Arconic (ALCOA) Grasse River Superfund Site
Akwesashró:non fished hunted and harvested traditional foods and medicines on both banks of the lower Grasse River, known as the Indian Meadows or Tsi iehontakwáhtha meaning “where the grass is picked.”
Superfund
For a variety of reasons, hazardous commercial and industrial wastes have been mismanaged and may pose unacceptable risks to human health and the environment. This waste was dumped on the ground or in waterways, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. As a result, thousands of hazardous waste sites were created throughout the United States. These hazardous waste sites commonly include manufacturing facilities, processing plants, landfills and mining sites.
In 1980, Congress established the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), as amended, in response to growing concerns over the health and environmental risks posed by hazardous waste sites. This law was enacted in the wake of the discovery of toxic waste dumps such as Love Canal and Valley of the Drums in the 1970s. CERCLA is informally called Superfund.
The Superfund program is administered by EPA in cooperation with state and tribal governments. It allows EPA to clean up hazardous waste sites and to force responsible parties to perform cleanups or reimburse the government for cleanups led by EPA.
The Akwesasne community has three Superfund sites impacting our health and environment.
General Motors
Located slightly upstream from the western edge of the Saint Regis Mohawk territory.
Reynolds Metals
The 1,600-acre former Reynolds Metals Facility is located on the St. Lawrence River, near the western edge of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe reservation boundary