Native Village of Koyuk

I Village Spotlight: Native Village of Koyuk

Koyuk is an Inupiaq village of approx 350 residents, sand, layering batteries located at the mouth of the Koyuk River, 90 air upon fiberboard (packing miles northeast of Nome. cardboard) upon each

Koyuk has been implementing their IGAP Program other and affixing proper since 2000-01, and currently conducts many solid labels and hazardous waste reduction activities. The IGAP is managed by waste stickers. Northland Freida Moon-Kimoktoak and Maryann Charles, Barge offers a small discount for the program who graciously shared their story. and is very easy to work Community Recycling Activities: with. They provide the Koyuk operates an aluminum can recycling necessary paperwork program through ALPAR (www.AlparAlaska.com). needed to ship the Cans are shipped free-of-charge via Bering Air, then batteries. The shipment On Litter Patrol: on Ryan Air out of goes out to Dino Batteries Cecelia Nassuk and Nome**. Cans are based in Seattle. Dino Michelle Douglas collected weekly from Batteries recycles the households or can be batteries free of charge and also picks up the dropped off at the shipment in Seattle. recycling building-- which was constructed Household batteries (alkaline type: AA, AAA, C, D, by local construction etc.) are also collected and shipped out to Total training students that Reclaim (http://www.totalreclaim.com/alaska.html) in

worked under Kawerak, Anchorage. Inc. this summer. Also, Summer Youth Program IGAP accepts e-waste and they’ve collected Employees helped get computer monitors, television sets, cash registers, Sitting Tall: Elliot their ALPAR program electronic scales and printers. They are in the Nassuk and “under control”! The staging process and have about a pallet--worth. Franklin check received from “Pallets are a little hard to come by in the village Hoogendorn rest on ALPAR is donated to a local and we scoop a job well done. church. Koyuk is hoping to them up when we participate in ALPAR’s trial see them.” They plastic bottle program in 2011. also received supplies from They recycle their inkjet cartridges and cell phones Kawerak, who with the PlantGreen Recycle Company, which they say, “are provides pre-paid shipping and sends a check back instrumental in as well (www.PlanetGreenRecycle.com )! Toner assisting our cartridges are also collected from all businesses and program efforts.” several households in Koyuk. They are now looking Maryann leads a drawing at the for a recycling center that accepts toners for free. Community Cleanup Awards Koyuk was able to They also started an iPod/mp3 recycling service, reduce their though no items have been dropped off yet. community’s potential mercury exposure by recently shipping out 256 fluorescent light bulbs. Koyuk IGAP also accepts lead acid batteries which They purchased a packaging set from Total Reclaim, are deposited at the City of Koyuk garage in totes. IGAP lines the bottom of the tote with Koyuk beach

constructing a burn box using an old 8,600 gal fuel who accepted the bulbs. tank. They are using Golovin’s burn box plan, So oil isn’t drained onto the ground, the Native which can be viewed at Village of Koyuk has a used oil burner located at http://zendergroup.org/burning.html ). Their operator the City garage that runs off the used oil that is will collect trash twice a week, load the trash, and delivered by residents. be the only one who lights it. They plan to burn only on days when wind blows away from village. The recycle building has a table residents bring This action clothing they no longer need as well as some will keep the household items - - Dog washing shampoo, and harmful foot scrub to name a few! smoke mostly out of Finally, the community purchased a Canon 150 resident’s Glass Crusher, but has not started using it lungs. To because they are waiting for AVEC to install an keep vehicle additional power box. part salvaging separate and Community Beach Monitors: Michelle to keep the Involvement Douglas (YEG) and Freida landfill Participants in the Moon-Kimoktoak organized, recycling program sampling at the Beach there is a are placed into a sorted non- monthly prize burnable waste staging area for vehicles and large drawing. One appliances, items like bed & sofa frames, scrap ticket for metal and 55 gallon drums, and any other items recycling, one not suitable for burning. ticket if Pretty Salvage: Wastes recyclables were Supporting Activities: are separated out at the delivered versus Landfill Freida and Maryann started a 4-year water quality picked up, one if monitoring project in June 2010 and carried out a aluminum cans mapping project for their old dump sites. In this are crushed before turned in. Prizes can be a $25 way, they will be in a position to document dollar gift certificate or donated prize from the potential solid waste impacts to their lands. several businesses that support Koyuk IGAP. Community Vision: Koyuk has a Youth Environmental Group (YEG) "We are a community who rely on the wisdom of our of five high schoolers and young adults and an elders to teach our people our traditional and subsistence Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) lifestyle while living and respecting the land, animals, with 3 Elders, and one representative each from and sea; we believe in quality education and employment City, IRA and their Corp. The EAC and YEG opportunities through economic development for all conduct joint meetings, so information and generations while keeping healthy families and homes." recommendations are shared together! -The IRA Council of Koyuk Vision Statement This summer IGAP also operated an “ALPAR The Koyuk IGAP Program is helping to realize Litter Patrol” to keep the community clean their Community’s Vision. (contact http://www.AlparAlaska.com to find out To view a slideshow of the Koyuk Program, visit. more!). http://www.zendergroup.org/village.html . To learn Landfill Management: even more, contact Freida Moon-Kimoktoak, To stop uncontrolled burning that still occurs and Koyuk IGAP Coordinator, at (907) 963-2368, reduce waste burning air pollution, they are [email protected] .

