APPENDIX E

SAMPLE FACT SHEETS AND NEWSLETTERS olb,W 98370-7570 Poulsbo, WA 19917 7th Avenue N.E. Navel FacilitiesEngineeringCommand Engineering Field Activity, Northwest Commanding Officer

Tasks & Objectives

The following is a partial list of tasks and objectives completed to facilitate base closure on Adak:

• 1994, Naval Air Facility Adak put on National Priority List of Superfund sites identified for long-term cleanup action by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Fact Sheet • 1996, A Restoration Advisory Board was established as a citizen-based group to review Navel Air Facility Adak documents and provide input for cleanup issues on Adak. The RAB has held public, monthly meetings. • Studies were conducted on contaminated sites on Adak relative to chemical and petroleum contamination. • Many removal actions have been undertaken. • Three landfills have been closed and approximately 375 underground storage and field-constructed tank sites have been closed November 1999 or removed. Above ground storage tanks at buildings not scheduled for reuse have been closed. • More than 170,000 gallons of fuel have been recovered from 15 sites. Naval Air Facility Adak • Nearly 400 outdated monitoring wells were closed. Record of Decision on Operable Unit A Naval Air Facility Adak Record of Decision on Operable Unit A

The United States Navy announced on October military base. The investigation and review of data The ROD represents remedial decisions on 14, 1999 the signing of a Record of Decision that related to the ROD was completed by three agencies approximately 200 sites on the island. The studies formalizes chemical pursuant to a Federal Facilities Agreement for closure and investigation and cleanup activities have cost and petroleum of the Adak military base: the United States Navy; the approximately $160 million to date. cleanup at the former United States Environmental Protection Agency The Navy signed the ROD because it believes Naval Air Facility on Region X; and the Alaska Department of the document provides a comprehensive framework Adak Island. Environmental Conservation. The agencies applied for protection of human health and the environment The Record of federal standards defined by the Comprehensive from chemical and petroleum contamination. It is also Decision (ROD) for Environmental Response Compensation and Liability a step toward fostering community and economic what is referred to as Act of 1980 (CERCLA) as the framework for the development on the island. "Operable Unit A" is a remediation decisions made on Adak. CERCLA is The final Record of Decision reflects significant road map to formalize sometimes referred to as the Superfund Law. Naval actions based on input from the citizen-based petroleum and Air Facility Adak was put on the National Priority List Restoration Advisory Board members and other chemical remediation in specific areas on the former of Superfund sites identified for long-term cleanup stakeholders. Examples of actions based on this action in 1994. input include: removing ordnance issues from the Though the Navy is the first of these agencies to Record of Decision and establishing a separate sign the ROD, the process leading to the decision has Operable Unit B to address remediation of been a cooperative effort between all three parties. unexploded ordnance and explosives; removing OU-A Record of Decision The Navy holds responsibility for cleanup and closure, sediments with very low-levels of contamination from while the EPA and ADEC have federal and state Sweeper Creek on Adak, and adding long-term The Record of Decision for OU-A formalizes regulatory oversight. biological monitoring. remediation procedures such as:

• Digging out, treating and disposing of contaminated surface soils and sediments; • Covering solid waste sites; • Initiating institutional controls where exposure to hazardous substances may occur; • Monitoring groundwater for chemicals of concern; Where to Get More Information • Monitoring aquatic life for exposure to PCBs; INFOLINE: 1-800-360-1561 • Monitoring naturally-occurring, biological University of Alaska Anchorage, NAS Adak, Adak Island, Alaska, Administrative Record breakdown of contaminants; Library Reserve Room, Bob Reeves High School Engineering Field Activity NW • Removal of oil and other contaminants. 3211 Providence Dr. M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, 19917 Seventh Ave., NW M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, Contact: Librarian Contact: Lt. Commander Ted Posuniak Poulsbo, WA 98370 907-786-1871 907-592-8170 February 2000 Fact Sheet Naval Air Facility Adak Background on Free Phase Product Recovery Sites on Adak

One of the primary tasks To follow is a brief history of Tanker Shed was installed in associated with clean up of the environmental mitigation and January 1998. The system con- Operable Unit A on Adak recovery work at these sites. sists of 10 skimmers that use Island is the recovery of free compressed air. These were phase petroleum from a installed in 16 recovery wells. To variety of locations. ACTIVE RECOVERY date, the wells have recovered SITES about 396 gallons of product, with There are five active recovery the amount of recovered product sites and two sites proposed for Tanker Shed steadily declining from a maxi- additional recovery of free phase (UST 42494) mum of 70 gallons in March 1998 product. to less than two gallons per The term "free phase product" History month since 1999. refers to raw petroleum that has The Tanker Shed on Adak was not been mixed with groundwa- built in the 1960s and used to ter. perform maintenance on tanker Yakutat Hangar, The Navy has proposed to transport trucks and for aircraft (UST T-2039-A) the Environmental Protection fueling. In 1985 an underground Agency and the Alaska storage tank was put in to collect History Department of Environmental oil generated during vehicle main- Building T-2039, the main Conservation that there be a tenance and to collect fluids from hangar at the Yakutat complex, transition from active pumping at an oil/water separator system. was built in the 1940s as an air- some sites on Adak to a period A sheen and petroleum hydro- plane hangar. A car repair garage of monitoring. carbon odor were observed when was also constructed at the site. The monitoring of sites the tank was removed in 1995. In the late 1970s the hangar was would be accompanied by natu- Though there is no record of a converted to an additional auto- ral attenuation –or a decrease spill or release associated with motive repair and hobby shop in of remaining petroleum over this underground storage tank, the late 1970s. Three under- time. the most likely source of the free ground storage tanks (USTs) To date, approximately phase product is from overfilling were installed there between $______has been spent to the tank or from leaking pipes. 1979 and 1981 and an above address possible impacts from ground storage tank replaced one petroleum on Adak Island. There What has been done to clean of the underground tanks at an is no evidence of migration of up the site and protect the unknown later date. free phase product in the past 11 environment? Between 1993 and 1995, years of monitoring. A recovery system at the three underground tanks at this

Where to Get More Information INFOLINE: 1-800-360-1561

University of Alaska Anchorage, NAS Adak, Adak Island, Alaska, Administrative Record Library Reserve Room, Bob Reeve High School Engineering Field Activity NW 3211 Providence Dr. M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, 19917 Seventh Ave., NW M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, Contact: Librarian Contact: Lt. Commander Ted Posuniak Poulsbo, WA 98370 907-786-1871 907-592-8170 Free product recovery sites on Adak. site were removed. In 1993 a Area South of Runway What has been done to clean hydrocarbon sheen was 18-36 up the site and protect the observed on the groundwater environment? entering one of the tank excava- History Approximately 20 wells were tions. The land that makes up the installed in this area. Petroleum Oily water was collected in the South Runway area has been was measured on top of the remaining two excavations in extensively changed since the groundwater in several wells. 1995. An investigation found the military first occupied Adak dur- For the past several years, source of the free phase product ing World War II. This area was skimming devices collected the to be underground leaks. part of a back-beach lagoon product entering these wells. prior to occupation and was rap- In mid-1998, an automated What has been done to clean idly converted to a military product recovery system was up the site and protect the airstrip, fuel-receipt and distribu- installed in the monitoring wells environment? tion center, and military housing where measurements of free The system used for petroleum area to support the War. product were the highest. recovery at Yakutat hangar was An abandoned fuel line near Although from September installed in February 1997. This the end of the Southeast corner 1998 to August 1999 the skim- system has recovered approxi- of Runway 18-36 was uncovered ming system was not in opera- mately 681 gallons of fuel. The in 1990 during the installation of tion, in September 1999 the quantity of free product recovered a new fuel line near the main active recovery system was put here has declined over time, from road. Free product was first back on line. a maximum of 260 gallons in observed in the excavated To date, 39 gallons of petro- March 1997, to typically less than trench and is belived to have leum have been recovered at a five gallons per month since come from the abandoned fuel rate of less than five gallons per September 1998. line. month. Power Plant No. 3 What has been done to clean in 1986 and 1987, respectively. (Solid Waste Management up the site and protect the Turnkey Housing Units were built Unit 17 – SWMU 17) environment? in 1972. JP-5 is currently used as There have been three modifi- heating fuel for the housing in History cations of a system put in place Sandy Cove and was previously Power Plant No. 3 began oper- to clean up free product and pro- used as heating fuel at Eagle Bay ating in 1950. The five above- tect the environmental. and Turnkey Housing Units - the ground storage tanks at the for- A trench was put in place to area now referred to as Solid mer Power Plant, stored jet petro- allow petroleum to accumulate. A Waste Management Unit 62 New leum Number 5 (JP-5), waste oil submersible pump was used to Housing Fuel Leak. Fuel is stored and reserve oil supplies. draw free product in the trench in six above ground storage tanks In September 1994, free phase towards a skimming devise that near the area and is distributed to product was first seen in two collects it. The trench and a differ- individual housing through under- monitoring wells at the site. ent skimmer system were ground pipes. Seeps and stained soil were seen installed in June and July 1996. In 1988 and 1989 occupants along the ditches near the inter- The original system was modified reported hydrocarbon-like odors. section of Amulet Way and Aurora in September 1997 to include At that time a total of 21-fuel pipe Circle in 1995. groundwater extraction. leaks were discovered and The most likely source of the To date, 1,157 gallons of petro- repaired. free product at Power Plant No. 3 leum have been recovered. The was from a 1994 release of 500 quantity typically ranges between What has been done to clean gallons of jet petroleum No. 5 fuel three and 85 gallons per month, up the site and protect human from a cracked valve at the tank with higher levels between August health and the environment? farm. and October. In 1989, the Solid Waste Other possible sources include Management Unit 62 recovery overfilling of the storage tanks, New Housing Fuel Leak – system was installed near Sandy leaking pipes from the tank farm, (SWMU 62) Cove and Eagle Bay Housing. and leaking pipes from the This system is the largest on oil/water separator that receives History Adak. discharge water from the Power Sandy Cove and Eagle Bay In October 1996 the system Plant. Housing Units were constructed was extensively modified to include 25 recovery wells and to believe that redeveloping the Currently the Navy and state four treatment units. The modi- pump-and-treat wells will not lead and federal regulators are in the fied system involves electric, to an increased extraction rate. process of evaluating those submersible pumps in each of the In December 1999 the system alternatives. 25 recovery wells installed to was upgraded to be Y2K compliant. pump groundwater from a shallow aquifer under the housing. The NORPAC Hill Seep Area recovery wells are spread out to Proposed Active cover a wide range of free prod- Recovery Sites History uct plumes. The NORPAC Hill area was The system pulls the ground- not developed due to its steep water table around the well during Naval Mobile terrain. Kuluk Housing, located pumping. As petroleum accumu- Construction Battalion near NORPAC Hill, was con- lates in the well on the top of the Expanded Area structed in 1964. Before that, water table it is also pumped to a Army barracks and mess halls treatment unit. In each treatment History supplied with heating fuel occu- unit, an oil/water separator The Naval Mobile pied the area. removes the product and reduces Construction Battalion (NMCB) In 1966 and 1968 a sheen was any petroleum-chemical concen- Building Expanded Area is also puportedly observed near the trations. The water is then dis- part of the back-beach lagoon shoreline of Kuluk Bay. The charged into the sewer system. area used in World War II. Two sheen has not been confirmed as buildings were constructed in it puportedly only occurs on very What are the community con- the early 1940s and used as a calm days at high tide. cerns and what has the Navy woodworking shop and supply The source of the petroleum done to address these con- depot. has not been determined. cerns? Another building also con- Potential sources include the Some Adak residents expressed structed in the early 1940s was heating fuel system at Kuluk concern that the reason oil recov- used as a machine shop for over- Housing and a probable under- ery decreased on Adak is because hauling ships. Several abandoned ground fuel pipeline to supply the pumps in recovery wells are and inactive fuel pipelines cross former Army barracks. clogged (biofouling). The Navy the site, including the abandoned In October 1997 free product addressed this concern by cleaning pipeline that crosses South of was observed in just one well at all the wells and upgrading the sys- Runway 18-36. the site, but there have been no tem two years ago with a new type No documented releases of other observations in any other of pump. The result was a brief petroleum hydrocarbons have well to date. Measurements have increase in the amount of product been recorded here. Petroleum shown the product appears most recovered, immediately followed by was found as a result of site likely to occur between October a decrease to previous low levels. investigations completed as part and March. According to data, 153,000 gal- of the Operable Unit A. lons of free phase petroleum have What is being proposed for been recovered. Approximately 93 What is proposed for protec- protection of the environment percent of the total fuel recovered tion of the environment at this at this site? from the modified system was site? Less than one gallon of recovered in the first 12 months, A detailed site investigation petroleum has been recovered before January 1997. report was completed for this from the well using passive Based on this, and considering site in December 1998. skimmers. The site is being more oil has been extracted from A number of remedial alterna- monitored and remedial alterna- the site, there is a strong reason tives were proposed. tives are being evaluated.

