Solid Waste Solutions in Rural Alaska::
Minimizing the Affects of Erosion and Flooding and success stories from Nightmute and Kwigillingok:

Minimizing the Affects of Erosion and Flooding:
Human and environmental health concerns are greatly reduced by minimizing the affects of erosion and flooding, which will be addressed in this section.

WHY?
Water in contact with solid waste presents a real problem. Water changes the physical and chemical make-up of the solid waste and the resulting leachate can contain chemical and biological contaminants. For many villages the two biggest challenges of water coming into contact with solid waste are due to flooding and erosion. Changes in weather due to climate change have resulted in more frequent and severe storms which erode shorelines, and river and slough banks. The erosion can cut into old and existing dump sites and deposit dump site contaminants into subsistence rivers and sloughs. Many villages are also experiencing more frequent and more severe flooding. The flood waters can pass through dumpsites collecting solid waste and contaminants and deposit them over tundra and into rivers and sloughs.

WHAT?
In so many of the cases moving an old or existing dumpsite to avoid flooding and erosion is just not immediately possible. Also, erosion control projects for banks and shorelines are costly and are mostly put in place where houses and roads in are in danger. In addition, it may not be possible to get to a dumpsite with a piece of heavy equipment or heavy equipment may not be available to move the solid waste away from shorelines and banks. More and more villages have to depend on their own solutions and local resources to protect the tundra and subsistence waters from dumpsite erosion and flooding contamination.

Often people pick the easiest way to dispose of their solid waste. Sometimes this means throwing out the solid waste at the edge of rivers or sloughs. Educating the people about contamination from solid waste and encouraging them to dispose of their solid waste in a dumpsite away from the bank of the river or slough is one step that can be taken to minimize the solid waste contaminants that erode into rivers and sloughs. As for the solid waste that is already on the banks of the rivers and sloughs, some villages have organized people to work to move the solid waste from the banks of the rivers and sloughs by hand. This is hard work, but it can be done and has been done (an example is the village of Nightmute - see below). It is important that the workers have proper gloves and boots to do this work. In places where there is not the right type of soil or material to build a berm around the dump site to keep out flood waters, fencing can be one way to contain the solid waste in the dump site when it floods (an example is the village of Kwigillingok - see below). Moving or closing a dump site located in an eroding or flooding site takes planning and funding. This can be a long range goal as these other local solutions are put in place.

WHO'S DOING IT?
Native Village of Nightmute 2003

In April 2003 the people of Nightmute recognized an environmental disaster was ready to hit their village. Due to erosion, one edge of the solid waste dump for the village was on the bank of the Toksook River. Usually heavy equipment is used each winter to push the solid waste inland and away from the river bank so that breakup and the natural erosion of the river doesn't result in all of the trash falling into the river. This year the ice was not thick enough for the heavy equipment to go across the river to the dump, and weeks before breakup more than 3 TONS of trash was at the edge of the river ready to fall in.

With the assistance of the former EPA Tribal Coordinator, Jimmy George and his assistant, Ferdinand Matthias, the people, the city, tribal governments, the school, businesses, and other organizations of the village came together to tackle the problem. The dump site was moved 100 feet from the river, a salvage area was set up for metal waste, and fencing and signs were put up to help direct people to the best place to dump their trash. Below are a few of the before and after pictures of the incredible efforts and work accomplished.

Volunteers arrive at the dump site, put on their personal protective equipment and begin the laborious task of moving the dump by hand! A boardwalk was made to transfer the filled supersacks away from the riverbank. It took at least four people to drag the supersacks up onto the cart on the boardwalk.

The improved dump location with fencing and boardwalk access from the river to the appropriate dump area.

To improve the future use of the dump, Nightmute has added good signage and a salvage area.

Native Village of Nightmute 2007
Nightmute received a Denali Commission Solid Waste Grant to purchase a burnbox and carry out a demonstration cleanup, making use of super sacks as a berm to contain their wastes. The following write-up was developed by John George, IGAP Project Director and David Tulik, IGAP Technician Assistant to describe Nightmute's project activities to date. The project will be completed late summer 2007.

