Utilization of DPT to obtain frozen soil cores to establish limits of subsurface debris disposal and PCB-impacted soil at a former landfill.

One of the most challenging projects ever undertaken by BEM was a $21MM Performance Based Remediation (PBR) project undertaken on behalf of the Pacific Air Force Command (PACAF).  The project took place at four distinct radar facilities spread out over hundreds of miles along Alaska’s North Slope on the shores of the Arctic Ocean.  Each site presenting its own logistical, technical, and regulatory challenges.  Two of the radar facilities required total demolition and decommissioning, followed by cleanup and restoration of the land as it was being transferred to the Bureau of Land Management.  The sites consisted of multiple landfills, electrical transformers, bulk fuel petroleum storage areas (ASTs), hazardous chemical storage areas, and aircraft fuel hydrants requiring remedial investigation, remedial action, and long-term monitoring.  The ultimate goal of the PBR was for each of the 20+ contaminated sites to achieve site closure approval with no site restrictions from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC); or implement long-term monitoring that was consistent with each site’s approved Record of Decision (ROD).

These efforts included: expediting the submittal of project work plans, in order to obtain timely regulatory approval for scheduling field effort and mobilization of the field team; obtaining Federal (USFWS and BLM) and State (Alaska Department of Fish and Game and ADEC) permits, for establishment of the remote field camps; pre-coordination with charter aircraft carriers and marine barging, in order to provide the resources and equipment to complete the field objectives; assignment of dedicated and experienced staff, to implement the field program; and, obtaining client and regulatory concurrence of the completeness of the field effort prior to demobilization

In addition to the geographic challenges associated with this project, BEM was required to negotiate the assessment and remedial approaches for these projects with ADEC.  BEM conducted multiple technical briefings with ADEC and PACF regarding the interpretation of ADEC’s Draft guidance for calculating the 95% Upper Confidence Limit for multi-increment soil sample results, and for the statistical data analysis evaluations to quantify the conceptual site model for potential receptor exposure risk to residual contaminants consisting of:  petroleum products, PCBs and metals in soil, sediment, surface water, and pore water.

We are especially proud that, under challenging conditions, there were no OSHA reportable accidents or injuries over the three field seasons covering approximately 5,000 man days.