Commanding Officer Engineering Field Activity, Northwest Naval Facilities Engineering Command 19917 7th Avenue N.E. Poulsbo, WA 98370-7570 United States Navy United States Environmental Protection Agency Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Agencies Agree to Take a Fresh Look at Adak Photo courtesy of United States Navy The Environmental Pro- with reviewing scientific ord- tection Agency, the Alaska nance risk models and how Department of Environmen- those models apply to Adak. tal Conservation and the The team was also charged United States Navy agreed with developing an outline for to take a fresh look at ord- revising plans for Adak nance cleanup efforts for cleanup. Adak Island in Alaska’s “After the recent clarifica- Aleutian chain. tion of national policies, and The agencies will refocus after extensive review of sci- “...the Navy believes our investigation of and work Facilities Command, in Navy also plans to provide plan for Adak can and Poulsbo, Wash. updated information as part will be improved” In addition to the DEC, of a new web site currently EPA and the Navy, the proj- being developed. More infor- ect team will include stake- mation on how to access this on how to characterize, iden- entific and technical materi- holders. Representatives of site will follow in upcoming tify, remediate and manage als, regulatory agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife newsletters. ordnance sites in Operating stakeholder positions, the Service, The Aleut Corpora- Unit B (OU-B) on the island. Navy believes our investiga- tion and the Aleutian/Pribilof At a recent meeting in tion of and work plan for Islands Association took part Where to Seattle, the three parties Adak can and will be in the Seattle meeting and Get Information involved in the Federal Facil- improved,” said Richard have been invited to partici- INFOLINE: 1-800-360-1561 ity Agreement for cleanup of Stoll, BRAC Environmental pate on the project team. University of Alaska Anchorage, Adak agreed to form a tech- Coordinator at Engineering An aggressive meeting Library Reserve Room nical project team charged Field Activity NW, Naval schedule was set, with the 3211 Providence Dr. first meeting held Aug. 11-12 907-786-1871 and a second meeting held M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, Contact: Librarian UPCOMING MEETINGS Aug. 18-19 in Anchorage. In addition, the Navy NAS Adak, Adak Island, Alaska, A Restoration Advisory Board meeting is plans to step up its efforts to High School Administration scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at Commander provide timely and accurate M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, Christopher Floro’s office on Adak. For more information to all stakehold- Contact: Christopher Floro 907-592-8170 information please call Commander Floro at ers involved in the Adak 907-592-8170. Others can participate in the cleanup. Distribution of this Administrative Record meeting via teleconference from the Anchorage newsletter on a monthly Engineering Field Activity NW basis is a part of that com- 19917 Seventh Ave., NW Holiday Inn, 239 W. 4th Ave. Poulsbo, WA 98370 mitment, Stoll said. The Photo courtesy of United States Navy Do You Know...

Do you know the history 10 years of investigation, of land withdrawals on study, and on-site work to Adak? characterize and evaluate Withdrawals of portions chemical and petroleum of Adak Island for various remediation alternatives. military purposes date back Public comment has been to 1901. Adak Island was part of the consultative pro- reserved and set aside in cess leading to cleanup deci- Do you know how federal • requirements to carry 1913 as a preserve (man- sions for Operable Unit A. and state laws protect garbage out of wilderness aged by the Department of Monthly Restoration Adviso- human health and the envi- areas; Interior) because of its value ry Board meetings have ronment on Adak in Opera- • requirements to maintain to seabirds, marine mam- included input from agency ble Unit A? garbage in safely closed mals and fisheries. With- members and community The regulations set containers; drawal of land for military groups. cleanup standards for soil • warning signs near electri- purposes culminated in the The goal that guides the and groundwater, and assure cal boxes; 1959 with the withdrawal of EPA, ADEC and Navy contaminated soil and water • requirements not to dig the upper portion of the cleanup effort is “to protect meet those standards. without checking for electri- Island by the Navy. human health and the envi- Cleanup procedures include cal cables. ronment.” physical means such as These “institutional con- Do you know that ordnance removal, incineration, contain- trols” are commonly accept- issues are being treated Do you know what ment, and administrative ed practices put in place to separately from other CERCLA is? actions. assure community safety. remedial efforts on Adak? CERCLA stands for Com- In Operable Unit A, insti- A Record of Decision will prehensive Environmental Do you know what “insti- tutional safety measures be published that includes Response Compensation and tutional controls” are? include: agreed-upon cleanup reme- Liability Act of 1980. CER- In addition to cleanup • zoning (for industrial or dies for the portion of the for- CLA is designed to protect actions sometimes property recreational use,); mer Naval Air Facility on human health and the envi- management safeguards • permits for digging; Adak called “Operable Unit A” ronment from exposure to are put in place to protect • fishing advisories for (OU-A). The specific remedi- unsafe levels of contamina- health and the environment. Sweeper Cove and Kuluk ation actions concentrate on tion. Commonly recognized Bay; chemical and petroleum A series of State of Alaska administrative actions and • fencing; cleanup. laws and regulations also safeguards include: • signage to warn of poten- Remediation decisions govern management of con- • warnings signs not to feed tial risks in the remote came about after more than taminated sites. bears; areas.

Adak Update Engineering Field Activity, Northwest 19917 Seventh Ave., NW Poulsbo, WA 98370 October 1999

United States Navy United States Environmental Protection Agency Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Process for Ordnance Cleanup Moves Forward Photo courtesy of URS Greiner The U.S. Environmen- move forward tal Protection Agency, the on ordnance Alaska Department of Envi- cleanup. ronmental Conservation CERCLA and the U.S. Navy, as well has been as the stakeholders used for involved in the environ- almost 20 mental cleanup of Adak, years and pro- have agreed to applying a vides well recognized federal process established for environmental cleanup guidelines, to ordnance issues on predictable Adak. steps and Although the Compre- nationally rec- hensive Environmental ognized stan- Response Compensation dards and and Liability Act of 1980 criteria aimed (CERCLA) - otherwise at protection Kevin Oates, Mike Hoxie, Mark Murphy and Ernesta Ballard were part of known as Superfund - has of human the OU-B Technical team meeting on Adak. had limited application to health and the ordnance clearance, the environment. ble Unit B (OU-B). In OU-A One of the primary agencies involved in the Environmental work on petroleum and chemical goals of the Adak meeting cleanup is addressed. In was to refine the decision- “...the primary goals of the OU-B technical OU-B ordnance issues are analysis framework to be being considered. used for making determina- team were to refine the decision-analysis The technical team tions about Adak ordnance framework for ordnance issues on Adak and dealing with ordnance cleanup and to establish to establish data quality objectives.” issues met in Adak Sept. data quality objectives. A 13-16 to determine precise decision analysis frame- steps to be taken to work directs field work, and Adak cleanup agreed to Adak is organized into two achieve solutions tailored Continued on Page 2 use the CERCLA frame- programs called Operable to Adak and based on work to determine how to Unit A (OU-A) and Opera- nationally recognized What's Inside CERCLA procedures. The Where to Get team, consisting of state Information ...... 2 UPCOMING MEETINGS and federal agencies with Adak Project Personnel regulatory responsibility for Move On ...... 2 A Restoration Advisory Board meeting is scheduled the project, also included Complete Information for 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Lathrop Room, 4th Avenue The- representatives of the U.S. Repository ...... 2 Fish and Wildlife Service, ater, 630 W. 4th Ave. Adak residents can participate in the Public Meetings The Aleut Corporation, meeting via teleconference from the Commander’s Con- Held on Adak...... 3 Aleut/Pribilof Association, ference Room in the Adak High School (6 p.m. Adak Stakeholder Involvement and numerous consultants Sought ...... 3 time). For more information please call 1-800-360-1561. with expertise in ordnance issues. Do You Know...... 4 Adak Update • Page 1 Ordnance Cleanup Continues Complete sions can then be cleanup to the best meth- Information made based on ods for finding unexploded Repository risk assessments ordnance on the island. and public opin- The technical team’s deci- Sent to Adak ion and comment. sion to include ordnance The Bob Reeves High Risk manage- experts, and a wide range School Library will be the ment actions can of environmental experts home for the Adak Informa- include treat- on the team provides a tion Repository and the ment, disposal broader base for making duplicate Administrative and institutional informed decisions on Record. controls that Adak cleanup issues. In In response to concerns include access addition, the participation raised by the Adak Commu- restrictions. Usu- of the community and the nity Council a complete set ally a combina- expertise of those who live of all information, studies tion of these on the island provides and reports generated as actions are important information for part of the Adak closure has included as part those making final risk been duplicated for easier Continued from Page 1 of Superfund management decisions. access and use by Adak res- planning for cleanup in an cleanup projects. idents. The goal of the Navy orderly sequence of The process is to have the information increasingly focused analy- for determining sent to Adak mid-October. sis. The framework defines these steps for The Navy is requesting sources of contamination, Adak is a com- that anyone interested in looks at how those sources plex one. There using the materials on Adak can impact the environment are a number of abide by the same rules as or human health and con- areas to be con- apply to the information siders land use and poten- sidered and a available in Anchorage: all tial exposure pathways. wide range of materials must remain in the Data quality objectives both historic and library and be used there. guide collection of informa- recent informa- This rule allows for materials tion for a project. The deci- tion to be ana- to be accessible to anyone. sion framework and the lyzed in For more information on data quality objectives determining the exact date the materials work together to correctly everything from will arrive, Adak residents characterize the site risks. sites to be con- are asked to check with the Risk management deci- sidered for Commander’s office. Adak Project Personnel Move On Where to Get Information Chris Cora, who has served as the INFOLINE: 1-800-360-1561 EPA Remedial Pro- University of Alaska Anchorage, ject Manager on the Library Reserve Room Adak project since 3211 Providence Dr. 1995, took on other 907-786-1871 responsibilities at the M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, Contact: Librarian EPA in October. At the September RAB NAS Adak, Adak Island, Alaska, Cora Oates Floro meeting in Adak, Bob Reeves Hih School Library Chris’ dedication to the project was recognized by the Restoration Advisory Board, agency M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, personnel and community members. Contact: Lt. Commander 1 Kevin Oates, who has spent the past 2 ⁄2 years serving the Alaska Department of Envi- Ted Posuniak ronmental Conservation on loan from the EPA will assume the EPA Remedial Project Man- 907-592-8170 ager duties. The ADEC project manager has not yet been appointed. Administrative Record Commander Christopher Floro is also leaving Adak for other work in the Pacific North- Engineering Field Activity NW west. Commander Floro will continue to work for EFA Northwest in the Poulsbo, Washing- 19917 Seventh Ave., NW ton Area. he will be replaced as NAF Adak Commander by Lt. Commander Ted Posuniak. Poulsbo, WA 98370 Page 2 • Adak Update Public Meetings Held on Adak Two public meetings as for OU-A and for a question Fox Corporation - the Sax- national, all participated in well as a Restoration Advi- and answer session attend- man ANCSA Corporation. the question and answer sory Board (RAB) meeting ed by about 40 community In addition, Chris Cora - session at the public meet- were also held in Adak in members and contractors the EPA’s Remedial Project ing. Manager during the OU-A Adak RAB members process, Kevin Oates - Cathy Villa and Agafon Project Manager for the Krukoff also attended the Alaska Department of Envi- public meeting, as did RAB ronmental Conservation for co-chairman Elary Gromoff the past several years, of The Aleut Corporation. Mark Murphy - the Navy’s A number of questions Environmental Project were raised by community Manager, and Doug Murray members relative to com-

Elary Gromoff of the Aleut Corp. and Chris Gates of the Aleut Enterprise Corp.

September. The meetings on Adak. Commander included an informal oppor- Christopher Floro chaired tunity to meet with techni- the public meeting. cal team members as well Ernesta Ballard, owner as an environmental of Ballard and Associates update held in the Adak gave an overview of the High School gym. The pub- CERCLA process. Ballard Commander Christopher Floro and Adak RAB member lic meetings provided the is the former Regional Cathy Villa. opportunity for an overview Administrator for the Envi- of the process used to ronmental Protection - an ordnance and explo- munity concerns over PCB reach decisions on petrole- Agency Region X and a sives waste management levels, the safety of fishing um and chemical cleanup former CEO of the Cape specialist with Radian Inter- in Sweeper Cove and con- cerns over Finger Bay. At the Restoration Advisory Stakeholder Involvement Sought on Board meeting held on the Topic of Institutional Contraols Sept. 15, members of the Adak Community Council The topic of institutional controls has been presented a memorandum raised as an issue requiring additional commu- nity involvement and education. Currently, listing major issues of com- there are a num- munity concern and asking ber of institution- for additional briefings from al controls used state and federal officials on the island, relative to those concerns. such as signs Briefings will take place and fencing for at the RAB meeting sched- protection of uled for Oct. 20 in Anchor- human health. age. Adak residents will be The subject will able to participate in the be addressed, meeting via teleconference with island resi- from the Commander’s dents, at future Adak meetings. conference room in the high school building. Adak Update • Page 3 Do You Know... A public health report is ronmental Response Com- What types of activities scope than the risk assess- currently being developed pensation and Liability Act of does ATSDR influence in ments and remedial plans by the U.S. Department of 1980 (CERCLA). communities? for which responsible part- Health and Human Ser- ATSDR’s mission is to ies bear liability under vices regarding Adak. It is Why is ATSDR involved in improve the quality of life at CERCLA. anticipated that the report Adak? a National Priorities List will be released by mid- ATSDR is required by site. ATSDR may comment Does the work that December. The following Superfund (CERCLA) to on the risk assessments ATSDR does duplicate questions and responses participate at all sites that required by CERCLA to the work of EPA and provide background infor- are on or proposed for the determine the risk associat- ADEC? mation on the agency National Priorities List. ed with possible future The ATSDR’s work developing the report. Specifically, ATSDR is exposure to hazardous complements the work of required to conduct public substances. ATSDR may federal and state regulatory health assessments at these also consider a broad agencies in an advisory Do you know what the sites. Adak is a site on the range of issues that affect capacity. Again, ATSDR is ATSDR is? National Priorities List. public health but are a non-regulatory agency. ATSDR stands for the beyond the scope of a ATSDR is not authorized to Agency for Toxic Sub- In what capacity does CERCLA risk assessment. conduct large scale site or stances and Disease Reg- ATSDR work on CERCLA ATSDR advises the public release related environ- istry. This agency is a sites? through a variety of pro- mental testing, nor does it federal, public health agency ATSDR is an advisory, grams including public have authority to enforce located in Atlanta, Georgia. non-regulatory agency that health assessments, health regulations or provide med- It is part of the Public Health evaluates data and informa- consultations, health stud- ical treatment and health Service within the Depart- tion from both federal and ies,education programs, care services. Enforcement ment of Health and Human state regulatory agencies in and medical monitoring authority under CERCLA is Services and was created an effort to protect public programs. These advisories with the state and federal by the Comprehensive Envi- health. cover a much broader agencies (EPA and ADEC).

