Region 9
The Pacific Southwest
Environmental Results
Through Tribal/EPA Partnerships
Fiscal Year 2007 Accomplishments
EPA-909-R-08-002
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Dear Readers,
This is our sixth annual report on tribal accomplishments, and it provides a valuable
overview of our collaboration with tribes in the Pacific Southwest Region.
For the past seven years I have been privileged to work with more than 140 federally
recognized tribes in the Region. Each tribe's commitment to protect tribal environmental
health and resources continues to improve and I'm proud of what we have accomplished
together.
In partnership with the EPA, tribes are working toward the shared goals of clean air, clean
water, clean land, and healthy communities. The accomplishments achieved during 2007
are numerous and I'd like to highlight a few that are excellent examples of what we can do
together.
Among the successes included in this report are stopping illegal dumping on the Torres
Martinez Cahuilla Indian Reservation; supporting the Tohono O'odham Nation's effort to
create the first tri-national Sister City emergency response plan with the U.S. and Mexico;
and the effective use of grant funds by tribal governments to protect the air, land and
water.
This report not only shares the accomplishments of tribes and EPA, it also inspires us to
continue working collaboratively and on a government to government basis with tribal
governments to protect the future of tribal lands for generations yet to come.
For more information on tribal environmental accomplishments, please visit our website
atwww.epa.gov/region09/indian/success/.
Sincerely,
Wayne
Regional Administrator, Region 9
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Table of Contents
Tribal Results
Clean Air
Clean & Safe Water
Protecting Tribal Lands 8
Compliance and Stewardship 13
Healthy Tribal Communities 15
Region 9 Tribal Program Office 20
EPA Pacific Southwest/Region 9 21
Cover Photos: Great Basin National Park, Nevada by David D. Schmidt
California Redwoods, California by John Kung
Air Moon Falls, Arizona by Karl Banks
Bead work, pp. 2-19: ReginaLeRoy
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Tribal Results
EPA's Pacific Southwest Region includes 146 Indian
tribes and nearly 40% of the tribal land in the United
States. Tribal lands are subject to federal and tribal
environmental laws, but many tribes have lacked the
capacity or funding to carry out environmental pro-
grams. In recent years, a change has been occur-
ring. Tribes have forged productive partnerships with
other agencies and neighboring communities. As
of 2007, 121 tribes and four coalitions had active
environmental protection programs, 85 tribes had
environmental protection codes or policies in place
and 8 tribes have federal program authorization.
Number of Tribes Developing
Environmental Programs
Tribes and Coalitions Developing Environmental Programs
Environmental conditions on many reservations in
the Pacific Southwest Region are challenging. More
than one-third of reservation households are at or
below the poverty level. Nineteen percent of homes
lack complete plumbing. More than 1,200 open
dumps are found on tribal lands. Over a third of the
region's tribes are located in areas that do not meet
air quality standards.
Environmental
Capacity
Building
Tribes in Region 9
Tribes with Environmental Programs
Tribes with Codes or Policies
Tribes Monitoring the Environment
Tribes with Federal Program Authorization
EPA is working in partnership with tribes to face these
challenges head-on. Together, we are achieving
positive results! Working as partners, the tribes and
EPA have made significant progress in protecting trib-
al lands, waters, air and other resources.
In the Pacific Southwest, many tribes have formed
inter-tribal partnerships to address environmental
issues. The Yurok Tribe Environmental Program
(YTEP) formed a consortium with five tribes in the
Klamath Basin. The successes of this group are the
result of a coordinated effort using EPA General As-
sistance Program (GAP) funds to level the playing
field for tribes in a watershed that has many complex
environmental issues. This consortium has devel-
oped a significant body of scientific study and rigorous
analysis of the various state and federal processes
and environmental factors that affect water quality in
the Klamath Basin (e.g. FERC, TMDL, fish disease,
toxic algae).
Yurok Tribal
Environmental
Program staff
Micah Gibson
samples Klamath
River at Turwar
Creek as part of
toxic algae recon-
naissance in 2005.
Credit: YTEP
The YTEP, with support from the Tribal Water Quality
Workgroup, has significantly increased the level of
data collection and analysis in the past three years.
The program has established the first and most ex-
tensive network of consistent real-time water quality
monitoring stations in the Klamath Basin. This serves
to inform a large group of stakeholders and the public
of the effects of water management decisions made
on the Klamath and Trinity Rivers.
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125
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25
50
75
100
125
150
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Clean Air
Twenty-five tribes received EPA support
for air quality activities. Twenty-four
tribes are operating 67 air monitors.
EPA and Tribes Collaborate to
Improve Air Quality
During 2007, EPA worked closely with tribes to
assess and improve air quality in Indian Country. The
results include education and outreach to tribes, as
well as new air quality standards, regulations, and
plans.
Air pollution trapped over the Morongo Band of Cahuilla
Mission Indians Reservation.
EPA Grants are the Foundation of Tribal Air
Quality Work
EPA awarded 25 tribal air grants, totaling just over
$3 million. Five tribes also used part of their GAP
grants to assess air conditions. Four tribes received
radon grants to assess and reduce radon levels in
their homes. Twenty-four tribes are monitoring either
particulate matter or ozone (smog).
Tribes' Collaboration Brings Greater Return
on Investments
A partnership between the Salt River Pima Maricopa
Indian Community and the Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality led to the installation of a
special monitor at the confluence of two of the
most heavily traveled freeways in the Phoenix area.
This Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy
(DOAS) Monitor continuously measures air toxics
and pollutants regulated by federal clean air laws. It
is one of the most advanced monitors of its kind, and
the only one located in the Southwest.
Salt River Pima. Maricopa Indian Community and Arizona
Department of Environmental Quality's Differential Optical
Absorption Spectroscopy Monitor.
