Munitions and Explosives of Concern
FFRRO's commitment to tribal involvement is further
illustrated by its collaboration with tribes on several
munitions-related projects. These efforts emphasize the
importance of ensuring that tribes are appropriately
involved and informed in munitions responses.
Visit EPA's munitions website at:
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/documents/munitions.htm
•"EPA Munitions Response Guidelines" assist EPA
Regional staff, tribes and states overseeing munitions
response site cleanups.
•"Handbook on the Management of Munitions
Response Actions" addresses the technical aspects of
munitions response site cleanups,
• Training courses for personnel overseeing munitions
response site cleanups. Upcoming courses are posted at
http://www.clu-in.org
Federal Resources
Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office
FFRRO works with other federal entities to help them
develop creative, cost-effective solutions to their
environmental problems.
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/
American Indian Environmental Office
(Office of International and Tribal Affairs)
This office coordinates the EPA-wide effort to strengthen
health and environmental protection in Indian Country.
http://www.epa.gov/indian/
Department of Agriculture
USDA is committed to serving Tribal organizations and
individual American Indians and Alaska Natives.
www.usda.gov
Department of Defense
The Native American Management System for
Environmental Impacts tracks and maintains
information on potential impacts to tribal lands from
past Department of Defense activities.
https://www.namsei.com/
Department of Energy
The Office of Environmental Management is
committed to the cleanup of sites that were once part
of the Nation's nuclear weapons complex, several of
which are close or adjacent to Tribal nations and
impact Indian lands and/or resources.
http://www.em.doe.gov/Pages/tribalnations.aspx
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
The Office of Tribal Affairs assists with tribal-specific
environmental health needs resulting from exposure to
hazardous waste sites and pollution.
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/
Department of the Interior
The Department of the Interior places a high priority
on respecting the government-to-government
relationship between the federal government and the
federally recognized American Indian and Alaska
Native tribes.
www.doi.gov/tribes/index.cfm
For more information about FFRRO's tribal activities,
please visit our Web site at http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/
or contact FFRRO's tribal Coordinator:
MaryT. Cooke
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office
Phone:703-603-8712
Cooke.MaryT@epa.gov
xvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Federal Facilities
Restoration and Reuse Office
Tribal Program
Across the United States, there
are thousands of currently and
formerly owned federal
facilities, including abandoned
mines, nuclear weapons
production plants, fuel
distribution areas, landfills,
and other sites. Some of these
sites are contaminated with
hazardous waste, ordnance
and explosives, radioactive
waste, fuels, and other toxic
contaminants, and may be
located on or near American
Indian or Alaska Native lands.
March 2011 EPA-505-F11-001
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To overcome the difficulties posed by contamination at
these facilities, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA) Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse
Office (FFRRO) works closely with other federal
agencies to develop creative, cost-effective solutions to
environmental problems. FFRRO's mission is to facilitate
faster, more effective, and less costly cleanup and reuse
of federal facilities. By focusing on partnering and public
involvement, FFRRO and its counterpart offices in EPA
Headquarters and Regional Offices have made great
strides in improving federal facilities cleanup.
The United States has a unique legal and political
relationship with Indian tribal governments, established
through and confirmed by the Constitution of the
United States, treaties, statutes, executive orders, and
judicial decisions. Accordingly, EPA works in partnership
with tribal governments, both at the facility and
national policy-making levels. FFRRO's goals are to:
•Protect the human health and environment of
American Indians and Alaskan Native villagers at and
near federal facilities;
•Enhance and involve tribes in the cleanup process
through meaningful consultation that respects the
unique needs of each tribal community; and
•Develop partnerships that will enhance participation
and the environmental decision-making process at
federal facilities.
FFRRO's Tribal Program is designed to address the
needs of and mitigate impacts to American Indians
including Alaska Natives, living on or near federal sites.
To further improve the working relationship and
involvement of tribes in the cleanup process at federal
facilities, FFRRO continues to:
•Enhance tribal capacity-building through technical
assistance and training programs;
•Work with tribes and other federal agencies to identify
and address issues caused by federal facilities;
•Promote interagency collaboration on tribal policy
and resource issues; and
•Enhance communication and outreach to tribes.
Federal Land Transfer to Tribes
Under cleanup statutes or by congressional mandate,
DoD base closures often can lead to land transfers to
tribes which would be held in trust by the Department
of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs. Affected tribes
may have opportunities for economic development or
land transfer, as well as access to archeological sites or
other cultural resources.
Outreach and Technical Assistance
Tribal representatives participated in the Federal Facility
Cleanup Dialogue held in October 2010. The two-day
meeting served as a forum for Federal agencies; tribal,
state, and local governments; communities,
environmental groups and academia to discuss Federal
facilities cleanup program progress, achievements and
challenges. EPA will continue to solicit tribal
participation in the next phase of the Dialogue when
Federal agencies work together to address issues raised
by stakeholders. The federal agencies that participated
in the Dialogue were the Departments of Defense,
Energy, Agriculture and the Interior.
Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC)
provides independent educational and technical
assistance to communities affected by hazardous waste
sites in order to help them better understand and
become involved in the cleanup process for
contaminated sites. More information on TASC,
including what TASC assistance can be used for, can be
found at: www.epa.gov/superfund/community/tasc
Technical Assistance Grants (TAGs) provide
communities with money to obtain the services of
independent technical advisors to help them
understand site-related technical information and
decisions at eligible Superfund sites. The technical
advisors can help communities to interpret and explain
technical reports, site conditions, and EPA's proposed
cleanup proposals and decisions. A group may apply
for a TAG if members' health, economic well being, or
enjoyment of the environment is, or may be, affected
by a Superfund site. More information on TAGs can be
found at:
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/community/tag/ .
Tribal Community Involvement
Opportunities
In addition to EPA's government to government
relationship with federally recognized tribes, advisory
boards and community groups are key elements of
outreach to tribal communities. FFRRO works with
DoD and DOE and their stakeholders at the local level
by providing technical and regulatory input at advisory
board meetings and at the national level by developing
policies for establishing and maintaining advisory
boards. Types of advisory boards, include:
• Restoration Advisory Boards (RAB's): Provide a
forum through which community members can
provide input to DoD's Restoration program. RABs
operate at functional, closing, or realigning
installations, and Formerly Used Defense Sites where
there is a sufficient and sustained community interest.
•Site-Specific Advisory Boards: Involve stakeholders
more directly in DOE cleanup decisions.
•Superfund Community Advisory Groups: Serve as the
focal point for the exchange of information among
stakeholders involved in the cleanup of a Superfund
site.
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