ACAT FOIA Repository 66

i.ijUNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCYREGION 101200 Sixth AvenueSeattle, WA 98101January 29, 2002Reply ToAttnOf:ECL-115Fritz Waghiyi, PresidentNative Village of SavoongaP.O. Box 120Savoonga, Alaska 99769Dear President Waghiyi:Thank you for your invitation to your Annual Membership Meeting to discuss theNortheast Cape site and potential hsting on the National Priorities List (NPL). I appreciate yourinvitation, however, I will be unable to attend the meeting. This letter is intended to provide anupdate of EPA’s activities concerning possible hsting of the NE Cape Site on the NPL.As you know, EPA is in the process of reviewing the existing reports and plans for theNE Cape site that were prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE). Once thisreview is complete, EPA will provide a written evaluation to the Villages of Savoonga andGambeU and discuss our findings with the Tribal governments. We expect that tliis review willbe completed sometime in February, 2002. The ACOE has been receptive to EPA’s plan for areview of the NE Cape project and was interested in hearing EPA’s evaluation If EPA doesfind any serious problem with the ACOE’s remedial work at the NE Cape site, we wih raise it tothe ACOE’s attention. EPA will also coordinate with Alaska Department of EnvironmentalConservation (ADEC), the current agency overseeing the ACOE, to gam their perspective oncurrent activities at the NE Cape site.EPA wih consider several factors in determining whether placement on the NPL is thebest approach for cleaning up the site. For the NE Cape site, it will be necessary to detennine ifEPA involvement wih improve the current activities at the site and promote a quicker cleanup. Itis important to recognize that, even if EPA were to hst the site on the NPL, EPA could notprovide additional funding for site investigation and cleanup. Tire ACOE must continue toprovide the fundmg for cleanup. Tlie main result of NPL hsting is that EPA, with ADEC, wouldoversee the ACOE’s cleanup work at NE Cape.Once EPA detennines whether the ACOE’s work at the site is consistent with EPArequirements, a decision whl be made as to whether or not to hst the site on the NPL. If theACOE’s work is found to be consistent with what EPA would do at the site, then we beheve thatit would not be necessary to oversee the project and therefore, it would not be necessary to placetills site on the NPL.USEPA 8F11687239perI hope this information is helpful to you. Should you have any additional questions orconcerns regarding this site please do not hesitate to call me at (206) 553-2594.Sincerely,Joanne LaBawSite Assessment Managercc:Gerald Soonagrook, Sr., Native Village of GainbeUScott Sufficool, EPA Tribal OfficeMarcia Combes, EPA Alaska Operations OfficeRichard Porter, EPA Alaska Operations OfficeJerald M. Reichlin, Fortier & Mikko