United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
National Tribal Science Priorities
April 2006
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Developed by the National
EPA-Tribal Science Council
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The National EPA-Tribal Science Council (TSC) wants to acknowledge all the tribal and
EPA representatives on the workgroup for their contributions in developing the
document. The tribal representatives worked diligently with their Regional Tribal
Operations Committee to identify priority science issues. They also worked together to
develop national priority issues in common for Indian Country. The EPA representatives
identified possible efforts to address the issues. The TSC representatives who were
involved in developing the document are:
Current Tribal Representatives:
Dan Kusnierz, Penobscot Nation
Linda Logan, Tonawanda Seneca Nation
Michael Bolt, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Troy Pierce, Poarch Band of Creek Indians
Christine Berini, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior
Chippewa
Curtis Munoz, Kiowa Tribe
Denise West, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
Richard Janssen, Confederated Salish and Kootenai
Tribes
Vickie Kujawa, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe
Marshall Cheung, 29 Palms Band of Mission Indians
Dave Nelson, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Former Tribal Representatives:
James Ransom, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Brenda
LaFrance, Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne
Bernadette Hudnell, Mississippi Band of Choctaw
Indians
Steve Terry, Miccosukee Tribe of Florida
John Persell, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe
Kendal Coats, Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Gina Kneib, Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri
Fran King-Brown, Southern Ute Indian Tribe
Kesner Flores Jr., Cortina Indian Rancheria
Clay Bravo, Hualapai Tribe
Cisney Havatone, Hualapai Tribe
Chris Gannon, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Shawna Larson, Chickaloon Village
Current EPA Representatives:
Region 1 Robert Hillger
Region 2 Roland Hemmett
Region 4 Thomas Baugh
Region 5 Gary Gulezian
Region 6 Michael Callahan
Region 7 Brenda Groskinsky, Elizabeth Wendt
Region 8 Patti Tyler
Region 9 Michele Dineyazhe, Bobbye Smith
Region 10 Dana Davoli
AIEO EllaMulford
OAR David LaRoche
OEI Elizabeth Jackson
OPEI Charlotte Bertrand
OPPTS Elizabeth Resek
ORD Thomas Barnwell
OSWER David Charters
OW Rita Schoeny
Former EPA Representatives
Region 1 Gerry Levy, Valerie Ferry, Eva Tasaki
Region 2 Barbara Finazzo
Region 5 Robert Springer
Region 6 Norman Dyer
Region 7 John Helvig
Region 8 Kerry Clough, Connally Mears
Region 9 Carl Kohnert
Region 10 Scott Sufficool, Patricia Cirone,
Sandra Johnson
AIEO Carol Jorgensen, Jeff Besougloff,
Marlene Regelski-RedDoor
OAR Dennis O'Connor
OEI Steve Young
OPEI Al McGartland, Sabrina Lovell
OPPTS Sherry Sterling, Carl Etsitty, Ben Smith
OSWER Peter Grevatt
OW Arnie Kuzmac
ORD Harold Zenick
Also, the National EPA-Tribal Science Council wants to thank Claudia Walters who
served as the Executive Secretary for the National EPA-Tribal Science Council since its'
formation. The TSC also wants to thank Pat Tallarico and Karen Santora from SRA
International, Inc. for their support in developing the document.
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Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 2
I. Background 4
II. Development of the National Tribal Science Priorities 5
Initial Tribal Science Priorities Identified—September 2002 5
Tribal Science Priorities Reassessed—November 2004 5
Tribal Science Priorities Refined—May 2005 6
III. Considerations for each National Tribal Science Priorities 7
Tribal Traditional Lifeways—An Overarching Issue 7
Improve the Agency's Environmental Decision-Making Processes 8
Cross-Priority Activities 9
IV. Current National Tribal Science Priorities 10
Habitat Loss 10
Contaminated Precipitation 13
Biological Stressors (e.g., algal blooms, cyanobacteria) 15
Environmental Triggers for Respiratory Distress 16
Pharmaceuticals in Waste Water (includingpersonal care products and antibiotics in
livestock products) 18
Dioxin and Dioxin-like Compounds 20
Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxics Source Reduction 21
Endocrine Disruptor Chemicals 22
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I. Background
The National EPA-Tribal Science Council (TSC) was formed in 2001 to provide a forum
for tribes and EPA to work collaboratively to identify and address national environmental
science issues of importance to both tribes and EPA. Composed of tribal representatives
from each EPA Region and Alaska and EPA representatives from each EPA Program and
Regional Office, the Council is organized to ensure a national, cross-program perspective
and approach. The tribal TSC representatives are selected by the respective Regional
Tribal Operations (ROTC) to serve as a liaison between the RTOC and TSC.
The document is organized to provide a context and description of the science priorities
identified by the tribal TSC representatives. Section II describe how the tribal science
priorities have evolved and changed since they were first proposed in 2002. Section III
describes the relationship between tribal traditional lifeways, other processes, and the
science priorities. Section IV discusses the current priorities in detail.
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II. Development of the National Tribal Science Priorities
The primary purpose of the TSC has been to collaborate with the Regional Tribal
Operations Committees/Regional Operations Committees on tribal science priorities. The
TSC tribal representatives work with the tribes in their Region to gather their science
priorities. The TSC tribal representatives work together to identify those that are national
in scope and those priorities that are Regional in nature are addressed through the TSC
Regional representatives. In identifying these priorities, tribes seek to: (1) understand
what ongoing activities are occurring at EPA to address these issues and where this
information resides within EPA, (2) assess how tribes could contribute to advancing the
science surrounding these issues, and (3) identify what tribes could do to help get these
issues included into the Agency's budget priorities. This process for identifying and
discussing tribal science priorities helps ensure that the TSC's activities are always
tribally driven, a core part of the TSC's mission. The priorities that are national in scope
are discussed with the TSC Agency representatives to determine appropriate actions.
