RAB Meeting Notes template

A view of Downtown Adak, overlooking Sweeper Cove

March 5, 2003

The meeting was held at the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Offices in Anchorage, Alaska, with telephone connections. The following were in attendance:

Name	Affiliation	Location
Cathy Villa	Community Co-Chair	Anchorage, AK
Mark Murphy	Navy Co-Chair	Anchorage, AK
Char Gisvold	RAB Community Member	Florida
Mike Mitchell	RAB Community Member	Anchorage, AK
Mary Grisco	RAB Community Member	Anchorage, AK
Tara Bourdukofsky	The Aleut Corporation	Anchorage, AK
Larry Helgeson	EMI	Anchorage, AK
Sami Goldman	ADEC	Anchorage, AK
Elizabeth Manfred	State of Alaska Community	Anchorage, AK
Kevin Oates	EPA	Anchorage, AK
Jenna Mueller	USFWS	Homer, AK
Patty Kelly	EFA, NW	Anchorage, AK
Mark Wicklein	EFA, NW	Poulsbo, WA
Mary Lou Sullivan	EFA,NW	Poulsbo, WA
JoAnn Grady	Grady & Associates	Anchorage, AK
Bill Rohrer	URS	Olympia, WA

Welcome and Opening Remarks:

Cathy Villa called the meeting to order at 7:10 P.M. (Anchorage Time). It was noted that there was a date error on the agenda; it should have read March 5 instead of May 5. There was discussion regarding whether or not the island was informed of the meeting, and it was noted that JoAnn Grady and Elizabeth Manfred made calls to the people on Adak verifying the date and time.

A quorum was established, four out of nine community members were present. The agenda was approved with the date change noted. The June 2002 and September 2002 meeting minutes were approved. It was noted that the teleconference summary was for informational purposes. Patty Kelly noted that there was a correction to the teleconference summary. ADEC did attend the December 4, 2002 meeting, the summary states that they did not attend.

Unexploded Ordnance – C301A Formal Dispute Resolution:

Mark Murphy stated that everyone should have received the dispute resolution document with the RAB meeting minutes. He said that there was a formal dispute over the remediation at C301A, and it was unanimously resolved and documented on February 10, 2003. The background was over whether or not additional clearance had to be conducted at the site. The dispute resolution agreement states that the Navy will update the ordnance education program to reflect sites with steep slopes, and that it will be reviewed during the 5-year review.

Char Gisvold asked if C301A was the Heart Lake site. Mark stated that it was. Char said there were many problems with the site and that it had many QC failures. Mark said there were challenges at the site, and that the Navy is confident with their QA. He said the site is cleared and certified, and there is discussion over the after action reports that are under review. Mark said there are discussions about a portion of the site. Kevin Oates stated that the area in question is a 20’x 20’ area that is in question and reworked a number of times. He said there was standing water and it was most challenging for the QC. Mark said the project management team is discussing the issue. Cathy asked whether or not that area would go to dispute. Mark said he couldn’t rule it out.

Char asked if there have been improvements to the ordnance safety awareness program. Mark stated that they were working on it, and he showed posters that Mary Lou Sullivan and Carol Hutley were working on. Char asked Jenna Mueller if she was satisfied with the ordnance safety awareness program. Jenna said that she didn’t have the posters in front of her, she said the program works, however it has to be distributed better.

Finding of Suitability to Transfer Status:
Mark Murphy stated that the FOST would be out later this month for public comment. He said that once the comments are received and resolved, the Navy would sign the document. Mark stated that once the FOST is signed by the Navy and a notice to relinquish is sent to US Department of Interior, there are 90 days for The Aleut Corporation to accept or reject the transfer, which is consistent with the Conveyance Agreement. Char asked about whether the city was functioning well or not. Elizabeth Manfred stated that Adak Island has about 65 people, 15 are city employees. She said there are 17 children on the island. She said that the city is trying to come up revenue projects; right now they are going through new city woes. She said it has been difficult for them; they are putting forth a strong effort.

Cathy asked Tara Bourdukofsky if she knew any of TAC’s plans. Tara said it was her first year as a board member and she was attending RAB meetings to gather information for her knowledge. She said that what she can share is that TAC is planning on putting a transition person on the island. The RAB members all agreed that was an important and positive step by TAC. She said the plan is to move forward with the transition office, with a person on the island. She said that was to happen very soon. She said that currently ARC is running out of funding, and the plan is to come up with transitional money. She said it’s TAC’s boards’ intent to become more familiar with the smorgasbord of issues. Cathy said she did not mean to put Tara on the spot, and suggested that someone from TAC present information at the next RAB meeting.

