How was the TSC Developed?
In May 1999, in an address before the Tribal Caucus,
Norine Noonan, former Assistant Administrator of
EPA's Office of Research and Development, called for
the formation of a TSC to provide a structure for
Tribal involvement in the Agency's science efforts.
The Council was to
serve as a vehicle
through which the
Agency could gain
an understanding of
what scientific issues are of
highest priority to Tribes at a
national level, and Tribes could influence
the Agency's scientific agenda by raising these
priority issues to an Agency-wide group.
Beginning in December of 2000, a group of
Tribal Caucus volunteers and EPA
representatives worked collaboratively to
develop the Mission and Goals of the TSC
and establish the initial membership. The
Council held its first meeting in
December of 2001 at the Ak-Chin and
Gila River Indian communities.
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Why was the TSC Formed?
In the 1990s, as Tribes began to get more involved in the
implementation of environmental programs, Tribes across
the country expressed concerns
jy about the
appropriateness of
EPA's scientific
activities in a Tribal
context. Specifically, concerns
arose about appropriate use of
scientific information gathered
from tribes, the validity of
data collected about or
through traditional
methods, and the ability of
EPA's programs to
incorporate the unique
aspects of Tribal cultures into
its models and assessment
tools. There was a clear need to
create a partnership between EPA
and Tribal communities across the
country to help integrate Agency and
Tribal interests, specifically with respect to
environmental science issues.
What are the Goals of the TSC? Who are the TSC Members?
The National EPA—Tribal Science Council seeks to:
• Develop a better understanding of the priority
science issues of Tribes from across the nation
and EPA's ability to address these issues and
consider them as part of its formal planning
process.
• Reach consensus on collaborative approaches for
addressing priority scientific issues.
• Share EPA scientific products or activities that
could help address the priority scientific issues of
Tribes.
• Promote partnerships between Tribal and EPA
scientists in the development and application of
sound science.
• Facilitate the communication and coordination
with other Agencies and organizations to more
effectively respond to issues.
Tribal Representatives
Co-chair: Dave Nelson, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
(605) 964-6558, dnelson@crstepd.org
Dan Kusnierz, Penobscot Nation (Region 1)
(207) 827-7776x7361, pinwater@penobscotnation.org
Brenda LaFrance, Mohawk Nation (Region 2)
(518) 358-3381, brenda.lafrance@sympatico.ca
Steve Terry, Miccosukee Tribe of Florida (Region 4)
(305) 223-8380x2243, stevet@miccosukeetribe.com
Christine Berini, Fon du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Region 5)
(218) 878-8006, chrisberini@fdlrez.com
Kendal Coats, Muscogee (Creek) Nation (Region 6)
(918) 756-8626, kcoats@mcnoes.org
Denise West, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
(402) 878-3215, winnewater@huntel.net
Dave Nelson, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (Region 8)
(605) 964-6558, dnelson@crstepd.org
Clay Bravo, Hualapai Tribe (Region 9)
(928) 769-2254, naturalresourcesl@citlink.net
TBD, (Region 10)
Shawna Larson, Chickaloon Village (Region 10, Alaska Native representative)
(907) 222-7714, shawna@akaction.net
Agency Headquarters Representatives*
Co-chair: Dennis O'Connor, Office of Air and Radiation
(202) 343-9213, oconnor.dennis@epa.gov
Carol Jorgensen, American Indian Environmental Office
Dennis O'Connor, Office of Air and Radiation
Steve Young, Office of Environmental Information
Ben Smith, Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances
Thomas Barnwell, Office of Research and Development
David Charters, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
Rita Schoeny, Office of Water
Charlotte Bertrand, Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation
Agency Regional Representatives*
Robert Hillger, Region 1
Roland Hemmett, Region 2
Thomas Baugh, Region 4
Gary Gulezian (acting), Region 5
Michael Callahan, Region 6
Brenda Groskinsky, Region 7
Patti Tyler, Region 8
Bobbye Smith, Region 9
Patricia Cirone, Region 10
Executive Secretary: Claudia Walters, Office of Research 8c Development, (202) 564-6762, walters.claudia@epa.go'
* Contact information for Agency Representatives is available on EPA's Web site, www.epa.gov/epahome/locator.htm.
