United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics
(7408)
EPA 745-N-99-002
www.epa.gov/opptintr
&EPA OPPT Tribal News
Spring 1999
together
Environmental News for
Indian Tribes from the
Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics
In This Issue
i
2
3
4
7
10
12
13
14
15
16
Greening of Tribal Colleges
Tribal Set-Aside Planned
News and Events
Environmental Education
Special Pesticides Section
Environmental Justice P2 Crants
TRI Database Package
Mercury
Interview with Susan Hanson
Kids' Page
Calendar
Special Section on
Pesticide Programs
The "Greening" of Tribal
Colleges and Universities:
A Growing Emphasis on
Environmental Education
Tribal colleges and universities were founded by
American Indians to connect to the modern world
while allowing tribal cultures and customs to sur-
vive for future generations. Called "the most significant
development in Native American communities in 50
years" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement
of Teaching, 30 tribal colleges have been established,
located primarily near reservations in midwestern and
western states. During the last two decades, enrollment at
tribal colleges has seen tremendous growth, and, current-
ly, there are approximately 30,000 students in attendance.
Protection and stewardship of tribal lands have always
been an integral part of the American Indian culture.
Increasingly, however, tribes are facing unprecedented
environmental and economical concerns resulting from
industrial use of these and surrounding lands. These con-
cerns can be addressed by promoting technical education in
tribal colleges and universities so that American Indians
can maintain cultural values while acquiring new skills to
effectively manage the natural resources of their lands.
In order to provide adequate and continued support for
the future well-being of local communities, tribal colleges
have received help from a variety of public and private
sources. EPA has assisted in tribal efforts by establishing
and implementing environmental programs, as well as
Continued on page 5
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Tribal Set-Aside Planned as
Part of PPIS Grants
OPPT is in the process of developing a $50,000 set-aside
award for tribal groups to focus on pollution prevention
outreach and community needs. Regional Pollution
Prevention Coordinators who screen and propose regional
awardees have found that many of the grant proposals submit-
ted by tribes in recent years emphasized recycling and remedia-
tion rather than pollution prevention, and were focused on sin-
gle media, rather than using multi-media approaches. The new
set-aside will place special emphasis on P2 and multimedia.
At the last Tribal Workgroup meeting with the Forum on
State and Tribal Toxic Action (FOSTTA), representatives sug-
gested that OPPT set aside some of the Pollution Prevention
Incentives for States funds to focus on pollution prevention
ideas from a tribal perspective. It was made clear to EPA that
tribes want to be able to compete with states for these grants.
OPPT will award grants to tribal organizations creating out-
reach material on general concepts of pollution prevention and
providing examples of successful pollution prevention activities
on tribal lands. Proposals for these P2 tribal grants are due to
EPA headquarters by July 15, 1999.
Traditional environmental practices focused on waste con-
trol, cleanup and abatement. Pollution prevention is different
because it emphasizes that the most effective method of reduc-
ing risk to health and the environment is by avoiding the trans-
fer of pollutants across media and eliminating releases through
source reduction.
The set-asides will also help forge links among other tribal
programs that are adopting pollution prevention approaches to
environmental management, as well as connecting these organi-
zations with the Pollution Prevention Information Resources
Exchange in the Regions.
For more information on the Pollution Prevention Incentives
for States program, please contact Christopher Kent at 202-260-
3480 or kent.christopher@epa.gov. Pollution Prevention
Incentives for Tribes grant guidance is available on the P2 web-
site at http://www.epa.gov/p2.
OPPT's Mission
I'roiiiole /tollnlio/i prevention
I'roniole Ilic HUP of less In.ric chemicals
Proinoli' I lie reduction of risks
I'roinolc /mhlic underittandi&g of I lie risks of chemicals
From the Editor...
I am pleased to announce that a
new section of OPPT Tribal News is
devoted to news and articles from the
Office of Pesticide Programs, the sis-
ter office to OPPT. Both OPPT and
the Office of Pesticide Programs are
part of EPA's Office of Prevention,
Pesticides, and Toxic Substances.
As thoughts of graduation grow
near, we are delighted in this issue of
OPPT Tribal News to feature the
expanding efforts of tribal colleges to
meet the challenges of environmental
education. Articles begin on page 4.
A special congratulations to the latest
math, science, and technology gradu-
ates from tribal communities, and to
the All Nations Alliance for its efforts
to double the number of tribal gradu-
ates in these disciplines (see story on
page 4).
We hope that this issue contains
items of interest and value to your
environmental concerns, and as
always, we encourage you to relay
comments, ideas, and any concerns
that you may have on our programs
and activities.
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. Now, OPPT Tribal
News can be viewed on the Internet at
http://www.epa.gov/indian/programs.htm
Mary Lauterbach, Editor
Shanita Ridley, SAIC (Writer)
Gilah Langner, Stretton Associates, Inc.
