ACAT FOIA Repository 43

111 W. 16th Avenue, Third FloorAnchorage, AK 99501-5109907-563-0013 Phone907-563-6713 FaxTECHNICAL MEMORANDUMDATE:September 5, 2008TO:Mr. Carey Cossaboom, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, AlaskaDistrictFROM:Matthew Faust, Project Manager, Bristol EnvironmentalRemediation Services, LLCRE:Monitoring Well Decommissioning ReportContract No. W911KB-08-P-0074Gambell, AlaskaBristol Environmental Remediation Services, LLC (Bristol) has prepared this TechnicalMemorandum (Tech Memo) at the request of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). TheTech Memo presents the results of the groundwater monitoring well decommissioning projectthat was conducted at the Gambell Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) by Bristol in August2008.SITE DESCRIPTIONThe Gambell FUDS is located on the northwest tip of Saint Lawrence Island, near the village ofGambell. Gambell is located at latitude 63 degrees (°), 46 minutes ('), 49 seconds (") North, andlongitude 171° 43' 46" West, approximately 200 miles southwest of Nome, Alaska, and 700miles northwest of Anchorage, Alaska (Figure 1). The site was operated by the military as aradar and communications facility from 1948 until the late 1950s (USACE, 2005).The Gambell FUDS encompasses approximately 2.7 square miles. The site includes areasaround Troutman Lake and extends from the ocean to the top of Sevuokuk Mountain.Environmental investigation efforts have been conducted at the site from the 1980s through thepresent (USACE, 2005). Environmental remediation efforts under the FUDS program have beencompleted at the site.A subsidiary of Bristol Bay Native CorporationF10AK069603_07.16_0500_a200-1eTechnical MemorandumSeptember 5, 2008Page 2SCOPE OF WORKThe scope of work for this project was to properly abandon and decommission all remaininggroundwater monitoring wells located at the Gambell FUDS in accordance with applicableAlaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) guidance (ADEC, 1992).Approximately 21 monitoring wells were reportedly located at the site at the beginning of siteactivities. Monitoring well locations are listed on Table 1 and are shown on Figure 2.COMPLETED TASKSBristol personnel mobilized to Gambell from Anchorage, Alaska on August 19 and met withpersonnel from Bristol’s subcontractor, the Native Village of Gambell (NVG), to go over theWork Plan and the Site Health and Safety Plan (Bristol, 2008). On August 20 and 21, Bristoland the NVG crew located and decommissioned 17 monitoring wells. On August 22, the NVGcrew consolidated well construction materials accumulated during the decommissioningactivities, and Bristol personnel demobilized from Gambell back to Anchorage. All wellconstruction materials have been temporarily staged in Conexes along with other debris fromGambell, and will be transported to the Columbia Ridge Landfill in Arlington, Oregon fordisposal.Monitoring wells were located using a global positioning system (GPS) unit and aerialphotographs. Bristol’s procedure for decommissioning the wells was to first pull the protectivesteel casing from the ground using a chain attached to a loader bucket. Once the protectivecasing had been removed, the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) well casing was removed using the samemethod. Once the PVC had been removed, each bore hole was backfilled with bentonite pellets,taking care to minimize void spaces. The bentonite was then hydrated to plug the bore hole.Photographs illustrating site activities are included as Attachment 1. Field notes detailing siteactivities are included as Attachment 2.Bristol and the NVG crew were unable to locate four of the 21 monitoring wells reported to belocated at the site. Two of these wells (MW-5 and MW-7) were located on the North Beach ofthe gravel spit on the northeastern tip of Saint Lawrence Island, while the other two (MW-25 andMW-27) were located within