Initial Tribal Science Priorities Identified—September 2002
The first set of national tribal science priorities was identified by the TSC tribal
representatives in September 2002. The priorities were compiled by the representatives
from input they had received from tribes in their respective Regions. Upon examining the
various lists of Regional tribal science priorities, the tribal representatives selected only
priorities that were national in scope and then organized and categorized these priorities
for presentation to their Agency counterparts. The initial tribal science priorities
identified included:
• Tribal Traditional Lifeways (including tribally relevant risk assessment and a new
concept for environmental decision making),
• Endocrine Disrupter Chemicals (EDCs),
• Dioxin Reassessment and Reference Dose,
• Cumulative Impacts,
• Toxic Mold,
• Pharmaceuticals in Wastewater, and
• Tribal Research (including global warming and climate change monitoring).
Tribal Science Priorities Reassessed—November 2004
Between 2002 and 2004, the TSC held workshops, encouraged research efforts, and
developed tools to share information on these topics. As a result of these activities and
input from tribal representatives about new or changing science priorities in Indian
country, the Council reassessed the original priorities at their meeting in Carlton, MN, in
November 2004. Most notably, the tribal representatives decided to reframe each science
priority in terms of its overarching relationship to and impact on tribal traditional
lifeways. Originally, tribal traditional lifeways had been a discrete priority in relation to
the TSC's efforts regarding risk assessment and development of a new environmental
decision-making concept based around health and well-being. However, through the
TSC's discussions, it became apparent that the aspect of each science priority that made it
particularly relevant to tribes was its impact on tribal traditional lifeways.
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In addition, the TSC chose to revise some of its initial science priorities and add a few
new priorities. The TSC identified both "Habitat Loss" and "Biological Stressors (e.g.,
algal blooms and cyanobacteria)" as new priorities. The Council also changed the title of
the "Dioxin Reassessment and Reference Dose" issue to "Dioxin and Dioxin-like
Compounds" to reflect the broader issue of concern. Additionally, the TSC changed the
"Tribal Research (Including Global Warming and Climate Change Monitoring)" issue so
that tribal research was included as an activity under each of the other tribal priorities.
Global warming and climate change were incorporated into a new topic, "Habitat Loss."
Finally, the TSC decided to replace the "Toxic Mold" issue with the broader topic of
"Environmental Triggers for Respiratory Distress." The Council determined that toxic
mold was of concern largely because of the respiratory problems it contributes to, and felt
that the issue should be broadened to include other triggers as well.
In addition, the TSC decided at the Carlton, MN meeting that each tribal science priority
identified should be considered in relation to a series of cross-priority activities, including
risk (i.e., exposure and impact), education, research, environmental justice, and
restoration.
Tribal Science Priorities Refined—May 2005
At the TSC meeting held in Denver, CO, in May 2005, the Council worked to refine and
clarify the national tribal science priorities. Specifically, the tribal representatives worked
to (1) fully define the science priorities as they relate to Indian country, and (2) provide
specific examples of how each issue impacts Indian country. In a separate discussion,
Agency representatives provided additional information on (1) the Agency's proposed
actions and products to address each science priority issue and (2) the description of the
Agency's activities to date for each issue. The refined listing of science priorities
resulting from this discussion and a diagram of their relationships can be found in Section
III.
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III. Considerations for each National Tribal Science
Priority
The TSC tribal representatives identified three sets of considerations for each of the
national tribal science priorities:
• Tribal traditional lifeways
• Environmental decision-making processes
• Cross-priority activities
Tribal Traditional Lifeways—An Overarching Issue
Tribal traditional lifeways1 encompass the unique cultural, spiritual, economic, and
language practices pursued by tribal communities. While EPA's mission is to protect
human health and the environment, tribes have expressed concerns that many
environmental criteria and standards are not adequately protective of tribal community
health or natural resources, given the unique relationship that many tribes have with the
environment and the unique role that the environment plays in the continuation of their
cultural, spiritual and dietary practices.
When tribal lands are degraded, the impact to tribal traditional lifeways can be
considerable. Tribal resources can decline, disappear, or become contaminated, and as a
result, tribes may be unable to practice their traditional ways of life as before—with
detrimental impacts to the cultural, spiritual, economic, and health of tribal communities.
When tribal resources become unavailable, language, income, and/or cultural (e.g.,
hunting, gathering, harvesting, basket making, sweat lodge, etc.) practices surrounding
these resources can be lost. When resources such as traditional foods (e.g., fish, sea
mammals, beavers, moose, deer, and wild rice) are lost to tribal communities, direct
health impacts may result (e.g., increased rates of cardiovascular and diabetes) as
alternative foods replace traditional diet. In addition, the tribe's history and cultural
practices that revolve around these aspects of the environment may come to an end.
As a result, TSC tribal representatives have identified traditional tribal lifeways as the
overarching issue under which all of the tribal science priorities fall. The importance of
each science priority is directly related to the way in which the issue impacts not only
tribal health and the environment, but also the way in which it directly impacts the ability
of tribal communities to pursue their traditional tribal ways of life—with direct
implications for cultural, spiritual, economic, and language practices of tribal
communities.
The diagram below shows the importance of tribal traditional lifeways and the
relationship to the national tribal science priorities. Tribal traditional lifeways acts as an
umbrella to the science priorities. Each science priority, for instance, habitat loss would
1 The term "tribal traditional lifeways" was identified by TSC tribal representatives as the preferred way to
describe the unique cultural, spiritual, economic and other practices that connect tribes to their
environment, their past and their future. It was meant to replace the term "subsistence" that was commonly
used to describe these things but was considered to have negative connotations.
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come under the umbrella and be viewed from the tribes' traditional ways and relationship
with the environment and others - their ability to continue life - their own and future
generations. Therefore, tribal traditional lifeways would be considered in conjunction
with each of the science priorities.
Tribal Traditional Lif
Habitat Loss
Contaminated Precipitation
Biological Stressors
Environmental Triggers for Respiratory Distress
Pharmaceuticals in Wastewater
Dioxin and Dioxin-like Compounds
Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxics Source
Reduction
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
Improve the Agency's Environmental Decision-Making Processes
Tribes assert that EPA's
current risk assessment
policies and procedures for
environmental decision-
making are not protective of
tribal resources and lifeways.
The processes fail to adequately account for or include a holistic approach for assessing
the social, cultural, and spiritual values, beliefs, and practices that link tribal people to
their environment. Since current risk scenarios and risk factors are geared toward urban
settings in the United States, they may not consider subsistence lifestyles. Therefore,
tribes who practice traditional lifeways outside the "mainstream" are less protected, since
they are subject to exposure levels higher than those included in typical exposure factors.
