United States Environmental Protection Agency Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5303W) EPA 530-N-99-005 Fall 1999 vvEPA Native American Network *' -V? ^""^^^^B^Sil^ป^te^w^ NTEC NATIONAL FORUM LEADS TO ACTION The EPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency : Response (OSWER) Tribal > Program action plans were published in May 1999 under the title, Response to ; Recommendations From the National Tribal Environmental : Council's February 10-11, 1998 Albuquerque National Tribal Forum. (EPA document #EPA/ 500/R-99/002) The action plans outline how each office will provide more support to tribal governments in implementing their waste programs in Fiscal Years 1999-2000. EPA will also incorporate these recommendations into the forthcoming QSWER Strategy for Implementing Waste Programs on Tribal Lands. The following offices comprise the OSWER Tribal Program: the Outreach and Special Projects Staff (OSPS), Office of Solid Waste (OSW), the Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST), Office of Emergency and Remedial Response (OERR), Chemical Emergency Continued on page 2, column 3 Federal Agencies Unite To Help Tribes Solve Solid Waste Problems The multiagency Tribal Solid Waste Interagency Workgroup plans to provide approximately $1.7 million to 11 Native American Tribes. The Workgroup, composed of representatives from eight Fed- eral Agencies (see sidebar), was established in April 1998 to design a Federal plan for helping tribes bring their waste disposal sites into compliance with the municipal solid waste landfill criteria (40 CFR Part 258). The tribes will use Tribal Open Dump Cleanup Project funds to assist with the closure or upgrade of their high priority open dump sites. Funding is expected to be finalized in fall of 1999. The Tribal Open Dump Cleanup Project is part of the Workgroup's effort to coordinate Federal assis- tance for tribal solid waste manage- ment programs. In addition to, assisting tribes with the closure or upgrade of high priority noncompliant waste disposal sites, the Project is intended to demon- strate the Federal Government's ability to provide comprehensive solid waste funding and technical Tribal Solid Waste Interagency Workgroup Participants U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance American Indian Environmental Office Bureau of Indian Affairs Indian Health Services Federal Aviation Administration National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Geological Survey Department of Agriculture Hazardous Waste Management Group Rural Utilities Services Department of Defense assistance to tribes. The Cleanup Project's specific goals include assisting tribes with complet- ing and implementing comprehensive inte- grated waste manage- ment plans, devel- oping realistic solid waste management alternatives, closing or upgrading existing open dumps, and developing postclosure programs. Continued on page 6, column 1 ) Printed on paper that contains at least 20 percent postconsumer fiber. ------- Native American NetWork HASKELL INDIAN NATIONS UNIVERSITY HOSTS CERCLA TECHNICAL TRAINING SESSION Students train on the use ofcolorimetric indicators in the field. Haskell Indian Nations University was the site of a major delivery of the CERCLA Education Center's "Field-Based Site Characterization Technologies" course developed by EPA's Technology Innovation Office in the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. This 5-day course was held at the University from June 21-25, 1999, in Lawrence, Kansas. Thirty-seven participants, including Tribal Environmental Staff, Federal Site Managers, and State Officials attended this training session. Specific Tribal technical representa- tives included participants from the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma, Prairie Students are instructed on emerging and innovative chemical site characterization techniques. Band of the Potawatomi Indians, Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Cherokee Nation. Several professors and upper level students in the Environmental Science Department at Haskell Indian Nations University also participated in the course. Class participants were given extensive hands-on training in the application of numerous test meth- ods, sampling and analytical kits, field and laboratory instruments, statistical approaches, and data quality goals and methods that are currently in use to perform hazard- ous waste site characterizations. During this training, several com- mercial field equipment manufac- turers demonstrated their products to the class participants. For further information regarding this course and others provided free of charge to Federal, State, and tribal environmental professionals, please contact: John Quander, Env. Scientist CERCLA Education Center (703) 603-7198, or consult www.trainex.org. # SzNTEC Forum, from page 1 s Preparedness and Prevention Office JCEPPO), and Federal Facilities 5" Restoration and Reuse Offipe " (FFRRO). The genesis for the action plans was '-,. the National Tribal Environmental Council's (NTEC) National Forum to Discuss Impediments to the Implementation of Waste Programs, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Tim __Fields, Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response led a ^ejegation of OSWER Senior ,, . .