Three tribes in California's Owens Valley — Lone
Pine, Fort Independence, and Bishop — continue
to work with other nearby tribes and the Great Basin
Unified Air Pollution Control District as they assess
the impacts of the Owens Dry Lake, the largest source
of fine particles such as dust and smoke in the nation.
In addition, those three tribes participate in the Tribal
Environmental Exchange Network, a system that
makes air quality and meteorological data available
in real time on the Internet, facilitating region-wide
data analysis.
Owens Valley tribal youth learning about air quality.
New Tribal Regulations Delegate Certain EPA
Air Programs to Tribes
The Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) submitted
a Tribal Implementation Plan, which is a set of pro-
grams and regulations to ensure air quality standards
are met and maintained. EPA Region 9 is reviewing
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the GRIC's proposal. When approved, it will delegate
many EPA air programs to the tribe. In addition, the
Pala Band and the Fort Independence Tribe re-
cently applied for Treatment as State status to be noti-
fied of permits for large sources of air pollution nearby.
Air monitoring station operated by the Fort Independence Indian
Community of Paiute Indians.
New Rules Will Help Ensure Economic Growth
Occurs in Harmony with Clean Air Goals
EPA is continuing to move forward with new clean
air regulations for Indian country, such as the Tribal
New Source Review requirements proposed in
2006. These apply to permits for new and modified
stationary sources of air pollution. The rules are
important because they close a loophole that has
allowed some polluters to evade compliance on tribal
lands. The new regulations would require new or
modified small industrial facilities and large industrial
facilities on tribal lands to get permits.
New Plan, Permit for Projects on Navajo Lands
Draw Public Interest
EPA completed a Federal Implementation Plan for
the Four Corners Power Plant, establishing federal-
ly enforceable emission limits for several pollutants,
including a substantial reduction in the allowable
amount of sulfur dioxide emissions. However, the
Arizona Public Service Corporation and the Sierra
Club have challenged EPA's action in federal court,
and the case is still pending.
EPA worked closely with the Navajo Nation on the
permit for the proposed new Desert Rock coal-fired
power plant. EPA proposed a "Prevention of Sig-
nificant Deterioration" permit for the Desert Rock
facility. The project is controversial because many
people are opposed to new coal-fired power plants
in this area. In 2006, more than 1,000 comments
were submitted on the proposed permit. EPA is
now responding to these comments.
Pacific Southwest Tribes Located in Air
Quality Non-Attainment Areas
(Attainment Non-attainment
Nonattainment - Areas of the country where air
pollution consistently exceed the national ambient
air quality standards may be designated "non-attain-
ment."
Gila River Indian Community.
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Clean & Safe Water
Good Health Depends on Clean and
Safe Water
EPA and tribes work together to achieve clean and
safe water through construction of drinking water
and wastewater projects, development of sustainable
infrastructure, and water quality monitoring and
watershed restoration projects.
1,545 homes have received safer drinking
water.
5,718 homes have better wastewater f acilties.
8,114 homes along the U.S./Mexico border
have upgraded water infrastructure since
1999.
68 tribes are eligible to receive funding to
restore watersheds and nine tribes have
received program authorization to set water
quality standards for tribal waters.
Providing Access to Safe Drinking Water and
Basic Sanitation
In 2007, the Clean Water Act Indian Set-Aside Program
awarded $6.3 million for 42 wastewater projects that
will serve about 5,718 homes. The Drinking Water
Tribal Set-Aside Program awarded $3 million to fund
five tribal drinking water projects that serve 924
homes. Several water infrastructure projects were
completed during the year, including construction of
a wastewater lagoon on the Hualapai Reservation.
That lagoon serves 300 homes and replaces an old,
undersized, and unlined lagoon that was at risk of
overflowing into nearby Truxton Wash. Also, the
Tohono O'odham Utility Authority and the Indian Health
Service constructed the Baboquivari Intertie project
which provides safe drinking water to several small
communities that have high levels of arsenic and poor
water quality.
In 2007, tribes imple-
mented several inno-
vative projects to
achieve access to
safe water, recogniz-
ing the importance
of collaboration and
partnership in Indian
Country. The La Jolla
Band of Luiseno
Indians organized an
On-Site Wastewater
Management Collab-
orative to properly
operate and maintain
septic systems, im-
proving water quality
in the San Luis Rey
Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona Baboquivari Intertie Project.
Tribal
Collaborative for
On-Site Wastewater
Management
Navajo Nation Shiprock
Booster Pump Station.
watershed. The tribe con-
structed a wastewater fa-
cility to treat septic tank
waste, drafted an on-site
wastewater ordinance, and
located and mapped all
septic tanks on the reser-
vation. Collaborative part-
ners include EPA, neigh-
boring tribes, the San Diego
Foundation, Indian Health
Service, Rural Community
Assistance Corporation, and
the Walking Shield Indian
assistance organization.
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Many tribal members who lack access to safe drinking
water and basic sanitation live in traditional homes
or temporary structures without indoor plumbing. In
2007, the Hualapai Tribe funded and successfully
completed a project which extends water and waste-
water lines to three homes. EPA funded proper
closure of the outhouses.
Hualapai Indian Tribe of the Hualapai Indian Reservation -
Collaborative Water Infrastructure Project before and near
completion.
The need for water infrastructure improvements in
Indian Country gained attention this year with the
development of a draft Access Implementation Plan.
The goal of this plan is to achieve what the United
States pledged at the World Sustainability Summit:
to provide safe drinking water and basic sanitation
by 2015 to at least half the homes that now lack
these necessities. The draft Access Implementation
Plan, developed by federal agencies and tribes,
recommends solutions for achieving the access goal.
Watershed Protection and Restoration
In 2007, 97 tribes in the Pacific Southwest Region
were eligible to develop and carry out water quality
protection programs under the Clean Water Act
Section 106 Water Pollution Control Program. EPA
provided a total of $8.3 million in funding to tribes to
support tribal water quality and monitoring activities.