Village Spotlight: Fort Yukon

Fort Yukon is a Gwich’in village of approximately E-Wastes Fort Yukon has an e-waste recycling 580 residents, located at the confluence of the Yukon program, as well. The regional clinic, the tribal and Porcupine rivers, about 145 air miles northeast offices building, the of Fairbanks. local school, and the Fort Yukon has been implementing their IGAP military base have program since 1996 and have been operating a all agreed to drop off successful recycling and backhaul program since e-waste at the that time, which has resulted in the reduction of backhaul staging solid waste in the village. The IGAP is managed by area, where it is put Clayton Tackett, who graciously shared his story. on pallets and Fort Yukon backhauled a total of 66,000 lbs this year shrink-wrapped in Used oil is poured through a and 45,000 lbs last year! preparation for the splash guard into the burner – barge. It is Community Recycling Activities which heats the tribal office. Gwichyaa Zhee IGAP operates an aluminum can backhauled to recycling program, in Nenana, along with cars and white goods, at 10 which cans are shipped cents/lb, where the Yukon River Inter-Tribal free of charge via Watershed Council picks it up and sends it to Frontier Airlines, Seattle. Warbelow’s Air, or Used Oil Clayton also collects about 250 gallons per Wright Air to Fairbanks. month of used oil, which is used to heat the tribal Once there, K&K offices. Residents who have used oil call Clayton

Recycling picks up the and he picks it up for use in the used oil burner. cans and sends the Efficient Lights Fort Yukon has mostly switched to Wastes are segregated money back to the tribe. compact fluorescent light bulbs and the IGAP at the landfill in The can money is used for department collects used bulbs from the school and preparation for the IGAP backhaul households. Clayton uses pre-labeled compact backhaul. It makes it program. When the can fluorescent light easier for folks to recycling program was salvage parts as well. bulb boxes to send first started, Clayton to Total Reclaim in worked with local Anchorage. businesses and residents to donate bikes, which were awarded to households that collected the Glass The IGAP greatest number of cans for recycling! department has been collecting Batteries, Vehicles, White Goods Gwichyaa Zhee and stock piling IGAP also accepts and picks up car and household glass, with the batteries, which are stored in a covered staging area hope that they until they are barged by Crowley in the summer Two connexes support a roof that will be able to time. In addition to batteries, Fort Yukon also shelters hazardous waste as well obtain a glass backhauls cars (with the oil removed) and all white as program workers. crusher soon and goods. Clayton is EPA certified in Freon removal so be able to reuse the glass in the community. he makes sure all the refrigerant is removed before white goods are put on the barge. Waste Reuse and Reduction Fort Yukon also operates a thrift store for clothes Hazardous Fluids Hazardous waste, such as anti- and other items. The Center is managed by GA freeze, gear oil, hydraulic oils, and break fluid, is also collected and backhauled.

