The meeting was held at the URS Corporation Offices in Anchorage, and the Adak City Hall. Attendees from the location below were connected by telephone. In attendance were the following:

1. Welcome and Opening Remarks:

Cathy Villa called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM (Anchorage time). There was not a quorum present to approve the previous meeting minutes. Due to the late hour in New York, Cathy suggested that Dr. Scrudato's discussion be moved up on the agenda. Cathy also asked if there were any more suggested topics to discuss. Char Gisvold asked about an open discussion regarding the land transfer. Cathy clarified that it was a discussion regarding the FOST. Cathy said that there would be a discussion but it would not be in much detail because the document was recently sent out.

2. Dr. Scrudato's Comments on South Runway 18/36:

Dr. Scrudato was curious if everyone received his comments. It was verified that the comments were distributed. It summarized and recommended the remedial actions being considered for South Runway 18/36. Dr. Scrudato recommended asking the Navy before getting into a full discussion. His understanding from previous meetings was that his understanding was that the focused feasibility studies were under review and works in progress. He wanted to verify whether or not his comments were still on target or know whether or not additional reports would be coming out. Mr. Walker stated that was correct. The Navy has gone through and reviewed the comments generated and they appreciated those comments.

South Runway 18/36 focused feasibility study used ADEC method 3 to come up with the remedies, and they are being revised. Mr. Walker said he could go through the comments and give an update and let the RAB know where the Navy is in the process. Mark Murphy stated that the South Runway, among other sites, is being revised utilizing the remedial action objectives in the ROD and utilizing method 2 criteria. Rather than the Navy go through a discussion of the comments generated to date, without the people having the revised reports, it might be better to allow the Navy's consultants to revise the focused feasibility studies. Mark stated that many of Dr. Scrudato's comments are overcome by events and he suggested that time may be better served to wait until the focused feasibility studies are revised. Dr. Scrudato agreed.

Dr. Scrudato asked if bioremediation is still considered one of the potential remedial options on Adak. He thought that the last meeting minutes would include the bioremediation material that is available. Mark stated that he sent the Dr. Scrudato an email with the references and that those references contained the information was looking for at the last meeting. The references contained the variables for what he thought Dr. Scrudato requested. Mark hadn't heard back, so he thought the issue was resolved. Dr. Scrudato stated that he got the references, however, he was looking for more of the site-specific geochemcial data. Dr. Scrudato said he thought that data would be helpful. He said he would email Mark back with specific recommendations for Adak.

Dr. Scrudato asked if the revised focused feasibility studies would be distributed by April. Langston said no, he said that it would be the end of summer before they are completed. Langston also noted that none of the actions were scheduled to be performed this field season. Mark said the Navy created a schedule that would require decision documents by April 2003 and that having the feasibility studies done by the end of summer will allow the Navy to maintain that schedule. He wanted to be in a position to execute those schedules. Kevin Oates pointed out that it's better to have the focused feasibility studies identify the preferred alternatives for public comment periods. Mark agreed.

Dr. Scrudato asked the RAB members if they had any questions regarding his comments or comments on the focused feasibility studies. There were none. He said it might be a waste of the committee's time for him to review the comments that are not valid and save the time for a discussion when the revised reports are available. Cathy Villa said that this should be an agenda item for late summer and in the mean time keep an eye on it and have an update in between that time. She stated that if someone had questions or comments then, they could be addressed in advance of the documents being released. Mark did note to Dr. Scrudato if he would send his specific requests for information, it would help Mark focus the data sent . Dr. Scrudato said he would follow up with specific recommendations for insight on the monitored natural attenuation.

3. Biological Sampling Update:

   Dr. Jim Estes said he was going to give an update and overview of the contaminants found during their sampling events. He said there are three other investigators who work on this project: Wally Jarman from the University of Utah; Bob Anthony from Oregon State University; and Keith Miles with USGS who works out of U.C. Davis. Dr. Estes stated that the motivation for the work that he's involved with was information that came about in the last 10 years with regards to PCB concentrations in sea otter tissues around Adak and Amchitka. High levels of DDT in bald eagle populations in the western Aleutians. And elevated levels of PCBs that were found in samples collected in various populations in mussels throughout the archipelago. The objectives of the sampling are four-fold:

   1. To monitor the contaminants in the coastal species at Adak. The included a full spectrum of organics and inorganics. The species involve blue mussels, rock greenling, rock sole, pacific cod and pacific halibut and also looking at those same contaminant of bald eagles and their prey. They are interested in the entire food web
   2. To look spatially at the information, is it only found on Adak or are we finding this everywhere. This will give a broader perspective.
   3. To study the food web, and how contaminants move throughout the coastal food web. Are they biomagnified and where do we find them.
   4. To study the radical change in the last decade of the Sea Otter Kelp forest system. He did not plan on discussing this portion at the meeting, however, he would answer questions about it.

