News Releases from Region 06

EPA awards Otoe-Missouria $125,000 to protect the environment

DALLAS (Feb. 1, 2018) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently awarded $125,000 to the Otoe-Missouria of Oklahoma as part of the General Assistance Program (GAP). The tribe will use the funds to administer their environmental program and assist in the development of multimedia programs to address environmental issues. The GAP program protects the health of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe by safeguarding the environment through awareness and environmental program development.

“The Otoe-Missouria Tribe has been recognized for their leadership in environmental services,” said Regional Administrator Anne Idsal. “We are pleased to support our tribal partners in sustaining environmental protection.”

“GAP funding supports our tribal endeavors to protect the environment and conserve the natural resources within the Otoe-Missouria jurisdictional lands,” said tribal environmental coordinator Angela Oyebi Heim. “By working with EPA, the Otoe-Missouria Environmental Department strives to enhance understanding, education, protection of the environment to the surrounding community.”

The primary purpose of GAP is to support the development of core tribal environmental protection programs. Other activities to be carried out under the grant include, but are not limited to, attending environmentally related training and conducting community outreach.   

In 1992, Congress passed the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Act which authorizes EPA to provide GAP grants to federally-recognized tribes and tribal groups for planning, developing, and establishing environmental protection programs in Indian country, as well as for developing and implementing solid and hazardous waste programs on tribal lands.

For more information on Otoe-Missouria Tribe Environmental program please visit: http://www.omtribe.org/what-we-do-environmental

To learn more about EPA’s General Assistance Program (GAP) visit: https://www.epa.gov/tribal/indian-environmental-general-assistance-program-gap

For more about EPA’s work in Oklahoma: https://www.epa.gov/ok

Connect with EPA Region 6:

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eparegion6 

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EPAregion6

Activities in EPA Region 6: http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.htm 

# # #