Kodiak

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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