landfill and buried. Household collection is free (General Assistance) workers and, counting its because Fort Yukon charges their businesses by the previous location, has been in operation for many bag and also can use city tax money. But like every years. The Center itself is heated through waste community, Fort Yukon has solid waste problems reduction by using a wood pallet stove. When they are working on. Residents do not carry out residents have donations (clothes, shoes, toys, any trash separation. They leave the trash out and video tapes, etc.), they call and request a pick-up. ravens get in and scatter it. Despite collection All donations are free! It is very common for service, some people to recycle the fabric and other materials residents and and use them for lining parkas or beaver hats. The businesses still self- Center is actually a social gathering place for some haul and burn trash at folks now. It is also a popular place before the the landfill, even annual Carnival! though there is no Bags and Styrofoam Fort Yukon banned both burnbox. To address plastic bags and Styrofoam. There was a lot of some of these issues, education and some folks weren’t happy at first. the City is considering But everyone uses canvas bags now and the town Toys, books, movies, and free collection service and dump are a lot cleaner. Their ordinances are more are exchanged here. only for residents who at http://zendergroup.org/ordinances.htm . separate their trash

Community Involvement and recycle. The Every spring, the community holds a Spring thought is that folks will carry out more responsible Clean-up event. All residents who have recyclable disposal practices while reducing the wastestream. items fill out forms and describe when and where For more information on Fort Yukon’s program, vehicles, TV sets, and other heavy items can be you can contact Clayton Tackett at picked up by IGAP. During this event, the City of [email protected] , 662-2581. Fort Yukon donates $1,000, which is used to get youth involved—when kids help in the Spring Clean-up,

they get $1/a bag! About once a

week, Clayton The “Clothes Recycling Center” uses wood shares recycling pallet heat… tips with the community on the radio station. Gwandak Public Radio (KZPA 900) broadcasts from there! Also, during the annual Carnival, he sets up a booth with information on recycling for the community. This summer, he plans to purchase two bikes with carts for kids to ride around town and collect aluminum cans. They get exercise and he gets help!

Landfill Management The City of Fort Yukon has a twice-weekly collection service. Trash is then taken to the

Village Spotlight: Chignik Bay

Chignik Bay is an freighter ships the batteries free of charge to Alutiiq community of Dynamo Batteries in Seattle for recycling. approximately 91 Electronic waste is stored in the Tribe’s shop residents, located at and is staged at the staging area at the landfill, Anchorage Bay on the along with tires, old vehicles, and heavy South side of the equipment. The City also collects fluorescent Alaska Peninsula. It lights, which are shipped to Total Reclaim in lies 450 miles Anchorage. Chignik Bay, as well as other southwest of communities in the region, donate used Anchorage and 260 miles southwest of Kodiak Island. clothing and toys for a summer “flea market”. The weather is usually wet and mild, with huge winds Jeanette frequently loads what’s left over in a that pick up water-- Chignik means “big wind” in the U-Haul and takes it to Good Will in Anchorage. Aleut language. Chignik Bay IGAP used to recycle aluminum cans with ALPAR but there was low Chignik Bay has been operating an IGAP program since YR 2000. Jeanette Carlson, the Environmental Director, has successfully accomplished many of the grant objectives over the years and graciously shared her experiences. Community Trainings and Education Some of the accomplishments of IGAP include offering annual HAZWOPER, Asbestos Abatement, and Above Ground Storage Tank Operator certification for community residents and the region. Chignik Bay has also hosted three 7 Generations trainings. The first, in 2002, with Bill Stokes and Joe Sarcone, was attended by the whole community. In 2004 Bill also traveled upstream to Chignik Lake and Chignik Lagoon. Part of the training focuses on how contaminants move downstream, so it has been important to have those Chignik is in the running for best two communities on board. Bill also came back in landfill view… 2007. Jeanette has found these trainings very helpful as a foundation for the IGAP program. They have participation from the community so the been very empowering and motivating for the program was discontinued. Currently, the community to keep the village clean. Find out about owner of the general store collects the cans hosting a workshop in your community here: from the community hall and about 25% of http://www.anthc.org /chs/ces/hve/7- households. Along with the scrap metal he generations.cfm collects, he ships it all to Seattle himself for a profit. The City has a waste oil burner that Collection Program they use to heat the shop and the Chignik Bay City operates the landfill and the ambulance/fire truck garage. The cannery mandatory fee collection program. They have 3 collects used oil in drums that they drop off for dumpsters in town for folks to use, and you can read use, and they also use the used oil from junked about their program on page 2 of this newsletter. cars. Backhaul and Recycling In 2003, Chignik Bay IGAP carried out a big Stockpiled batteries and paint are stored in a shed that community cleanup and backhaul event for old the City and Tribe share. When space is available, the

