![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
The EPA Tribal Portal was created as a gateway to EPA environmental information specifically related to tribal governments, such as environmental policies, practices and laws.
The American Indian Environmental Office leads EPA's efforts to protect human health and the environment of federally recognized Tribes by supporting implementation of federal environmental laws consistent with the federal trust responsibility, the government-to-government relationship, and EPA's 1984 Indian Policy.
Tribal Calendar
Japanese Nuclear Emergency: EPA's Radiation Monitoring
As a result of the incident with the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, several EPA air monitors have detected very low levels of radioactive material in the United States consistent with estimated releases from the damaged nuclear reactors. EPA has stepped up monitoring of precipitation, milk, and drinking water in response to the Fukushima events. These detections in air, precipitation, and milk were expected, and the levels detected have been far below levels of public-health concern. For more information visit: http://www.epa.gov/radiation/
Multiple Federal Partners Addressing the Long Standing Disparity of Safe Water & Sanitation Services for Tribes
Multiple Federal Partners Addressing the Long Standing Disparity of Safe Water & Sanitation Services for Tribes
The lack of access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation in Indian Country continues to threaten the public health of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Approximately 12% of AI/AN homes do not have safe water and/or basic sanitation facilities. This is high compared with the 0.6% of non-native homes in the United States that lack such infrastructure. A multi-agency Infrastructure Task Force has been formed to improve access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation in Indian country. Partners include US Department of Agriculture - Rural Development, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Indian Health Service, and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Task Force accomplishments, current activities, and proposed strategies to address access to water and sanitation services on AI/AN lands are available at: http://www.epa.gov/tp/trprograms/infra-water.htm
EPA and Corporation for National Community Service Announce Partnership to Leverage Grant Resources
EPA and AmeriCorps Leverage Grant Resources to Support Indian Tribes The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Corporation for National and Community Service announced that Indian General Assistance Program (GAP) grants may be used as match funding for tribally-sponsored AmeriCorps programs.
More than $3 million worth of AmeriCorps funding is dedicated to support tribal communities every year, but often, tribal governments face financial challenges that prevent them from providing the required matched funding. AmeriCorps members help address key challenges facing Native American communities, including education, disaster response and environmental preservation. EPA manages GAP to assist eligible tribal governments in building environmental programs needed to regulate and manage their environments. The combination of AmeriCorps grants and EPA program funding such as GAP enable tribal governments to bring in energetic, committed people to help build an environmental program.
The AmeriCorps grant application deadline is January 18, 2012. To use EPA grant funds as match for AmeriCorps grants, the proposed activities must be within the scope of EPA's work. Examples of eligible activities include conducting environmental education, performing assessments of indoor air quality or household pesticide usage, and assessing baseline environmental conditions.
- Americorps Grant Press Release (PDF) (2pp, 13K, About PDF)
- More information on AmeriCorps Grants: Leveraging Environmental Support (PDF) (12pp, 523K, About PDF)
- More information on EPA's tribal program
- More information on AmeriCorps
- Current AmeriCorps funding opportunities
Read more about EPA and Corporation for National Community Service Announce Partnership to Leverage Grant Resources to Support Indian Tribes
EPA Announces Selected Tribal eco-Ambassadors
New initiative leverages knowledge and resources to solve environmental problems impacting Tribal communities
The USEPA is proud to announce new Tribal EcoAmbassadors, who over the course of this year will be supported by EPA as they work to expand the conversation on environmentalism to their communities while developing locally-relevant solutions to protect public health and the environment.
Selected professors from eight different Tribal Colleges and Universities will work with a group of students to solve environmental and public health issues ranging from sustainable building materials to monitoring of local drinking water wells. The professors will collaborate closely with neighboring tribes and EPA scientists to ensure that available resources are leveraged and resulting data is verified.
EPA Tribal Consultation and Coordination Policy
EPA Submits Tribal Consultation Progress Report to OMB
On August 2, 2011, EPA's Designated Consultation Official Michelle DePass, Assistant Administrator for the Office of International & Tribal Affairs, transmitted EPA's annual progress report per President Obama's November 5, 2009 memorandum on tribal consultation to the Office of Management and Budget. The report describes EPA's progress under Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, including release of the new EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes (PDF) (10 pp, 213K) on May 4, 2011.
- EPA 2011 Tribal Consultation Progress Report (PDF) (2 pp, 1.2Mb)
EPA Final Policy for Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes
On May 4th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final policy on consultation and coordination with Indian tribes. EPA is among the first of the federal agencies to finalize its consultation policy in response to President Obama’s first tribal leaders summit in November 2009, and the issuance of executive order 13175 to establish regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials in the development of Federal policies that have tribal implications.
- Letter to Tribal Leaders (PDF) (1 pg, 462K, About PDF) - a letter from Michelle DePass, Assistant Administrator, AIEO
- EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes (PDF) (10 pp, 213K, About PDF)
- 5/4/11 - EPA Releases Final Policy for Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes
The Tribal Consultation Opportunities Tracking System (TCOTS) publicizes upcoming and current EPA consultation opportunities for tribal governments. TCOTS allows users to view and sort information, and to submit comments on a tribal consultation. TCOTS is a key feature of EPA's new Consultation and Coordination Policy with Indian Tribes (PDF) (10 pp, 213K) that was released by Administrator Jackson on May 4, 2011. The goal of TCOTS is to provide early notification and transparency on EPA consultations with tribal governments.
Tribes in the News »
» 12/09/11 - EPA Awards Six Environmental Justice Grants in the Southeast
» 11/07/11 - EPA, Navajo Nation Convene Fourth Annual Summit to Address Uranium Contamination
» 10/21/11 - EPA Emergency Crews Successful in Snuffing Tire Fire (South Dakota)
» 10/20/11 - EPA Approves Ute Mountain Ute Tribe's Water Quality Standards
» 9/29/11 - EPA Announces Plan to Clean Up Largest Abandoned Uranium Mine on the Navajo Nation
Newsroom »
» 02/02/12 - EPA Announces Summary of Pacific Northwest and Alaska Enforcement Actions for Fall 2011
» 01/31/12 - EPA To Provide Nearly $10 Million to Clean Up Beaches Across the Nation
» 01/15/12 - EPA Releases 2010 Toxics Release Inventory National Analysis
» 01/11/12 - 2010 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data from Large Facilities Now Available
» 01/05/12 - EPA Releases 2010 Toxics Release Inventory National Analysis
» 01/04/12 - EPA and Corporation for National Community Service Announce Partnership to Leverage Grant Resources
» 12/21/11 - EPA Issues First National Standards for Mercury Pollution from Power Plants
» 12/21/11 - Here's What They're Saying About Mercury and Air Toxics Standards
» 12/08/11 - EPA and New York State Announce Ban on Dumping Sewage from Boats into Lake Ontario
» 12/02/11 - EPA Proposes Changes to Clean Air Act Standards for Boilers and Incinerators
» 12/01/11 - Federal-State Partnership Helps Water Managers Plan for Climate Change
White House Tribal Nations Conference
» Archive White House Tribal Nations Conference
Standard link to the American Indian Environmental Office Tribal Portal
If you would like to link to the tribal portal from your own page, please copy and paste this code into your HTML page:
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; width: 120px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.epa.gov/indian"><img src="http://www.epa.gov/indian/images/turtlelink.jpg" alt="Link to AIEO Tribal Portal ">AIEO Tribal Portal</a> </div>
Which will look like this:
