Legislature(2019 - 2020)CAPITOL 106
03/26/2019 08:00 AM House TRIBAL AFFAIRS
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| Presentation(s): Case Study in Tribal Partnerships | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON TRIBAL AFFAIRS
March 26, 2019
8:02 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Tiffany Zulkosky, Chair
Representative Bryce Edgmon, Vice Chair
Representative John Lincoln
Representative Dan Ortiz
Representative Chuck Kopp
Representative Dave Talerico
Representative Sarah Vance
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Zack Fields
Representative Grier Hopkins
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): CASE STUDY IN TRIBAL PARTNERSHIPS
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
GAVIN DIXON, Community Development Manager
Division of Environmental Health and Engineering
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented on and answered questions about
ANTHC's involvement in several major projects, notably the
Newtok Village relocation effort.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:02:14 AM
CHAIR TIFFANY ZULKOSKY called the House Special Committee on
Tribal Affairs meeting to order at 8:02 a.m. Representatives
Talerico, Kopp, Lincoln, Vance, and Zulkosky were present at the
call to order. Representatives Edgmon and Ortiz arrived as the
meeting was in progress.
^PRESENTATION(S): Case Study in Tribal Partnerships
PRESENTATION(S): Case Study in Tribal Partnerships
8:02:54 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY announced that the only order of business would
be a presentation by Gavin Dixon of the Alaska Native Tribal
Health Consortium (ANTHC).
8:03:16 AM
GAVIN DIXON, Community Development Manager, Division of
Environmental Health and Engineering, Alaska Native Tribal
Health Consortium, thanked the committee for allowing him to
present. He began a PowerPoint presentation [hard copy included
in committee packet] titled "Case Studies in Tribal
Partnerships." He addressed slide 2 and explained that the
presentation would relay information about several tribal
partnership projects, notably the Newtok Village relocation
effort. He discussed the preventative work ANTHC does through
its Division of Environmental Health and Engineering,
particularly the maintenance of healthy water, sewer systems,
and health clinics. He said ANTHC's vision is to ensure Alaska
Native people are the healthiest people in the world.
8:04:54 AM
MR. DIXON addressed slide 3. He remarked that the State of
Alaska (SOA) has taken a leadership role in efforts to relocate
Newtok Village. He explained that Newtok is a community located
on the Ningliq River at a spot approximately 90 miles west of
Bethel. He relayed the community's long-term experience with
severe environmental changes, including the degradation of
permafrost, the reduction of river ice, and the acceleration of
catastrophic erosion. He noted that Newtok has averaged 80 feet
of erosion per year over the past two decades and added that the
rate is accelerating. He discussed a recent storm event that
caused 40 feet of erosion over a 10-day span. He commented that
erosion is often thought of as a slow phenomenon but Newtok's
erosion is "a live event."
MR. DIXON said ANTHC supports the village in its effort to
relocate. He noted that Newtok Village is a federally
recognized tribe. He relayed that community members have known
about the erosion problem for many years and long ago selected a
relocation option. He addressed a graphic on slide 3 indicating
the location of predicted erosion. He said the United States
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) predicted in 2003 that erosion
would cause a house to fall into the Ningliq River. He said the
first house is expected to fall into the river later this year.
He commented that the USACE projection was only slightly off.
8:07:37 AM
MR. DIXON addressed slide 4. He detailed various issues with
Newtok, explaining that the decision to relocate has meant very
little investment has gone toward improving the existing
village. He described Newtok's degrading boardwalks, its lack
of running water and sewer, and its susceptibility to brownouts.
He relayed that Newtok is home to 375 people living in 65
occupied houses with an average size of 800 square feet. He
noted that this works out to an average of 6.5 people living in
a house without running water and equipped with a honey bucket.
He added that flooding conditions have afflicted the community
with black mold. He explained that the Newtok Village Council
(NVC) is focusing its efforts on relocating the village to a new
site known as Mertarvik.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 5 and detailed work done since 2003 to
facilitate the move. He said the Mertarvik site has been
developed thanks to various funding sources and that it now
features several houses, an emergency shelter known as the
Mertarvik Emergency Center (MEC), a shallow draft barge landing,
and a water well. He relayed that many studies have been
conducted in Mertarvik to measure geotechnical issues, water
quality, bathymetry, and wind. He mused that those are all
necessary things to study when designing a new community. He
added that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has funded
an airport layout plan created by the Alaska Department of
Transportation & Public Facilities (DOTPF). He said Mertarvik
is located 10 miles south of Newtok on Nelson Island at a site
with access to clean spring water. He noted that Mertarvik is
named after a Yupik phrase describing the process of gathering
water from the spring. He added that Nelson Island is a basalt
island, which means the relocated village will be constructed on
a rock foundation not affected by the erosion problems that have
plagued Newtok. He mentioned that the best resource for
learning more about the relocation effort is Newtok Planning
Group website operated by SOA.