^Managers to participate in the forum 'laWsT f ~. , , , * . ,, . * ,, -. ,, :.- . ., -,-. r,, ,., |,. 0 """with tribal and other federal _ officials. During the forum, tribal """representatives, EPA senior management, EPA Regional _ personnel, and representatives from -the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS) held small group discussions on *'~ waste management issues in Indian _ Country. participating tribes put forth 106 recommendations for _________ fLoverconiing' barriers to l^i ________ I _. ^implementing waste programs in T -Indian Country. As a result, each of : the program offices within OSWER began drafting action plans to ** respond to issues and *jrecoftrflpd[a!iotts, ...developed during &:the National Forum. A draft of the _ OSWER Tjribal Program action srplanf. was provided to participants -"of the National Forum and all federally-recognized tribes for -review and comment before the final document was published in May 1999. \ฃ".'.'..'. . ' .. "' ' '.' ..'.'. .'. - """. ' ' ' .' " " ..... ........ '..".'.'.'. ''''..' . ' ', ""' ; . IP For more information contact: ^=s Charlene Dunn at i~(2Q21260-9466_ฎ ------- N a t i v e A m e r i c a ri N e two r k MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE www.epa.gov/tribalnrisw Pacific Northwest Tribal Partnership Leverages Waste Management Opportunities In 1997, 10 tribes from the plateau region of the interior Pacific Northwest formed the Inland Empire Tribal Solid Waste Advisory Net- work (TSWAN) to collectively explore innovative waste manage- ment techniques and advocate responsible solid waste manage- ment for all Native Americans. By acting together, member tribes have strengthened their voices in environmental management issues and increased their opportunities for securing funds needed for infra- structure development. In fact, EPA Region 10 recently awarded TSWAN a $31,000 solid waste grant for Fiscal Year 1999. The funding will allow member tribes to develop an Intertribal Solid Waste Management Plan and become more self-supporting as a nonprofit organization. Through TSWAN, member tribes pursue the following objectives: Building a consortium for discussing regional tribal solid waste issues. Creating a forum for sharing experiences and successes. Collecting and recording individual tribal solid waste management efforts. Enabling tribes to participate in a national dialogue on solid waste management issues with Federal Agencies. Advising Federal Agencies on solid waste issues and concerns unique to Inland Empire Tribes. In past years, tribes did not effectively communicate their challenges and solutions with each other, so mistakes experienced by one tribe were often repeated by another tribe. TSWAN members minimize this problem by discussing common solid waste issues and sharing success stories during quarterly meetings. TSWAN meeting participants discuss topics such as recyclables collection, solid waste management methods, and how to generate greater concern among Federal Agencies for tribal solid waste management needs. The quarterly meetings often include representatives from EPA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and other Federal Agencies, and provide these agencies the opportunity to meet with member tribes and hear their concerns collectively. TSWAN has accomplished many of its founding goals. Ultimately, TSWAN plans to formally promote advanced waste management concepts (such as source reduction) through its programs and establish a tribal solid waste database to record individual solid waste management efforts. Future goals include acquiring the necessary funding to establish an office to house and maintain the tribal solid waste database and compiling a summary of each member tribe's solid waste management concerns for presentation to Federal Agencies. Tribes currently participating in TSWAN include the Coeur D'Alene Tribe of the Coeur D'Alene Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Shoshone- Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation, Kalispel Indian Community of the Kalispel Reservation, Kootenai Tribe, Nez Perce Tribe, Spokane Tribe of the Spokane Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, and Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Indian Nation of the Yakama Reservation. TSWAN has invited all tribes in the Pacific Northwest to join and hopes to expand membership throughout EPA Region 10. For more information about TSWAN, contact: Mia Sonneck Nez Perce Tribe, TSWAN Chairperson (208) 843-7368, Ext. 2603. # ------- Native American N e t iv o r k MUNICIPAL SOLID www.epa.gov/tribalmsw ASTE EPA To Award Additional $450,000 in Municipal Solid Waste Grants Through its Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Grant Program for Indian Country, the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency (EPA) will provide additional funding to support the development and enhancement of tribal solid waste management programs. The MSW Grant Program is a capacity-building program that promotes effective integrated solid waste management (ISWM) prac- tices to federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations. For Fiscal Year 1999, EPA will award $450,000 in MSW grants to 10 Native American tribes or multitribe organizations. The tribes will use these funds to develop solid waste management plans, expand commu- nity education and outreach