AKAH TRIBAL C UNCll 


p.o. BOX 115 0 NEAH BAY, W,A 98357 0 360-645-2201

The Makah Tribe is an equa't opportunity employer. 

August 15. 2012 

Dennis McLerran 

Regional Administrator 

EPA Region 10 

1200 Sixth Avenue. Suite 900 

Seattle. WA 9810 I 

Re: Proposed Lisring (~(!he Worm//()liSL' Beach Dump Oil Ihe .\(friol7a/ Priorities Lis! 

Dear Mr. McLerran. 

vVe are writing to express the [vlakah Tribal COLlIlCil's appreciation t~Jr the consultation 

meeting we had \vith Dan Opalski. Brandon Perkins and Lisa Castanon on August 6 in Neall Bay 

and to confirm that the 'rribe wishes to move forward \\i1h proposing the Warmhouse Beach 

Dump for listing on the National Priorities List (NPL), 

The consultation meeting was proc!ucti\e an dl helped us gain d hetter understanding oflhe 

overall process of proposing the Dump for listing, ,'-\:s \ve have explained in previous 

correspondence. the 'T"ribe is strongly committed to r:eslOring this pan of the Reservation which 

for decades has been blighted by the Dump, By doi mg so. \\e will protect the health of the 

l'vlakah community and the surrounding environmeni on whieh the Tribe depends for its 

subsistence and economy, These dual objectives have made the Dump·s closure our highest 

environmental priority for many years. and we are looking f'ol'\vard to achieving our goal in 

partnership \vith EPA. 

After considering the issues that ,\oLlld be pa't Or<1n EP!\-Ied cleanup process. the Tribe 

has concluded that proposing the Dump I'Of' listing OUI the NPL is the Llppropriate next step in our 

long effort to investigate. mitigate and. tinall) , cillse the Dum p, This ellon is pan ol'the Tribe's 

larger work to provide compf'ehensive sulid \,'aste management on th e Resen'ation. and we \verc 

proud to show your stalTthc transfer station th at is scheduled to go online this Fall. We request 

that EPA move forward with the proposed listing il11he next available. rulcmaking cycle. which 

we understand \\'oulcl involve a federal register noticl' proposing the Dump for inclusion 011 the 

NPL in the spring 01'2013, 

Throughollt the 'rribe's efforts to Llcldrcss the 'seriolls elwirof1mental and health issues 

posed by the Dump. \ve have appreciatcclthc close \\ orking re lationship \vith and respect t()r 

Makah values expressed by EPA alld Region lOin p:lrticulaL This goes a IOllg \Vct.y to building 

the confidence and trust that a continued eollaborativ:-:? elTon \\ill require ..... from NPL listing to 
Dennis J;1cLerran 

Re: Warml!ouse Beach Dump NPL Lisfing 

August J5. 20} 2 

Page 2of2 

the subsequent investigation. review of alternatives. selection of remedial design and remedial 

action. 

Thank you again for Region 1O's hard work on this issue of critical importance to the 

Tribe. and \ve look forward to moving this effort fonvard in close consultation with you and your 

staff. Please do not hesitate to contact us for additional information as you prepare materials for 

the proposed Iisting. As \ve noted on ALlgust 6, our staff contacts for this project will be Dana 

360-640-8125) and Steve Pendleton , 

360-640-2165). Michael Lawrence, the Council's Vice 

Chairman, will remain the Council's lead on this matter. 

Sincerely yours. 

MAKAH TRIBAL COUNCIL 

Sarff 

.. ..."-.,.,.,...,,,,.,,'.'.'..'...C"" '.'...:.:...:.'..'..':.:.::'.:.:..'::' ,.....:. 

cc (by email): Dan Opalski, EPA Region 10 

Brandon Perkins, EPA Region 10 

Lisa Castanon. EPA Region 10