8:11:24 AM
MR. DIXON addressed slide 6. He described the relationship
between ANTHC and Newtok Village. He said ANTHC helped develop
a community layout plan in 2016 so that the needs of the
community could be cohesively and strategically addressed. He
called the process "community-led" and "iterative," and
explained that it covered what should be built, where it should
be built, and why it should be build. He introduced a design on
slide 7 that he said is the result of six months of planning
meetings. He remarked that the layout would ensure that
Mertarvik is a safe, relatively affordable community not
troubled by the health challenges of Newtok. He noted that the
various surveys and studies conducted in Mertarvik had informed
the design. He described the process of submitting the
community layout plan to the Department of Natural Resources.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 7. He said ANTHC and NVC have worked
together to develop the master implementation plan that
prioritizes what gets built and when. He clarified that NVC led
the effort and ANTHC provided support.
8:13:54 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY asked Mr. Dixon to discuss the formation of the
relationship between ANTHC and Newtok Village.
MR. DIXON said he would address that later in the presentation.
8:14:14 AM
MR. DIXON, returning to the presentation, compared the master
implementation plan to a sheet of music that guides funding and
construction. He said the plan is a cooperative effort that
reflects the priorities of the community informed by analysis by
ANTHC.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 8. He said the next step of the
relationship between Newtok Village and ANTHC is the management
of design and construction. He noted that design and
construction activities in Mertarvik have been led by a variety
of groups, including the tribe, SOA, USACE, and the Department
of Defense's (DoD) Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program.
He said ANTHC has entered into a partnership with NVC to oversee
all design and construction efforts. He listed contractors
involved in the efforts. He said ANTHC oversees a master
builder contract with Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation's (UIC)
construction company. He described the nature of that contract
and the bidding process for additional contracts related to the
30 projects planned for the next few years.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 9. He said funding acquisition is
another piece of the partnership between Newtok Village and
ANTHC. He explained that this aspect of the relationship
involves developing and managing the Mertarvik site, as well as
acquiring funding for future efforts. He said this work follows
the master implementation plan. He described how ANTHC
identifies and leverages appropriate funding sources.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 10. He relayed that the master
implementation plan has three main goals. He said the 2019 goal
is to establish a year-round occupied community by relocating
one-third of the population of Newtok to Mertarvik. He
explained that this requires a minimal level of infrastructure
to support the population, including reliable electricity, an
education facility, an emergency landing strip for medical
evacuation access, self-haul treated water, a portable
alternative sanitation system, sufficient fuel storage, a
landfill, and 21 occupied houses. He reiterated that the
expectation is for all this to be realized by fall 2019.
8:19:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON stated that he previously represented
Newtok before redistricting. He relayed seeing a list of all
the state and federal entities with whom the community had to
coordinate. He noted that all those agencies and funding
streams were a source of confusion. He asked if ANTHC has taken
control of keeping track of things.
MR. DIXON answered that ANTHC's role is as a coordinating
entity. He said the Newtok project involves work with
"essentially every federal and state agency," plus regional
partners, nonprofit organizations, and press organizations. He
noted that SOA and the Denali Commission also help coordinate
communications with various agencies. He clarified that ANTHC
helps guide NVC regarding funding opportunities, rules,
regulations, and project delivery.
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON remarked that there are "more Newtoks"
along the West Coast. He asked if ANTHC would assume a similar
role with other communities in the future. He asked if there is
a master plan that includes future projects.
MR. DIXON said ANTHC has plans to support other environmentally
threatened communities and pointed to its Environmentally
Threatened Communities Grant Center as one arm of that effort.
He remarked that just the one relocation project is "a ton of
work." He shared that ANTHC has a full-time team of four people
that focuses solely on the Newtok project. He commented that
the needs of environmentally threatened communities far outweigh
the amount of available support. He shared an expectation that
there will be more projects like the Newtok relocation for ANTHC
to take on in the future. He opined that ANTHC will not be able
to handle relocation efforts on its own. He said other tribal
and regional partners can also support rural communities in
similar situations.
8:22:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON asked if ANTCH signs Memoranda of
Agreement (MOAs) with state and federal entities with whom it
works. He also asked if SOA capital budget monies support the
new education facility in Mertarvik.
MR. DIXON stated that ANTHC mostly supports and advocates for
NVC. He said Newtok Village maintains direct relationships with
federal and state entities, especially as relates to funding.