Cathy asked if there were any questions. Char asked about the areas being transferred, and if they could be identified. Mark stated that the FOST for Parcel 1A consisted of approximately 32,000 acres, and that the FOST for Parcel 1B included most of the remaining property with the exception of the Mount Reed area which will revert to USFW, and the Mount Moffet Area also know as Parcel 4. Mark said the Navy would retain the Mount Moffet area until the ordnance is cleaned up. Char asked where the Jesse Morgan area was located. Mark said he believes it’s in Parcel 4. He said that the Navy and its contractors had performed extensive archival research on WW II photographs and had these photos reviewed the Army’s Technical Expertise Center in an effort to determine the location of the Jesse Morgan disposal site. He said they have not yet been able to determine the location, but believed it to be in Parcel 4.

Char asked whether or not the Navy is going to remove the empty barrels at the Kuluk Bay beach. Mark stated that these barrels are part of a former pier or bulkhead structure. He said it’s not a contamination issue and that the Navy is not planning on removing it. Char said she doesn’t want Adak to turn into another Dutch Harbor. Char asked whether or not the lead faucet study was completed. Mary Lou stated that the faucets were replaced and that there was confirmation sampling to be performed. Mary Lou stated that would be done in March. Char asked about the Crete pile next to the runway, and wanted to know what was imploded there. Mark Murphy stated that it was investigated, and that nothing was imploded there. He said it was a pile of lime that was left behind by a contractor. Cathy noted that Mark Burnham sent an email and that it was discussed last spring. She said it was her recollection that it was a pile of lime. Char said that wasn’t her recollection. Mark said he would find the email. Char asked whether or not the Rommel Stakes were removed that were piled on the island. Mark Murphy stated that Mark Burnham had gone out to the site with the people who brought up the issue and there were a few Rommel Stakes found, most of them were on steep slopes and it was too dangerous to remove. He said the slope posed a much greater danger than the Rommel Stakes. Char asked if the old high school was going to be demolished. Mark stated that the Navy worked with ARC and TAC to identify the buildings to be torn down. The buildings identified were torn down and building demolition work is complete. Char asked if the lead abatement was completed. Mark said it was completed.
OU A ROD Amendment to remove the Petroleum sites from a CERCLA ROD:
Mark stated that the OU A ROD will be amended to move the free product recovery sites out of the ROD since they have no final decision and there isn’t a clear path on how to proceed with those decisions if they’re in the ROD. He stated that other petroleum sites would be included to streamline the delisting of Adak from the National Priorities List. The other item included will be the removal of the subsistence fish advisory signs. He said that the signs would be replaced with fact sheets and other educational materials to target the residents of Adak. Mark also stated that the reason for the signs to be removed was the potential negative impact on the fishing industry, which is slated to be the basic industry in Adak.
Upcoming Field Season:
Mark stated that the work that will be done this field season is to complete the pipe abandonment project, and perform the long-term monitoring and natural attenuation sampling. He said the long-term monitoring would include fish tissue sampling and institutional controls.
RAB By-Law Discussion:
Patty Kelly stated that the by-laws have been on the agenda for a while and she asked if anyone had any changes to them. She also noted that the “termination” language is vague and suggested that it be more specific. She also noted that the Navy will not be the landowner by the end of the summer, and that may impact the end of the RAB. She stated that the RAB may advise the Navy, however, any action involves the future landowner. She said the guidance regarding this issue isn’t clear, however, her concern was that the Navy just couldn’t run out and perform recommendations by the RAB. She said the issues would involve the landowner. Mary Grisco stated that typically the Restoration Advisory Boards become Community Advisory Boards, she did state that it would involve input from TAC and the City of Adak. Mary said that it reinforces the need to have TAC present at the next RAB meeting, and if possible, the city. She said their input is very important regarding the future of the RAB. Cathy stated she would send a letter requesting a presentation from both at the next RAB meeting. Cathy noted that the Navy would still own Parcel 4.

Mary also stated as far as the termination language, she preferred a super majority vote. Patty clarified whether or not she meant 2/3 votes of the members present. Mary stated that was correct. Patty asked for other changes. There were none. Patty stated she would send out the corrected by-laws. The issue was raised that a vote should be taken, that the by-laws have been on the agenda for several meetings. There was a unanimous vote to accept the by-laws with the termination language change.

Several members stated that the people who have not attended in the last three meetings should be removed from the RAB, consistent with the By-Laws. A unanimous vote was taken that community members who have not attended the last three meetings would be removed from the RAB. Patty said she would provide an attendance list with the meeting minutes. (Note, the attendance list shows that one person has not attended the last three meetings, Vince Tutiakoff).
Adjournment: Cathy asked for additional issues. Char asked if there was going to be ordnance work performed on the OU B-2 sites. Mark said there were no plans to perform any this field season. Sami Goldman said the state had a new website for the RAB members. Patty said she would have it linked on the Adakupdate.com website.
A meeting date was set for May 21.(Note, the meeting date has been changed to May 28). The agenda items will include TAC and the City of Adak presentations.