United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics
(7408)
EPA745-N-99-001
www.epa.gov
Volume 1
Number 2
January 1999
&EPA OPPT Tribal News
Environmental News for
Indian Tribes from the
Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics
In This Issue
1 Strategy to JacKle PBTs
2 NCA1Meeting
OPPT'sFY 1999 Tribal Program
3- News and Events '
^5^0 Does What in Lead Poisoning
Prevention
%;;;. • Tfil
7 Mercury
8 OPPT Planning
9 interview with Gillian Mittelstaedt
10 Curriculum News
ft Resources Page
12 Calendar
A New EPA Strategy to Tackle
Priority PBTs
EPA has developed a draft strategy to reduce risks
from persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT)
pollutants. PBTs are highly toxic, long-lasting pollu-
tants that can build up in the food chain to levels that are
harmful to human and ecosystem health. PBTs are asso-
ciated with a range of adverse human health effects,
including effects on the nervous system, reproduction,
and fetal and child development. PBTs have also been
linked to cancer and genetic impacts. The challenge in
reducing risks from PBTs stems from their ability to trav-
el long distances, to transfer easily among air, water, and
land, and to linger for generations. PBTs are of particular
concern to tribal communities because of the exposure of
tribal populations to PBTs present in fish and from other
sources.
The main element of EPA's strategy is to develop and
implement national action plans to reduce risks from
selected PBTs. These plans will make use of a range of
tools — voluntary, regulatory, enforcement and compli-
ance, research, and international — across all media. The
first national action plans will be developed for 12 priori-
ty PBTs named in the Canada-U.S. Binational Toxics
Strategy — aldrin-dieldrin, benzo(a)pyrene, chlordane,
DDT (+DDD+DDE), mercury, mirex, hexachlorobenzene,
alkyl-lead, octachlorostyrene, PCBs, dioxins and furans,
and toxaphene. (EPA has already developed a draft action
plan for mercury. See article on this page.)
The second element of the strategy is to select the next
Continued on page 7
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NCAI Meeting Includes
Environmental Issues
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) held its
55th Session on October 17-23 in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Some 225 tribes have membership in NCAI, which repre-
sents 1.6 million Native Americans and serves as a prominent
voice of Native American concerns. Hosted by the Catawba
Tribe in South Carolina, the theme of the conference was
"Many Nations - One Family."
On environmental topics, several EPA representatives were
heard. Peter Robertson, the new Deputy Administrator of EPA,
addressed the full Congress and focused on EPA's efforts to
strengthen government-to-government relationships in working
with tribes. He asked the tribes to place a high priority on their
environmental programs. Philip Robinson, Chief of the Office
of Pollution Prevention and Toxics' (OPPT) Liaison Branch,
provided a brief overview of OPPT and its tribal program at the
opening sessions of both the Natural Resources Committee and
the Environmental Protection and Land Use Subcommittee
meetings. The presentations were aimed at introducing the pro-
grams of OPPT to participants, gaining feedback on the current
and future directions of the Office's tribal program, and deter-
mining how best to work with the Congress in a mutually bene-
ficial manner to address toxics and pollution prevention issues
of Native Americans.
Jerry Pardilla of the National Tribal Environmental Council
served as co-chair of the Natural Resources Committee and
as chair of the Environmental Protection and Land Use
Subcommittee. Many issues were raised during the
Subcommittee's deliberations, including NCAI positions on a
proposal to support the Vermont Law School, a request to the
U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide more resources to
its Indian Desk, a resolution relating to the Indian Land
Consolidation Act, and a proposal for continued EPA support of
the Agency's Tribal Operations Committee.
OPPT's Mission
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From the Editor...
The Latest on OPPT's
FY 1999 Tribal Program
OPPT's fiscal year (FY) 1999 tribal
program is under development by the
OPPT Committee on Tribal Issues. The
Committee is comprised of a representa-
tive from each OPPT division, a repre-
sentative from EPA Region 8, and an
advisory representative from EPA's
American Indian Office.
