Ounalashka

CASE STUDY

Brownfield Remediation Success – Ounalashka Corporation

Project Summary

Montrose Environmental partnered with the Ounalashka Corporation, an Alaska Native Village Corporation, to address significant environmental challenges on their land. The Ounalashka Corporation owns approximately 115,000 acres of land conveyed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), located around the City of Unalaska/Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, 1,200 miles west of Anchorage. Over the past year, Montrose assisted the Ounalashka Corporation with securing $5 million in EPA Brownfield & Contaminated ANCSA Lands Grants for the Corporation. These funds are pivotal in assessing and cleaning up numerous Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS), including projects involving the remediation of soils impacted by Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and buried demolition debris, and asbestos-containing materials associated with World War II (WWII) era structures.

Challenge

The land owned by the Ounalashka Corporation includes dozens of sites impacted by legacy contamination, notably from historic WWII activities. One specific challenge was the remediation of PCB-impacted soils resulting from transformers that exploded during the Japanese bombing of Unalaska in WWII. This contamination posed significant environmental and health risks and required extensive cleanup efforts. Additionally, the land is impacted from landfilling activities conducted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as part of the post-WWII demolition of structures conducted during the 1960s-1980s. Managing such a large-scale project in a remote location presented logistical challenges, including coordinating transport, securing necessary approvals, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.

Our Role

Montrose Environmental played a crucial role in securing the necessary funding, planning and implementing the remediation projects. Our specific contributions included:

  • Grant Acquisition: Successfully secured $5 million in EPA Brownfield grants for the Ounalashka Corporation. This funding was crucial for initiating and sustaining the cleanup efforts.
  • Project Implementation: Managed the assessment and cleanup of multiple FUDS. This included a $1 million remedial excavation of PCB-impacted soils, addressing contamination resulting from WWII bombings. Upcoming projects in 2025 include a $2 million removal of buried demolition debris containing hazardous building materials.
  • Expert Coordination: Provided comprehensive support in coordinating project logistics, from scheduling and transport to ensuring regulatory compliance and access to necessary data at remote locations.
  • Integrated Services: Leveraged our expertise in both strategic advisory services and technical field support to deliver an integrated solution that met the client’s goals and regulatory requirements.

Through these efforts, Montrose ensured that the remediation projects were completed efficiently, effectively, and in line with the highest environmental standards. Our ability to navigate the complexities of Brownfield programs and deliver tailored solutions underscores our commitment to supporting indigenous communities and protecting their land.

Contact Us Today

Montrose is eager to assist Tribal organizations in all aspects of project development and creating innovative projects that highlight community values and preserve culture. Our team has expertise in preparing presentations to Tribal Councils, Tribal communities, and other stakeholders. Our work has led to long-term relationships with Tribal Nations across the United States, and we gratefully look forward to continuing to serve in this field.

To discover how Montrose Environmental can support your community in achieving similar successes, visit our Brownfield Redevelopment Services page. Let us help you secure funding, navigate environmental challenges, and achieve sustainable development goals.