Concern about potential military toxics buried beneath the landfill pictured at left prompted our investigation.

Sampling on Kodiak Island in collaboration with Kodiak Community Conservation Network.

Please see the attached report (below) for a summary of our results.

Report on Kodiak Sampling Project
 January 25, 1998
 
 Background
 Tim Vallianos, a Kodiak restaurant owner, contacted Pamela Miller of Alaska
 Community Action on Toxics in the spring of 1997 to express concerns about
 his family's health. His daughter and son, ages 2 and 5 respectively, had
 been tested for toxic metals in their hair. Analytical work done by a clinic
 revealed elevated levels for certain metals such as mercury. The children
 had also been exhibiting behavioral and neurological symptoms (his daughter
 experienced convulsions) that Tim believed were associated with the
 exposures. As a result of his concerns, the family moved from the island,
 selling their home and business, during the summer of 1997. During this
 time, Pamela Miller communicated with Tim by phone and recommended medical
 facilities that treat occupational and environmental exposures to contaminants.
 
 Before Tim left Kodiak, he talked with neighbors and old timers about
 potential sources of contamination that may be causing his family's health
 problems. He came to the conclusion that contamination from past military
 activities, specifically dumping of munitions and other materials, may be
 the source of the problem. His home (at 2010 Mill Bay Road) was situated on
 a substantial fill which may be been used to cover a source of
 contamination, such as a dump site or landfill. The fill had been situated
 upon a series of wetlands and a stream system and thus were very wet Tim had
 to have a sump pump constantly pumping water from the lower level of his home.
 
 He also related that his family's problems were not isolated that other
 families in the area are experiencing similar problems. A woman who is a
 taxi driver with a home nearby has had medical difficulties, including loss
 of weight and neurological problems. People in the trailer court nearby are
 sick, with children experiencing learning and behavioral disorders. His
 Mexican neighbors are also sick (woman, age 41; husband, and 4 children).
 
 Pamela Miller began searching for background information through the Freedom
 of Information Act. Although these documents revealed significant
 contamination problems associated with military activities in several
 locations around Kodiak, we could not find documentation of dumping in the
 immediate area of Tim's home. The primary contaminated military facilities
 on Kodiak that are in various stages of cleanup include:
 
 
 1) Kodiak Armory, Alaska Army National Guard (status, closed);
 2) Pillar Mountain RRS, Air Force
 3) Burma Road, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
 4) Buskin Beach, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
 5) Kodiak Army site, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
 6) Kodiak Coast Guard Support Center (formerly a U.S. Navy site until
 1972), U.S. Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers
 7) Fort Tidball on Long Island, Department of the Army
 8) Bruhn Point Landfill, Department of the Army
 
 There appears to be little or no public oversight of the cleanup of these
 facilities to ensure responsible cleanup that is protective of environmental
 and human health. Further investigation is necessary to fully reveal the
 nature and extent of contamination from military facilities on Kodiak. There
 are significant gaps in the sampling data that are accessible from EPA and
 the military.
 
 In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration has created contamination
 problems at their airport, Pillar Mountain, and Woody Island facilities.
 The most serious and apparent problems that have been documented through
 sampling by the USGS and others include contamination from Navy and Coast
 Guard facilities on the Nyman Peninsula/Womens Bay and within the Buskin
 River watershed.
 
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 Summary of Information from US Geological Survey Reports
 
 1) Hydrologic and Water Quality Data for U.S. Coast Guard Support Center,
 Kodiak, Alaska, 1987-89 (USGS Open-File Report 96-498, 1996). The US Coast
 Guard Center was established and remained as a Navy base until 1972, serving
 as a submarine base, air base, and port. USGG soil sampling (100 samples) in
 the area (and two lake-bed samples) revealed: total petroleum hydrocarbons
 were detected at 16 site. O and p-xylenes and tetrachloroethene were
 detected at 3 sites; toluene was detected at 2 sites; and vinyl chloride,
 methylene chloride, trichloroethene, and m-xylene were each detected once.
 Lead was found at all but one site, ranging from 0.3 to 100 mg/kg (ppm).
 USGS collected about 350 groundwater samples from 101 wells; 110 surface
 water samples were collected from 59 sites on streams and lakes. Cadmium,
 lead, thallium, benzene, tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, and vinyl
 chloride were detected at concentrations greater than allowed by EPA's
 primary drinking water regulations. Arsenic, cadmium, lead, sulfate,
 thallium, benzene, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, methylene chloride,
 tetrachloroethene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, vinyl chloride, PCBs and styrene
 were detected at concentrations higher than Maximum Contaminant Level Goals
 established by EPA. This report identified 18 areas of contamination in the
 Buskin River watershed and Nyman Peninsula.
 
