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Teleconference on Perchlorate with Tribal Environmental
Representative
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
REGION 9
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-3901 May 6, 1998MEMORANDUMSUBJECT: Teleconference on Perchlorate with Tribal
Environmental RepresentativeFROM: Kevin P. Mayer, H-6-4TO: Perchlorate Steering Committee Tribal Participants Keith Takata, Director, Region 9 Superfund Division
On April 24th, we held a teleconference with Matt Leivas (Chemehuevi),
Connor Byestewa(CRIT), John Swenson (Cocopah), Dr. Karen Medville (ASU, Intertribal Science
Advisor) andmyself to discuss perchlorate issues critical to Native American Tribes.
Communication was the principle concern
expressed:
1) EPA and the California web site give the impression that perchlorate
contamination of water supplies is an extensive, serious problem. There is no indication
that tribes in California other than those along the Colorado River have been made aware
of the issue by either federal or state officials.
2) It is apparent that state and local agencies and water suppliers were
identified as important stakeholders very early in the process while tribes were not
initially considered.
3) Even after the tribes were contacted, the level of involvement has not
been adequate. A primary example is the scheduling conflict between the Stakeholder Forum
in Henderson and the National T~bal Environmental Council meeting on the exact
same dates. The tribal representatives strongly recommended another stakeholders
meeting at a later date to allow full participation by the tribes.
4) Input from tribes was not solicited for the report to congress on
perchlorate issues (due April 27) nor for the perchlorate conference background papers. EPA should
provide these documents to the tribes as soon as they are released and be prepared
to incorporate tribal issues in subsequent documents.
5) There is no evidence of participation by Bureau of Indian Affairs, the
Indian Health Service or the Bureau of Reclamation.
6) The tribes requested a list of names, phone numbers and addresses of the
participants in the Interagency Perchlorate Steering Committee
Attendance at Henderson
Key environmental people from several of the tribes along the Colorado River
will be unable to attend the Henderson Stakeholders Forum. Many tribes have only one senior
environmentalofficial who would be able to fully participate and contribute on technical
aspects of perchlorateeffects on tribal resources. In addition to providing meeting proceedings,
there should be afollow-up meeting for tribes to allow interchange with the range of agencies
and scientificdisciplines present at the stakeholders forum.
Resources for sampling and interpretation of technical results are
needed by the tribes. TheChemehuevi spent tribal resources to test their water supplies for
perchlorate and confirmed thepresence of perchlorate at about 7 ppb in Lake Havasu. None of the other
tribes have had theirwater tested for perchlorate. The non-detect results from Yuma need to be
confirmed.
Other Priorities The tribes recognize that EPA and the other agencies place a high importance
on researching thetoxicity of perchlorate inhuman drinking water and on developing treatment
technologies.However, after these two priorities there appears to be a sharp drop-off in
commitment to studysome issues important to the tribes. Among the information needs are: Analysis of perchlorate uptake and translocation into irrigated crops Research on a range of agricultural effects (e.g., productivity,
accumulation in soil) Effects on fish and wildlife. Other potential and perceived effects on recreational use of the river.
Recreation impacts (on fishing, swimming, boating) are a very high concern not only for
protection of tribal members but for the important recreational and resort business.
Position statements Some discussion was held concerning the most effective way of communicating
the needs of thevarious tribes. There is no single spokesperson for the tribes since they
are different entities withdifferent concerns that do not always overlap. At least one tribe is
planning to write a letterstating that tribe's position. This letter will be available to be
presented at the HendersonStakeholder's Forum, and I committed to reading it to the attendees.
Letters to elected officialsand to Carol Browner were also mentioned for prioritizing resources to
perchlorate issues.
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