United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste And
Emergency Response
(OS-340)
EPA/530-SW-91-001
Issue #2
Spring 1991
«€PA Native American Network
A RCRA Information Exchange
AROUND THE REGIONS
Region VIII Tribes Meet
To Form Environmental
Coalition
Tribal leaders and. officials
from the Region VIII Indian
tribes recently gathered in
Rapid City, South Dakota to
address environmental con-
cerns and to begin formation
of a coalition. Invitations were
sent to tribes in North and
South Dakota, Montana,
Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado.
Federal agencies including
EPA, Indian Health Service
(IHS), the Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA), and the Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) also were
invited. Nearly 120 tribal
representatives attended "The
Solid Waste and Environ-
mental Conference," held
November 1-2, 1990.
The Oglala Sioux Tribe
And the Blue Legs
Decision
Mattie Blue Legs (an Oglala
tribal member) and Margaret
Jenkins (a nonmember) owned
land adjacent to an open
dump on the Pine Ridge Indian
Reservation. In 1985, after
exhausting all avenues to
resolve what they considered
to be a serious waste disposal
problem, they filed a civil suit
in the U.S. Court against EPA,
BIA, IHS, and the Oglala Sioux
Tribe (OST) claiming violations
under RCRA. (EPA was later
dismissed from the suit.)
Ultimately, the Court handed
down the Blue Legs Decision
in favor of the plaintiffs.
In February 1990, the
Oglala Sioux Tribe was or-
dered to implement the "Plan
for Solid Waste Management
Program, Option One, Pine
Ridge Indian Reservation,
South Dakota," commonly
referred to as the Option One
Plan. The Plan, developed by
the IHS and BIA, provided a
short-term solution to the
(continued on page 2)
(continued, on page 2)
IN THIS ISSUE
The Blue Legs Decision
if-
Philosophy on Training
?
Clandestine Drug Labs
Bulletin Board
_J
Pino Ridge before tho Court-order&d cleanup
-------
Mottle Blue Legs
(continuedJrom page 1)
solid waste problems on the
1.8 million acre Pine Ridge
Indian Reservation. The Court
ordered the initial funding for
the implementation of the Plan
in the amount of $370,323.
The cost was allocated to BIA
(50 percent), IHS (25 percent),
and OST (25 percent). Addi-
tionally, the Tribe was as-
signed responsibility for
managing the solid waste
program.
The Plan's goals were to
clean up and close 14 existing
open dumps; construct nine
new sanitary landfills; pur-
chase operation and mainte-
nance equipment; provide
operation and maintenance of
Pins Ridge after Mattio Bluo Legs
Region VIII Meets
(continued/rampage 1)
Although the conference
focused on solid waste issues,
other environmental topics
discussed include asbestos
and water. The agenda in-
cluded presentations by several
tribes and a panel discussion
with representatives from EPA,
BIA, HUD, and IHS.
Attendees divided into
workgroups to discuss devel-
oping the coalition. The
workgroups focused on the
coalition's scope and issues;
objectives and goals; member-
ship and structure; financing;
and operational plan. Partici-
pants reviewed and discussed
reports from the workgroups.
The goals of the coalition are:
- to facilitate a process for
exchange of data and informa-
tion to ensure tribal awareness
of and cooperation on environ-
mental protection; and
- to present a collective
voice to Congress for securing
adequate funding and repre-
sentation on Indian environ-
mental concerns.
After the coalition has been
established, the Region VHI
tribes will assist tribes in other
EPA Regions to form their own
coalitions, with an eventual
goal of establishing a national
coalition. Ultimately, the
national coalition will work
with Congressional leaders to
fulfill RCRA's goals.
— Contact Rlnard Yellow Boy, OglaJa.
Sioux Tribe, (605) 867-5821
the new landfills; develop
codes to regulate solid waste
disposal; and provide public
education to the Reservation's
residents.
Since the implementation of
the Plan, all 14 sites have been
cleaned up and closed; nine
new landfills have been built;
personnel and equipment are
in place to conduct operation
and maintenance; a draft of
the solid waste code is under
review; and a massive public
education program has been
initiated.
hi addition to achieving the
Plan's goals, the Plan was
amended to incorporate the
Tribe's voluntary efforts to
include more of RCRA's mu-
nicipal landfill criteria; to
address the Reservation's
service requirements; and to
revise the budget so that the
Plan could be implemented
without financial burdens on
limited Tribal funds.