Narrative by John George, IGAP Project Director and David Tulik, IGAP Technician Assistant:
On April 23, 2007 in the morning John and David assembled the trailer mount. In the afternoon we hooked up the Burn Box to the IGAP Honda and took it through the lagoon road to the river where it is the best avenue to get it across the riverside. We went on to the river and just below the CVRF Fishery Support Center building the trailer right wheels got stuck in the snow, we tried to pull it using one Honda, but unfortunately one Honda was not strong enough to get it unstuck. After trying to get it unstuck several times, we decided to go to the Tribal Office and ask the tribal janitor if it would be ok to use the Clinic Honda, because one Honda was not strong enough to pull the six (6) thousand pound burn box, after we got the approval we went up and link up the two Honda with a strong rope like a train, since the ice and snow was too slippery, the trailer did not move.

While we were trying to move the burn box Mr Jay Dull Sr. LKSD janitor stopped by and decided to voluntarily attach the LKSF snowmachine to the front of the first Honda, which we end up with three vehicle in a chain like. We kept pulling and pulling and out of the blue the trailer got unstuck, and it move all the way down, close to the dump site, but hundred (100) yards to the dump we got stuck again, this time the left wheels got stuck into the snow about six (6) to seven (7) inches deep, this took about one and half hour to get it unstuck. While we were trying to get it unstuck from this area, Elder Moses Tulik who is also an ATS agent came by and started helping out, when it finally got unstuck, I decided to go get the burn barrel mats from the clinic connex where they we're stored for the winter to place on the snow to prevent the burn barrel from getting stuck again, while I was at the connex Isadore Tulik stopped by and asked what the mats we're for, I told him that they would be used to prevent the burn barrel from sinking into the tundra, so I asked if he would be able to help us bring up the burn barrel by the dump site he agreed.

When I came back Mr. Jay Dull Sr. had left to work at school, but Elder Moses Tulik stayed with us until we got to where the burn barrel will be stable from sinking into the tundra. When we got close to the river bank the two Hondas couldn't pull the burn barrel any longer, so we attached Isadore Tulik's snowmachine in the front of the first Honda, since river slope close to the river bank was some what at an angle and the three vehicles couldn't move the burn barrel, so I decided to make an announcement over the VHF radio that Moses was carrying, for more help, few minutes later Mr. Foster Wallace and Aaron Sunny came to aide us, and we we're able to bring it up by the dump site. When we got to a good location we placed all five (5) mats under the barrel burn barrel. Before we moved the burn barrel across the riverside, David and I had to access the river and what area would be the best place to put the burn barrel.

This statement is only for one day of work on the burn box.

Tundra Bag Demonstration Clean-up Project of the Dump Site, Beginning 5-21-07 to 5-30-07
May 21, 2007 In this morning John and David gave safety briefing, hand out protective clothing, masks, boots, gloves, to each workers, assigned job duties, addressed what should be burned and what not to burn. We watched the video on "Burn Unit Demo", at the resident of Joseph Tony's house, so we or they will know the operational of the burn barrel unit. The hired residents were, James Joe, Edward Joe, Kenneth Sunny, Joseph Tony, John and David took the equipment and supplies to the work site and brought two bundles of super sacks to project area.

We had made an announcement of the VHS radio to see if any of the residents would want to rent their boat and motor for the whole project period. John made a rental agreement and presented it to President, Joseph Post to review it and sign. Took the IGAP four wheeler Honda and Trailer across the riverside to the project area, for the use of hauling super sacks once they are filled up with solid waste trash. I have contacted and talked to my technical partner to ask for permission to buy refreshments to energize the labor workers. So we have filled out a purchase requisition form to buy from Nightmute Enterprise, and Chinuruk Inc. stores.

The first protective breathable coveralls had minor problems, they end up being torn when they reach out or step too far, and protective gloves sweat too much on the inside, so we talk to our labor workers, what's best or a good way to protect themselves from contaminations. The best option was buying duct tape to patch the holes and tears. Since the first patch of safety gear, were no longer usable we ended up ordering the yellow safety gear to replace the white ones. The work begins at 8:00am in the morning and ends at 5:00 pm.

Before the project began, John and Annmarie Matthias our Accountant drew $5,300 from VRS to cover for the salaries and boat rental, and drew more funds ranging from $193.02 for freight difference of the IRA Totes for batteries which cost at $1,530 that were ordered from Arctic Wire plus $360.31 for safety gear from Alaska Safety and to pay for the consultant services that have been helping us with grant administration forms and reports and planning and shipping for the bags and burnbox at $3,600. We purchased the Tok Welding Burnbox for $20,300 (not including shipping). The supersacks cost $2,160 (not including shipping).

