November 3, 2014

ed Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

lake Superior Barrels Project

Barrel Over-pack Retrieval of September 2013

Forfurther information please contoct:

Gary Defoe Jr. at 715-779-3650 or garysJefoeirredcliff-nsnRov

Red Cliff Tribal NALEMP Manager

Frank Koehn at 218-341-8822 or frankikoebnagmail.com

Red Cliff Tribal NALEMP Public Relations

Melonee Montano at 71S-779-36S0 or me[onee.monta no redclitf-nsn.gov

Red Cliff Tribal Environmental Programs Manager

Since the mid- 1990’s the Red Cliff Band of lake Superior Chippewa has been researching and

conducting investigations on approximately 1,437 55-gallon barrels dumped into Lake Superior by the

US Army between 2959 and 1962, with the assistance of our contractor EMR, Inc. It has been and will

continue to be the mission of the Red Cliff Band to fully characterize the type and extent of Department

of Defense (DoD) wastes, which may have potential impacts on the economy, natural resources, and

cultural uses within Chippewa Ceded Territory and to determine if further remedial work is required to

preserve the rich natural resources of Lake Superior.

The Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program NALEMP) was established in

1996 to address tribal concerns in DoD environmental cleanup programs. Since 1996 Congress has

inserted a provision in the DOD Appropriations Act requiring the DOD to devote funds annually to

mitigate environmental impacts to Indian lands. The Red Cliff NALEMP Committee is committed to the

restoration and protection of natural resources within the Ceded Territory, and dedicated to working

with federal agencies to clean up, restore, and protect the ecosystems of the Ceded Territory. We are

also corn rnitted to ensuring that the US Government follows through with their Federal Trust

Responsibilities associated with the lands and waters within the Ceded Territory. Our goal is to allow for

From the limited amount of preliminary data, results show no immediate cause for concern

regarding the safety of water and fish consumption. Therefore, citizens of the region should

continue to follow existing guidelines for Lake Superior. However, we fully intend to address any

concerns listed in the Final Results and Summary Report expected to be published in August of

2014.

the full use and enjoyment of these protected resources and fragile ecological conditions necessary to

support these unique communities, without restriction due to contamination.

The Lake Superior Barrels Project is known as being both unique and groundbreakirsg for a

number of reasons, two of which include the following;

• This is the first NALEMP project located within Ceded Territory in which the Lake Superior

Chippewa Ba nds maintain Treaty Rights.

• This is the first project to be located within such a large body of water that is part of a vast

tra nsportahon system. Lake Superior is one of five Great Lakes. which is the largest fresh surface water

system on Earth.

The road to researching and investigating the Lake Superior Barrels Project has been long and

extremely challenging. Throughout the years; progress on this project has been hampered by the

requirements of multiple agencies, collaboration between these agencies, seasonal variations and

challenging weather conditions on Lake Superior, attempts to coordinate field activities with each

agency, and unexpected regulatory challenges. The following is a summary of the most recent efforts

undertaken.

Between July 30 and August 13, 2012, a total of 25 barrels were recovered from the waters of

Lake Superior. The barrels were found to contain two distinct types of contents: a composite material

consisting of incinerated metals, and intact munitions parts. Three of the recovered barrels contained

the former, while 22 were found to contain the hazardous munitions parts. All of the munitions parts

recovered from these 22 were identified as ejection cup assemblies for BLLJ-4 cluster bomb devises.

Explosives experts on site conducted tests on the ejection cup assemblies and identified an active

ejection charge composed of MS propellant. Each of the 22 barrels contained between OO and 700

ejection cup assemblies. The Department of Transportation (DOT) classified these ejection cup

assemblies as explosive devices. As a result, additional permits were required before the ejection cup

assemblies could be transported.