In addition, nine tribes began to implement water
quality monitoring strategies, and three tribes provided
water quality data to EPA electronically.
Sixty-eight tribes were eligible to receive funds to
reduce polluted runoff and to restore watersheds
under the Clean Water Act Section 319 Nonpoint
Source Pollution (NPS) Control Program. Through a
national base allocation and competitive process,
EPA awarded 55 grants totaling $3.2 million to tribes
in the Pacific Southwest.
Trees Grow More Than Two Feet in Three
Months After Removal of Non-native Species
The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
implemented a NPS-funded wetlands restoration
project in the Cottonwood Wetlands. The tribe's NPS
program removed invasive tamarisk and revegetated
the wetlands with native vegetation such as willow
and cottonwood sprouts. Post-project monitoring
showed the willow and cottonwood grew more than
two feet in three months and water has shown an
increase in clarity.
BEFORE
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Cottonwood
Wetlands Restoration Project.
Stream Restoration Project is a Great Success
The Hopland Band of Pomo Indians carried out a
successful stream restoration project. The tribe
identified several sedimentation problems which
impacted water quality in creeks. They obtained
funding from the NPS program and the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service's Tribal Wildlife Program for
restoration activities. The tribe implemented resto-
ration activities on four sites where major erosion
of stream banks contributed significantly to stream
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sedimentation. The
projects were an
enormous success
and have resulted in
numerous benefits,
including reduction
in sediment loads,
reduction in turbidity
and nutrient loads,
healthier aquatic veg-
etation, improved fish
habitat, and improved
water quality.
Hop/and Band of Porno Indians of the Hopland Rancheria -
Stream Restoration Project. Eroding hillside; workers laying
straw wattles.
Water Quality Protection
EPA also approved two Treatment as a State (TAS)
program authorizations for the water quality stan-
dards and certification programs for the Twenty-
Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians and Pyramid
Lake Paiute Tribe. Both tribes are in the process of
completing their Water Quality Standards for waters
within their reservations.
Funding to Help Tribes Protect Underground
Sources of Drinking Water
In 2007, the Tribal Source Water and Assessment
Program (SWAP) issued a total of more than $99,000
to four tribes. This funding will support activities such
as four-step assessments used to evaluate pesticide
use for human health risk. It will fund work to locate
and ensure proper closure of abandoned wells. Tribes
will use the funds to develop best management
practices to prevent or reduce the contamination of
underground sources of drinking water.
Treatment as a State approval: pictured left to right are Norman
Harry,fanner Tribal Chairperson for Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe;
Alexis Strauss, EPA R9 Water Division Director; Dan Mosley,
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Water Quality Specialist; JoAnnn
Asami, R9 Attorney; Tiffany Eastman, R9 Grants Project Officer;
Kristin Gullatt, R9 Tribal Water Program Manager; and Wendell
Smith, R9 Water Quality Program Manager.
The Chemehuevi Indian Tribe's Environmental
Department conducted a successful source water
assessment of the public water system wells on their
reservation. The results indicated theirwellhead was
in excellent condition, which greatly reduces the
likelihood of drinking water contamination.
Chemehuevi Indian Tribe of the Chemehuevi Reservation -
Successful source water assessment of the public water system
wells on the reservation.
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Protecting Tribal Lands
Tribes Use Innovative Tactics to Clean
Up Waste, Hazardous Materials
Improper disposal of both household trash and
hazardous waste threaten tribal lands in the Pacific
Southwest. More than 1,200 open dumps, dozens of
abandoned storage tanks, and hundreds abandoned
mine sites litter these tribal lands.
Tribes Work with EPA to Clean Up Open
Dumps and Expand Recycling Programs
In 2007, tribes tackled these hazards by cleaning up
82 open dumps, and collecting household hazardous
waste. They developed recycling and composting
programs, and removed and recycled abandoned
vehicles.
to four enforcement actions in 2007 and two legal
settlements with penalties of $12,525 and a supple-
mental environmental project.
Waste Management FY07
Tribes with Solid Waste 1
Management Plans
Number of Dumps Cleaned Up
Hazardous Waste Activities
-
-
t
1
61
82
' x-1 ^ Z x>
0 20
40
60 80 100
Collaboration Closes Open Dumps
The Torres Martinez Solid Waste Collaborative got
impressive results this year. The collaborative, which
includes representatives from EPA and 24 other
federal, state, and local agencies, the Torres
Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, and nonprofit
organizations, closed 20 of 27 known dumps, put
access controls in place, and prevented new dumps
from being started on the Torres Martinez Reserva-
tion in Southern California's Coachella Valley.
Their efforts have also cut dump fires by more than
70%. Together, collaborative members distributed
information on proper waste disposal to more than
500 local growers, haulers, and landscapers to re-
duce waste coming onto tribal lands.
The collaborative used new regulatory authority to
conduct solid waste inspections in 2006. Those led
Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe. Upper photo -
Audairsite deanup; lower photo - Tayawa site deanup.
Tribal Innovation Removes 44 Tons of Waste
The Hoopa Valley Tribe conducted four dump
cleanups using the tribe's innovation, the "Blake
Apparatus." This innovation, which saved the tribe
as much as $10,000 in contractor fees, operates from
the front end of a pickup truck with a winch-powered
cableway and allows the operator to remove waste
from steep terrain. One person can operate the
Blake Apparatus, which fits in the back of any pick-
up truck and sets up in less than 10 minutes. The
apparatus, which won a 2007 EPA award, enabled
the four-person staff of the Hoopa Tribal Environmental
Protection Agency to remove 44 tons of trash, appli-
ances, and scrap metal.
8
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Hoopa Valley Tribe - dump cleanup using the Blake Apparatus.
Tribe Transforms Trash
The Pinoleville Pomo Nation's Environmental
Department has found new uses for abandoned trail-
ers by using parts of the dismantled trailers to build a
tool shed. Other plans for similar trash reuse projects
include building a fence out of abandoned tires and a
greenhouse made of abandoned trailer trusses.
