United States
                        Environmental Protection
                        Agency
                         Solid Waste
                         and Emergency Response
                         (5303W)
         EPA530-N-98-002
         February 1998
         www.epa.gov/osw
1
&EPA
 Native American  Network
Prairie Island Indian Community
Hosts 4th  National Tribal Conference
on Environmental Managment
     The Office of Solid Waste and
     Emergency Response
     :OSWER) is pleased to
announce that the Prairie Island
Indian Community of Mdewakanton
and Wahpekute Dakota Sioux will
host the Fourth National
Tribal Conference on Envi-
ronmental Management
(NTCEM) at their Treasure
Island Resort and Casino,
May 19-21,  1998. The Prairie
Island Indian Community is
located at the confluence of
the Vermillion and Missis-
sippi Rivers in Red Wing,
Minnesota, which is approxi-
mately 40 miles south of
Minneapolis/St. Paul.
       expected, including representatives
       from over 120 different tribes, Native
       Alaskan Villages, tribal consortia,
       and organizations. Representatives of
       various federal agencies, such as
       EPA, Department of Justice, Depart-
Treasure Island Resort and Casino, home of the 4th
National Tribal Conference on Environmental
Management
The NTCEM has been held every
other year since 1992. Based on the
attendance at the 1996 conference,
more than 600 participants are
       ment of Energy, Department of
       Defense, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
       and Indian Health Service attended
       previous conferences and are ex-
       pected to participate once again.
                                             Continued on Page 6
                                            •presentmg^is Southern utt
                                            fe,^Jus^KiaEJ»^^;ZU£^
                                                 Q.EPA .AdrninistratorCarQL:
njirararcmavj-ML i».™^»ni^«yE^^.Maiiia.iMif=;=s.,1r-ftiirf, .wftiainiliamifSp*
the.mfonriaUQn we_haye.prepared for
                     ere Born of the Waters"
                               Bands of Eastern Dakota, also known
                               as the Mississippi or Minnesota
                               Sioux, have lived on Prairie Island.

                               The Prairie Island Reservation was
                               created when the Secretary of the
                               Interior purchased land and placed it
                               into trust for the tribe in 1889.
                                      Today, there are approximately 500
                                      enrolled members governed by a five
                                      member Tribal Council that directly
                                      employs approximately 50 people.
                                      The new Tribal Council members,
                                      sworn in on December 18, 1997,
                                      include Audrey Kohnen, President
                                                    Continued on Page  2
                                                  Printed on paper that contains at least 20 percent postconsumer fiber

-------
Deputy  Administrator  Addresses
NCAI 54th Annual  Convention
       Deputy Adminis-
       trator Fred
       Hansen ad-
dressed the General
Assembly at the National
Congress of American
Indians (NCAI) 54th
Annual Convention in
Santa Fe, New Mexico,
November 16-21,1997.
The occasion marked the
first time that a represen-
tative from the highest
level in EPA addressed
the NCAI convention,
which is one of the
largest and oldest national tribal
meetings. Deputy Administrator
Hansen spoke on behalf of EPA and
expressed his appreciation to all of the
tribes, and the tribal officers of the
EPA Tribal Operations Committee
(TOC), for their leadership in environ-
mental management.
EPA Deputy Administrator
Fred Hansen
          The Deputy Administra-
          tor praised the members
          of the TOC by saying,
          "Without these people's
          leadership and that of
          NCAI, EPA could never
          have taken the steps it
          has taken to strengthen its
          tribal policies." He
          thanked Jim Fletcher,
          TOC Co-Chair and
          Environmental Officer of
          the Morongo Band of
          Mission Indians (CA);
          John Banks, TOC Vice-
          Chair and Natural Re-
source Director of the Penobscot
Indian Nation; and Lorenda Joe, TOC
Secretary and Deputy Director of the
Navajo Nation Environmental Protec-
tion Agency, for helping EPA be more
responsive to tribal needs.