Continued from previous page Community Involvement and Outreach vehicles, lead-acid batteries, propane tanks, and Chignik Bay IGAP coordinates an annual drums. Several community members, who had spring clean-up with the school. They host a attended one of the HAZWOPER trainings in Chignik, picnic and go out into the community with removed the fluids from the vehicles, helped collect kids and parents. They sometimes hold propane tanks and 55-gallon drums from around the another clean-up in the fall, after the large village, and helped stage them for backhaul. This transient summer population leaves town. IGAP-developed posters and brochures are shared with the school library and available at the tribal house. IGAP usually puts out a newsletter in the summer to answer common questions and to also make the public aware of areas and beaches that are not safe to use. The Wetland grant described further below in this article has a community outreach component to increase public awareness of the local wetlands issues. One summer, IGAP hired a local resident to clean some 55-gallon drums, paint them, cut Chignik provides a drum for oil drained off the tops, and put them around the from junked cars community to serve as trash cans. They also painted signs to keep ATVs away from berry- picking areas, which has worked pretty well. successful haulout event was featured in the EPA’s Because of the large transient population of Tribal Waste Journal. You can read the article here: commercial fishermen, the community faces a www.epa.gov/osw/ wycd/tribal/pdftxt/twj-3.pdf. lot of marine debris like old nets, boats, In 2009, the community also collected and staged engines, and fishing gear. They are working electronic waste, which was then backhauled to Total on taking Reclaim in Anchorage. Another community e-waste pictures and collection and backhaul event is scheduled for this documenting summer. Jeanette is currently working on trying to the debris. coordinate another joint backhaul for the rest of the stockpiled material and is in the process of looking for Capacity funding. A big lesson learned from the last time is to Building and make sure that you plan for tipping fees at the end- Community disposal place, as well as any other costs. Empowerment In order to In 2008, Jeanette got an email from a Microsoft keep the village clean after the 2003 employee, who was contacting several tribes to see if community backhaul event, Chignik Bay City any of them could use some of the 2,000 recycling bins and Tribal Councils, with help from Jeanette in they had available. Microsoft was changing the color the IGAP department, passed a joint resolution of all of their office recycling bins and was going to addressing trespassing, dumping and littering throw the old ones away. Jeannette was the only on subsistence lands, water, and recreational person who responded. She called the barge company areas. Chignik Bay has also partnered with and they agreed to ship the 200 bins Chignik needed neighboring communities to form the for free. And Al Latourette from EPA Region 10 Sustainable Energy Commission of the Alaska picked up the bins from Microsoft and took them to the Peninsula (SECAP), which enabled the Seattle dock for free. Jeanette distributed them to all partnering communities to place anemometers the households for use in collecting recyclable materials for drop-off.

Continued from previous page stories in 2007. on towers to collect data on wind generation. In Future Goals collaboration with Bristol Bay Area Health The objectives of IGAP include evaluating the Corporation Department of Environmental Health, tribal administrative policies, Chignik Bay IGAP helped establish a remote water procedures, & management testing lab at Chignik Bay Clinic in 2004 to ensure that systems, and continuing the the drinking water in Chignik and the surrounding development of a Long Range communities is tested for bacterial contamination in a Environmental Plan. Jeanette is timely manner. also working on developing and implementing an Integrated Solid Waste Jeanette also organized a Community Visioning Management Plan, after attending one of Workshop in 2004, Zender Group’s trainings this year. Her goal which was facilitated by is to gain better control of the dumpsite and the Alaska Women’s eventually open a new, well-managed landfill. Environmental She is also developing further their Emergency Network (AWEN), Response Plan. You may contact Jeanette where communication Carlson at 749-2481, [email protected]. among several villages from the surrounding region was enabled. Participating were the communities of Chignik Envisioning Chignik’s Lagoon, Chignik Lake, future… Perryville, Ivanof Bay, Pilot Point, Port Heiden, and Egegik. The result was a Community Plan, which Chignik Bay used to successfully apply for an Administration for Native Americans (ANA) grant, as well as for other grant applications. You can read more about the Community Visioning Workshop here: http://www.chignikbay.com/ awen.asp and there is more information about Chignik’s ANA grant here: http://www.chignikbay.com/ana.asp. Chignik Bay has an EPA-funded project to build administrative capacity and develop a Wetlands Protection Plan, which will focus on cleaning, restoring, and preserving Chignik’s wetlands. They have completed Phase I of the project. You can read ! more about this project here: http://www.chignikbay.com/igap.asp.

