cience
Workshop Announcement
Addressing Tribal Traditional Lifeways in EPA's Risk Assessment Policies and Procedures
Date: m
Location: D
Host Tribe:
Sponsor: D
January 25-27, 2005D D
Reno, Nevada
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe
National EPA-Tribal Science Council
Workshop Format and Participation:
The workshop will mostly consist of intensive discussion and
deliberation by a workgroup of invited tribal and EPA risk assessment
practitioners and policy analysts. The workgroup is tasked with
developing recommendations for establishing a tribal policy that
addresses Tribal Traditional Lifeways in EPA's risk assessments. The
workgroup will use their knowledge of risk assessment and Tribal
Traditional Lifeways to work through the conceptual (not computer)
model of the EPA risk assessment process.
The workgroup will be observed by all other participants. All
participants are invited to listen and provide comments to the
discussions and the deliberations of the workgroup. The workgroup
will distill the comments and suggestions from all the participants into
the recommendations for establishing a tribal risk assessment policy.
All participants play an important role in the workshop by providing
input from their experience and knowledge of tribal environmental
issues and traditional ways of life.
The workshop will include brief overviews on research, tribal activities,
and case studies currently being conducted related to Tribal
Traditional Lifeways and risk assessment.
Specific objectives of the workshop are to:
1 Examine the risk assessment process to identify where Tribal I
Traditional Lifeways can be incorporated into EPA's existing
approach;
1 Identify data, products and tools that can modify or enhance
EPA's risk assessment policies or procedures to incorporate
Tribal Traditional Lifeways; and
1 Develop overarching principles that account for Tribal
Traditional Lifeways in EPA's risk assessment policies and
practices. D
Who should attend:
The workshop is designed for tribal or
EPA person with interest or involvement
in tribal environmental issues, tribal risk
assessments, and Tribal Traditional
Lifeways, such as ceremonial, cultural,
and other daily traditional tribal
activities. The workshop will be
beneficial to environmental
professionals working on tribal issues
because risk assessments serve as the
scientific basis for many environmental
decisions including water, air, pesticide,
and waste environmental standards
and regulation development.
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Background:
The workshop builds upon tribal issues and discussions at previous workshops and activities that focused on EPA's risk assessment
process and the Health and Well Being process sponsored by the TSC and other tribal groups. More information can be found at the
Science and American Indians web site at http://www.epa.gov/osp/tribes.htm
Output:
The output of the workshop will be a set of
recommendations, including principals, to EPA for
establishing a tribal policy on how Tribal Traditional
Lifeways should be addressed in EPA's risk
assessments. The draft recommendations and all other
materials developed at the workshop as well as a
summary of the workshop will be sent to all participants
as well as tribes across the country for their input.
Contacts:
For further details regarding the workshop, contact
the workshop co-chairs:
Pat Cirone, EPA Region 9, cirone.patricia@epa.gov,
(206)553-1597
John Persell, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe
mctwq@paulbunyan.net (218) 335-6303
The National EPA-Tribal Science Council (TSC) is a forum that addresses environmental science issues of importance in Indian Country
with representation from Tribes across the country and EPA Program Offices and Regions. For additional information regarding the TSC
or the workshop, contact the TSC co-chairs:
Dennis O'Connor, EPA OAR, oconnor.dennis@epa.gov , (202) 343-9213
Dave Nelson, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe dnelson@crstepd.org , (605) 964-6558 or the
TSC Executive Secretary: Claudia Walters, EPA, walters.claudia@epa.gov (202)564-6762
Registration:
Participation in the workshop and the training is free. We ask you
to register so that we can plan accordingly and ensure that you
will have a seat.
Workshop January 25 - 27, 2005 (Tuesday - Thursday)
Training (optional) January 24, 2005 (Monday afternoon)
The training will provide an overview on the risk assessment
paradigm, including risk assessment and risk management.
Emphasis will be placed on the scientific basis of the risk
assessment process, including health and ecological risk
assessments, currently being used by EPA, tribes and scientists
around the world. In addition, the training will provide an
overview of the Health and Well Being paradigm, an alternative
approach.
For further information about the workshop, go to the workshop page on the Science and
American Indians web site at http://www.epa.gov/osp/tribes.htm
The deadlne for registration is December 17, 2004.
Any questions regarding registration or logistics, please contact Karen Santora, SRA at
karen_santora@sra.com or (703) 247-4065.
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