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Executive Summary
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This is a 1.5 acre portion of a six acre shell mound (midden) located on the northeastern portion of Indian Island in Humboldt Bay, Eureka, CA. The midden is the historic location of the Tuluwat Village and the Center of Wiyot Universe. The midden is where the Wiyot Tribe held their Annual World Renewal Ceremony.
In 1860, a tragic massacre occurred on the Site. Local settlers from the surrounding Eureka-Arcata area killed many members of the Wiyot Tribe and other area tribes under cover of night following a sacred gathering. Immediately following the massacre, the midden and surrounding area was used as a boat repair and maintenance facility. This operation continued through the 1970s under various owners. Ships were pulled ashore on steel way-runner rails and a variety of chemical wood preservatives and paints were applied.
The Wiyot Tribe purchased the Site in 2000 and has been working towards restoring it to its original condition and resuming the historical use of the land as a sacred site in order to complete the World Renewal Ceremony. The Wiyot Tribe has exhausted all avenues of funding to renew their sacred ground on Indian Island. All that remains is the installation of an permeable cap atop the shell mound to prevent direct contact with the COPCs. Capping is the only viable alternative that would achieve renewal of this sacred ground and preserve the historical and culturally sensitive setting.
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
A943 |
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Contract Number: |
EP-S9-12-01 |
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D.O. Number: |
1201-9033 |
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Action Memo Date: |
7/11/2013 |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Time-Critical |
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Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
7/29/2013 |
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Start Date: |
7/29/2013 |
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Demob Date: |
8/30/2013 |
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Completion Date: |
10/15/2013 |
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CERCLIS ID: |
CAN000909548 |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
CA |
1.1.1 Incident Category: Time-critical
1.1.2 Site Description: The Site is located within a six-acre shell mound (midden) that is approximately 14 feet deep and was the historic location of the Tuluwat Village of the Wiyot people. The midden, composed of shells and sand deposited over thousands of years, has been contaminated with chemical wood preservatives and paints related to a boat repair and maintenance facility that operated through the 1970s under various owners.
1.1.2.1 Location: The Site consists of a 1.5 acre parcel of land on the northeastern portion of Indian Island located in Humboldt Bay, Eureka, CA. Indian Island is the largest of three islands situated off the north shoreline of City of Eureka. The island encompasses approximately 273 acres, not including tidelands, and is approximately 0.5 mile north of Eureka’s mainland. State Route 255, also known as the Samoa Bridge, connects the City of Eureka and the Samoa Peninsula, and crosses Indian Island.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat: Direct contact to chemical wood preservatives.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results: On March 26, 2013, OSCs Allen and Duncan met with Stephen Kullmann, Director of the Wiyot Tribe Environmental Department and visited the Site. The OSCs observed contaminated areas within the midden, including stressed vegetation and staining. Prior to this, the Site had been addressed by a Targeted Brownfields Assessment and an array of contaminants, particularly wood treating chemicals were identified, several in excess of Regional Screening Levels.
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1.2 Incident Objectives
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Cap the effected area to prevent direct contact with the contaminants.
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1.3 Critical Resource Needs
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None identified
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1.4 Strategic Considerations
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None identified
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
29 July - Crew mobilized, OSC briefed Wiyot Tribal Council Members, the Tribe's THPO and Environmental Director on logistics.
30 July - Pre-con meeting held with all participants. Transfer of equipment to Island via Tug and Barge commences. Coast Guard PST supported on water operational site safety.
31 July - Transfer of equipment continues and first load of fill material commences. Tree stumps ground to ground surface.
01 August - Debris cleared from area to be capped and began compressing vegetation into ground surface with excavator tracks. This was an on-site change from the original plan to scrape the site and agreed by all parties involved to be better alternative. On-site well pumped for dust suppression water source. SHN Engineers o/s to install well-head extensions. Began placing geo-grid to identify native soil /import fill interface. Three barge loads of fill material delivered during the 2100 hr high tide. Site security guard services implemented.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
THPO and Cultural Monitor continue to observe site activities. 6 August - Wiyot Tribe and neighboring Tribal members to visit site. 7 August USCG-PST Operations Officer and Industrial Hygienist to visit site.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Continue transfer of fill material during high tides. Asbestos abatement scheduled for 06 August.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
2.2.2 Issues
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2.3 Logistics Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.4 Finance Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.5 Other Command Staff
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No information available at this time.
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3. Participating Entities
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No information available at this time.
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4. Personnel On Site
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1 - OSC
3 - PST
5 - ERRS
3 - Wiyot Tribe
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5. Definition of Terms
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No information available at this time.
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6. Additional sources of information
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No information available at this time.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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