He said ANTHC has mechanisms to allow it to support NVC fulfill
its obligations to those entities, including cooperate project
agreements (CPAs) and MOAs. He added that, in some cases, ANTHC
does work directly with the state or federal entity. He
stressed that its role is most often a supporting one.
Addressing the topic of the education facility, he said ANTHC
has worked with Lower Kuskokwim School District (LKSD) for
several years on the relocation project. He said the MEC can
serve as a "portable classroom" and support an administrator and
teachers. He noted that it is not designed as an education
facility and that it is not intended to be a long-term solution.
He said a new school would be needed to accommodate the entire
student population, which amounts to approximately 110 students.
8:24:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON noted that when he sat on the Alaska
Northern Waters Task Force (NWTF), it became painfully apparent
that SOA did not have a clearinghouse to perform the duties that
ANTHC seems to be performing in Newtok. He spoke to the dire
environmental situation faced by the community of Kivalina,
describing it as "code red." He described the lack of a
systematic approach to addressing such an issue. He commented
that ANTHC seems to be doing a great job.
MR. DIXON agreed. He clarified that each project is unique, and
no single agency currently includes the protection or relocation
of communities as part of its mission. He commented that each
agency has a part to play in a project like the Newtok
relocation. He said ANTHC strives to fill the gaps and serve as
a coordinator. He commented on the critical contributions of
different agencies and the challenge of maximizing the benefits
of those contributions.
8:27:17 AM
MR. DIXON addressed slide 11. He shared that the next goal for
the project is to safely relocate the entire population of
Newtok by 2023. He said this goal includes the presence in
Mertarvik of a DOTPF airport, a full school, a health clinic,
and partial running water and sewer service. He said the 2023
goal also includes cleanup of the Newtok site and the
construction of enough homes in Mertarvik to accommodate all
residents of Newtok. He commented that the 2023 goal aligns
with the Newtok erosion timeline. He noted that Newtok's school
and airport will be so affected by erosion that they will be
rendered unusable sometime between 2021 and 2023. He remarked
that the 2023 vision of Mertarvik would not be considered a
completion of the project.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 12. He said the relocation project
would be considered complete when the community no longer
experiences overcrowding in housing and has access to full
running water and sewer, low-cost renewable energy, economic
development, and a trail system leading to subsistence
resources. He shared that the goal is for the project to reach
these levels of completeness in 2027. He summarized that the
relocation will occur in three main phases: the establishment of
a year-round population at the new site, the accommodation of
the entire population by 2023, and the elimination of certain
challenges to rural living by 2027. He said every project
within the master implementation plan works toward those goals
in a phased manner.
8:29:50 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY reflected on a statement made by Mr. Dixon in
which he explained that the average home in Newtok is
approximately 800 square feet and houses an average of 6.5
people. She asked him to elaborate on the goal of eliminating
overcrowding by 2027.
MR. DIXON stated that overcrowding is not unique to Newtok and
that many communities in Alaska have insufficient housing. He
spoke to the goal of constructing houses that are appropriate
for the Mertarvik site. He said the houses being built in 2019
are 4-bedroom, 1,400 square foot homes that can accommodate big,
multigenerational families. He noted that not every house is
expected to be that size but shared that the intent is to move
as many people as possible away from the public health crisis in
Newtok. He added that the houses are built to a 6-star energy
rating so they will be inexpensive to heat and will feature good
indoor air quality.
8:31:43 AM
MR. DIXON addressed slide 13, which featured a photo captioned
"Recent Construction Progress Quarry". He said a rock quarry
near the site is being developed by Brice, Inc. to support all
the material in Mertarvik. He said the quarry is a unique
opportunity for economic development to support the project. He
stated that the gravel resource is a major factor in the
relocation effort and that Newtok is fortunate to have access to
it. He relayed the large amount of material that has been
quarried and stockpiled to support the project.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 14, which featured a photo of the
Mertarvik Evacuation Center (MEC). He said the MEC was
primarily funded by SOA. He stated that it is designed to
accommodate the entire population of Newtok for a two-week
period in the event of a disaster. He noted that the MEC will
temporarily serve as an education facility. He said the MEC was
completed in 2018 by Wolverine Supply, Inc. He stated that it
has a heating system, is well-insulated, uses minimal fuel,
measures out to approximately 6,000 square feet, and will serve
during the summer as a bunkhouse for military servicemembers
assisting on the site.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 15, which featured a photo of a newly
constructed home. He said the Association of Village Council
Presidents (AVCP) Regional Housing Authority (RHA) has
contributed to building new housing. He noted that the houses,
completed in summer 2018, are not yet occupied. He said two of
the homes were funded by the Title VI Loan Guarantee Program
operated by RHA and two were funded through a Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Imminent Threat (IT) grant.