Adak Update Engineering Field Activity, Northwest 19917 Seventh Ave., NW Poulsbo, WA 98370 Special Project Adak Update December 1999

Background Information Special Project Adak Update

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Naval Air Facility Adak Selected for Closure

With passage of Public Laws 100-256 and 101-510 in 1988 and 1990, Congress created the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission to provide a fair process that would result in timely closure and realignment (reuse) of military installations.

The former Naval Air Facility (NAF) Adak was selected for closure by the commission in 1995. The military mission of the former Navy base ended in March 1997. Since that time the Navy has been involved in the environmental restoration, cleanup and closure activities that would allow for lease and transfer of Adak to non-federal entities.

Laws Governing Military Base Closure

Several federal laws set the standards and requirements for military base closure. Those laws require environmental restoration and set standards for site cleanup. Adak closure is governed by the Base Closure and Realignment Act (BRAC).

It is also governed by the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), as amended by the Community Environmental Response Facilitation Act (CERFLA), and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) regulations contained in Public Law 18 AAC 75. CERCLA is also known as the Superfund Law.

National Priorities List

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) placed NAF Adak on the CERCLA National Priorities List in May 1994.This action made cleanup and restoration of Adak a National Priority and provided funding to help make environmental restoration possible.

Federal Agencies Responsible for Base Closure

The U.S. Navy entered into four different agreements with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation that have governed investigation and cleanup of contaminated areas on Adak. These three agencies have primary responsibility for all closure related decisions made for NAF Adak.

Closure and Environmental Restoration Objectives

The following are the closure and environmental restoration objectives outlined for closure of NAF Adak by the Navy and state and federal regulators:

■ Protect human health and the environment; ■ Comply with all existing federal and state statutes and regulations; ■ Conduct all environmental restoration activities in a manner consistent with federal and State of Alaska cleanup regulations; ■ Conduct an environmental baseline survey (EBS) to establish the current environmental condition of the property, supporting its lease or transfer; ■ Establish priorities for environmental restoration and restoration-related one-time compliance activities (so that property disposal and reuse goals can be met); ■ Initiate selected remedial actions to control risks or reduce them to manageable levels; ■ Consider future land use when assessing risks associated with releases of hazardous substances, contaminants, or hazardous wastes; ■ Develop, evaluate, and select remedial actions in a manner consistent with applicable state and federal statutory and regulatory requirements; ■ Commence remedial actions for areas of environmental concern and prioritize actions for areas to allow property disposal and reuse; ■ Advise the Navy Real Estate and BRAC organizations and the community regarding property that is deemed environmentally suitable for reuse and; ■ Establish programs to monitor the efficacy of remedial actions.

Environmental Issues for Adak

The major environmental issues on Adak center around four areas:

■ Contamination from hazardous substance; ■ Contamination from petroleum; ■ Hazards from past use of ordnance and explosives and; ■ Solid waste disposal issues.

Reuse Issues

Under the Base Closure and Realignment Act program, the military mission at Naval Air Facility Adak ended on March 31, 1997. The Navy plans to relinquish its use of the military property located on the Northern half of Adak Island to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, a branch of the Department of the Interior.

The Fish and Wildlife Service owns the land and has proposed to transfer approximately 46,000 acres of this property to The Aleut Corporation. The transfer is contingent on approval of the property transfer plan by both the Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board and by the Environmental Protection Agency. Reuse activities are planned for portions of the island that must ultimately be designated as suitable for transfer by these agencies. Further details of the property conveyance remain to be worked out. At present, a petition has been filed with the State of Alaska to form a second class city on Adak.

A decision on this petition is expected in the first quarter of 2000. Congressional action may also be necessary to allow for a land transfer. The proposed property transfer must be approved by the Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board because military activities have resulted in the presence of ordnance and unexploded ordnance (often called UXO) in portions of the property. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation have regulatory oversight for environmental cleanup.

Separating Major Environmental Issues

In agreements between the Navy, EPA and the State of Alaska and in response to community concerns, it was decided it would be best to deal with hazardous substance and petroleum cleanup issues separately from ordnance and unexploded ordnance issues. Two "operable units" were established called Operable Unit A and Operable Unit B. "Operable unit" is a term used to describe an area being addressed as part of the CERCLA process. Operable Unit A covers all hazardous substance and petroleum related issues. Operable Unit B addresses contamination by ordnance and unexploded ordnance. Solid Waste Management Issues are addressed under Operable Unit A.

Costs

As of December 1999 the Navy has spent more than $160 million for environmental restoration and compliance on Adak. In 1999 the budget for restoration activities was nearly $33 million. The projected budget for 2000 is $8.6 million. $7.4 million is projected for 2001. $6 million/year is projected for 2002-2006.

Finding for Suitability for Transfer

Once environmental restoration and property reuse issues can be resolved, a finding for suitability for transfer will be made.

Where to Get Information

INFOLINE: 1-800-360-1561 WEB SITE: www.adakupdate.com

University of Alaska Anchorage, Library Reserve Room, 3211 Providence Dr. 907-786-1871 M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, Contact: Librarian

NAS Adak, Adak Island, Alaska, Bob Reeves High School Library 907-592-8170 M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, Contact: Lt. Commander Ted Posuniak

Administrative Record Engineering Field Activity NW 19917 Seventh Ave., NW, Poulsbo, WA 98370 January 2000

United States Navy United States Environmental Protection Agency Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Community Meetings to be Held on Adak

A series of community Navy, and other informational meetings are Restoration Advisory Board being planned for the week members who plan to of Jan. 24 through Jan. 27 travel to Adak the week of on Adak. Jan. 24-27, 2000 will be In an effort to better available at both the address the needs and community meeting and for concerns of Adak informal discussions community members throughout the week. A regarding the closure of general availability session the Naval Air Facility Adak, is also planned for a community meeting is Monday, Jan. 24, to allow being planned in concert residents to view a with the Adak Community presentation on ordnance Council on Tuesday issues and for an informal evening, Jan. 25. The question and answer RAB members listened to a presentation on ordnance exact time and location for session. screening at a November meeting. this meeting is still to be Tuesday’s meeting will determined, but will be be a formal briefing on for 6 p.m. Adak time the RAB meeting. announced via flyers to be several topics of Wednesday, Jan. 26, in the The technical team will posted in the Bob Reeves community interest, Commander’s Conference also be available to meet High School on Adak. including the Product Room at the Bob Reeves with interested community Representatives of the Recovery System and High School. Anchorage members during business Environmental Protection progress report on Restoration Advisory Board hours throughout the week. Agency, The Alaska ordnance issues. members will be able to For more information Department of Environ- A Restoration Advisory participate via about any of these mental Conservation, the Board meeting is planned teleconference (7 p.m. meetings, please call 907- Anchorage time) from the 789-3098, or check with Lt. Proposed Second Class City Anchorage Holiday Inn, Commander Ted 239 W. 4th Avenue, in Posuniak’s office on Adak. Informational Meeting Anchorage. Plans currently call for members of the The State of Alaska Department of Community and What's Inside ordnance technical team Economic Development will be conducting a public Where to Get for Operable Unit B - a Information ...... 2 informational meeting on the proposal to incorporate the group consisting of City of Adak. That meeting is planned for 7 p.m. Monday, Q & A on Adak government agency Ordnance Issuses...... 2 Jan. 24, at the Bob Reeves High School Recreation representatives, technical Room. A New Face at the consultants, the Aleut ADEC ...... 3 For more information on this meeting – or to set up Corporation, and the special modifications for individuals with disabilities - call Adak Community Aleutian Pribilof Island Meeting ...... 3 or write the Local Boundary Commission staff, Municipal Association to conduct a & Regional Assistance Division, Department of Where to Get briefing on progress being Information ...... 3 Community and Economic Development, 550 W. 7th made in dealing with Avenue, Suite 1770, Anchorage, Alaska 99501. (907- Do You Know...... 4 ordnance issues as part of 269-4557.) Adak Update • Page 1 Q & A on Adak Ordnance Issues

The Navy, the Environmental Protection Agency and the What information can be found on ordnance? Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, in response to community input, decided to address ordnance The technical team working on ordnance issues on Adak and unexploded ordnance issues separate from chemical is looking at a wide variety of archival information and and petroleum remediation activities on Adak. Explosive Ordnance Disposal Response records. Archival "Operable Unit B" – or OU B – was created to allow information includes: records, ordnance issues to be addressed separately. manifests, orders, interviews and a At present the agencies are working to determine the wide range of photographs. likelihood, density and hazard severity of ordnance on Adak and to develop a workable plan to investigate and reduce In addition, over the past 45 years danger associated with ordnance or unexploded ordnance. there have been several hundred Explosive Ordnance Disposal Responses – all for WWII-era What is ordnance? ordnance that has been removed and disposed of by disposal teams. There are a number of items identified as ordnance. The general category termed ordnance includes: In addition, field work to gather information on ordnance has been conducted in a variety of locations on Adak. • Ammunition • Small arms – through 16” What are some key Adak ordnance and unexploded • Bullets, mortars and projectiles ordnance (UXO) issues being dealt with now? • Bombs • Chemical weapons There are few precedents • Demolition materials for ordnance and • Grenades unexploded ordnance • Land mines cleanup in Arctic conditions. • Propellants State and federal processes • Pyrotechnics used for chemical cleanup • Rockets and missiles (CERCLA or Superfund • Torpedoes laws) do not address ordnance. "Unexploded ordnance" includes items that are fused and fired, and not detonated. The highest danger for unexploded The Operable Unit B ordnance is from those items that are shock sensitive and Project Team was formed in nearest to the surface. August, 1999, and includes the Navy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Alaska What is the history of ordnance at Adak? Department of Environmental Conservation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Aleut/Pribilof Island Association About 90 percent of ordnance found on Adak is from and The Aleut Corporation. This team has been and WWII. Most of this ordnance is from combat training and continues to work to develop a clean-up process for readiness activities ordnance specific to Adak. conducted from 1941 to 1944 and from Since August, frequent subcommittee meetings have been ordnance related to the held to address physical terrain constraints, the archival battle for the Aleutian record search, assessment of ordnance and unexploded Islands. ordnance areas, and to establish priorities for disposal.

Post WWII, Adak How is the clean-up process being developed by the was used as a Naval technical team for Adak? Base from 1959-1997. Except for small arms training, ordnance training was limited during this period to the Lake The technical team’s main goal in developing the clean-up Andrew range areas. According to experts, the base was a process for Adak is to assure public safety and environmental strategic base during the Cold War, and most of the mission conservation. The approach being used is a blend of was not related to ordnance proficiency. CERCLA and Department of Defense methodology to assess

Page 2 • Adak Update the hazards resulting from Community and other stakeholder input into decisions Adak ordnance. takes place through the Restoration Advisory Board and This process must use through formal public comment. Ultimately a Record of both military knowledge of Decision must be reached that will spell out how all ordnance ordnance, Department of sites will be addressed and how unexploded ordnance threats Defense cleanup standards will be managed. and measurements similar to those in the CERCLA process. A New Face at the ADEC How is public safety being addressed relative to In November, Tess Carr joined the ordnance? Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation as the department's new The OU B technical team is developing a series of project manager for Adak contaminated screening procedures that address ordnance. The purpose of sites cleanup. Tess comes from a the screening is to classify areas of concern for either background of environmental cleanup accelerated removal action, site inspection, further site management with a private consulting characterization or no further action. company, Jacobs Engineering, in Carr Anchorage. Prior to that, she worked Concepts that underlay the Level 1 Screening Process are: for a North Slope oil production company, BP Exploration, • Likelihood of contamination: the likelihood of with their environmental assessment department, on the contamination is primarily related to the activity and North Slope and in Anchorage. Tess is from Alaska and the original intent of using ordnance at a site. has a master's degree in environmental anthropology. • Density of ordnance contamination: the density of She attended college at the University of Alaska contamination in an area is related to the type of Fairbanks and McGill University in Canada. ordnance, the duration, and the intensity of ordnance activity that is assumed or documented to have occurred at a site. • Hazard severity: hazard severity is the anticipated Tentative Schedule and Proposed Agenda result of an unintended exposure to ordnance. for Adak Community Meetings • Strength of evidence: strength of evidence reflects the certainty that archival and field evidence can be Monday, January 24 relied upon. 7 PM – Informal availability session and ordnance presentation regarding Operable Unit B (OU B) questions and/or concerns. Who makes the decisions regarding ordnance and 7 PM – Public information meeting on Adak’s petition to become a unexploded ordnance issues? Second Class City.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, the Tuesday, January 25 Environmental Protection Agency and the Navy are working Noon – Individual members of federal and state agencies, as well together to determine how to as technical support personnel will be available during the noon hour apply existing federal and state to meet with community members. laws to Adak ordnance issues. 7 PM – Community Council Meeting; presentation on the Product Recovery System followed by availability session on additional items The agencies are using or concerns. experts in a variety of fields to assist them. The Aleut Wednesday, January 26 Corporation, the Aleutian Pribilof Noon – Individual members of the federal and state agencies, as Island Association and the U.S. well as technical support personnel, will be available during the noon Fish and Wildlife Service also sit hour to meet with community members. on the technical team addressing ordnance issues. 6 PM – Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting, followed by availability session with community.

