Issue –

The Forest Service is working with the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) and other federal and state agencies to address the lower-than-normal pH levels in streams along a three and a half mile stretch of the Coffman Cove Road Project on Prince of Wales (POW) Island . All of the effected streams cross the road on National Forest lands. The streams all drain into Sweetwater Lake near the community of Coffman Cove. The affected portion is on a portion of the route identified as part of the Forest Service 3030 Road.

Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) of the FHA reconstructed the Coffman Cove Road on POW Island to join the community of Coffman Cove to southern POW communities with a two-lane highway. Coffman Cove is also the POW terminal for the Inter-Island Ferry system.

For part of the reconstruction, about 80,000 cubic meters of rock was moved from a rock borrow site on National Forest. Sampling and analysis has confirmed that the rock has iron pyrite in it, and a massive shear zone along a fault is thought to have resulted a portion of the rock borrow containing an unusually high concentration of iron pyrite. The combination of pyrite, oxygen and water results in acid and dissolved metals in water moving though the rock, which contaminated ground and surface waters. Copper and zinc have been confirmed as metal contaminates in the water. Iron manganese and other precipitates forming in the water down gradient from the road are adversely affecting nearby aquatic, insect, and vegetative life forms. The contaminates and the precipitates forming in the streams are affecting aquatic life. There are no identified threats to human health and safety. All the analysis results show the water meeting the allowable limits set for drinking water in Alaska .

Actions taken to date -

The Forest Service used CERCLA authorities to address the contamination and related issues along the roadway. An interagency technical team (Forest Service, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) Contaminated Sites Program, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), WFLHD, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and others) worked in the Summer of 2008 to take action to begin to stop the resource effects. The team identified actions at three locations that made good sense for fast action. The three locations were included in a Time Critical Removal Action (TCRA) issued by the Forest Service in September 2008. All three locations use abundant limestone rock available from a pit near Hatchery Creek to provide neutralization of acid. Analytical results show the limestone is 91% available as calcium carbonate for neutralization.

Field work began in early October 2008 to remove the B-5 rock from the road crossing the longest stream, Cataloged Stream 3027. That action was completed in late October 2008. Visual observations and physical measurements such as pH show that the creation of additional precipitation has stopped Precipitate is moving out of the riffles down stream. Reading of pH reading upstream and downstream of the road in the 3027 stream system are very close to being the same. Precipitate remains in the pools downstream from the road.

Two filter trenches have been installed with the limestone rock to provide neutralization of water coming through rock ridge down gradient at the borrow site, and down gradient from a disposal area (D-2) which was seeping water with high copper and iron content. Visual observations and pH meter, and other meter readings show distinct improvements. Water chemistry samples will be collected and analysis done to demonstrate what the effectiveness of the removal action has been when compared to pre-removal action data.

Analytical Data Available in November/December -

Sampling and analysis work was initiated by ADEC in September 2008 as an independent effort by Oasis Environmental. WFLHD contractors (AMEC) performed background sampling in September 2008 in advance of the TCRA implementation. A comprehensive sampling and analysis plan including biological, surface and ground water, and was initiated in October 2008 by AMEC. The Sampling and Analysis Plan includes soil samples, water samples, and assessment of the aquatic biology in the streams (fish and aquatic insects), drilling and installation of monitoring wells, and other assessments. Results from biological assessments show that portions of the affected streams are being avoided by fish, with fish being present upstream and downstream of the most heavily impacted stream reaches. AMEC data was released November 21, the Oasis data was released December 22, Macroinvertabrate data was released by AMEC on December 22. Ground water sampling was performed in December. Additional sampling for water chemistry and precipitates is scheduled for Spring 2009

Current Situation -

The Technical Team met December 2-3 to review the available data and prepare for the next actions. Four sites (Stream 6, 7, 8, and 9) were identified as needing treatment. A few data gaps were identified and steps were begun to address these narrow, but important gaps in the information. The sediment data reported by Oasis Environmental shows no contaminates present in the precipitates accumulated in the stream. Bulk density and particle size of the precipitates will be obtained in the Spring 2009 sampling. This information will support modeling of the movement of the precipitates through the system hydraulically with high stream flows

Short term and long term (planning for 10 years) monitoring horizons were discussed and sampling events were scheduled through spring/summer 2010 based on actions to date and those proposed to address the additional 4 locations intending to be addressed in the future. Initial discussion of other protective measures such as administrative site controls was held.

The Technical Team will meet again in early January to shape the actions feasible for implementation in Field Season 2009. The team will continue to refine monitoring plans for effectiveness monitoring and ongoing maintenance of constructed features such as filter trenches.

A Community involvement plan is in place and continues to be refined. The Forest Service has additional information, including results of sampling and analysis, available at a website:

http://home.gci.net/~fsrd3030/

More Information

Please contact Ken Vaughan, On-Scene Coordinator, USDA Forest Service at (907) 586-8789 or Phil Sammon, Spokesperson, USDA Forest Service at (907) 228-6201.

Primary Technical Team members are:
Mike Traffalis, WFLHD
Elisa Carlsen, WFLHD
Gary Dupuy, AMEC-Geomatrix (WFLHD Contractor)
Earl Liverman, EPA
Louis Howard, ADEC
Bruce Wanstall, ADEC
Mark M innillo, ADF&G
Jim Baichtal, Forest Service
Ken Vaughan, Forest Service
Phil Sammon, Forest Service