An FY 1999 proposal for the tribal
program describes a variety of options as
well as high priority projects aimed at
maintaining on-going, effective commu-
nication with Native Americans and pro-
viding technical information to tribes on
our environmental programs. The likeli-
hood is that only the high priority pro-
jects will receive consideration for fund-
ing. They include: developing tribal TRI
reports similar to state reports, continuing
publication of OPPT Tribal News, devel-
oping a tribal TRI educational brochure,
continuation of the OPPTS tribal training
program, providing Internet access to
OPPT programs, and planning for an FY
2000 tribal initiative on "Increasing
Tribal Capacity for Environmental
Assessment and Pollution Prevention."
We'll keep you posted as the program
develops...
Mary Lauterbach
To be placed on our mailing list, write to:
OPPT Tribal News, 401 M Street SW,
Washington, DC 24060, or send an e-mail to
lauterbach.mary@epa.gov
Mary Lauterbach, Editor
Patty Ewaschuk, SAIC (Writer)
Gilah Langner, Stretton Associates, Inc.
(Editorial Assistance)
Brian Adams, Big Fish Design
(Graphic Design)
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News & Events
TRI and Native Americans:
Evaluating TRI Data for Tribes
In December 1998, OPPT completed a preliminary analysis
of the utility of Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data for evaluat-
ing conditions on selected tribal reservations. Data from
Geographic Information Systems and other sources were used
to identify TRI releases on or near these tribal lands. The goal
of the project is to assist Native
Americans in building their capacity to
address environmental problems and to
provide guidance to OPPT on how best
to develop tribe-specific TRI reports.
The study focused on the reservations as
well as facilities within a radius of five
kilometers. For further information, call
Mary Lauterbach, 202-260-9563.
Tffl data
evaluation study
Tribal Operations Committee
Examines Environmental Issues
The Tribal Operations Committee (TOC) provides input into
EPA's decision-making affecting Indian country. TOC is com-
prised of EPA senior managers, EPA's American Indian
Environmental Office (AIEO), and tribal leaders who serve as
EPA environmental co-regulators. Since its first meeting in
February 1994, led by EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner,
TOC has presented several initiatives and program objectives to
strengthen and improve communications and build stronger
partnerships among the tribes, EPA, and other federal agencies.
At several meetings with our senior managers during the
past year, TOC discussed a range of environmental and health
issues, including:
> TOC-EPA interaction with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (e.g., the Forest Service), as well as the Indian
Health Service (IMS) and other appropriate federal agencies
or departments, to discuss subsistence issues and pest
control, and to review methods of testing for lead toxicity
in children.
Continued on page 6
OPPT
Tribal
Literature
Review Group
Tribal representatives Lorctta
Russette (Chippewa Cree Tribe of the
Rocky Boy's Reservation), Flore
Lekanof (Aieutian/Pribilof Islands
Association), and Eugenia Quintana
(Navajo Nation), met with OPPTs Tribal
Coordinator on October 26-27 to review
existing OPPT literature, brochures, and
documents and recommend ways to
improve OPPT's materials and make
them more culturally relevant to tribes
and tribal governments. Written recom-
mendations will be provided to all OPPT
managers and staff and to the tribes for
review. For more information, contact
Mary Lauterbach, OPPT Tribal
Coordinator, at 202-260-9563.
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Lead News
WHO DOES WHAT IN LEAD POISONING PREVENTION
In addition to EPA's lead pro-
grams, several other government
agencies offer educational, technical,
and financial support to tribal lands to
assist in lead-related issues, including
training, health screenings, and blood
tests for young children, and grants
supporting research and lead poison-
ing prevention efforts. Here is a
quick round-up of who is doing what
in lead poisoning prevention.
