appendix e sample fact sheets and newsletters · united states environmental protection agency...

APPENDIX E

SAMPLE FACT SHEETS AND NEWSLETTERS

Kevin Oates, Adak Project Man-ager for the US EnvironmentalProtection Agency, and Elim Yoon,Project Manager for the AlaskaDepartment of Environmental Con-servation, announced the end tothe formal dispute among the Navyand EPA and the State of Alaskaover the development of plans forinvestigation and cleanup of siteson Adak Island potentially contami-nated with ordnance.

The announcement was madeat a December 18 meeting of theOU "B" Project Team in Silverdale,Washington.

With the completion of the Pre-liminary Assessment Report andthe RI/FS Work Plan in December2000, the OU "B" Project Teamcompleted the work necessary to

resolve the formal dispute initiatedwith the Navy by the EPA andADEC in July of 1999 under theprovisions of the existing Federal

Facilities Agreement for thecleanup of the former Navy base atAdak Island.

In an effort to resolve the dis-pute, the Navy, EPA, and the Stateof Alaska formed the OU "B" Pro-ject Team, which included repre-sentatives from the Navy, EPA,State of Alaska, US Fish andWildlife Service, The Aleut Corpo-ration, and the Aleutian/PribiloffIsland Association, as well as tech-nical support from experts in thefield of ordnance investigation andcleanup and community relations.

While a considerable amount ofinvestigation and cleanup workremain to be done on OU "B," the end of the formal dispute is a sig-

Continued page 2

OU “B” Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study Work Plan ApprovedDispute Ends

United States NavyUnited States Environmental Protection AgencyAlaska Department of Environmental Conservation

January2001

Adak Update • Page 1

Upcoming RAB MeetingsAn informal meeting of Adak RAB members is scheduled for 7

p.m. Anchorage time, 6 p.m. Adak time on Feb. 21st The meeting willbe held at the ADEC offices located at 555 Cordova Street in Anchorage.Please check the web site, www.adakupdate.com, for the latest meetinginformation.

The next regularly scheduled RAB meeting will be held at 7 p.m.Anchorage time, 6 p.m. Adak time, on March 21st at the Hilton Hotel, 500West Third Avenue, in Anchorage.

Please check the www.adakupdate.com or call 1-800-360-1561 formore information.

Members of the BRAC Environmental Cleanup Team met recently in Anchorage to review environmentalwork being completed on Adak. Pictured here, left to right, are the Navy's Real Estate Division DirectorRobert K. Uhrich, Navy Attorney Nancy Glazier, Ordnance Expert Doug Murray, and the new AlaskaDepartment of Environmental Conservation Project Manager Elim Yoon.

• Adak Update

Continued from page 1nificant milestone for the project.Completion of the PreliminaryAssessment Report and RI/FSWork Plan provides an agreed onframework for conducting futureinvestigations and arriving atcleanup decisions for OU "B" sites.

In a letter to confirm EPAapproval of the PreliminaryAssessment and Site Inspection

reports, Kevin Oates commendedthe Navy and its support contrac-tors for reaching this milestone.

"The Navy has demonstratedexemplary efforts to work coopera-tively with EPA, the State of Alas-ka, the Aleut Corporation, TheAleutian Pribiloff Island Associa-tion, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, theAdak Restoration Advisory Board,Adak community members andother stakeholders through theOU-B Project Team to develop aworkable solution for ordnanceissues at Adak," Oates wrote."This is especially notable during atime when there is a great deal ofongoing national debate on manytopics concerning the investiga-tion, clearance and managementof property that has been affectedby the use of ordnance."

The OU "B" Project Team wastasked with developing a plan forinvestigating sites with potentialUXO contamination thataddressed the concerns of regula-

tory agencies as well as communi-ty members and the future reuserof the former Navy base, The AleutCorporation. This plan is formallyreferred to as the Remedial Inves-tigation and Feasibility Study(RI/FS) Work Plan for OU "B".

Since its formation in July of1999, the OU "B" Project Teamhas worked closely to resolvecomplex technical issues related tocompleting the RI/FS Work Plan.The Project Team generally meton a monthly basis with regularteleconferences and e-mail com-munication among members of theteam.

