GAMBELL FORMERLY USED DEFENSE SITE (FUDS) (Aka ST LAWRENCE ISLAND)
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Health Consultation Evaluation of Environmental Exposures at the GAMBELL FORMERLY USED DEFENSE SITE (FUDS) (aka ST LAWRENCE ISLAND) NATIVE VILLAGE OF GAMBELL GAMBELL, ALASKA EPA FACILITY ID: AKD981765894 SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Office of Community Health and Hazard Assessment Atlanta, Georgia 30333 Health Consultation: A Note of Explanation An ATSDR health consultation is a verbal or written response from ATSDR to a specific request for information about health risks related to a specific site, a chemical release, or the presence of hazardous material. In order to prevent or mitigate exposures, a consultation may lead to specific actions, such as restricting use of or replacing water supplies; intensifying environmental sampling; restricting site access; or removing the contaminated material. In addition, consultations may recommend additional public health actions, such as conducting health surveillance activities to evaluate exposure or trends in adverse health outcomes; conducting biological indicators of exposure studies to assess exposure; and providing health education for health care providers and community members. This concludes the health consultation process for this site, unless additional information is obtained by ATSDR which, in the Agency’s opinion, indicates a need to revise or append the conclusions previously issued. You may contact ATSDR toll free at 1-800-CDC-INFO or visit our home page at: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov Gambell FUDS (aka St Lawrence Island) Final Release HEALTH CONSULTATION Evaluation of Environmental Exposures at the GAMBELL FORMERLY USED DEFENSE SITE (FUDS) (aka ST LAWRENCE ISLAND) NATIVE VILLAGE OF GAMBELL GAMBELL, ALASKA EPA FACILITY ID: AKD981765894 Prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Office of Community Heath and Hazard Assessment Atlanta, Georgia 30333 ATSDR Health Consultation Gambell FUDS - Final Report Table of Contents Summary and Statement of Issues ...................................................................................................1 Background ......................................................................................................................................7 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................7 Site Description ............................................................................................................................7 Demographics ..............................................................................................................................9 Land Use and Natural Resource Use ...........................................................................................9 Climate and Weather .................................................................................................................10 Geology ......................................................................................................................................10 Surface Water ............................................................................................................................11 Groundwater ..............................................................................................................................11 Site History ................................................................................................................................11 ATSDR Site Visits and Community Outreach ..............................................................................13 Community Health Concerns .........................................................................................................14 Environmental Contaminant Data, Pathways Analyses, and Contaminant Screening ..................15 Discussion ......................................................................................................................................17 1. Metal Debris: Contact with remaining exposed metal debris can cause injury. ................21 2. Drinking Water: Solvents, fuels, metals, and PCBs have not been found in the public drinking water well. ...................................................................................................................21 Village Well ...........................................................................................................................23 Infiltration Gallery .................................................................................................................24 Drinking Water Sampling Results .........................................................................................24 3. Ground Surface: Contact with surface soil and gravel is not likely harmful. ....................27 4. Indoor Air: ATSDR cannot determine whether vapors from volatile chemicals or fuels spilled or buried in the ground are moving into buildings. ........................................................28 5. Lakes: Safety of activities at Troutman and Nayvaghaq Lakes is uncertain. ...................35 6. Discarded Drums: Health impact of contact with chemicals in drums is uncertain. ........37 Health Outcome Data Analysis ......................................................................................................37 Cancer Registry Data .................................................................................................................36 Birth Defects ..............................................................................................................................39 Limitations .....................................................................................................................................40 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................................42 Recommendations and Public Health Action Plan ........................................................................42 Author and Technical Advisor .......................................................................................................44 Reviewers .......................................................................................................................................44 Documents Reviewed and Cited ....................................................................................................45 i ATSDR Health Consultation Gambell FUDS - Final Report Appendices .....................................................................................................................................50 Appendix A. Gambell Population and Demographic Data ........................................................51 Appendix B. Areas of Concern Description ..............................................................................53 Appendix C. Map of Areas of Concern .....................................................................................59 Appendix D. Summary of Native Village of Gambell Key Information Interviews .................61 Appendix E. Letter From the Native Village of Savoonga Requesting an ATSDR Health Assessment & Health Consultation on St. Lawrence Island FUDS ..........................................66 Appendix F. Letter from ATSDR to Native Village of Savoonga Accepting Request .............67 Appendix G. Cancer Study of St. Lawrence Island Communities, Alaska .............................. 70 Appendix H. Birth Defects Study of St. Lawrence Island ....................................................... 85 Appendix I. Summary of Public Comment and ATSDR’s Responses ......................................89 Figures Figure 1: Aerial View of St. Lawrence Island with Expanded view of Gambell, Alaska ........... 8 Figure 2: Marston Matting Removed from Site 6 ...................................................................... 12 Figure 3: Schematic of Surface Water and Groundwater Flow in Gambell .............................. 22 Figure 4: Photograph of Infiltration Gallery Building .............................................................. 23 Figure 5: Photograph of Gambell’s Ground Surface Gravel .................................................... 26 Figure 6: Photograph of Gravel Beneath the Surface ................................................................ 26 Figure 7: Area Showing Sites 7, 16, and 27 Near Homes ......................................................... 27 Figure 8: Site 7 Monitoring Well Locations .............................................................................. 29 Figure 9: Site 7 – 2010 Sampling Locations .............................................................................. 30 Figure 10: Site 16 – 2010 Sampling Locations .......................................................................... 31 Figure 11: Site 27 – 2010 Sampling Locations .......................................................................... 32 Tables Table 1. Summary of Exposure Evaluations.............................................................................. 17 Table 2: Public Drinking Water Monitoring Results (1996 to 2018) ........................................ 25 Table 3: Site 9 – 1994 Monitoring Well Testing Results .......................................................... 29 ii ATSDR Health Consultation Gambell FUDS - Final Report Foreword The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) was