In addition, the risk management solutions identified from the current risk assessment
methodologies often force tribal populations to alter activities that are core to their
existence, such as those constraints imposed by the creation and adoption of fishing and
hunting advisories.
Improve Environmental Decision-making Processes:
• Current Risk Assessment paradigm
• Create a new environmental decision-making
process
The TSC has identified environmental decision-making processes as an area for
improvement. The TSC recognizes that EPA currently utilizes the risk assessment
paradigm as the basis for environmental decision-making and seeks to improve the
policies and practices to incorporate tribal traditional lifeways. In addition, the TSC
recognizes that the fundamental assumptions and approach of EPA's risk assessment
paradigm can not fully address tribal issues and perspectives and seeks a longer-term goal
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of developing a new environmental decision-making paradigm for EPA consideration -
one focusing on human and ecological health well-being.
Cross-Priority Activities
As noted previously, the TSC identified
a number of activities to be considered
for each of the national tribal science
priorities. Each activity identified is
listed below along with a brief
description of its relevance to the
science priorities.
Cross Priority Activities:
• Exposure and Impact
• Education
• Research
• Environmental Justice
• Restoration
Exposure and Impact - One of the primary factors that drove its listing was the
concern that tribes had about exposure to environmental contaminants or changes
and the impact of these exposures to tribal populations. Tribes are interested in
better understanding and protecting against harmful impacts and outcomes to the
health of tribal communities and the environment.
Education - In many cases, the science priorities identified are of concern to
tribes at least in part because tribes feel there is not enough information about the
issue and how it specifically relates to tribes. Although EPA may have a number
of resources available on these topics, more effort needs to be made to get this
information out to Indian country so that tribes have a more complete picture of
the issue and its potential impacts.
Research - For a number of cutting-edge science priority issues, including
"Pharmaceuticals in Wastewater" and "Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals," tribes
are especially interested in learning more about the Agency's current research
efforts and to learn of avenues to increase tribal participation in these research
efforts. In many cases more research may be needed to better understand how
these issues are impacting tribal populations.
Environmental Justice - With respect to each science priority, tribes wish to
recognize and to protect against disproportionate impacts to tribal communities by
environmental hazards. Tribes assert that, given that tribal lifeways are uniquely
tied to tribal lands, they are often disproportionately impacted by environmental
hazards.
Restoration - Once issues are fully understood, steps need to be taken to restore
the environment and tribal traditional lifeways. These steps should be
appropriate, taking into account tribes' unique legal and cultural status.
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IV. Current National Tribal Science Priorities
This section describes each of the current national tribal science priorities and provides
examples of why these priorities are of concern in Indian country as well as information
on what EPA has done or is doing in response to these priorities.
Habitat Loss
Description
Habitat loss occurs when an ecosystem experiences a change in its structural makeup
(either flora and/or fauna) due to an outside influence. Habitat loss can be particularly
detrimental to tribal communities pursuing traditional lifeways because many tribes
depend on specific species of plants or animals or land areas to support their cultural
practices. Without these specific resources, they are not able to continue these practices.
Substituting other resources is often not an option or can have other detrimental
environmental or health impacts.
Habitat loss can occur in a variety
of ways, including reservoir and
dam management and mining
impacts, which are of particular
concern to tribes.
Specific concerns related to
reservoir and dam management
include: (1) the impact to habitat
by sediment loading through the
controlled raising and lowering of
river and reservoir levels and the
impact of the potential influx of
contaminants that are brought in
with the sediments; (2) the impact
of water fluctuation and water loss
on tribal communities living along
waterways [e.g., lack of drinking
water, impacts to fish and
waterfowl, impacts to traditional
gathering practices (e.g., for
medicinal plants, basket making
materials, etc.), impacts to
traditional activities (e.g., such as
dances that are held in areas along
the river)]; (3) the impact of
management practices on
groundwater recharge and its
impact on tribal water supplies;
and finally (4) the impact of the
Examples Where Tribal Impacts from Reservoir
and Dam Management are Felt
The Penobscot Nation Reservation waters
currently support extremely diminished runs of
salmon (~ 2% of historical runs) and eels, and
populations of alewives, shad, and sturgeon are
nearly absent. The low population levels are due
to cumulative fish passage and habitat impacts of
multiple dams and other historical upstream
production that has impacted habitat for these
species.
Water diversion in the Klamath River is affecting
the local salmon population on which the Klamath
Tribe depends.
Water transfer on the San Francisco Bay Delta is
impacting a number of tribes in the area.
Water diversion on the Salton Sea is impacting a
number of tribes bordering the sea and impacting
a major Pacific flyway for migratory birds.
Water diversion on the Colorado Delta, which
borders Mexico, is impacting various tribes.
Channelization of the Missouri River is impacting
neighboring tribes. Denise West looked into -
TSC needs to decide whether to include. If it is
included, additional detail is needed.
Water quality data collected since 1999 indicates
that Deadfish Lake on the Fond du Lac
Reservation, a premier producer of wild rice, is
seeing higher nutrients and sediment mercury
concentrations than other lakes on the
reservation. The data suggests that the filling and
releasing of water from an impoundment built to
control water levels and protect the wild rice from
water level fluctuations that negative affect the
rice crop are responsible. However, more
research is required to confirm these findings.
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lack of any formal or prescribed fish passage facilities at some dams, cumulative
upstream and downstream fish passage inefficiencies and losses at dams with formal fish
passage facilities, and lost or degraded production habitat and enhanced predatory
environments due to associated impoundments.
Examples Where Tribal Impacts from
Mining Issues are Felt
Interest by a mining company to develop
mine lands associated with an Alaska Native
Community, where there is concern that
mining impacts will harm lake seals—This is lands and resources.
one of two areas in the world where lake
seals are found.
Specific concerns related to mining impacts
include: (1) the impact of radium from mining
activities on tribal drinking water sources, and
(2) the impact of mining activities on tribal
Although the group recognized that this is a
significant and broad issue, the tribal
representatives suggested that the TSC conduct educational and outreach efforts on this
topic to enhance the scientific capacity of tribes in the areas of sampling, monitoring, and
data assessment and the development of environmental standards to protect species or
specific habitats (e.g., water quality standards).