pro- grams, and explore options to reduce waste and maximize recy- cling. The MSW Grant Program (see sidebar), focuses on tribal projects that strive to include all aspects of integrated solid waste management including source reduction, recycling, composting, and combustion or landfilling. EPA also looks for programs that are comprehensive, addressing planning and program development, education, training, and implementation. Tribes awarded MSW grants are encouraged to engage community members in their solid waste management planning and cleanup activities. The MSW Grant Program places strong emphasis on cooperation and partnerships between tribes, the surrounding communities, and other Federal or nonfederal agencies to help leverage resources and ensure the program's sustainability beyond the EPA funding period. Successful programs should demonstrate measurable results such as volume and types of materials diverted from landfills, development of an integrated solid waste management plan, or implementation of a community education and outreach campaign. The projects also are intended to alleviate or reduce impacts on human health and the environment by limiting access to open dumps or converting organic materials into useful compost. Ultimately, EPA envisions that information obtained and lessons learned by tribes engaged in MSW- grant-funded projects can be shared with other tribes to aid in their efforts to address solid waste management issues. Tribes that receive funding could offer technical assistance via conference calls, workshops, and other general information dissemination. For more information, please visit the tribal website at www.epa.gov/ tribalmsw or contact: Beverly Goldblatt U.S. EPA (703) 308-7278. * vetooment and implementation of sustainable, comprehensive, integrated waste rams! e community participation in the manaaement of solid waste in ndian Gountrv. rage partnerships between tribes, surrounding communities, and other Federal or nonfederal pupum les. ------- -N a t i v e A m e r i e a it N e two irk- m y M i ci PAL SOLI www.epa.gov/tribalmsw AST.E New Training and Technical Assistance Directory for Tribal Solid Waste Managers Available EPA has compiled a new Training and Technical Assistance Directory for Tribal Solid Waste Managers to help tribal leaders and environmental personnel identify currently available municipal solid waste (MSW) technical assistance and training resources. This guide is divided into four broad solid waste topic areas: Waste and Pollu- tion Prevention; Recycling; Composting; and MSW Collection, Transfer, and Disposal. The wide range of techni- cal assistance listed in the guide includes information related to the various solid waste challenges faced by the tribes. Some of the assistance options include: technology and information exchange forums workshops resource and referral networks partnership-building programs hotlines clearinghouses onsite assessments Many of the identified organizations publish outreach materials such as newsletters, fact sheets, and guides, and offer library resources. Some groups offer training videos, audio tapes, software, satellite broad- casts, and curricula and training packages. Infor- mation on formal solid waste management training through certifi- cation courses and programs, continuing education and extension programs, and college and university degree programs is also included. Assistance is also available in electronic formats including web sites, list servers, databases, and online newsletters. Copies of Training and Technical Assistance Directory for Tribal Solid Waste Managers are available through EPA's RCRA, Superfund, and EPCRA Hotline. The Hotline operates from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. e.s.t. Monday through Friday. Call (800) 424-9346 or (800) 553-7672 (TDD for hearing impaired) and , request document number EPA530- B-99-007. This document also can be viewed online or downloaded from the Internet at www.epa.gov/ tribalmsw/pdftxt/training.pdf. ฉ ASTE MANAGE- ~ he EP Aj| Wa?te Manage- * ggnas' reorganized_and ated to better serve the :^^^L^i=ฃ- s _^ and Alaska j The scope of j to provide information on i liwasjfe.JS^ 'iflpns'^asle. ^33itfc)nai - |Jy outreach ^ase studies^ynj|ng ] gTaMprogramlriformation, ^wi&y^^^K-^^K;?^-^^ yrtobal guidance materj- eTej:panded web .a^ ------- Native American NetWork EPA Prepares for Fifth National Tribal Conference on Environmental Management The Fifth National Tribal Conference on Environmental Management, tentatively scheduled for May 2000, will provide an opportunity for tribal environmental professionals and leaders to convene in a national forum and address major issues across all environmental programs. Through a national search, EPA is currently seeking a tribal cosponsor to manage the Conference. Final selection of the cosponsor is targeted for September 1999. In the next few months more information will be available about the upcoming Fifth NTCEM via direct mail and on the EPA Tribal Waste Programs web site. Please mark your Spring 2000 calendars to attend. EPA has supported the National Tribal Conference on Environmental Management-the NTCEM-since 1992. The conference has taken place every other year and has been cosponsored by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The Fourth NTCEM in May 1998 was cosponsored