Until additional permits could be obtained, the election cup assemblies recovered in 2012 were

securely placed in 6) sealed Ss gallon over-pack barrels, loaded into steel baskets, marked for future

retrieval, and carefully placed back down to the bottom of Lake Superior. Efforts to meet the

requirements and secure the proper permits to remove ha rrels took the entire following winter and

spring of 2013. The logistical challenges of paperwork forms government furloughs, coordinating

muItpIe federal agencies, and secu ring the barge and equipment were time consuming rid expensive.

the Red Cliff tribe and Tribal NALEM P Committee all worked with the U.S. Army Environnien al

Command uSAEC). the US Army Corps o Engineers USACEh DoD. Minnesota Department of

transportation (MN DOT), IV inneota Pollution Control (MPCA) agencies. Environmental Pmte.ttidn

Agency EPA), the Coast C ua rd )USC). as nell as be tribe’s contractor EM R Inc Inc Iongr ur,der

zoit.rscti arc st.bcor:-az:o Vec a 0 we o e t S S es a -:eje ta e:r waj :0”dXl eC n

a = ‘-C cry Cnme,ta Iv esCnS bit liar r er

li Secte,Ler of UI I = 901- —.aaarcoJs rateSa 5 ecc,ereD r Ajgjst o X’i? La’ e enlalls,

concrete arc nci-w-a:eo ma:erals: w “ac ceet s:c’ed at D’cee Va’ine r C neboygan.

Michigan, were tnen transported by truck for oisposal to the Jeoiia Environmental fat ‘lity locatea In

cenoTzree cal s. W sccs r Wearwr e. tie six cve-Da: Ca —e s con— rg tie ep csi-c Lw—id- ‘lao

beer ace ba’-k r ti-c wate 0 *e: stct Iat sfl’,e. was ass ezieved r, tie arched Pie

ci tl’ese tver’packs wre aree.J itt ilec sak ee Dar-e S wV: nc cad tie eec:ocJJs

ac 31 wate cora nc g i:r:nc tarrN. ia ha’je ‘er et,’eo :0 :t Di.’ st t r 1€ Coica’v

0 Ot< 59 ci ‘ad beer es:ao i s’wo a a La .C c rg net w Pa ,,ferr rg tie a-ra S fro’i re 5a

a waiting transport truck. Lastly. ‘he barrels suere loaded or to a truck for transport to the Veolia

Environmental dIsposal facility oral ed in Saugel, Illinois.

To date we have rur rent iv brought on board, Ridolfi Environmental, who will be the tonI actor

implementing the comments we received back from the Army Corp into the Investigal ‘on Reporl. The

stages of the Investigation Report (formerly Remedial Investigation) which determines the nal ure and

extent of contamination will be finalized january 2Q15. The Results and Summary Report )formerly

Record of Decision) will be finalized In May 20Th. Concerns about the future degradation of the

remaining barrels, the need for te3ting a greater number of barrels (40), and testing explosive

component of BLU-4 (MS-Propellant) have yet to be addressed. Additionally, the NALEMP Committee

and Red Cliff Tribe remains committed to continuing with the Barrel Recovery project a necessary and

intend to continue to foc,ja on protection of the sacred waters of lake Superior.

For Immediate Release:

FOR MORE TNFORMATION CONTACT:Frank K KoebnCell: 218.341.8822Email: fraijkoeIm@iwiaiI.corn

Since the niid 1990’s. the Red Cliffsand ofLako Superior Chippewa has beenresearching and conducting investigations on approximately 1,450 55-gallon barrelsdumped into Gichiga’ni (Lake Supenor) by the US Army between 1959 and 1962 incollahoralion with he Army Corp ofEngineers (ACOB), mid the Mi,mcsota PollutionConfrol Agency (MPCA). It is the goal and responsibility ofthe Rod CliffBand lo fullycharacterize the type and extent ofDcpaxtment of Dcfcnso (DoD) wastes- which mayhave impacts on the natural resources within Ihe Ceded Terniory. The Red ClifiBand isdedicated to working with federal agencies to dean up- restore and protect theecosystems ofthe Coded Tertlory. The Red CliffBand is also committed to theeconomy, nalural msources. and cultural uses within Chippewa Ceded TerHtory and todelemiine iffurther remedial work is required to preserve and protect he rich naluralresources ofGichigasni (Lake Superior).

