selected remedy for ST009 is conditional site closure, groundwater/surface water monitoring and institutional controls for soil and groundwater contaminated with petroleum. The selected remedy for SS014 and DP011 is conditional site closure with institutional controls. A cleanup complete with institutional controls determination was given to SS014 and DP011.
• 2009: A military munitions historical records research report recommended 2 potential areas be further investigated: Ammunition Storage and Training Exercise site. Both exact locations are unknown.
• 2010: Because the first CERCLA Five-Year Review for LF003 (completed in 2008) found that the Record of Decision (ROD)-selected remedy, Cleanup with Institutional Controls, was not protective of human health and the environment, an initial screening of new alternatives for LF003 was conducted.
• 2011: A cleanup complete with institutional controls (ICs) was approved by ADEC on February 23 a Decision Document (DD) for SS013 and SS015.
• 2012: The final Proposed Plan for LF003, SS010, SS016, and SS017 was issued. Preferred alternatives: LF003-PCB contaminated soil and sediment will be excavated and sent off-site for disposal. Long-term monitoring of the sediment will occur as part of the cleanup decision. At SS010, the petroleum contaminated sub-surface soil and groundwater will be subject to institution controls, engineering controls, natural attenuation and long-term monitoring. For SS016 and SS017, PCB contaminated soil will be excavated and disposed of off-site.
• 2013: A Record of Decision (ROD) was signed for LF003, SS010, SS016, SS017 implementing the preferred alternatives mentioned in the 2012 Proposed Plan. The Second Five-Year Review for LF003, SS013, SS015, ST009, SS014 and DP011 determined the selected remedies in the 2002 interim ROD were not protective and the 2013 ROD remedies will be reviewed as part of the 2018 Five Year-Review. Remedies for SS013, Ss015, ST009, SS014 and DP011 were found to be protective of human health and the environment.
• 2014: An institutional controls inspection occurred for LF003, ST009, SS010. Additional signage was recommended to be installed at LF003, ST009, and SS010 as implied in the land use controls management plan.
• 2015: A feasibility study for OB942 open burn pit was conducted. The alternatives that were considered for inclusion in a future Proposed Plan and decision document are: 1) no action, 2) land use controls (LUCs), 3) capping, LUCs, and long-term monitoring (LTM), 4) Removal and offsite disposal.
• 2016: A Proposed Plan identified preferred alternatives for OB942: LUCs. Under this alternative, LUCs would be implemented to protect human health from exposure to munitions constituents associated with small arms debris. LUCs would be implemented to restrict invasive and residential activities and protect human health from exposure to munitions constituents associated with small arms debris.
• 2017: A final Removal Action Report was provided documenting the work performed at sites LF003, SS016, and SS017. Removal at SS016 and SS017 were limited by the existing Tram Terminals. The report recommended that removal of the structures and relocation of live high voltage power cables was required before removal could be completed. The report recommended that further removal at LF003 not be continued due to the presence of buried debris along the edge of LF003.
• A Record of Decision for OB942 identified the selected remedy: LUCs. Dig restrictions and signage will be utilized along with a notice of environmental contamination filed with U.S. Air Force Real Property Office and Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources land records. Five Year-Reviews will be required.
• 2018: A Third Five-Year Review was conducted to evaluate the protectiveness of cleanup decisions made for DP011, LF003, SS010. DP011 and SS010 are protective. LF003’s remedy is not protective: exposed debris is present at the site, eroded soil barriers have not been installed and PCB-contaminated sediments remain at the site. In order for the remedy to be protective, the integrity of the landfill cap must be restored through fill placement and maintenance, eroded soil control barriers must be installed, and contaminated sediment must be remediated in accordance with the ROD. Due to funding delays and contractual issues, no groundwater monitoring was conducted in 2018 at Cape Romanzof.
• Explanation of significant Differences (ESD) was received and approved for SS016/SS017. The ESD is required to amend the ROD, allowing contaminated soil to remain uncapped until the Tram Terminals were removed.
• 2020: DEC approved a Site Inspection Work Plan to investigate Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at six remote radar stations, including Cape Romanzof LRRS. Work occurred in 2021 and the report is currently being updated based on new EPA screening levels for PFAS.
• 2022: DEC approved a report documenting the 2021 removal action at site SS016, SS017, and LF003. The removal included the demolition and removal of the abandoned upper (SS016) and lower (SS017) tram buildings and removal of PCB- and lead-contaminated soil at all three sites. At SS016 approximately 32.9 tons of painted demolition debris and 72.8 tons of soil debris were removed based on PCB and/or lead contamination. At SS017, approximately 147.9 tons of demolition debris and 847.7 tons of soil were excavated and transported for offsite disposal. At LF003 removal of 278 tons of lead contaminated soil was preformed along with the removal of uncontaminated debris. All three sites had remaining contamination. It was recommended that remaining contamination at SS016 and SS017 be addressed when infrastructure is decommissioned.

Current Status

Institutional controls remain in place for contaminated soil and groundwater at several sites. Long-term monitoring of surface water and groundwater is funded and it will occur in 2019 as required by the decision documents. The next Five-Year Review is expected for sites in 2023 based on the 3rd Five-Year Review in 2018.

More Information

Air Force documents on the Cape Romanzof cleanup can be found on the Air Force Administrative Record Website.

• Site Summary, January 2002 (PDF 10.4K)
• Site Summary, September 2000 (PDF 10.5K)