Efforts to Address This Issue:
When the TSC tribal representatives identified this issue in 2004, they worked with their
EPA counterparts to assess what activities were being done to address the issue and
identify any additional activities that would be helpful.
Efforts already underway on this issue include:
• EPA is developing habitat criteria; there is a framework for guiding and
prioritizing habitat research under discussion between Office of Water and Office
of Research and Development.
• EPA's Science Advisory Board has begun investigating the potential for EPA to
develop methods or processes for Valuing the Protection of Ecological Systems
and Services.
• EPA Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan (EBASP). The plan is being
prepared by a multidisciplinary workgroup of EPA ecologists and economists as
part of the Agency's ongoing efforts to improve our ability to value the ecological
benefits of EPA policies and actions.
• NatureServe is developing criteria for healthy habitats. This group collects and
checks many sorts of environment data.
• The Las Vegas lab for terrestrial habitat does GIS-based spatial analysis, also
referred to as landscape ecology. This group could serve as a resource to tribes.
Based on these current activities, the tribal representatives identified additional requests
that, if met, could assist tribes in understanding and addressing this issue. In 2005, the
TSC met to discuss these requests and respond to them. The requests identified and
EPA's actions in response to these requests are included below.
• Conduct research on the extent of habitat loss in Indian country, the causes of
habitat loss and methods to regain/restore the habitat. (For example, the TSC
could pilot an Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program/Regional
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Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP/REMAP) project in
Indian country, and biasing the sampling scheme to focus specifically on Tribal
lands. Through this process, tribes can take advantage of funds EPA has allocated
to train tribal members to do such work, and can collect desired data as they go
through their training. Tribes can also work on developing culturally-relevant
indicators and can compare the data from Indian country to the national database.
Region 10 has done some of this work with the Nez Perce tribe.)
o EPA OW and ORD are discussing a framework for guiding and
prioritizing habitat research. Tom Barnwell and Rita Schoeny will invite a
representative from EPA OW and ORD to present the TSC tribal
representatives with an overview of what the Agency is doing with respect
habitat loss to; this could result in a pilot on tribal lands.
o TSC Member Tom Barnwell (EPA ORD) will contact Bruce Jones to
advocate and educate about tribal interest in this topic and will assess EPA
ORD's activities in this area.
o TSC Member Rita Schoeny (EPA OW) will provide a discussion
document that addresses habitat loss research plans for distribution to the
TSC.
Contact SAB regarding the activities of the subcommittee working on Valuing the
Protection of Ecological Systems and Services and contact EPA's workgroup
regarding tribal involvement in EPA's Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic
Plan.
o TSC member Charlotte Bertrand (EPA OEI) will contact EPA's Scientific
Advisory Board (SAB) regarding (1) the activities being conducted by the
SAB subcommittee working on Valuing the Protection of Ecological
Systems and Services, and (2) tribal involvement in EPA's Ecological
Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan. The plan is being prepared by a multi-
disciplinary workgroup of EPA ecologists and economists as part of
EPA's ongoing efforts to improve its ability to value the ecological
benefits of EPA policies and procedures.
Develop a TSC subcommittee for this topic.
o The TSC will consider creating a TSC subcommittee for this topic
pending the results of the above efforts.
Hold a Tribal science workshop - similar to the national one done for
Environmental Justice (EJ) community. This could possibly be combined with
another tribal environmental conference.
o The TSC will consider holding an EPA-sponsored tribal science workshop
on habitat loss similar to the national conference for the Environmental
Justice community. The TSC will assess interest from the tribal
community on this action and consider conducting a workshop as part of a
larger workshop on tribal science issues.
Begin a regional or national speaker series and use video teleconferencing to link
tribes, universities or other interested parties.
o Once information is collected, the TSC will determine the most
appropriate avenue for sharing this information with tribes.
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Additional ideas that the TSC will consider at future meetings include:
• Coordinating funding sources for this kind of broad work. Possible
mechanisms/resources include: Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE),
Strategic Environmental Research and Development Plan (SERDP) from
Department of Defense; Science to Achieve Results (STAR); National Institute
for Environmental Health Services (NIEHS); NatureServe and Water
Environment Research Foundation (WERF).
Contaminated Precipitation
Description:
Power plants, mining operations, and incinerators release heavy metals (e.g., arsenic,
lead, copper, mercury, and zinc) and other contaminants (e.g., NOx and SOx), into the
atmosphere. These pollutants combine with water to form contaminated precipitation,
which can enter terrestrial systems and impact human health and the environment. Of
particular concern is the impact of airborne mercury deposition. In the United States,
coal-fired power plants and incinerators are the largest sources of mercury emissions to
the air, and mineral mining releases the largest amount of mercury to land. When
mercury enters water, biological processes transform it to a highly toxic form that builds
up in fish and animals that eat fish. People are exposed to mercury primarily by eating
fish, and exposure to excessive levels can permanently or fatally injure the brain and
kidneys. Women of child bearing age and young children are at particular risk from
mercury health effects.
Tribal communities are particularly
concerned with the impacts of airborne
mercury deposition, as tribes that
practice subsistence fishing and
consume larger amounts offish are at
greater risk of direct health effects from
consuming mercury-contaminated fish.
In addition, for tribes that have
traditionally depended on subsistence
fishing and hunting practices, fish and
game advisories encouraging tribes to
reduce or discontinue consumption rates
due to elevated mercury levels can result
in severe impacts to tribal income and/or
cultural practices.
Generally, tribes are interested in
identifying and obtaining additional education and outreach opportunities to train tribes
and develop tribal capacity for air monitoring and testing of airborne mercury deposition.
Tribes are also interested in developing Regional and national air monitoring programs
on tribal lands and would need both training and hardware for developing tracking and
monitoring programs within Indian country.
Examples Where Tribal Impacts from
Contaminated Precipitation are Felt
The impact of mercury deposition
resonates on a nationally geographic
level throughout tribal waters, lands, and
resources. Several tribes have reported
fish advisories such as: Penobscot
(Maine); Cheyenne River Sioux (South
Dakota); and Fond du Lac and Grand
Portage Bands of Lake Superior
Chippewa (Minnesota). Fish advisories
prevent tribes' ability to maintain
traditional tribal lifeways.