Pinoleville Pomo Nation's Environmental Department reuse
program.
"Project Can It" Collects 2 Tons of Waste in
2 Days
In Arizona, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian
Community held a free community tire cleanup
that removed and recycled 2,500 tires in 2007.
That brings the total removed since 2005 to more
than 7,000.
The tribe also organized "Project Can It," a community
cleanup and recycling effort. It featured recycled 55-
gallon drums as drop-off points and a competition
among 12 teams to see who could collect the most
waste. The teams collected more than two tons of
waste in two days.
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community "Project Can
It "participants.
Solid Waste, Recycling Service Reduces Open
Dumping and Burning
The Pit River Tribe developed a solid waste and
recycling collection program for their tribal homes
and businesses. With EPA and USDA grant funding,
the tribe hired a solid waste coordinator and techni-
cian, purchased a collection vehicle and bins, and
established the Pit River Solid Waste and Recycling
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service. The service
includes a drop-off
recycling center, a
car crushing opera-
tion, and a "pay-
as-you-throw" trash
collection program.
The Pit River Tribe
also found a way to
generate additional income for the program by rent-
ing out their collection vehicle and clean-up bins.
Pit River Tribe "pay-as-you-throrv "
trash collection program.
The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California
worked on a number of successful solid waste
projects in 2007. These included the startup of a
backyard composting program and the develop-
ment of a draft solid waste code to more effectively
control illegal dumping. The tribe also began pur-
chasing paper that contains at least 30% post-
consumer recycled content for all tribal offices.
Tribes Work with EPA to Close Under-
ground Storage Tanks Leaking Fuel
In 2007, tribes and EPA inspected 96
underground storage tanks, issued 25 field
citations, and conducted four UST inspector
trainings with over 300 tribal participants.
To date, 17 underground storage tanks have
been cleaned up with federal funding on
tribal land.
Along the Klamath River near California's northern
border, EPA has been working with the Yurok Tribe
to review the tribe's progress on completing a
Leaking Underground Storage Tank site inventory.
The tribe received a $30,000 EPA grant to fund their
work.
Requa 3 1^ Verizon Klamath Requa 1
Requa4
«\ x \
y Margaret Keating Elementary
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\ / CDOTKIam
Yurqk Current and
UST Locations
Legend
• UST Locations
— California HWV
— Local Roads
I | Reservation Boundary
^H Klamath Rwer
Blue text is Trust Land
Black text is Fee Land
(Tribe) = Tribally Owned.
0 2.300 4.600
Source Yurok Tnbe. TIGER
10
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The Tohono O'odham Nation's Environmental
Program Office and its Hickiwan District have been
working cooperatively with EPA to permanently close
underground storage tanks at the Vaya Chin site.
These tanks had been unused for several years.
Under the district's leadership the tribe was able
to get funding for the removal of these old tanks.
The site may now be used for new economic
development.
Tohono O 'odham Nation, Hickiwan District. Photographed left
to right: Mary Keil, EPA R9; FredOrosco, Tohono O'odham
Nation, Tess Satire EPA R9.
The Tohono O'odham Nation's Sells District took
responsibility for an abandoned gas station on
Highway 86 in the middle of the town of Sells, and
paid for the removal of underground tanks and
subsequent cleanup.
Along the Lower Colorado River, where California
borders Arizona, EPA has been working with the
Colorado River Indian Tribe and contractors to
remove and clean up leaking underground tanks at
Telles Ranch, which is next to the river. According
to a site assessment done in September 2007, leak-
ing tanks have polluted both soil and groundwater.
EPA is now evaluating cleanup alternatives.
Superfund Helps Tribes Remove
Contamination from Former Mines
EPA's Superfund Division works closely with tribes
to clean up tribal lands contaminated by mining and
other activities. Several abandoned mines located
on tribal lands are on the Superfund National Priorities
List (NPL). Those sites are environmental threats
due to acids and dissolved metals that have polluted
surface water and groundwater. Along with the mining
cleanup projects, EPA provided more than $3.2 million
in grants to tribes in 2007 to investigate, clean up,
and restore tribal lands to beneficial uses.
$7.5 Million Project Cleans Up Mercury,
Arsenic, Protects Cultural Resources
The 150-acre Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine, next to
Clear Lake and the Elem Indian Colony, was once
one of the state's largest producers of mercury. EPA
put it on the NPL in 1990. In December 2006, EPA
finished a $7.5 million project at the Elem Colony to
remove mine wastes contaminated with mercury and
arsenic from beneath and around homes. EPA
removed 28,000 cubic yards of mine wastes, installed
five new modular homes, and refurbished and cleaned
seven existing homes. EPA also replaced two trailers
and rebuilt the paved roadway system with new curbs,
storm drains, and sidewalks. Finally, EPA replaced
the water supply system, and improved the sewers.
Elem Indian Colony, Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine cleanup.
EPA collaborated with the tribe to complete the
cleanup while protecting cultural resources. Tribal
members helped identify and preserve cultural
artifacts in and around the cleanup area. Nearly one-
third of the construction crew were tribal members.
As part of the project, nine tribal members also
received 40-hour Hazardous Materials training.
Biological Treatment System Cleans 5,000,000
Gallons of Acid a Year
The Leviathan Mine, an abandoned open-pit sulfur
mine in Alpine County, California, has contaminated
a nine-mile stretch of mountain creeks. Some of the
polluted areas are stretches that run through Washoe
11
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Tribal lands. The tribe is working to help protect
traditional uses of area resources. The mine's lime
treatment plant treated nearly six million gallons
of acid mine drainage in 2007. A biological system
operates all year and has treated more than five mil-
lion gallons this year.
Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, Leviathan Mine lime
treatment plant.