Where to Get Information – INFOLINE: 1-800-360-1561 University of Alaska Anchorage, Library NAS Adak, Adak Island, Alaska, Administrative Record Reserve Room, 3211 Providence Dr. Bob Reeves High School Library Engineering Field Activity NW 19917 Seventh 907-786-1871 - M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, Ave., NW, Poulsbo, WA 98370 Contact: Librarian Contact: Lt. Commander Ted Posuniak 907-592-8170 www.adakupdate.com

Adak Update • Page 3 Do You Know... Do you know the history of during World War II as a after the land reverts to the Do you know that Adak land use on Adak? staging area for military Department. residents have petitioned The first inhabitants of operations in the Aleutian for Adak to becomes a city? Adak Island were the Aleuts. Islands, including the Do you know what the draft The Adak Community Remnants of Aleut campaign to drive Axis forces land transfer agreement Council has petitioned for settlements remain as from Attu and Kiska Islands proposes? Adak to become incorporated archaeological sites on Adak at the Western end of the The current draft land as a Second Class City in today. Russians first visited Aleutian chain. Currently, the transfer agreement involves Alaska. This petition must be the Aleutian islands in the Navy owns the Northern half the exchange of approx- reviewed and approved by the early 1740s and were trading of Adak, as a result of a imately 46,000 acres of Aleut- State of Alaska Department of with the Aleuts by the 1750s. congressional land owned lands in a different Community and Economic By 1830, Russian settlers withdrawal from the Aleutian location for an equivalent Development’s Local Bound- had occupied Adak and National Maritime Wildlife amount of former Navy ary Commission. This process relocated the Aleuts to Refuge for military purposes. owned land. The land is currently underway. For Russian settlements in When the military leaves exchanged must be suitable more information, or to submit Kodiak, the Pribilof Islands the island, the land legally to serve as wildlife refuge comments during the public and in Sitka. reverts to the United States land. comment period, you may The U.S. Fish and Department of the Interior as The land trade can only contact the Local Boundary Wildlife Service has Fish and Wildlife Service come after Federal legislation Commission staff, Municipal & administered the Southern refuge lands. Although no to remove the former military Regional Assistance Division, half of Adak Island as part of land trade has occurred, a reservation from the wildlife Dept. of Community and the National Wildlife Refuge draft land transfer agreement refuge. This legislation has Economic Development, 550 system since 1913. The proposes a trade between not passed Congress and the W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1770, Northern portion of Adak was the Department of Interior land transfer agreement has Anchorage, AK 99501. (907- used for military purposes and The Aleut Corporation not been finalized. 269-4557.)

Adak Update Engineering Field Activity, Northwest 19917 Seventh Ave., NW Poulsbo, WA 98370 Special Project Adak Update February 2000

Background Information Special Project Adak Update

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Naval Air Facility Adak Selected for Closure

With passage of Public Laws 100-256 and 101-510 in 1988 and 1990, Congress created the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission to provide a fair process that would result in timely closure and realignment of military installations.

The former Naval Air Facility (NAF) Adak was selected for closure by the Commission in 1995. The military mission of the former Navy base ended in March 1997. Since that time the Navy has been involved in the environmental restoration, cleanup and closure activities that would allow for lease and transfer of property on Adak to non-federal entities.

Laws Governing Military Base Closure

Several federal laws set the standards and requirements for military base closure. Those laws require environmental restoration and set standards for site cleanup. Adak closure is governed by the Base Closure and Realignment Act (BRAC).

It is also governed by the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), as amended by the Community Environmental Response Facilitation Act (CERFA), and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) regulations contained in Public Law 18 AAC 75. CERCLA is also called the Superfund Law.

Property Disposal and Reuse Issues

All of Adak Island is part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Navy use of approximately 77,000 acres on the northern half of the island was authorized by a public land withdrawal in 1959. When Navy use for military purposes is no longer needed, the only legally permissible action Navy may take to dispose of the property is to relinquish it back to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Under the Base Closure and Realignment Act program, the military mission at Naval Air Facility Adak ended on March 31, 1997. Navy need for the property will cease when environmental cleanup actions are complete.

The improvements Navy placed on the property associated with its military use would be liabilities to the US Fish and Wildlife Service in managing the property as wildlife refuge. The Aleut Corporation (TAC) has proposed an exchange of property with US Fish and Wildlife Service under which TAC would acquire approximately 46,000 acres of this property on Adak, including all developed areas. A draft transfer agreement containing terms and conditions of such a property exchange is being negotiated among Navy, The Aleut Corporation, and US Fish and Wildlife Service. Congressional action will be necessary to remove the property from the wildlife refuge and ratify the transfer agreement. Details of the property conveyance remain to be worked out.

The Adak Reuse Corporation has been authorized by the State of Alaska and the Department of Defense to undertake reuse planning for the former NAF Adak property. ARC has developed a draft reuse plan. Navy has entered into a lease with ARC to enable commercial reuse to get underway. ARC has subleased a portion of one building and a pier to Adak Seafoods, which is conducting fish processing operations. The lease term currently extends through 2001. A petition has been filed with the State of Alaska to form a second class city on Adak. A decision by the Local Boundary Commission is expected by May 2000.

Environmental Cleanup National Priorities List

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) placed NAF Adak on the CERCLA National Priorities List in May 1994.This action made cleanup and restoration of Adak a National Priority and gave impetus to expedited environmental restoration funding.

Agencies Responsible for Environmental Cleanup

The U.S. Navy entered into four different agreements with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation that have governed investigation and cleanup of contaminated areas on Adak. These three agencies have primary responsibility for all environmental cleanup decisions made for NAF Adak.

Closure and Environmental Restoration Objectives

The following are the closure and environmental restoration objectives outlined for closure of NAF Adak by the Navy and state and federal regulators:

■ Protect human health and the environment; ■ Comply with all existing federal and state statutes and regulations; ■ Conduct all environmental restoration activities in a manner consistent with federal and State of Alaska cleanup regulations; ■ Conduct an environmental baseline survey (EBS) to establish the current environmental condition of the property, supporting its lease or transfer; ■ Establish priorities for environmental restoration and restoration-related one-time compliance activities (so that property disposal and reuse goals can be met); ■ Initiate selected remedial actions to control risks or reduce them to manageable levels; ■ Consider future land use when assessing risks associated with releases of hazardous substances, contaminants, or hazardous wastes; ■ Develop, evaluate, and select remedial actions in a manner consistent with applicable state and federal statutory and regulatory requirements; ■ Commence remedial actions for areas of environmental concern and prioritize actions for areas to allow property disposal and reuse; ■ Advise the Navy Real Estate and BRAC organizations and the community regarding property that is deemed environmentally suitable for reuse and; ■ Establish programs to monitor the efficacy of remedial actions.

Environmental Issues for Adak

The major environmental issues on Adak center around four areas:

■ Contamination from hazardous substance; ■ Contamination from petroleum; ■ Solid waste disposal issues; and ■ Hazards from past use of ordnance and explosives. Addressing Major Environmental Issues

In agreements between the Navy, EPA and the State of Alaska and in response to community concerns, it was decided it would be best to deal with hazardous substance and petroleum cleanup issues separately from ordnance issues. Two "operable units" were established called Operable Unit A and Operable Unit B. "Operable unit" is a term used to describe an area being addressed as part of the CERCLA process. Operable Unit A covers all hazardous substance and petroleum related issues, as well as solid waste management. Operable Unit B addresses unexploded ordnance.

A Record of Decision for Operable Unit A was signed by the Navy. Regulatory agency concurrences are pending. Remedial actions for Operable Unit A issues have been taken. Maintenance and monitoring of the effectiveness of these remedies will continue.

Navy and the regulatory agencies are developing a remedial investigation work plan to further characterize known and suspected Operable Unit B ordnance sites during the 2000 field season.

Where to Get Information

INFOLINE: 1-800-360-1561 WEB SITE: www.adakupdate.com

University of Alaska Anchorage, Library Reserve Room, 3211 Providence Dr. 907-786-1871 M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, Contact: Librarian

Former NAF Adak, Adak Island, Alaska, Bob Reeve High School Library 907-592-8170 M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, Contact: Lt. Commander Ted Posuniak

Administrative Record Engineering Field Activity NW 19917 Seventh Ave., NW Poulsbo, WA 98370 March 2000

United States Navy United States Environmental Protection Agency Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

An Update on Adak Ordnance Issues

In January 1999, the Unit- cleanup at a site. ed States Environmental There are two "Operable Protection Agency and the Units" on Adak. Operable Alaska Department of Envi- Unit A was formed to deal ronmental Conservation took with chemical and petroleum a step forward in the process issues, while Operable Unit of reducing the hazard of B deals solely with unexplod- unexploded ordnance on ed ordnance (UXO) and Adak. explosive chemical residues. The federal and state reg- ulatory agencies formally cre- A unique situation leads to ated "Operable Unit B" as the formation of a "Project part of the process of pro- Team." tecting human health and safety on Adak and assuring Ordnance presents a compliance with federal and unique challenge for federal state environmental laws and and state regulatory agencies. the Navy, the EPA and the any one agency, but some of regulations. Unlike the comprehensive set ADEC – assembled an "Adak the best UXO experts and The term "Operable Unit" of laws and guidelines that OU-B Project Team" in July independent contractors in comes from the federal Com- have regulated chemical and 1999 to address ordnance the industry. This is a fast- prehensive Environmental petroleum cleanup standards issues on Adak. moving field and these Response Compensation and actions in the United The team includes repre- experts have to stay current and Liability Act of 1980 States since the 1960s, cur- sentatives of the Navy, EPA, on UXO cleanup methods, (CERCLA), sometimes called rently little guidance exists for ADEC, the Aleutian/Pribilof technological advancements, the Superfund law. This law setting cleanup standards for Island Association (A/PIA), etc." allows for "Operable Units" to ordnance. Therefore, the The Aleut Corporation (TAC), According to Carr, the be developed to specifically agencies responsible for the and the United States Fish experts don’t always agree deal with different parts of Adak cleanup and closure – and Wildlife Service. The among themselves on the team also includes experts Continues on Page 2 from across the United Upcoming Meetings States in a variety of fields Restoration Advisory Board associated with ordnance What's Inside The next Restoration Advisory Board meeting is scheduled issues. (Please see the arti- Meet Some OU-B Project for Saturday, April 15, at 1 p.m. in the Commander's Confer- cle on Page 2). Team Members ...... 2 "The strength of the OU-B ence Room, Bob Reeve High School, Adak. Anchorage resi- Boundary Commission to dents can participate in the meeting via teleconference from Project Team is that the Meet on Adak ...... 4 the Holiday Inn in Anchorage (2 p.m. Anchorage time). For Navy, EPA and ADEC tapped RAB Adds New Members information please call 1-800-360-1561. into a network of experts from around the country," and Elects Co-Chair ...... 5 Local Boundary Commission said Tess Carr, ADEC project Where to Get The Local Boundary Commission will hold a hearing on the manager. Information ...... 5 petition for Adak to become a Second Class City on April 28 at "The team doesn’t just Adak Web Site Provides 6:30 p.m. in the Bob Reeve High School Recreation Room. include one contractor or one Public Information ...... 6 group of contractors from

Adak Update • Page 1 An Update on Adak Ordnance Issues Continued

Continued from Page 1 considerations are express- holders in the Project Team. B Project Team. Calugan will best way to approach Adak ed at the table and that In addition, US Fish and be added to the project team ordnance issues, but the OU- everyone has the opportunity Wildlife Service representa- email distribution list and will B Project Team format pro- for input into the process. tives also sit on the Project participate in Project Team vides the opportunity for According to Mark Mur- Team to provide information teleconference meetings. detailed – and sometimes phy, Adak Project Manager on land-use patterns on She has agreed to provide heated discussions – about for the Navy, the OU-B Pro- Adak, both historically and at meeting minutes to interest- the issues. It is from this ject Team thought it was present. They also speak on ed individuals on Adak in complex informational important to have Aleutian/ behalf of the agency’s inter- order to help keep Adak resi- exchange that the Adak UXO Pribilof Island Association ests as managers of the dents informed of the Project cleanup approach is being and The Aleut Corporation Alaska Maritime Wildlife Team's work. developed, she said. representatives at the Project Refuge, of which Adak is a "Input from other interest- The Project Team meet- Team meetings. part. ed stakeholders will be fold- ings are facilitated by Rick The goal of including both Laura Calugan, an Adak ed into team decisions in a Oglesby, a member of the The Aleut Corporation and Community Council member, variety of ways as the Project Federal Mediation and Con- A/PIA with the EPA, ADEC has agreed to provide infor- Team develops more specific ciliation Service. Oglesby’s and Navy was to involve a mation to the community of processes, procedures and job is to make sure that all broader of range of stake- Adak on the work of the OU- documents," Murphy said.