A key component of the projectteam's work was reaching out tostakeholders to ensure their con-cerns were addressed. The proj-ect team met with the RestorationAdvisory Board and held openhouses to invite community input.In addition, a cooperative agree-ment between the Navy and theAleutian/Pribiloff Island Associationdeveloped to facilitate A/PIA's par-ticipation as a member of the OU"B" Project Team.

The work of the project teamincludes:

■ Completing and documentinga thorough Archive Search Reportto document previous UXO stor-age, handling, use and disposalactivities on Adak;

■ Developing site screeningmethodologies for prioritizinginvestigation and cleanup of OU"B" sites;

■ Identifying appropriate tech-nologies for field detection of UXOat sites being investigated onAdak;

■ Developing approaches forUXO investigations at sitesplanned for investigation duringthe 2000 field season on Adak;

■ Developing Standard Operat-ing Procedures for rigorously doc-umenting and recording all datacollected during UXO investiga-tions on Adak;

■ Developing the ExplosiveHazard Safety Assessment Modelfor OU "B" Adak;

■ Developing detailed Land Useand Activity Maps for Adak basedon current and expected futureland use patterns for Adak.

These accomplishments areparticularly noteworthy because oflittle precedent or guidance fordealing with many of these issues.

Mark Murphy, the Navy's LeadAdak Project Manager stated,"The Navy certainly appreciatesthe efforts of the project team.When the team was formed, itseemed as if some of the chal-lenges we faced would be impos-sible to overcome. It really says alot about what a group of peoplecan get done if they have a com-mon goal."

OU “B” RI/FS Work Plan Approved (cont.)

University of Alaska Anchorage, Library Reserve Room,

3211 Providence Dr.907-786-1871 - M-F, 8 am to 5 pm,

Contact: Librarian

Information Repository AdakSecond Floor,

Bob Reeve High SchoolM-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The CSO Office on Adak is now located atSandy Cove Housing, 101 C

Contact: Chief Rob Jenkins 1- 907-592-4351

Administrative RecordEngineering Field Activity NW

19917 Seventh Avenue, NEPoulsbo, WA 98370

www.adakupdate.com

Where to Get More InformationINFOLINE: 1-800-360-1561

“While a considerable

amount of investigation

and cleanup work remain

to be done on OU "B," the

end of the formal dispute is

a significant milestone for

the project.…”


The Draft Institutional Con-trols Management Plan is nowavailable for public review in the

Anchorage and Adak informationrepositories and on the Adak website, www.adakupdate.com.

According to the Navy’s Pro-ject Manager and EnvironmentalSpecialist Patty Kelly, institutionalcontrols are a variety of legaldevices imposed to make surethat human health and the envi-ronment are protected. Institution-al controls are used to make sure

land use restrictions and otherenvironmental remedies stay inplace in order to assure safety.

"The Navy is required tomake sure institutional controlsremain reliable for as long as thecontrol remains in effect," shesaid.

The Draft Institutional Con-trols Management Plan servesseveral purposes; it details howcurrent and future residents willbe notified about environmentalconditions and limits on property;outlines a process for inspectionand maintenance of required con-trols; details how information toregulators will be tracked to makesure land uses in areas remainsconsistent with restrictions; and

establishes an educational plan tokeep the Adak community aware

Continued page 4

Draft Institutional Controls Management Plan Available for Public Review

Monitoring of petroleum sites onAdak is continuing, as is the evalua-tion of the environmental interimactions currently in place.

According to the Navy’s Petrole-um Project Manager LangstonWalker, the Operable Unit "A"Record of Decision calls for evalu-ating the effectiveness of all interimactions that are in place withfocused feasibility studies regardingpetroleum cleanup. The ROD alsorequires that any enhancements toexisting environmental remedies befully evaluated.

"There are 10 sites on Adakwhere the environmental remedyselected in the Record of Decisioncalled for ‘monitored natural attenu-ation’ to stabilize and reduce chemi-cals in the groundwater," Walkersaid.

Those 10 sites include two loca-tions at Amulet Housing; Antenna

Field; the former Power Plant Build-ing (T-1451); the Resident Officer inCharge of Construction Area UST-8; Runway 5-23 Aviation GasolineValve Pit; Solid Waste ManagementUnit (SWMU) 14, the former Pesti-cide Storage Area; SWMU 15, theFuture Jobs/Defense ReutilizationMarketing Office; and SMWUs 60and 61- Tank Farms A and B.

