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Tribal Water Plan - Appendix E
APPENDIX E: AMERICAN INDIAN ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICE TRIBAL
PLAN - 2004
VISION STATEMENT
In the spirit of respect and cooperation, the American Indian Environmental Office works with Tribal
governments to protect human health and the environment.
DIRECTOR’S EMPHASIS AREAS
- Develop and implement a comprehensive EPA National Tribal Strategy
- Ensure incorporation of subsistence lifeways into EPA’s decision making processes
- Enhance collaborative partnerships to ensure a unified approach to program management
- Ensure availability of accurate and comprehensive data to support quality environmental decisions
- Ensure a consistent environmental presence in Indian country
MISSION STATEMENT
The American Indian Environmental Office leads EPA’s efforts to protect human health and the environment
of federally recognized Tribes by supporting implementation of federal environmental laws consistent with
the federal trust responsibility, the government-to-government relationship, and EPA’s 1984 Indian Policy.
American Indian Environmental Office Workgroups and Mission Statements
Senior Leadership Workgroup
Provide comprehensive, dynamic leadership with AIEO’s partners on EPA’s 1984
Indian Policy, and with AIEO on its mission and operations
Administrative & Resource Management Team
Create and maintain an infrastructure that consistently supports AIEO and its customers
Legal and Policy Workgroup
Lead and advocate for the effective implementation of the federal trust responsibility and EPA’s 1984
Indian Policy
Communication and Outreach Workgroup
Lead efforts to ensure effective communication, outreach, training and education to support a collaborative
approach to environmental management in Indian country
Grant Workgroup
Provide funding and guidance to Regions and Tribes in support of environmental programs and activities
Research and Analysis Workgroup
Provide accurate and comprehensive information and analyses in support of Tribal environmental management
efforts within AIEO, EPA and among federal agencies and Tribes
Senior Leadership Workgroup
Mission Statement
Provide comprehensive, dynamic leadership with AIEO’s partners on EPA’s 1984 Indian Policy, and with
AIEO on its mission and operations.
Goal 1: Ensure effective implementation of AIEO Director’s Emphasis Areas.
Goal 2: Advance environmental program implementa-tion in Indian country.
Objectives:
Collaboratively develop AIEO emphasis areas to guide internal and external efforts.
Develop an EPA National Tribal Strategy.
Facilitate the government-to-government relationship between Tribes and EPA.
Ensure a consistent environmental presence in Indian country.
Goal 3: Build collaborative partnerships.
Objectives:
Ensure visitation and accessibility to Tribes.
Build and maintain awareness of the EPA National Tribal Program.
Explore and formalize potential partnership opportunities.
Goal 4: Support effective, comprehensive environmental management decision making throughout
Indian country.
Objectives:
Ensure that Tribal traditional knowledge (subsistence lifeways) is an integral part of decision making
processes.
Develop positions consistent with EPA’s 1984 Indian Policy.
Systematically make available accurate data and information.
Goal 5: Maximize resources for the National Indian Program.
Objectives:
Collaboratively develop National Indian Program budget.
Ensure effective expenditure of federal funds.
Goal 6: Manage office infrastructure to support AIEO work.
Objectives:
Provide office direction, leadership and supervision.
Foster an effective and productive work force.
Develop and maintain internal AIEO operations plan, controls and processes.
Administrative & Resource Management Team
Mission Statement
Create and maintain an infrastructure that consistently supports AIEO and its customers.
Goal 1: Ensure effective development and utilization of resources.
Objectives:
Determine and manage budget allocations.
Effectively utilize resources.
Goal 2: Provide human resources management services.
Objectives:
Manage hiring process.
Develop and manage personnel records.
Facilitate and coordinate personnel training and development.
Coordinate the performance review process.
Ensure time and attendance accountability.
Goal 3: Ensure efficient and effective travel management.
Objectives:
Manage travel funding.
Coordinate reimbursement of travel expenses.
Goal 4: Ensure staff efficiency by effectively managing
supplies, equipment & building services.
Objectives:
Maintain office supplies.
Purchase and allocate equipment.
Manage equipment repair and maintenance.
Manage building services requests.
Goal 5: Manage incoming and outgoing communication.
Objectives:
Ensure effective correspondence.
Efficient and effective management of incoming and outgoing calls.
Goal 6: Ensure the effectiveness of the Administrative and Resource Management team.
Objectives:
Ensure that the team has fun.
Ensure the team mission is accomplished.
Liaison with other workgroups.
Evaluate team operations and health.
Legal and Policy Workgroup
Mission Statement
Lead and advocate for the effective implementation of the federal trust responsibility and EPA’s 1984 Indian Policy.
Goal 1: Lead and advocate for the implementation of effective environmental programs in Indian country.
Objectives:
Collaboratively implement EPA’s 1984 Indian Policy.