 2) Overview of Environmental and Hydrogeologic Conditions near Kodiak,
 Alaska (USGS Open-File Report 95-406, 1995). USGS water samples
 from wells near the airport FAA facilities included exceedances of EPA's
 Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) for lead a well A79 water sample had lead
 concentration of 0.019 mg/L (MCL is 0.005 mg/L); a well B1 water sample had
 a toluene concentration of 6.5 mg/L (MCL is 1 mg/L). Concentrations greater
 than reporting levels were also found in groundwater samples for
 chloromethane, trichlorofluoromethane, aluminum, lead, mercury, arsenic and
 zinc.
 
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 October 1997 Sampling on Kodiak Island
 
 Pamela Miller, Alaska Community Action on Toxics, and Kristin Stahl-Johnson,
 Kodiak Community Conservation Network, collected a total of 11 samples,
 including soil, sediment, and water samples on October 21, 1997. The samples
 were shipped to the Citizens Environmental Laboratory using chain of custody
 procedures. The Citizens Environmental Laboratory performed the analytical
 work and prepared a report (dated November 18, 1997). The sampling focused
 on the drainage entering and passing underneath the massive fill parallel to
 Mill Bay Road in the vicinity of Tim Valliano's former home. We also took
 samples downgradient from Smoky's dump and just upstream from the entrance
 to Island Lake.
 
 Sample descriptions
 Soil/Sediment samples
 1) sediment sample from stream near trailer park below outfall from lake
 (grab sample);
 2) soil sample from base of home foundation at 2010 Mill Bay Road (grab
 sample);
 3) soil sample taken from center of backyard at 2010 Mill Bay Road (grab
 sample);
 4) soil sample taken from outflow of sump pump in backyard of 2010 Mill Bay
 Road (grab sample);
 5) sediment sample taken from flooded basement outside dilapidated,
 abandoned house 2 doors down from 2010 Mill Bay Road (grab sample);
 6) sediment sample taken from downstream side of fill below culvert (grab
 sample);
 7) soil sample from Smoky's dump at seep in downgradient berm (grab sample);
 8) sediment sample from toe of fill, Smoky's dump (composite sample);
 9) sediment sample from stream just upstream from entrance into Island Lake
 (grab sample).
 
 Water samples
 1) 1 liter water sample taken below outfall (same location as #6 above);
 2) 1 liter water sample taken downgradient from fill below the outfall at
 Smoky's dump.
 
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 Heavy Metal Results (see Citizens Environmental Laboratory Report)
 
 Aluminum
 Aluminum concentrations ranged from 10,100 mg/kg (Sample 6) to 32,700 mg/kg
 (Sample 7) in the soil/sediment samples. In water sample 1, the aluminum
 concentration was 2.52 mg/L. Water sample 2 had no detectable aluminum. (EPA
 Method 6010/200.7)
 
 Mean and median background concentrations for aluminum in uncontaminated
 stream and lake sediments in Alaska are 5.8 and 6.2 ppm (= mg/L)
 respectively. The highest concentration measured in Alaska in
 uncontaminated stream and lake sediments was 82 ppm. Our samples, that
 ranged from 10,100-32,700 mg/kg (= mg/L), are higher by three orders of
 magnitude. Water sample #1 concentration of 2.52 mg/L exceeds secondary
 maximum contaminant levels for drinking water (0.05 mg/L) by two orders of
 magnitude.
 
 Antimony
 Antimony concentrations ranged from non-detectable (Samples 1, 2, 4, 7, 8)
 to 1.02 mg/kg in Sample 6. Antimony was not detected in the two water
 samples. (EPA Method 7041/204.2
 
 Arsenic
 Arsenic concentrations ranged from 8.32 mg/kg (Sample 4) to 41.9 mg/kg
 (Sample 1) in soil/sediment samples. Sample 6 also had a relatively high
 concentration of arsenic at 38.4 mg/kg. Arsenic concentrations in the two
 water samples was 0.0113 and 0.0052 mg/L, respectively. (EPA Method 7060/206.2)
 
 Arsenic values exceed mean and median background levels for uncontaminated
 stream and lake sediments (17.3 and 12.0 mg/kg, respectively), as well as
 the arithmetic and geometric means for soils (9.6 and 6.7 mg/kg,
 respectively). The arsenic concentration in water sample #1 approaches
 that of the MCL for drinking water (0.05 mg/L).
 