The Tribe was faced with
implementing the Plan using
the funds provided by the
federal defendants, which
amounts to only 75 percent of
the estimated cost These funds
did not cover the cost of the
landfills' operation and main-
tenance. They also did not
cover the costs of providing
adequate collection service to
the Reservation's nine districts
and the communities within
them. However, the Plan called
for "the orderly removal and
transportation of wastes from
the point of generation to the
point of disposal." Since the
landfills were operational as
soon as construction was
complete, the budget had to be
revised to include funds for
operation and maintenance at
the landfills, and for program
operating costs until money
can be collected through user
fees.
(continued on page 3)
Native American Network
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INSIGHTS
Training: A Powerful
Management Tool for
Tribal Governments
Interest in training has
increased enormously over the
last decade. Industry, busi-
ness, government, and the
general public have a need for
training. With recent advances
in technological development,
the need for highly skilled and
trained individuals has be-
come an absolute necessity. A
recent business journal article
states the theme of the 1990s
will be "train, train, train."
Tribal governments (like
state governments, industry,
and EPA), find there is a severe
shortage of adequately trained
individuals who understand
RCRA. What has to be done to
solve this problem is on-the-
job training. RCRA training is
not a lot different than many
technical training programs.
When people start new jobs or
change jobs, their skills, while
very useful, are not necessarily
adequate enough to carry out
the responsibilities of the new
position. A person must
acquire new skills and new
information to tackle the new
job. This is the problem most
organizations, and the people
within those organizations
who work with RCRA, face.
What is needed is a general
training program; a program
which helps a person who is
new to RCRA to understand it
as quickly and thoroughly as
possible. OSW has created a
core RCRA orientation course
to assist new people in acquir-
ing this general understand-
ing. This orientation course
can be easily used by those
individuals who need a general
background. For specific
training in those areas where
tribal governments have
specific problems, a great deal
is available from the EPA, the
states, and private contractors.
To use this training efficiently,
it is important to set up
training plans with those
individuals who are going to
be involved in the training.
EPA's Regional Indian Coordi-
nator is an important contact
person in this effort.
This leaves two needs yet
unanswered in the training
program. One is experiential
learning - working directly on
For Help, SWICH
The Solid Waste Information Clearinghouse (SWICH) collects
and disseminates information on all aspects of municipal solid
waste management. Developed through an EPA grant, SWICH pro-
vides access to an electronic bulletin board that allows users to
access the latest solid waste information, weekly legislative and
regulatory updates; case studies, lists of experts, a calendar of
events, and a listing of hotlines. By accessing the bulletin board
through a computer modem, users can view over 6,000 listings of
journals, reports, newsletters, proceedings, and films. Users can
search for information by topic, title, author, key words, type of
media (journal, book, film), and date. In addition to the bulletin
board, SWICH maintains an open stack system library which is
available for use by the general public.
To learn more about SWICH, the bulletin board, or the library
hours of operation, call the toll-free SWICH Hotline at (800)67-
SWICH. Write: SWICH, P.O. Box 7219, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
problems with experienced
people. Again, the Regional
Indian Coordinator can ar-
range for this type of experi-
ence. All too often direct
experience is neglected be-
cause people are veiy busy
and simply don't take the time
to make it happen.
The second need that is
extremely important is devel-
oping a RCRA network. We
talk a lot these days about
"networking." Networking is
developing contacts with
(continued on page 4)
Mottie Blue Legs
(conttnuedjrompage 2)
In estimating the cost of the
Plan, in actual services and
other implementation items,
OST contributed far more than
25 percent of the hard dollars.
OST's contribution includes
Tribal land, Tribal personnel
for management and site
supervision, and publication
materials. Additionally, imple-
mentation took more time
than originally calculated.
The Oglala Sioux Tribe
plans to continue operating
the solid waste management
project in accordance with the
Court-ordered Plan, at least for
the next year. An interim user
fee program has been devel-
oped to generate revenue for
continued management of
solid waste until Tribal ordi-
nances are finalized.
The Plan is a definite im-
provement over previous solid
waste management practices,
but it is not a permanent
solution/The Tribe is studying
alternatives that may be more
suitable for the unique situa-
tion on the Reservation and
that will meet or exceed
current and pending federal
regulations.
— Contact Wade Vttalls, Oglala Stoux
Tribe, (605)867-5821
Native American Network
-------
Native American Network answers questions people
frequently ask EPA.
