The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe (Tribe) received notice from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the agency is in the process of reissuing the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)  General Permit for point source discharges to waters of the United States resulting from Ocean Disposal of Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Carcasses. This includes waters that are on or run through tribal trust and reservation lands. The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act General Permit for Ocean Disposal of Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Carcasses would authorize Tribal, federal, state, and/or local government to dispose of all or part of marine mammal or sea turtle carcasses in ocean waters and would now authorize such disposal in the ocean waters of Puget Sound. The permit is primarily intended to be used for disposal of marine mammal carcasses that threaten public health, for example, after discovery of a carcass washed ashore in an advanced state of decay, and there is not another viable land-based alternative for carcass disposal other than disposal in ocean waters. In most cases, carcasses are sunk using natural materials such as jute and burlap sand bags that are biodegradable in the ocean.

Through the authority granted to the Tribe under the Treatment in a Similar Manner as a State (TAS) program as outlined in section 518(e) of the Clean Water Act, the Tribe must either grant, condition, waive, or deny this permit on tribal lands. More information on the permit can be found at this link: Ocean Disposal of Marine Mammal Carcasses.

After reviewing the provided documents and assessing potential impacts to tribal resources, our staff have decided to grant certification of this permit since the permit will not negatively impact the Tribe’s resources including impacts fish, shellfish or general water quality and will only assist with public health and safety.

If you would like to comment on this determination or have questions about the permit, please email the Tribe’s Environmental Planner, Alex Scagliotti by emailing him at: ascagliotti@jamestowntribe.org. Questions and comments need to be sent before the end of the day on Friday, October 11th.”