(Editorial Assistance)
Brian Adams, Big Fish Design
(Graphic Design)
-------
News & Events
Tribal Lead Seminar Sponsored by
Chippewa Cree Tribe
In April, the Chippewa Cree
Tribe of the Rocky Boy's
Reservation in Montana spon-
sored a Tribal Lead Seminar
under a cooperative agreement
with EPA Region 8. The
Chippewa Cree Tribe had pro-
posed holding this seminar to
help make all 27 tribes in the
region aware of existing tribal
lead programs, successful
attempts to solve current prob-
lems, possible new directions for
these programs, jurisdictional
issues, and how EPA's direct
implementation of the lead pro-
gram might affect them. The
Chippewa Cree Tribe also felt
that there had been a lack of
understanding and communica-
tion among the tribes that led to
a lack of interest or involvement
in important environmental
and health issues on many
reservations. Presenters at the
seminar included tribal lead
coordinators, EPA staff, and
local health experts. A panel
comprised of EPA and tribal per
sonnel was available to answer
questions and provide feedback
in an open forum.
Nine Tribal Representatives
Attend March FOSTTA Meeting
As part of the FY 1999 effort
to increase tribal participation in
FOSTTA (the Forum on State
and Tribal Toxic Action), the
Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics invited nine tribal
representatives to the March 28-
30, 1999 meeting. An introduc-
tion to FOSTTA was provided at
the Tribal Affairs Workgroup
meeting by the chairs of the
FOSTTA Coordinating
Committee, the Chemical
Management Project, the Lead
Project, the Pollution Prevention
Project, the Toxic Release
Inventory Project, the
Community-Based Environment
Workgroup, and the Tribal
Affairs Workgroup. Tribal repre-
sentatives also had an opportuni-
ty to attend one or more of the
project meetings. Having the
representatives attend the meet-
ings was designed to demon-
strate how FOSTTA operates
and how they could participate
if they choose to make a two-
year commitment to the group.
Tribal invitees included:
Burnadette Hudnell,
Mississippi Band of Choctaw
Indians; Jeff Besougloff, Upper
Sioux and Lower Sioux of
Minnesota; Lawrence Cata, San
Juan Pueblo of New Mexico;
Phyllis Attocknie, Comanche
Nation of Oklahoma; Jim
Heckman, Three Affiliated
Tribes of North Dakota;
Roxanne L. Ellingson, Walker
River Paiute Tribe of Nevada;
B. Bobby Ramirez of the Salt
River Pima-Maricopa Indians of
Arizona; Georjean Moomaw,
Colville Confederated Tribe of
Washington; and Paul Erhart
Tanana, Tanana Tribe Council of
Alaska.
"I am pleased that the
Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics is
moving forward in its
efforts to recruit addi-
tional tribal representa-
tives...! believe FOSTTA
is an excellent vehicle
for tribes to identify
and address pollution
prevention and toxics
Issues, and to make
their voices heard on
these and other issues
as well..."
— Sharrl Venno, Chair of the
FOSTTA Tribal Affairs
Workgroup
-------
Environmental Education
All Nations Alliance for
Minority Participation
The All Nations Alliance
for Minority Participation was
funded in 1994 by a National
Science Foundation grant,
with the goal of doubling the
number of American Indians
graduating with bachelor's
degrees in science, mathemat-
ics, engineering, or technology
by 1999. American Indians are
the least represented minority
in these technical fields. In
addition to increasing the
number of American Indian
graduates with technical
degrees, the teacher prepara-
tion component of the pro-
gram focuses on encouraging
more American Indians to
teach math and science.
According to Dr. Joseph
McDonald, founder and presi-
dent of Salish Kootenai
College, and project director
for the alliance, the program
has virtually completed its
task of doubling American
Indian graduates in technical
disciplines. As of May 1999,
439 American Indians have
graduated with bachelor's
degrees in science, mathemat-
ics, engineering, and technolo-
gy, almost exactly double the
original count of 220 in 1994.
Final assessment of the pro-
gram will be reported at the
end of 1999.
The program is housed at
the Salish Kootenai College in
Western Montana and
involves 25 tribal colleges and
32 state and private universi-
ties in nine states (MT, ND,
SD, MN, KS, WI, NB, WA,
and MI). It is the only organi-
zation with comprehensive
data on tribal student achieve-
ments in science, mathematics,
engineering, and technology,
and initiatives in the develop-
ment of math and science
departments and curricula.
All Nations Alliance for
Minority Participation houses
two other programs that com-
plement the mission of the
alliance. The High Plains
..
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[dtnimstrator Dim Goldin
-------
Environmental Education
Tribal College Directory Available
A Tribal College
Environmental Needs and
Assessment Directory has
recently been published. The
directory contains general and
academic information on 30 trib-
al colleges and universities —
including locations, programs
and degrees offered, contacts,
and needs and capabilities. A
matrix compares features of all
30 colleges and all programs,
including those outside of the
environmental area, that may be
of interest to students. The
directory can be utilized by
local, state, and federal agencies
to identify special areas of inter-
est, such as risk identification or
control and abatement training.
The directory is intended to
increase information and
resource sharing, curriculum
development, partnerships, and
collaboration on projects and
grant proposals. The directory
was developed by the
Partnership for Environmental
Technology Education (PETE)
with funding from OPPT's
Design for the Environment
(DfE) program. The alliance
aims to promote pollution pre-
vention approaches in communi-
ty college, college, and universi-
ty environmental curricula, and
to build tribal academic capacity
in environmental science and
technology.
For more informa-
tion regarding the Tribal
College Directory, contact
Dave Boon, PETE-DfE Program
Manager, 303-404-5259,
fr dave@cccs.cccoes.edu.
