Observation The graveyard in Teller is located over a bluff. Warming temperatures and storm effect is causing the shore to erode really quickly. The tribal council is concerned about the graveyard. Some graves are only feet away from the bluff. Relocation of the graves will be necessary soon.
LEO Editor Comments: TELLER is located on a sand spit between Port Clarence and Grantley Harbor. It is connected to Nome by a 64-mile gravel road, and is across the bay from the community of Brevig Mission which is accessible by boat. Formally established in 1900, Teller was named for Senator and Secretary of State, Henry Moore Teller. It quickly grew into
a trading center with a population of about 5,000. Today Teller has a population of about 250, including
many residents originally from the village of Mary’s Igloo. Seal, beluga, fish, reindeer and a variety of plants and berries are important food resources. The community gets water from Coyote Creek, a mountain stream. Residents haul water from a washeteria and honey buckets are used for sewage disposal.Teller is vulnerable to flooding from ocean storms. A storm in 2013 damaged the sea wall and eroded the shore right to the edge of the graveyard. This same storm also dredged a second channel through the spit used to access Brevig Mission. Permafrost thaw is a contributing factor to the erosion problem. Without prevention measures, the graveyard will fall onto the beach in a matter of years. New homes are located on the hill, out of the
flood zone, but most of the infrastructure is located on the spit.
Graves in the Bering Strait Region are often located on a bluff with a view of the ocean. As the ground thaws and shorelines erode, coastal communities have watched as the beach moves closer to these sites. During the regional climate change assessment (published 2015), During this survey,eroding and threatened grave sites were recorded in Shishmaref, Golovin, Teller, and St.Michael. Development of regional guidance on culturally appropriate and sanitary methods for grave relocation is
recommended.
According the the USACE, USACE Erosion Assessment: “Teller is on a gravel spit that separates Port Clarence on the Bering Sea to the west. Storm surges, high tides, and wind-driven waves reportedly contribute to erosion at Teller along the western Port Clarence side. The erosion area is about 600 feet long with a 10-foot-high bank. Erosion is reported to be slow, but persistent ….” (USACE 2008) The USACE has not performed any studies since 2008.
Resource
Brubaker, M., et. al. Climate Change in the Bering Strait Region. "Understanding the local impact of climate change is important for assessing negative and positive effects, and developing appropriate adaptation strategies." Center for Climate and Health ANTHC (2015).
Kelly A. Eldridge, MA
Archaeologist, Alaska District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Email: kelly.a.eldridge@usace.army.mil
Phone: 907-753-2672
Tom Wolforth, Cultural Resources Manager and Tribal Liaison at the State of Alaska's Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs. I believe that he has been working on developing guidance for eroding burials in Alaska. His phone number is 907-428-7184
Contact:
Federal Laws and Regulations
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA or Section 106)
Section 106 requires federal agencies to review the effect their actions may have on heritage resources that are listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Review procedures followed are referred to as "the Section 106 process" and are set out in the regulations issued by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (36CF800). The regulations emphasize the need for consultation between the federal agency undertaking the action and the state historic preservation officer. The process is designed to identify historic properties that are eligible for listing on the National Register and reduce damage to these sites. Section 106 procedures may also apply to non-federal (i.e., private) undertakings that are licensed or permitted by a federal agency. Want more information concerning NHPA? Click here.
Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA)
ARPA prohibits the excavation, removal, damage, or alteration of any archaeological resource located on federal or Indian lands without an appropriate permit. It also prohibits the selling, purchasing, exchange, or transport of archaeological materials if they came from public or Indian lands in violation of this or any other act. ARPA also prohibits the selling, purchasing, transport, or receipt of archaeological materials excavated or removed in violation of any provision, rule, regulation, ordinance, or permit in effect under state or local law. Want more information concerning ARPA? Click here.
Alaska Laws and Regulations
Each state has laws affecting what happens to a body after death. For example, most states have unique rules about embalming, burial or cremation, scattering ashes, and how to get a death certificate. Here are some answers to common questions about post-death matters in Alaska.
A casket is often the single greatest expense incurred after a death. The cost of a casket can range from $500 for a simple box to $20,000 or more for an elaborate design.
Burial. No law requires a casket for burial. However, you should check with the cemetery; it may have rules requiring a certain type of container.