Q: Americans scrap 234 million tires each year.
What are the environmental impacts of all
this tire disposal?
A: Most of the health and environmental hazards
related to tire disposal are caused by long-
standing stockpiles of whole tires. The air
pockets in tires provide convenient habitats for
rodents and they hold water. The water pro-
vides ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes,
which can transmit serious diseases.
Stockpiled tires also pose fire hazards.
Burning stockpiles are difficult to extinguish
because the air pockets trap oxygen that
constantly feeds the flames. When burning,
tires emit a noxious, air-polluting black smoke.
The remaining oils and soot can run off into
and contaminate surface and ground-water
supplies. Some tire fires have burned for more
than a year!
9: How can I get rid of old tires?
A: You can check your local library for issues of
Waste Age, Scrap Tire News, Resource Recy-
cling, and other solid waste publications that
list tire shredding companies in several states,
or check your telephone directory for a list of
scrap tire companies located in your area. You
can also call EPA's RCRA Hotline to obtain the
address and phone number of the person to
contact about tires in your state. Then call
your state and ask for a list of companies that
accept waste tires in your area. EPA does not
remove tires.
Q: How does the forthcoming criteria for mu-
nicipal solid waste landfills affect facilities
constructed between the promulgation and
the effective dates of the new criteria?
A: The date of construction of a landfill is not the
relevant factor regarding compliance. The
trigger event for compliance is the placement of
waste. Any landfill which accepts waste after
the effective date is subject to the applicable
technical requirements of the criteria, includ-
ing liner requirements.
Training
(continued from page 3)
people who are knowledgeable
and have experience. A net-
work also provides contacts
with people who are working
with the same issues and
trying to solve the same kinds
of problems. Networking and
training go together. Training
brings people together and
helps them find out who can
help. Networks start with
training and build throughout
one's working career.
So what is training? It is
listening, reading, asking
questions, discussing, prob-
lem solving, networking,
developing skills, communica-
tions, and all the other things
each of us does every day to
improve ourselves. It offers
basic concepts and teaches an
individual how to apply them
to specific situations. It is no
wonder the world's most
successful corporations so
strongly stress the need for
training. They have found the
most important part of any
organization is its people, and
the investment in training
people saves money by in-
creasing efficiency. It is not a
frill, but a necessary part of
any organization. Training Is
the tool that allows people to
do their jobs.
— Contact Paul Nbwak, School of
Natural Resources, University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, (313) 763-1312
RCRA Hotline
The RCRA Hotline operates
Monday-Friday, 8:30a.m. to
7:30 p.m. EST. The national,
toll-free number is (800) 424-
9346; TDD (800) 553-7672
(hearing impaired), in Wash-
ington, D.G., the number is
(703) 920-9810; TDD (703)
486^3323.
Native American Network
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EPA Publications
The following publications are available at no
charge from the EPA RCRA/Superfund Hotline.
Call (800) 424-9346.
General
Plastics
America's War on Waste - Environmental
Fact Sheet
Bibliography of Municipal Solid Waste
Management Alternatives
Characterization of Municipal
Combustion Ash, Ash Extracts, and
Leachates - Executive Summary
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste
in the United States:
1990 Update - Executive Summary
Decision-Maker's Guide to Solid Waste
Management (Volume I)
Reusable News - Winter 1990
Reusable News - Spring 1990
Reusable News - Summer 1990
Reusable News - Fall 1990
Reusable News - Winter 1991
Sites for Our Solid Waste: A Guidebook
for Effective Public Involvement
Siting Our Solid Waste: Making Public
Involvement Work
Unit Pricing:'Providing an Incentive to
Reduce Waste
Variable Rates in Solid Waste:
Handbook for Solid Waste
Officials - Executive Summary
Source Reduction
EPA/530-SW-90-002
EPA/530-SW-89-055
EPA/530-SW-90-029B
EPA/530-SW-90-042A
EPA/530-SW-89-072
EPA/530-SW-90-018
EPA/530-SW-90-039
EPA/530-SW-90-055
EPA/530-SW-90-056
EPA/530-SW-91-020
EPA/530-SW-90-019
EPA/530-SW-90-020
EPA/530-SW-91-005
EPA/530-SW-90-084A
Be An Environmentally Alert Consumer
Characterization of Products Containing
Lead and Cadmium in Municipal Solid
Waste in the United States,
1970 to 2000 - Executive Summary
Recycling
EPA/530-SW-90-034A
EPA/530-SW-89-015C
Recycling Brochure
Recycling Works!