Walker said the Navy is under-going a process of study and evalu-ation, similar to that employed by afocused feasibility study.

"Plans call for the developmentof fact sheets for stakeholder distri-bution and comments following theevaluation process," he said.

Walker said the nine sites cur-rently being studied include: GCICompound; Heating Plant No. 6;Old Transportation Building; SteamPlant No. 4; P80 Building; P81Building; P 70 Energy Generator;

South of Runway 18-36; NewHousing Fuel Leak; and YakutatHangar.

Five remaining sites with free-product will also be undergoing afocused feasibility study-like evalua-tion.

"Those sites are the Arctic AcresHousing Area; the Navy MarineCorps Building Expanded Area; theNORPAC Hill Seep; Tanker Shed;and Power Plant No. 3," he said.

Walker said that the upcomingfield season on Adak for furtherpetroleum evaluations is scheduledto begin about April 1, 2001.

Petroleum Site Status Report

"Institutional control

education is fundamen-

tal to success…"

Future UpdatesIf you have suggested topics

you would like to see included inAdak Update, please contact PattyKelly at 360-396-0049 or email herat kellypl@ efanw.navfac.navy.mil.

Adak UpdateEngineering Field Activity, Northwest19917 Seventh Ave., NEPoulsbo, WA 98370

Continued from page 3of land use restrictions.

Adak has soil excavationrestrictions, Kelly said, that rangefrom absolute restrictions on dig-

ging at former landfill sites to digpermit requirements. Adak institu-tional controls also restrictdomestic use of groundwater inthe downtown.

Controls are also in place toassure engineered remedies tocontain and/or reduce contamina-tion and physical barriers to limitproperty all remain in place.

Another important safetycomponent outlined in the DraftPlan addresses effective commu-nication and education in thecommunity.

“Institutional control educationis fundamental to their success,”Kelly said. “Input from the com-munity will be crucial to the effec-tiveness of institutional controlsand for the development of fur-ther educational efforts.”

Adak Update Mailing List

To be added to the AdakUpdate mailing list, please callSusan Christianson at 907-789-3098 or send your name,address and telephone numberto [email protected].

Education efforts and appropriate signage are fundamental to the success of institutional controls.

Draft Institutional Controls Management Plan (cont.)

Check out the Web site for

up-to-date information

www.adakupdate.comDon’t forget to visit

www.adakupdate.com for up-to-date information on meetings,

newly released documents or important events related to Adak.

Plans for the 2001 summer fieldseason for Operable Unit B call fortwo former combat ranges to beinvestigated. According to ProjectManager Mark Murphy, CombatRange #1 and Combat Range #2will be investigated this season andfield season plans call for the tar-geted anomalies on Mount Moffettto be investigated, Murphy said.

At the March RAB meeting inAnchorage, Murphy provided areview of the 2000 investigations onAdak. More than 60 people workedalmost 59,000 field hours last yearto evaluate sites, collect geophysi-cal data, complete intrusive investi-gations, and analyze the dataprovided, Murphy said. Murphy toldthe RAB his goal is to complete theOU B1 investigation and cleanup ofthe 47,000 acres scheduled to betransferred to the Aleut Corporationunder the September 2000 landtransfer agreement.

The public is encouraged andinvited to comment on the Operable

Unit B-1 Proposed Plan that will bereleased in mid-May. The proposedplan is a document that describesthe preferred cleanup alternatives

for Operable Unit B-1, and it isintended to familiarize stakeholderswith the cleanup plan. The publiccomment period will be held frommid-May through mid-June. Youmay comment in writing anytimeduring the public comment period.

You may also comment verbally,or in writing, at public meetings to

be held on Adak Island and inAnchorage. The public meetingswill be scheduled two weeks afterthe release of the proposed plan forremedial action. Once scheduled,the public meetings will be held atthe Bob Reeve High School. TheAnchorage meeting location will beannounced as the meeting datesare known.

The proposed plan will be mailedto known interested stakeholdersand it will be posted on the adakup-date.com website; in the AnchorageNewspaper; and on Adak Islandthrough the Caretaker Site Office.The public is encouraged to submitcomments on the Operable Unit B-1Proposed Plan to Mark Murphy.