   The focal species for the study were blue mussels, rock greenling, rock sole, pacific cod, pacific halibut, bald eagles and essentially their prey, fish and seabirds. The study takes place throughout the Aleutians from the far western archipelago at Attu to the east to the Shumagin Islands. This will give a good spatial analysis. Most of the contaminant and food web work is being done at Adak, Amchitka, Buldir, Tanaga and Kistka and Attu islands. The Shumagin, Amlia and Unalaska are to support the bald eagle work. The focus his presentation was Adak, Amchitka, Buldir, Tanaga, Kistka and Attu Islands.

   The sampling conducted at Adak included focal marine fish, mussel, eagle eggs, ptarmigan, and other seabirds. There were two geographic areas of Adak where the samples were collected, Sweeper Cove/Kuluk Bay where low levels of contaminants have existed, and the Bay of Islands area where they wouldn't expect to find contaminants. The strategy for collecting at the different areas and islands was to pick two to five locations around the islands to get some sense of the variability of the contaminant levels at each island and the variation.

   Dr. Estes said the field sampling is essentially complete. They collected all the mussels that will be collected except for Adak. At Adak they are sampling in 2002, to get a time series of change. One island is sampled in addition to Adak. All the fish samples have been collected except the Adak from 2002. All the seabirds were collected except for 10 eggs to be collected from the Shumagin Islands. They were permitted to take 110 eagle eggs, and they have collected 100 so far. The fieldwork is done, and they are beginning to analyze the data. That will take some time.

   They have analyzed all the mussel samples from 1997, 1999, 2000; all the fish samples from 1999; the eagle eggs from Adak; and the blood samples from the sea otters collected in the Aleutian Islands. Dr. Estes said he would go over a synopsis of all but the sea otter material.

   The Adak Kuluk Bay/Sweeper Cove PCB levels in mussels show variations in the concentrations over the area. The variation is over two orders of magnitude. The highest concentrations are in the Sweeper Cove area, and they fall off to within background levels in the Kuluk Bay area. A close up look at Sweeper Cove shows the highest concentrations around the small boat harbor, and they drop off quickly as you move away. The pattern is consistent in fish and the eagle eggs. So there's a pattern of variability.

   The data shows consistency among the years, the three years shows a consistent pattern. With one exception, the Sweeper Cove sampling point 28 had a spike in the year 2000. He said it would be interesting what the 2001 and the 2002 data shows. The rest of the variability is likely attributed to sampling error. That is, it's not clear that there is an elevated level in 1999 and some of the other areas. The sampling point 28 is likely a PCB detection. They're not sure what caused the spike, but something happened in that area. He said, as mentioned, to see what the remaining analysis shows. Mary Lou Sullivan asked what scale was utilized. Dr. Estes said it was parts per billion, and the range of values of 2 to 3 parts per billion to 350 parts per billion. Ms. Sullivan clarified that the species was mussels.

   The summary of PCB levels in fish from the 1999 fish samples. He said it's interesting, because they show the same geographic data that you see in mussels. The highest is in the Sweeper Cove area and the lowest is the Bay of Islands. He said they were surprised, they thought that it wouldn't show a geographical structure because fish move around and mussels don't. He said this may indicate site fidelity, some of the fish were 30 to 50 years old. They may come back to the same place summer after summer. He said you would see the same thing with the eagle eggs. He said the fish information is just for halibut, just to give an idea of the pattern of variation. They are utilizing North Atlantic as background levels to determine elevated levels.