Used Oil
EPA/530-SW-88-050
EPA/530-SW-89-014
How to Set Up a Local Program to
Recycle Used Oil
Recycling Used Oil: For Service Stations
and Other Vehicle Service Facilities
Recycling Used Oil: 10 Steps to Change
Your Oil
Recycling Used Oil: What Can You Do?
EPA/530-SW-89-039A
EPA/530-SW-89-039D
EPA/530-SW-89-039C
EPA/530-SW-89-039B
Methods to Manage and Control Plastic
Wastes - Executive Summary
The Facts about Plastics in the
Maririd Environment
The Facts on Degradable Plastics
The Facts on Recycling Plastics
Plastics: The Facts about Production,
Use, and Disposal
Plastics: The Facts on Source Reduction
Educational Materials
EPA/530-SW-89-051A
EPA/530-SW-90-017B
EPA/530-SW-90-017D
EPA/530-SW-90-017E
EPA/530-SW-90-017A
EPA/530-SW-90-017C
Adventures of the Garbage Gremlin
Let's Reduce and Recycle: Curriculum
for Solid Waste Awareness
Recycle Today: Educational Materials
for Grades K-12
Ride the Wave of the Future:
Recycle Today!
School Recycling Programs:
A Handbook for Educators
EPA/530-SW-90-024
EPA/530-SW-90-005
EPA/530-SW-90-025
EPA/530-SW-90-010
EPA/530-SW-90-023
The following EPA publications are
available for a fee from the National
Technical Information Services (NTIS).
Call (703) 487-4650.
Characterization of Municipal Solid
Waste Combustion Ash, Ash Extracts,
and Leachate PB90-187 154
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste
in the United States: 1990 Update PB90-215 112
Charging Households for Waste
Collection and Disposal: The Effects of
Weight- or Volume-Based
Pricing on Solid Waste Management PB91-111 484
Methods to Manage and Control
Plastic Wastes PB90-163 106
Office Paper Recycling: An
Implementation Manual PB90-199 431
Promoting Source Reduction and
Recycling in the Marketplace - PB90-163 122
Variable Rates in Solid Waste: Handbook
for Solid Waste Officials PB90-272 063
Yard Waste Composting: A Study of
Eight Programs PB90-163 114
Native American Network
A RCRA Information Exchange
Editor: Judi Kane
Phone: (202) 382-5096
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Municipal Solid Waste Contacts
Headquarters Contacts
Municipal and Industrial Solid Waste Division
(OS-301)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20460
Waste Reduction and Management
Branch
Mlko Flynn
Chtef
(202) 382-3346
I
Residuals
Management
Section
I
Source Reduction
Section
Region 1
Ron Jennings
Waste Management Division
(HEE-CAN 6)
U.S. EPA-Region 1
JFK Federal Building
Boston, MA 02203
FTS 8-833-1656
(617)573-9656
Region 2
Michael DeBonis
Air and Waste Management Division
pAWM-SW)
U.S. EPA-Region 2
26 Federal Plaza
Now York. NY 10278
FTS 8-264-2657
(212) 264-2657
Region 3
Andrew Uricheck
Waste Management Branch
C2HW30)
U.S. EPA-Region 3
841 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia. PA 19107
FTS 8-597-0982
(215) 597-0982
Bruce Weddle
Director
(202) 475-8872
Bob Dellinger
Deputy Director
(202) 475-0872
Recycling and Implementation
Branch
Truett DoGeare
Chief
(202) 332-6261
I
I I
Recycling Implementation
Section Section
Regional Contacts
Region 4
Patricia Zweig
Waste Management Division
(4WD)
U.S. EPA-Region 4
345 Courtiand Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30365
FTS 8-257-2091
(404) 347-2091
Region 5
Susan Mooney/Nancy Bedell
Waste Management Division
(5HR-13)
U.S. EPA-Region 5
230 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60602
FTS 8-353-4686/353-8234
(312) 353-4686/353-8234
Region 6
Guanita Reiter
RCRA Program Branch
(6H-H)
U.S. EPA-Region 6
First Interstate Bank Tower
1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200
Dallas, TX 75202
FTS 8-255-6760
(214)655-6760
Region 7
Chet Mclaughlin
Waste Management Division
(STPG)
U.S. EPA-Region 7
726 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
FTS 8-276-7666
(913)551-7666
Industrial Solid Waste
Branch
Jim Lounsbury
Chief
(202) 382-4807
Region 8
Judith Wong
Hazardous Waste Management Division
(8HWM-RM)
U.S. EPA-Region 8
999 18th Street, Suite 500
Denver, CO 80202-2405
FTS 8-330-1667
(303) 293-1667
Region 9
Jean Ingersoll
Hazardous Waste Management Division