by the Prairie Island Indian Community. During the 3-day conference, more than 700 participants and 150 Indian Nations took part. The conference was held at the Treasure Island Resort and Casino on the Prairie Island Indian Community in Welch, Minnesota. The theme of the conference was "Promoting Strength, Unity, and Self- Determination to Protect Indian Country." Participants were welcomed by tribal executives, and dignitaries of the EPA, BIA, the City of Redwing, and the U.S. Congress. Overall, 38 technical sessions were presented, covering such topics as enforcement issues, tribal emergency response and preparedness, environmental justice, solid waste management alternatives, air and water quality, tribal environmental agreements, EPA grants, Brownfields Initiative, and international indigenous concerns. One hundred and twenty-seven panelists gave presentations during the conference, offering insights, experiences, and challenges based on ongoing environmental projects in Indian Country. All who attended are indebted to the tribe for making it a huge success. Heather Westra, Tribal Environmental Manager and Conference Coordinator, earned everyone's respect and appreciation for managing a successful conference. Continued on page 10, column 3 Solid Waste Workgroups, from page 1 Project funds are available to all federally recognized tribes and Alaskan native villages, and to multitribe organizations whose membership consists of federally recognized tribes or villages. This year's funds will be available to tribes whose sites are considered high priority threats to human health and the environment, and who have comprehensive integrated solid waste management plans either in place or under significant development. All applications were examined and ranked according to specific criteria developed by the Workgroup. Other factors considered in final funding decisions were: The site's ranking in the Indian Health Service's 1997 ReportOpen Dumps on Indian Lands. Information provided by the tribe describing tribal support for solid waste management planning. The extent of community in- volvement. The sustainability of the project. The tribe's proposed plan of action. Using the information gathered during the grant application pro- cess, the Workgroup plans to devise a strategy to promote further assis- tance to tribes in their efforts to address solid waste management needs. If funding is available, the Workgroup intends to solicit and fund additional projects in future years. For further information, please contact: Beverly Goldblatt U.S. EPA (703) 308-7278, or Melanie Barger Garvey (202) 564-2579. * ------- N at i v e A m e r i c :a n Net w o r k Plan to Enhance the Role of States and Tribes in the Superfund Program: State and Tribal Enhanced Role Initiative For years, States and Tribes have been developing Superfund capabilities through EPA's technical and financial support. EPA is further encouraging participation by States and Tribes to clean up Superfund sites through the State and Tribal Enhanced Role Initiative. In November 1996, the Office of Solid Waste arM-Ernersency Re- JKS^a |IS|t8*^-^? sponse Compliance Assurance bE) comrmssioned ^ the StatejM Tribal Enhanced Role j^Mtir-- - '.-'."' " ._.,...,- which EPA worked^with State and Tribal asss"-" f"" Y """* partners in developing a national approah for States and Tribes to_ take a tfnore active role in identify- ing, managing, and cleaning up Superfund sites. EPA is testing this approach^ through national pilots to determine which recommendations and strategiesT^work and which need improvement, r _...'.. The initiative includes working, with Tribes and States to gauge tKe^leVeT"" of readiness to assume program responsibilities; identifying techni- cal and financiah:assistance needed-._ for States and Trib&^to perforrn"""~""" these activities; negotiating program agreement to formally document roles and responsibilities^. in an enhanced ,partnersMp_jg_^5'ef* implement Superfund; "and incorpo- rating unique considerations for Tribal participation. The State and Tribal Enhanced Role Initiative allows capable States and Tribes to equitably share Superfund program responsibilities, resulting in more appropriate cleanups of hazardous sites. The process of integrating the initiative is begin- ning with the implementation of, nine national Tribal pilots as fol- lows: IAroostook Band of Micmac Indians and Passamaquoddy Tribe of Maine This pilot will develop the tribes' long-term operation and jnaintenance (O&M) capabilities on " tribal TancOF and"possibly ~atr.^,>y Superfund sites in Maine-through../' :;r,,-'"",' ,,' J , "; ,- ,,V. ,,r.' ..i '- '. ' .'',. ,--'i-' -',,- ,;- . ,v ' -,.,- j~^ j* ..-nafzsf/f1*.. training on health and safety, "" 'n groundwater monitoring, soil-gas /, monitoring, and innovative sampling techniques. , 2 Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians This pilot serves to develop tribal Superfund capabilities in emergency preparedness and response, thus enabling the tribe to effectively respond to oil and hazardous substance spills and perform environmental assessments tribal lands. EPA is enhancing tribe's capabilities through -^ tfalnirig 6a "sampling prb'ceduresT^%ป , sampling plans, hazardous "materials, anH~monitoring v/ell installations, as; well as additional relatecLtopics. EPA will also 'conduct a- tribal infrastructure assessment and provide related technical resources. 