Meet Some of the OU-B Project Team Members

Here are brief biographies of some Tess Carr Fran Gomes of the members of the OU-B Project serves as the serves as the Team. Members not listed here will be Alaska Depart- Base Transition included in the next issue of Adak ment of Environ- Coordinator for Update. mental Conser- Adak and is vation’s Adak responsible for Scott Arnold, Ph.D., brings expertise Project Manag- facilitating the in risk assessment, mechanistic toxi- er. She joined transition of cology, environmental chemistry and ADEC in Adak from a bioremediation to the Project Team. He November 1999 military base to specializes in hazardous substance and has expertise in environmental a civilian community. She has served site investigation risk assessments – cleanup management with private as the Environmental Program Man- which means his expertise includes business, including Jacobs Engineer- ager for the Base Closure Cleanup evaluation of land-use scenarios, ing and BP Exploration. She holds a Program at the Naval Facilities Engi- determining contamination levels, inter- master’s degree in environmental neering Command for four years. actions and limits, and looking at how anthropology. Carr brings consider- Prior to that she served as the Pro- contamination is released into the envi- able experience in risk communication gram Manager for NATO Infrastruc- ronment. and environmental assessment to the ture Construction for more than four Project Team. years. Ernesta Ballard is owner of Bal- John Dow Jim Hersey is the Head of Acquisition lard and Associ- serves as the and Technology Division, Research ates, a private technical liaison and Development Department, Naval environmental to Chief of Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Tech- and strategic Operations for nology Division in Indian Head, Md. planning firm. She ordnance envi- He has been involved in the UXO is the former ronmental issues detection and clearance arena since Regional Adminis- on Adak. He is the mid-1970s as both a military tech- trator for the Envi- an environmental nology and systems developer and a ronmental Protection Agency and a biologist and engineer for the Navy’s UXO clearance execution and quality former CEO of Cape Fox Corporation, Ordnance Environmental Support consultant for various agencies. He the Saxman ANCSA corporation. She Office, where he specializes in regula- holds a master’s degree in Engineer- holds a master’s degree in Business tory compliance and research and ing Administration from George Wash- Administration from the Harvard School development regarding munitions and ington University. of Business. the environment.

Page 2 • Adak Update What is the Project Team’s evaluating the technology The document is available Poulsbo, WA 98370. goal? available for ordnance inves- for review at the Adak and "All responses we receive tigation; and developing a Anchorage information will be considered by the According to Carr, the goal hazard assessment method- repositories and is posted on Project Team," Murphy said. of the OU-B Project Team is ology for ordnance-contami- the project Web site, to "create a process of ord- nated areas. www.adakupdate.com. What does the Site Investi- nance cleanup that is consis- Responses to the docu- gation Report contain? tent with CERCLA principles Draft Site Investigation ment should be sent to the and acceptable to stakehold- Report: Selected Areas of Navy by March 31 via e-mail One of the Navy’s con- ers." Potential Concern in Oper- at murphyms@efanw. nav tractors, Foster Wheeler So far the Project Team able Unit B fac.navy.mil. Environmental Corporation, has completed four phases Responses received by completed a thorough search of its work including: agree- One of the documents that date can be included in of the archives and back- ing on a process for screen- recently completed is the the upcoming revision to the ground data relative to WWII ing ordnance sites; "Draft Site Investigation report. Responses may also activities on Adak. Prior to developing an investigation Report: Selected Areas of be mailed to Mark Murphy at the Foster Wheeler effort, approach for areas requiring Potential Concern in Opera- Engineering Field Activity three other organizations further site investigation; ble Unit B." NW, 19917 Seventh Ave., NW, Continues on Page 4

John Martin is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Doug Murray is an Ordnance and Explo- Bill Rohrer, Ph.D., Service's Refuge Manager Alaska Mar- sives Waste Management Specialist with is a professional itime National Wildlife Refuge. He has Radian International. He has 16 years of geologist and spent 33 years working for the agency, experience in the field, working on ord- regional planner working from 1976 to 1980 in Adak and nance-related projects throughout the with more than 25 from 1980 to the present in Homer. world for both the Department of Defense years of experi- Though Martin plans to retire in June, he and the private sector. ence in hydrogeol- has been an active participant in the Pro- ogy, civil ject Team and Restoration Advisory Board Spenser Nelson serves as a Project Man- engineering and for many years. ager for Geophex UXO Ltd. He retired environmental from the Navy in 1997 after serving as a planning. He is a Senior Hydrogeologist, Tom Murculief serves as an Environmen- Senior Explosive Ordnance Disposal Tech- Director of Field Services and Director of tal Technician and Adak Program Manager nician, deep-sea diver and parachutist. He Technical Animation Services in URS for the Aleutian/Pribilof Island Association. has served as a UXO Team Leader for Greiner Woodward Clyde’s Seattle office, Murculief, who was born in St. George and CMS Environmental, in Fort Ord, Calif., where he currently serves as Activity Man- was raised in Nikolski, has a degree in and a UXO Site Supervisor for Internation- ager for Navy projects in Alaska. Dr. chemistry from Seattle Pacific University. al Technologies Corporation in Redstone Rohrer has published articles about the He has worked for 10 years in the environ- Arsenal, Ala. policy level and technical issues regarding mental field, working for six years on sub- Adak ordnance in numerous journals and sistence and oil spill issues for the National Kevin Oates is a presenter at technical symposia Oceanic Atmospheric Administration serves as the throughout the country. (NOAA). Along with serving as the Project Adak Project Man- Team representative for A/PIA, he also rep- ager for the Envi- Jordan Stout holds a master’s degree in resents the Association on the RAB. ronmental environmental toxicology and risk assess- Protection Agency. ment from Duke University. His profession- Mark Murphy is the Environmental Project He has 18 years of al experience includes six years of dredge Manager for the Navy. He has 10 years of experience in the and fill permitting and enforcement activi- experience in the environmental field hav- environmental field ties in the coastal areas of South Florida ing worked in the public and private sector. and an academic and three years on the U.S. Fish and He holds a degree in Environmental Engi- background in water chemistry and water- Wildlife Service’s Environmental Contami- neering from the Montana School of Miner- shed management. Besides having served nants staff in Anchorage. ■ al Science and Technology. He is a with the EPA’s federal hazardous waste Registered Professional Engineer. Mark cleanup programs, he has also worked

has worked on the Adak project since with the USACE and Department of Ener- Note: The Aleut Corporation recently announced 1994. gy. He also serves with the EPA’s Tribal that Vince Tutiakoff will replace Elary Gromoff as Office. TAC’s representative on the Project Team.

Adak Update • Page 3 An Update on Adak Ordnance Issues Continued

Continued from Page 3 impressive, in-depth effort," nance items by sensing the rized according to what we conducted extensive archival he said. electromagnetic signatures think happened there and research related to ordnance Based on the archives of the item," Murray said. what kind of contamination use on Adak. and the background data, "This allows geophysicists – resulted." "Four teams of investiga- the teams were able to iden- with the help of tors looked for archival infor- tify areas of potential con- software – to mation," said Doug Murray, a cern. However, Murray said identify areas UXO expert with Radian the archives’ search provid- where further International and a Project ed the team with the first investigation may Team consultant. "In addition step in identifying where be needed." to the Foster Wheeler Envi- troops stationed on Adak Both the EPA ronmental work, investiga- may have fired weapons. It and ADEC tions were done by a team also provided and informa- experts reviewed from URS Greiner Wood- tion on the type of weapons the data. The Pro- ward Clyde, an international used. ject Team then engineering and construction "The next step was to val- developed criteria firm, by the U.S. Army Corps idate or invalidate archival for deciding which of Engineers and the Navy data by investigating the specific sites on Adak were How are Areas of Potential Environmental Health Com- identified sites for geophysi- most likely to have ord- Concern evaluated? mand, as well as other Navy cal evidence of UXO," Mur- nance. consultants. ray added. "The Level One screening The Project Team evaluat- According to Murray, the The teams used instru- is a tool to categorize the ed Areas of Potential Con- team’s efforts were compli- ments that include state-of- status of sites," said ADEC cern on four criteria: mentary. "One agency con- the-art technology to look for Project Manager Tess Carr. ■ Likelihood of contami- firmed what another agency magnetic objects under the "Approximately 175 Areas of nation – based on the origi- found, and turned up new ground. Potential Concern (APOCs) nal activity and intent of information as well. It was an "The technology finds ord- were identified and catego- ordnance use at the site; ■ Assumed density of contamination – related to Boundary Commission to Meet on Adak the type of ordnance use, The Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development released a prelimi- the amount of time it was nary report regarding the petition to incorporate Adak as a Second Class City. used and the intensity of ord- The preliminary report concluded that the standards for incorporation as outlined in nance activity either State law have not been met and recom- assumed or documented at mended that the Local Boundary Commis- a site; ■ sion deny the incorporation petition. Hazard severity – the Comments on the preliminary report severity of the hazard is were filed and will be considered when the related to the type of ord- Local Boundary Commission holds a hear- nance known or suspected ing on the petition April 28 at 6:30 p.m. in to be present along with the the Bob Reeve High School Recreation accessibility of the site; and ■ Room, on Adak. Strength of evidence – According to the preliminary report, the the amount and the consis- boundaries of the proposed City of Adak as tency of archival and field outlined in the petition "do not include all evidence. the land and water necessary to provide full development of essential city services on an efficient, cost-effective level" as required How are ordance sites by Alaska law. The report stated that "the proposed city boundaries include extensive ter- classified? ritory that will not be subject to growth and development during the next decade." In addition to the proposed boundaries, the report concluded that the population and According to Carr, the economic base that presently exists on Adak are not large enough to support city govern- Level One screening ment and city services. process resulted in screened The Commission will hear testimony when it meets on Adak in April. The Local Bound- sites being classified accord- ary Commission will make the final decision on the petition after members hear testimony ing to three possible out- and consider the written comments regarding the report’s findings. comes. Sites could be listed as: ■ No Further Action sites –

Page 4 • Adak Update to be documented and left ADEC Project Manager Carr. Documents Available for Public Review alone; "It is to ensure that human To follow is a schedule for public review of documents currently ■ Sites that require immedi- health and safety are pro- available or soon to be released. Documents are in the Anchor- ate removal action of an tected in a way that is satis- age and Adak Information Repositories and are either currently imminent hazard; or factory to the OU-B on the Adak Web site, www.adakupdate.com, or will be added to ■ Sites that require further stakeholders." the site by March 31. characterization and investi- "This is a qualitative Draft Site Investigation Report: Public comments should be gation. assessment," said Doug sent to Mark Murphy by March 31,2000, at EFA NW 19917 Sev- At present, there are a Murray. "If there is a reason- enth Ave., NW, Poulsbo, WA 98370. number of sites identified for able certainty that ordnance no further action and a num- could or would have been Draft Preliminary Assessment Report: Public comments should be sent to Mark Murphy by April 7,2000, at EFA NW ber of sites requiring further found in a site, then that site 19917 Seventh Ave., NW, Poulsbo, WA 98370. characterization during the is sent on for further sam- 2000 summer field season. pling and study – a process Institutional Controls Management Plan: Public Comments called remedial investiga- should be sent to Patty Kelly by May 9,2000, at EFA NW 19917 Draft Preliminary Assess- tion." Seventh Ave., NW, Poulsbo, WA 98370. ment Report: Selected Remedial Investigation Work Plan: The Remedial Investigation Areas of Potential Concern What is "Remedial Investi- Work Plan is scheduled to be available for review and public in Operable Unit B gation?" comment on March 31, 2000. Comments should be sent to Mark Murphy by April 30,2000, at EFA NW 19917 Seventh Ave., The Level One screening The goal of a Remedial NW, Poulsbo, WA 98370. process resulted in the Investigation/Feasibility posted on the project Web the plan. preparation of the "Draft Pre- Study under the CERCLA site, he said. "When the Remedial liminary Assessment Report: process is to characterize "This plan will determine Investigation Work Plan Selected Areas of Potential sites in order to provide where the efforts will be comes out, we want the Concern in Operable Unit B." enough additional data to focused during the 2000 public, and especially the This report, prepared by support decision making. field season on Adak," Mur- community on Adak, to Foster Wheeler, is also cur- For Operable Unit B on phy said. review the plan and involve rently available in the infor- Adak, the goal of the reme- There will be a 30-day themselves in the process," mation repositories in Adak dial investigation process public comment period on Murphy said. ■ and Anchorage. This report being developed is to nar- provides maps, drawings row down and intensify the and other information collect- search for ordnance in the Restoration Advisory Board Adds ed as part of the ordnance areas that pose the great- New Members and Elects Co-Chair investigation to date, and est potential hazard. identifies areas of potential "We will work to define At the March 8 Restoration Advisory Board meeting in concern. the boundaries of possible Anchorage, Cathy Villa, a member of the Adak Commu- "The goal of the project ordnance areas so that bet- nity Council, was unanimously elected the new communi- screening is safety," Murphy ter decisions on how to ty co-chair of the Adak RAB. Villa replaces Elary said. "Although with the remediate sites can be Gromoff, who resigned as RAB co-chair in January. existing technology, we can’t made," Murphy said. Villa will assume co-chair duties at the April 15 RAB guarantee that there is He said the Remedial meeting to be held on Adak. Her duties include working absolutely no ordnance in Investigation Work Plan is with Navy co-chair Richard Stoll to prepare meeting any area, we can come to a scheduled to be available agendas and run RAB meetings. high degree of certainty that for review and public com- Chris Gates was elected to represent The Aleut Cor- the ordnance hazard in an ment on March 31. poration on the RAB. A number of Adak community resi- area is very low." The document will be dents were also elected to serve as RAB members: Patty "The ADEC role on the available in the Adak and Vessel, Keith Martin, Charlotte Griswald, Carl Calugan Project Team is similar to the Anchorage information and Laura Calugan. role played by the EPA," said repositories and will be Where to Get Information • INFOLINE: 1-800-360-1561 • www.adakupdate.com University of Alaska Anchorage NAF Adak, Adak Island, Alaska, Administrative Record Library Reserve Room Bob Reeve High School Library Engineering Field Activity NW 3211 Providence Dr. M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, 19917 Seventh Ave., NW 907-786-1871 - M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, Contact: Lt. Commander Ted Posuniak Poulsbo, WA 98370 Contact: Librarian 907-592-8170 Contact: Richard Stoll

Adak Update • Page 5 Adak Web Site Provides Public Information

In an effort to provide another Technical Documents and Reports forum for the public to receive infor- Technical documents and reports related to the Record of mation on the Naval Air Facility Decision for chemical and petroleum cleanup of Adak are post- Adak base closure, the Navy has ed. This section focuses on current reports related to unexplod- brought a new Web site online. ed ordnance (UXO) cleanup efforts on Adak. The site, www.adakupdate. com, provides an overview of the Chemical and Petroleum Cleanup processes leading to the closure An overview of chemical and petroleum cleanup issues on and reuse of Naval Air Facility Adak is provided, as well as a link to the Record of Decision Adak. containing all chemical, petroleum and landfill closure deci- Information currently available sions. includes: Unexploded Ordnance Issues Background Information on Naval Air Facility Adak Closure Important information related to unexploded ordnance issues This section provides an overview of the laws and regulations on Adak is posted. A link is provided to technical documents governing defense base closures. A brief history of Adak and the related to UXO cleanup and regulatory decisions for Adak. environmental and regulatory cleanup objectives for the closure of Naval Air Facility Adak are reviewed. Links are provided to Restoration Advisory Board Minutes related information. Minutes of the monthly community Restoration Advisory Board meetings held in Anchorage and Adak are posted, as well Newsletters and Fact Sheets as contact information. Public information newsletters published by the Navy, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Alaska Department of Also included are links to the United States Environmen- Environmental Conservation are presented, as well as Fact tal Protection Agency, the Alaska Department of Environ- Sheets on various issues prepared by the U.S. Navy relative to mental Conservation and the Department of Defense Web the closure of Naval Air Facility Adak. sites.