Tribal Colleges:
Bay Mills Community College,
Brimley, MI
Blackfeet Community College,
Browning, MT
Cheyenne River Community College,
Eagle Butte, SD
College of the Menominee Nation,
Keshena, WI
Crownpoint Institute of Technology,
Crownpoint, NM
D-Q University, Davis, CA
Dineh College/Navajo Community
College, Tsaile, AZ
Dull Knife Memorial College, Lame
Deer, MT
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community
College, Cloquet, MN
Fort Belknap Community College,
Harlem, MT
Fort Berthold Community College,
New Town, ND
Fort Peck Community College,
Poplar, MT
Haskell Indian Nations University,
Lawrence, KS
Institute of American Indian Arts,
Santa Fe, NM
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa
Community College, Hayward, WI
Leech Lake Tribal College, Cass
Lake, MN
Little Big Horn College, Crow
Agency, MT
Little Hoop Community College, ND
Little Priest Tribal College,
Winnebago, ME
Nebraska Indian Community College
Northwest Indian College,
Bellingham, WA
Oglala Lakota College, Kyle, SD
Salish Kootenai College, Pablo, MT
Sinte Gleska University, Rosebud, SD
Sisseton Wahpeton Community
College, Sisseton, SD
Sitting Bull College, Fort Yates, SD
Southwest Indian Polytechnic
Institute, Albuquerque, NM
Stone Child Community College, Box
Elder, MT
Turtle Mountain Community College,
Belcourt, ND
United Tribes Technical College
Bismarck, ND
Greening
Continued from page 1
providing teams of professionals
trained in environmental sci-
ences, engineering and math to
promote these programs.
EPA is mandated through its
Indian Policy to build tribal
capacity for the development
and sustainment of environmen-
tal protection programs on
Indian lands. EPA sees tribal
colleges as an important tool to
help build that capacity and,
therefore, provides support for
environmental program curricu-
lum development, professional
and technical training and certi-
fication programs, and tech-
nology transfer among
tribal communities.
-------
Environmental Education
U.S. EPA Report for the Inter-
Departmental Committee on
Tribal Colleges and Universities
In a January 1999 report
for the Inter-Departmental
Committee on Tribal College
and Universities, the American
Indian Environmental Office
(AIEO) set forth a number of
EPA action items related to
tribal colleges:
) Establish a closer relationship
to the American Indian
Higher Education Consortium
and each of the federally-
recognized tribal colleges.
I Maintain a communications
list of faculty from the trib-
al colleges interested in
environmental program,
training, and technology
information.
I Establish Web links with
tribal colleges.
I Link tribal college programs
with EPA-sponsored envi-
ronmental training centers
I Coordinate acquisition of
technical manuals and
information needed by trib-
al colleges with its publica-
tions resources.
Executive Order 13096 —
American Indian and Alaska Native Education
On August 6, 1998, President Clinton issued Executive Order
13096 to improve educational achievement and academic progress for
American Indian and Alaska Native students. The order establishes a
federal interagency task force to plan and implement six goals:
improving reading and mathematics; increasing high school comple-
tion and postsecondary attendance rates; reducing the influence of
long-standing factors that impede education performance such as
poverty and substance abuse; creating strong, safe, and drug-free
school environments; improving science education; and expanding the
use of educational technology.
AIEO coordinates EPA's
Indian Policy and serves as
tribal liaison for all EPA tribal
programs. In its efforts to
oversee opportunities for tribal
colleges and universities,
AIEO has:
I Informed all EPA program
offices, special initiatives
offices, and Regions of
Executive Order 13096 and
its mandate (see box).
) Presented and reviewed the
Executive Order before the
EPA Tribal Operations
Committee, the National
Indian Workgroup, and
other related program man-
agers and coordinators.
> Featured the Tribal College
Initiative at the American
Indian Heritage Month
Program.
For more information, contact
Marlene Regelski at 202-260-7284.
ATSDR to Build Public
Health Capacity
The Agency for Toxics Substances and
Disease Registry has announced a new
program to build environmental public
health capacity within tribal colleges and
universities. In an April 1.1999 Federal
Register Notice, ATSDR announced that
the capacity building activities among
tribal colleges, universities, and their
graduates will help them address human
health issues of exposure to hazardous
substances among American Indian and
Alaska Native peoples.
The five-year cooperative agreement
program will offer technical assistance to
tribal colleges and universities in the
development of environmental health
curriculum, along with materials devel-
opment and internships in environmental
health nursing, education, and science.
The program will assist American Indian
and Alaska Native nations in (1) deter-
mining public health implications from
past, present, and potential future human
health effects related to exposures from
National Priorities List (Superfund) sites
and other hazardous substance environ-
mental waste sites and releases on tribal
lands, and (2) determining and evaluating
appropriate technical responses to such
exposures..Approximately $200.000 is
available for the 1999 fiscal year to fund
four awards. For more information, con-
tact Nelda Godfrey, Announcement
99069. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 770-488-2722 or
nag9@cdc.gov. (Source: Food Weekly)
-------
Special Pesticides Section
Tribal Pesticide Program
Council to Address Pesticide
Issues at National Level
EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) has significantly
expanded resources devoted to tribal programs and projects
over the past two years. OPP and EPA's Office of Enforcement
and Compliance Assurance are working closely with EPA's
Regional Offices, tribes, and tribal organizations to develop and
implement pesticide programs and projects meeting individual
or regional tribal needs.