(T-2-3)
U.S. EPA - Region 9
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
FTS 8-484-2103
(415)744-2103
Region 10
Mike Bussell
Hazardous Waste Division
(HW-114)
U.S. EPA-Region 10
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
FTS 8-399-2857
(206) 442-2857
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I
I
* Datettne RCRA,,. Update on Significant
OSW/RCRA RulemaJdngs
Feb. 21,1991,56 PR 7134: This rule imposes strict controls on the burning
of hazardous waste hi boilers and industrial furnaces. Hazardous waste
burners affected by this regulation include nonindustrial, industrial, and
utility boilers; cement and lightweight aggregate kilns; and halogen acid
furnaces. These facilities must now obtain operating permits under RCRA or
stop burning hazardous waste. The rule applies to all facilities (except metal
reclamation furnaces) mat burn hazardous waste for any reason: energy,
materials recovery, or destruction. Details were provided to tribal leaders in a
special mailing earlier this year. For additional information or to order a
copy of the Federal Register notice, contact the RCRA Hotline.
* Tribal Environmental Information Clearinghouse
In response to commitments made during the September 19.1990 Com-
munications Framework meeting of EPA Executive Staff and Tribal mem-
bers, a meeting has been scheduled to discuss further steps on an infor-
mation clearinghouse with the tribes. Staff from the Administration for
Native Americans (HHS) also have been invited for a possible interagency
agreement with EPA and the Americans for Indian Opportunity to
exchange information on environmental issues. Contact Janice
BerryChen, Office of Regional Operations/State and Local Relations,
(203)245387(1
9 Information Resources *
Please make the following changes to the Information
Resources insert included in the Fall 1990 issue of
Native American Network.
Phone Number Changes:
• Martin Topper (National
Indian Coordinator)
(202) 382-5051
• Ann Fenn (Region!)
(617) 656-3927
FTS 8-835-3927
• Michael Bronoski
(Region VII)
FTS 8-276-7921
The new OSWER Indian
Coordinator is:
• Charlene Dunn
(202)382-4510
FTS 8-382-4510
While Casey Ambutas
is "on assignment" (in
the Persian Guff), Mary
Ann Starus is acting as
Region V Indian
Coordinator. Mary Ann
can be reached at (312)
353-1394 or FTS
8-886-1394.
Nancy Parkinson is the
RCRA Enforcement
contact for RCRA
Subtitle C. Nancy can
be reached at (202)
475-8729 or FTS
8-475-8630.
EPA Training
Information on EPA
training in all
medias - in Wash-
ington, D.C. and
around the Regions
- is updated
quaterly in The
OSWER Source
Book. The catalogue
gives a brief
summary of course
content as well as
dates, locations,
and contacts. For
copies of the
catalogue, call the
RCRA Hotline.
Solti
Representatives from EPA program
offices, BIA, and IMS met recently in the
first of planned quarterly meetings to
discuss RCRA issues and their impact
on Indian lands. The objective of this
group is to improve communication
between the federal agencies here in
Washington so that our efforts in
addressing these issues are better
coordinated and more effective. The
first meeting included an update on
RCRA Subtitle C (hazardous waste) and
Subtitle D (solid waste) activities, EPA
training initiatives that are underway,
and a general discussion on the
increase in siting proposals for facilities
on Indian lands. The group hopes to
support the activities of the Inter-
agency Workgroup - already firmly
established here at EPA - by bringing
specific issues to its attention for
consideration and possible action.
Native American Network
-------
You MIGHT WANT
To KNOW ABOUT ...
Clandestine Drug Labs
Clandestine drug laborato-
ries can be located anywhere:
in homes, hotels, apartments,
and caves or on boats, private
property, and public lands.
Wastes may be dumped near
the laboratory, or along road-
sides, in sewers, lakes, or
streams to avoid detection of
the clandestine laboratory site
and the violator. Indian lands
have been used in the past for
similar indiscriminate dump-
ing.