The Deputy Administrator took the
opportunity to highlight several EPA
accomplishments of the past five
years in partnership with the tribes:
the reaffirmation of the EPA Indian
Policy by Administrator Carol
Browner in 1994; the establishment
of the Tribal Operations Committee
(TOC) in 1994 to improve communi-
cations between EPA and the tribes;
and the establishment of the Ameri-
can Indian Environmental Office
(AIEO) in 1995 to help tribes im-
prove the environment in Indian
Country and raise awareness within
the Agency. Mr. Hansen emphasized
the increases to the EPA Indian
program's funding and resources for
Indian Country since 1994, from $36
million to $137 million overall, and
from $19 million to $79 million for
grants specifically. "This money,"
Mr. Hansen said, "used in many
different ways, will go far in helping
you to keep clean your air, your water
and your land." As of September

                Continued on Page 7
 "Those Who Were Born of the Waters" continued
 (the first female to serve as
 a Tribal Council presi-
 dent); Noah White, Vice
 President; Darrell
 Campbell, Secretary; Ron
 Johnson, Treasurer; and Lu
 Taylor-Jacobson, Assistant
 Secretary/Treasurer.
 The tribe's main economic venture is
 the Treasure Island Resort and
 Casino, which is owned and operated
 by the tribe. Approximately 1,500
 people are employed by the casino,
 and on any given day there may be as
 many as 4,500 visitors. The tribe
 also has an R.V. Park, a marina, and
                     Pow-Wow grounds.  Other
                     facilities that enhance the
                     quality of life on the
                     reservation include a
                     community center; an
                     administrative building; a
                     health clinic staffed by
                     doctors from the Mayo
                     Clinic in Rochester,
             Minnesota; and a water treatment
             plant. Nearby attractions for recre-
             ation include golfing, boating, biking,
             hiking, and shopping.
             Located in the Mississippi River
             floodplain and within half-mile of the
             Norther States Nuclear Power Plant,
                                   the Prairie Island Indian Community
                                   is involved in an array of environ-
                                   mental and natural resource issues.
                                   The tribe's Environmental Depart-
                                   ment was started in December 1992
                                   with a Multi-Media Assistance
                                   Program grant from EPA Region 5.
                                   The Environmental Department is
                                   currently working on establishing a
                                   water quality laboratory, writing
                                   emergency and hazards analysis
                                   plans, and placing new land into
                                   trust. The Environmental Depart-
                                   ment works to protect the resources
                                   of the Mdewakanton and Wahpekute
                                   people to meet current needs and for
                                   future generations.

-------
                                                                   W * fc "«
     ihNPAN COUNTRY
~Sfet§§53|§9«iK;^PKles
     Tribal
              oyes easy access
       ovides links to the new
      tl»vy;5is
      Jiome page, EPA regions,
         '

                                 Municipal   Solid   Waste
National  Tribal Environmental
Council Holds Solid Waste
Focus Meetings
 gw--.- -:-;>-*, ...:.;:• • -v^..  -..;.,,-:^fa^i
 eminent agencies, tribal environ-
 :>;»,'• .'-•; . ,' .• •' : ,;JS;1*!;', i: ' v^rSsT^a
                                       n December 6, 1997, the
                                       National Tribal Environmen-
                                       tal Council (NTEC) com-
                                 pleted its solid waste focus meeting
                                 series with a meeting in Anchorage,
                                 Alaska.  The NTEC meetings, which
                                 were funded by EPA's Office of
                                 Solid Waste (OSW), provided the
                                 opportunity for tribal representatives,
                                 EPA, and other federal agencies,
                                 including BIA and IHS, to discuss
                                 solid waste problems, feasible
                                 solutions, and strategy development
                                for capacity building across Indian
                                Country. In addition to the Anchor-
                                age meeting, NTEC hosted seven
                                prior focus meetings in Washington,
                                B.C.; Billings, Montana; San Fran-
                                cisco, California; Cass Lake, Minne-
                                sota; Seattle, Washington; Albuquer-
                                que, New Mexico; and Norman,
                                Oklahoma. NTEC also presented
                                their findings at their Fourth Annual
                                Conference in Philadelphia, MI; at
                                the EPA Region 10 Tribal Solid
                                              Continued on Page?
 Imental web sifes, aiid relevu-
 *''•''•' '.--..   -'..  v- ,-
     itry web sites. For additional
     #?^imti?i>----'--;-.:...*m*:-  -:.:•. :- :-r1
    >rmation on.^^Mbal MS W     i
^website, contact Karen
                P-. V^'^.^n. ., -,»
                LdWaste^at
         i-1682, or via e-mai
   rdek.karen@epamail,epa.gov
   >Jf&-f_ "'i-'f »Js«>.*r*.j»«Mta
-------
NA mm AMERICAN NETWORK
 "Living Government-to-
 Government Partnerships for
 Tribal Environmental
 Management"