Adak Update Engineering Field Activity, Northwest 19917 Seventh Ave., NW Poulsbo, WA 98370 May 2000

United States Navy United States Environmental Protection Agency Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Ordnance Plans Explained at Island Briefing More than 35 people Background on 1996-1998 participated in an April 15 Ordnance Investigations community briefing on According to Murray, in Adak ordnance issues. 1996 the Navy’s Explosive The briefing was given by Ordnance Disposal Mobile Doug Murray, a URS Envi- Unit 11 based in Whidbey ronmental Program Man- Island, Wash., surveyed ager for Ordnance and known Adak range areas for Explosives with more than ordnance. Those areas 16 years’ experience on include the Range Complex ordnance projects. at Andrew Lake, a suspected Murray gave a detailed mine field at Clam Lagoon, review of how the Project ordnance that had washed Team for Operable Unit B up at the Andrew Bay sea- has been developing a wall, a suspected WWII mor- plan for further investiga- tar impact area east of tion of Adak ordnance. Andrew Lake and all of the Doug Murray, an Ordnance and Explosives Waste "The goal of the investi- populated areas on Adak. Management Consultant (left), watches researcher Marty gation scheduled for this "Mobile Unit 11 has a Beagle set up a soil pressure experiment on Adak. summer," Murray said, "is regional responsibility for Boy Scout leader Laura Calugan is in the background. to gather more information recovering Navy ordnance needed to make an that threatens human health archive search of historic veys were conducted that informed decision on how or the environment," Murray information related to ord- included surface and intru- to make Adak safer." said. nance. According to Murray, sive investigation, he said. Murray’s briefing Along with the Unit’s sur- the investigation included Three priority areas were detailed ordnance investi- vey work, in 1997 and 1998 defense plans for the island, identified: 390 acres of hous- gation work from 1996 to the Navy also used other firing orders for weapons ing, administrative and the present. resources to begin an training, munitions invento- industrial areas of "down- ries, photographs, maps, town" Adak; 638 acres of other training and operations unused housing areas, air- Upcoming Meetings documents and interviews field support areas, taxiways Restoration Advisory Board with former soldiers, sailors and runways and the fuel and airmen. The next Restoration Advisory Board meeting is Continues on Page 2 scheduled for 6:30 p.m. June 28 on Adak. Anchorage Research was conducted residents can participate (the meeting starts at 7:30 by five different government p.m. Anchorage time) via teleconference from the Holi- and private organizations, he What's Inside day Inn in Anchorage. For more information please call said. Experiment Measures Soil 1-800-360-1561. "The records and archive searches uncovered types of Pressure ...... 3 Check out the web site for up-to-date information ordnance activities, areas of Boundary Commission Please, don’t forget to visit www.adakupdate.com ordnance use and types of Deferred Action...... 4 for up-to-date information on meetings, newly released ordnance present in various Where to Get More documents or important events related to Adak cleanup locations," Murray said. Information ...... 4 and closure. In addition, physical sur-

Adak Update • Page 1 Ordnance Plans Explained at Island Briefing (Cont.) tank farm; and 1,334 acres a practice bomb with a spot- 1999 and 2000 Fieldwork As of April 2000, the team of commercial and industrial ting charge, a 4-pound UXO teams further inves- identified 26 areas requiring areas with limited use down- incendiary bomb and a flare, tigated areas on Adak in further inspection on-site this town. he said. 1999 using common ord- summer. As a result of those sur- “In 1997 and 1998, we nance investigation tech- niques. One technique, The Next Step ADAK INVESTIGATION AREAS called "the ribbon walk," has Murray said the next step ordnance team members is to actually achieve con- walking in a ribbon-like pat- sensus on the Remedial tern using metal detectors to Investigation Work Plan and register the presence of do the work outlined in the metal objects underground. plan in order to further clarify "The UXO found as a the nature and extent of the result of this technique problem presented by the ranged from small bullets to presence of UXO on Adak. large mortars and projec- "The Preliminary Assess- tiles," Murray said. ment was like going through Midway through the 1999 the areas with a broad- field season, the Navy, the toothed comb," Murray said. Environmental Protection "The work to support the Agency, and the Alaska Remedial Investigation Department of Environmen- involves going through the tal Conservation formed a area with a fine-toothed project team tasked with comb," he said. developing additional meth- During the 2000 field ods to further address Adak season, UXO teams will ordnance issues. search potential bivouac The project team also areas, combat ranges, includes representatives impact and target areas, As part of the OU B investigation, Adak was divided into from the Aleutian/Pribilof storage magazines and sectors identified according to patterns of land use and types Island Association, The Aleut open burning/open detona- of ordnance expected to be found. Each of the shaded ares Corporation and the U.S. tion grounds. represents an area of concern under the OU B investigation. Fish and Wildlife Service. Tests of various UXO Recently, an Adak communi- detection technologies are veys, Murray said, more than also investigated other ty representative was also scheduled and additional 7,000 metalic items referred potential minefields,” Murray added to the team. areas will be surveyed. Sur- to as "anomalies" were exca- explained. Live mines and The Navy has since veys will seek to find the vated. training mines were found developed a number of doc- boundaries of the areas with Metal detectors were used and removed from the mine- uments that have aided in ordnance contamination and by the teams to “see” items field at Clam Lagoon, howev- further management of Adak to further characterize beneath the surface. “Techni- er teams did not find mines ordnance concerns. selected areas of potential cians can then interpret the or mine-related material in Those documents include concern. signals to find ordnance,” other suspected minefields. the Draft Site Investigation The goal of the summer Murray said. Also during 1997 and Report, the Draft Preliminary season is to find enough Only three ordnance-relat- 1998, the on-going historical Assessment Report and the information in the 26 areas ed items were found on the records searches uncovered Remedial Investigation/Fea- of concern not yet inspected surface and another three more information on loca- sibility Study Work Plan – all so cleanup decisions can be items were found under- tions of other areas of poten- of which aim at clearly identi- made, Murray said. ground. tial concern. The new fying areas of potential con- "The bottom line is we "The surface clearance of information was used to cern for further investigation are still gathering the infor- Priority I and II areas found divide the island into sectors. and study. mation we need to make an several WWII souvenirs, The sectors were then Public involvement in the informed decision on what including a 50 mm Japanese identified according to pat- process was sought in order should be done with ord- mortar, a 37 mm anti-aircraft terns of expected use and to help the project team nance-contaminated sites. cartridge case and a 20 mm information on what could make further remedial inves- The end goal is to make projectile, Murray said. potentially be found. (Please tigation decisions, Murray Adak a safer place," he Subsurface finds included see map). said. said.

Page 2 • Adak Update Scouts Weigh In for Adak Soil Pressure Experiments For Adak residents and geotechnical and data- SOIL PRESSURE TEST APPARATUS federal agencies, the bottom recording equipment to buried load 9-inch diameter line for ordnance cleanup is measure both surface and top loading balance oil-filled safety. subsurface pressure. pressure cells "Protection of human For many types of ord- surface load nance, pressure 3.41-inch is a factor nec- square essary for deto- 3.41 inch diameter platens platens nation, said Dr. Rohrer. Members of the Adak Scout Troop took part in the experi- ment by stand- Experiments designed to measure subsurface pressure ing on a will help address long-term effects of ordnance. platform that measured Scouts be safe when they Adak, said Rohrer. weight. walk across the tundra?" These experiments will Cal Larson, of URS, and Marty Beagle The experi- Initial experimental assist the OU B project team work on computer equipment to meas- ment was results suggest that applied in determining if proposed ure soil pressure. pressures on the surface of institutional controls for the the ground are health and the rapidly reduced environment is at greater more than a depths in the goal," said subsurface, Richard Stoll, Rohrer said. BRAC coordi- "This is con- nator for the sistent with the- Navy. "It’s our oretical mandate and models," said our responsibili- researcher ty." Marty Beagle. In keeping Beagle said with that man- the importance date, geologists Researchers Max Folsum (left) and of the results is from URS in Marty Beagle arrive in Adak. that typical cur- Seattle worked rent and future with two univer- activities such sity researchers from designed to increase the as walking and Olympia, Wash., to conduct weight and pressure on the driving should an experiment designed to ground and at different not show signifi- measure the effect of pres- depths below the surface. cant effects sure on soil. The tests also "We had nearly a half ton below even a Nearly a half-ton of Scouts participate in aim at determining how sur- of Scouts – both boys and few inches pressure experiments. face pressure from future girls – applying pressure on under the activities will affect ord- our instruments," Rohrer ground surface, except in downtown and remote areas nance. said. highly compressible wetland of Adak will be adequate to Dr. William Rohrer and Scout leader Laura Calu- soils. maintain safe conditions and Dr. Chuck Vita, both of URS, gan said she was excited to More testing will occur minimize hazards from ord- and Max Folsom and Marty be able to have the Scouts later this summer. Testing nance, Rohrer said. Beagle, of The Evergreen participate first-hand in the will include the effect of Ultimately, all the activi- State College and Beagle study to help answer the freeze-thaw cycles on mock- ties scheduled for OU B this Folsom Research & Testing, question she raised at a ups of ordnance installed at summer are designed to conducted an experiment recent Restoration Advisory three different sites and at help address long-term using specially designed Board meeting, "Will my three different elevations on health and safety, he said.

Adak Update • Page 3 Boundary Commission Deferred Action on Adak City Incorporation

The State of Alaska Local Commission Chair Kevin Waring said, "The Commission Boundary Commission met in Adak saw and heard a great deal of local support for city incorporation, on April 28th to consider a petition but decided it was premature to take final action on the petition to incorporate a second-class city before the results of critical studies and actions now pending are government on Adak. available." According to a recent press Voters in Adak first petitioned the State to form a second- release, the Commission heard class city in April 1999. seven hours of public testimony and deliberated for two hours Where to Get Information before unanimously deciding to INFOLINE: 1-800-360-1561 postpone action on the petition until August 29, 2000. University of Alaska Anchorage, "The five-member Commission concluded that several Library Reserve Room, 3211 Providence Dr. key issues relating to the transition from a former major Naval 907-786-1871 - M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, Base to a small civilian settlement were unresolved," the press Contact: Librarian release stated. NAF Adak, Adak Island, Alaska, The Commission cited several pending actions by the federal Bob Reeve High School Library agencies, Congress, the Aleut Corporation, and others that will M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, 907-592-8170 affect Adak’s economic development, land and facility owner- Contact: Lt. Commander Ted Posuniak ship, and the viability of the proposed city. Richard Stoll, BRAC Environmental Coordinator Commissioners stated they expected that more information Engineering Field Activity NW will be available by the end of August that will assist them in 19917 Seventh Ave., NW making a decision on the city incorporation proposal. Poulsbo, WA 98370 Commission members listed approximately 20 documents, studies, and actions they expect to be concluded over the next www.adakupdate.com four months.