Acid deposition is a major contributor to
tribal water quality degradation. The pH
levels are consistently driven below a
value of six standard units—which is the
tribal water quality standard of the
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
(North Carolina).
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Efforts to Address This Issue:
Although tribes recognize that this is a pervasive issue and can likely only be solved by
significant regulatory action to prevent the release of these pollutants, they identified a
number of other requests that may help educate and inform tribal communities about the
problems associated with mercury deposition in particular and contaminated
precipitation more generally. A summary of these requests and efforts that are being
initiated in response to the requests are provided below:
• Encourage alternative energy systems (e.g., wind and solar) and coordinate with
pollution prevention staff in EPA Regions to explore other ways to prevent
pollutants from entering the atmosphere.
o TSC Members David LaRoche (EPA OAR) and Robert Hillger (EPA
Region 1) will develop a list identifying EPA pollution prevention
personnel from each EPA Region as a resource for encouraging alternative
energy system implementation (e.g., wind and solar) by tribes.
• The TSC should obtain a copy of the Agency's Mercury research plan.
o TSC Member Rita Schoeny (EPA OW) will provide a copy of the
Mercury Action Plan, the multi-year plan, and the mercury portal link for
distribution to the TSC.
• Hold a Tribal science workshop - similar to the national one done for
Environmental Justice (EJ) community. This could possibly be combined with
another tribal environmental conference.
o The TSC will consider hosting an EPA-sponsored tribal science workshop
on contaminated precipitation issues similar to the national conference for
the Environmental Justice community.
• Begin a regional or national speaker series - use video teleconferencing like
Region 1 does and potentially link up with Universities to involve Tribes.
o Once information is collected, the TSC will determine the most
appropriate avenue for sharing this information with tribes.
Other requests or recommendations that will be considered by the TSC at future meetings
include:
• Encourage tribes to access money for risk assessment similar to what states are
doing with respect to community level assessment guidance update (i.e. ATRA
library Vol. 3) and community-based air toxics projects.
• Take advantage of money for community-based (not volunteer) programs.
• Get more tribal expertise and reps on the TSC from this and other science areas
less focused on water.
• Consider holding a product expo (e.g., green building materials and alternative
energy systems).
• Review EPA OAR's strategic plan, goals, and programs to identify potential
opportunities for collaboration.
• Consider ways to encourage tribes to use funds available under Section 305(b) of
the Clean Water Act to set up air monitors for mercury in air.
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Biological Stressors (e.g., algal blooms, cyanobacteria)
Description:
Biological stressors on water bodies
can have a variety of impacts. Nutrient
inputs generate bloom conditions of
marine and freshwater phytoplankton
and periphyton and can cause shifts in
community composition to potentially
toxic species. Algal blooms can result
in fish kills, impact wading birds, and
cause beach closures. For tribes who
depend on impacted water bodies for
fishing, bathing, drinking water and
other uses, these stressors can have a
significant impact on their lifeways.
Efforts to Address This Issue:
Although EPA is developing nutrient
criteria, and the Office of Water (OW)
provides grants to help develop them,
nothing is being done specifically
regarding the impact of biological
stressors on tribes. As a result, the TSC
identified a number of potential efforts
that may be able to help address the
issue and its impact to tribal traditional
lifeways. A summary of these requests
is provided below. Unfortunately, the
TSC has not yet explored these
requests fully, so no specific responses
have been developed to date.
Examples Where Tribal Impacts are Felt from
Algal Blooms
• Algal blooms caused by polluted lake waters
impact the Miccosukee and Seminole Tribes
in Florida. The Seminole Tribe has a
reservation on the northern boundary of Lake
Okeechobee. They draw water from the lake
for irrigation purposes, and pollution from
Lake Okeechobee can violate the tribe's
water quality standards. The algal blooms
also can impact the tribes through fish kills
and impacts to wading birds.
• Algal blooms along the Salton Sea and in the
Great Lakes cause fish die offs and beach
closings that can impact neighboring tribes.
• The Penobscot Nation has been experiencing
planktonic algal blooms since the mid-1990s.
The worst bloom was experienced in 2004,
with the bloom extending 100 miles from its
origin. While the bloom was dominated by a
species that did not produce toxins, species
in the sample found in smaller quantities did
produce toxins, similar to those found in ride-
tide conditions. The bloom caused the Nation
to suggest that community members not
swim in the river or ingest river water.
• For decades, large mats of periphytic algae
have occurred during low flow summer
months along the Meduxnekeag River, home
to the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians.
These algal blooms cause large diurnal shifts
in dissolved oxygen content in the river
waters and dramatically alter the physical and
biological character of the river system.
Contact the University of Washington's Pacific Northwest Center for Human
Health and Ocean Sciences, which investigates how environmental conditions
trigger blooms of harmful algae in marine waters and ultimately how these
blooms impact human health. This is seen as an indicator that this problem is
more national than initially thought.
Implement and enforce nutrient criteria in National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permits and water quality standards.
Contact Office of Water and Regions about grants to develop nutrient criteria.
Contact Regions and states about proposed Total Maximum Daily Loads
(TMDLs) for nutrients. Encourage EPA to hold a tribal forum on TMDL studies
to address non-point source pollution (NPS) contributions to nutrient loads.
o Where possible, the actions and products should include a focus on risk
(measurement and exposure), education, environmental justice issues,
and/or restoration.
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o Groups should consider whether or not this is a topic that someone from
outside the TSC should be invited to speak on.
The TSC should consider holding a conference call to discuss this priority in the
spring/early summer so that tribes are more informed before summer - the times
of worst blooms.
Environmental Triggers for Respiratory Distress
Description:
Estimates from the National Health
Interview Survey (1986-1990) indicate
that age-adjusted prevalence for asthma
was 4.45 percent in Native American men
and 6.02 percent in Native American
women, while prevalence in white men
was 4.26 percent and in white women,
4.30 percent. Respiratory illnesses are on
the rise everywhere, and Reservation tribal
members seem to be higher than the non-
Indian population. While indoor triggers
are addressed by tribal health departments,
outdoor triggers, seem less defined. Some
of the key environmental triggers of
respiratory distress that the TSC will focus
on include: mold (indoor emissions) and
PM2.5 and PMio (outdoor emissions).
