Assessing Environmental Health Issues Related to Waste Disposal Sites Impacting Alaska Tribes

Assessing Environmental Health Issues Related to Waste Disposal Sites Impacting Alaska Tribes

EPA Region 10, Tribal Waste program, Pollution Prevention and Communities Branch, Division of Land, Chemicals, and Redevelopment;

The management and disposal of solid waste is one of the greatest challenges for many remote Tribes. Due to insufficient geological conditions, remote location, inability to export, and/or high waste processing costs, proper waste disposal to minimize risk to resident populations is extremely difficult. These described waste conditions are common for Alaska Tribes. Roughly three-quarters of Alaskan Village disposal sites are within one mile of homes and up to 30 percent are within one-quarter mile of homes. Most Alaska Tribes rely on their traditional way of life, for example, gathering water from traditional sources. Health impacts can result from inhalation and ingestion exposures to contaminated air and drinking water, as well as from spread of disease via insects, birds, and other vectors.

The GRIP student intern will have the opportunity to learn and engage in research and analyses focused on Alaska tribal health exposure pathways associated with waste. The internship project scope encompasses the following components: reviews of scientific research, literature reviews of exposure assessment, mapping human health risk assessment methodologies, researching social determinants of health, and, community-based participatory research methods, and sampling methodologies. Detailed information is provided below (please read the Opportunity Description, Internship Focus).

The project focuses on conducting co-production research with Alaska Native Villages to better understand the impact of potential contaminants from landfills in rural communities in an arctic environment and on traditional and subsistence resources. A broad goal of the project is to increase the capacity of Tribal communities in Alaska to manage solid waste in a rapidly changing climate (e.g., thawing permafrost, increasing erosion). The project fits within the mission of CPHEA’s Integrated Climate Sciences Division and the Regional Climate Assistance Branch to increase the capacity of communities to adapt to climate-related impacts.

The fellow will learn about equity-centered community engagement and unique environmental health issues in Alaska Native Villages.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop and demonstrate skills in research, analysis, problem solving, policy, and cross-cultural communication in a topic of importance to Alaska Tribes.
• Communicate and collaborate with Tribal, government, and community research partners in Alaska to develop conceptual models and sampling plans.
• Conduct environmental sampling (e.g., soil, water) and data analysis, including impacts from climate change.
• Incorporate local and Traditional Ecological Knowledge into research.

This internship offers an opportunity for developing and demonstrating skills in research, analysis, problem solving, policy, and cross-cultural communication in a topic of importance to Alaska Tribes.