He said there are currently eight occupiable homes in Mertarvik,
though none presently has access to electricity or fuel storage
facilities.
8:34:22 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY asked for clarification on the occupancy status
of the homes.
MR. DIXON said three of the homes are seasonally occupied during
the summer but are closed for the winter when the residents
return to Newtok.
8:34:44 AM
MR. DIXON addressed slide 16, which featured a photo captioned
"Recent Construction Progress Power Plant". He said, in order
to maximize the Mertarvik building season, certain modular
facilities are being developed in Anchorage. He noted that
these facilities include the water plant and power plant; the
latter is scheduled for installation in 2019. He said the
development of the power plant is a partnership with SOA and the
Alaska Energy Authority (AEA).
MR. DIXON addressed slide 17, which featured a photo of an
airplane. He said the road that had been built to the rock
quarry was designed to function as an emergency landing strip to
accommodate planes. He stated that Cessna 207s has regular
access to Mertarvik last year. He clarified that the landing
strip is not an airport and is not maintained by DOTPF. He
shared that an expansion will take place in 2019 to accommodate
medical evacuation aircraft. He said the landing strip supports
construction efforts and community safety.
8:36:00 AM
MR. DIXON addressed slide 18. He shared construction plans for
spring 2019 with the goal of delivering an inhabitable village
by fall 2019. The projects included gravel production,
completion of the landing strip extension, completion of a barge
landing access road, expansion of the construction laydown area,
safety improvements for the MEC, construction of 13 house pads
and foundations for new homes, development of access trails to
the house pads, setup of an additional construction camp to
accommodate more workers and military personnel, and connection
of temporary water/sewer to those facilities. He said these
projects are expected to be finished by the first week of June
2019.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 19 and shared construction plans for
summer 2019. He said DoD will provide 50 servicemembers through
its Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program to assist with
infrastructure development in Mertarvik. He said the IRT
projects will include a landfill, a heavy equipment shop, four
complete houses, one mile of roads, the power plant
installation, and gravel production. He spoke to the mutual
benefits of the IRT program, which allows DoD to conduct
training resulting in usable infrastructure for the community.
He said these projects will be finished in August 2019.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 20 and shared construction plans for
fall 2019. He said the master builder will complete nine
additional houses. He stated that, when the IRT personnel
depart, the MEC will be adapted to accommodate a pioneering
school. He said additional projects include the installation of
a water plant, a limited water distribution system for the MEC,
portable alternative sanitation systems, and an electric
distribution system.
8:39:05 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY asked Mr. Dixon to define "pioneering school."
MR. DIXON said the [Lower Kuskokwim School District] (LKSD) uses
the term "pioneering school" to describe a school that does not
initially meet the needs of the community but provides a
sufficient space for educational operations. He said the plan
is to move one-third of the population of Newtok to the
Mertarvik site by October 15, resulting in 40 students attending
the pioneering school at the MEC. He noted that LKSD intends
for students to participate in on-site education as well as
tele-education. He said the MEC renovation will include the
installation of bathrooms, a fire suppression system, and
several classrooms. He said the MEC already has a warming
kitchen and noted that the facility will be able to be used as a
community center in the future.
8:40:15 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ asked if the Mertarvik site has broadband
capacity to support tele-education.
MR. DIXON said ANTHC is working with General Communications,
Inc. (GCI) and United Utilities, Inc. (UUI) as the main telecom
utilities. He stated that there is currently 3G cell service
onsite. He said the school district plans to install a
"microwave repeater" to allow educational services in Newtok to
be transmitted to the Mertarvik site. He shared that most rural
school districts' tele-education is funded through the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA). He said the
construction efforts in Mertarvik are supported by an internet
system that can be utilized by the community during winter. He
remarked that the long-term solution will require a larger
repeater to obtain service from a large cell tower in Tununak
that does not currently have line-of-sight access to Mertarvik.
He said service is currently limited but both ANTHC and GCI know
it must be improved.
8:41:44 AM
MR. DIXON addressed slide 21. He said the busy 2019 building
schedule will be supported by approximately 100 onsite
construction workers. He characterized the project as being
much larger than a typical rural Alaska community project. He
listed 2020 projects that have been funded: a bulk fuel farm
funded through AEA, two duplex housing units funded through the
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC), a heat recovery
system funded by the United States Department of Energy (DOE), a
DOTPF-funded airport to be completed in 2021, and cleanup of
threatened infrastructure in Newtok.
8:42:53 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY asked how long [NVC] has been working toward the
relocation.
MR. DIXON said the community categorically decided to relocate
in 2003. He said significant progress was made in 2007, then
again in 2012. He clarified that by "progress" he meant
significant steps forward related to key funding and
coordination efforts. He said increased involvement by the
Denali Commission since 2016 has "jumpstarted" the project.