Navajo Nation and EPA Investigate
Cold War Era Uranium
In Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, mining and milling
of uranium ore for nuclear weapons took place at
hundreds of sites on the Navajo Nation during the
Cold War. These activities dispersed radiation and
heavy metals in soil and water, causing health con-
cerns among Navajo residents. The Navajo Nation
and EPA recently completed a $13 million investiga-
tion of these abandoned sites. The work involved aer-
ial surveying of 41 mining areas totaling about 1,440
square miles, water sampling at 226 locations,
surveying 28 homes for radiation, and 34 radiation-
screening surveys. Researchers merged data from
the Navajo Nation EPA, the U.S. Geological Survey,
the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Department of Energy,
and the states of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico to
identify more than 500 mine sites. The results are
being shared with Navajo officials and communities,
regulators, health agencies, universities and non-
profits. The results will help Navajo Nation EPA and
EPA prioritize response work. The study was also
used to publicize the mine locations and to help the
Navajo Nation identify and reduce radiation risks.
Tribes Revitalizing Contaminated Lands
In 2007, EPA provided grants to the Navajo Nation,
Gila River Indian Community, Tohono O'odham
Nation and Yurok Tribe to establish and enhance
their Brownfields cleanup and response programs.
The Navajo Nation used this funding to develop their
own Superfund legislation that gives the tribe authority
to conduct and oversee cleanups on Navajo land.
The Wiyot Tribe, located at the Table Bluff Reser-
vation on California's North Coast, used an EPA
Brownfields grant to clean up contaminated boat
repair facilities at Indian Island in Humboldt Bay. The
1.5-acre shell mound site is also known as the tribe's
Tuluwat Village, and will be restored as a sacred tribal
gathering place and dance grounds.
Navajo Nation CIS map uranium of contaminated sites.
y*
Wiyot Tribe- Brownfields cleanup of contaminated ship repair
facilities at Indian Island, HumboltBay, CA.
At the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community
near Phoenix, Arizona, EPA Brownfields assess-
ment and cleanup grants are helping the tribe revi-
talize a 160-acre former cattle feedlot site that is
contaminated with pesticides. Funds will be used to
clean up biological waste and pesticides. The tribe
plans to use the site for agricultural development
that will provide jobs in the community.
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Compliance and Stewardship
EPA and Tribes Foster Compliance and
Good Stewardship
EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance and the regional offices selected Indian
Country as a national priority and are working with
tribes to boost compliance with federal environ-
mental laws, and to build tribal capacity to enforce
the laws.
EPA's national priority has three focus areas: drinking
water, solid waste and schools.
Regional Tribal Operations Committee Quarterly Meeting.
Expanding Tribal Abilities to Enforce
Environmental Laws
EPA aims to increase the number of tribal environ-
mental staff trained to conduct enforcement and
compliance assurance inspections. To do this, EPA
funded five workshops through the Institute of Tribal
Environmental Professionals at Northern Arizona
University.
CERTIFIED PESTICIDE
APPLICATOR
in
NAVAJO NATION
Federal Certification Plan
Three tribal inspectors received credentials: one
under the Clean Water Act and two under the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. EPA
will continue to work with tribes to identify inspectors
to be credentialed.
Ensuring Healthy Schools in Indian Country
Healthy schools are another top concern in Indian
country. There are 89 BIA schools in EPA's Pacific
Southwest Region, and EPA inspected 15 of them in
2007. EPA is working with BIA to address compliance
problems identified by inspectors.
Owens Valley tribal youth environmental education camp.
Compliance and the Courts
EPA brought 30 enforcement actions, issuing penal-
ties of more than $2.8 million to companies operat-
ing on tribal lands. Facilities will spend almost
$1 million to fix environmental violations. In Southern
California, a judge has ordered defendants to pay
the government up to $42.8 million - mostly cleanup
costs for the Lawson Landfill on the Torres Martinez
Reservation.
Reducing Impacts from Activities
Outside the Reservation
Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Reservation -1
site cleanup.
13
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For 11 years, EPA, tribes, state and local agencies
have worked to reduce off-reservation impacts to tribal
lands. They have succeeded in trimming effects of
nearby abandoned mines, construction sites, and
electric power plants. In 2007, EPA asked tribes about
similar sites and activities of concern. EPA plans to
work with state and local agencies to ensure that
these facilities and activities meet federal standards.
La folia Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the La folia
Reservation - Environmental education class.
Staff contacted 325 water systems - all the known
public water supply systems in Indian country within
Region 9, including 65 BIA schools. The systems
shared information on drinking water, pesticides,
asbestos, and laboratory chemical storage and
disposal.
Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Bishop Community of the Bishop
Colony - World Water Day Cleanup.
EPA also helped tribes improve solid waste pro-
grams and create solid waste management plans with
enforcement codes.
Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Bishop Community of the Bishop
Colony - World Water Day Cleanup.
In September 2007, EPA launched an
Internet-based Compliance Assis-
tance Center (at www.assistance
centers.net/).
It offers information on:
The federal environmental laws that apply in Indian
country
How to comply with federal environmental laws
Ways to build tribal environmental enforcement
and compliance programs
Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Bishop Community of the Bishop
Colony - Indigenous World Water Day Hot Ditch Cleanup.
14
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Healthy Tribal Communities
Ecosystems frequently cross borders. Likewise,
communities often depend on others outside their
borders to help them meet basic health standards.
In 2007, EPA worked with several communities,
tribes, and Mexico, to improve environmental health.
Collaborative Effort Provides Training to
Baj a Tribes
With a grant from EPA's Border 2012 program, the
Pala Band of Mission Indians conducted an oper-
ation and maintenance training program for tribes in
Baja California. U.S.-based tribes, local Mexican water
agencies, and volunteers worked together on this
effort. They held classes, and provided hands-on field
training and tours of tribal water utilities in the United
States. As a result, the Baja tribes are gaining the
capacity to operate and maintain their own water
systems.