After consideration of public com-ments, the Navy, the Alaska Depart-ment of EnvironmentalConservation, and the U.S. Environ-mental Protection Agency will selectthe final cleanup remedies. Theremedy selection will be document-ed in a record of decision.Responses to public comments willbe attached to the record of deci-sion, in what is called a responsive-ness summary

2001 Operable Unit B Plans


April2001


The next regularly scheduled RAB is set for 6 p.m. Adaktime, 7 p.m. Anchorage time, on May 23, in the Bob Reeve HighSchool on Adak. Anchorage RAB members will be able to attendvia teleconference from the Hilton Hotel in Anchorage.

For more information, please check www.adakupdate.com, orcall 1-800-360-1561. Adak RAB Co-Chair Richard Stoll can bereached at [email protected].

"More than 60 people

worked almost 59,000

field hours last year to

evaluate sites, collect

geophysical data,

complete intrusive

investigations…”

For your questions, comments or moreinformation regarding the Operable Unit

B-1 Proposed Plan please contact:

Mark Murphy, P.E.Engineering Field Activity, Northwest

19917 Seventh Avenue NEPoulsbo, WA 98370 • (360) [email protected]

RAB Meeting Schedule

• Adak Update

The Navy has set forth anaggressive schedule to completefocused feasibility studies. TheNavy’s Petroleum Remedial Pro-

ject Manager, Langston Walker,used South Runway 18/36 toillustrate how the focused feasi-bility study process works. Theobjective of focused feasibilitystudies are to identify alternativesto achieve final cleanup as setout in the Operable Unit A Recordof Decision.

In accordance with the Oper-

able Unit A Record of Decision,the sites being evaluated as partof the focused feasibility studyprocess are approaching the

"maximum extent practical" forthe current remedies. The studyprocess helps scientists to evalu-ate if other alternatives can beused to enhance the cleanupefforts.

The focused feasibility studyprocess is a two step process.The first step is to identify andscreen alternatives that are

viable on Adak, and the secondstep is to provide a detailedanalysis of those alternatives.

In the Fall of 2000, ground-penetrating radar was used atSouth Runway 18/36; 10 wellswere sampled and measure-ments of free product were taken,and groundwater and soil sam-ples obtained and analyzed at anindependent, state-certified labo-ratory.

The laboratory analysis wasable to provide a "product finger-print" that pointed to the sourceof the problem at the site being ahistoric diesel pipeline. Based onthe work performed last fall, afocused feasibility study will becompleted with alternatives tocleanup the site.

Once the focused feasibilitystudy is completed, a public com-ment period will be held. Follow-ing input from the public, theNavy will complete a plan toimplement the remedies, withconcurrence from the regulatoryagencies.

RAB Members Hear Petroleum Update

This map shows one of the areas being looked at, the South Runway 18/36 ProjectSite, as part of a Focused Feasibility Study for a petroleum site on Adak.

RAB members reviewed a presentation with aerial photographs, like the one above of theSouth Runway 18/36 Project Site, that were used as part of the analysis of Adak sites.

Navy Plans to DemolishUnsafe Structures andClose Roberts Landfill

The Navy has added additionalwork to this summer’s schedule inorder for the transfer of property tothe Aleut Corporation from theDepartment of Interior to takeplace. The Navy will demolishidentified unsafe buildings on theisland.

Some of the structures, suchas identified cabins, will be burnedin place. Other demolition debriswill be placed in Roberts Landfillprior to the closure of the landfill,also scheduled to be closed laterin the summer.


Cathy Villa, the Adak Restora-tion Advisory Board Co-Chair,attended a recent RAB Round-table gathering of RAB leadersfrom around the state. Approxi-mately 200 RAB representativesattended the roundtable held inFebruary at the Anchorage EganCenter. The RAB roundtable wasa part of a day-long Alaska Forumon the Environment. JoAnn Grady,of Grady & Associates facilitatedthe event, sponsored by theDepartment of Defense.

"The purpose of the RABroundtable was to help RAB mem-bers be able to find out how RABsare conducted in other places andto allow a statewide exchange ofinformation," Villa said. Theroundtable was geared towardstrengthening RABs and answer-ing questions about RAB develop-ment and functioning.

In addition to RAB community

members and co-chairs andDepartment of Defense personnel,the Environmental ProtectionAgency and the Alaska Depart-ment of Environmental Conserva-tion had representatives availableto exchange ideas and helpanswer questions.

Villa noted that there weremany suggestions regarding theuse of computers and websites forcommunication, which Adakalready has in place.