Through a series of meetings with OPP, tribes across the
country have expressed a need for an official tribal pesticide
group to address tribal pesticide program and technical issues at
the national level. In response to this need, OPP is working with
tribes and various organizations to form a national group called
the Tribal Pesticide Program Council which will work closely
with EPA's Tribal Operations Committee to assess policy and
funding needs in Indian country.
The general membership of the Tribal Pesticide Program
Council will initially include approximately 30 tribes with pesti-
cides programs and a number of tribes with pesticide interests.
The group will be led by an Executive Committee of 11 tribal
representatives, elected from the general members.
The Council will represent a broad range of tribal views
and facilitate communications between tribes and OPP and
other EPA offices. Issues addressed will include pesticide reg-
istration, training, enforcement, certification, groundwater,
disposal, and spray drift. The Council will also work coopera-
tively with OPP and other EPA offices to ensure that federal
pesticide regulations are effectively applied to tribal land and
that tribes with less experience can benefit from those with
established programs.
The group is expected to be formed by late summer 1999, at
which time an inaugural meeting of participating council mem-
bers will be held in Washington, D.C. For more information
about the Tribal Pesticides Program Council, contact Irving
Provost, the Tribal Pesticides Program Council Executive
Committee Chairperson and Director of Pesticide Enforcement
for the Oglala Lakota Nation, at 605-867-5624 or
pepipl@rapidnet.com. You can also contact Regina Langton,
OPP Tribal Coordinator, at 703-305-7161 or
langton.regina@epa.gov.
Haskell
University
Offers Pesticide/IPM
Resources
Since 1995, OPP has funded a coop-
erative agreement with Haskell Indian
Nations University and its Environmental
Research Studies Center in Lawrence,
Kansas to develop a pesticide technology
curriculum focusing on the prudent use
of pesticides in Indian country.
The pesticide technology curriculum is
designed to create awareness and teach
tribes how to reduce the impact of pests on
tribal lands. The curriculum can be used to
train qualified Native Americans to develop
and implement tribal pesticide programs
that incorporate Native American knowl-
edge into pest management practices.
The curriculum includes interactive
videotape and text. Filming is complete on
the first module, scheduled to be released
in Spring/Summer 1999, which includes
two video programs. The first program,
"Integrated Pest Management: Two
Views," explores the different philosophi-
cal approaches used by Native and
Western traditions. The second program is
"IPM in Action: Integrated Pest
Management of the Colorado River Indian
Tribes, Parker, Arizona, Parts I and II." For
information about the IPM curriculum, call
Dan Wildcat at 785-749-8428.
The Haskell Environmental Resel
Studies Center is dedicated to the devel-
opment and application of technologies
grounded in the holistic and healing
foundation of traditional indigenous eco-
logical knowledge.
Haskell will offer environmental
studies courses in Fall 1999. For more infor-
mation, contact George Godfrey at 785-
749-8428 or go to
http://www.NASS.haskell.edu.
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Special Pesticides Section
National Pesticide Telecommunications
Network Can Answer Your Pesticide Questions
"My son has eaten some
berries from afield on our reser-
vation that was recently treated
with pesticides. He has since
developed a rash. How can I tell
if this is a direct result of pesti-
cide poisoning? If so, how can it
be treated and is it dangerous ? "
"I'm an expectant mother
and my home is scheduled to be
treated by an exterminator this
week. What precautions should I
take to protect my baby?"
These questions can be
tough, especially when the per-
son asking might be frightened,
confused or misinformed. Yet
these are exactly the kinds of
questions the National Pesticide
Telecommunications Network
can answer.
NPTN is the most compre-
hensive and reliable source of
information for pesticide infor-
mation in the United States. In
fact, it is the only source of its
kind. This toll-free telephone
service provides a variety of
impartial information about pes-
ticides to anyone in the United
States, Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands. NPTN is a coop-
erative effort between Oregon
State University and EPA and
provides objective, science-
based, and plain-language pesti-
cide information to the general
public, and medical and veteri-
nary communities. It handles
over 23,000 calls a year on top-
ics ranging from toxicology to
pesticide poisonings. NPTN's
staff of pesticide professionals
includes toxicologists and physi-
cians trained to:
I Interpret and understand
human health and environ-
mental information about pes-
ticides.
I Answer questions about pesti-
cide label information.
I Supply general information on
the regulations of pesticides in
the United States.
I Make referrals for laboratory
analyses, investigation of pes-
ticide incidents, and emer-
gency medical treatment.
I Confer with a private physi-
cian to determine an appropri-
ate treatment plan in the event
of poisonings.
> Provide information regarding
safety practices for field/farm
workers and handlers.
NPTN recently released its
latest annual report, providing
free, valuable information on a
variety of pesticide data. The
report contains information on
the number and types of calls
received, including incident
data. The report can be found
at NPTN's website,
http://www.ace.orst.edu/info/nptn.
NPTN also operates the
National Antimicrobial
Information Network, a toll-free
telephone service that provides
callers with information about
Call NPTN at 1-800-858-7378
daily. 6:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
(Pacific time).