On the first day of the project we bagged 13 super sacks and we began cleaning from the east end of the dup site and work our way east, on the second day we bagged 19 super sacks and the total bags we filled on the first day was 40 bags. The bags were filled half full and towed to the berm creation which is location about 100 to 150 feet away from the river bank, once the bags are put in place we use a four trailer to top off each bag to square them off. So far the total bags we have filled is 70 bags in just 1 week and one day. The burnables, salvageables, electronics, and recyclables we separated. So this way they would end on bagables.

We have picked 3 TRA Toes with acid batteries and they weigh at 3,886.5 pounds, which Coastal Village Region Fund (CVRF) is willing to back haul them out of Nightmute for free and for one time only which we are fortunate to get this service. We have one more TRA tote to fill in once the power plant operator brings it to the makeshift storage site, which may bring the total to 4 or 5 thousand pounds of acid batteries. Before the project began, John George IGAP project director has been soliciting to Larson Hunter, one of the CVRF workers to see if they would find a way to back haul acid batteries out of Nightmute. At first CVRF would be able to back haul them but John kept on persisting, and several weeks later he got the okay from the CVRF barge manager. CVRF will pick up the totes sometime in June on the first barge.

Some of the workers were also sent to the clinic to follow up their scheduled appointments which were made before the start of the project. Edward Joe has been laid off because he has to attend to his surgery in anchorage and was immediately replaced by the standby applicant Morgan Joe. The picture of the volunteers that helped us haul the burn barrel to the dump site will be taken once they return to Nightmute from the summer relocation. On the May 30th laborers have bagged at least 19 bags from the river bank site. We have moved our cleaning site from the west end of the dump site because the river bank from started eroding due to permafrost melt down. At the dump area we have made a make shift tent out of water proof trap as a bread area, the only time the laborers are brought to the village is noon and the end of work day. David Tulik IGAP Technician Assistant has made a diagram of the dump site set-up.

Sincerely,
John George, IGAP Project Director
David Tulik, IGAP Technician Assistant

Contacts: John George, IGAP Project Director and David Tulik, IGAP Technician Assistant, 907 647-6216

Native Village of Kwigillingok
The Native Village of Kwigillingok carried out a community survey in 2006 and 2007 to document the history of the dumpsite and to identify community solid waste issues. The top concerns of the residents were river erosion at the dumpsite, proper access into the dumpsite, burnable trash, and food waste. The Native Village of Kwigillingok has fenced their dump to help contain wastes during seasonal flood events. However, after the high tide and seasonal flooding occurs, the hazardous pollutants from wastes may leach into the river, contaminating the surrounding lakes and rivers.

Kwigillingok currently collects and recycles materials such as lead acid batteries, household and button cell batteries, electronics, fluorescent lamps, and ballasts to help keep hazardous pollutants from contaminating the river. Residents suggest that it is time to close the current dumpsite due to the encroaching river. The land selection for the new dump location has been made and the closure of the existing site and opening of a new dump are now current village projects.

Kwigillingok's has had and will continue to deal with many obstacles during the process of closing an old landfill and opening a new landfill. Their proposed landfill location was restricted by the scarcity of sites that are not prone to flooding and proximity to the runway. Kwigillingok has determined the best option for them would be a mound-type landfill construction to minimize the disturbance to permafrost areas. Excavation in the Kwigillingok area tends to thaw adjacent permafrost areas and these thawed areas often lose several feet in elevation due to melting of ice-rich permafrost, which then makes an area prone to periodic flooding.

If Kwigilllingok can receive funding for a bermed landfill design to withstand the undercutting that may occur, their proposed landfill will consist of approximately 2 acres of land surrounded by earthen berms approximately five feet high. Trash will be deposited on the ground surface within the bermed and fenced area. Their proposed 0.75-mile landfill access road will connect the existing lagoon road to the proposed landfill. If there is not any locally available material to construct a bermed dump site, material would need to be barged in. With engineering and environmental assessment work, a new landfill could cost roughly $2,000,000 and possibly much more. Additional costs will be incurred for constructing the landfill access road.

Examples of Kwigillingok's staged recyclable materials are shown here. Details on staging and backhaul are presented below in the section titled "Staging Materials for Reuse in the Community or Backhaul."

Contact: Emma Kiunya, IGAP Coordinator, Kwigillingok Environmental Services Department, emmakiunya@yahoo.com, 907-588-8912