3 Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe of Minnesota This pilot serves to develop site-1 specific tribal risk assessment criteria that evaluate cleanup effectiveness by considering tribal health, environment quality, tribal resource use, and cultural concerns. The Tribe will develop tribal risk assessment criteria through the remedy evaluation of the St. Regis Paper Company National Priorities List (NPL) site. This is a new approach, the outcome of which may define future tribal criteria and roles at other tribal sites. 4 Pueblo Office of Environmen- tal Protection (POEP)^t I: Establishing Emergency Figr^, jsponse Planning ProceduTesTQfi .*iti~a. ,.. . ^e&lzr-f- -,-- "ff , 'Tribal Land ^ trvag s^pilot serves ^gst (temerg%ncy response procedures on ^i^-s'-Ei^r;^ jft^a^^Sj"".,,!!,,'.;1 ,:;,; \"^, '^-^ , tnliaL lands^, from a tribal^erspective ./by" producTng" a compf ehensive, user-friendly resource-jfaining \ . ป- .-'-v" -- ,. - ,Jr-'', - -.- -. ' ... ':.;. . . ", _ 'jjji V'sisj manual for tribes to ;develop emergency response "capability. POEP plans to work with 19 Pueblos and coordinalje, with other tribes, tribal consortia, EPA Regional offices, , States, counties, and/or municipalities to develop tribal emergency response protocols. The development of the eiriergMcy response will also address hazardous materials transported through tribal lands. *iBSgfes,TJ 5 POEP Pilot I rf "Developing a Model to Incorporate Tribal Cultural Values into a Tribal Site Prioritization Process This pilot serves to establish a risk assessment procedure that incorporates cultural impacts into a tribal site prioritization and scoring system. After the development of a tribal scoring system, POEP will test the procedure at a tribal site and compare the results with a Continued on page 8 ------- 8 Native American Neti/ori Ehanced Role Initiative, from page 7 traditional EPA site prioritization approach, and make recommendations on incorporating cultural impacts. Based on the results, EPA may consider POEP's recommendations in evaluating the current Hazard Ranking System. This pilot plans to increase tribal participation in site assessments and the Super-fund program in general to reveal the overall impact to a tribe. 6POEP Pilot 111: Training for Bioremediation of Pesticides at Dip Vat Sites In this pilot, POEP plans to develop a comprehensive training module detailing procedures for assessing, delineating, and bioremediating pesticide soil contamination from sheep dip vats on Pueblo lands. POEP will gather bioremediation technology from EPA and the Navajo Nation and conduct training with individual Pueblos through on- site sessions, web page information, and training videos. The results will develop the long-term capacity of tribal environmental programs to independently remediate dip vat sites and empower tribes to cleanup non-NPL sites. 7Inter-Tribal Environmental Council (ITEC) and Quapaw Tribe This pilot serves to develop a strong tribal role and capability in risk assessments by allowing ITEC and the Quapaw Tribe to lead a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) at certain areas of the Tar Creek NPL site on Quapaw land. Ultimately, ITEC and the Quapaw Tribe would like to conduct more technically complex and long-term activities independently. The Quapaw Tribe will be the first tribe to conduct an RI/FS at an NPL site and will be a model for future EPA/tribal cooperative efforts. 8Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe This pilot promotes a stronger partnership between tribes and EPA through tribal consultation and participation in determining the nature and extent of hazardous substances in the Cheyenne River and Cheyenne River Arm of Lake Oahe from mining activities. In collaboration with EPA, the tribe will identify tribal needs and set human/ecological risk management goals. During the assessment, the tribe also will provide technical assistance and written comments on risk assessments and reports, and define investigation activities. 9Alaska Inter-Tribal Council (AITC) AITC, a consortium of 176 Alaskan Native tribes, will facilitate a pilot to develop Superfund capabilities among Alaskan Native villages and maximize expertise and assistance despite wide geographic distribution. Tribal staff will be trained on topics such as removal, site assessment, remedy selection, and form a Superfund team to support Superfund issues arising in Alaskan Native villages. For more information contact: Ms. Felicia Wright Superfund Tribal Coordinator (703) 603-8775 or www.epa.gov/superfund/states/ strole/index.htm ฎ UPDATED RESOURCE GUIDE FOR MINING WASTE MANAGEMENT IN INDIAN COUNTRY AVAILABLE Iining can create environmental problems including erosion, chemical releases, habitat destruction, acid mine drainage, and surface and groundwater contamination. Publications on Mining Waste Manage- ment in Indian Country includes descriptions of EPA publications designed to assist tribal leaders, environ- mental personnel, and the general public with mining and mineral processing issues. The guide references publications relating to environmental impacts from mining operations, mining source reduction and recy- cling opportunities, and innovative techniques for waste management. Publications on mineral