 Region 9 Fifth Annual Tribal
 EPA Conference,
 San Francisco, CA
 November 4-6,1997

      The opening remarks by Re-
      gional Administrator Felicia
 Marcus set the tone for the Fifth
 Annual Tribal EPA Conference in
 Region 9, based in San Francisco,
 California. For two and a half days,
 November 4-6, over 220 tribal
 participants from the states of Ari-
 zona, California and Nevada joined
 their EPA federal partners for a
 continuing dialogue on environmen-
 tal protection in Indian country.

 Since 1993, the conference participa-
 tion by both tribal and EPA staff has
 doubled in numbers. The evidence of
 the growth of tribal environmental
 programs was visible as tribal speak-
 ers co-presented and moderated
 nearly every session at the confer-
 ence.
 The rapid growth of tribal programs
 parallels the advancement of EPA's
 Indian program. The number of
 Indian Environmental General
 Assistance Program (GAP) grants
 managed by Region 9 has grown
 from 19 to 90. About 80% of the
 tribes in the region have received
 some type of technical assistance
 from EPA.
 Much of the conference focused on
 the GAP program - ranging from
 highlights from mature tribal environ-
 mental programs to first-year tribal
 recipients. Other workshop sessions
 highlighted many of the success
stories from Tribes such as the White
Mountain Apache Tribe (AZ), the
Gila River Indian Community (AZ),
the Hoopa Valley Tribe (CA) and the
Hualapai Tribe (AZ) whose environ-
mental programs have expanded due
to consistent GAP assistance.

Many tribes voiced their common
concern about the need for depend-
able, long-term GAP funding. Tribes
expressed concern about the limita-
tion of four-year GAP funding and
the level of funding for Tribes once
they receive program delegations.
The main point conveyed was that the
ability of tribes to protect their
resources and communities into the
long-term increasingly depends on
the sustainability of their environ-
mental programs.

Darrell Gerlaugh from the Gila River
Indian Community (AZ) shared the
experience of his tribe's response to a
recent "tire fire" when several
thousands of tons of abandoned
shredded tires suddenly ignited.
With a health threat to tribal and local
communities, the tribe's emergency
response program lead the response,
and coordinated with county and state
officials.

As part of a
plenary session
on the National
Environmental
Policy Act
(NEPA), Keith
Jones, Environ-
mental Planner
for the White
Mountain
Apache Tribe
(AZ), discussed
his tribe's
internal project
review process
which integrates
                                                     d
 "We definitely have our work cut out for
us to reach consistent and stable Tribal
environmental management in Indian
country. I can see only one way to make
this work - as partners. Until federal
programs are delegated, we must rely on
partnerships between EPA and Tribes to
direct EPA resources to where they are
needed most and to make regulatory
decisions to protect tribal resources.  We
must work as partners to demonstrate to
other federal agencies the meaning of
government-to-government relation-
ships. "

 - Felicia Marcus,
  Regional Administrator
comprehensive community planning
with environmental, social, economic
and cultural considerations in tribal
decision-making. By tribal resolu-
tion, the "Tribal Plan and Project
Review" process requires the tribe to
interface with the Elders Advisory
Committee, tribal staff and BIA
cultural, historical and archeological
staff.  Mr. Jones' presentation drew
many questions from other tribes
interested in developing similar
environmental review processes for
their own governments.

