Office of Environmental Health (OEH)

• The OEH Drinking Water Lab has been open for business since March 2021!
• Certified through the State of Alaska to test drinking water samples from Public Water Systems for bacterial contamination: Coliform bacteria and E. coli.
• Each sample takes 24-48 hours for finalized results and cost per sample is $25 to cover base operating expenses.
• Communities interested in using these services must submit a 30-day notice of intent to utilize the lab services.

Resources
Alaska DEC Drinking Water Watch
Alaska DEC Drinking Water Protection Map
PDF: Chain of Custody Form

• Regional Lay Vaccinator program, rabies vaccinations to dogs/cats, animal bite investigations, record keeping, coordination with State of Alaska.
• Education regarding rabies in the Bering Strait region and dog bite prevention.
• Animal bite investigation and response.

Resources
Alaska DHSS Rabies Page
PDF: 2007 New Policies for the Animal Rabies Lay Vaccinator Program
PDF: OEH Rabies Prevention and Control Program

• Capacity building for regional tribes’ environmental programs focused on water, land and air with an emphasis on water.
• Coordinate and partner with local, regional, state, federal and other stakeholders involved in water quality activities.
• Enhanced development of environmental programs by regional tribes.
• Assist with development of and technical assistance and training focused on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tribal Environmental Plans and Tribal priorities within the Bering Strait Region.

Resources
Region 10 EPA IGAP
ANTHC Tribal Capacity & Training Program

Have questions about recycling, backhaul, or contaminated sites? Contact Kawerak’s Environmental Program

• Education outreach about bed bug prevention, manage bed bug heat treatment contract with Houdini’s Bed Bug Services, NSHC IPM policy development.

Resources
EPA Integrated Pest Management
Alaska DEC Bedbug Page
CDC Bedbug Page
Virginia Tech Bedbug Protection
EPA Bedbug Page

• OEH supports environmental health and safety at NSHC healthcare facilities by participating in scheduled hazard rounds and conducting health and safety surveys in village health clinics.
• Also offered are request-based health and safety assessments & guidance for headstarts, preschools, or other public facilities.

Resources
ANTHC Institutional Environmental Health
ANTHC Institutional Environmental Health Brochure

• Foster regional interest & provide professional career opportunities
• Alaska Pacific University now has an accredited Environmental Public Health undergraduate program! Click here for more information.
• Interested in a paid Environmental Health internship?
  • • National Environmental Health Association
    • NSHC Internship: Contact Irvin Barnes at 443-4559

• View press releases below regarding the finding of potentially toxin-producing algae near Norton Sound communities.
• The Environmental Coordinator within NSHC OEH coordinates with local, regional, statewide, and nationwide partners.
• UAF Sea Alaska and NSHC OEH regularly sample marine water from Cape Nome Port and 2 miles offshore from the main Port at the City of Nome. NSHC OEH then analyzes water samples with microscopy to identify the presence and absence of target species.
• The primary goal is to protect human health by providing tools to make informed decisions when harvesting subsistence foods.

Resources
Harmful Algal Blooms Infographic

• Outbreak investigations, emerging environmental health threats (climate change, new contaminants, etc.), research, program evaluation, etc.

• OEH partnered with the State of Alaska-Air Quality Division’s new Community-Based Air Monitoring Project continuously monitor the outside air for: carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, and particulate matter.
• The State’s goal with this project is to reduce the disparity of air quality data in rural Alaska by placing outside air monitors in hub communities where no air quality data is being collected.
• OEH partnered with KNOM to install the monitor on their 3 Ave West building

Resources
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
Indoor Air Quality
Nome Air Quality Data

• Takes a comprehensive approach to address diseases and injuries in the home by focusing on housing-related hazards in a coordinated fashion, with priority populations including elderly, very young, and immune/health compromised
• OEH offers education outreach, on-site assessments & technical assistance related to healthy homes
• Healthy homes concerns include but are not limited to: mold & moisture, carbon monoxide, lead, home safety, allergens and asthma, and integrated pest management (IPM).

Resources
EPA Brief guide to Mold
PDF: Alaska Native Village Indoor Air Fact Sheet
PDF: Help Yourself to a Healthy Home

• OEH offers request-based food safety services and guidance including food establishment food safety surveys, food safety training for staff, and guidance.
• Education in the region on prevention of botulism as it relates to non-traditional preparation of traditional native foods such as fermented fish heads and eggs. See the link below for more information.

Resources
CDC Food Safety
FDA Safe Food Handling
CDC Botulism and Alaska Native Foods