Water Operator taking a chlorine residual sample for the Santa
YsabelbandofDiegueno Indians.
Grants Totaling $1 Million Bring Safe Water to
U.S. Border Tribes
EPA provided an additional $1 million to the Tribal
Border Infrastructure program for water projects.
Since its inception in 1996, the program has funded
42 projects for 16 tribes, providing safe drinking water
or basic sanitation for 8,114 homes. Among the latest
to benefit are the Santa Ysabel Band of Diegueno
Indians. They have a new drinking water treatment
plant which removes iron and manganese, and EPA's
Drinking Water Tribal Set-Aside program is funding a
new drinking water well. Soon residents will be able
to drink safe tap wa-
ter for the first time.
EPA's Tribal Border
Infrastructure funds
allowed the Campo
Kumeyaay Nation and
Indian Health Service
to replace a badly cor-
roded drinking water
storage tank.
A new tank will replace
Campo Kumeyaay Nation's
drinking water storage tank.
Tribes and EPA Work to Restore Ecology of
Lower Colorado River
Border area tribes are also leading efforts to restore
the Lower Colorado River Delta region. For centu-
ries, the Quechan and Cocopah Indian Tribes have
lived in this region. It was one of the largest tidal
wetlands in the world. However, over the past centu-
ry, upstream dams altered the river's natural flow.
Invasive salt cedar pushed out native mesquite,
cottonwood, and willow. Today, flows from this once-
great river have dwindled to a trickle in the delta.
Quechan Indian Tribe's Colorado River riparian corridor
restoration.
Upstream, the Quechan Indian Tribe, the City of
Yuma, and the Yuma Crossing Heritage Area are
carrying out a multi-phased project to restore 1,418
acres of the Colorado River's riparian corridor. Near-
ly half of the restoration area is on the Quechan
Reservation. The abundance of birds in the corridor
15
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doubled after restoring just the first 200 acres. Peo-
ple have spotted the White Faced Ibis and many North
American migratory songbirds for the first time in
decades.
Cocopah Indian Tribe wetland restoration.
Downstream from the Quechan Reservation, 12 of
the 23 river miles in the delta region are on the
Cocopah Indian Tribe's land. Ten miles are on U.S.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. This
creates an enormous potential for restoration. With
funds from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and BLM, the
Cocopah Tribe restored 200 acres of riparian habitat.
They removed invasive salt cedar and restored the
native cottonwood, willow, and mesquite. The
Cocopah Tribe is also restoring another 150 acres
with funds from the Department of Homeland Security,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
Waste from Undocumented Immigrants
Each day undocumented immigrants leave large
amounts of garbage, or solid waste, on reservations
along the U.S.-Mexico border. With Border 2012
funding, the Tohono O'odham Nation removed
vehicles and waste from the remote Vamori Wash, a
usually dry creek bed that winds from Mexico to the
Tohono O'odham Nation and back to Mexico. The
Nation identified and geopositioned more than 220
abandoned vehicles and was able to remove 109
remote vehicles for recycling. In addition, the Nation
removed 1,231 bags of abandoned trash and recov-
ered 235 bicycles for refurbishment at an 'at risk
youth' organization.
Emergency Response
This year, the Border 2012 program is supporting the
Tohono O'odham Nation's effort to create the first tri-
national Sister City emergency response plan. The
plan will include the city of Sonoyta, Mexico, and Pima
and Pinal counties in Arizona.
Tohono O'odham Nation, removing abandoned vehicle from
Vamori Wash.
First tri-national Sister City emergency response plan.
Photographed: Members of Tohono O'odham Nation and
residents from cities of Sonoyta, Mexico, and Pima and Pinal
counties in Arizona.
Pesticide Programs Protect Agricultural
Lands, People
EPA's Region 9 Pesticides Office works closely with
tribes to protect over 20,000,000 acres of tribal
agricultural lands and 220,000 tribal members living
near those areas. Its tools are regulatory and vol-
unteer programs.
Inspections, Enforcement Increase Compliance
with Rules on Pesticide Use
The Colorado River Indian Community's Environ-
mental Protection Office monitored pesticide appli-
cations throughout the community, including schools,
16
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hospitals, waters, and other sensitive areas. In 2007,
the community's Pesticide Program increased its
oversight and issued notices of violations, resulting
in increased compliance and better protection of the
community and workers from pesticide exposure.
Pesticide Inspectors from Colorado River Indian Tribes
conducted an inspection of this pesticide application.
EPA and Tribes Look
into Possible Misuse
of Pesticides Affecting
Fish
Members of the Resi-
ghini Rancheria in Cali-
fornia alerted EPA to a
misapplication of pesti-
cides. The applicator
allegedly applied three
pesticides in April 2007
near riparian areas
known to support cut-
throat and steelhead
trout, and Coho salmon.
Site of a pesticide application
at Resighini Rancheria.
With the support of tribal representatives from the
Rancheria and the Yurok Tribe, EPA pesticide
inspectors investigated the incident.
Navajo Nation Inspections Lead to Enforcement
Based on inspections conducted by the Navajo
Nation EPA (NNEPA) Pesticide Program, U.S. EPA
initiated an enforcement action against a commer-
cial pesticide applicator for failing to ensure that
employees wore protective gear when applying
pesticides. In 2007, NNEPA also conducted several
outreach events to inform pesticide applicators about
Navajo Nation Pesticide Inspectors found that pesticide
applicators did not wear the personal protective equipment
required by this product label.
their responsibilities under a new U.S. EPA-approved
Federal Plan requiring certification and training for
applicators that use Restricted Use Pesticides. As
of the end of 2007, six applicators submitted certifi-
cation requests.
Ordinances Will Reduce Exposure to Pesticides
The Shoshone Paiute Tribe of the Duck Valley
Reservation in northern Nevada and the Ak-Chin
Indian Community in southwestern Arizona
developed new pesticide ordinances. These
ordinances will help protect workers, community
residents, and the environment from pesticide
exposure.