In 2007, Jeanette used IGAP time to develop an emergency response plan with the State. IGAP has also helped build tribal administrative capacity, developed policies and procedures, handled financial management of grants, and helped develop MOUs between City, Tribe, and Native Corporation in areas of mutual concern to promote government-to- government communication. EPA recognized all the great work Jeanette has been doing and she was featured in a video on EPA’s site for IGAP success

Village Spotlight: Kwigillingok are sturdy and reliable, to store old ballasts The Native Village of Kwigillingok (Kuigilnguq) is on and other hazardous items. the western shore of Kuskokwim Bay near the mouth of the Kuskokwim River. It lies 77 miles southwest of Currently Kwig coordinates with Total Bethel and 388 miles west of Anchorage. Kuigilnguq Reclaim Inc. and says they are a good resource means “No river.” Elders say when the People first to work with if you want to learn how to moved here there was no river, only a creek. properly prepare lead acid batteries for Kwigillingok is also commonly referred to as “Kwig.” backhaul. Total Reclaim also Kwig’s Environmental Services Department (KESD) handles electronic The KESD was developed in 1999 with funds from the wastes. Using the EPA’s IGAP Program. KESD’s goal is to increase instructions from programmatic capacity by means of employment and Total Reclaim, through programs that will have a positive impact on Kwig was able to their environment, natural resources and community prepare their lead members. Programs that have been developed under acid batteries for the IGAP department are the recycling program, trash transportation haul program, and the youth employment program. through barge service. Currently, KESD staff includes Darryl John, IGAP Coordinator, Jimmy Paul, IGAP Assistant, Gavin For every backhaul on pop cans, they receive a Phillip, Recycling Coordinator, and Moses Alexie, check each month from ALPAR, which is Trash hauler. treated as IGAP program income. The recycling We asked KESD to share their story because they department keeps track of have been really successful at developing a recycling the weight and number of program with high community participation. And bags being shipped out they have done this even though the waste using this scale purchased circumstances they face are very challenging. Their with this program income. dumpsite is across the river, it sits in wetland tundra, and they don’t have heavy equipment to consolidate One of Kwig’s main it. But over the past years, with much effort and supporters in backhauling dedication from the KESD staff and the community, recyclables and hazardous the recycling and backhaul program has been a great materials is Ryan Air. Kwig success and has even expanded! With this effort they says they are just about the only airline that’s have reduced their health and environmental risks capable and qualified significantly even with the difficult dumpsite to transport anything conditions. Here is a brief snapshot of their many from hazardous successes and endeavors: materials to large amounts of pop cans Backhaul program and plastic containers. The Backhaul program began in 2006, when Kwig Kwig would like to first worked with the Alaska Building extend a big Quyana to Ryan Air! Science Network (ABSN) to remove old PCB ballasts and fluorescent Recycling Program lamps. They replaced the lamps and Before developing the Recycling Department, ballasts with new donated ones. The Kwig researched what products are acceptable old PCB ballasts and lamps were for recycling and which companies to work labeled and packaged using the with, in order to start a backhaul program. instructions they received from ABSN. The KESD staff recommends using five-gallon buckets, which