Cremation. No law requires a casket for cremation. Federal law requires a funeral home or crematory to inform you that you may use an alternative container, and to make such containers available to you. An alternative container may be made of unfinished wood, pressed wood, fiberboard, or cardboard.
Where can bodies be buried in Alaska?
Most bodies are buried in established cemeteries, but there are no state laws in Alaska that prohibit burial on private property. This doesn’t mean there are no regulations at all, however. Many local governments have rules governing burial -- for example, in Anchorage, bodies may be buried only in an approved cemetery. Before burying a body on private land or establishing a family cemetery, you should check municipal and borough zoning rules.
To learn more, see the publication Burial Plots on Private Property, published by the Alaska Division of Environmental Conservation.
Where can we store or scatter ashes after cremation in Alaska?
In Alaska, there are no state laws governing where you may keep or scatter ashes. Cremation renders ashes harmless, so there is no public health risk involved. Use common sense and refrain from scattering ashes in places where they would be obvious to others.
Scattering ashes on private land. You are allowed to scatter ashes on your own private property. If you want to scatter ashes on someone else’s private land, it’s wise to get permission from the landowner.
Scattering ashes on public land. You may wish to check both municipal and borough regulations and zoning rules before scattering ashes on local public land, such as a municipal park. However, many people simply proceed as they wish, letting their best judgment be their guide.
Scattering ashes on federal land. Officially, you should request permission before scattering ashes on federal land. As with local or state land, however, you will probably encounter no resistance if you conduct the scattering ceremony quietly and keep the ashes well away from trails, roads, facilities, or waterways. You can find guidelines for scattering ashes on the websites for some national parks. For more information, begin your search at the website of the National Park Service.
Scattering ashes at sea. The federal Clean Water Act requires that cremated remains be scattered at least three nautical miles from land. If the container will not easily decompose, you must dispose of it separately. The EPA does not permit scattering at beaches or in wading pools by the sea. Finally, you must notify the EPA within 30 days of scattering ashes at sea.
The Clean Water Act also governs scattering in inland waters such as rivers or lakes. For inland water burial, you may be legally required to obtain a permit from the state agency that manages the waterway.
For more information, including the contact information for the EPA representative in Alaska, see Burial of Human Remains at Sea on the EPA website.
Scattering ashes by air. While there are no state laws on the matter, federal aviation laws do prohibit dropping any objects that might cause harm to people or property. The U.S. government does not consider cremains to be hazardous material; all should be well so long as you remove the ashes from their container before scattering.
Where can we store or scatter ashes after cremation in Alaska?
In Alaska, there are no state laws governing where you may keep or scatter ashes. Cremation renders ashes harmless, so there is no public health risk involved. Use common sense and refrain from scattering ashes in places where they would be obvious to others.
Scattering ashes on private land. You are allowed to scatter ashes on your own private property. If you want to scatter ashes on someone else’s private land, it’s wise to get permission from the landowner.
Scattering ashes on public land. You may wish to check both municipal and borough regulations and zoning rules before scattering ashes on local public land, such as a municipal park. However, many people simply proceed as they wish, letting their best judgment be their guide.
Scattering ashes on federal land. Officially, you should request permission before scattering ashes on federal land. As with local or state land, however, you will probably encounter no resistance if you conduct the scattering ceremony quietly and keep the ashes well away from trails, roads, facilities, or waterways. You can find guidelines for scattering ashes on the websites for some national parks. For more information, begin your search at the website of the National Park Service.
Scattering ashes at sea. The federal Clean Water Act requires that cremated remains be scattered at least three nautical miles from land. If the container will not easily decompose, you must dispose of it separately. The EPA does not permit scattering at beaches or in wading pools by the sea. Finally, you must notify the EPA within 30 days of scattering ashes at sea.
The Clean Water Act also governs scattering in inland waters such as rivers or lakes. For inland water burial, you may be legally required to obtain a permit from the state agency that manages the waterway.
For more information, including the contact information for the EPA representative in Alaska, see Burial of Human Remains at Sea on the EPA website.
Scattering ashes by air. While there are no state laws on the matter, federal aviation laws do prohibit dropping any objects that might cause harm to people or property. The U.S. government does not consider cremains to be hazardous material; all should be well so lo
Observations From Members 
