SEF¥V A healthier; cleaner Chalkyitsik Village: GAP funds noteworthy efforts Chalkyitsik Village Council United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 December 2015 Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Success Story After learning about the harmful health impacts from hazardous wastes, Chalkyitsik Village prioritized the creation of a recycling program. They started small in 2012 by recycling bottles, cans, appliances and electronics wastes. Since then, they expanded to recycling thousands of pounds of white goods (large appliances like dishwashers, freezers, etc.), shipping totes full of hazardous lead acid batteries, electronic wastes (like computers and televisions), florescent light bulbs, abandoned vehicles, and other items. Chalkyitsik, AK ?! Map data ©2015 Google, INEGI Recycled Materials 2013-2015 Geared up for lead acid battery recycling Items Pounds estimated White Goods 26,031 Small Appliances and Scrap Metal 4,589 Electronics 3,610 Batteries 3,100 Propane Bottles 1,600 Junk Vehicles, Tires & other 1,198 Bottles and Cans 864 Printer ink cartridges & toner 697 Florescent Light Bulbs 418 Clothing 286 Total 42,393 Racheal Lee ofTanana Chiefs Conference and Patricia Salmon of Chalkyitsik Village Photo: courtesy of Patricia Salmon Like many rural Alaskan communities, Chalkyitsik is not on the road system, thus transporting recyclables out of the village can be challenging and requires ingenuity. When the tribes' housing program charters a plane to deliver building materials, they send some of the recyclables out on the return flight - demonstrating just one way, Chalkyitsik, like other remote communities, address this unique challenge. How has the project made a difference in the community? Patricia Salmon, Chalkyitsik Village's Environmental Planner responds, "I think we've cleaned up a lot. It's not an eyesore anymore, and it's better health wise." <^> Continued Items Staged for Recycling ------- A healthier, cleaner Chalkyitsik Village: GAP funds noteworthy recycling efforts O Continued Chalkyitsik Village just completed construction of a new recycling center, and with the capacity they've developed through their GAP grant, they are collaborating with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to use State of Alaska Capital Improvement Project funds to build a state-permitted landfill and access road. Partners & Support Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling Bottles and cans recycling http://www.alparalaska.com/wp Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Technical assistance with grant applications, and landfill planning and design http://anthctoday.org Everts Air Cargo Shipping recyclables (backhaul) http://www.evertsair.com K&K Recycling Recycling and disposing of lead acid batteries, white goods, scrap metal and propane bottles http://kandkrecycling.net OfficeMax Recycling printer ink cartridges and copier toner http://www.officedepot.com/storelocator/ak/ fairbanks/officemax-6466 Tanana Chiefs Conference Technical assistance with lead acid battery packaging for shipment https://www.tananachiefs.org Total Reclaim Appliances, florescent light bulbs, and electronics waste recycling http://www.totalreclaim.com Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council Shipping recyclables http://www.yritwc.org ( \ Community Profile: Chalkyitsik Population: 77 Culture: Traditional Gwich'in Athabascan village, with a subsistence lifestyle. Location: Chalkyitsik is located on the Black River about 50 miles east of Fort Yukon. Transportation: Access is primarily by air; there is a gravel runway. Residents own ATVs, snow machines, and skiffs for fishing, hunting, and recreation. No roads connect Chalkyitsik with other villages, although there is a winter trail to Fort Yukon. It is accessible by small riverboat. Source: State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Community Database EPA Region 10's Commitment to Federally Recognized Tribes EPA Region 10 is committed to helping tribes strengthen their abilities to manage environmental programs in Indian country, and to ensure that tribes have a voice in decisions that affect their land, air and water. Region 10 serves 271 federally recognized tribes in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The goal of the EPA IGAP grant program is to assist tribes and intertribal consortia in developing the capacity to manage their own envi ronmental protection programs, and to develop and implement solid and hazardous waste programs in accor- dance with individual tribal needs and applicable federal laws and regulations. http://www2.epa.gov/tribal/region-10-tribal-program http://www2.epa.gov/tribal/indian-environmental-general-assistance-program-gap E35 More Information Chalkyitsik Village Environmental Planner Patricia Salmon Chalkyitsik Village 0) 907-848-8618 or 907-848-8117 EPA Grant: Indian General Assistance Program (GAP) EPA Project Officer: Sherry Kimmons (3) 907-271-6322^0 kimmons.sherry@epa.gov 2 ------- |