In addition, Villa said the AdakRAB had addressed communica-tions issues that many otherboards were struggling with."Because Adak has some of thebiggest distances between RABmembers," she said, "we had toaddress these issues early on."

Villa said there were a numberof other similar issues beingaddressed by RABs statewide.Oil cleanup, abandoned buildings,

and cleanup of unexploded ord-nance are all issues beingaddressed across the state.These are issues that Adak hasalso worked on and continues towork on. The UXO technology ismore advanced, with the uniquesituation on Adak, Villa said.

RAB membership is also anissue across the state. "I cameaway wanting to solicit more RABmembership on Adak," Villa said.Anyone interested in becoming anAdak RAB member can contactVilla at [email protected] toapply for membership. There is ashort application for people to fillout to be considered for member-ship. Villa said people interestedin serving and getting involved arewelcome to apply for membershipat any time.

Adak Restoration Advisory Board Representedat Statewide RAB Roundtable



www.adakupdate.com

The Navy is committed toinforming stakeholders. Oneavenue of information gatheringthat stakeholders use are the infor-mation repositories. Patty Kelly,Navy Remedial Project Manager,stated that it’s important that peo-ple realize that the documentsplaced in the repositories are foreveryone’s use.

Occasionally documents aremissing from the repositories, andKelly stressed that it’s importantthat people not remove documentsthat are for everyone’s use. Kellynoted that there are electroniccopies available of the most recentdocuments on the web, and they

can be readily downloaded. Shesaid if documents are missing froma repository, to please contact her.

Occasionally documents areplaced in the wrong location whenthey are returned to the shelves.However, if it’s brought to theNavy’s attention, the issue can beresolved. She did ask that peopleprovide specific informationregarding the documents, or por-tions of the documents, that can-not be found in the repositories.

For questions or comments onthe repositories, please contactPatty Kelly at 360-396-0049, oremail her at [email protected].

Information RepositoriesUniversity of Alaska Anchorage,

Library Reserve Room,3211 Providence Dr.

907-786-1871 - M-F, 8 am to 5 pm,Contact: Librarian


Bob Reeve High SchoolM-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The CSO Office on Adak is now located at Sandy Cove Housing, 101 C

Contact: Ron O’Toole907-592-4351



The Alaska Division of Elec-tions posted the election resultsfor the Adak incorporation vote toits website, with the results over-whelmingly in favor of incorpora-tion.

The election results were certi-fied by the Lt. Governor’s office onApril 20, 2001. Certification ofelection results by the Lt. Gover-nor made the election results offi-cial.

Voters were asked to cast aballot for three ballot measuresand for a seven-member citycouncil.

Sixty-one voters cast a "yes"vote on Ballot Measure #1, askingif Adak should be incorporated intoa second-class city. Six "no" voteswere cast.

On Ballot Measure #2, "Shallthe City of Adak be authorized tolevy a three percent sales tax?"there were 57 votes cast in favorof the measure and 10 opposed.

Ballot Measure #3, authorizingthe City of Adak to levy a two per-cent fuel transfer tax, also passed

by a 54 to 12 vote margin. All three measures had to

pass for the city to be incorporat-ed.

In addition, the followingseven candidates received themost votes for the Adak CityCouncil; Patty A. Vessel, 48 votes;Ben Misikin, 45; Agafon Krukoff,Jr., 44; Adrian Melovidov, Jr., 43;Cynthia R. Galaktionoff, 42;Richard L. Pollen, 41; and RickyD. Sloan, 40.

Election Results Posted

Adak Update Mailing ListTo be added to the Adak

Update mailing list, please callSusan Christianson at 907-789-3098 or send your name,address and telephone numberto [email protected].

The Adak public schools’headmaster, Matthew DeGraffen-reid, and Adak’s 4th grade schoolstudents met with Navy represen-tatives on May 29 to discuss their

ideas for icons to be used for theAdak ordnance safety awarenessand land use control programson the island.

Adak students who participat-ed were Isaiah Johnson, Scott

Galanin, Jennifer Zacharof, Jor-dan Johnson, Troy Jacko, AlexGalanin, Samual DeGraffenreid,and their family and friends.

The icons students developedwill be used with environmental

educational materials and signsto advise residents and visitors ofpotential ordnance hazards.

