Interior awards $247,786 in cleanup contracts for Akiak, Eek, Napaskiak and Kotzebue

The Department of the Interior awarded four contracts totaling $247,786 to Tanana Commercial Company LLC of Tanana for environmental cleanup work in three Alaska Native villages and one regional hub. Each site has a different scope of work. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education issued the awards Sept. 13 under Executive Order 14398. Work must wrap up by Sept. 30, 2027.

Kotzebue drew the largest share at $151,260 for remediation and site characterization. Federal records describe removing about 200 cubic yards of diesel-contaminated soil and characterizing groundwater contamination there. Napaskiak received $36,569 for remediation and site characterization. Eek received $32,273 for environmental remediation services. Akiak received $27,684 for remediation of contaminated soil.

At Eek and Napaskiak, the work targets legacy petroleum contamination at old school sites. A July 2026 CLU-IN survey found soil and groundwater impacts, including diesel range organics, at the former BIA elementary school in Eek between 2010 and 2025. The survey warned that cleanup at such sites could be delayed or insufficient.

Tanana Commercial Company previously held an Eek remediation contract worth $39,744, running from April 2025 to June 2026.