PCB’s, Mercury, Cyanide, Dioxin, Mirex… industrial waste products generated from manufacturing plants like Alcoa and GM, hazardous to human health and far too familiar to a community like Akwesasne. Generations have struggled for abatement of these chemicals from the environment and now is the time. Turtle Clan, a native owned and operated customized environmental services and technology company, is stepping up to the challenge of clean-up at the GM site. Together with Akwesasne’s Emergency Planning Office and the Office of Economic Development, Turtle Clan had organized a 40 hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HazWoper) training course, which took place Jun. 14-19, in order to train local Mohawk workers on the proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials so that they can begin the process of reclaiming the land making it safe again.

“There has been so much polluting that was covered-up that is being found that in order to protect the environment and the community these sites must be cleaned up,” said instructor Don Gundrum.

Both Alcoa and GM are designated Superfund sites, which are those sites so highly impacted by contaminants that they are recognized by the US Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 0f 1980 (CERLA) as a priority site for immediate clean-up. Anybody planning to get involved in the proposed abatement at the GM site must successfully complete at 40 hour HazWoper training course, complete another site specific training before beginning their tour, and maintain their certification through annual 8 hour refreshers during the duration of their involvement. Handling hazardous materials are dangerous. But, proper disposal requires people who know what they are doing to get involved.

Matthew Snow, Co-owner and Co-Founder of Turtle Clan, knew this job was going to be a huge undertaking and that it would require a high degree of expertise that the International Union of Painters and Allies Trades (IUPAT), Finishing Trades Institute located in Hannover, MD, could provide.

“We want to bringing the opportunity to the tribal community to take over and employ native people who have the knowledge that this will be done correctly and move onto other site to do the same,” said Mr. Snow.

Mr. Snow called upon IUPAT instructors Gary von Behren, Don Gundrum and Ron Kozain to provide the necessary training.

“We actually have no members here [Akwesasne],” said von Behren. “But, we feel strongly enough about community and worker safety that we volunteered to be here.”

Instructors took a class of 19 men and women from various backgrounds in construction, ironworking, truck driving, environmental remediation, law enforcement and the press through a rigorous 8 hour day, week long course on worker safety within a hazardous environment. Participants learned hazard recognition, hazard control, respiratory protection, personal protective equipment, work practices and procedures, emergency response, rights and responsibilities and monitoring. They took what they learned in the classroom and put it into practice by getting hands on with hazardous waste equipment and suiting up in personal protective equipment like respirators and chemical resistant suits.

“This was a great opportunity for us to some up here and train people in the tribal area so that they can protect their own environment,” said Kozain.

Some participants have had experience working in other Superfund sites and some attended the course just to be better prepared for the upcoming activities that are taking place so close to Akwesasne.

“We need it because we will be first ones on scene,” said Officer Alex Jock of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) Police Service. “This material needs to be transported somewhere and incase of an emergency we need people certified and experienced to handle the situation.”

Officer Willie Ransom, also of the SRMT Police Service, has had previous HazWoper training and 5 years experience working at Alcoa and GM and was impressed with the level of training supplied by the recent course.

“Other classes never got to suit up in a level A [highest level of personal protection],” said Officer Ransom. “It was a real thorough class.”

The instructors wanted to thank the community for being so receptive and welcoming, and to thank the HAVFD and Dick Laffin for being a gracious host. There is still a high demand for HazWoper training by local tradesmen looking to get involved in the GM clean-up project. Needless to say the level of training they will receive is of the highest caliber ensuring the work will be done right by the local community, for the local community.

Teams help each other out, Level C protected workers prepare Level A highest level of protection for the field.

Photos by Mary La France