8:43:47 AM
MR. DIXON addressed slide 22. He said some projects planned for
2020 still need to be funded, specifically the construction of
16 additional housing units and extensions of roads and power
lines. He said ANTHC is pursuing every funding source
imaginable to secure funding for these projects.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 23. He described the relationship
between NVC and ANTHC as a cooperative project agreement. He
said NVC, which is the village's governing body, provides
preapproval of all projects and selects contractors. He added
that NVC provides local coordination and support. He reiterated
that the nature of the partnership is ANTHC supporting NVC in
accomplishing its relocation goal. He said ANTHC goes to Newtok
every month and that he communicates daily with the village
relocation coordinator. He stated that ANTHC coordinates a
steering committee, oversees design and construction activities,
and coordinates regional, state, and federal partners.
8:45:50 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY asked for confirmation that Newtok does not have
an active municipal government, meaning the tribal government
serves as the local government structure.
MR. DIXON confirmed it. He said, "Newtok is only a tribe; there
is no second-class city out there." He noted that, throughout
the relocation effort, NVC must still provide safety and
essential services to Newtok residents. He said ANTHC strives
to reduce the burden of NVC's many responsibilities.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 24. He said a MOA allows NVC to use
ANTHC's existing contractors. He described the process through
which ANTHC puts out a request for proposal (RFP) on behalf of
NVC. He said the MOA reduces costs and procurement time. He
mentioned how important the time factor is given the race
against erosion. He said the MOA also allows for swift support
for NVC regarding invoice processing, contract management, and
payroll.
8:48:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON noted that, because there is no
municipality in Newtok, ANTHC was able to operate outside the
State Procurement Code [AS 36.30]. He posited that this allowed
ANTHC to have a more direct and efficient relationship with NVC
than if it had been working with SOA entities.
MR. DIXON said each funding source for the Newtok project comes
with its own set of rules. He said, for example, SOA funding
requires adherence to the State Procurement Code. He explained
that, through the MOA, NVC can pursue SOA funding through
ANTHC's existing channels.
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON remarked that most of the funding for the
project has been federal.
MR. DIXON said there has historically been much SOA support for
Newtok. He commented that federal funding has increased since
ANTHC became involved. He clarified that most of that funding
has been through the Denali Commission.
8:49:48 AM
MR. DIXON addressed slide 25. He shared that the partnership
between ANTHC and NVC allowed the latter to apply for the IRT
program through DoD. He said the current program is the second
time NVC has been accepted into the IRT program, citing a prior
multi-year project that began in 2011. He said all the work
done by IRT will be coordinated by ANTHC. He said NVC and ANTHC
work together to decide which projects should be addressed by
IRT, and then ANTHC ensures IRT is equipped to handle those
projects.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 26 and spoke to the importance of the
partnership between ANTHC, NVC, and SOA. He discussed working
with the Division of Community and Regional Affairs (DCRA),
which provides web hosting, distributes a quarterly newsletter,
supports a move-out/move-in manual for the benefit of Newtok
residents, and helps coordinate Newtok Planning Group meetings.
He said AEA has been helpful in troubleshooting and repairing
the current power plant in Newtok. He added that AEA will also
perform commissioning activities on the new power plant in
Mertarvik. He said DNR and the Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) each play a role in permitting, platting,
recording, and regulatory support. He stated that they also
offer guidance on the feasibility of certain projects. He said
DOTPF oversees design and management for the new airport planned
for Mertarvik.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 27. He discussed SOA funding for
certain projects, including the MEC, the MEC access road, and
the barge landing access. He spoke about the importance of SOA
matching funds that complement Denali Foundation funding for
housing and transportation. He said the Department of Military
& Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) bought out seven threatened houses in
Newtok through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). He
commented that demolition of those houses, which has already
begun, will ensure they do not fall into the river. He said the
HMGP funds have been reinvested toward building new homes in
Mertarvik.
8:54:49 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY relayed her understanding that there was some
intent to relocate existing buildings from Newtok to Mertarvik.
She asked if that is still the case.
MR. DIXON noted that the project is focused on relocating
people, not infrastructure. He said the buildings in Newtok are
not in good condition and there is not much interest in bringing
the problems of Newtok to the new site. He discussed the
technical challenge of moving a building from Newtok to
Mertarvik. He noted there are three homes and two community
facilities in Newtok that are "in a quality worthy of
relocation." He commented that those structures would need to
be moved during a winter when the Ningliq River has completely
frozen over. He noted that the river can no longer be depended
upon to freeze to a suitable standard.