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
(CDC)
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
Lead Poisoning
Prevention Branch (F42)
National Center for
Environmental Health
4770 Buford Highway, NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30341
Phone: 770-488-7330
Fax: 770-488-7335
NCEH Health Line: 888-232-6789
E-mail: ncehinfor@cdc.gov
Web site: www.cdc.gov/nceh/nce-
hhome.htm
National Lead Training and
Resource Center (NLTRC)
400 East Gray Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40202-1704
Phone: 502-574-8226
Fax: 502-574-6657
The Lead Poisoning Prevention
Branch of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) man-
ages the CDC Childhood Lead
Poisoning Prevention Program, which
has as its goal the elimination of
childhood lead poisoning as a major
public health problem.
In addition to its outreach and
educational efforts, CDC funds state
and local health departments to initi-
ate lead poisoning prevention pro-
grams supporting communities with a
minimum of 500,000 residents.
Native American reservations, having
assessed their areas as high-risk in
terms of susceptibility to lead poison-
ing, may also receive CDC funds
from state and local health agencies.
For more information, contact CDC
and ask for a list of "Lead Program
Key Contacts" who can provide infor-
mation on lead poisoning prevention
and funding in your state.
CDC also co-sponsors free
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
Workshops, managed by the National
Lead Training and Resource Center
(NLTRC). These workshops provide
training and education on the funda-
mentals of prevention programs and
management practices.
Environmental
Health Center (EHC)
Environmental Health Center
1025 Connecticut Avenue, NW,
Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-293-2270
Fax: 202-293-0032
Web site: www.nsc.org/ehc.htm
A division of the National Safety
Council, EHC focuses on communi-
cating information on environmental
issues to the public through education
and outreach, emergency planning
and management, environmental jour-
nalism, and national and international
communications programs that target
minority and underserved populations.
Indian Health
Services (IHS)
Indian Health Service Headquarters
Parklawn Building, Room 6-35
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone: 301-443-3593
Fax: 301-443-0507
Office of Engineering and
Environmental Health
Twinbrook Metro Plaza (TMP)
12300 Twinbrook Parkway
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: 301-443-1054
Web site: www.ihs.gov
Indian Health Services (IHS)
assists American Indian and Alaska
Native people in developing their own
health programs by providing health
management training, technical
assistance, and human resource
development.
IHS also provides information
regarding lead hazards and prevention
practices, IHS assessments, fact
sheets, and other educational materi-
als. Information on free lead screen-
ings available for children, expectant
mothers, and at-risk workers may be
obtained from IHS area offices. IHS,
along with CDC, may also provide
grant funds and information to estab-
lish lead poisoning prevention and
blood screening programs in tribal
communities.
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Lead News
U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban
Development (HUD)
U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development
Office of Lead Hazard Control
451 7th Street, SW Room B-133
Washington, DC 20410
Phone: 202-755-1785
Fax: 202-755-1000
Web site: www.hud.gov
Community Connection
Clearinghouse:
800-998-9999 or 800-245-2691
HUD's Office of Lead Hazard
Control is charged with providing
lead-safe housing to the nation's
children while preserving afford-
able housing. This office operates
the HUD Lead-Based Paint Hazard
Control Program, a grant program
for state and local governments to
develop and implement cost-effec-
tive methods for the inspection and
reduction of lead-based paint haz-
ards in housing of low-to-moderate
income families. The Office of
Lead Hazard Control develops
lead-based paint regulations, fact
sheets, guidelines, and policies that
provide information on protecting
children from lead-based paint haz-
ards and reducing lead-based paint
hazards in federally-assisted and
federally-owned housing. HUD
also helps build capacity at state,
local, and private-sector levels to
inspect and abate lead-based paint
hazards. OLHC operates a clear-
inghouse, Community Connection,
for publications, regulations, and
other lead-related information
(800-998-9999 or 800-245-2691).
National Lead
Information Center
(NLIC)
National Lead
Information Center
8601 Georgia Avenue Suite 503
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Hotline: (800) LEAD-FYI or
(800) 532-3394
Clearinghouse: (800) 424-LEAD
or (800) 424-5323
E-mail: hotline.lead@epa.gov.
WebSite:
www.epa.gov/lead/nlic.htm.
