Adak Naval Air Station

⚠ Superfund · Cleanup underway

The site has been divided into three operable units (OUs): A, B-1 and B-2. OU-A addresses traditional hazardous waste and petroleum releases at the site. OUs B-1 and B-2 address unexploded ordnance. Remedy construction at OU-A is complete and the Navy is conducting long-term monitoring of the various remedies implemented.

Location

CityAdak
CountyNot Defined County
StateAlaska
Coordinates51.87750, -176.65250

Contaminants of concern

Contaminated media

Cleanup timeline

  1. Initial Assessment Completed — 01/06/1992
  2. Proposed to the National Priorities List — 10/14/1992
  3. Finalized on the National Priorities List — 05/31/1994
  4. Remedial Investigation Started — 11/24/1993
  5. Remedy Selected — 03/31/1995
  6. Final Remedy Selected — Estimated Oct - Dec 2026
  7. Remedial Action Started — 04/29/1996
  8. Final Remedial Action Started — Estimated Aug - Oct 2028
  9. Construction Completed — Not Yet Achieved
  10. Deleted from National Priorities List — Not Yet Achieved

EPA references

Other Superfund sites in Not Defined County

Understanding this Superfund site

Adak Naval Air Station is a federal Superfund site in Alaska. The Superfund program, created by Congress in 1980, addresses sites where hazardous substances have been released or threaten release into the environment. EPA scores potential sites using the Hazard Ranking System; those that score high enough are placed on the National Priorities List.

Current status: Cleanup underway. Active cleanup is underway, meaning EPA has approved a remediation plan and work is in progress. Cleanup timelines vary widely — some sites take decades depending on contamination depth, groundwater involvement, and funding availability.

EPA has identified 5 contaminants of concern at this site, including 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, dinitrotoluene (mixed isomers), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (rdx). Contamination has been detected in soil.

If you live near this site and have health concerns, your state health department can provide site-specific guidance. EPA maintains a community involvement program for most NPL sites, and site documents — including the Record of Decision, five-year reviews, and public health assessments — are typically available through EPA's Superfund site profile.