By: Madison Childs

ALCOA ALUMINUM PLANTS

HISTORY & 0THER INFO.

• Alcoa Aluminum plant is the world’s 3rd largest producer of aluminum

• Conducts operations in 31 countries

• Alcoa’s products are used worldwide in aircraft, automobiles, commercial transportation, packaging, building and construction, oil & gas, defense, and industrial applications.

• Alcoa is 15th amongst corporations emitting airborne pollutants in the U.S.

THE PROBLEM

• Northern New York (just across & upriver from Canada): Two Alcoa plants have been producing aluminum since the early 1900’s

They have discharged a stream of toxic pollutants into the water, air, and soil around them

• Downstream, Mohawk children attempt to reclaim their heritage = endangered by the chemicals that surround them

CONSEQUENCES

• Alcoa used polychlorinated biphenlys (PCBs) -> eventually made their way into the St. Lawrence River, its tributaries & the surrounding area

• PCBs: a group of persistent and highly toxic compounds which, in addition to causing cancer in animals, affects growth, behavior, reproduction, immune response, and neurological development

• The contaminants from the facilities have degraded adult and juvenile fish habitat for species such as the American eel

RECONNECTING TO THE NATURAL WORLD• Steps to restoring the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe (which is tied closely

to the natural world) :

• A tribal apprenticeship program will seek to restore traditional Mohawk cultural practices that have been lost or impaired

• The program will provide experience in directly harvesting, preparing, preserving and producing traditional Mohawk cultural products

• The tribe has targeted four traditional areas for apprentices to receive hands-on training from experienced masters:

• Water, fishing & use of river

• Horticulture and basket-making

• Medical plants and healing

• Hunting and trapping

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION

• Cleanup activities have been started – degrading & capping contaminated sediments and have been attempting to remediate the polluted environment

• St. Lawrence River Environmental Restoration Compensation and Determination Plan: protecting and restoring wetland and upland habitat, enhance stream banks, improve impeded fish and other wildlife passage through the rivers, enhance fish stocks and spawning habitat & restore bird habitat.

CLEAN AIR ACT/RESOLUTION

• April 9, 2003, Justice Dept. & Environmental Protection Agency announced a major Clean Air Act settlement with Alcoa, Inc.

• Alcoa committed to install pollution controls that will result in major reductions of harmful air pollutants annually and will fund several beneficial environmental projects