Hill Where Graveyard is Located is Eroding

Observation by Johnee Seetot: 

The graveyard has fallen crosses, and you can see that the edge of the area atop the creek side is showing signs of erosion. Also, some of the gravesites are too close together that when diggers are trying to prepare/dig new gravesite, they will run into another coffin. There is also a gravesite started, which was not filled back in after finding signs of another grave. The pipes sticking out of the ground, below the mass grave, maybe are to let air/methane (?) out of the drain field? Not sure if you can see the old city garage (red building) above the gravesite, and next to that is the bulk tank farm. ANTHC is going to help the City expand/upgrade the drain field (I believe), as City was having trouble emptying it this fall. It sure was leaking in the area, and also by the nearest house).One of City's main problems is the lack of running (maintained) heavy equipment to get these types of problems taken care of.

Comments from LEO Editors: 

This year has been the second-warmest and second-wettest on record (Nome weather station). These conditions are accelerating permafrost thaw in some areas and resulting in land subsidence and erosion (see Johnee Seetot's photos).

Mike Brubaker from the Center for Climate and Health writes:

With the advent of climate change and rapid thawing of permafrost across the Arctic, many communities are facing impacts to infrastructure and in some cases relocation. Historical areas including burial sites are being lost and many are in need of relocation. Brevig Mission falls into this category as does nearby Teller, Wales, and St. Michael. Guidance and resources on how to relocate human remains in a culturally sensitive way are a priority. Also, making sure this is done safely to reduce the risk of injury and emotional trauma from experiencing the unearthing of ancestors, and to prevent any risk of infectious disease.

Guidance from the State of Alaska, Department of Health and Social Services (attached) points out that risk of infection from human remains is low, but that precautions (such as wearing gloves and glasses) is advisable in certain cases. These include when remains are: "recovered from a sealed coffin, have been constantly frozen or in very cold environments, or are known to have died from smallpox, anthrax or tetanus." As stated in the fact sheet, influenza virus has never before been recovered from frozen remains, so there is no known evidence of significant risk.

In Brevig, there are no exposed remains from the graveyard, but it is beginning to erode and subside. In the event that remains are exposed, taking precautions is advised, based on the history and the fact that the remains are in thawing permafrost. The site should be monitored. If relocation is required, documentation is needed so that the location of remains can be tracked by the State of Alaska, Bureau of Vital Statistics (see attached document). If remains are exposed due to erosion or other reasons, please refer to the guidance provided by the State of Alaska in the attached Fact Sheet. This guidance includes: 

1) Use barrier precautions; 2) wear latex or vinyl gloves to protect your hands when handling human remains or caskets; 3) wear protective eyewear; 4) cover regular clothing that is disposable or can be washed with bleach; 5) use disposable dust masks in enclosed environments or where there may be a lot of dust in the air; 6) wash hands immediately after gloves are removed. If running water and soap aren’t available, use a waterless hand wash product with 70% alcohol; 7) avoid eating and drinking or smoking at the work area; 8) cover (protect) any open skin lesions that workers may have; 9) place any human remains found outside of caskets or from damaged and opened caskets in body bags.

Vladimir Romanovsky with the Permafrost Laboratory at UAF writes: 

Management of the site can help to prevent further thawing and subsidence. Additional caretaking efforts may be required to restore markers and maintain proper cover. As the ground settles, ponding may occur and further develop troughs in the area where there are still flat surfaces. So the sinking areas may soon extend into the flat areas. The growing shrubs will aggrevate the situation and lead to collection of more snow, which makes the permafrost more susceptible to thaw. To keep the area from thawing further, you can fill it with some fine silt material (not sand or gravel) and then add a layer of organic material like peat (turf) on top. Trimming shrubs will keep snow off or prevent snowdrift accumulation. Removing as much of the snow as possible during winter will allow complete freezing and for freezing to occur sooner in the winter, which will allow cold temperatures to get into the permafrost and make it more stable. Decreased temperature of the permafrost will also help to prevent deep summer thaw of the ground from occurring.