01/09/2021
Questions about Safety in the Warmhouse Beach Dump Area
Context – The Makah Tribe and the EPA continue discussions about identifying the ecological and human health risks which might be associated with the Warmhouse Beach Dump cleanup. Makah cultural, ceremonial, and subsistence practices present interfaces between humans and the environment which are not considered in assessment protocols developed for mainstream America.
The Makah Team surfaced the fact that the Makah community has thinking and ideas that will assist decision-making associated with EPA field work and, to the extent possible, integrating Makah questions/concerns into the standard ecological and human health risk assessments.
Here are some questions the Makah Team wants EPA to consider. We know there are additional questions and ideas in the community which need to be included in this list. We appreciate that EPA understands the need to learn from and respond to questions and concerns from the Makah Community.
Each of these question needs to be geographically distributed throughout the Warmhouse Beach Dump watershed, as well as along any creeks to their salt water connection. Two considerations for all questions have been proposed by the team. If you have other considerations in addition to other questions/concerns, please email [email protected] .
Each question needs to be asked with these two ideas in mind:
1) Are there times of year (rainy seasons, dry seasons) which increase the risk?
A) EPA will consider this throughout the risk assessment. Times of year can influence the mobilization of contaminants, the types of media present, frequency of exposure, and dilution or concentration of contaminants. EPA has some information to look at these variables. For example, we have surface water data from both the dry season and wet season (with the exception that certain reaches of the creeks only have water during the wet season). We are also interested in finding seeps, which may present a higher risk than surface water during certain times of the year.
2) Are there groups of humans at higher risk than others?
A) EPA will consider this throughout the risk assessment. For example, if dioxins are present in media that mothers are exposed to, nursing infants are at higher risk due to breast milk exposure and their body mass. Also, adults who spend more time outdoors interacting with impacted media are at higher risk than adults who spend more time indoors or away from the impacted media.
About water safety
1) Could Makah babies safely drink the water from any sources in the area, whether known or named?
Could Makah children safely drink the water from creeks, ponds or streams?
Could Makah adults safely drink the water from creeks, ponds or streams?
Could pregnant or lactating Makah moms safely drink the water from creeks, ponds or streams?
Could Makah seniors or those in vulnerable populations safely drink the water from creeks, ponds or streams?
2) Could I cook with the water from any sources in the area, whether known or named?
3) Could my dog safely drink the water from any sources in the area, whether known or named?
4) Can my kids play in East or West Creeks or the intermittent streams or ponds in the Warmhouse Back Dump area?
About human nutrition
1) Is it safe to eat deer that have spent time in Warmhouse Beach Dump area? Are there locations in the WBD area that are riskier for deer meat than others?
2) Is it safe to eat elk that have spent time in Warmhouse Beach Dump area? Are there locations in the WBD area that are riskier for elk meat than others?
3) Is it safe to eat bear that have spent time in Warmhouse Beach Dump area? Are there locations in the WBD area that are riskier for bear meat than others?
4) Is it safe to eat berries growing in the Warmhouse Dump area? Are there locations in the WBD area that are riskier for berries than others?
5) Is it safe to eat baʔax̌ growing in the Warmhouse Dump area? Are there locations in the WBD area that are riskier for baʔax̌ than others?
6) Is it safe to butcher and dress mammals that have spent time in Warmhouse Beach Dump area? Are there locations in the WBD area that are riskier for these activities than others?
7) Is it safe to gather and eat shellfish in the runoff areas of creeks that run through the Warmhouse Beach Dump area? Are there types of shellfish that carry more risk than others?
8) Is it safe to gather and eat mushrooms growing in the Warmhouse Dump area? Are there locations in the WBD area that are riskier for mushrooms than others?
About use of raw materials (plants)
1)Is it safe to gather plants for basketry/cultural/medicinal practices in the Warmhouse Beach Dump area? Wood? Bark? Grasses? Berries? Mosses? (Question can be expanded to pinpoint specific locations within the Warmhouse Beach Dump area.)
2) Is it safe to cut and/or carve alder from the Warmhouse Beach Dump area? Spruce? Hemlock? Cedar? (Question can be expanded to pinpoint specific locations within the Warmhouse Beach Dump area.)
3) Is it safe to burn alder from the Warmhouse Beach Dump area? Spruce? Hemlock? Cedar? (Question can be expanded to pinpoint specific locations within the Warmhouse Beach Dump area.)
4) Is it safe to harvest trees in the Warmhouse Beach Dump area that have fallen because of natural circumstances (wind, age)? (Question can be expanded to pinpoint specific locations within the Warmhouse Beach Dump area.)
About use of raw materials (animals)
1) Is it safe to tan the hides or use the pelts from mammals that have spent time in Warmhouse Beach Dump area? Are there locations in the WBD area that are riskier for these materials than others??
2) Is it safe to carve/work bone and antler from mammals that have spent time in Warmhouse Beach Dump area? Are there locations in the WBD area that are riskier for these materials than others?
3) Is it safe for humans to use deer tallow, bear fat, and other fat-based substances from mammals that have spent time in Warmhouse Beach Dump area? Are there locations in the WBD area that are riskier for these materials than others?
About ceremonial uses
1) Is it safe to bathe in creeks or pools of water in the WBD area? Are there locations in the WBD area that are riskier for these activities than others?
2) Is it safe to camp overnight in the WBD area (insert specific location names if helpful), sleeping on the ground and with minimal camping supports?
Are there any other questions or concerns you would like us to include? Please email [email protected] or call (360) 645-3278 if you have ideas to share with us.
