AbstractThule Air Base (TAB) experienced a 23,000 gallon J‐8 fuel release in March 1997. Versar mobilized an emergency response team to prevent the fuel from reaching locations where it could impact the arctic marine wildlife the indigenous population depends upon for sustenance level hunting. Versar excavated 16,000 cubic yards (CY) of fuel‐contaminated soil, then placed 9,000 CY of backfill to reconstruct the riverbank impacted by the release. Human health and ecological risk assessments were performed to establish a risk‐based cleanup criteria. Remediation technologies were screened for cost, logistical constraints and probability of success in an Arctic location. Enzyme‐enhanced bioremediation was selected and a treatability study conducted during summer of 1998. The study assessed (1) applying a multienzyme compound break down the fuel into simple fatty acids; (2) adding nutrients to promote bacteria growth, and (3) watering and mixing the soil maintain suitable moisture and oxygen content to enhance the bioremediation