NLIC provides information
about lead hazards and lead pre-
vention practices to the general
public and environmental and
health professionals. Fact sheets,
publications, contacts, and referrals
are available with valuable infor-
mation on lead poisoning and pre-
vention. The Center operates a
toll-free hotline and clearinghouse
as well as a nationwide Lead
Poisoning Speakers Bureau.
Speakers are available to come to
conferences, meetings, schools,
daycare centers, and other forums.
Seven
Tribes Apply
for Section 404
Approval
Since April 1998, seven tribes have sub-
mitted applications to EPA to develop their
own lead-based paint training and certifica-
tion programs. Under TSCA section 404,
EPA is required to assist states and Indian
tribes in creating lead-based paint training
and certification programs that would oper-
ate in place of the federal program.
The training and certification pro-
grams apply to lead-based paint profes-
sionals working in residential housing,
public and commercial buildings, and
steel structures. EPA issued a final rule
in August 1996 covering residential
housing and daycare centers, and is cur-
rently developing regulations for steel
structures, and public and commercial
buildings. The regulations include
requirements for the training and certifi-
cation of lead-based paint inspectors, risk
assessors, abatement workers and super-
visors, and project designers. The rules
also include accreditation requirements
for training providers and work practice
standards for the conduct of inspections,
risk assessments, and abatements.
So far, all applications are currently
under review. Applications received by EPA
are as follows:
) Aroostok Band of Micmac, Maine
I Colville Confederated Tribes, Oregon
I Houlton Band of Malisette Indians, Maine
I Lower Sioux, North Dakota
I Passamaquoddy Indian Township, Maine
I Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point, Maine
I Upper Sioux, North Dakota
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OPPT Programs
TRI Reporting Required of Mining Sites
Tribal communities that
have mining operations on
their reservations will be inter-
ested in knowing about the
new Toxics Release Inventory
(TRI) reporting requirements
that take effect on July 1,
1999. TRI is a database of
annual reports from industry
on more than 600 chemicals
released into the environment.
This public information data-
base lets communities know
what toxic chemicals are pre-
sent in their neighborhoods
and lets industry managers
identify opportunities for
source reduction and compare
their progress to other facilities
around the country.
TRI has undergone a series
of expansions in both the
number of chemicals and the
types of facilities required to
report. In 1997, approximate-
ly 6,100 facilities in seven
new industries were required
to report releases to TRI.
The new industries added are:
I Metal mining
I Coal mining
I Coal and oil-fired electric
generating facilities
I Commercial hazardous
waste treatment and
disposal facilities
> Chemical wholesale
distribution facilities
I Petroleum bulk terminals
and bulk plants
I Solvent recovery facilities.
The newly added industries
will be subject to TRI reporting
requirements beginning on
January 1, 1998 and their first
TRI reports will be due on or
before July 1, 1999. Some
tribes may need to begin report-
ing then. Over the last year
OPPT focused significant
resources towards developing
guidance and conducting about
20 training sessions for these
new industries so they will be
prepared to comply with these
new reporting obligations.
OPPT also updated reporting
guidance for the "old" indus-
tries and conducted over 20
general industry training
sessions around the country in
Spring 1998. For more infor-
mation about training and
available guidance documents,
contact Tim Crawford at
202-260-1715.
The first TIU reports for the
nc.u-ly added industries will be
"due on July 1. 1999.
OPPT has recently proposed
adding certain persistent
bioaccumulative toxic chemi-
cals (PBTs) to TRI (see article
on page 1) and lowering
reporting thresholds for PBTs,
as part of EPA's new Chemical
Right-to-Know program.
The TRI program has been
a huge success since its incep-
tion, serving as a model for
countries around the world.
EPA has developed numerous
resources for easy access to
TRI data. For more informa-
tion, consult the TRI site on the
Internet at http://www.epa.gov/
opptintr/tri, or call the TRI
Hotline at 1-800-490-9198.
