It's normal. The gasket setup isn't ideal.
#1 order new Felpro or GM gaskets and make sure the grommets are with them. Grommets are required, not optional.
Front:
Then disconnect the battery and undo the nuts holding the coil pack on the head. Slide the coil pack/dog mount to the battery out of the way of the VC. Pull the valve cover and clean it all up. Reassemble using a 3/8" socket and torque to 89in lbs. Put coil pack back in place and tighten back down. Tips: some find removing the engine lift bracket to make it a little easier torquing that corner bolt. Not necessary.
Rear:
Drain about a gallon of coolant. Disconnect driverside dogbone, use the second bolt location on the passengerside dogbone to pull the motor forward and hold it. Looking at the back of the SC, unplug the evap soleniod connections and remove the 13mm bolt going from the alt bracket into the SC. Remove the 15mm nut at the other end of the bracket and take bracket out of the way. Remove the three bolts holding the alternator and flip it up on the SC (or unhook the electrical and get it totally out of engine bay). Find two more bolts holding the alt/tensioner bracket to the head. One is out of sight down by the coolant hoses. Wiggle the tensioner/alt bracket off. Check power steering fluid, C'mon it's the perfect time. Remove the engine cover bracket that bolts to the rear exhaust studs (2 13mm nuts). Remove valve cover.