CHAIR ZULKOSKY asked for how many years it has been a goal to
relocate structures from Newtok to Mertarvik and how many times
during that span the river ice has been of a condition to
support he move.
MR. DIXON said it has been NVC's intent to move rather than
demolish the structures for about five years. He stated that
relocation would have been impossible in three of those years
and only perhaps possible in the other two years during brief
spring windows when the ice was at its thickest. He commented
that such a relocation is very difficult to plan, noting as well
that favorable weather does not always align with grant timing.
He shared that NVC and ANTHC asked the military about the
possibility of airlifting the homes but were told it was not
possible.
8:57:26 AM
MR. DIXON addressed slide 28. He discussed the importance of
NVC's partnership with the Denali Commission, the primary funder
of the project. He said the commission helps to coordinate
other federal agencies and that its funds have special "non-
federal match" status that allow NVC and ANTHC to leverage
additional funds for the creation of special programs. He
listed other federal agencies that are partners: The Bureau of
Indian Affairs (BIA), HUD, DOE, and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). He said the United Methodist
Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has assisted with developing
sanitation systems to replace honey buckets. He said the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has awarded a grant
to fund cleanup work in Newtok. He spoke to the importance of
coordinating and organizing funding from various supporters and
how those efforts encourage additional support from outside
entities. He said USACE and the FAA have funded critical
portions of the project, with the latter funding the airport
through DOTPF.
8:59:53 AM
MR. DIXON addressed slide 29 and discussed various regional
partners. He said the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation
(YKHC), LKSD, AVCP RHA, and AVCP, Inc. have all contributed to
the success of the project. He said YKHC will operate a small
clinic in Mertarvik starting in 2019 and will participate in
environmental health programs, such as for the elimination of
bed bugs and the design of water/sewer systems. He said LKSD
operates the school in Newtok and noted that the school serves
additional key community functions, such as providing a place of
refuge during storms. He said LKSD is working towards operating
the school facility in Mertarvik. He added that LKSD provides
temporary housing to displaced Newtok residents. He said AVCP
RHA, in addition to contributing with housing construction and
funding, is assisting the village with creating housing policy.
9:01:43 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY sought clarity on the relationship between ANTHC
and NVC as regards the "coordination and delivery of support."
MR. DIXON stated that ANTHC's partnership with NVC is similar to
cooperative project agreements (CPAs) between ANTHC and other
Alaska tribes. He said the CPAs focus on environmental health
and engineering projects. He explained that the partnership
involves ANTHC supporting the community in developing and
managing funds received for water and sewer projects, as well as
in carrying out all grant conditions and requirements. He said
the CPA with NVC establishes additional ANTHC roles and
responsibilities, and that it allows funds received by either
NVC or ANTHC to be managed together under one process focused on
securing the tribe's vision.
CHAIR ZULKOSKY commented that Mr. Dixon's presentation has
demonstrated that the needs of communities across Alaska are
unique, complex, and multilayered. She said these needs require
endurance and perseverance. She remarked that tribal leaders
are "ready to engage" but need coordination support. She
expressed appreciation for the work done by ANTHC in helping NVC
advocate for itself against the backdrop of a multi-decade
project.
MR. DIXON thanked Chair Zulkosky. He shared that he draws
inspiration from leadership in Newtok. He commented that the
residents have endured much and continue to work for their
community. He said ANTHC is honored to have the opportunity to
support them.
9:04:02 AM7
MR. DIXON addressed slide 30. He expressed that he would
address other ANTHC projects. He described the Community
Utility Assistant Program (CUAP) as a partnership between ANTHC,
the Northwest Arctic Borough (NWAB), the Maniilaq Association,
and rural communities in that region. He said CUAP supports
water and sewer services and is funded by NWAB with payment in
lieu of taxes (PILT) from Red Dog Mine. He said the goals of
CUAP are to reduce water and sewer emergencies, reduce water and
sewer costs, improve career opportunities for utility operators,
and improve competitiveness and eligibility for capital funding
from SOA and federal programs. He stated that the structure of
the CUAP partnership involves NWAB paying operator salaries,
providing training, and purchasing fuel for regional utilities.
He added that ANTHC's role includes billing/payroll management,
overseeing maintenance and operations, and providing additional
training. He said the local communities hire operators and must
comply with SOA "best practices" standards. He said the
Maniilaq Association provides operations and maintenance
support, as well as office space for ANTHC staff.