Complementing this plenary session
was a panel of tribal environmental
managers from the Campo Band of
Kumeyaay (CA), Morongo Band of
Mission Indians (CA), Hualapai (AZ)
and Hoopa Valley (CA) Tribes
discussing their experience in devel-
oping environmental codes and
ordinances for implementation and
enforcement on their reservations.

With half of the 1997 GAP recipients
being first-time recipients and new to
EPA programs, workshops and
                  presentations
                  were also
                  targeted to reach
                  Tribal audiences
                  with different
                  levels of exper-
                  tise. For ex-
                  ample, the Air
                  Division divided
                  workshops into
                  Introductory and
                  Advanced
                  Topics sessions.
                  Based on recom-
                  mendations from

-------
he  Regions
    the previous conference, other key
    topics included tribal participation in
    the Border XXI workgroups, tribal
    concerns about inadequate resources
    to meet looming solid waste and UST
    deadlines, and national issues in-
    volved with tribal program authoriza-
    tion decisions. The Nevada Indian
    Environmental Coalition (NIEC)
    presented a unique workshop on
    cultural and Tribal resource protec-
    tion in natural and environmental
    resource management.
    Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and
    EPA Host Tribal Casino Waste
    Reduction Workshop

        For many Tribes, gaming and
        lodging facilities are significant,
    if not the largest, producers of solid
    waste. Waste is generated in the
    gaming rooms, administrative offices,
    hotel and food services. Addition-
    ally, the use of water, energy, and
    potentially hazardous materials can
    be extensive.

    In response to Tribal concerns
    emanating from the growth of the
    gaming and hospitality industry in
    Tribal communities, the Minne-
    sota Chippewa Tribe (MCT) and
    EPA Region 5 sponsored a Tribal
    Casino Waste Reduction Work-
    shop on August 12, 1997. The
    Fond du Lac Reservation's Black
    Bear Hotel and Casino near
    Duluth, Minnesota was the host
    site for this workshop. About
    fifty people participated, repre-
 Many of the tribes restated the
 national concern of improving the
 participation of Tribes in federal
 decision-making and activities that
 impact tribal resources and environ-
 ments. The White House Domestic
 Policy Council Subgroup on Ameri-
 can Indians and Alaska Natives met
 in Olympia, Washington, on October
 15 and 16, 1997, to discuss ways to
 implement more effective collabora-
 tion when major federal activities
 affect tribal lands and resources.
 Felicia Marcus and many of the
 region's tribal leaders participated in
 this meeting and committed to work
jointly in providing leadership among
 federal agencies and the Administra-
 tion to encourage stronger federal
senting environmental, casino, hotel
and restaurant staff from numerous
Tribes in Minnesota, Wisconsin and
Michigan.

Dr. Robert B. Pojasek was the
featured guest instructor for the
workshop. Dr. Pojasek presented his
proven approach for waste reduction,
which uses process mapping as a
foundation for fully understanding
comprehensive facility operations.
Through this understanding of facility
                                   Dr. Robert Pojasek presents his proven approach
                                   to waste reduction
 policy that enhances the role of
 Tribes in the protection of their
 resources.

 Regional Administrator Felicia
 Marcus acknowledged that EPA has a
 long way to go before the needs of
 Indian Country are met. With the
 precedent set by making tribal
 programs a priority for the region,
 tribes are helping EPA more effec-
 tively raise the priority of tribal
 environmental issues.

 For more information about the EPA
 Region 9 Indian Program contact
 Clancy Tenley, Indian Program
 Manager, at (415) 744-1607 or
 e-mail:
 tenley.clancy@epamail.epa.gov.
operations, pollution prevention
opportunities may be identified. Dr.
Pojasek has developed this systems
approach, using a variety of problem
solving and decision making tools, to
permit the continuous assessment and
improvement of process efficiency by
facility staff.

Prior to the workshop, personnel
from the Black Bear Casino met with
Dr. Pojasek, USEPA, and the director
of the Fond du Lac Reservation
   Environmental Department to
   analyze various operations at the
   casino, hotel, and restaurant. This
   was to determine which facility
   processes could be best analyzed
   during the workshop.