I Follow-up with EPA's Office of
Enforcement and Compliance
Assistance (OECA) on tribal
pesticides and toxic enforce-
ment issues, such as access to
inspector credentials, spray
drift incidences, and case
management.
ft The Office of Prevention,
Pesticides, and Toxic
Substances (OPPTS) will inves-
tigate better ways to allow for
the tribes to conduct their own
assessments of environmental
problems in order to build tribal
capacity and protect tribal envi-
ronments and people.
» OPPT will provide tribes
with information on affordable,
easy-to-use, new technology
for testing blood lead levels.
I OPPT will look into the devel-
opment of culturally relevant
curricula for Indian schools and
tribal environmental career
professionals, such as courses
in pollution prevention, right-
to-know, and lead prevention.
The Tribal Operations
Committee is an important and
effective vehicle for enhancing
communication between EPA and
its tribal co-regulators. More
information regarding TOC, its
members, and tribal contacts can
be found on the AIEO Web site at
http://www.epa.gov/indian/tcont.htm.
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OPPT Programs
Draft EPA Action Plan for
Mercury
Mercury is a well-known and long-establishe neurotoxin that
slows fetal and child development and causes irreversible
deficits in brain function. The Draft EPA Action Plan for
Mercury is the first of a series of national action plans under
EPA's draft Multimedia Strategy for Priority Persistent,
Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) Pollutants. The Plan pro-
poses the following actions, in consultation with other federal
agencies, and with the involvement of states, regions, tribes,
and other stakeholders:
I Control emissions from air point sources.
I Revise the water quality criterion, and improve measurement
of mercury in water.
I Seek reductions in uses of mercury and improve information
and citizen "right to know."
I Develop an environmentally acceptable disposal method for
mercury wastes designated as hazardous wastes.
I Seek reduction in exposure to highly exposed populations.
I Decrease further environmental contamination from illegal
use/disposal of mercury through focused compliance
monitoring and enforcement of mercury restrictions
and requirements.
I Continue international efforts to reduce mercury releases.
I Perform and support further research on all aspects of the
mercury problem.
I Support regional, state, tribal, and local actions to
reduce mercury.
A naturally occurring metal, mercury moves between the
water, the air, and soil as a result of natural and human activi-
ties. It enters the environment from sources like coal-fired
power plants, mining and smelting of various ores, and the dis-
posal of consumer products manufactured with mercury. In its
organic form, methylmercury bioaccumulates in fish and
becomes more concentrated as it moves up the food chain to
humans and other animals that eat the fish. Mercury accounts
for 60 percent of all fish consumption advisories in fresh water
bodies in the U.S. To date, 40 states have issued advisories for
mercury in one or more water bodies, and 11 states have issued
them on a state-wide basis.
For copies of the Draft EPA Action Plan for Mercury and
other related documents, contact the Pollution Prevention
Information Clearinghouse at 202-260-1023 or check EPA's
Web site at www.epa.gov/pbt/strategy.htm.
EPA Strategy
Continued from p. i
round of priority PBTs for
future national action plans.
The third element is to stop the
flow of new PBTs into commerce.
The fourth and final element of the
strategy is to develop improved
right-to-know measures so that the
public can track our progress
towards achieving national goals
and commitments.
What is new in EPA's PBT
Strategy is its multi-media
approach to break the cycle of pol-
lutant transfer from one place or
medium to another. Near-term
actions under the PBT Strategy are
underway to prevent the introduc-
tion of new PBTs in commerce,
encourage voluntary reduction of
PBTs in hazardous waste, increase
the public's right-to-know about
local sources of PBT emissions and
mercury emissions from utilities,
and evaluate fish in U.S. water
bodies for PBT contamination.
EPA will work closely with its
regulatory partners and engage in
partnerships with industry, environ-
mental groups, and the public
get the PBT job done. Public of
ments are welcome on the Strategy
(available on EPA's Web site at
www.epa.gov/pbt) and on a recently
proposed rule to increase reporting
of PBTs (published on Jan. 5, 1999
in the Federal Register and available
at www.epa.gov/fedrgstr). Write
to: U.S. EPA (7101), 401 M St.