Fax: 541-737-0761
E-mail: npln@ace.orst.edu
Website:
http://www.ace.orst.edu/info/npln/
antimicrobial pesticides.
The National Antimicrobial
Information Network can:
I Interpret product labels and
permitted uses.
I Provide lists of products regis-
tered as sterilants, tubercu-
locides, and HIV virucides.
I Provide toxicology, health
effects, and safety information
on specific antimicrobial
chemicals
I Supply information on regula-
tions and registration of
antimicrobials in the U.S.
I Field complaints on product
efficacy and forward informa-
tion to EPA.
I Refer requests that are outside
of the expertise of the
Network to the correct agen-
cies and resources.
The National Antimicrobial
Information Network is open to
questions from the public and
professionals from Monday
through Friday, 7:30 a.m.- 4:30
p.m. (Pacific time) at 1-800-447-
6349. The Network can also be
contacted at 541-737-0761 (fax),
nain@ace.orst.edu, or
http://www.ace.orst.edu/info/nain/.
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Special Pesticides Section
USGS and EPA Support State and
Tribal Development of
Pesticide Management Plans
EPA has proposed a rule under the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide and Rodenticide Act to cancel the use of five wide-
ly used herbicides (alachlor, atrazine, cyanazine, metolachlor
and simazine) unless a state or tribe develops and implements
a pesticide management plan to prevent contamination of
ground water.
EPA has entered into an Interagency Agreement with the
U.S. Geological Survey that will support states and tribes in
their development of pesticide management plans. To protect
ground water effectively, it is necessary for states and tribes to
have detailed technical and scientific information on the geolo-
gy and hydrology of the areas where these pesticides are to be
used. The use of pesticide management plans is a new pesticide
regulatory approach, and USGS' ground water monitoring expe-
rience is invaluable to states and tribes beginning vulnerability
assessments, analysis, sampling, and monitoring protocols to
develop prevention strategies.
In the agreement, USGS will assist states and tribes to col-
lect, integrate, interpret, and make available existing technical
information and help the states and tribes understand how the
information can be applied to their lands of interest as they
develop pesticide management plans.
The first phase of the agreement is underway with USGS
setting up separate meetings at the appropriate district offices
with two states and two tribes selected for the pilot project (the
Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma and the Gila River Indian
Community in Arizona). During the meetings, USGS staff will
present the pilot participants with information on the state and
tribal lands and show how this information can be used to sup-
port pesticide management plans. The meetings may also cover
subjects such as: 1) ground water monitoring networks; 2) use
of new wells to monitor the efficacy of pesticide management
plans; 3) known detections of pesticides; 4) ground water flow
and the nature of pesticide mobility in ground water; and 5)
ground water and surface water interaction. A subsequent phase
of the Interagency Agreement will include developing maps that
integrate existing information to show relative vulnerability.
For more information about the project, contact John
Simons, OPP, at 703-305-6460 or simons.john@epa.gov, or
Elizabeth Resek, OPP Tribal Coordinator, at 703-305-6005 or
resek.elizabeth@epa.gov.
Workshops
Offered on
Developing
Pesticide
Management Plans
Native Ecology Initiative, the Oglala
Lakota Nation, and Mountaintop
Associates, have formed a team to train
and assist Indian tribes in developing
ground water and pesticide management
plans.(See article on left.)
The team works in three
orientation workshops to provide an
understanding of ground water as an
important natural resource, explain the
proposed ground water protection strate-
gy, and introduce the proposed rule and
its requirements; (2) Shell Plan work-
shops to assist tribes who want to devel-
op a plan; and (3) direct technical assis-
tance.
Participation in the team's program
and all materials are free. Travel and
lodging are the responsibility of work-
shop participants.
Additional workshops are being
scheduled for later in the the Fall and
Winter. The Native Ecology Initiative
team is interested in hearing from Tribes
willing to host a workshop in their area.
Contact Lillian A. Wilmore, Director.
Native Ecology Initiative, P.O. Box
470829, Brookline Village,
tel: 888-746-4463, fax: 617- 277-16567
N AEcology @ aol.com.
Upcoming workshops:
June 22 & 23
Hosted by Big Sandy and Santa Rosa
Rancherias of Tachi Indians
Lamoore, California
July 27, 28, & 29
Lac of the Torches Resort and Casino
Flambeau, Wisconsin
September 29, 30 & Oct. 1
Hosted by Robinson Rancheria
Nice, California
-------
FY 1998 Environmental Justice
Pollution Prevention Grants Awarded
The Environmental Justice
Pollution Prevention (EJP2) Grant
Program provides financial assis-
tance to state and local govern-
ments, federally-recognized Indian
tribes, non-profit environmental
organizations, and academic insti-
tutions for projects that address
environmental justice and use pol-
lution prevention as the solution to
environmental issues. Environ-
mental justice means that no
group of people should bear a
disproportionate share of the
negative environmental conse-
quences resulting from industrial
or government operations
regardless of race, color, national
origin, or income. Typically, up
to $100,000 may be awarded for
regional projects, and up to
$250,000 may be awarded for
national projects.