   In the workshop, four teams led
   by Black Bear Casino staff used
   team exercises to map four facility
   processes:  food delivery and
   storage, laundry, beverage service
   bottle collection, and bingo hall
   waste management.  Workshop

               Continued on Page 8

-------
                                                                            sgeteSB± Tp.%;:^ g
Vermont Law School  Offers Summer Courses in
Indian  Country Environmental Law
       During the 1998 summer
       session, Vermont Law
       School (VLS) is offering two
courses focusing exclusively on the
development and application of
Environmental law in Indian Coun-
try. The first course, "Introduction to
Indian Country Environmental Law,"
addresses how the cooperative
federalism model of environmental
law (creating a federal-state partner-
ship) applies to Indian country.
Major course topics include federal
environmental policies for Indian
country, tribal regulatory authority
over non-Indian polluters, actions for
damages to tribal natural resources,
tribal citizen suits, and regulation and
taxation of on-reservation natural
resource development. This course
runs June 1-11,1998 and will be
taught by James M. Grijalva, Associ-
ate Professor of Law and Director,
Tribal Environmental Law Project,
University of North Dakota School of
Law.
The second course, "Advanced
Topics in Indian Country Environ-
mental Law," covers the statutory and
regulatory framework for carrying out
federal environmental laws in Indian
country, and the resolution of
tribal-state disputes concerning
regulatory authority. The course
emphasizes the federal policy of
treating tribes as states under the
Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and
the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act.  In addition, federal
laws providing protection for places
that have cultural and religious
importance to tribes, including the
National Historic Preservation Act
and the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act, will
be covered. This course runs June
 15-25, 1998 and will be taught by
Dean B. Suagee, Of Counsel, Hobbs,
 Straus, Dean & Walker, Washington,
 D.C.
The 1998 summer program brochure
is not out yet, but look for it soon.
As in prior years, the deadline for
registration is May 1, 1998. Prospec-
tive applicants do not have to be
registered in a degree program at
VLS to attend the summer program.
Applicants do not even have to be
law students. However, a bachelor's
degree is a prerequisite. For law
students attending other schools,
credit for VLS summer program
classes generally can be transferred to
other law schools.

For more information on the VLS
Summer Sessions, contact the
Environmental Law Center at Ver-
mont Law School at (800)227-1395
or (802) 763-8303; the fax number is
(802)763-2940; or via e-mail:
elcinfo@vermontlaw.edu. You can
also check out the VLS website by
using the following address:
www.vermontlaw.edu/elc.htm
National Tribal Conference
 The focus of the conference is tribal
 capacity building. The NTCEM
 provides opportunities for training
 and information sharing, and will
 showcase Tribal partnerships. The
 conference agenda will address an
 array of environmental media issues
 throughout Indian Country. In the
 past, the NTCEM has included topics
 invol ving waste management, air and
 water quality standards, environmen-
 tal justice grants, Alaska issues, and
 stream and wetland rehabilitation
 projects.  Space will be available for
 exhibitors, such as federal agencies,
 private consulting firms, and local
 Native American artisans. The
                Continued
 Tribe's conference facility can
 accommodate up to 40 vendors.

 The Prairie Island Indian Community
 will provide travel assistance to tribal
 government representatives in the
 form of travel reimbursements. A
 reimbursement of up to $1000 will be
Treasure Island Resort and Casino on the
Prairie Island Indian Reservation
 available to one representative per
 tribe on a "first come, first served"
 basis. All tribes are invited to attend
 the conference. The Prairie Island
 Indian Community looks forward to
 continuing the tradition of hosting
 the premier environmental manage-
 ment conference for Indian Tribes.

 The NTCEM is a partnership and
 collaboration of efforts between the
 Prairie Island Indian Community,
 EPA Headquarters, and EPA Region
 5. If you would like more informa-
 tion, contact Heather Westra,
 Environmental Coordinator, Prairie
 Island Indian Community at (800)
 554-5473.