 Cadmium
 Cadmium concentrations ranged between 2.1 mg/kg (Sample 2) and 28.9 mg/kg
 (Sample 6) in soil/sediment samples. Cadmium was not detected in the two
 water samples (detection limit is 0.010 mg/kg). (EPA Method 6010/200.7)
 
 Cadmium concentrations measured in background soil samples from Kodiak
 Island are 2, 4, and 13 ppm (= mg/kg) . The highest value that we detected
 was 28.9 mg/kg in the sediment sample at the outfall below the massive fill
 along Mill Bay Road. Cadmium may be elevated from contamination from
 munitions or other military/industrial waste disposal. This requires further
 investigation.
 
 Lead
 Lead concentrations ranged from non-detectable (Sample 3) to 46 mg/kg
 (Sample 1) in sediment/soil samples. Lead was not detected in the two water
 samples (detection limit is 0.0050 mg/kg). (EPA Method 6010/239.2/7421)
 
 Lead concentrations exceed the arithmetic and geometric mean values for
 background lead concentrations in soils throughout Alaska (14 and 12 mg/kg,
 respectively). Lead concentrations in our samples exceeded even the mean
 and median lead concentration of over 100 soil samples and two lake-bed
 samples taken by USGS in investigating the contamination from the Navy and
 Coast Guard facilities on Kodiak (those values are 10.6 mg/kg and 9.8
 mg/kg). Lead concentrations commonly range between 15-25 mg/kg in soils.
 Lead may be elevated as a result of contamination such as munitions,
 batteries, or other metal debris.
 
 Mercury
 Mercury concentrations ranged from 0.10 mg/kg (Samples 3 and 4) to 0.41
 mg/kg (Sample 5). Mercury was not detected in the two water samples
 (detection limit is 0.00050 mg/kg). (EPA Method 7471/245.1/7470)
 
 Nickel
 Nickel concentrations ranged from 15.1 mg/kg (Sample 3) to 67.8 mg/kg
 (Sample 1). Nickel was not detected in the two water samples (detection
 limit is 0.030 mg/kg). (EPA Method 6010/200.7)
 
 
 Pesticides and PCB Analyses (see Citizens Environmental Laboratory Report)
 No pesticides or PCBs were detected in the samples. The laboratory used EPA
 Method 8080A for the analysis. Only Samples 4, 7, and 8 were analyzed for
 pesticides and PCBs.
 
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 Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH)
 (see Citizens Environmental Laboratory Report)
 Two samples had positive results for the detection of TPH, Sample 7 (1,100
 mg/kg) and 8 (680 mg/kg). TPH was not detected in Sample 4. Only Samples 4,
 7 and were analyzed for TPH.
 
 TPH concentrations in these two samples greatly exceed Alaska Department of
 Environmental Conservation soil cleanup guidelines for the remediation of
 gasoline (10 mg/kg) and non-gasoline (100 mg/kg) releases. Since petroleum
 product has been found in sediments downgradient from the dump, there is
 potential for the petroleum to move
 downstream. This may pose a threat to environmental and human health.
 Children play in the area, wildlife and pets drink from the stream flowing
 from the dump.
 
 Conclusions
 The heavy metals cadmium and lead appear to be elevated above normal
 background levels, although little comparative data exist for Kodiak.
 Aluminum levels far exceed normal background values. Arsenic also exceeds
 normal background levels for Alaska for sediments.
 
 Levels of petroleum hydrocarbons leaching out of Smoky's dump are elevated
 above action levels.
 
 Fortunately, no pesticides or PCBs were detected. Given the level of
 pesticides and PCBs used and detected in other areas of Kodiak from military
 activities, a comprehensive assessment of pesticide and PCB levels, that
 includes freshwater and marine food web sampling around the island, should
 be made.
 
 Recommendations and Actions Needed
 1) Greater public oversight of cleanup of military and other federal
 facilities on Kodiak, through FOIA, document review, participation in CERCLA
 process, independent scientific review of the military contractor's sampling
 design and implementation;
 2) Integration and interpretation of sampling results from military, USGS,
 Borough, and other programs;
 3) Interviews with Kodiak elders and former military personnel to better
 understand locations and nature of military dump sites;
 4) FOIA and archival review of information on offshore dumpsite(s);
 5) Additional community-based environmental sampling and health surveys;
 6) Action should be taken to characterize and contain potentially hazardous
 wastes in Smoky's dump. A comprehensive sampling program should be initiated
 immediately to fully characterize petroleum and other hazardous chemical
 leaks that may pose a threat to environmental and human health;
 7) Action should be taken to determine the nature of potentially hazardous
 materials buried beneath the massive fill along Mill Bay Road in the
 vicinity of the trailer park and Tim Valliano's former home.
 
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