processing of specific ores, such as lead-zinc, gold, iron, and copper, also are listed. Copies of Publications on Mining Waste Management in Indian Country are available through EPA's RCRA, Superfund, and EPCRA Hotline. The Hotline operates from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. e.s.t. Monday through Friday. Call (800) 424-9346 or (800) 553-7672 (TDD for hearing impaired) and request document number EPA530- B-99-006. This document also can be viewed online or downloaded from the Internet at www.epa.gov/tribalmsw/pdftxt/biblio.pdf. -'t'- ------- Native A m e r I c a n N e t w o r k EPA Holds Native American Issues Panel at National DoD Task Force Meeting EPA's Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office (FFRRO) presented a Native American Issues panel at the Defense Environmental Response Task Force (DERTF) meeting, February 2-3, 1999, in San Fran- cisco, CA. The Department of Defense (DoD) established DERTF to identify and recommend ways to expedite and improve environmen- tal restoration at closing military installations. The DERTF member- ship includes representatives from DoD, EPA, the Department of Justice, the General Service Admin- istration, the National Governors' Association, the National Associa- tion of Attorneys General, and various public interest groups. In addition to the DERTF confer- ence, FFRRO and Office of Emer- gency and Remedial Response (OERR) is developing a tribal site inventory database and various outreach materials to facilitate stronger partnerships to assist tribal governments. The database will provide information on hazardous waste sites impacting Indian Coun- try and will include links to other EPA databases. EPA continues to ensure its actions are consistent with the protection of tribal rights. FFRRO convened the Native American Issues panel to engage in a discussion on the unique situa- tions involving Native Americans and the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program. The five- member panel educated DERTF members on emerging Native American issues and addressed tribal notification and participation procedures, Federal trust responsi- bilities, related policies requiring Federal Agencies to work with federally-recognized tribes on a government-to- government basis, land transfer, eco- nomic develop- ment, and protection of tribal rights. Representatives from the Navajo Nation, Susan ville Indian Rancheria, the Campo Band of Mission Indi- ans, BIA, and Sierra Army Depot were the pre- senters. Presentations focused on case studies of tribal involvement at three BRAC sites: Sierra Army Depot, CA; Fort Wingate, NM; and the San Diego Naval Training Center, CA. When BRAC sites require cleanup and are scheduled for closure, the primary objective is to determine the postclosure use. The site is cleaned up to standards protective of the intended use, and the com- munity is provided with opportuni- ties for economic development. These properties provide Indian Tribes with opportunities for eco- nomic development, land transfer, and/or access to archeological sites or other cultural resources. Panelists illustrated how tribes are affected differently than the rest of the local community as BRAC sites are cleaned up and returned to communities for reuse. For ex- ample, cultural issues involve the religious use of sites and protection of archeological resources on tribal lands. Local authorities are typically given the lead in establishing reuse and economic development priori- ties at BRAC sites, but such authori- ties do not have a trust responsi- bility to tribes. Land transfer is particularly complicated and came to the forefront during a discussion of the situation at the Susanville Indian Rancheria (SIR). From lett to right: Roseria Duwyenie, BIA/ Navajo Office, Chairperson Victor Preston, Susanville Indian Rancheria, Marsha Minter, EPA HQ As part of the Sierra Army Depot closure, SIR acquired 70 acres of land, 120 housing units, a gas station and grocery facility, and medical supplies and facilities. This necessitated a government-to- government transfer, since property transfer to tribes is handled by BIA. Prior to BRAC, transfer of govern- ment property to tribes was always handled as a deed of trust transfer. Thus, BIA had no means for han- dling a government-to-government transfer as required under BRAC. SIR expressed the hope that then- efforts in working with BIA to modify transfer and economic development policies would benefit other tribes affected by BRAC sites. The meeting was attended by chairmen from Susanville Indian Continued on page 12, column 3 ------- Native American Network AISES and EPA Complete Inaugural Summer Internship Program EPA and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) recently com- pleted the first Summer internship program for the recipients of the EPA Tribal Lands Environmental Science Scholarships. The inaugural class of 10 EPA/AISES interns comprised undergraduate and graduate students from various universities and colleges, including tribal colleges. Through a coopera- tive agreement with AISES, EPA provided scholarship support to AISES members and a 10-week summer internship program in various EPA program offices. The following AISES intern profile is a result of a combined effort of AISES interns Renae Schmitt and Karletta Chief. Ms. Schmitt wiU be a