the community of Gambell (Figure 2).Technical MemorandumSeptember 5, 2008Page 3Monitoring wells MW-5 and MW-7 appear to have been located below the storm surge line onthe North Beach (Figure 2). This determination was made by Bristol personnel using aerialphotographs and a GPS unit. The monitoring wells were reported to have been constructed asaboveground completions protected by stick-up steel casings. For each of the two wells, a searchgrid with dimensions of 100-feet by 100-feet was established. Each grid was centered on thereported location of the well (as determined using the GPS unit) and was screened using a metaldetector in east to west and north to south passes. All anomalies indicated by the metal detectorwere investigated by hand-digging and determined to be metal debris unrelated to the monitoringwells. Each grid was also investigated by using a backhoe to dig down approximately one to twofeet below the ground surface at the reported location of the well. No evidence of eithermonitoring well was found.Monitoring wells MW-25 and MW-27 were located within the community of Gambell(Figure 2). The monitoring wells were reported to have been constructed as flush-mountcompletions protected by steel covers. For each of the two wells, a search grid with dimensionsof 120 feet by 120 feet was established. Each grid was centered on the reported location of thewell (as determined using the GPS unit) and was screened using a metal detector in east to westand north to south passes. All anomalies indicated by the metal detector were investigated byhand-digging and determined to be metal debris unrelated to the monitoring wells. Due to thepresence of shallow utilities in the area, a decision was made by Bristol to not investigate thearea using heavy equipment. No evidence of either monitoring well was found.SUMMARYBetween August 20 and 21, 2008, Bristol and the NVG crew decommissioned 17 monitoringwells at the Gambell FUDS. Bristol and the NVG crew looked for four other monitoring wells,but was unable to locate them. All accumulated debris will be disposed of at the ColumbiaRidge Landfill in Arlington, Oregon.Technical MemorandumJune 20, 2008Page 4REFERENCESAlaska Department of Environmental Conservation. 1992 (April). Guidance No. 001 –Recommended Practices for Monitoring Well Design, Installation, andDecommissioning.Bristol Environmental Remediation Services, LLC. 2008 (June 20). Technical Memorandum,Contract No. W911KB-08-P-0074, Monitoring Well Decommissioning, Gambell, Alaska,Work PlanU.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 2005 (June). Decision Document, Gambell Formerly UsedDefense Site, F10AK0696, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska.FIGURESDrawing: O:\JOBS\49003 GAMBELL MONITORING WELL DECOM\ACAD-ENVIRO\FIGURES\DWG\49003_FIG1_SVM_JUNE08.DWG - Layout: 49003_FIG1_SVM_JUNE08User: MGARCIA Sep 08, 2008 - 10:43am Xrefs: - Images: C62168G5.TIFSite LocationGambell Site036Scale: 1"= 6 MILESSource: USGS National Atlas Sheet Number 42-43FIGURE 1GAMBELL, ST. LAWRENCE ISLAND, ALASKAMONITORING WELL DECOMMISSIONINGVICINITY MAPBristolENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATIONSERVICES, LLCPhone (907) 563-0013 Fax (907) 563-6713Project No: 49003DATUM:NAPROJECTION:NADATE06/20/08DWN.MTG1SCALESHOWNofSAJ2APPRVD.SHEET1. Mapping taken from Chemical Data Aquisition Plan by Ecology& Environment (1993). Mapping believed to be sketchedfrom aerial photography taken in 1985. Accuracy unknown.2. Contour interval varies 5/100 ft.WESTBEACH8RUNWAY1BERING SEA8CITY LANDFILLOLD GAMBELL8OLD VILLAGE WELLARCHAEOLOGICAL SITESUSPECTED ORDNANCE BURIAL SITEVILLAGE OFGAMBELLNORTH BEACHMUNICIPAL BUILDINGTROUTMAN LAKE816PUMP HOUSEHIGH SCHOOLARMYLANDFILL17MW-27FORMER MAIN CAMPMW-25WATER TRANSMISSION LINE1994 SUMMER LAKE BOUNDARY17AREA 1AARMY LANDING AREA6UNNAMEDPONDMW-5ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITESNAYVAGHAQ LAKESOUTH AREA13NORTH