Adak Update Engineering Field Activity, Northwest 19917 Seventh Ave., NW Poulsbo, WA 98370 June 2000

United States Navy United States Environmental Protection Agency Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

The History of Potential Minefield Defense Sites on Ad a k One of the unique ard, to develop a workable aspects of the Navy’s cur- plan to investigate those rent work on Adak is the hazards, and to reduce interplay between the potential danger associat- i s l a n d ’s WWII history and ed with ordnance," said A d a k ’s later use as a mili- Tess Carr, the A l a s k a tary base. Department of Environ- " A detailed look at and mental Conservation’s Pro- analysis of all aspects of ject Manager for A d a k . A d a k ’s history has been a " We take that responsi- significant part of the work bility very seriously," Carr done by the Operable Unit said. B Project Team over the "For Adak, the investiga- past year," said Mark Mur- tion work included gaining p h y, the Navy’s Project a thorough understanding Manager for A d a k . of where these potential In response to stake- minefields were located holder comments about the and whether or not they N a v y ’s plans for minefields were ever installed," said Technicians used state-of-the-art equipment to look for during the summer field M u r p h y. mines in potential historic minefield locations. season, the Operable Unit B Project Team decided to Potential minefields: ing WWII records, field many hours of consultation explain work that has been developing a context orders, and orientation lec- and discussion, she said. done to investigate pro- "When it came to look- tures. We reviewed anec- “An important part of posed historic minefield ing for potential WWII dotal information contained those discussions is the defense sites in the con- minefields," said Ordnance in unofficial records main- historical and logical con- text of A d a k ’s history, Mur- and Explosives expert tained by military person- text of the potential ord- phy said. Doug Murray, "the Navy, nel formerly stationed on nance sites, including "The Project Te a m ’s the Navy’s contractors for Adak, and looked at field potential minefields.” work so far has been to ordnance investigation, data from actual intrusive understand the nature and and the Project Te a m investigations of sites." Evidence must be reliable extent of any ordnance that looked through thousands According to Carr, the According to Murray, could pose a potential haz- of historic materials includ- Project Te a m ’s challenge having the Project Te a m was to develop a scientific reach agreements on how approach that could be to evaluate the data Upcoming Meetings used within the context of reviewed by the team was federal and state laws that the first part, or Level 1, of Restoration Advisory Board govern hazardous-site the Operable Unit B The next Restoration Advisory Board meeting is cleanup. screening process. scheduled for 6:30 p.m. June 28 on Adak. Anchorage "An integral part of " We decided that evi- residents can participate (the meeting starts at 7:30 science is asking the right dence ‘reliability’ was of p.m. Anchorage time) via teleconference from the Holi- questions," Carr said. "Yo u singular importance," Mur- day Inn in Anchorage. For more information, please call focus your investigation by ray said. 1-800-360-1561. taking a look at the historic “In order to agree on a and logical context of a Level 1 Screening Process Check out the Web site for up-to-date information given problem." we had to have agreement Don’t forget to visit www.adakupdate.com for up- Steps in the OU B on possible exposure path- to-date information on meetings, newly released docu- cleanup approach have ways and had to agree on ments or important events related to Adak cleanup and been developed by the how to evaluate multiple closure. entire Project Team after Continues inside

Adak Update ¥ Page 1 The History of Proposed Minefield Defense Sites on Ad a k factors,” he said. ¥ Do we need more infor- This document contained a enemy attack, it was not This Level 1 process mation about that site?" graphic showing the gener- surprising to the Project was used as a tool to prior- "When it came to one al location of proposed Team that no documenta- itize those sites that type of ordnance Ð mines Ð defensive works on A d a k , tion exists regarding the require additional investi- and potential historic mine- including potential mine- installation, location and f i e l d s . removal of minefields for "Field Order #1" dated defensive purposes on May 28, 1945, described a Adak," he said. defensive plan for A d a k and contained a sketch of How do you know? proposed defensive mine- The Project Te a m ’s field locations (See graphic). analysis needed to be The Field Order included t e s t e d . a number of statements "Despite the strong evi- that were relevant to the dence that the minefields placement of minefields. were never installed Those orders stated: because there was never a ¥ "Sector Commanders threat of enemy invasion of will prepare plans for the Adak during WWII, it was location of mine fields as decided that additional part of their defense plans investigation was needed and be prepared to lay to verify that minefields these fields on order of the were not placed at these Post Commander when an locations," said Murphy. enemy attack is imminent; During the summer and ¥ Unless otherwise fall of 1998, 22 proposed directed by the Post Com- minefield sites were inves- m a n d e r, hasty mine field tigated. A site at Lake Bon- patterns will be used for nie Rose near Husky Pass mine fields; that had some of the ter- ¥ All mine fields laid will rain and other features of a be clearly marked and potential minefield, was accurately recorded by the also investigated that year, unit laying them and the bringing the total number location immediately of sites investigated in reported to this headquar- 1998 to 23. t e r s ; Nine of the sites on the ¥ When a mine field is historic map of proposed no longer needed, or when minefields were within the This 1945 document, a part of Field Order #1, outlined directed by the Post Com- downtown area of A d a k . general locations of proposed defense sites on Adak. It was m a n d e r, all mines will be Although these sites had found as part of the historic archives search. defuzed and picked up by not been identified as the same agency who laid potential minefields at the gation and/or cleanup, fields," he said, "we had a t h e m . " time they were investigat- while screening out those very important puzzle to These documents are ed, the areas had already sites that are not really of s o l v e . ” the only historical records been looked at for evi- c o n c e r n . found referring to installa- dence of ordnance contam- It took the team several Do we need any more tion of mines as part of the ination Ð including mines Ð months to develop even i n f o r m a t i o n ? military's plans for defense in 1997 and 1998. preliminary criteria for eval- In trying to figure out the of Adak Island from an According to Murphy, uating the potential for and potential minefield puzzle, enemy invasion. the approach used to hazards associated with the OU B Project Te a m "The Project Team, in its investigate the potential ordnance in areas of members Ð who represent review of the historical minefield sites that had not potential concern for Adak. a wide range of various archive materials, noted already been investigated " We needed to answer types of expertise Ð that the dates of both the included careful review of four important questions reviewed the historic Training Memorandum and historic documents along about every type of ord- archive data and tried to Field Order are well after with current maps of the nance," said Murphy. match that data to what the U.S. Military retook the island, in order to accurate- ¥ What is the likelihood of was known about military Aleutian Islands of Attu and ly locate the areas identi- ordnance being found at a defensive actions. Kiska in the spring and fied in the documents. site? An archival document summer of 1943, and after "Once these locations ¥ What is the potential den- labeled "Training Memo- the threat of enemy inva- were established, an inves- sity of ordnance at a site? randum #12 Ð Orientation sion of Adak was virtually tigation was conducted ¥ How potentially danger- Lecture" dated Oct. 17, eliminated," said Murphy. using very sensitive metal ous is that type of ord- 1944, was discovered dur- "Since the mines were detectors to see if mines or n a n c e ? ing the archive search. only to be laid in case of mine-related debris were Page 2 ¥ Adak Update The History of Proposed Minefield Defense Sites on Ad a k present," said Murphy. also visually inspected order to fully evaluate each ject Manager Kevin Oates, "All the plans for con- areas for signs indicating site and bring it to a pro- " A lot of thought and ener- ducting these investiga- a c t i v i t y. posed outcome. gy and effort has gone into tions were thoroughly "Some of the potential The outcome of the looking into these potential reviewed and approved by sites were in areas that Level 1 Screening of each minefield locations. So far the Navy’s Ordnance Safe- had considerable construc- area could have led to a Ð other than at Clam ty and Security A c t i v i t y, " tion in them," said Murphy. decision to gain additional Lagoon Ð nothing has been said Murphy. "Due to the excavation data by further field walks f o u n d . " According to explosives associated with construc- or further geophysical sam- expert Doug Murray, "The tion activities, any mines in pling. The outcome could What about the minefield state-of-the-art mine detec- those areas should have also have led to a decision at Clam Lagoon? tors used to locate mines been accidentally encoun- that no further action was The discovery in Febru- or mine-related debris can tered Ð but none were. So, needed at a site. ary 1957 of a minefield at find items to a depth of one heavy public use areas "I think it’s important to the northeast corner of foot below the surface of where roads and buildings note," said Murphy, "that Clam Lagoon, also known the ground.” were already constructed the investigations conduct- as Solid Waste Manage- Murray said that, "Inves- were scored lower in our ed by minefield technicians ment Unit # 2 (SWMU #2) tigations for mines and screening tool for likelihood discovered no mines or was unique," said Doug related debris use a hand- M u r r a y, explosives expert. held detection device that According to Murray, the is carried by a technician. entire area was surveyed The technician swings it in and cleared of all metallic a left-to-right pattern in debris and ordnance-relat- front of him or her while ed items to a depth of one- walking along the longest foot below the ground. diagonal in a survey lane "While mines were through a suspected mine- found during a 1997 clear- field. Using the device in ance, the majority Ð 120 this manner surveys about out of 123 mines Ð were a 10-foot-wide arc." training mines that did not "The survey lanes contain high explosives." selected were based upon "It should also be noted minefield detection and that none of the mines clearance doctrine devel- found at the site were the oped by the U. S. Military, anti-tank mines specified in and the mine density spec- the historic documents for ified for hasty and deliber- placement of defensive ate minefields in the A r m y minefields on Adak," he Field Manual 5-31, dated s a i d . 1940," said Murray. Photos like this one of Adak’s first airfield, published in In addition to the train- Murray explained that “The Forgotten War,” are used by archivists to help them ing mines found, a number the technicians walked of small arms and small- understand Adak’s history. through the areas on the arms shell casings, Banga- diagonal survey lane lore torpedoes Ð because of the high proba- of contamination,” he said. mine-related debris at any sometimes used in mine- bility that the 10-foot arc The Project Te a m of the potential minefield field clearance operations created by the mine detec- reviewed detailed survey sites. The one possible Ð and other ordnance and tion equipment would data as part of the process exception to this was the ordnance-related scraps encounter any mines laid of assigning numbers to d i s c o v e r y, thorough investi- were found during cleanup according to known pat- evaluation criteria for each gation, and subsequent of this site. t e r n s . possible site looked at in remediation of the mine- "While no documenta- Larger proposed mine- the Level 1 Screening field north of Clam Lagoon, tion has been discovered field areas, or those having Process. located just a few thousand to explain the purpose of an irregular shape, were A detailed "Level 1 feet from where the historic the minefield site north of swept using two or three Candidate Area Hazard documents indicated a Clam Lagoon, the ord- 10-foot-wide survey paths Screening Worksheet" was WWII potential minefield nance items discovered at in order to provide greater filled out for each possible was to have been placed in the site, including the train- coverage. minefield site as part of case of invasion. Based on ing mines Ð indicate the "Any metallic items this process. these investigations and site was never developed detected during the investi- The Level 1 process removal actions, the as a historic minefield to gation were carefully dug Ð included determining the Department of Defense prevent enemy invasion," intrusively investigated Ð to likelihood and density of Explosive Safety Board said Murphy. see if they were mines or contamination, assigning a approved the use of these This area may have debris related to mines," hazard severity category sites for recreational pur- been used for training pur- said Murphy. and evaluating the strength poses in February, 1999." poses and its associated In addition, technicians of the available evidence in According to EPA P r o- documentation, probably Adak Update ¥ Page 3 The History of Proposed Minefield Defense Sites on Ad a k separate from the docu- land uses on Adak," said ordnance, said Carr. mentation found for the D E C ’s Tess Carr. "We “Hazard methodology other 27 potential mine- need public input on possi- and assessment takes To provide comments to fields, was not saved ble land-use scenarios for place after the remedial the Project Team, or for and/or hasn’t been located. the future and on current investigation. T h a t ’s when more information, please land-use patterns, in order land-use patterns come see the project Web site: Setting priorities and gain- to complete a hazard into play. Based on hazard w w w. a d a k u p d a t e . c o m ing more input on land use assessment of sites." assessment results, the Another task of the Pro- According to Carr, the C E R C L A procedures will ject Team has been to set work done so far by the be followed to consider the priorities for further investi- Project Team categorizes long- and short-term pro- gation of potentially haz- sites, and the Work Plan tectiveness of remedial Where to Get More ardous areas. Based on outlines how to address alternatives," she said. In f o r m a t i o n preliminary screening, the sites that need further Carr said the most Project Team set plans and investigation. important community and INFOLINE: priorities for field work to The data from investiga- stakeholder input the Pro- 1-800-360-1561 be conducted during the tion efforts will later be put ject Team can receive now University of Alaska Anchorage, summer 2000 field season. into a hazard methodology is related to land-use Library Reserve Room, These priorities and plans that is currently being i s s u e s . 32 1 1 Providence Dr. are set out in a document developed by the Project " We aren’t finished with 907-786-1871 - M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, called the "Draft Wo r k Team. The hazard method- the process," said Murphy, Contact: Librarian Plan: Operable Unit B ology will consider avail- "but we have come a long NAF Adak, Adak Island, Alaska, Remedial Investigation/ able investigative data way toward understanding Bob Reeve High School Library M- F , 8 am to 5 pm, 907-592-8170 Feasibility Study: Unex- regarding ordnance loca- ordnance issues on Adak." Contact: Lt. Commander ploded Ordnance Investi- tion, depth, type and densi- "As for the potential Ted Posuniak g a t i o n . " t y. It will also consider minefield puzzle and its Richard Stoll, BRAC Environmental "In addition to dis- public exposure factors, h i s t o r y, we have a much Coordinator cussing important ques- including likelihood of peo- clearer picture that will help Engineering Field Activity NW tions like potential ple visiting the sites and the agencies make deci- 19917 Seventh Ave., NW minefield sites, it is critical the potential of various sions on cleanup actions Poulsbo, WA 98 3 7 0 that there be public feed- types of human activities to needed for A d a k ’s future," ww w. a d a k u p d a t e . c o m back on proposed future bring people in contact with he said.

