The purpose of this project was to implement remedies to remove potential contamination sources and contaminated soil from this Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) Naval Radio Station. Additional scope elements include demolition and removal of several dilapidated buildings and five radio towers, removal of asbestos debris from several collapsed buildings and other structures as well as excavation of soils contaminated with lead at RCRA concentrations, storage, manifesting and shipping of the RCRA waste for disposal in Washington. The SI includes an inventory and survey of all site features as well as a reconnaissance of the nearby trail/road system to evaluate as yet unidentified FUDS.
Unique Challenges and Innovative Solutions
The project was executed with no reportable accidents and with significant scope expansion. This was accomplished from a remote Aleutian Island during short summer seasons with harsh weather, a relative lack of infrastructure, and under conditions that presented significant marine and air logistical challenges. Exemplary actions included:
- Constructed a seven-mile-long access road that required design and installation of stream crossings and bridges without damaging fragile tundra;
- Provided an important income stream to the community by hiring local workers and renting heavy equipment from the City of Atka; donated crew lodging costs to the local school district; purchased food and incidentals from the village.
- Creatively employed waste minimization and recycling by using steel mesh from downed radio towers for road mats; salvaged abandoned fuel storage tanks to containerize thousands of pounds of scrap steel hauled from the site, and burned uncontaminated wood debris.
- Recycled the scrap steel, keeping it out of landfills, re-using this valuable commodity, and saving USACE considerable disposal costs.
Work performed
- USACE/ADEC Plans and Reports
- Remote Site Mobilization
- Excavation, Containment & Transport/Disposal of Contaminated Soil/Debris
- Soil Sampling
- Backfilling/Site Restoration