Some sites have been in
operation for years and have
discarded large quantities of
hazardous waste. Some of
these may already have con-
taminated rivers, streams, and
lakes, or percolated through
the soil into the ground water.
Illegal (or clandestine) drug
laboratories produce a variety
of controlled drug substances
The CHEMICAL DIVEHSKN AND
TBAmooNG ACT (GDTA) was
enacted in 1988. It identifies
certain groups of chemicals
whteh are important in the
manufacturing of controlled
substances. Although not
controlled substances them-
selves, the chemicals are
grouped as "essential" to or
"precursor" of the manufac-
ture of controlled substances.
The CDTA also establishes
threshold amounts which
manufacturers may not sell
without establishing the
Identity of the person pur-
chasing the chemical This
law has made it more difficult
for the illegal chemist to
purchase the chemicals
required to produce con-
trolled substances.
Clandestine Drug Laboratories
Seized
1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199O
which include hallucinogens
and stimulants. The majority
of the laboratories seized by
the Drug Enforcement Admin-
istration (DEA) produce three
drugs: methamphetamine,
amphetamine, and phencycli-
dine (PCP). Controlled sub-
stance analogs ("designer
drugs") are also synthesized in
an attempt to circumvent the
Controlled Substances Act
(CSA).
The waste from these
operations are a very real
concern to the public. Clan-
destine drug laboratories may
present both acute and
chronic health risks to indi-
viduals involved in the seizure
and cleanup of the site, to
those who live or work nearby,
and to the violator operating
the laboratory. The chemicals
used in these laboratories may
be explosive, flammable, toxic,
and/or corrosive. Environ-
mental problems associated
with these chemicals are
compounded by the violator
whose education ranges from
novice (with little or no chem-
istry background) to the PhD
chemist whose interest in
protecting human health and
the environment is overshad-
owed by the potential for high
profits. Due to the unique
hazards associated with
clandestine drug laboratory
investigations and seizures,
DEA conducts a specialized
two-week training course for
its personnel assigned to this
activity. This training consists
of specialized investigative
strategies, evidence handling
procedures, as well as health
and safety topics, identifica-
tion of bombs and booby-
traps, and proper handling of
hazardous chemicals.
Trends
Illegal drug manufacturing
has been on the rise over the
last decade. In 1981, the DEA
seized nearly 200 clandestine
drug laboratories. By 1988,
the number had risen to over
800. In 1990, however, the
number dropped off to 565.
New legislation like the
CDTA (see inset) is responsible
to a large degree for the decline
in the number of seizures by
DEA. It is unclear whether the
decline in the number of clan-
destine drag laboratory seizures
(continued on page 7)
Native American Network
-------
FEDERAlPl^ERS
Administration for
Native Americans: A
Small Agency with a
Big Mission
The Administration for
Native Americans (ANA) is part
of the Office of Human Devel-
opment Services in the De-
partment of Health and Hu-
man Services (HHS), located in
Washington, D.C. ANA's
mission is to promote the
economic and social self-
sufficiency of American Indi-
ans, Alaska Natives, Native
Hawaiians, and Native Ameri-
can Pacific Islanders by pro-
viding grants, training, and
technical assistance, and
promoting policies that en-
courage and support locally
determined Native American
social and economic develop-
ment. The Commissioner is
Timothy Wapato, who is also
chairman of the Intra-
departmental Council on
Indian Affairs, a body that
serves as the focal point within
HHS for all matters regarding
Native Americans.
ANA's program goals are
based on the premise that
local Native American commu-
nities are responsible for their
own programs, and for build-
ing sound economic bases
from their own natural, envi-
ronmental, and human re-
sources. The Administration
seeks to (1) develop and
strengthen tribal governments,
local decision-making, and
Native American leadership;
(2) encourage the development
of stable, diversified local
economies and economic
activities which promote social
(continued on page 8)
Drug Labs
(continued from page 6)
will continue or if the trend will
reverse as the operators of
these laboratories find new
ways to circumvent the law.
Guidance and Support
Congress established a
Joint Federal Task Force
consisting of participants from
Six Steps of a Successful
Clandestine Drug Lab
Seizure
1. Planning the Raid
2. Initial Entry
Secure the site
3. Assessment
Shut down process;
assess health /safety
risks; ventilate
4. Processing
Take samples; evidence
5. Exiting the Site
Remove chemical for
destruction; post
warning signs
6. Follow-up
Notify by letter:
property owner,
health department/
environmental agency
EPA, DEA, and the U.S. Coast
Guard to develop The Guide-
lines for Cleanup of Clandes-
tine Drug Laboratories. These
guidelines identify six steps hi
a successful seizure.