junior at Creighton University in Nebraska, majoring in Environmen- tal Science and Spanish. She worked in the Office of Solid Waste and assisted in the production of this newsletter. Ms. Chief has completed course work for a Mas- ters Degree in Environmental Engineering/Science at Stanford University in California. Karletta ChiefIn Her Own Words: Working in the Office of Emer- gency and Remedial Response (OERR) proved to be a valuable experience. The OERR internship exposed me to a variety of working relationships between EPA Head- quarters and tribal organizations regarding abandoned hazardous waste sites. Felicia Wright, my mentor, assigned various tasks and a primary project which helped me to understand the working dynam- ics and cooperative efforts on tribal environmental issues. During the first weeks, I attended a one-on-one training session on the Hazard Ranking System (HRS). The HRS training familiarized me with the complexities of the Superfund ranking process and prepared me for my summer project. My summer project involved the Pueblo Office of Environmental Protection's (POEP) Pilot II incorpo- rating tribal cultural values into a tribal site prioritization and scoring system. My role in the POEP project included preliminary research of tribal environmental groups work- ing to quantify cultural impacts from a hazardous waste site. This internship project gave me the experience of environmental work with a tribal perspective. As an environmental engineering and science masters student, I am clearly aware of Superfund sites. This internship, however, allowed me to experience real-life applica- tions of the Superfund ranking processes and activities. I now realize that various nontechnical areas are important in working on environmental issues. These include writing project summaries, articles, and briefings, and understanding environmental policy. Some current issues OERR is working on include: Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) cultural and subsistence impacts, Navajo Nation Brownfields Assessments, and Pueblo Office of Environmental Protection (POEP) Cultural Assess- ments/Site Prioritization Incorpora- tion. My time at EPA exposed me to the range of career fields in EPA and allowed me to understand EPA as a whole entity, with its diverse work across the United States. More importantly, it allowed me to understand and participate in current tribal environmental projects. My EPA summer intern- ship was a rewarding experience that continues to fuel, direct, and emphasize my long-term career aspirations and commitment to Native Americans and tribal envi- ronmental issues. If you would like to know more about the EPA/AISES Scholarships or the Summer Internship program please contact Marlene Regelski at (202) 260-7284. ฎ Fifth National Tribal Conference, from page 6 While EPA provides financial support to the tribal cosponsor to plan and manage the conference, and assists in the planning, the tribal cosponsor has the ultimate responsibility and final decision on all conference matters. EPA and the tribal cosponsor work diligently to highlight tribal capability and leadership during all phases of conference planning and followup. As a first step toward planning the conference agenda, EPA's Office of Solid Waste is announcing a preliminary call for workshop session proposals from all interested parties. Workshop proposals should contain a title for the topic, a brief abstract of the issues, a proposed list of speakers, and the time needed to present the topic (1 or 1.5 hours). All workshop proposals can be submitted to: Stephen Etsitty, EPA OSW 401 M Street, SW (5303W) WasMngton, DC 20460 Fax (703) 308-8638 ' etsitty.stephen@epa.gov O ------- Native Am e r i c a ri N e t w o r k ,11 RCRA Subtitle C Social Siting Criteria Draft Brochure Under Development As hazardous waste facilities are sited and permitted, local communities often have a variety of legitimate concerns involving perceived and/or real changes in their quality of life (i.e., cultural/social, economic, location, and nuisance concerns). Quality of life concerns encompass a broad array of issues from those that are human health and environmental in nature, to those that are primarily social or economic. Although issues regarding human health and the environment are considered during the hazardous waste permit process under the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) or its State counterparts, many of the commu- nity quality of life concerns, such as those of a social or economic nature, fall outside the scope of RCRA and may not be covered by State laws and regulations. This should not, however, diminish the legitimacy of the community's concerns and the need to address them promptly, honestly, and thoroughly when siting a hazardous waste facility. Over the past year, the RCRA Environmental Justice/Public Participation Team of the Office of Solid Waste, Permits and State Programs Division, Permits Branch has been working with members of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council's (NEJAC) Waste and Facility Siting Subcommittee to develop a brochure that addresses community quality of life concerns related to the siting of hazardous waste facilities. This brochure is intended to be used as a vehicle for sharing experiences in working with communities by suggesting creative