Given the elevated risk of respiratory
illness found in Native American
communities, tribes wish to have EPA
better define these environmental triggers
and work with other agencies in
explaining the current tribally relevant
research.
Examples Where Tribal Impacts are felt
from Environmental Triggers for
Respiratory Distress
Since 1993, California's Coachella Valley
has been classified by EPA as a non-
attainment area for PM-io air emissions
contributing to the incidence respiratory
distress in these communities that impact a
number of tribes living in the Valley
including: Agua Caliente, Augustine,
Cabazon, Torres-Martinez, and Twenty-
Nine Palms. Fugitive dust sources are
responsible for 97% of the PM-io emissions,
with construction activities, re-entrained
dust from paved roads, and windblown dust
from agricultural and disturbed lands
representing the major sources.
Reports of are coming forth of skin
infections and other serious health
problems in Pine Ridge Tribal housing units
that may be due to mold. Asthma and other
respiratory ailments, to elevated glucose
levels in other Indian communities due to
mold/fungi infested housing are constantly
surfacing and is an ever growing problem in
Indian Country.
Efforts to Address This Issue:
The requests made by tribes on this issue focus on gathering existing data and research
activities in this area. The TSC discussed this request and agreed to provide the tribal
representatives with any information that was available as described below.
• Provide the tribal members with the current asthma statistics related to
American Indians, including children, adults, men and women and provide
information on current inter-agency research being done on environmental
triggers for respiratory distress that looks at American Indians as a group apart
from the general population.
o TSC Members David LaRoche (EPA OAR) and Ella Mulford (EPA
AIEO) will develop a status update on the work done to date on this
topic, including gathering information on environmental triggers and
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work being done by the Indian Health Service on household
inspections.
Environmental Triggers for Respiratory Distress Special Section on Mold
Description:
Fungi, mold in this specific case, are in a completely different kingdom of organisms
called Eumycota. They are eukaryotic having a well defined nucleus enclosed by a
nuclear membrane, and the cells contain a cell membrane and the various cellular
organelles making it similar to animal cells.
Molds are found virtually everywhere in the environment (over 200,000 species of fungi
have been catalogued by scientists, at least 200 of these have been identified as familiar
pathogensA). Mold in nature break down organic waste, and because of this they are
readily found in building materials ranging from wood, drywall, stucco, sheetrock, wall
paper, ceiling tiles, showers, and the lists goes on.
Whereas, much is known of viruses and bacteria, little is known of mold/fungi
concerning indoor air quality. New research is coming forth showing a distinct link
between mold and human health and disease. Mayo clinic discovered that fungi, and not
bacteria, are the culprit behind chronic sinusitis.1
Why the interests in mold? Mold/fungi release secondary metabolites called mycotoxins.
These are toxins produced by molds to defend against enemies in nature which are
bacteria, viruses, and other organisms such as dust mites. The well known mold
Aspergillus produces the powerful carcinogens aflatoxin, it is the only mycotoxin
regulated in America, and "is the most carcinogenic chemical known to science" 2, and
ochratoxin. "Although aflatoxin is the most carcinogenic substance on the planet,
ochratoxin beats it ten times over in terms of toxicity and damage inflicted on the human
body" 3.
Mycotoxins are relatively large and non-volatile molecules (do not readily release into
the air themselves), so direct contact is mostly required. The mold overcome this due to
the spores they produce and release into the air.
Exposure to molds and the secondary metabolites they produce are an area of growing
concern in Indian Country. The routes of entry to the human body are mainly skin
contact, and inhalation into the respiratory system.
On the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, mold has been found in
75% of the 1,700 tribal housing units. Health effects range
From chronic sinusitis, severe headaches, fungal skin infections
In children and elderly, upper and lower respiratory illness, and
On the fringe: reports of elevated cancer cases, and diabetes
worsening. This black mold is causing many tribal members
to become sick. The diabetes epidemic on the Pine Ridge
Reservation alone is 800% higher than the U.S. national
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Black Mold
• Found in 75% of the 1,700 tribal housing
on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
• Causes sickness and poor health among
tribal members
• Health effects include chronic sinusitis,
severe headaches, fungal skin infections,
upper and lower respiratory illness; cancer
cases rising and diabetes worsening
• Diabetes found to be 800% higher on this
reservation than U.S. national average
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average of diabetes in a population.
Reports of asthma and other respiratory ailments, related to elevated glucose levels in
other Indian communities due to mold/fungi infested housing are constantly surfacing
and are an ever growing problem in Indian Country. The environmental impact of these
organisms and their metabolites, how they affect indoor air quality, and human health is
the primary concern of the EPA National Tribal Science Council. An organized effort
needs to be launched in Indian Country to look into this issue which affects tribes across
the United States.
References
A. Sugar, A. A Practical Guide to Medically Important Fungi and the Diseases They
Cause. Lippincott-Raven. Philadelphia, PA. 1997.
1. Salvatore, S. Fungus causes most chronic sinusitis, researchers say. CNN report Sept.
9, 1999.
2. Etzel, R. Mycotoxins. Journal of the American Medical Association. 287(4). Jan23/30,
2002.
3. Kemin.com. Kemin Americas, Inc.: The Control of Mold and Mycotoxins in Ruminant
Foods. Dec. 2002.
Efforts to Address this Issue:
The EPA's Office of Indoor Air and Radiation has developed a web site dedicated
to the mold issue and has also produced two documents dealing with mold. The web site
is located at http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldresources.html. The two documents are also
located there and are (1) "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home" and (2)
"Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings" . Both documents can be
down loaded using the PDF format. The web site also lists other resources.
