![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Developing a Tribal and Indigenous Peoples Environmental Justice Policy
- Purpose
- Focus Areas
- Working Draft of the Policy
- Comments
- Status
- Tribal & Indigenous Peoples Environmental Justice (TIPEJ) Work Group Members
Purpose
In order to more effectively work with federally-recognized tribes and indigenous stakeholders to address their environmental justice concerns, EPA has developed Working Draft of its tribal and indigenous peoples environmental justice policy.
To develop this policy, EPA has formed two work groups, one to advise EPA, consisting of external stakeholders, and the other to develop the policy, consisting of EPA employees:
- EPA Tribal and Indigenous Peoples Environmental Justice Work Group - comprised of EPA staff tasked with developing the guiding principles/policy, and
- National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC)/Indigenous People Work Group - comprised of tribal and indigenous EJ stakeholder representatives tasked with providing advice and recommendations to EPA on how to work effectively with federally-recognized tribes and indigenous stakeholders to address their environmental justice issues. The NEJAC is a federal advisory committee to the EPA.
The NEJAC’s advice and recommendations report is expected to be submitted to the Agency in December 2012.
Focus Areas
EPA is addressing four focus areas in the policy:
- How EPA is to incorporate EJ into its environmental capacity building and implementation policies and programs for federally-recognized tribes;
- How EPA is to incorporate EJ into its direct implementation of federal environmental programs in Indian country;
- How EPA is to effectively work with tribal community-based organizations, state-recognized tribes, tribal members, and other indigenous peoples to address their EJ concerns, within or outside Indian country; and
- How EPA is to work with other federal agencies to address federally-recognized tribes, state-recognized tribes, tribal community-based organizations, tribal members, or non-members on reservations environmental justice issues.
Working Draft of the Policy
The Agency is making available the Working Draft of the EPA Policy on Environmental Justice for Tribes and Indigenous Peoples (9 pp, 437K) for public review and comment.
Comments
Tribal consultation on the "Working Draft" of the EPA Policy on Environmental Justice and Indigenous Peoples was initiated on November 14, 2012, and ended on December 31. The national tribal government informational webinars and national tribal consultation calls were held on November 27, 2012, November 28, 2012, December 12, 2012, and December 13, 2012.
The public comment period began on January 3 and will conclude on February 15, 2013.
- Public Comment/Indigenous Stakeholder Outreach Letter on Working Draft (4 pp, 603K) - January 8, 2013
The indigenous stakeholders and general public webinars to discuss the Working Draft of the policy were held January 22, 2013, January 24, 2013, and January 31, 2013.
The initial tribal consultation and public comments periods were held February through April, 2012.
-
Tribal Consultation & Coordination Letter (PDF) (4 pp, 495K) - March 5, 2012
- Indigenous Stakeholder Outreach Letter (PDF) (3 pp, 355K) - March 20, 2012
Status
Status The Agency received over 250 comments during the tribal consultation and public comment periods held from November 14, 2012 – February 28, 2013. EPA is currently reviewing the comments. The Agency is planning to complete the policy in September 2013.
Tribal & Indigenous Peoples Environmental Justice (TIPEJ) Work Group Members
| Office | Name |
|---|---|
| Region 1 | Mike Stover |
| Region 2 | Grant Jonathan |
| Region 3 | Terry Gallagher |
| Region 6 | Jeannine Hale & Mark Allen |
| Region 10 | Tami Fordham & Kristie Carre |
| Office of Environmental Information | Beth Jackson |
| Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance | Jonathan Binder |
| Office of Air and Radiation | Laura McKelvey |
| Office of General Counsel | Jessica Scott |
| Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response | Andrew Baca |
| Office of Research and Development | Gelena Constantine & Allison Martin |
| Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention | Caren Robinson & Brian Davidson |
| Office of International and Tribal Affairs | Dianne Briggs |
| Office of Water | Felicia Wright |
| American Indian Environmental Office | Dona Harris, Co-Chair |
| Office of Environmental Justice | Danny Gogal, Co-Chair |
"Expanding the conversation on environmentalism and working for environmental justice are among my top priorities… All too often, low-income, minority and tribal Americans live in the shadows of the worst pollution, facing disproportionate health impacts and greater obstacles to economic growth in communities that cannot attract businesses and new jobs." -