Adak Update Engineering Field Ac t i v i t y , Northwest 19917 Seventh Ave., NW Poulsbo, WA 98 3 7 0 August 2000

United States Navy Special Edition Land Exchange Agreement Approved by The Aleut Corporation Board Agreement Paves Way for Continued Commercial Reuse of Adak The Board of Directors will return to the Department of The Aleut Corporation met of the Interior and the Alaska Thursday, Aug. 10, 2000, Maritime Wildlife Refuge. and approved a land The Navy closed the for- exchange agreement mer Naval Air Facility in between the United States March 1997 pursuant to the Navy, the Department of Department of Defense base Interior and The Aleut Corpo- closure process. ration (TAC). The Corpora- "This agreement is a key tion’s action paves the way milestone toward commer- for formal signing of the cial reuse and development agreement by all parties and for Adak," said Bob Uhrich, its ratification by the United Director of Land Manage- States Congress. ment at Engineering Field Once signed and rati- Activity Northwest, the fied, the land exchange will Navy’s chief negotiator of the transfer just over 47,000 land transfer agreement. to living and doing business ty it no longer needs at acres of the former Naval Air "The major provisions of the on Adak." closed bases, and TAC ben- Facility Adak to TAC in land exchange should give efits by obtaining property exchange for an equal the State of Alaska, future The agreement’s with millions of dollars of amount of Aleut land hold- investors and business peo- provisions buildings and facilities, many ings. The Aleut Corporation ple – as well as current com- In addition to the land of which create opportunities holdings under the Alaska munity members – a great transfer itself – expected to for economic development Native Claims Settlement Act deal of confidence in regard take place within the next and job creation." two years – Navy buildings The Aleut Corporation and facilities, such as the air- and Adak Reuse Corporation Upcoming Meetings port, piers, fuel farm, hous- now also have a stronger ing, schools, warehouses combination of tools to use Restoration Advisory Board and roadways will all transfer to show companies and The next Restoration Advisory Board meeting is sched- to TAC. investors interested in doing uled for 6:30 p.m. August 23 on Adak. Anchorage resi- "This transfer agreement business on Adak that the dents can participate (the meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. is a win-win-win for the Navy has dealt responsibly Anchorage time) via teleconference from the Holiday Department of Interior, Navy with environmental issues, Inn in Anchorage. For more information, please call 1- and TAC," Uhrich said. he said. 800-360-1561. "Interior benefits by The land transfer agree- obtaining higher quality ment contains a number of Check out the Web site for up-to-date information wildlife habitat and reducing provisions designed to Don’t forget to visit www.adakupdate.com for up-to- in-holdings throughout the assure that environmental date information on meetings, newly released docu- wildlife refuge. The Navy conditions are not an issue ments or important events related to Adak cleanup and benefits by carrying out its for future business develop- closure. mission to dispose of proper- ment on Adak. Adak Update • Page 1 responsible for the long-term tee of continuing environ- effectiveness of all those mental responsibility. The remedies," Uhrich said. Navy’s ongoing environmen- The Navy is also com- tal role enables TAC to con- prehensively addressing ord- centrate on marketing Adak nance issues primarily dating based on its business back to World War II, in part- merits," Uhrich said. nership with state and feder- al environmental regulators Future editions of Adak Update will continue to address matters of as well as Aleut representa- interest related to environmental tives. cleanup at Adak. "The areas most likely to be the focus of near-term For More Information commercial reuse activities - INFOLINE: in and around the developed 1-800-360-1561 ‘downtown’ area - have University of Alaska Anchorage, already been extensively Library Reserve Room, investigated," Uhrich said. 3211 Providence Dr. "The agreement sets Environmental remedies "Several factors illustrate 907-786-1871 - M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, Contact: Librarian forth the Navy’s continuing Both state and federal the Navy’s commitment to responsibility for any remain- environmental regulators environmental responsibility NAF Adak, Adak Island, Alaska, Bob Reeve High School Library ing environmental issues recently signed a Record of at Adak. These include the M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, 907-592-8170 resulting from Department of Decision that selects and completed investigations, Contact: Lt. Commander Defense activities and con- decides remedies for all decisions and implementa- Ted Posuniak tains provisions that specifi- petroleum and chemical con- tion of petroleum and chemi- Richard Stoll, BRAC Environmental Coordinator cally deal with any future tamination issues and the cal remedies, the ongoing Engineering Field Activity NW discovery of previously Navy has fully implemented efforts to address unexplod- 19917 Seventh Ave., NW unknown Department of most of those remedies. ed ordnance, and the land Poulsbo, WA 98370 Defense contamination." "And the Navy remains transfer document’s guaran- www.adakupdate.com

Adak Update Engineering Field Activity, Northwest 19917 Seventh Ave., NW Poulsbo, WA 98370 December 2000

United States Navy United States Environmental Protection Agency Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Operable Unit B Remedial Investigation Report Underway The Navy, in cooperation with field season. the Environmental Protection Mark Murphy, Agency and the Alaska Depart- the lead Navy ment of Environmental Conserva- Project Manager, tion, made substantial progress stated, "The goal last summer with the ordnance of the Operable Unit B work is to move toward a “Operable Unit B Record of Deci- work reflects a strong sion and com- plete the land commitment by all transfer agree- those involved to ment signed in September. The resolve the ordnance RI/FS is a major issues and move for- step forward toward that ward with a future goal." The M/V Arctic Wolf, owned by Fairweather Inc., reuse of the island…” He went on to provided assistance during the Summer 2000 field state that the season on Adak. Operable Unit B well as representatives from the investigation work on Adak. The work reflects a strong commit- Aleutian Pribilof Island Associa- Navy is currently preparing a ment by all those involved to tion, the Adak Reuse Corpora- comprehensive Remedial Investi- resolve the ordnance issues and tion, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife gation and Feasibility Study that move forward with a future reuse Service and the community. will include the results of the of the island. Those involved More than 60 people worked work completed during the 2000 include the Navy, EPA, ADEC, as over 59,000 hours in the field before weather ended the 2000 field season. According to Navy Upcoming Meetings ordnance expert Doug Murray, "The work done last summer Restoration Advisory Board exceeded our expectations with The next Restoration Advisory Board meeting will be held at 7 regard to the areas surveyed and p.m. Anchorage time (6 p.m. Adak time) on Feb. 21, 2001 in the 1st unexploded ordnance removed. Floor Main Conference Room at the Alaska Department of Environ- Over 750 miles were walked by mental Conservation, 555 Cordova Street, Anchorage. geophysical technicians using Please be sure to check the Web site for any updates on location state-of-the art subsurface metal or time or call 1-800-360-1561 for more information. detectors. The result has been a Anyone interested in reviewing minutes of the Restoration Adviso- complete geophysical investiga- ry Board can check www.adakupdate.com or call Jeannette at 907- tion of the 70 sites on the island 258-4880 to request to be added to the RAB mailing list. suspected of containing UXO and Continued page 2

Adak Update • Page 1 Operable Unit B Remedial Investigation (cont.)

Continued from page 1 the complete intrusive investiga- tion of 65 of those sites." "More than 6,000 anomalies were detected," Murray said, "and technicians were able to dig 4,417 of those anomalies. Of the more than 4,000 items dug, 197 wereidentified as unexplod- ed or abandoned ordnance. There were 1,104 ordnance fragments found and 2,083 non- ordnance items dug up." Murray said there were no surprises that resulted from the extensive work completed. "The UXO we found this year were in areas where we expected to find them and they were of the types and sizes we’d seen in previous years." The next step in the process, he said, is to complete the intru- sive investigation at higher ele- vations where bad weather and snow cover shut workers out. More than 60 people spent almost 59,000 field hours walking Murphy stated that the Draft through a variety of sites as part of the geophysical data collection RI/FS will be available for and UXO remediation work completed on Adak. The above map is review and copies will be placed available at the information repositories and as part of documents in the information repositories in posted to www.adakupdate.com. Anchorage and on Adak when it is completed. According to Mur- phy, the expected completion date for the document is Febru- Second Class City Status ary of 2001. In mid-October the State of Alaska Local Boundary Commission A summary of the report will approved the incorporation of Adak as a local government. Although be presented on the the Boundary Commission approved substantially reduced bound- www.adakupdate.com web site, aries than had been requested by local residents, the move paves the with an opportunity for people to way for Adak to become a second-class city in Alaska. order compact disk copies of the The Adak Community Council had requested incorporation of the document. entire Aleutian island, 676 square miles of land and surrounding bays Following the completion of and waters, but the Boundary Commission, by a 5-0 vote, approved the RI/FS report, a proposed incorporation of just 72 square miles of land and water, an area that Remedial Action Work Plan will includes the traditional “downtown” Adak and Sweeper Cove. Final be completed. The Navy will approval of second-class city status must come from voters in a local make the work plan available in election scheduled for sometime in early 2001. The Commission also the information repository at required that voters approve a 3 percent sales tax and a 2 percent Anchorage and Adak for public fuel tax as conditions of incorporation. review.

Page 2 • Adak Update Technical Documents Update ADEC Names New

The following documents are cern. In addition, visual inspections Project Manager added to the Adak Web site, of monitoring wells and landfill www.adakupdate.com, and to the caps are included. Elim Yoon was named the Anchorage and Adak information Alaska Department of Environ- repositories. Draft Final Remedial mental Conservation’s new Adak Investigation and Feasibility Project Manager. She has Draft Final Comprehensive Study Work Plan assumed all the responsibilities Monitoring Plan of former ADEC Project Manager The purpose of the RI/FS Tess Carr, who left the Depart- The purpose of the Compre- Work Plan is to present the ment to pursue her education. hensive Monitoring Plan is to approach for collection and analy- Yoon came to the ADEC ensure that the environmental sis of data at sites potentially con- in October from a previous posi- cleanup remedies selected in the taminated with unexploded tion with Jacobs Engineering, Operable Unit A Record of Deci- ordnance (UXO) at Operable Unit where she served as a task sion remain compliant with the B on Adak. manager for a consulting project applicable laws and regulations, The data collected during this in Kodiak. and to ensure that the remedies and previous investigations will be She worked with Jacobs remain protective of human health used to provide input to the haz- Engineering for three years prior and the environment. The CMP ard assessment methodology, and to joining the Department. Yoon describes the Navy’s procedures will aid in the selection of areas to is a graduate of the University of for long-term monitoring at OU A be further evaluated, remediated, California Berkeley, with a and the approach for environmen- or no further action. degree in Geology. tal sampling for petroleum and This document was posted to “I was interested in taking nonpetroleum chemicals of con- the Web site in November 2000. the position with the Department to have a chance to learn more about the regulatory side of envi- Land Transfer Agreement ronmental cleanup,” she said. She can be reached at 907- As a follow-up to the article in Base Realignment and Closure 269-7528. the last issue of Adak Update, the Cleanup Plan; the Records of Navy, Department of Interior and Decisions for Operable Units A the Aleut Corporation signed a and B, and required under appli- land transfer agreement in late cable law. Where to Get More Information September that paves the way for It was also agreed that the INFOLINE: 1-800-360-1561 reuse of the former Adak Naval Navy will indemnify the Aleut Cor- Complex. Congress is expected to poration, or any person or entity University of Alaska Anchorage, ratify the land transfer agreement that leases or buys property on Library Reserve Room, in 2001. The land exchange is the former Adak Naval Complex, 3211 Providence Dr. expected to be finalized in 2002, of any claims that resulted from 907-786-1871 - M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, after additional environmental military activities, provided the Contact: Librarian work is completed and additional provisions in the agreement are NAF Adak, Adak Island, Alaska, transfer documents finalized. followed. Bob Reeve High School Library The terms of the agreement M-F, 8 am to 5 pm, 907-592-8170 include the Navy maintaining its Adak Update Mailing List Contact: BU1 Ron O’Toole responsibility for the environmen- To be added to the Adak tal cleanup and unexploded ord- Richard Stoll, BRAC Environmental Coordinator Update mailing list, please call Engineering Field Activity NW nance as a result of past military Susan Christianson at 907-789- 19917 Seventh Ave., NW activities. 3098 or send your name, Poulsbo, WA 98370 The Navy will also carry out address and telephone number environmental investigations and www.adakupdate.com to [email protected]. remediation agreed to under the

Adak Update • Page 3 OU-B: What’s Next? Next Issue During the next several months includes the Navy, the EPA and the the Navy will prepare a Remedial Alaska Department of Environmen- Investigation/Feasibility Study tal Conservation, as well as repre- The next Adak Update top- Report – a comprehensive report sentatives from the Aleutian Pribilof ics will include petroleum on the results of all the work com- Island Association (A/PIA) and Adak cleanup efforts and landfill pleted during the 2000 field season. Reuse Corp., has been meeting monitoring. If you have sug- The report will be available for state throughout the summer and fall and gested topics you would like and federal agency review in Febru- will continue to meet as the process to see included, please con- ary and will be available at the moves forward, Murray said. tact Patty Kelly at 360-396- www.adakupdate.com web site and The Project Team has most 0049 or email her at kellypl@ in the Adak information repositories. recently been working to describe efanw.navfac.navy.mil. Following the RI/FS report, a pro- what methods will be used to define posed Remedial Action Work Plan the hazards posed by ordnance will be completed. Review of that found at very specific sites on Adak, Check out the Web site for plan will be completed by both fed- looking at defining specific alterna- eral and state agencies and will tives for reducing risks, and continu- up-to-date information include a formal public comment ing to review data. www.adakupdate.com period, said Project Manager Mur- "The goal of the Operable Unit B phy. The Work Plan will be based work process is to move toward a Don’t forget to visit on the site investigation and the Record of Decision on environmen- www.adakupdate.com for wide range of data compiled as a tal remedies. With that work com- up-to-date information on meetings, result of the ordnance investigation plete, there can then be finalization newly released documents or work on Adak. of the land transfer agreement," important events related to Adak. The OU-B project team, which Murphy said.

Adak Update Engineering Field Activity, Northwest 19917 Seventh Ave., NW Poulsbo, WA 98370