DEA has established a
multtmillion dollar contract for
the cleanup and disposal of
chemicals and glassware at
seized clandestine drug labo-
ratory sites. The contract
provides the needed support to
DEA field agents and chemists
whose primary jobs are law
enforcement and chemistry—
not hazardous waste manage-
ment. The contract is used to
provide the expertise for
compliance with the hazard-
ous waste generator standards
under RCRA. The DEA, with
EPA's concurrence, maintains
the position that law enforce-
ment responsibilities end after
seizure, removal of the chemi-
cals and glassware, and
notification of the property
owner, state and local health
department, or environmental
agency that a clandestine drug
laboratory was seized at that
site. As part of the law enforce-
ment activity, DEA will
cleanup readily identifiable
gross contamination (e.g.,
drums, bottles, cans, contami-
nated rugs, flooring,
countertops, etc.), but will not
do any remedial cleanup of
residual contamination (e.g.,
septic systems when drain
disposal has been used).
DEA has expressed a will-
ingness to assist other law
enforcement agencies by using
the DEA cleanup contract if
DEA is notified as early as
possible, participates in the
investigation and seizure, and
adopts the case. For technical
as well as administrative
reasons, it is imperative that
DEA have an active DEA file
opened on such cases before
applying the funds for cleanup
and disposal.
— Contact Joseph J. Boykevlch, Chief,
Hazardous Waste Disposal Unit, or Rolf
P. HOI, Hazardous Waste Specialist,
DEA Headquarters (202) 307-8833
Caution!
Clandestine drug laborato-
ries are extremely dangerous
and present chronic as well as
acutehealth hazards. They also
may be booby-trapped. Only
specially trained personnel
should approach such sites; As-
sessment and processing of the
site should also be handled by
specially trained personnel.
Native American Network
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ANA
(continued Jrom page 7)
and economic well-being and
reduce dependency on welfare;
and (3) support local control,
access to, and coordination of
programs and services which
safeguard the health and well-
being of Native Americans.
The organization has be-
come increasingly concerned
about addressing the problem
of environmental degradation
currently being faced by tribal
communities. The environ-
mental problems confronting
tribes today have an impact on
every aspect of life in Indian
country. Tribal governments
experience difficulty in identi-
fying, correcting, and prevent-
ing environmental problems
because of limited financial
resources, a small tax base,
and physical and social isola-
tion from other communities.
Since 1985, ANA has awarded
nearly one minion dollars to
approximately 20 grantees for
the establishment of environ-
mental codes. For example,
the Coeur d'Alene Tribe of
Idaho designed a project to
help establish environmental
protection codes to provide a
legal basis for control of land
development and to maintain
and control water quality. In
Colorado, the Southern Ute
Tribe received a grant for a
natural resource database and
management project. This
project developed environmen-
tal policies on energy and land
development and assisted the
Tribe to assume regulatory
responsibilities for water use
policies.
Under Commissioner
Wapato's leadership, ANA is
responding in several new
ways to the need for reserva-
tion environmental protection.
First, under the Coordinated
Discretionary Funds Program,
ANA is soliciting applications
for the purpose of developing
action-oriented approaches
that address the broad range
of environmental issues feeing
Native American communities.
Second, the Commissioner is
actively soliciting ideas from
the tribal leadership on the
direction of preserving and
improving the environment.
Other future activities will
involve ANA planning for
possible appropriations under
the Indian Environmental
Regulatory Act, P.L. 101-408,
passed on October 4, 1990.
This legislation amends the
Native American Programs Act
of 1974 and authorizes grants
to improve the capability of
Indian tribal governments to
regulate environmental qual-
ity. Should appropriations
become available, grants will
be awarded for training and
education of tribal employees
responsible for enforcing or
monitoring compliance with
environmental quality laws;
the development of tribal laws
on environmental quality; and
the enforcement and monitor-
ing of environmental quality
laws.
— Contact: Sharon McCully, ANA,
Executive Director, (202) 245-6546
EDITOR'S NOTE: The views expressed In Native American Network are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect or represent
EPA poHcy. The Intent of Native American Network Is to provide a diverse array of information for those Interested in environmental
Issuesln Indian country, and to provide a forum for information exchange among tribal governments, EPA, other federal agencies,
and state and local governments.
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