In 1998, a total of approxi-
mately $609,000 was awarded to
assist tribal communities or
organizations. Summaries of
projects awarded with a strong
tribal component are provided
below. For more information
regarding the EJP2 grant pro-
gram, call 703-841-0483 or
write to ejp2@erg.com. Grant
guidance information is also pro-
vided on the EJP2 home page at
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/ejp2.
P2 Program: Apache Tribe of
Oklahoma (*14,106)
The Apache Tribe is develop-
ing a comprehensive environ-
mental education program within
the local Indian and non-Indian
communities located in the tri-
county area of Caddo, Kiowa,
and Comanche. The tribe will
train rural Indian communities
on implementing cost-effective
pollution prevention (P2) princi-
ples. This program will develop
a library of P2 educational
resources, provide training to
volunteers and staff, hold work-
shops for communities to pro-
mote P2, and develop P2
resources for volunteer use in
community meetings.
Oklahoma P2 Through
Education: An Open
Dumping Abatement
(*40,Z75}
This project targets almost 1.5
million low-income families,
including American Indian and
other minorities, living in rural,
northeast Oklahoma, where open
dumping is rampant. The Solid
Waste Research Institute will
conduct community workshops to
educate low-income and minority
residents about the adverse envi-
ronmental and human health
effects of open dumping. In addi-
tion, the Institute will promote
interest in pollution prevention
and assist community volunteers
with planning and implementing
community-wide waste collec-
tion, recycling, and clean-up pro-
jects and reducing illegal road-
side dumping.
Haskell Indian Nations
University: Source Reduction
for Integrated Pest
Management (f 87,425)
This pollution prevention
project targets reduction of the
use of agriculture pesticides that
affect the environment. The pro-
ject will provide public educa-
tion, training for both Indian and
non-Indian land managers, and
demonstrations of several strate-
gies for integrated pest control.
Santee Sioux Tribe of
Nebraska: Source Water
Protection Program (?99,803)
This project will develop a
source water protection plan for
the public water supplies within
the reservation of the Santee
Sioux Tribe of Nebraska. The
plan will also provide environ-
mental and P2 training and edu-
cation to people within the reser-
vation. Employees of the Land
and Environmental Protection
Office of the Santee Sioux Tribe,
students attending the Santee
Sioux Tribal College, and citizens
of the reservation will participate
in the development of the plan.
Chippewa Cree Business
Committee (?70,000)
This project provides public
information and technical assis-
tance on P2 and related environ-
mental protection issues through
a citizen-involvement approach.
The approach includes education
through workshops, onsite tech-
nical assistance, classroom pre-
sentations, promotion of tradi-
tional values on environmental
protection, and outreach to citi-
zens. This project also promotes
ongoing cultural partnerships
and will demonstrate the effec-
tiveness of tribal environmental
protection awareness.
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Tucson PZ Program for Arts
Warehouse District
Community (f 100,000)
This project proposes a P2 pro-
gram for the Warehouse Arts
District of Tucson, Arizona.
Seeking to reduce pollution threats
to the nearby neighborhoods and
the local aquifer from the use of
toxic art materials, the project will
target artists using the district's
114 art studios. Pollution preven-
tion education efforts are expected
to reach an audience of 300 to 600
artists who are predominantly
local Latino and Native American
residents.
Tohono O'Odham Nation PZ
Program (f40,240)
The P2 Program for the
Tohono O'Odham will promote
waste reduction through the inclu-
sion of household hazardous
waste alternative work as part of
the Traditional Living Program,
Salish Kootenai College
Na t ive PI a n f Nu rse ry Ecosyste m
Restoration and Management Education
Salish Kootenai College received an EJP2 grant for $56,860 to support
education in native plant nursery ecosystem restoration and management.
Salish Kootenai College is located on 1.3 million-acre Flathead Indian
Reservation in western Montana, home to people of the Salish, Kootenai
and Pend d'Oreille tribes. The college offers B.S., B.A., and A.S. and A.A.
degrees, as well as professional certificates. The Environmental Science
B.S. degree program was established in 1993 and is unique in that it incor-
porates elements of traditional tribal knowledge into a science program.
The people of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai are now facing
serious environmental problems and pollution created by nearly a century
of agricultural and industrial practices. One of the most critical means of
limiting pollution in areas dominated by agricultural and logging industries
is preventing soil erosion.
Salish Kootenai College is building a program promoting pollution pre-
vention and native plant propagation. Using an ecosystem-based approach
to resource management, the program will emphasize the production of
native plants and train Native American students in planning, implementing
and monitoring ongoing restoration projects. Program objectives include:
• Supplying local stock of native plant material to a tribal demonstration
project to restore 80 acres of tribal land on the Flathead River and 80
acres of land on the Jocko River.
• Investigating the effect of non-native vegetation and weeds on soil ero-
sion, nutrient cycling, runoff, and riparian areas.
• Teaching methods of native plant propagation, greenhouse management,
and nursery management that focus on conservation through reducing the
use of potential toxics on growing plants.
• Providing public workshops on riparian management and restoration in coop-
eration with Montana State University, Salish Kootenai College, the
Confederated Salish Kootenai, ranchers and community groups.
• Conducting research and teaching restoration methods, plant materials,
and processes that will be geographically applicable within the western
states of the country.
and the devel-
opment of an envi-
ronmental curriculum,
"Teaching Trashcan,"
which features pollution pre-
vention. The project also will
raise community awareness of
less toxic alternatives to house-
hold pesticides and cleaners and
will encourage public purchases
with reduced packaging (a form
of solid waste source reduction).
