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Site 13: Family Housing Area

Site History and Background

Family Housing Area
Plot Plan
(Radian, 1987)

The Family Housing Area site is a 35-acre portion of the former Makah AFS located just north of the Waatch River (URS, 1996).  Approximately 45 structures were built on the site to house personnel of the Makah AFS and their dependents.  Aboveground storage tanks were installed to store heating oil for the residences.

In 1987, prior to closure of the Makah AFS, a hazard evaluation was conducted for the USACE by Radian to identify environmental issues related to military activities at the site. The hazard evaluation was based on site visits conducted in June 1987 and on information gathered at McChord Air Force Base in June 1987.  During the hazard evaluation, 11 transformers were documented at the site.  Samples were collected from the transformers and analyzed for PCBs. PCBs were detected in transformers E, F, and H (Radian, 1987).

Aerial view
Aerial view
(Ecology, 1997)

Tetra Tech conducted an asbestos survey at the site under contract with the USACE, Seattle District.  In June 1988, two buildings were inspected and sampled for asbestos, and the air in the buildings was tested to determine the levels of airborne asbestos fibers.  Asbestos-containing materials were found to be present in flexible duct connectors in one of the buildings.  All ambient air analysis results were below OSHA's permissible exposure level for personnel working in an asbestos environment, but some of the results were above the clearance (action) level (Tetra Tech, 1988).

Activities to Date

Above-ground storage tank
AST and contaminated soil removed in 2004.
(Ridolfi, 2004a)

The Makah Environmental Restoration Team performed site inspections in October 2000, April 2003, and March and April 2004, and a limited remedial investigation was conducted in December 2002 and January 2003.  During the April 2003 visit, the Tribal archaeologist also examined the site.  Aboveground storage tanks and petroleum-contaminated soil were removed from the site in December 2004.  In January 2006, asbestos inspections were conducted at Houses 411 and 417 and the burnt debris pile associated with former House 503 in preparation for building demolition and removal.

2002-2003 Limited Remedial Investigation

Nine samples of potential asbestos-containing materials and seven samples of potential lead-based paint were collected from the site.  An inventory of aboveground storage tanks was also conducted as part of the field work; 22 tanks were identified.

Asbestos was detected in three samples: tan 9-inch floor tiles from Building 506, light tan rolled-vinyl flooring from Building 411, and plasterboard from Building 411. These same materials were observed throughout most of the buildings in the Family Housing Area (Ridolfi, 2003d).

Lead was detected above screening levels in two samples of tan exterior paint collected from Buildings 506 and 411.  This same paint was observed on the exterior of several structures at the Family Housing Area (Ridolfi, 2003d).

2004 Aboveground Storage Tank and Petroleum-Contaminated Soil Removal

AST removal
AST removal at the Family Housing Area
(Ridolfi, 2005e)

In December 2004, the Makah Environmental Restoration Team removed aboveground fuel-oil tanks and petroleum-contaminated soil from the Family Housing Area.  The following tasks were completed (Nicholls, 2005):

  • Approximately 600 gallons of diesel-water mixture were pumped from the tanks and transported off-Reservation for recycling.
  • The emptied tanks were removed from the site and transported off-Reservation for recycling.  Sixteen tanks were removed.
  • Petroleum-contaminated soil was excavated and transported off-Reservation for proper disposal.  The depths of the excavations for this removal action were limited to approximately 2 feet below ground surface at the request of the Makah Cultural and Research Center.  Using hand shovels and a small excavator, the team removed approximately 5 tons of petroleum-contaminated soil near the aboveground storage tanks at Buildings 429 and 423.  At each excavation site, impacted soil was visually noted at the base of the excavation.  Petroleum-contaminated soil still exists at each location.
  • One soil sample was collected from the base of the excavation at Building 429 to assess the nature of the petroleum-contaminated soil.  Only one confirmation sample was collected, as opposed to the six samples proposed in the work plan, because an underground storage tank (see below) was encountered, which means that additional excavation will be required; therefore, further confirmation samples were judged unnecessary.
  • The soil sample was submitted for laboratory analysis of diesel-range hydrocarbons.  The result (22,000 mg/kg) exceeds the screening level and indicates that additional excavation of petroleum-contaminated soil is needed.
  • A Removal Action Memorandum was prepared (Nicholls, 2005).

The underground storage tank at Building 429 is 5 feet long; the diameter of the tank could not be determined because of the limited depth of the excavation.  The top of the tank is 18 inches below ground surface.  The tank has a small hole in the top (i.e., is damaged) and is filled with a tar-like substance or oily sand.  It is likely that the tank held heating oil for the associated residence prior to installation of the aboveground tanks.  Underground storage tanks may be present at each residence at the site (Nicholls, 2005).

January 2006 Asbestos Inspections

Houses 411, 417, and 503 were selected for a scoping-level inspection to gauge the probable extent of asbestos-containing materials in the housing complex.  A complete inspection was conducted in January 2006.

The results of the inspections of Houses 411 and 417 indicated that asbestos-containing rolled vinyl flooring was located in the building interior of Houses 411 and 417, in the white papery backing layer.  Some 660 square feet of the material were found in House 411 and 760 square feet were found in House 417.  No other regulated asbestos-containing materials were found in the two houses (Foster, 2006a, 2006b).

The results of the inspection of the burnt debris of former House 503 indicated that approximately 10 cubic feet of asbestos-containing floor tiles were located in the debris.  The asbestos was detected in the brownish-pink top layer of the floor tiles.  No other regulated asbestos-containing materials were found in the house debris (Foster, 2006c).

Planned Activities

The Tribe considers this site a high priority (Priority A).  The following activities are planned for 2006 to 2010:

  • Remove underground storage tanks and contaminated soil.
  • Inventory asbestos-containing material and lead-based paint.
  • Remove asbestos-containing materials.
  • Remove abandoned structures.

Underground Storage Tank Removal: Underground storage tanks and associated contaminated soil will be located and removed.  The removal will include identifying tank contents, emptying tanks, disconnecting pipelines, excavating and removing tanks and associated pipelines, and properly disposing of debris and tank contents.  The soil around the tanks will be sampled and analyzed after tank removal to determine the nature and extent of possible contamination.  If any contamination is found, the soil will be excavated to meet the local cleanup standard and properly disposed of.  Holes and pits left by the excavation will be backfilled with clean materials and compacted to the desired density to match the surrounding surface.

Contaminated Soil Removal: Petroleum- and metals-contaminated soil will be excavated, removed, and transported off site for proper disposal.  Sampling will be conducted during the excavation to determine the nature and extent of the contamination.  The cleanup efforts will continue until the site meets the required cleanup standards.  Voids left by the excavation will be backfilled with clean materials and compacted to the desired density to match the surrounding surface.

Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint Investigation: In preparation for building deconstruction and removal, inspections will be conducted to identify possible asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paint, and sampling will be conducted.  The objective of this inspection is to develop an inventory of asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paint at the site, including the identification of functional spaces, material characteristics, condition, degree of damage, quantity, accessibility, and potential for disturbance.

Building Deconstruction and Removal: The buildings will be deconstructed and removed by a contractor certified to remove and handle lead-based paint.  Prior to building deconstruction, asbestos-containing materials will be removed from the structures by a certified asbestos abatement contractor.  The deconstruction may involve building structures, foundations, driveways and walkways, undesired parking pavements, and underground and aboveground plumbing and electrical lines. The construction debris will be shipped off site for proper disposal.

Additional Information:
 

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