According to Patty Kelly, theNavy Project Manager, Mr.DeGraffenreid first led the stu-dents in a discussion about thehistorical use of Adak by theAleuts and the military. The stu-dents then quickly focused onusing an Aleut grandmother andgrandfather to deliver a messageof safety and awareness to theAdak residents and visitors.

The class role played how anAleut grandmother and grandfa-ther might look if they were tryingto warn their family and friends

Continued on Page 2

Adak School Children Design Sign Icons Ordnance and Safety Awareness Pilot Program Planned for School Children


July2001


An informal RAB meeting will be held on August 22, 2001.Adak RAB members will gather at 6 p.m. Adak time at the AdakCity Hall Building (formerly Bob Reeve High School).

The Anchorage RAB will gather at 7 p.m. Anchorage time.Please check the Adak web site, www.adakupdate.com, for thelocation of the Anchorage meeting site.

RAB Meeting Schedule

Adak school children helped design an icon to be used on safety signage. This “great grandfather” issaying “Be Aware!”

“…the students suggested the

words "Be Safe" and "Be Aware" be

put on the signs and educational

material to reflect the message their

grandparents would deliver to them

as they went outdoors…”

• Adak Update

Continued form Page 1about potential island hazards.

Kelly said students also sug-gested using the words "BeSafe" and "Be Aware" on signsand in educational materials toreflect the message their grand-parents would deliver if theywent outdoors.

It was also suggested thatboth English and the Aleut lan-guage, Unungax, be used oninformational signs.

The Navy will use the stu-dents suggestions and incorpo-rate their ideas into the Navy’sEnvironmental Institutional Con-trol and Educational Program onAdak.

Kelly said the icons will alsobe used in developing additionaleducational materials. “I hopethat when the community looks

at the icons they take pride inthe efforts of the students.” shesaid.

"I found it extremely interest-ing how well the studentsunderstood their heritage, theisland, and the land use restric-tions, and the students’ abilityto bring all the concepts togeth-er into icons we can use in ourenvironmental program," Kellysaid.

“Be Safe!” is the warning this “great-great grandmoth-er” will give to Adak residents on signs designed byAdak school children.

The Navy committed projectfunds in fiscal year 2001 totaling$17.4 million for the environmentalcleanup and land transfer of Adak.

The work to be completed thisfield season includes ordnanceinvestigations and cleanup; petro-leum product recovery and sitemanagement; long-term monitor-ing; institutional control manage-ment implementation; unsafebuilding and cabin demolition;waste management; airport ditchculvert installation; Roberts LandfillClosure and long-term monitoring.

The Navy also maintains aCaretaker Site Office on Adak andoversees environmental compli-ance of activities on the island, aswell as the environmental cleanupwork.

Given the challenges of island

transportation and the increasedcosts associated with them earlyin the field season, the Navy hasbeen able to maintain it’s originalschedule except for the pipelineabandonment at Tank Farm A-1and Traffic Circle.

The pipeline abandonmentwork will be rescheduled at a laterdate. Both projects are consideredlow risk sites.

Additionally, Navy has coordi-nated with The Aleut Corporationin identifying specific facilitiesdetermined to be unsafe that willbe demolished.

The US Environmental Protec-tion Agency and the AlaskaDepartment of EnvironmentalConservation are overseeing thesummer environmental work onAdak.

Summer Fieldwork On Track

Adak School Children Design Sign Icons (cont.)



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


Adak City Hall BuildingM-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The CSO Office on Adak is now located at Sandy Cove Housing, 101 C

Contact: Ron O’Toole907-592-4351


Adak Update Mailing ListTo be added to the Adak

Update mailing list, please callSusan Christianson,907 789-3098 or send your name,address and telephone numberto [email protected].


The Navy, with concurrencefrom the Operable Unit B ProjectTeam, distributed their proposedplan for the Operable Unit B-1remedies and held public meet-ings on Adak and Anchorage onMay 29 and 31, respectively.

The Operable Unit B ProjectTeam consists of representativesfrom the Navy, the US Environ-mental Protection Agency, theAlaska Department of Environ-mental Conservation; The AleutCorporation; the Aleutian/PribilofIslands Association; the US Fishand Wildlife Service; and commu-nity members.