Chugachmlut: Alaskt
Partnership (*99,8S7)
This partnership program
between the State of Alaska and
the Chugachmiut will incorpo-
rate P2 concepts into Alaska
Native environmental training
programs and the model commu-
nity environmental assessment
system currently being field test-
ed. The project will work with
local community residents to
document successful P2 activi-
ties and identify other applicable
P2 techniques; develop and field
test several culturally-relevant
models that can be used to inte-
grate P2 into Native environ-
mental management programs;
provide ongoing tools to build
sustainable prevention-based
environmental programs; and
potentially integrate prevention
into environmental work plans
developed between villages and
state and federal agencies.
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Teaching with Databases -
The Toxic Release
Inventory Package
OPPT and the National Science Teachers Association have
developed an educational tool for promoting environmental
education using EPA's Toxics Release Inventory (TRI).
The TRI CD-ROM provides information on potential expo-
sures and environmental hazards in communities across the
country. The tool was designed for Grades 7-12 and was devel-
oped by science and social studies teachers to introduce and
encourage the use of large databases as an education tool in the
classroom. The product consists of components created by
EPA's Education Office several years ago, elements focused on
the Community Right-to-Know environmental program, and
science educational tools developed
by the National Science
Teachers Association (NSTA).
EPA and NSTA are currently
expanding the scope of this
product for use as a national
resource for teachers. For more
information, visit the NSTA
website at http://www.nsta.org,
or call Georgianne McDonald
at EPA, 202-260-4182.
CD-ROMs on Working
Safely with Lead
EPA Region 1 has developed a Lead
Safe Contractor Course and interactive
CD-ROM. The materials are based on
the findings of a Yale University study
which determined the best way to train
contractors working with lead, as well as
information provided by the Department
of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) and the National Association of
the Remodeling Industry. The CD-ROM
includes an interactive HUD Renovator
video. For more information, please con-
tact James M. Bryson at 617-918-1524 or
bryson.jamesm@epa.gov.
A Lead Suite CD-ROM featuring a
State Tribal Enhanced Lead (Pb) System
was recently designed by states and
tribes. The CD-ROM, developed by the
Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, con-
tains a compilation of free software,
training manuals, and presentation mate-
rials to help tribes implement lead pro-
grams more efficiently. The software
also includes programs for blood lead
tracking, lead licence tracking, lead
examination testing, and training
provider auditing, as well as information
on related regulations, manuals, and fact
sheets developed from HUD, CDC,
OSHA, and EPA. For more information,
please contact Philip Quint, Lead
Coordinator, at 1-800-545-8524.
Corrections/Updates
In the January 1999 issue of
OPPT Tribal News, the Upper and
Lower Sioux tribal communities
were incorrectly identified as
residing in North Dakota, instead
of Minnesota. The Confederated
Tribes of the Colville Reservation
are located in Washington, not
Oregon.
The new tribal P2 contact for
Region 9 is Eileen Sheehan, who
can be reached at 415-744-2190.
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Working Together on Mercury
Issues: Request for Comments
Many Native American
Tribes and ethnic groups that
comprise indigenous popula-
tions are aware of the potential
health risks of eating large
quantities of fish, shellfish and
marine mammal muscle and
muktuk that contain high levels
of mercury. Mercury is found in
these animals in the more toxic
form of methylmercury. In this
form, mercury can accumulate
to very high concentrations in
animals like tuna, salmon, or
seals since these animals ingest
methylmercury from other cont-
aminated life. Members of some
indigenous groups are at greater
risk than the average population
because they traditionally con-
sume higher quantities (an aver-
age of more than 3.5 ounces
fish or shellfish per day) of
these foods.
Indigenous populations are
not the only people that are
potentially at risk from
methylmercury. Women of
childbearing age and children
are also at an increased risk of
exposure to and/or toxic effects
of methylmercury. Exposure to
women of childbearing age is a
concern because methylmer-
cury is a developmental toxin
to fetuses, and children are also
of concern because they con-
sume more food in relation to
their body weight in compari-
son to adults. Methylmercury is
a toxin that affects the nervous
system and can decrease motor
skills and sensory abilities,
cause irreversible deficits in
brain function, and result in
kidney damage.
EPA has taken action to
reduce the amount of mercury
that is released into the environ-
ment by enforcing regulations to
reduce mercury emissions from
major sources, as well as work-
ing with industries to voluntarily
reduce or eliminate mercury
used in products and manufac-
turing processes. In the January
1999 issue of OPPT Tribal
News, an article describing
EPA's Draft Action Plan for
Mercury listed the various types
of activities that EPA is under-
taking to address mercury issues.
EPA is not only working to
address these issues within the
borders of the U.S. but also in
cooperation with Canada and
Mexico. Together these three
countries have drafted a North
American Regional Action Plan
on Mercury. This action plan
identifies specific activities that
each government will perform.
To be fully effective, some of
these mercury reduction efforts
need be implemented not only at
the regional and national levels,
but also at the local level within
the tribes and ethnic groups.