   The PCB's are a mixture of different compounds. Dr. Estes noted that what distinguishes the difference compounds are the chlorines on the biphenyl molecules. They are identifiable by different congeners. It gives them a detailed means of determining the different possible sources. They took all of the data from the fish samples collected in 1999. There were 32 sampling locations, and 34 different congeners analyzed at each. The data were put into a statistical algorithm that essentially identifies patterns and gives you a common congener profile. He said three came out of the analysis, very distinct in the Aleutian samples. The frequency distribution of Aroclor 1260 is a typical signature at Adak. What that's telling them is that the PCBs in Adak, are almost pure Aroclor 1260 from one common source. This is interesting because Aroclor 1254 is seen at Amchitka. The third one has a light profile which likely means that it was transported a long way. These congeners tend to volatilize more than the heavier ones. He said they are seeing a similar structure. He noted that whatever happened at Amchitka is different than Adak. Chris Riggio asked if they might have been transported from Russia. Dr. Estes said he would have no idea of knowing, that information isn't available.

   Mark Murphy asked if different aroclors could have been transported in different materials. Dr. Estes said they could have been.

   The DDT analysis shows a great deal of variability and they aren't strongly correlated. They are also in lower concentrations than the PCB levels. The pacific cod have the highest level of DDT, and Dr. Estes said he wasn't sure why. The eagle eggs collected and analyzed show similar PCB patterns as the mussels and fish samples. This is very surprising because eagles are very mobile. What this indicates is that the eagles don't move around that much. The levels of PCBs are about 2 orders of magnitude higher because they are biomagnified. This gave the RAB a flavor of the work that USGS has been working on over the past several years.

   Dr. Estes said that they are developing the reports on the data. He said it would be a few years before those reports are completed. Chris Riggio asked what the funding source was for the study. Dr. Estes said it was the Navy. Cathy Villa asked if the reports would have Adak as a priority. Dr. Estes said yes, Adak has a priority. He said it takes time, about a year to analyze all the data.

   Mark noted that the study that Dr. Estes is working on is beyond what the Navy requires. The Navy is obligated to sample Kuluk Bay and Sweeper Cove. He stated that the Navy would produce reports based on the data collected because the Navy has a shorter timeline to report the information. Dr. Estes said that when they're done they would have a good deal of useful data. Kevin Oates asked how they collected the eagle eggs. Dr. Estes said just climb up and get it. They focused on clutches of 2 or 3 eggs. Chris Riggio asked if they were making recommendations regarding the 2000 mussel data. Dr. Estes said no, they don't really know where this stuff is coming from. They don't know if it's from the ocean or whether it's on land. Cathy Villa asked if they were looking at sources or do they make recommendations for Navy to look at sources. Dr. Estes said no, they weren't looking at sources, it's hard to look at them.

   Mary Lou Sullivan asked that, aside from the sample point 28 in Sweeper Cove, have they seen any decline. Dr. Estes said they don't have enough data points. He said that they could do a regression analysis now, it would be highly significant but biased with the 2000 data point. He said they really had to finish the data to make a conclusion to see temporal trends. The spatial trends are dramatic, it's unlikely that they will see temporal trends. He said there are studies where you see dramatic declines over a short period of time, however, that are rare. He said he doesn't know where it came from they don't know, and they don't know if it's declining or whether it's a new source. Dr. Estes was asked about the sea otter population data. Dr. Estes said that they have monitored sea otter on Adak every year. He said the sea otter population has declined, it hit rock bottom in 1997 and they aren't seeing much change. He said it has declined by over 90% since the early 1990s with the exception of Clam Lagoon it has increased until last year. They found in earlier studies that the otters don't move back and forth between Clam Lagoon and Kuluk Bay. Last year they saw the Clam Lagoon population decline primarily due to lack of food source. He said they aren't seeing contaminants over there, so it doesn't work to say that contaminants are the driver for the population decline in Clam Lagoon. He said the kelp forest system has changed because of the sea urchins. There aren't enough otters to eat the sea urchins. They are working with US Fish and Wildlife and what they are seeing is that the Adak decline is consistent archipelago wide. He said the population decline is primarily due to predation.

   Chris Riggio asked how the contaminants compare to the cleanup levels. Mark Murphy stated that the risk based action levels are 6.5 ppb for fish, and 31 ppb for shellfish. He said there are some that are close to it, and one over the level. Char Gisvold asked if they were writing a comprehensive report. Dr. Estes said that they won't have it until all the samples are analyzed, and not sooner than two years due to the vastness of the data. He was asked if they were doing an integrated risk report. Dr. Estes said no. Kevin Oates said he would be interested in the additional data. Chris Riggio asked if he could present the information to APIA. Dr. Estes said he would be available in two weeks to present the information.