Tribes and EPA Educate, Inform Public
on Environment
Sea lions at Cher-ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad
Rancheria - Trinidad Harbor.
17
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Trinidad Rancheria on California's North Coast
became a charter steward of the BLM-managed
California Coastal National Monument through a
2005 agreement with BLM. Last year, the Rancheria
cooperated with BLM in a number of education activ-
ities at the monument. For example, the Rancheria
helped design an information kiosk for placement at
Trinidad Harbor. Tribal youth presented information
about the monument's importance at Trinidad
School's annual oceans festival.
ElkoBandof
Te-Moak Indians
Earth Day
Celebration.
In Eastern Nevada, the Elko Band of Te-Moak Tribe
of Western Shoshone Indians celebrated Earth
Day with an educational program for young children
in the tribe's Head Start class.
Youth Learn How to Monitor Surface Water
The Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians is one of the
tribes successfully implementing water pollution
control programs. Among other environmental
education and outreach activities, they hosted an
Environmental Camp that showed tribal youth how to
conduct surface water monitoring on the reservation.
Owens Valley tribal youth celebrate Earth Day.
Baja Tribal Festival Dancers, Ensenada, Mexico.
Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians Environmental Camp. Youth
learning how to conduct surface water monitoring on the
reservation.
18
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EPA Pacific Southwest Region Tribal 5-Year Trends
Homes Receiving Safer Drinking Water on
Tribal Lands versus Homes Lacking Potable Water
EPA Region 9, 2002-2007
25,000
20,000
o 15,000
10,000
5,000
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Year
Homes Receiving Safer Drinking Water (EPA Data)
Homes Lacking Potable Water (I.H.S. Data)
I.H.S. data for 2006 and 2007 has not been published.
Homes with Improved Sanitation on Tribal Lands
EPA Region 9, 2003-2007
Number of Homes
18 000-
16 000
12 000-
6,000
2C
/
/
/
/
/
^s
^r^
^^
I I i I
03 2004 2005 2006 2007
Year
Homes with Improved Sanitation (cumulative)
Cumulative Number of Leaking Underground Storage
Tank Sites in Federally-funded Cleanup Process
0
May '05
May '06 May '07
Date
Funding Approved
Assessments Started
Assessments Complete
Cleanup Complete/No FurtherAction Needed
May '08
Dump Closures on Tribal Lands
EPA Region 9, 2002-2007
I I I I I I I I I
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
—*- Cumulative Number of Dump Closures
—•— Projected Number of Dump Closures
• Estimated Number of Dumps in Region 9
2002
Number of Air Monitors Used by Tribes
EPA Region 9, 2002-2007
2003
I
2004 2005
Fiscal Year
^^*Air Monitors
2006
2007
19
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Region 9 Tribal Program Office
GAP Project Officers
Northern California
Big Lagoon, Cedarville Rancheria, Cortina, Elk Valley, Fort Bidwell, Pit River, Quartz
Valley, Redding, Resighini, Trinidad, Smith River, Blue Lake (PPG/WTR-Janis
Gomes), Hoopa (PPG/WTR-Loretta Vanegas), Yurok (PPG/WTR-Loretta Vanegas),
Karuk (PPG/WTR-Janis Gomes), Bear River (PPG/WTR-Janis Gomes), Susanville
(PPG/CED), Wiyot (PPG/WTR-Janis Gomes), Alturas Rancheria
Southern California
Chemehuevi, Cocopah, CRIT, Fort Mojave, La Jolla, Los Coyotes, Pala (PPG/CED),
Pauma, Pechanga, NAEPC, Quechan, Rincon, San Pasqual (PPG/WTR-Janis
Gomes), Viejas
Southern California
Agua Caliente (PPG/WTR-Danielle Angeles), Augustine (PPG/WTR-Danielle Angeles),
Cabazon (PPG/WTR-Danielle Angeles), Campo, Cuyapaipe, Jamul, LaPosta, Mesa
Grande, Santa Ysabel, Sycuan, Torres Martinez, Twenty Nine Palms (PPG/WTR-
Danielle Angeles)
Southern California
GAP Grants: Cahuilla, Capitan Grande, Inaja-Cosmit, Ramona, San Manuel (PPG/
WTR-Danielle Angeles), Santa Rosa Reservation, Santa Ynez, Soboba (PPG/WTR-
Janis Gomes)
Southern California
GAP Grants: Barona, Manzanita, Morongo (PPG/WTR-Danielle Angeles)
Central California
Auburn, Berry Creek, Big Sandy, Buena Vista, CA Valley Miwok (Sheep Ranch),
Cachil Dehe Band (Colusa), Chicken Ranch, Cold Springs, Enterprise, Greenville,
Grindstone, lone, ITCC, Jackson, Lower Lake, Mechoopda (Chico), Middletown,
Mooretown, North Fork, Paskenta, Picayune, Round Valley (Covelo), Rumsey, Santa
Rosa Rancheria, Scotts Valley, Shingle Springs, Table Mountain, Tule River,
Tuolumne, Coyote Valley (PPG/WTR-Janis Gomes)
Mendocino-Sonoma Area
Big Valley, Elem, Guidiville, Hopland, Lytton, Pinoleville, Potter Valley, Robinson,
Upper Lake/Habermaatolel, Dry Creek (PPG/WTR-Jared Vollmer), Stewarts Point/
Kashia Band (PPG/WTR-Danielle Angeles)
California - Owens Valley and Eastern Nevada
Benton/UtuUtu Gwaitu, Big Pine, Bishop, Bridgeport, Duckwater, Ely, Fort
Independence, Goshute, Graton, Lone Pine, OVIWC, Timbisha
Arizona