SW, Washington, DC
20460.
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OPPT Planning
Update on the Tribal Affairs
Workgroup
by fat Cumin
( hnir oj I'OS'IT I ( <><>r
-------
Interview — Gillian Mittelstaedt
With the support
of an Environ-
mental Justice
Pollution
Prevention
(EJP2) Grant
award, Gillian
Mittelstaedt
manages the Model Tribal
Environmental Policy Act (TEPA)
Project of the Tulalip Tribes of
Washington. Mittelstaedt, who initi-
ated the project, is working with the
National Tribal Environmental
Council (NTEC), tribal attorney
Dean Suagee, and the Harvard
Native American program to help
tribal communities, including Alaska
Native villages, protect their cultural
resources through environmental
impact assessment. Environmental
impact assessment is a key focus of
the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) and the Model TEPA,
both of which promote the use of a
systematic process to provide envi-
ronmental impact information to
federal, state, local, and Indian
Nation officials, as well as citizens,
before implementing major projects
or actions that may significantly
affect the environment.
Q: What products are you creating for
tribal communities with this project?
A: We are developing a "Tribal
Environmental Policy Act," or a
model code, that tribes can use
directly or as a reference for regu-
latory language when designing an
environmental impact assessment
process that meets their unique
needs. The TEPA component of
the project applies to most on-
reservation, land-use projects. In
addition, we are developing guid-
ance on NEPA to provide tribes
with information on how to work
with federal agencies and exercise
sovereignty. We are also develop-
ing a pollution prevention (P2)
handbook and poster to be used in
the TEPA review.
Q: What triggered the need for this
project?
A: In 1993,1 participated in a
NEPA "effectiveness study" con-
ducted by the Council on
Environmental Quality. Through
phone interviews with tribes
throughout the country, it became
evident that the NEPA process was
not effective for tribes since there
was minimal communication
between tribes and federal agencies
and limited knowledge among tribes
of the NEPA process. Providing
tribal-specific training and guidance
on the NEPA process could improve
effectiveness and help tribes protect
their natural resources.
Q: How do the components of your
project address this problem?
A: The NEPA Guidance explains the
NEPA process in detail and provides
tribes with specific tools they can
use to strengthen their role in the
federal process. The model TEPA
gives tribes another tool that they
can use to exercise jurisdiction over
their own lands and protect their
environment. A major part of envi-
ronmental impact assessment is to
identify and prevent ecological dam-
age. The P2 handbook and poster
address this and include a checklist
and manual describing a range of
land uses and their associated P2
methodologies and technologies.
Q: What steps will you take to
implement these products?
A: Results of our effectiveness
study, as well as additional tribal sur-
veys, have been presented at numer-
ous conferences and summarized in
publications. The P2 handbook and
poster will be distributed at confer-
ences and other forums, many of
which are sponsored by NTEC.
Once complet-
ed, the model TEPA
and guidance manual
will be distributed to tribes
as well.
Q: What support did you receive
in pursuing this project?
A: I received significant support
from EPA officials, NTEC, and other
tribal communities. EPA Region 10
provided input throughout the entire
process. NTEC provided guidance,
disseminated our materials at
ences, and supplied a match contribu-
tion for the grant. I also worked very
closely with Dean Suagee, who served
as our legal advisor, and Libby
Halpin-Nelson, who is helping to
develop the Alaska-specific compo-
nent of the project. We were also able
to use a pollution prevention checklist,
supplied by EPA's Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics, to help devel-
op the P2 handbook and poster,
Q: Why is this project so importa
to tribal communities?
A: Environmental impact assess-
ment provides an avenue for tribes to
autonomously manage their own
lands while cooperatively working
with state or local governments.
Because of the complex and often
contentious issues encounter
issuing environmental regulations
after development, along with the
limited effectiveness of post-devel-
opment regulation, there is a distinct
need for a preventive approach.