   Kevin said that what's being looked at is the trends in the monitoring reports and see if any conclusions can be drawn from the reports. Kevin said three data points is really difficult to do a regression analysis, the confidence factor is fairly low. You can do it, but it's difficult to draw conclusions. Kevin said that for the mussels, with the exception of sample point 28, that the levels are within cleanup levels which is a positive sign. The general observation is that it's positive from a compliance with superfund perspective. Dr. Scrudato asked if trace metal work was being done. Dr. Estes said yes, on some of the materials, not in fish and shellfish but in eagles and seabirds. The initial indications are that there may be high levels of mercury in some of the analyses from the Aleutians although he hasn't seen the data. He said the primary focus has been organics because that was the concern at the beginning of the study.

4. FOST:

   Mark handed out a summary sheet pertaining to the FOST. He said that a copy of the comment period notice was in the RAB packet. The comments are to be provided by April 5. He said that Cathy wanted to extend the comment period, and he would check with people back at EFA, NW. The FOST is not a decision document, it's a summary of what's been done as far as environmental cleanup on Adak. It documents the work, and how it has protected the environmental and human health. The document states that the property is suitable for transfer to The Aleut Corporation.

   Char asked about Rommel Stake removal. She said she was shocked that she thought they were cleaned up. She happened to know that TAC was bidding on removal work this year and didn't get the bid. Their report said there were still 7,000. Mark Burnham said he went out with Jimmy (?) to all the spots, and all they found were those on a cliff. Jimmy said the grass might be too high so they planned to go to the sites. Char said they put together a proposal. Mark Burnham said that they submit an unsolicited proposal and a lot of it was speculation. Char said she talked to people who worked there and they say they're there. Mark Burnham said all he could do was go out and look at them again.

   Char asked about the area of land to be transferred. Mark said it's over 32,000 acres that extends from the Downtown Area up to the Clam Lagoon Area and NSGA. It's about two-thirds that will be transferred to TAC. Char asked how far south. Mark said to the boundary of the military reservation. Patty Kelly said the map would be posted on the adakupdate website. Char asked if it included the Andrew seawall was included. Mark said no. She asked if it included the east side of the runway because it had a pile of "crete". She said something was buried there, and it's important because of the quality of the crete they used. Langston said it was lime. Char asked why it was covered.

   Langston said the lime wasn't covered so it must be something else (Mark Burnham confirmed that it was lime). Char asked whether the veteran with mustard gas information identified the location. Mark said that Jesse Morgan visited the area and pointed to a location that doesn't look like an area where disposal occurred. The site isn't in the transferred real estate, and they are still looking at it. Char asked what happens if the land is transferred and it is in the footprint of the real estate. Mark said that the Navy would be responsible to clean it up. Char asked what happens to the petroleum in the housing area after transfer. Mark said the Navy would continue to clean up the housing area petroleum. He said it's one of the sites that Langston is working on focused feasibility studies. Char said Kuluk Bay is more and more exposed every year. Char said there are barrels there and exposed again. Mark said that the barrels were used as a breakwater or pier structure. It's not a petroleum site, they had sand in them. Char asked about the orange rocks in Andrew Lake what was the cause because it's a land-made lake. Mark stated that it's likely iron oxide, or natural rust.

   Char asked why the cabins were being demolished. Mark Burnham said the structurally unsafe cabins are being demolished, those are ones that TAC has no interest in retaining them. Only 52 cabins are being selected.

5. A/PIA Debris Response to the Response of the Navy's Debris Letter:

   Chris Riggio did not have additional comments, and he had not received any comments from anyone else.

6. ARC's Reponses to the Navy's Responses to their OU B-1 Comments:

   Tim Roy was not present.

7. Adak Field Season:

   Mark Murphy handed out a field season fact sheet. UXO remediation, cabin demolition, petroleum recovery, power plant surface water drainage, and ongoing monitoring.

8. Conclusion:

   The next meeting is set for June 5 (note a change from the May 29 meeting date established during the meeting). Char asked whether the transfer boundary includes Lake Bonnie Rose and Lake Dee Marie because TAC wanted to sell the water. Mark Murphy said they were in the area to be transferred. Cathy said that in response to Pam Miller's email regarding meeting locations, Cathy stated that the locations of the meetings are actually in Adak, not the other way around. She said that ADEC would pretty much be available, but they should keep in mind the meetings are actually in Adak. There were no additional comments.

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