9:07:08 AM
MR. DIXON addressed slide 32 and discussed the benchmark goals
of CUAP. He said the program strives to reduce average
residential water/sewer rates by two-thirds. He added that the
goal of having fewer emergencies will be pursued through
improved maintenance. He said additional goals are to provide
regional training and support, as well as to increase
construction grant eligibility. He remarked that CUAP is a $1.8
million investment across 10 communities within NWAB.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 33. He said SOA's involvement with
CUAP is based on the "best practices" evaluation criteria
developed by DEC and DCRA, which evaluates every community in
rural Alaska for its water/sewer capacity. He stated that SOA
provides the basis for the program which rural communities and
tribal groups fulfill. He said it is a CUAP goal to improve
scoring and fulfillment of DEC criteria. He added that DEC's
Remote Maintenance Worker (RMW) program and specialist programs
provided through DCRA contribute toward the fulfillment of
training obligations.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 34. He said CUAP has been active for
approximately one year. He explained that, in that time, there
have been no reported emergencies. He credited preventative
maintenance and support provided to the communities. He said
average water/sewer costs have dropped by two-thirds across the
region. He commented on major improvements in compliance with a
preventative maintenance plan. He said the Maniilaq region has
the highest average "best practices" scores in the Alaska. He
opined that CUAP is working and shared his expectation that it
will continue for the next five years.
9:09:08 AM
MR. DIXON addressed slide 35. He discussed ANTHC efforts to
help develop a portable alternative sanitation system (PASS).
He described challenges associated with delivering water/sewer
in rural Alaska. He said some rural communities are in
environments that will never allow for inexpensive water/sewer.
He spoke about the Alaska Water and Sewer Challenge (AWSC),
instituted by SOA to find an alternative to piped water that
still provides health benefits. He said PASS is ANTHC's
response to that challenge. He added that it is a simple
technology with low capital and operations costs.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 36. He said PASS has a water
component and a sewer component. He explained that the water
component includes a simple in-home treatment system with a 100-
gallon storage tank. He said it provides water for handwashing,
drinking, and cooking. He stated that one could shower with
PASS, but it would involve much water-hauling. He explained
that the more-complicated sewer component is based around a
separating toilet. He said liquid waste is disposed of locally
and solid waste is dried with a fan before being hauled away by
the homeowner. He clarified that the solid waste becomes "a
dried product that gets hauled a lot less often." He contrasted
PASS with a honey bucket, which may be hauled out daily. He
said PASS reduces exposure to waste and increases indoor air
quality. He clarified that PASS is not a substitute for running
water/sewer, but noted that it is a practical, affordable, and
portable option for those without those services.
9:12:37 AM
MR. DIXON addressed slide 37. He said the PASS project was made
possible through funding by ANTHC, Indian Health Service (IHS),
Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC), and UMCOR. He remarked that
design, installation, and testing is carried out by ANTHC,
Lifewater Engineering Company, CampWater Industries LLC, and the
Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC). He said PASS is
patented and is manufactured in Alaska by Silverline LLC. He
noted that there is interest in PASS from Arctic communities in
nations like Canada and Russia. He said PASS has been installed
in Kivalina, Alatna, Allakaket, Chalkytsik, and Oscarville. He
noted that an additional 20 systems are set to be installed in
Kivalina during the summer, as well as 21 systems for Newtok.
He described PASS as a rural Alaska solution developed by the
tribes and ANTHC to solve a problem not easily solved with SOA
and federal partners.
9:14:11 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY asked what communication ANTHC has had with the
Village Safe Water (VSW) program regarding PASS.
MR. DIXON said VSW, in partnership with the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), has worked on the Alaska Water and
Sewer Challenge (AWSC). He said ANTHC has received no funding
from VSW but has coordinated with it. He stated that there is
$2 billion worth of need in terms of water and sewer development
in rural Alaska. He said PASS will not fulfill all that need.
He described the coordination relationship between ANTHC and VSW
as one in which "we try to coordinate who can accomplish what."
CHAIR ZULKOSKY asked for a high-level comparison of the
difference in cost between serving a home with running
water/sewer versus with PASS.
MR. DIXON noted that running water and sewer costs vary wildly
across rural Alaska. He said installing those services can cost
$100,000 to $400,000 per house. He said PASS costs $20,000 to
$50,000. He said PASS is much cheaper but noted that it does
not provide the same health benefits as running water/sewer.
9:16:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked about facilities at Mertarvik to
allow residents to bathe and clean laundry.
MR. DIXON said the community construction camp currently has a
facility with three washers, three dryers, four toilets, and
three showers. He said that facility will be accessible to the
community by the end of the 2019 construction season so that
residents have access to benefits not provided by PASS. He
noted that ANTHC recommends that PASS be accompanied by access
to a laundry facility with washers and dryers. He added that
the MEC will have running water and sewer.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked about long-term plans for a laundry
facility and washhouse to accommodate a fully populated
Mertarvik.
