State estimates $1.2 million to keep cleaning up Typhoon Halong fuel spills

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation estimates it needs about $1.2 million in fiscal 2026 to continue cleaning up after Typhoon Halong, including fuel spills in Western Alaska communities, according to its "Spring 2026 Typhoon Halong Recovery Activities" plan.

State staff confirmed fuel spills in nine communities during field work last fall. The department's spill response staff visited 21 communities in October and November and shipped more than 2,500 pounds of cleanup supplies to Western Alaska.

In Kongiganak, about 800 gallons of fuel were recovered from a breached pipe that served the heating oil tank for teacher housing. In Nightmute, at least eight structures needed their heating oil tanks restored, and crews recovered about 1,000 gallons of residual diesel and 24 drums of used oil from the community's old bulk tank farm.

Most of the money, $990,000, would go to the Division of Spill Prevention and Response. The plan also sets aside $150,000 for the Division of Water, which named Chefornak and Kongiganak as priorities for reassessing sanitation and drinking water systems, and $46,000 for Environmental Health.