Pharmaceuticals in Waste Water (including personal care products and
antibiotics in livestock products)
Description:
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), (i.e., products consumed by
individuals for personal health or cosmetic reasons), comprise a very broad, diverse
collection of chemical substances. PPCPs can enter the environment when PPCP residues
in treated sewage effluent are released from sewage treatment systems or when raw
sewage is discharged directly to surface water. In addition, antibiotic can be released
directly into surface waters from fisheries management activities and from livestock
rearing activities (e.g., from direct waste run-off, use of manure as fertilizer for crops,
etc.). While the risks posed to aquatic organisms and humans by PPCP and low-level
antibiotics are essentially unknown, the issue is receiving increasing attention within
Indian Country.
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Many tribes are located in rural areas with septic systems that are located above
groundwater sources. As insufficient information currently exists to adequately identify
the impacts of PPCPs in wastewater on tribal communities, tribes feel that additional
research is needed to assess the risks of residual PPCPs and low-level antibiotics from
livestock operations and their impact on human health and the environment.
The TSC tribal representatives are interested in obtaining EPA's current status on the
science, research, and policy development surrounding PPCPs and low-level antibiotics
in wastewater. Tribes would like to be aware of the latest scientific developments with
respect to this topic in order to respond more appropriately and effectively to this issue.
Efforts to Address This Issue:
EPA has already developed a comprehensive website on this topic. Although the site was
not specifically developed for tribes, it contains a great deal of useful information on the
issue. It can be found at http://epa.gov/nerlesdl/chemistry/pharma/about.htm. Tribal
representatives indicated that more education was needed on this topic and recommended
that the TSC focus their efforts on research and outreach on the following key questions:
• Are there alternatives to those pharmaceuticals and personal care products that are
being detected in surface and wastewaters?
• Can wastewater be applied on land without adversely affecting the environment
and human health?
• What are wastewater treatment options for eliminating pharmaceuticals and
personal care products?
• What are the potential human health and environmental risks associated with
exposure to these chemical substances?
• What are proposed uses of wastewater containing these compounds that could be
responsible for adverse impacts to humans or ecological receptors?
• What is EPA's current research plan for PPCPs?
• What is EPA's current policy on PPCPs?
• What should we know about the potential adverse impacts to groundwater from
aboveground septic systems?
In response to this overall request, the TSC is undertaking the following actions:
• TSC Members Ella Mulford (EPA AIEO) and Patti Tyler (EPA Region 8) will
contact Christian Daughton and Rita Schoeny (EPA OW) will contact Octavia
Connerly to find out more about what Agency information is available on this
topic. The TSC plans to work with these individuals to develop some educational
and training materials.
• TSC members will attend RTOCs/ROCs meetings and work with the
RTOCs/ROCs to identify more examples of how this issue is impacting tribes.
• EPA will post relevant information collected on this issue on EPA's Science and
American Indians website or the tribal portal, as appropriate.
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Examples Where Tribal Impacts are Felt
by Dioxin and Dioxin-like Compounds
• A recent study has shown significantly
elevated levels of PCBs in breast milk
of women from Akwesasne Mohawk
Nation (New York), directly related to
the consumption of contaminated fish,
resulting in an advisory against breast
feeding.
• Numerous tribes across the country
have issued consumption advisories
for dioxin and dioxin-like compounds,
including Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
(Minnesota), Penobscot Nation
(Maine), and Great Lakes Tribes.
Dioxin and Dioxin-like Compounds
Description:
"Dioxins" refer to a group of chemical compounds
that share certain chemical structures and biological
characteristics and are formed as a result of
combustion processes such as commercial or
municipal waste incineration and from burning
fuels (like wood, coal or oil). At high enough doses,
dioxins may cause a number of adverse health
effects, including skin disease, cancer, and
reproductive or developmental impacts.
In general, tribes are disproportionately impacted by
chemical contaminants in the environment through
their resource use practices relating to traditional
lifeways. The impact to tribes when tribal resources
are contaminated extends beyond impacts to human health and the overall ecosystem to
larger issues of tribal culture, spirituality, and lifestyle.
Tribes are particularly interested in understanding the current state-of-the science at EPA
relating to dioxins and dioxin-like chemicals that might impact tribal health and well-
being, particularly in respect to tribal diet and cultural practices that may leave them at
risk to environmental exposures.
Efforts to Address This Issue:
Currently, EPA is working to develop a comprehensive reassessment of dioxin exposure
and human health effects. EPA submitted a draft dioxin reassessment that updates a 1995
EPA inventory of dioxin sources and analysis of the source contributions to dioxin
environmental levels to the National Academy of Science (NAS) for review. The NAS is
working to provide an additional review to help ensure that the risk estimates contained
in the draft are scientifically robust and that there is a clear delineation of associated
uncertainties. Because the dioxin reassessment is now under review by the National
Research Council (and publicly available), EPA will not likely be doing anything with
the reassessment for the next year or two.
The TSC first identified dioxin as a tribal science priority in September 2002 when TSC
tribal representatives were interested in learning the status of the Agency's dioxin
reassessment and in lending support to the effort to make the assessment more accurate
for tribal populations. Given the current status of the issue, in November 2004, the TSC
agreed that the dioxin science priority should be expanded to encompass issues associated
with dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, and should include:
• Dioxin Reassessment and Reference Dose;
• PCBs (co-planars);
• Burn Barrels (air emissions);
• Pulp and Paper Mills (air emissions and water discharges);
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• World Health Organization's Toxic Equivalents (TEQ) (for use in human health
& ecological evaluations); and
• Furans.
Based on this expanded scope, the TSC tribal representatives developed a list of requests
related to research and education on these topics. Specifically, the representatives
requested more information on the following issues:
• What Toxic Equivalents are and how are they derived (general description). A
fact sheet would help with a more in depth discussion to follow if needed.
• Sources of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds and how these compounds are
regulated.
• Major exposure pathways that would impact tribes.
Based on this request for additional information, TSC member Mike Callahan (EPA
Region 6) will coordinate with EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment
(NCEA) and collect relevant information and work on this issue. Mr. Callahan will create
a fact sheet that references these activities. TSC member Dana Davoli (EPA Region 10)
will provide assistance with the development of the fact sheet.
Another recommendation that will be considered by the TSC at future meetings is
reviewing the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (OPPTS) Tribal
Strategic Plan to see if there are any synergies (e.g., objective 4.3.2 refers to dioxin in
Alaska, but this could be generalized to encompass all tribes).
Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxics Source Reduction
Description:
Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxic (PBT) pollutants are chemicals that are toxic, persist in
the environment, bioaccumulate in food chains and, thus, pose significant risk to human
health and ecosystems. Examples of PBTs include: aldrin/dieldrin, mercury and its
compounds, chlordane, DDT, DDP, DDE, hexachlorobenzene, dioxins, furans, and
PCBs. The biggest concerns about PBTs are due to the fact that they transfer rather easily
among air, water, and land, and span boundaries of programs, geography, and
generations.
In general, tribes are disproportionately
impacted by persistent chemical contaminants
in the environment because of their unique
resource use that often occurs as a result of
their traditional lifeways. The impact to tribes
when tribal resources are contaminated
extends beyond impacts to human health and
the overall ecosystem to larger issues of tribal
culture, spirituality, and lifestyle, particularly
in relation to traditional dietary practices of
Specific Examples Where Tribal Impacts
are Felt from PBTs
• Impacts to Aleutian food chain
consisting offish and marine mammals
that are being impacted by persistent
bioaccumulative toxic substances.
• Potential impacts of pesticide residues
on crops in tribal communities.
• Repatriation of tribal artifacts that were
contaminated during the preservation
process.
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tribal communities.
Tribes are interested in learning what EPA is doing concerning PBTs, both from a
research and a regulatory perspective. In addition, tribes would like to see additional
testing, outreach, and education for tribes on this issues and the development of a national
strategy for testing subsistence foods.
Efforts to Address This Issue:
The TSC is working to identify efforts by which both (1) TSC efforts and (2) existing
EPA initiatives and programs may be able to help address the issue of PBTs and its
impact to tribal health and traditional lifeways. To help identify appropriate efforts and
appropriate entities with whom the TSC can collaborate on this issue, the Council
developed a list of questions to be addressed:
• What is the current list of PBTs?
• What research is being done on PBTs? (ORD, OPPTS, and OW)
• What regulator controls are in place to eliminate PBTs? (OPPTS and OECA)
• What is the process for getting new chemicals on the PBT list? Can Tribes
propose chemicals to be added? (OPPTS)
• What are the impacts of PBTs on human health, particularly tribal, and the
ecosystem? (ORD, OPPTS, and OW)
• How does the Agency assess emerging chemicals? Can the tribes propose
emerging chemicals to the Agency for action? (OPPTS)
• What actions and/or products would the TSC like to pursue to help address this
issue?
o Need to develop general presentation on PBTs (What they are, how they
operate, and why they are important to tribes) and current status on controlling
PBTs, for a TSC conference call. (OPPTS)
o More specific discussion could be warranted based on the presentations
above. TSC to determine specific need.
o An April to June timeframe for the first presentation was suggested.
o Need to address the questions listed above.
Endocrine Disruptor Chemicals
Description:
In recent years, there has been increasing concern that chemicals (pesticides, commercial
chemicals and environmental contaminants) might be disrupting the endocrine system of
humans and wildlife. Chemicals with the potential to interfere with the function of the
endocrine system are called endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs).
In general, tribes are disproportionately impacted by chemical contaminants in the
environment through their resource use practices relating to traditional lifeways. The
impact to tribes when tribal resources are contaminated extends beyond impacts to human
health and the overall ecosystem to larger issues of tribal culture, spirituality, and
lifestyle.
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Tribes are particularly interested in (1)
understanding the current state-of-the
science at EPA relating to chemicals that
might be disrupting the endocrine
system of humans and wildlife, (2)
education, training, and outreach
opportunities to provide tribes with an
opportunity to develop tribal capacity
and participate in EDC research, and (3)
tribally specific EDC research.
Efforts to Address This Issue:
The tribal representatives on the TSC
developed some specific requests related
to their overall interest in finding more
out about this topic. These requests and
the TSC's planned activities related to
these requests appear below.
Building Tribal Capacity for EDC Research
In 2003, upon hearing from the Region 9 RTOC
that EDCs were an important, emerging concern
for EPA and that the Agency was actively
developing analytical methods for EDCs and was
planning to recruit outside laboratories to verify
these EDC analytical methods, 29 Palms
Laboratory proceeded to set up a molecular
biology laboratory to perform EDC analysis and
microbial source tracking. 29 Palms, an EPA- and
state-sponsored tribal environmental laboratory,
intends to build sufficient capacity to participate
with EPA in developing expertise for EDC
monitoring and microbial source tracking. To
increase tribal participation, the laboratory is
working with the Pyramid Lake Pauite Tribe's
fisheries program to breed fathead minnows for
developing and implementing the vitellogenin
gene expression assay for estrogenic EDCs. The
laboratory is also collaborating with EPA's Office
of Research and Development to develop SOPs
and QA plans for these technologies.
Need to obtain an update of the work that the Agency is doing in the area of
EDCs. Suggest that the update be general in nature and done on a TSC conference
call.
o TSC member Liz Resek (EPA OPPTS) will develop a written update on
what EPA is doing in the area of EDC research and training.
The TSC should develop more specific topic areas for in-depth presentations
dealing with the impacts/effects on tribes and the science behind what we are
doing based on the information presented on the call. This information could be
conveyed to tribes through a workshop/breakout session that has three
components: basic EDC 101 - What are EDCs, how do they operate and why are
they important; what is the science behind the work that we (EPA) are doing; and
what are the known impacts of EDCs on human health, particularly tribal, and on
environmental well-being.
o The TSC will form a subcommittee to determine what a Basic EDCs 101
course should address. The committee may include a representative from
EPA AIEO, the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, and the
Tribal Air Monitoring Support Center and Dan Murray from EPA ORD.
Following the training, there may be an opportunity for tribes to provide
input into the list of chemicals to be tested to determine whether or not
they should be listed as an EDC.
Need to get to a wider tribal audience. This workshop/breakout should be
presented at a tribal national environmental meeting such as the National Tribal
Conference on Environmental Management.
o The TSC will consider conducting a pilot via conference call to a certain
number of Regions to communicate EDC information to tribes via phone.
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The TSC will consider sponsoring a workshop/breakout session with three components
on EDCs (i.e., Basic EDCs 101, the science behind what EPA is doing on EDCs, and
known impacts of EDCs).
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