UXO Site selected: Cape Yakak Radio station, AK

General Area: ATTU ISLAND, AK

Site Type/Program: RCWM sites (Non-stockpile)

Location: Adak Island/Aleutians, 52N,177W

Brief History:

During World War II (WWII), certain islands in the Aleutians were used as storage sites for chemical warfare munitions. Chemical warfare activities were initiated in March 1942. At that time, seven large posts and several small posts were activated. The locations of all of these installations were not available from research files, but research did indicate that toxic gas yards were constructed for all posts. The largest gas yard was located at Adak Island. These same sources cited a toxic gas yard on Attu Island.

From May to August 1947, the US. Army Technical Escort Detachment was dispatched to move 948 ton containers of "toxic agents" from Attu to Chichagof Harbor. The ton containers were subsequently dumped 12 miles out at sea. In a report describing further use of chemical materiel, a list includes tests with 4.2-inch chemical mortars using unnamed types of agents.

The Navy relinquished all but the northern part of the island to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about 1959.

Range / Site Description: 20 one-ton containers transferred from Attu in 1947 for long-term storage. Adak was also the location of a large toxic gas yard. This sites size is unkown.

The U.S. Navy has closed the active Adak Island Naval Station except to those on military orders. Safety and security operations of the U.S. Navy limit susceptibility of the active site to intrusive activity. The formerly used defense site (FUDS) on the southern portion of the island is uninhabited.

The island is remote and the FUDS portion uninhabited. Unless the site is disturbed by excavation, no threat to human health and safety is anticipated. Visits to the FUDS portion of the site by the general public is generally limited and extensive use is not anticipated. Potential CWM contamination sites are on the Naval Station.



Associated Munitions:

Small quantity, non-explosive, possibly up to 20 one-ton containers of mustard and 10 one-ton containers of lewisite.



Activities Completed:

Issues: 4 - Possible burial

Other Information:

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