mechanisms that address commu- nity quality of life concerns. EPA encourages industry and State, tribal, and local governments/ agencies to take these factors into consideration when planning for and siting hazardous waste facilities and to work closely with communi- ties starting in the early stages of the decision-making process. RCRA Subtitle C Social Siting Criteria On July 27, 1999, EPA's Office of Solid Waste (OSW) hosted the RCRA Subtitle C Facility Siting Criteria Stakeholders' Roundtable in Arlington, Virginia. The stakeholder roundtable was designed to be a forum for stakeholders to discuss issues, exchange ideas and posi- tions on social siting considerations, and share experiences that have been successful in addressing community quality of Life concerns. OSW believes that the roundtable was a necessary step in developing a brochure that is accurate and useful to industry and tribal, State, and local governments, and also in ensuring that quality of life issues in the siting of RCRA hazardous waste facilities are accurately developed and covered in the final brochure. The roundtable panel included representatives of State, tribal (Laura Weber of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe's Environmental Division), and local governments/ agencies; environmental justice communities; industry; environmenal advocacy groups; and other Federal Agencies that have substantial experiences in many aspects of facility siting. The general public was invited to come and observe the discussions and give comment during several brief open periods. A copy of the draft brochure is available and roundtable notes will be made available at a later date through the RCRA Information Center, (RIC), located at Crystal Gateway I, First Floor, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arling- ton, VA 22202, (703) 603-9230. The Docket Identification number is F-1999-SSRN-FFFFF. Before it is finalized, the draft brochure will be revised based on comments from the roundtable and other comments OSW is expecting to receive. For more information contact: Ms. Freya Margand U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste 401 M Street SW (5303W) Washington, DC 20460 (703) 605-0633 margand.freya@epamail.epa.gov * ------- Native American N e t iv o r k BUYING RECYCLED SATELLITE FORUM On November 9, 1999, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (e.s.t), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in partnership with local governments will present a national satellite forum entitled Buying Recycled: The Real Story About Cost, Availability, and Quality. This is a free, interactive program designed to provide governments, businesses, and other organizations with in- sights on ways to purchase quality, competitively priced recycled products. This forum is being presented in support of America Recycles Day by EPA's Waste Wise program and the Buy Recycled Business Alliance (BRBA). The forum will feature Richard Keller from the Maryland Environmental Service, a nationally recognized trainer on buying recycled products. He has con- ducted over 125 seminars on how to buy products with recycled content, and will share with the audience proven strategies for buying recycled products. Viewers will have the opportunity to call in their questions. Also featured will be government and business members from both the WasteWise and BRBA programs: Eric Nelson, Environmental Purchas- ing Coordinator, King County, Washington; Bob Langert, Director of Public and Community Affairs, McDonald's Corpo- ration; and Susan McCloskey, President, Office Plan. If you are interested in hosting a site or attending this forum, visit the WasteWise web site at: www.epa.gov/wastewise/wwsf or e-mail wwsf@erg.com or fax (703) 841-1440. ฎ DoD Task Force Meeting, from page 9 Rancheria, Susanville, CA; Lajolla Indian Reservation, Valley Center, CA; and Manzanita Tribe of Kumeyaay, Boulevard, CA. A representative for the Campo Band of Mission Indians and the former special assistant to President Clinton on Native American Affairs ad- dressed the DERTF members during the public comment period. The panel presentation is a signifi- cant milestone in EPA's goal to consult with tribes and work with them proactively on environmental matters affecting Indian Country. Developing an understanding and awareness of tribal issues will expedite and improve environmen- tal restoration at those installations impacting Native American natural and cultural resources. The DERTF proceedings are available at www.dtic.mil/envirodod/brac/ dertf.html. For more information contact: Marsha Minter (202) 260-6626 minter.marsha@epa.gov, or www.epa.gov/swerffrr. % Nativo .American Network Is published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste. The views expressed in Native American Network are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect or represent EPA policy. Providing tribes with information about OSWER programs and related activities is the purpose of the Native American Network. Contact us with your Ideas for future articles, or submit your own articles for publication. Editor: Stephen B. Etsitty (703) 305-3194 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Solid Waste (5303W) 401 M Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20460 Official Business Penalty for Private Use $300 ------- |