AREA12PROPOSED WASTEACCUMULATION POINTLANDFILL NO. 2NEW VILLAGEWATER SUPPLYFORMER CABLE BURIAL AREA10PROPOSED BEESCLANDING AREA5BURIED FORMER TRAM ANCHORBERING SEAFORMER INFILTRATION GALLERY(CURRENTLY USED)210SUSPECTED ORDNANCE BURIAL SITECATIONSFORMER MILITARY HOUSING/ OPERATIONS BURIAL SITEBLCAEROUTEAREA 1B3FORMER TRANSFORMER AREAAREA 4DCOMMUNIDrawing: O:\JOBS\49003 GAMBELL MONITORING WELL DECOM\ACAD-ENVIRO\FIGURES\DWG\49003_FIG2_MWL_JUNE08.DWG - Layout: 49003_FIG2_MWL_JUNE08User: MGARCIA Sep 08, 2008 - 12:51pm Xrefs: - Images:LANDFILL NO. 1AIR FORCE LANDING AREA1MW-7FORMER COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY BURIAL AREAQUONSET HUTS10DRUMSAREA 4C10AREA 4A4ARMY TRAILAREA 4BFORMER AIR FORCE RADAR SITESEVUOKUK MTN.AIR FORCE TRAILFIGURE 2GAMBELL, ST. LAWRENCE ISLAND, ALASKAMONITORING WELL DECOMMISSIONINGMONITORING WELL LOCATIONSAPPROXIMATE LOCATION OF MONITORING WELL DECOMMISSIONED IN AUGUST 2008APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF MONITORING WELL NOT LOCATED IN AUGUST 2008SOURCE: U.S. ARMY ENGINEERING DISTRICT, ALASKAST. LAWRENCE ISLAND, AKFIGURE 1-3, GAMBELL REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION(SITE 5)-MWH MONTGOMERY WATSON, INC.12000600APPROXIMATE SCALE IN FEET1200BristolENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATIONSERVICES, LLCPhone (907) 563-0013 Fax (907) 563-6713Project No: 49003DATUM:NAPROJECTION:NADATE06/20/08DWN.MTG2SCALESHOWNofSAJ2APPRVD.SHEETTABLETable 1 - Approximate Monitoring Well LocationsWell IDNorth LatitudeWest LongitudeNotesMW-163.781356°171.7149255°DecommissionedMW-263.781983°171.7136754°DecommissionedMW-363.782303°171.7167222°DecommissionedMW-463.782614°171.7157427°MW-563.782632°171.7142623°MW-663.781235°171.6986545°MW-763.781432°171.697668°DecommissionedNot found during August 2008site activitiesNot found during August 2008site activitiesDecommissionedMW-863.781016°171.6978684°DecommissionedMW-963.779763°171.6953778°DecommissionedMW-1063.779493°171.696521°DecommissionedMW-1163.779979°171.6976435°DecommissionedMW-1263.780023°171.6995515°DecommissionedMW-1363.77942°171.6999017°DecommissionedMW-1763.741088°171.7076646°DecommissionedMW-1863.741363°171.7085022°DecommissionedMW-1963.737655°171.7164491°DecommissionedMW-2063.744871°171.7115767°DecommissionedMW-2163.745254°171.7108938°DecommissionedMW-2263.744751°171.7100725°MW-2563.777664°171.7174244°MW-2763.777449°171.7185506°DecommissionedNot found during August 2008site activitiesNot found during August 2008site activitiesNotes:° = degreesID = identificationATTACHMENT 1Site PhotographsPhotograph No. 1Direction: SouthDate: 8/20/08Photographer: L. MacDonaldDescription: Removing protective well cover from MW-12.Photograph No. 2Direction: WestDescription: Pulling PVC well casing from MW-22.Date: 8/20/08Photographer: L. MacDonaldPhotograph No. 3Direction: NADate: 8/20/08Photographer: L. MacDonaldDescription: Bentonite pellets in MW-3 (prior to hydration of pellets) following removal of well casing.Photograph No. 4Direction: EastDate: 8/20/08Photographer: L. MacDonaldDescription: NVG personnel looking for MW-7. Crew utilized a metal detector, heavy equipment, andhand-digging while attempting to find MW-5 and MW-7.Photograph No. 5Direction: WestDate: 8/21/08Photographer: L. MacDonaldDescription: NVG personnel looking for MW-27. Crew utilized a metal detector and hand-digging whileattempting to find MW-25 and MW-27.Photograph No. 6Direction: EastDate: 8/21/08Photographer: L. MacDonaldDescription: NVG heavy-equipment operator consolidating well construction materials at the end of themonitoring well decommissioning effort.ATTACHMENT 2Field Notes'It II11>¥:11•••IILL:II. . . . . -~~""'*-t--r----r----Ft---- "110,).,.J.....'>.4:-~~--tr--r.------• •~ \-JII;•}'t,.sII.,. a----,if--+---==-_.____II·--+-~,._,... __•n-Jt-.~~~~-- a1a·J·:•.J.·II•..).·11BristolENVIRONMENTAL & ENGINEERINGSERVICES CORPORATIONComputed:Checked:[Date:Date:~Is &.r.zr,t w lfL5 ~ lAJ