-------
 Deputy Administrator continued
 1997, 129 tribes have begun to          that many tribes are beginning to
 implement their own environmental
 programs in partnership with EPA.
The Deputy Administrator explained
that the past five years of partnership
are creating a greater level of collabo-
ration between EPA and tribes now

Solid Waste

FOCUS Meetings continued
Waste Network meeting in Warm
Springs, OR; and at the EPA Region
9 Tribal Conference in San Francisco,
CA.

The main topics discussed during the
focus meetings were solid waste
education, dump closure, federal
grant processes,  solid waste facilities,
technical assistance, enforcement,
solid waste as a priority item, and
costs of solid waste management.
Meeting participants recommended
ways in which federal agencies can
change or improve their policies
dealing with tribal solid waste
programs. Some of the recommenda-
tions include preparing guidance
accompanied by financial assistance
for dump closures, prioritizing tribal
solid waste management issues at
EPA headquarters level, simplifying
the federal grant awarding process,
providing tribal access to technical
assistance centers and funding, and
communicating to Congress the need
for funding and the intricacies
associated with solid waste manage-
ment issues in Indian Country.

NTEC is currently developing a final
report on the entire series of focus
group meetings.  EPA plans to use
the final report to finalize its Munici-
pal Solid Waste (MSW) Strategy for
Indian Country.  For more informa-
tion  on the focus meetings, contact
Mr. Boyd Nystedt, NTEC, at (505)
242-2175 or (800) 727-2175.
   implement their own water quality
   standards under the Clean Water Act
   (CWA). Mr. Hansen spoke about the
   challenges this level of collaboration
   brings in working with tribes prior to
   final decisions that effect tribal lands,
   and defending EPA approvals of
   tribal programs in court such as the
   recent Supreme Court case City of
   Albuquerque vs. Browner. While
   this case upheld EPA's approval of
   the Pueblo of Isleta's (NM) water
   quality standards, other challenges
   loom.  Mr. Hansen stated, "EPA has
   been busy defending tribal authority
   under the Clean Air Act, the Safe
   Drinking Water Act, and we have
   been trying to find solutions for the
   laws mat fall short and do not allow
   us to develop full partnership with
   tribes, such as we are doing for solid
   waste management in the face of
   adverse court decisions."

   Mr. Hansen reminded everyone about
   the White House Domestic Policy
   Council meeting in October 1997,
   and acknowledged the accolades of
                           some tribes who consider EPA a
                           model for other federal agencies that
                           work with tribes. He admitted
                           though that, "... few among you
                           (tribes), or in the Agency for that
                           matter, would say that our work is
                           done."

                           Concerning the future, the Deputy
                           Administrator conveyed his under-
                           standing of tribal frustrations with
                           the inconsistencies between the
                           federal agencies and said that EPA
                           will be addressing those issues.  He
                           also remarked that he would do all he
                           could to ensure that EPA continues
                           to make a difference in Indian
                           Country, and asked that tribal leaders
                           continue to make environmental
                           protection a priority.  Mr. Hansen
                           said, "We need strong leadership
                           from both the Federal government
                           and from Indian Country to form
                           new and effective solutions."

                           For more information about the
                           NCAI annual conventions and the
                           midyear conventions, please call
                           NCAI at (202) 466-7767.
   ... WHERE'S MY TRAVEL PAPERWORK??"
 l A number of organizations will host solid waste conferences, traimng^essions,j>r other events of interest to
 ^Tribes and EPA A calendar 7>F these events is provided below For informatioiTon additional tribal environ-
 gjnental events, contact EPA's Ajje|icajynjhanj^r|>||inental Ogee at (202) 260-7939 or visit their Web page
 ilafwww.epa.gov/indian/calen.html   _                ""
  Calendar of Solid Waste Conferences, Training Sessions and Other Tribal Events
 *Pate
  April 6-10



 *Apnl21-23

 i *-   f i. ^
 ^t—,
    t
  April 27-30
r
f
  April 28-29
      19-21
  June 14-17
                                    p»