TSC_brochure1_NTCJm_9_2004.p65
9/8/2004, 5:05 PM
What is the Mission of the TSC?
In a manner consistent with the US Environmental
Protection Agency's Indian Policy and trust
responsibility, the mission of the National EPA—
Tribal Science Council 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 will address 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 Council 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.
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How Does the TSC Operate?
The TSC strives to address environmental science
issues that are priorities for Tribes throughout the
country. How these issues are identified and
addressed is described below.
• Science issues are identified by Tribes in an
EPA Region and brought to the Tribal TSC
representative for that Region. Most
Regions use the Regional Tribal Operations
Committees (RTOCs) to prioritize science
issues within that particular Region.
Scientific issues from program-specific
agency Tribal science groups can be brought
to the attention of the TSC by the
appropriate Agency or Tribal TSC
Representatives.
• The Tribal TSC representatives convene to
discuss the science issues from each Region
and decide which issues are of national
significance and, therefore, will be referred to
the TSC for consideration. Those issues that
are not found to meet the Council's criteria
will be referred to the appropriate EPA
Region or Program Office, Agency-specific
work group (e.g., TPPC, FOSTTA), or to
another Agency that can best address the
How is the TSC Different from
National EPAr-Tribal Science Council (TSC) other Agency inbai Groups?
issue.
The TSC then explores those science issues
that do meet their criteria and determines
how to best address them. Issues may be
addressed through ongoing activities or
submitted to the Agency budget process for
funding. The TSC strives to work with
relevant Agency and tribal groups.
Progress on the issues being addressed by the
group is communicated to the Tribal Caucus
of the Tribal Operations Committee and the
Regional Tribal Operations Committee and
throughout EPA Headquarters and the
Regions.
The TSC represents a new paradigm for how the
Agency works with Tribal governments. The agenda
of the Council is driven by Tribal priority science
issues. However, unlike other Agency Tribal groups
that are advisory in nature, the TSC employs a
collaborative approach where officially designated
Tribal and Agency representatives work together to
identify the most appropriate mechanisms to address
the issues identified. While the group recognizes
that there may be situations that necessitate the
Tribal and EPA representatives work independently,
the foundation of the group is built upon this
collaborative, consensus-based way of operating.
The TSC seeks to advance scientific knowledge of the
impacts of contaminants on tribal populations,
including cultural impacts; coordinate subsistence-
oriented science initiatives on a national scale; and
direct research and monitoring design to ensure the
production of Tribally relevant information. Much of
the TSC's work is done in the context of the unique
impacts faced by tribes because of their traditional or
subsistence lifeways.
Currently, the TSC has formed workgroups to:
1 identify more culturally appropriate risk assessment
models and explore a new Health and Well Being
Paradigm for assessing the health of communities;
2 improve tribal quality assurance programs; and
3 address issues surrounding access to tribal data and
information.
TSC_brochure1_NTCJm_9_2004.p65
Other science issues that the TSC will be addressing in
the coming years, include:
1 exploring the state of science at the Agency on
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs);
2 supporting the release and implementation of EPA's
dioxin reassessment and reference dose;
3 identifying ongoing work at the Agency on chemical
mixtures and cumulative impacts and promoting
increased research in this area;
4 providing input to the Persistent Bioaccumulative
Toxins (PBTs) Monitoring Workgroup aimed at
reducing Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs);
5 increasing education about and cleanup of toxic
mold in tribal communities;
6 promoting more research on the human and
environmental health impacts of pharmaceuticals in
wastewater; and
7 increasing tribal monitoring capacity to examine how
accelerated climate change is affecting tribal
resources.
For the latest information about TSC activities, please visit our Web site at:
www.epa.gov/osp/tribes.htm
9/8/2004, 5:05 PM
Yes. The National EPA-Tribal Science Council is
dedicated to working through other groups (e.g.,
other Federal agencies, Tribal colleges, Tribal
organizations, EPA Tribal groups) to address the
scientific issues that are brought before them. This
may involve referring issues to appropriate groups,
identifying and awarding funding to organizations to
conduct further research on issues, or coordinating
with other entities that are already working on the
issue.
How Do I Get Involved?
The National EPA-Tribal Science Council is
continually seeking input from tribes on priority
science issues that they may be facing and related
activities that may be 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.
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