OU B-1 includes 130 ordnanceexplosives (OE) or unexplodedordnance (UXO) areas of con-cern (AOCs, or sites). OU B-1addresses the ordnance siteswithin the former Adak NavalComplex with the exception ofareas in the vicinity of Mt. Moffettand Andrew Lake.

According to Mark Murphy, theNavy’s Lead Project Manager,ordnance educational awarenessprograms and incorporation ofdeed notices in property transferdocuments will be implementedthroughout the former AdakNaval Complex that will encom-pass these 130 sites. No FurtherAction is proposed for 104 of the130 sites.

Murphy said OE/UXO clear-ance to 4 feet below ground sur-face will be conducted at three ofthe remaining 26 sites. Theremaining 23 sites will undergofinal characterization and clear-ance as needed to support futureland use. Fourteen of the 23sites will have soil sampled forexplosives-related chemicals andwill have soil removed, treated,and disposed of either on site or

offsite, as necessary. No FurtherAction was proposed for 104 ofthe OU B-1 sites, based on initialscreening efforts by the AdakOU-B Project Team and on eval-

uations completed as part of theRemedial Investigation/ Feasibili-ty Study (RI/FS) process.

Mr. Murphy also stated thatthe major components of the nofurther action sites include con-tinuing the Adak OE/UXO aware-ness program. The program

applies to the entire militaryreservation at Adak, includingareas that are part of OU B-1.

This program is intended tofamiliarize island residents andvisitors with the history of ord-nance use, storage, handling,and disposal on Adak Island;basic characteristics of OE/UXOitems on Adak; and the proce-dures that should be followed if asuspected OE/UXO item isencountered.

Murphy explained the method-ology used for the investigationof the OU B-1 sites. The factorsprimarily considered were thelikelihood of ordnance in a partic-ular area based on historicalinformation, the characteristics ofthe ordnance in an area and thedangers associated with them;and the accessibility of the ord-nance and whether or not peopleare likely to encounter it.

Those factors were input intoan explosive safety hazardassessment screening. The over-all weighted score placed sites

Continued on Page 4

Navy Proposes Remedies for OU "B1"

OU B Project Team members recently visited ordnance sites on Adak. Pictured here (left to right) are EPAProject Manager Kevin Oates, Navy Project Manager Mark Murphy, A/PIA Project Team Member Chris Riggio and ADEC Project Manager Elim Yoon.

"…alternatives spanned a wide

range from no further action, to

surface clearance, to surface and

subsurface clearance, to sampling

for ordnance compounds and

removal and disposal of explosives

and contaminated soils…”


Continued form Page 3into five explosives safety hazardcategories to reflect potentialresponse options. Murphyexplained that the lowest hazardlevels (A and B) called for no fur-ther action, while levels Cthrough E required the sitesreceiving those scores to beaddressed specifically in a Feasi-bility Study.

After completion of theassessment process, three siteswere carried through the Feasi-bility Study: Combat Range #3,Combat Range #6 and the MittLake Impact Area, Murphy said.Murphy explained that becauseof the limitations of current tech-nology, challenging terrain andtopography associated with siteson Adak, it is not possible tocompletely eliminate the potential

for encountering OE/UXO onAdak.

Because of that, the cleanupgoal for OU B, as agreed to bythe Project Team, was to reducethe potential for exposure to ord-nance and unexploded ordnancehazards to a degree that willenable the hazards to be man-aged, he said.

In order to reduce and man-age hazards, the Project Teamcleanup alternatives spanned awide range from no furtheraction, to surface clearance, tosurface and subsurface clear-ance, to sampling for ordnancecom-pounds and removal anddisposal of explosives and con-taminated soils.

The continuation of the Adakordnance and unexploded ord-nance education and awareness

programs and disclosure ofinvestigation and cleanup infor-mation during the land transferprocess are also important com-ponents of hazard management,he said. Murphy also outlined thecosts of various proposed alter-natives.

He explained that costsranged from lows of $50,000 persite on no further action sites tohighs of $299,000 for a subsur-face clearance at an individualsite, and $550,000 for the 23subsurface clearance sitesselected for the 2001 field sea-son.

A Record of Decision isexpected by the end of 2001, anda Finding of Suitability for Trans-fer of the property included inOperable Unit B-1 is still on trackfor 2002, Murphy said.

Navy Proposes Remedies for OU "B1" (cont.)

appendix e sample fact sheets and newsletters · united states environmental protection agency...

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