ACAT FOIA Repository 26

FACT SHEETDECISION DOCUMENTGambell Formerly Used Defense SiteSt. Lawrence Island, AlaskaBackgroundThe Alaska District of the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers is implementing remedial activities at theGambell Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) underthe authority of the Defense EnvironmentalRestoration Program (DERP).The Gambell site (FUDS #F10AK0696) is located onSt. Lawrence Island, approximately 200 milessouthwest of Nome in the Bering Sea and 36 mileseast of the Chukotsk Peninsula, Siberia. The Villageof Gambell is situated on a gravel spit on thenorthwest end of the island.The military established the Gambell site in the1950s as part of a surveillance and intelligencegathering network. Various units of the US Armyand US Air Force utilized the area until the early1960s.Decision DocumentThe Corps of Engineers completed a remedialinvestigation at the Gambell site and evaluatedremedial alternatives for the areas of concern. AProposed Plan was distributed to the community inJuly 2004. A public meeting was held on July 21,2004. A public comment period was from July 21 toAugust 30, 2004.There were no significant changes between thePreferred Alternative that was submitted for publiccomment in the Proposed Plan and the SelectedRemedy.However, the Corps ofEngineers will conductadditional investigation of thegroundwater quality at Site 5,to demonstrate compliancewith ADEC groundwatercleanup criteria in 18 AAC75.345 Table C. Threeadditional groundwaterApril 2005monitoring events will be conducted at Site 5 toestablish a concentration trend for petroleumhydrocarbons. A final decision on any appropriateremedial actions at Site 5 will be made afterevaluating the investigation results.The proposed removal of small arms ammunition atSite 8D was determined ineligible for the FUDSprogram under the BDDR category, because thematerial does not meet the definition of inherentlyhazardous debris, which presents a clear danger,likely to cause or having already caused, death orserious injury to a person exercising ordinary andreasonable care. The existing institutional controlswill be maintained, focusing on communityawareness and education, including ordnanceinformation pamphlets and posters.The Corps of Engineers will recommend that theNative American Lands Environmental MitigationProgram (NALEMP) provide funding to remove theremaining small armsammunition at Site 8D tofully address theremaining communityand state concernsregarding the beachburial pit.Site 8DDescription of Selected RemedyThe selected final remedy involves excavation andoff-island landfill disposal of about 4 tons of arseniccontaminated soil from Site 7 (Former Military PowerFacility) and approximately 4 tons of lead andchromium contaminated soil at Site 12 (NayvaghatLakes Disposal Site).The target cleanuplevels are 11 mg/kg forarsenic, 26 mg/kg forchromium, and 400mg/kg for lead.Site 5F10AK069603_08.11_0015_a200-1eContact InformationSite 7The selected finalremedy also includesthe removal of about50 tons of exposedMarston mattingdebris along the eastside of the airportrunway (Site 8A).Site 8ACarey Cossaboom, Project ManagerU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska DistrictP.O. Box 6898 (CEPOA-PM-FUDS)Elmendorf AFB, AK 99506-6898(907) 753-2689 phone (907) 753-5626 faxCarey.C.Cossaboom@poa02.usace.army.milInformation RepositoriesNo further action is the final selected remedy for 34other sites in Gambell (Sites 1A, 1B, 1C, 2, 3, 4A,4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 6, 8B, 8C, 8D, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25A, 25B, 26, 27,28). However, the NALEMP Program will addressseveral of these sites.Site documentation may be viewed at the followinglocations:Sivuqaq Corporation Building (Lodge)P.O. Box 101Gambell, Alaska 99742Phone: (907) 985-5826Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Savoonga IRA BuildingP.O. Box 120Savoonga, Alaska 99769Phone: (907) 984-6414Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Site 12Next StepsThe remedial activities are scheduled to beginduring the summer of 2005, pending selection of acontractor to perform the work.The fieldwork is anticipated to last about 2 weeks.The groundwater monitoring events will occur duringthe summer, fall, and spring.A final report will be prepared to document thecontaminated soil and debris removal activities.University of Alaska FairbanksNorthwest Campus LibraryFront Street (Pouch 400)Nome, Alaska 99762Phone: (907) 443-8415Hours: Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.Saturday 12:00 pm to 4:00 pmAlaska Resource Library and InformationServices (ARLIS)Suite 111, Library Building3211 Providence DriveAnchorage, Alaska 99508Phone: (907) 272-7547Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.