As a result of the listing of Fort Richardson on
comments on this FS and the proposed plan from
the NPL, the USARAlaska, USEPA, and the Alaska
the public and government agencies. The last two
criteria will be addressed in the ROD.
Department of Environmental Conservation nego-
The detailed analysis was conducted for each
tiated the Federal Facility Agreement for Fort Rich-
pond group individually. This will allow for a
ardson, which all three parties signed on 5 Decem-
determination of the applicability of each of the
ber 1994. Under the terms of the FFA, all remedial
five alternatives to each pond group. Because of
response activities will be conducted to protect
the differences among the pond groups, different
public health and welfare, and the environment,
alternatives may be better suited for different
in accordance with CERCLA, the National Contin-
pond groups. This approach will provide the nec-
gency Plan, the Resource Conservation and Recovery
essary information to the public and the RPMs to
Act, and applicable state law.
allow different remedies to be selected in different
Fort Richardson was divided into four Operable
areas of ERF.
Units (OUs), labeled A through D, as part of the
FFA. Each OU encompasses a series of potentially
Comparison of alternatives
contaminated sites identified during an inventory
A comparative analysis of the alternatives was
that was completed before the FFA was signed.
conducted for each pond group using the seven
This report documents RI results for OUC, which
criteria that were used in the detailed analysis. For
includes the primary ordnance impact area on Fort
Richardson (Eagle River Flats [ERF]) and an adja-
each pond group, the differences in the ability of
cent gravel pad that was used for the open burning
each alternative to meet each criterion are present-
(OB) and open detonation (OD) of unwanted ord-
ed. In addition, for each pond group, the alter-
nance (OB/OD Pad).
natives are ranked in terms of their ability to meet
each criterion.
Eagle River Flats
The preferred alternatives for each pond group
Eagle River Flats is an 876-hectare estuarine salt
will be presented in the final Proposed Plan. The
marsh at the mouth of Eagle River. Approximately
Draft Proposed Plan will available for public
25 targets placed in ERF have been used for artil-
review and comment before the final selection of
lery training since 1949, creating thousands of cra-
remedial alternatives.
ters in the wetlands and associated mud flats and
CH2M Hill (1997) Operable Unit C. Final Remedi-
leaving an estimated 100,000 unexploded mortar
al Investigation Report. Contract Report to U.S.
and artillery shells buried in the shallow subsur-
Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, and
face. Although ERF is an active impact area, it re-
U.S. Army, Alaska, May.
mains a productive wetland that serves as an im-
This report presents the results of the remedial
portant staging ground for migrating waterfowl
investigation (RI) for Operable Unit C (OUC) on
during the spring and fall migrations. ERF also
Fort Richardson, Alaska. The U.S. Army Corps of
supports local populations of fish, birds, mam-
Engineers (COE), Alaska District, on behalf of the
mals, and macroinvertebrates. A series of ponds
U.S. Army, Alaska (USARAlaska), contracted with
distributed throughout ERF provide excellent hab-
CH2M Hill to prepare the RI report under Deliv-
itat for dabbling waterfowl.
ery Order Number 1, Modification 3, of Contract
Since the initial reports of elevated waterfowl
Number DAC85-95-D0015.
mortality in the early 1980s, a multidisciplinary in-
Fort Richardson is an active U.S. Army installa-
vestigation has been conducted to identify the
tion near Anchorage, Alaska. It encompasses
cause of the mortality (shown in 1990 to be white
phosphorus [WP]), the extent of the WP contami-
22,260 ha along the Knik Arm of the Cook Inlet,
nation, and the potential effects of WP and other
immediately east of Elmendorf Air Force Base and
munitions on the biota in ERF. WP was released
the Municipality of Anchorage. In June 1994, Fort
into ERF by ordnance used to create smoke for
Richardson was listed by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA) on the National Priori-
ground troop cover. WP that does not fully oxidize
ties List (NPL). This listing designated the post as
can remain as particles in the sediment. Ingestion
a Federal Superfund site subject to the remedial
of WP particles by feeding waterfowl has created
response requirements of the Comprehensive Envi-
high levels of mortality. Birds have been observed
ronmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
to die within minutes to hours of ingesting WP in a
(CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund Amend-
number of ponds in ERF.
ments and Reauthorization Act of 1986.
Sampling results have focused primarily on a
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