Both NEPA and TEPA, when used
effectively, can help tribes exercise
their sovereignty, protect their val-
ued resources, and allow for
balanced development of
their community and
economy.
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Curriculum News
Natural Resources Management and
Environmental Technology Curriculum
In the Summer of 1998,
the Northwest Center for
Sustainable Resources (NCSR)
held a forum to investigate
challenges and share successes
in bringing tribal perspectives
to environmental technology
curricula. The forum was
sponsored by the OPPT Design
for the Environment (DfE)
Program in alliance with the
Partnership for Environmental
Technology Education (PETE).
Promoting environmental educa-
tion, developing technical capac-
ity, and building skills at the
tribal college level will expand
the capabilities of tribes to deal
with environmental issues.
The results of the forum
formed the beginning of a solid
environmental curriculum com-
ponent for tribally controlled and
non-tribal community colleges.
The goal is to deliver sound
environmental information from
the perspective and cultural val-
ues of Native American tribes.
The module will incorporate
tribal beliefs and values into
existing natural resources man-
agement and environmental
technology curricula. By doing
so, the module will encourage
students to consider a holistic,
ecosystem approach to solving
today's environmental problems.
Forum attendees shared cur-
ricula, knowledge, and work-
based applications and partici-
pated in several field trips to
local forest, fisheries, and
wildlife areas. Several needs
came to light during the forum
such as training more instructors
on the Native American environ-
mental perspective, mentoring,
and establishing and maintaining
Information on the pro-
ceedings oj the tribal
forum, "\alire \iiieric
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Resources Page
"Can you color this page?"
Lead
Busters
Wash your
hands with
soap and
wa ter after you
play and
before you eat.
Little Moccasins:
A Lead Poisoning Prevention
Manual for Tribal Day Cares and Families
Little Moccasins is an illustrated manual, published by the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, that explains
blood lead screening, healthful diet, and basic steps towards lead poisoning prevention. Funded by U.S. EPA
Region 1, the manual lists regulations and resources on lead poisoning and includes input from tribal mem-
bers, educators, and environmental staff. It contains songs, recipes, and a variety of other activities that
can be used in a day care setting. To order the manual in hardcopy, video, or CD-ROM, contact
Jim Bryson, U.S. EPA Region 1, One Congress Street, Suite 1100-CPJ, Boston, MA, 02114-
2023, tel: 617-918-1524. The interactive CD-ROM is currently being field tested. For
information on being a field tester, contact Jim Bryson at the number above.
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Mark Your Calendars!
April 28-29, 1999
Native American "Train the Trainer" Course for Little Moccasins
University of Rhode Island. East Greenwich, RI
Hosted by Narragensett Indian Tribe
Free course, led by Dr. Mary-Margaret Gaudio, available to 30 indi-
viduals on first-come, first-serve basis.
Contact: Carla Monroe, 401-364-1100 x204
May 18-20
"Honor Thy Mother: Protect Her Future"
National Tribal Environmental Council 1999 National Conference
hosted by the Yurok Tribe
Eureka. California
For a registration form, contact the National Tribal Environmental
Council (NTEC), 2221 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, Albuquerque, NM
87104, phone: 505-242-2175, fax: 505-242-2654, e-mail:
netc@ntec.org.
May 25-27
1999 National Community Involvement Conference
Theme: EPA's Role in Community Involvement
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri
Contact: Heidi Paulsen, Office of Pesticide Programs, 703-305-525
paulsen. heidi @ epa. gov
EPA
www.epa.gov
OPPT
www.epa.gov/opptintr
Pollution
Prevention
www.epa.gov/opptintr/p2home
Act Locally www.epa.gov/opptintr/cbep/actlocal
Enviro?en?e es.epa.gov
Asbestos
Ombudsman
Hotline 1-800-368-5888
EPCRA Hotline 1-800-535-0202
Lead Hotline 1-800-532-3394
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
(7408)
Washington, DC 20460
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE
$300
Address Service Requested
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