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www.epa.gov/ord
ORD's Tribal Science Council
What Is the Mission of the Tribal Science Council?
"In a manner consistent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Indian Policy and trust
responsibility, the mission of the Tribal Science Council (TSC) is to provide a forum for interaction
between Tribal and Agency representatives of mutual benefit and responsibility to work collaboratively
on environmental scientific issues. The Council addresses a wide range of scientific issues, including
research, monitoring, modeling, information, technology, and training in Indian Country. To support the
subsistence, cultural, and ceremonial lifestyles of Indians and the safe use and availability of a healthy
environment for present and future generations, the TSC is committed to the development of sound
holistic, integrated, and cross-media scientific approaches. The relationship between the Tribes and
EPA in the TSC will not substitute for, but rather augment, the government-to-government relationship
between EPA and Tribal governments. "
—Endorsed by the Tribal Operations Committee, July 2000
What Are the Goals of the TSC?
The TSC seeks to:
• Develop a better understanding of the priority science issues of Tribes from across the country
and address these issues and consider them an integral part of EPA's formal planning processes.
Reach consensus on collaborative approaches for addressing priority scientific issues.
Share EPA scientific products or activities that may help address the priority scientific issues of
Tribes.
• Promote partnerships between Tribal and EPA scientists in the development and application of
sound science.
Facilitate communication and coordination with other Agencies and organizations to more
effectively respond to Tribal issues.
How Does the TSC Operate?
The TSC strives to address environmental science issues that are priorities for Tribes throughout the
country. The process for how these issues are identified and addressed is described below.
• Issues identified by Tribes in an EPA region are brought to the Council through the Tribal TSC
representative from that region. Because the Council is designed to complement the existing
infrastructure that the EPA established to work with Tribes across the country, scientific issues
can also be brought to the attention of the TSC via the Agency TSC representative from
program-specific Agency Tribal advisory groups.
The Tribal TSC representatives work together to develop a set of tribal science priorities of
national significance for Tribal Caucus endorsement; these will be the focus of the Council's
activities.
• The full Council then explores the issues and determines what should be done to address them,
including: recommending more research, identifying resources that may be available to advance
the issues, or raising the profile of the problems both at the Agency and within the Tribal
Buikfing a scientific foundation for sound environmental decisions
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landscape ensuring that they are included in program-specific activities across the Agency and
brought to the attention of Tribes throughout Indian Country.
• Those issues that are not found to meet the Council's criteria will be referred back to the
appropriate EPA Region or Agency-specific work group that can best address the issue.
The group's progress on addressing issues is communicated to the Tribal Caucus of the Tribal
Operations Committee, the Regional Tribal Operations Committee, and throughout the regions.
How Do I Get Involved?
The TSC continually seeks input from Tribes on priority science issues that they may be facing and
related activities that are going on across the Agency or in other Federal agencies. If you are interested
in keeping up with TSC activities, or have issues that you wish to raise, please contact the appropriate
Tribal, Regional, or Headquarters TSC representative or the Executive Secretary.
Who Are the TSC Members?
The TSC is made up of scientists, educated in Western Science and also in Tribal Traditional
Knowledge. The membership is vital to understanding and addressing Tribal science issues, in order to
protect the health of Tribal communities.
Tribal Representatives
Co-Chair: Curtis Munoz, Kiowa Tribe, Region 6
Dan Kusnierz, Penobscot Nation (Region 1)
Tony David, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe (Region 2)
Misti Little, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, (Region 4)
Jeff Mears, Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, (Region 5)
Curtis Munoz, Kiowa Tribe (Region 6)
Denise Jensen, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska (Region 7)
Richard Janssen, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (Region 8)
Siriat Chullakorn, Kashia Band of Porno Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria (Region 9)
LeeJuan Tyler, Shoshone Bannock Tribes (Region 10: Idaho, Oregon, and Washington)
Harold Frank, Jr., Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Region 10: Alaska Native)
Agency Representatives
Co-Chair: Roland Hemmett, Region 2
Vacancy, American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO)
David LaRoche, Office of Air and Radiation (OAR)
Theodore Coopwood, Office of Children's Health Protection and Environmental Education (OCHPEE)
Elizabeth Jackson, Office of Environmental Information (OEI)
Charlotte Bertrand, Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation (OPEI)
Caren Robinson, Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (OPPTS)
Michael Slimak, Office of Research and Development (ORD)
David Charters, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER)
Rita Schoeny, Office of Water (OW)
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Regional Representatives
Robert Hillger, Region 1
Roland Hemmett, Region 2
Thomas Baugh, Region 4
Eloise Mulford, Region 5
James Leathers, Region 6
Brenda Groskinsky, Region 7
Patti Tyler, Region 8
Robert K Hall, Region 9
Dana Davoli, Region 10
ORD's Office of Science Policy (OSP) provides the Executive Secretarial function to the TSC.
Executive Secretary: Monica Rodia, Office of Research & Development
(202) 564-8322 or rodia.monica@epa.gov
For more information about OSP and TSC activities, please visit our Web site at:
www.epa.gov/osp/tribes.htm
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