                                    (F
   Event and Locatioji_
   Working Effectively With
   Tribal Governments
   EPA Region 8, Denver, CO
   Fifth AnnualNational Tribal
   Environmental Council
 ' ' Conference
 ^Spokane", WA
   .Ecosystem Based Mgrnt.—-
          for Upper   ^-^=1^
   ColumbiaRiver Basin
   Castlegar, BC (Canada)
   EPA Region 2
   Tribal Summit
^_ Location (TBD^        _
   4th NatipnarfrTbal Conference
   On Environmental    " ""
   Management
   Red Wing, MN
   National Congress of
   American Indians,
  %Mid Year Session Green Bay, WI
Contact for More Information
JaneMarie Freiheiter, EPA
303-312-6348

Maggie Cover, NTEC
(505) 242-2175 or
800) 727-2175

Don McDonald
205-753-1583 or
EMail sff-mes@island net

Christine Yost, EPA
212-637-3564
Heather^Westra^ Environmental
Coojdmator, Prairie Island
Indian Community,
(800) 554-5473
NCAI
(202) 466-7767


-------
NATIVE AMERICAN NETWORK

Minnesota
  EPA  Will Fund New Brownfields Pilots in 1998
                     continued
participants were urged to ask
questions so they may understand
each process.  The end product for
each team exercise was to make
recommendations for waste reduc-
tion. Also presented during this
portion of the workshop was a waste
reduction case study, which was
conducted as a pilot project by Lac
du Flambeau Tribal staff in their
Lake of the Torches casino near
Minocqua, Wisconsin.

As measured by interest and feed-
back regarding this workshop, the
information gained by tribes will be
put to good use. Tribal staff will
conduct pollution prevention audits at
casinos as well as other tribal facilities
such as government offices, clinics,
and schools. Funding for this project
came from MCT's Pollution Preven-
tion Incentives for States grant,
received from USEPA.
For more information, contact Karl
Humphrey, MCT, at (218) 335-6303,
or Dolly Tong, EPA, at (3 12)
886-1019.
        EPA is now accepting proposals
        for the second round of the
        1998 National Brownfields
  Economic Redevelopment Pilots.
  The brownfields pjlots, which may
_ each be fundediip to $200,000 over a
I' - two year period, are designed to
  empower states, communities, tribes
  and other parties interested in eco-
  nomic redevelopment to work
  together to prevent, assess, and reuse
j- brqwnfields.

  A browhfield is a commercial or
  industrial site or a portion of a site
  that has actual or perceiyed contami-
  nation, as well as an active potential
  for redevelopment or reuse.  Chosen
  pilots test redevelopment models,
- direct special efforts toward removing
» regulatory barriers without sacrificing
j^protectiveness, and facilitate coordi-
fc? nated environmental assessments and
  cleanup efforts at the federal, state,
  tribal and local levels.  These funds
  are used to generate interest by
  pulling together community groups,
  investors, lenders, developers and   "
  other affected parties to address the
  issue of cleaning up sites contami-
  nated with hazardous substances and
  returning them to appropriate produc-
tive use. However, these cooperative
agreements may not be used for clean
up activities. EPA expects to select
approximately 100 additional na-
tional brownfields assessment pilots
in fiscal year 1998.

The deadline for new applications for
the 1998 assessment pilots is March
23, 1998. The national brownfields
assessment pilots are administered on
a competitive basis. To ensure a fair.
selection process, evaluation panels
consisting of EPA Regional and
Headquarters staff and other federal
agency representatives will assess
how well theproposals meet the
selection criteria outlined in the
newly revised application booklet,
"The BrownfielBs Economic Rede-
velopment Initiative:  Proposal
Guidelines for Brownfields Assess-
ment Demonstration Pilots" (dated
Oc|pber 1997). Copies of the appli-
cation package and the solicitation
notice can be obtained by calling the
RCRA/Superfund Hpjtline at
1-800-424-9346 or 703-412-9810.
Information can also be obtained
through the Internet at:
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
      U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
      Office of Solid Waste (5306W)
      401 M Street, SW
      Washington, DC 20460

      Official Business
      Penalty for Private Use
      $300

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