Your comments and
recommendations to this
Action Plan are greatly needed
to gain the perspective of groups
that are potentially at risk from
methylmercury exposure. Each
group that receives OPPT Tribal
News will also receive a copy of
this draft Action Plan for review.,
For more information about
OPPT's involvement in mercury
activities or the North American
Regional Action Plan on
Mercury, contact Greg Susanke
at 202-260-3547 or
susanke.greg @epa.gov.
"Your comments
and recommenda-
tions to this
Action Plan are
greatly needed."
-------
Interview — Susan Hanson
Susan Hanson of the
Shoshone Bannock Tribe of
Idaho is using new technology to
model contamination in the Fort
Hall Reservation. Susan is
working with a team of environ-
mental scientists and engineers
to produce a three-dimensional
model that will inform the local
tribal community of the environ-
mental impacts resulting from
toxic substances and contaminat-
ed sites in the area. The model
will depict locations of haz-
ardous waste ponds, buildings,
slag piles, gypsum stacks, and
other physical structures at cont-
aminated facilities, as well as
identify the levels of toxic conta-
mination that have been mea-
sured on the reservation.
Q: What is the goal of your
modeling project?
A: We are constructing a three-
dimensional model of the Eastern
Michaud Flat (EMF) Contamina-
tion Site. This site includes two
primary phosphorous-producing
facilities and affected off-site
areas, including the Portneuf
River, the American Falls
Reservoir, and the Fort Hall
Bottoms wetland area. The
model will inform and educate
tribal leaders and residents of the
Fort Hall Reservation about the
environmental impacts of toxic
emissions from local facilities.
Q: How will your model show
the impacted areas and the levels
of toxic contamination?
A: The model will depict loca-
tions of hazardous areas, such as
waste piles, and physical struc-
tures at the two facilities and the
affected off-site areas. The EMF
model will also show the hydro-
logical parameters of the area,
including (1) the depth to
groundwater underneath conta-
minated ponds, (2) location of
monitoring wells and levels of
contamination in each, (3) ripari-
an areas, and (4) wildlife habitat.
Color overlays will also show
levels of contamination that have
been measured in soils and
plants on the reservation.
Q: How did you come to docu-
ment the environmental prob-
lems at the Fort Hall
Reservation?
A: We initially documented the
contamination of the site and
facilities through a Remedial
Investigation/Feasibility Study.
Although the EMF site is part of
a Superfund project, the two
phosphorous-producing plants
remain in operation and continue
to emit toxic gases, vapors, and
particulate matter.
Q: What are your plans for
showing the model to the local
community?
A: This project is being done
for the purpose of informing
and educating the tribal com-
munity. Once constructed it
will be displayed at district and
public meetings, schools, and
workshops in an effort to
inform the community about
what is happening on the reser-
vation with hazardous waste
and contamination.
Q: What difficulties have you
encountered while creating the
three-dimensional model?
A: I think the biggest difficulty
is the number of different issues
at the site and phosphorous-pro-
ducing facilities. We have found
contamination in every media
(e.g., air, surface water, ground-
water, and soil) at the EMF site.
As a result, we are complying
with different guidelines and reg-
ulations from many EPA environ-
mental programs. Different pro-
grams may also require different
maintenance standards of the
contaminated sites. For example,
some of the hazardous waste
ponds at one of the facilities are
being closed out under CERCLA
and RCRA, but the programs
have different standards for cap-
ping. There are even some issues
that are not being addressed,
including low-level radioactive
components of the wastes.
Informing and educating the trib-
al community on all these techni-
cal issues presents a huge chal-
lenge. Once the model is con-
structed with overlays, I imagine
we will be coordinating with
Fish and Wildlife, EPA, the State
DEQ, and other internal pro-
grams to stay informed.
-------
Kids7 Page
Can you color in the
states that have triba
colleges?
Arizona
California
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Montana
Nebraska
Now Mexico
North Pakota
South Dakota
Washington
Wisconsin
For a complete list of tribal colleges, see page 5.
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Mark Your Calendars!
June 1999
23 Region 5
3rd Regional Tribal
Operations Committee
and EPA Title VI
Tribal Consultation
Grand Traverse, MI
Casey Ambutas
312-353-1394
23-24 Region 8
Host: Wind River
Indian Reservation
Regional Operations
Committee Meeting
Ft. Washakie, WY
Judy Caribou Hervig
303-312-6290
July 1999
21-22 Region 9
Tribal Nonpoint
Source Workshop
San Francisco, CA
Ed Drabkowski
202-260-7009
28-29 FOSTTA Tribal
AffairsWorkshop
Washington, DC
Darlene Harrod
202-260-6904
September 1999
14-15 Region 9
Nonpoint Source/319
Tribal Workshop
Flagstaff, AZ
Ed Drabkowski
202-260-7009
21-22 Region 6
3rd Annual Tribal
Environmental
Summit
Albuquerque, NM
Ellen Greeney
214-665-6778
EPA
www.epa.gov
OPPT
www.epa.gov/opptintr
Pollution
Prevention
www.epa.gov/opptintr/p2home
American
Indian
Environmental
Office
www.epa.gov/indian
Asbestos 1-800-368-5888
Ombudsman
Hotline
EPCRA Hotline 1-800-535-0202
Lead Hotline 1-800-532-3394
TSCA Hotline 202-554-1404
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