Cahto (Laytonville), Cloverdale, Hopi, Manchester/Pt. Arena, Navajo, Pascua Yaqui,
Redwood Valley, Sherwood Valley, San Juan So. Paiute, Tohono O'odham
Arizona & Las Vegas
Ak-Chin, Fort McDowell, Gila River, Havasupai, Hualapai (PPG/WTR-Wendell Smith),
ITCA, Kaibab, Las Vegas, Moapa, , Salt River(PPG/CED-Tim Grant), San Carlos,
Tonto Apache, White Mountain, Yavapai Apache, Yavapai Prescott
Nevada
Battle Mountain, Duck Valley, Elko, Fallon, Fort McDermitt, ITCN, Lovelock, Pyramid
Lake, Reno Sparks, South Fork, Summit Lake, Te-Moak, Walker River, Washoe,
Wells, Winnemucca, Yerington, Yomba
Manager, Tribal Program Office:
Office Manager, Tribal Program Office:
Tribal Liaison, Tribal Program Office:
Tribal Liaison, Tribal Program Office:
Tribal Program Office Fax Number:
20
Project Officer
Tim Wilhite
(Place - based
in Yreka)
Hillary Hecht
Willard Chin
Tina Williams
Morena Villanueva
(Part-time)
Gilbert Pasqua
Veronica Swann
Erica Yelensky
Pam Overman
Tim Grant
Greg Phillips
(Place - based
in Carson City)
Jean Gamache
Kimberli Smith
Lilia Dignan
Maria Castain
Phone
530-841-4577
Fax Number:
530-841-4571
415-972-3790
415-972-3797
415-972-3784
415-947-4239
415-972-3788
415-972-3699
415-972-3021
415-972-3781
415-972-3783
775-885-6085
Fax Number:
775-885-6147
415-972-3554
415-972-3778
415-972-3779
415-972-3264
415-947-3562
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EPA Pacific Southwest/Region 9
Office of the Regional Administrator
Wayne Nastri, Regional Administrator
Laura Yoshii, Deputy RA
Bridget Coyle, Civil Rights Office
Lynn Kuo, Chief of Staff
Office of Planning & Public Affairs
Kate Nooney, Compliance Assurance Team
415 947-4266/415 947-3519
Nooney.Kate@epa.gov
Office of Regional Counsel
Danita Yocom, ORC, Immediate Office
415 972-3885/415 947-3571
Yocom.Danita@epa.gov
Legal Counsel
Civil and Criminal Enforcement
Air Division
Colleen McKaughan, Associate Director
520 498-0118/520 498-1333
McKaughan.Colleen@epa.gov
Stephanie Valentine, Manager
Grants & Program Integration Office
415 972-3014/415 947-3579
Valentine.Stephanie@epa.gov
Sara Bartholomew
Grants & Program Integration Office
415 947-4100/415 947-3579
Bartholomew.Sara@epa.gov
Planning Permits, Rulemaking
Enforcement, Technical Support
Radiation & Compliance Assurance
Grants & Program Integration
Superfund Division
Debbie Schechter, Section Chief
Brownfields & Site Assessment Section
415 972-3093/415 947-3520
Schechter.Debbie@epa.gov
Matthew Jefferson, Environmental Engineer
415 972-3272/415 947-3528
Jefferson.Matthew@epa.gov
Site Cleanup, Brownfields, Oil Pollution
Federal Facilities and Base Closures
Emergency Response & Planning
Community Involvement, Site Assessment
Waste Management Division
Heather White, Supervisor, Tribal Solid Waste Team
415 972-3384/415 947-3530
White.Heather@epa.gov
Nancy Sockabasin, EE, Tribal Solid Waste Team
415-972-3772/415 947-3530
Sockabasin.Nancy@epa.gov
Pollution Prevention, Solid Waste
Permits/Corrective Action
Inspections & Enforcement
State Program Development
Underground Storage Tank (UST) Program
Water Division
Kristin Gullatt, Manager, Tribal Office
415-972-3432/415 947-3537
Gullatt.Kristin@epa.gov
Linda Reeves, EPS, Drinking Water Office
415 972-3445/415 974-3537
Reeves.Linda@epa.gov
Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act,
Marine Sanctuaries Act
Communities and Ecosystems Division
Enrique Manzanilla, Director
415 972-3311/415 947-8026
Manzanilla.Enrique@epa.gov
Jean Gamache, Manager, Tribal Program Office
415 972-3554/415 947-3562
Gamache.Jean@epa.gov
Tina Davis, Tribal Program Office
415 972-3784/415 947-3562
Williams.Tina@epa.gov
Timothy Grant, Regional Indian Program Steering
Committee Coordinator
415 972-3783/415 947-3562
Grant.Timothy@epa.gov
Lilia Dignan, Regional Tribal Operations Committee
Coordinator
415 972-3779/415 947-3562
Dignan.Lilia@epa.gov
Erica Yelensky, Accomplishments Report Coordinator
415 972-3021/415 947-3562
yelensky.erica.@epa.gov
Agriculture Program, Environmental Justice
Pesticides, Toxics, Toxics Release Inventory
Environmental Review/NEPA
Tribal Program
U.S.-Mexico Border Program
Stewardship/Performance Track
Management and Technical Services Division
Eugenia McNaughton, Quality Assurance Office
415 972-3411/415 947-3564
McNaughton.Eugenia@epa.gov
Susan Chiu, Grant Management Specialist
415-972-3674/415 947-3556
Chiu.Susan@epa.gov
Budget, Finance/Grants/Contracts
Strategic Planning, Science Policy
Laboratory & QA/QC, Facilities
Information Resource Management
Southern California Field Office (Los Angeles)
213.244.1800
San Diego Border Office (San Diego)
619.235.4765
Environmental Information Center
Web: www.epa.qov/reqion09
Email: r9.info@epa.gov
Phones: 866.EPA.WEST (toll-free)
415.947.8000
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U.S. EPA Pacific Southwest/Region 9 Tribal Program Office
http://www.epa.gov/region09/cross_pr/indian/success/index.html
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