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EPA Superfund Program Initiatives in Indian Country

Explore risk-based decision-making, tribal role pilots, tribal site prioritization, and tribal risk framework to include cultural impact assessments for Superfund eligibility. Participate in workshops on risk communication and training modules. Plan for future tribal risk assessments and address challenges.

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EPA Superfund Program Initiatives in Indian Country

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  1. EPA Superfund ProgramRisk Initiatives in Indian CountryRisk-Based Decision-Making in Indian CountryMarch 14-16, 2000Lakewood, CO James Konz U.S. EPA

  2. Enhanced Tribal Role Pilots • Pueblo Office of Environmental Protection Tribal Site Prioritization System • Goal: Develop approach for site assessment activities that includes an assessment of impacts to tribal culture as part of the risk from the site. Purpose is to develop a process to get more tribal sites listed on the NPL so they will be eligible for Superfund cleanup funds. • Status: Richard Pacheco will discuss

  3. Enhanced Tribal Role Pilots • Leech Lake Band of Chippewa (Ojibwe) Indians of Minnesota • Goal: Develop site-specific risk assessment criteria that may better evaluate the cleanup effectiveness with respect to tribal concerns about health of the Tribal population and the environment of the Reservation. • Tribe will develop exposure factors (e.g., fish consumption rates) and exposure scenarios specific to Tribal resource use and cultural concerns at the site. • Status: The Tribe currently is developing a workplan to implement the activities to be funded under the Pilot.

  4. Tribal Risk Framework • Goal: Provide information a tribe should consider when developing or reviewing a risk assessment for a site on tribal lands. • Status: Barbara Harper will discuss

  5. Tribal Risk Workgroup • Goal: Provide open discussion on all issues related to tribal risk assessment and present recommendations for how best to incorporate tribal concerns into the Superfund risk-based decision-making process • Status: We have had one meeting sponsored by the Washoe Tribe. We had a general discussion of the many issues we needed to work on and developed a very long “To Do" list. • Next meeting will be at the NTEC Conference, April 17-20, 2000 at the Foxwood Resort/Casino, Mashantucket, CT. Subsequent meetings will be scheduled for a Pueblo site in New Mexico area and near the Leech Lake site in Minnesota. • Tribes interested in this workgroup should contact Maggie Gover at NTEC.

  6. Tribal Training • Goal: Develop training module for Superfund • Status: Superfund developed a module based on the EPA "Working Effectively With Tribal Governments" training, (with consultation from several Tribes) in 1999 and presented it to Superfund managers in September 1999. The module is being revised based on input from the training session and will be reviewed by additional Tribes this year. Superfund staff will be trained in FY2000.

  7. Superfund Training • Goal: Develop a Superfund 101 module for Tribes. • Status: The Superfund 101 module is in the early stages of development. This module will be a resource for Tribes that want to learn more about Superfund and will include information on how Tribes can become more involved in the Superfund program.

  8. Risk Communication Workshop • EPA's Office of Research and Development is sponsoring a workshop on risk communication, to be held this Spring. The focus will be on exposure to sensitive populations, resulting from fish consumption. We hope several Tribes will be able to attend and give some Tribal perspective to the meeting.

  9. Challenges • Develop Tribally-Relevant Risk Assessment Model • Cultural Risk • Quality of Life Risk • Cumulative Risk • Develop Guidance for Incorporating Tribal Exposure Factors in Risk Model • Using Traditional Knowledge (Expert Witness) • Considering Confidentiality • Determine Mechanism to Remediate High Priority Sites on Tribal Lands • Modified HRS • Alternatives to NPL • Investigate Integration of Remediation (CERCLA) and Restoration (NRD ) Programs

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