The primary objective of the EPA's ancsa cooperative agreement grants program is to provide financial support to assist the alaska tribal entities with addressing contamination on lands conveyed…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 awarded a $3.0 million Cooperative Agreement to Ounalashka Corporation under the Contaminated Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Lands Assistance Agreements Program (CFDA 66.965). The award, effective August 1, 2025, through December 31, 2027, supports environmental remediation activities at the CMA 1 Terminal Barge Dock in Unalaska, Alaska. Ounalashka Corporation will assemble a project management team and contract with a qualified environmental professional to conduct Phase II environmental site assessment and cleanup operations, including identification of contaminant types, volumes, and locations; development of public notices and community engagement materials; procurement activities in compliance with federal acquisition regulations; and preparation of compliance documentation in coordination with EPA and regulatory authorities.

The project addresses pre-existing environmental contamination on ANCSA-conveyed lands and aims to remediate the existing contamination footprint surrounding the terminal barge dock facility to the extent funding permits. Activities include comprehensive site characterization, hazardous materials and human health safety management, and cleanup operations conducted in accordance with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation cleanup process. The award supports the broader federal objective of assisting Alaska Native entities in addressing historical contamination that predated the conveyance of lands under the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

The primary objective of the EPA's ancsa cooperative agreement grants program is to provide financial support to assist the alaska tribal entities with addressing contamination on lands conveyed pursuant to the alaska native claims settlement act (ancsa) (43 U.S.C. 1601 ET SEQ.). The funds are available to eligible tribal applicant to: (1) to characterize, assess, and conduct planning and community involvement activities related to these lands; and (2) to carry out cleanup activities at ancsa contaminated sites. The alaska native village corporation (ANC) of ounalashka corporation (OC)will assemble a project management team, select, and contract a qualified environmental professional (QEP), ensuring compliance with all environmental regulatory and for the safety of field operations to adequately address associated hazardous material (hazmat), safety, and human health requirements. The goal, and final outcome, is to conduct a phase II site characterized and cleanup of as much existing footprint of contamination on an around the CMA 1 terminal barge dock as funds allow.activities:the cooperative agreement recipient (car) (or grant) ounalashka corporation (OC) will conduct the following CMA 1 terminal barge dock phase II ESA and remedial activities project's project activities: 1) OC will identify the specific type, volume, and location of pre-existing environmental contaminants. 2) OC will prepare and publish public notices, develop meeting materials and presentations, and distribute other informational materials to the public. 3) OC will conduct procurement activities in accordance with 2 CFR 200, including the competitive solicitation of a qualified environmental professional (QEP) per the adec cleanup process. The selection will be based on project needs, procurement policies, price, qualifications, and other relevant criteria. 4) OC will collaborate with the EPA and, if appropriate, the contracted QEP to develop compliance documentation in accordance with the national environmental policy act (nepa) and other applicable federal and state regulations. 5) OC will work with the contracted QEP to develop a quality assurance project plan (qapp), alaska department of environmental conservation (adec) assessment and/or cleanup plans, other required environmental documents, health and safety plans (hasps), and final remediation (cleanup) plans. 6) upon approval of the adec site characterization plan, OC will develop cleanup plans for the site and any adjacent areas, in accordance with ancsa and the adec cleanup process. Cleanup will meet the standards agreed upon by the landowner and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including proper disposal of all recovered hazardous materials and waste products. 7) OC will adhere to the EPA and ancsa program cooperative agreement terms and conditions through the grant lifecycle, including but not limited to the management of the project per EPA requirements. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:grant funding will allow the ounalashka corporation (OC) to select a qualitied remediation contractor lead by a qualified environmental professional (QEP) to complete the remediation and cleanup of the contamination and to address associated hazardous material (hazmat), safety, and human health requirements; allowing the safety reuse of the property owned by the OC native alaskan tribe. The direct beneficiaries of this program include the grantee, a native tribe, as well as the remote community of unalaska residents through the assessment, and cleanup of the site, thereby allowing redevelopment of previously contaminated land.