PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT

FORT WAINWRIGHT
FORT WAINWRIGHT, FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR BOROUGH, ALASKA
EPA FACILITY ID: AK6210022426

September 30, 2003

Prepared by:

Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES

LIST OF APPENDICES

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

I. SUMMARY

II. BACKGROUND

II.A. Site Description
II.B. Site History
II.C. Remedial and Regulatory History
II.D. ATSDR Activities
II.E. Demographics
II.F. Land Use
II.G. Natural Resources
II.G.1. Hydrogeology
II.G.2. Surface Water Hydrology
II.G.3. Terrain and Climate
II.G.4. Biota
II.H. Quality Assurance and Quality Control

III. SOURCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION

III.A. Introduction
III.B. Description of Sources
III.B.1. Operable Units
III.B.2. Petroleum Sites
III.B.3. Other Source Areas and Physical Hazards
III. C. Contaminant Sources, by Media
III.C.1. Contaminant Sources that Affect Groundwater Resources
III.C.2. Contaminant Sources that Affect Surface Water Resources
III.C.3. Contaminant Sources that Affect Surface Soil
III.C.4. Contaminant Sources that Affect the Ambient Air

IV. EVALUATION OF EXPOSURE PATHWAYS

IV.A. Introduction
IV.A.1. Identifying Exposure
IV.A.2. Exposure and Health Effects
IV.A.3. Possible Exposure Situations at Fort Wainwright
IV.B. Public Health Evaluation of Past or Potential Past Exposure Situations
IV.B.1. Drinking Water at the Shannon Park Baptist Church and the Steese Chapel Hall
IV.B.2. Releases to Ambient Air
IV.B.3. Coal Ash Applied as Road Grit
IV.C. Public Health Evaluation of Current and Potential Current Exposure Situations
IV.C.1. Area Drinking Water Supplies
IV.C.2. Contact with Surface Soil Contamination
IV.C.3. Recreational Use of Surface Water Areas
IV.C.4. Consumption of Fish From the Chena River
IV.C.5. Lead-Based Paint in On-Post Housing
IV.C.6. Asbestos in On-Post Housing, Administrative, and Industrial Buildings
IV.C.7. Radiologic Material Disposal Sites
IV.C.8. Potential Physical Hazards
IV.C.9. Back Flow of Non-Potable Water to On-Post Drinking Water System

V. COMMUNITY HEALTH CONCERNS

VI. CHILDREN'S HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

VII. CONCLUSIONS

VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS

IX. PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION PLAN

X. PREPARERS OF REPORT

XI. REFERENCES

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Primary Releases/Hazards of Concern at Fort Wainwright Source Areas

Table 2. Potential Sources of Contamination and Operable Units, Fort Wainwright

Table 3. Evaluation of Public Health Hazards Associated with Sources of Contamination

Table 4. Exposure Pathways

Table 5. Maximum Contaminant Concentrations in Off-Site Private Drinking Water Wells

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Site Location

Figure 2. Fort Wainwright-Main Containment and Maneuver Area

Figure 3. ATSDR Exposure Pathway Evaluation

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix A. Permafrost

Appendix B. Glossary

Appendix C. List of Comparison Values

Appendix D. ATSDR's Methods for Determining If a Health Hazard Exists

Appendix E. Response to Comments

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