Identify solutions for obstacles to the implementation of these programs and work towards the
removal of those obstacles.
Goal 2: Realize the implementation of environmental programs in Indian country in a manner that
advances and protects Tribal sovereignty, EPA’s trust responsibility, and the government-to-government
relationship between EPA and the Tribes, both individually and collectively.
Objectives:
Ensure that the agency continues to take affirmative steps to encourage and assist Tribes in assuming
regulatory and program management responsibilities.
Ensure that the agency continues to recognize Tribal governments as the primary parties for setting
standards, making environmental policy decisions and managing programs for reservations, consistent
with agency standards and regulations.
Where appropriate, promote intergovernmental and interagency cooperation in the implementation of
environmental protection for areas in which Tribes have an interest.
Goal 3: Assure that Tribal concerns and interests are considered whenever EPA’s actions and/or
decisions may affect reservation environments.
Objectives:
Ensure EPA consultation with Tribes.
Provide guidance to the Agency on actions which may have Tribal implications.
Goal 4: Ensure that EPA’s actions in Indian country are consistent with EPA’s regulations and policies.
Objective:
Collaboratively monitor to ensure consistency with EPA’s 1984 Indian Policy.
Communication and Outreach Workgroup
Mission Statement
Lead efforts to ensure effective communication, outreach, training & education to support a collaborative
approach to environmental management in Indian country.
Goal 1: Facilitate effective communication and collaboration between headquarters, regions, Tribal
advisory groups and Tribes.
Objectives:
Develop and maintain a strategy and process for collaborative efforts with program offices, regions and Tribes.
Plan and coordinate Tribal Operations Committee and Tribal Caucus collaboration efforts.
Lead National Indian Workgroup (NIWG) collaboration efforts.
Provide support for Indian Program Policy Council (IPPC).
Goal 2: Promote and coordinate training that enhances cultural awareness and sensitivity for agency
managers and staff.
Objectives:
Ensure “Working Effectively with Tribes” training is continuously and consistently implemented.
Ensure culturally correct information is included in training sessions.
Goal 3: Promote and coordinate training and education to build environmental technical capabilities within Tribes.
Objectives:
Ensure consistent coordination of agency efforts for education and training for Tribes.
Facilitate E.O. on Tribal Colleges.
Goal 4: Promote EPA’s Indian Program.
Objectives:
Produce multimedia tools to promote the EPA Indian Program.
Manage AIEO Website.
Grant Workgroup
Mission Statement
Provide funding and guidance to Regions and Tribes in support of environmental programs and activities.
Goal 1: Ensure that grants related guidance is consistent and effective.
Objectives:
Ensure that Regions and Recipients are consistently aware of EPA grant policies and guidance.
Remain knowledgeable about EPA grant policies and guidances.
Coordinate with Headquarters and Regions to ensure information disseminations.
Goal 2: Enhance Regional and program capabilities to provide service to Tribes.
Objectives:
Provide support services to regional Tribal programs.
Ensure compliance with grant protocols and intents.
Advocate effective grant management practices.
Monitor Regions and Recipients implementation of grant requirements.
Goal 4: Provide assistance and technical support to other EPA Grant Programs.
Objectives:
Establish criteria for determining AIEO Grant Work Group involvement in grant proposal review.
Consult with AIEO Senior Leadership develop criteria to determine involvement in EPA grant initiatives.
Ensure that EPA Tribal policy/principles are reflected in implementation of all EPA grants.
Goal 5: Maintain effective oversight of GAP grant responsibilities.
Objectives:
Ensure timely and complete reporting on grant administration and performance by Regions and Recipients.
Prepare and present timely and complete summary reports on grant status and performance.
Research and Analysis Workgroup
Mission Statement
Provide accurate and comprehensive information and analyses in support of Tribal environmental management
efforts within AIEO, EPA and among federal agencies and Tribes.
Goal 1: Design and build a GPRA information infrastructure for Tribal programs, within
EPA and among federal agencies.
Objectives:
Using enterprise architecture tools, develop a system to share information within EPA and across agencies.
Develop interagency and Tribal partnerships for the exchange of information.
Enhance and expand existing Tribal information systems with additional sources of relevant GPRA data in
partnership with EPA programs and Tribes.
Goal 2: Provide pertinent, sound, comprehensive analyses of Tribal information to effectively support
policy and resource decisions within EPA and among federal agencies.
Objectives:
Support the EPA strategic planning process.t
Support the credible analyses of environmental issues in Indian country.
Provide scientific analyses of specific Tribal issues upon request.
Goal 3: Build awareness and acceptance of Tribal information infrastructure.
Objectives:
Produce and implement a marketing strategy.
Produce and publish information materials.
Design and implement user training.
Goal 4: Manage internal quality controls.
Objectives:
Ensure sound contract management practices.
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