Red CliffBand ofLake Superior Chippewa has a Cooperative Agreement (CA) withAnny Corp of Engineers (ACOE) provide an update to area stakeholders who alsohavo a vested ,nlerest and concern in this project. A PowerPoint pmgram will bepresenled and also any questions that may arise will be answered. Those inlbrmationalsessions are open to the public.

IJpdale PresentationSilver Bay library December 2,2014

6:00 P.M.

For Immediale Rolcasc:

FOR MORE INFORMATTON CONTACT:Frank K. Koehn(e[I: 218.341 .S822Emai [: frankjkoclmipmiI.com

Since the mid 199cs, thc Rod ClitiBand olLake StLpenor Chippewc iris beetiws.arcFing and oariduc:irig :r’e.t:gat::is ‘ri app:.,xiruatev I l>C -gc2ct barrelsdumrei] :rtj CiSi:garn: rake Saper:or’ b’ :;e IS An:v bcwe;a I9 arid :c62 rixli 2brnr it::e 4nv Corn of trgiaeers I ACO[ La:ir he arcs ta PoX tiler

Con;c’i A_’ea:v NrPCA: :t is ±c caal arid rcsramsibiX:v c ho Red (,:r hard t

cuvac:e_:ze tire type aid evictt a Dopartnct: ii: Dc1e SD) atc, Iuc1 ruryimac:sari tIre ria:urt re - trees -‘‘tI-;r the Ceded Vet—i:vn- The <cci C1if Bard is

.5cd:c a:ed :j wcrkH ith der.i ager.r:es to clvaa p. res:ar arid preicet acnx s:e:rw i iie Ceded T9 He ed (hf U’d 5 i;oriitiicd rotceecrt.n. rangal reorces. a3J critaral uses w::ia Chipszwa Cedzi ren er’ cr4de:e::i:±:e 1 rtle ccedaart is rot airt (C prcserc a,d -.,nder. ie ndmiources of Gic.hj galni (LaKO Supcriori.

Rcd Cliff Band el Lake Supeñur Chippewa has a Cooperative Agreement (CA) ‘vilhAntv Coqi uf Engineers (ACOE) to provide an update Ic ama siaioholdcm who alsohave a v-tecl interest and concern in this projoci. A Fowcrpoinl fugTafl wtII hepresented mid also any questions that may ansc ;v,ll ho answ end. The Intinmatil.,nalsessions are open to tho public,

Ijrdare ?resel:ta::onDX-Jt P-ab:c L:,rarv l)ecerber X. 2ItN

3’) P.M

For Immediate Releuse:

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:Frank K. KochnCell: 21 X34l .8S22Email: frankjkoehngmail.com

6:00 P.M

Since the mid 900’s, the Red Cliffsand ofLakc Supcrior Cixippewa has beenresmrchjng and conducting investigations on approximately 1,45055-gallon baxrelsdumped into Gichigami (Lake Superior) by the US Army between 1959 and 1962 incollaboration with the Army Corn olEngineers (ACOE), and the Minnesota PollutionControl Agency (MPCA) It is the goal md responsibility ofthe Red CliffBand to ifillycharactcnze the type and extent ofDepartment of Defense (DoD) wastes, which mayhave impacts on the natural resources within the Ceded Tethtory. The Red ClitfBund isdedicated to working with federal agencies to clean tLp, restore and protect theecosystems ofthe Ceded Tcrntorv. The Red CliIfBand is also cornmitled to theeconomy, natural Itsources and cultural uses within Chippewa Ceded Territory and todetermine if farther remedial work is required to preserve and protect tho rich naturalresouroas ofGichiganii (Lake Superior).

Red ClitiBand ofLake Superior Chippcwa has a Cooperative Agreement (CA) withAnny Corp ofhngineers (ACOE) to provide an update to area stakeholders who alsohave a vested intcrcst and concern in Ibis project. A PowerPoint program will bepresented and also any questions that may alise will be answered. These informationalsessions are open In the public.

Update PresentalionTwo Harbon Library December 16, 2014