Tribal Program

15th Annual Tribal EPA Conference Announcement
Elko, Nevada on October 17-19

Over 500 tribal environmental leaders representing more than 100 tribal governments from Arizona, California and Nevada will be meeting with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Elko, Nevada on October 17-19, 2007 to discuss environmental concerns and to recognize accomplishments. The conference is co-hosted by the U.S. EPA and The Elko Band of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians. For more information or to register for the conference see the Elko Band Environmental Department Web site. 

4 Free Registrations West Coast Green Residential Building Conference

EPA Region 9 is raffling 4 free registrations (travel and lodging not included) for tribal representatives and tribal consortia to the West Coast Green Residential Building Conference this September 20-22 in San Francisco. The conference includes 100+ presentations by green building industry leaders as well as networking forums, an exhibit hall, and opportunities for both industry professionals and homeowners to learn more about green technologies. The registration for the conference is $575 (half price for government, including tribal government, employees with code GOV369) so don't miss this opportunity to attend for free. For more information see the West Coast Green Web site .

To enter the raffle, please send an email, to Elizabeth Forsyth (forsyth.elizabeth@epa.gov), with subject line "West Coast Green Entry", with your name, contact information, and the tribe or tribal consortia you represent by Wednesday, Sept 5th. The winners will be notified by Friday, Sept 7. One entry per tribe.

For any questions regarding the raffle please contact Elizabeth Forsyth (forsyth.elizabeth@epa.gov) 415-972-3380.

Tribal Indoor Radon Project Grant: 2007
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9, Air Division, is soliciting applications from eligible Tribes and Tribal Consortia to fund Tribal Indoor Radon Pilot Projects. Projects must demonstrate the effectiveness of reducing health risks through the development of projects for the assessment and mitigation of radon. EPA Region 9 anticipates that approximately $160,000 of federal funds will be available for Tribal Indoor Radon Pilot Projects. Region 9 anticipates awarding approximately 2-3 grant agreements ranging in size from no less than $25,000 and no more than $60,000 for work to be completed in either one or two years. Tribal Indoor Radon Grant Announcement

American Indian Tribal Portal Launched (7/30/07)
The Environmental Protection Agency has launched the first-of-its-kind portal website to help the tribal community, its supporters and the public find tribal environmental information and data through a single web-based access point. The new cross-agency website allows EPA to consolidate and share environmental information reflecting the tribal community's perspective and needs into a central, easy-to-navigate structure. Various EPA programs, such as enforcement, waste, underground storage tanks and water, are also consolidating their tribal information through this website.

Soil Cleanup on Navajo Nation (May 1) EPA, in conjunction with the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency, will begin cleaning up radium-contaminated soil in the Coyote Canyon Chapter of the Navajo Nation. News Release

Clean Air Plan for Four Corners Power Plant
(May 1) EPA has finalized a clean air plan that includes emission limits for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, total particulate matter, and opacity for the Four Corners Power Plant located on the Navajo Nation. News Release | Web site

Cocopah’s Efforts to Restore the Lower Colorado River Limitrophe For many centuries, the Cocopah, known as the River People, lived in harmony with the mighty Lower Colorado River Delta region, one of the largest tidal wetlands in the world.
Feature Story

California Tribal Interagency Solid Waste Workgroup Meeting June 19, 2007

StopWaste Building Board Room 1537 Webster Street, Oakland, CA 94612, (510) 891-6500, Directions

EPA Region 9 Waste Management division, in partnership with Indian Health Services, is hosting a roundtable solid waste discussion between California Tribes and California State and federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Indian Health Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, US Department of Agriculture, US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the California Integrated Waste Management Board. Identified as a priority by the Regional Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC), the goal of the meeting is to provide a forum for California Tribes to give input to federal and state agencies on how to better address solid waste issues on tribal lands. It is also an opportunity to learn about the various solid waste financial and technical assistance agencies have to offer, and to discuss common solid waste goals and issues with other California-area Tribes.

The meeting will take place on June 19, 2007 from 9:45am-2:00pm at the Oakland Federal Building 3rd Floor North Tower Auditorium (see new location above) with lunch served from 12:00-1:00. For more information and to register, contact Elizabeth Forsyth (forsyth.elizabeth@epa.gov) or at (415) 972-3380. This will be a zero waste event.

Judge Issues Order Against Illegal Dump (Mar. 26) A federal judge has ordered California firms to pay up to $42.8M in cleanup costs at the Torres Martinez Reservation for dumping violations. Feature Story

Soil Cleanup on Navajo Nation (May 1) EPA, in conjunction with the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency, will begin cleaning up radium-contaminated soil in the Coyote Canyon Chapter of the Navajo Nation. News Release

Clean Air Plan for Four Corners Power Plant
(May 1) EPA has finalized a clean air plan that includes emission limits for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, total particulate matter, and opacity for the Four Corners Power Plant located on the Navajo Nation. News Release | Navajo web site

Cocopah’s Efforts to Restore the Lower Colorado River Limitrophe For many centuries, the Cocopah, known as the River People, lived in harmony with the mighty Lower Colorado River Delta region, one of the largest tidal wetlands in the world.
Feature Story

Judge Issues Order Against Illegal Dump (Mar. 26) A federal judge has ordered California firms to pay up to $42.8M in cleanup costs at the Torres Martinez Reservation for dumping violations. Feature Story

March 20th - Torres Martinez Solid Waste Collaborative Progress Report to the Public. The Collaborative, consisting of 25 federal, state and local agencies. Since October, members of the Collaborative have cleaned up 10 of the largest open dumps on the Reservation, enforced against illegal dumping on and off the Reservation, created an effective community outreach program increasing awareness of the problem, and have visibly reduced dumping on the reservation and in nearby Riverside County. Please join us on March 20th at 2:00 p.m. on the Torres Martinez Reservation to learn more about the Collaborative and its success fighting illegal dumping.
For more information on the Collaborative go to our webpage

Gila River Indian Community environmental plan formally accepted; First tribal comprehensive air quality plan nationwide (Feb. 21) After years in the making, the Gila River Indian Community will deliver to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a Tribal Implementation Plan, a blueprint of how to achieve improved air quality on tribal lands.
News Release

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe to Manage Clean Water Act Programs (Feb. 8) The tribe will develop water quality standards which will form the basis for permit requirements for discharges to waters within the tribe's jurisdiction.
News release

Fort Independence Indian Reservation in Owens Valley, California has built a successful, nationally recognized solid waste program from the ground up with Tribal leadership and grant support from U.S. EPA

Hualapai uses discarded waste to create "Earthship". Environmentally-friendly office space Earthships are buildings made from recycled and recovered material. They are so well integrated into the landscape that they remain naturally warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Clean Water Act Requirements for Construction Projects in Indian Country Construction occurring in Indian Country is now subject to Clean Water Act (CWA) regulations.
For More information (PDF) (2 pp, 339K, About PDF)

14th Annual Tribal Conference in San Francisco (Oct. 30) Tribal leaders and environmental managers to confer on environmental issues in Region 9.
Feature Story

Navajo uses of Native plants receives environmental education grant from EPA
Maybelle Little teaches at The Arboretum