MR. DIXON agreed that the facility at the construction camp is
not sufficient. He noted that NVC is responsible for
prioritizing projects. He said NVC has determined that housing
is the key priority. He stated that there is interest in
developing laundry infrastructure, but the goal is to follow the
desires of NVC. He said NVC is comfortable with a "pioneering
relocation" which includes a willingness to move to a site with
minimal infrastructure and without full services.
9:20:25 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY sought to clarify that NVC has decided to make
compromises on the types of services available in Mertarvik in
order to prioritize housing and execute a swift relocation.
MR. DIXON affirmed that community members have been informed
about their options and have designated what services they deem
absolutely necessary. He mentioned that the limited nature of
funds and resources played a role in the decision-making.
9:21:46 AM
MR. DIXON addressed slide 38 and discussed another ANTHC
project, Passive Thermosiphon Conversion (PTC). He said a
thermosiphon is a refrigeration system that transfers heat from
the ground in order to keep the ground frozen. He said passive
thermosiphons are not powered by energy; they achieve
refrigeration through a natural evaporation process. He noted
that rising temperatures will cause thermosiphons to fail. He
said one solution is to incorporate an active management system,
which he explained involves pipes, energy, and much expense. He
noted that the [Trans-Alaska Pipeline System] has over 120,000
active management thermosiphons. He said workers who specialize
in refrigeration are necessary to operate active management
thermosiphons. He opined that active management does not make
sense for rural communities that have only about 20
thermosiphons. He said the goal for ANTHC was to design a
solution that is appropriate for rural communities and that
features low technical complexity and low capital and
maintenance costs.
MR. DIXON addressed slide 39. He said the PTC project is funded
by ANTHC and includes partnerships with CCHRC and Lifewater
Engineering Company. He commented that the PTC project is
currently in the prototype state with expected application in
2020. He described the system as "partially active" powered by
a small solar panel. He said ANTHC is working on securing a
patent and plans for PTC to be locally manufactured in Alaska.
9:24:36 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP thanked Mr. Dixon for his presentation. He
expressed appreciation for the "evolved partnership." He mused
that if Alaska were its own country, it would be among the 10
largest in the world by land mass. He discussed how Alaska's
size makes it difficult to create "single solutions" for
housing, infrastructure, education, healthcare, transportation,
and public safety. He said he is encouraged to see ANTHC take
the lead with a project like the Newtok relocation. He
expressed support for further regional partnerships that work on
region-specific solutions. He said the partnership model and
its network of connections could be applied to other areas, such
as public safety and education. He commented that Alaska is too
big for a "single solution state."
9:26:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON said it is interesting that the focus of
the House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs is extending to
the affairs of all of rural Alaska. He recognized that ANTHC is
a "tribal umbrella entity" that brings a lot of money into
Alaska. He commented on how the Newtok project, ostensibly a
rural project, also benefits urban partners such as Brice, Inc.
He stated that the issue of erosion is "a sleeping giant" in
Alaska. He spoke to the major role played by the University of
Alaska in studying erosion in partnership with various SOA
entities. He noted that many of those entities are "on the
chopping block" in Governor Michael J. Dunleavy's proposed
budget. He commented on the positive effects of federal dollars
that come to Alaska. He noted that ANTHC is performing a role
that had previously been filled by SOA agencies. He spoke to
the difficulties posed by unique Alaska challenges. He
advocated for a better understanding of how rural Alaska works.
He spoke to the importance of learning about the symbiotic
relationships built by rural communities. He noted that there
is no "umbrella governing entity" in Alaska to do what ANTHC
appears to be doing with NVC. He expressed a desire to have
ANTHC return before the committee to help committee members
learn what more can be done to holistically support rural Alaska
communities in times of dwindling SOA funding.
9:29:49 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY reflected on the committee's recent conversations
about the role of tribes and communities, the different types of
tribal entities, Alaska Native Corporations, and the ways in
which those organizations work together. She said she was a
proponent of forming the House Special Committee on Tribal
Affairs because she felt it would demonstrate that tribes,
tribal non-profit organizations, and SOA have shared goals. She
connected that position with Mr. Dixon's presentation, which she
said focused on the goals of establishing sustainable
communities, providing for the health and welfare of remote
communities, and reducing the costs of infrastructure systems.
She discussed the shared values and commonalities of rural
communities and SOA. She thanked Mr. Dixon for presenting
concepts not in an abstract manner, but with concrete examples
of on-the-ground application that involve real dollars and real
community leaders. She thanked him as well for his work and
advocacy.
9:32:02 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Tribal Affairs meeting was adjourned at
9:32 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| ANTHC Tribal Affairs Committee Presentation.pdf |
HTRB 3/26/2019 8:00:00 AM |
ANTHC |