recyclable materials. In order to safely backhaul hazardous items, Kwig applied for small grants The Recycling Program started off by educating the through Best Buy and community through the public communication American Seafood to network and public meetings. They created flyers and purchase sturdy posters on how to identify what products are containers for the lead recyclable and the health risks that can be inflicted on acid batteries, household the community’s resources, environment, and batteries and Ballasts. To members. After receiving the prevent the items getting equipment needed to collect mixed up, Kwig recyclable items, they planned purchased this connex using IGAP funds. how to install the corrugated recycling containers and pop Recycling Program Storage Facility can crushers. KESD used their To protect the investments and safely store newsletter, public collected recyclable materials and equipment, the communication system, public Tribal council approved meetings, flyers and posters to the use of this small educate the community on how to separate the building for KESD. This recyclable and hazardous items from their garbage. building is also where materials separation and The Recycling Program is managed by Jimmy Paul. backhaul preparation is As the Recycling Coordinator he is responsible for: performed.  Setting up a backhaul system for recyclable A big reason why we items asked Kwig to share their story is that they  Setting up a storage facility to store hazardous achieved really good community participation waste and recyclable materials over the years. Recycling programs don’t do  Collecting recyclable/hazardous waste from much if not many people use them. However, the community because of the greatly  Seeking funds to increase the capacity of the increased participation, Recycling Dept. Kwig needed to increase Products accepted include: the overall size and capacity of the recycling  #1 and #2 Plastic Containers facility. So they asked  Ballasts the Tribal Council for a  E-Waste bigger building to  Fluorescent Lamps operate and safely store non-hazardous  Household Batteries recyclables for future backhaul. The Tribal  Lead Acid Batteries Council gave approval for KESD to use this old  Pop Cans Head Start building as the new recycling facility.  Printer Cartridges  Used Oil Community Involvement and Outreach  White Goods Every year the Tribal Council and IGAP program work together to have a community springtime The Recycling Coordinator clean-up event. The clean up involves both continues to seek other funding adults and kids. The KESD staff writes letters for sources to improve the Recycling donation items, such as clothing, office/writing Department operations. Applying pens, paper. The local store donates two bikes for small grants through American (boy and girl) as a prize for the most bags. Each Seafood was a good start. year more and more bags of trash are being American Seafood funds allowed collected during this event. Kwig the opportunity to build a sled and purchase this ATV Trailer used to collect

and activities to protect the “health” of the Kuskokwim River. Last winter Darryl, Jimmy, and Gavin Future IGAP or Community Plans went to the school One of the main issues to “talk trash” to facing KESD and the the students-- to community of teach them how Kwigillingok is trash and litter can opening a new landfill. negatively affect They have an subsistence and A burnbox sits unused incomplete new traditional at Kwig’s future site. landfill, which needs resources and additional construction activities. to be operable. Construction was stopped several KESD staff was years ago due to cost over-runs and a design been invited to present their program at different flaw in the integrity of the berms. Mr. John is gatherings such as the Alaska Tribal Conference on seeking funding assistance to complete this Environmental Management (ATCEM) and the overdue project. Zender Integrated Solid Waste Management Planning They need a new (ISWMP) Training Course. landfill because the Capacity Building current dumpsite is and Community on the river bank. Empowering At high tide, water Kwig has developed comes up to the community edge of the wastes. environmental codes, Because they don’t High tide… have heavy especially addressing the dumping of trash. equipment and it Since Kwig has to would be transport trash across impossible to the river to the dump operate there site, it is asked that during summer, people only take their Kwig needs to trash during high tide, and not to dump their trash on move wastes back the river bank, which is done sometimes during low “by-hand” to keep tide. Kwig has shared their environmental code and wastes from Low tide… you can access it here: entering the river. http://www.zendergroup.org/docs/construction.doc. To find out more KESD staff has attended the appropriate training to about developing a successful Recycling develop and implement an ISWMP. Additional staff Program, Kwigillingok Environmental Service training also includes HAZWOPER and Freon Department has graciously agreed to share their removal. In 2005 Kwig hosted ANTHC’s Healthy story. Villages Environment Program 7-generations training Contact Darryl John, IGAP Coordinator in the community, and Kongiganak and Pilot Station [email protected] or (907) 588-8912. also attended. To find out more about hosting this training in your community, visit ANTHC’s Healthy Villages Environment Program. Kwig also works with the Kuskokwim River Watershed Council (KRWC) on different initiatives