Effective Work in Indian Country: Circuit Riders Supporting Tribal Water Systems

1. Effective Work in Indian County Effective Work with Rural and Tribal Water Systems

2. Trainer • Ron SundbergRDS I • Tribal Circuit Rider • Northern California

3. Tribal Circuit Rider Program • RCAC’s circuit rider program has assisted tribes since the mid 90’s • Circuit rider team is comprised of highly certified water and wastewater operator and engineers.

6. What do Circuit Riders Do? • Provide technical assistance to Tribal water and wastewater systems in in region 9: • California • Arizona • Nevada

7. The Circuit • Circuits enable CR’s to routinely visit tribal systems • Consistency • Availability • Rapport

8. Typical Work • A single circuit can include a dozen site visits and multiple project work in a 3-4 day span • Not project centric like other programs (HHS, USDA RD) • Can utilize community work plans

9. Drinking Water / Wastewater Regulatory Cycle

10. Tribal Utilities

11. Non-Tribal Utility

12. Tribal Utilities

13. Tribal Utilities

14. Tribal Utilities

15. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 • EPA R9 has primacy over federally recognized tribes in CA, AZ and NV. • Tribes may have their own EPA/EPO department and defer regulation of safe drinking water act and clean water act. • Navajo Nation has primacy and EPA R9 does not regulate Navajo Tribal Utility Authority systems.

16. RuleImplementation

17. Indian Health Service • Role-Design water and wastewater infrastructure for systems serving tribal homes • Constraints – Can’t assist with tribal enterprises such as casinos. • Engineers have intimate knowledge of existing tribal systems and future expansion. • Provide insight about systems in need of technical assistance

18. Compare to USDA RD • RD work usually involves a meeting with the USDA RD representative • RD representative advise of potential projects and community needs • IHS performs this function for tribal water and wastewater work.

19. The Circuit • Consistency • Look for Patterns • Use the patterns!

20. Sample Regulatory Pattern

21. Let’s Make a Site Visit • Introductory visit • No intent • Avoid business atmosphere • Goal, introduce yourself and gain contact information • Gaining trust from tribal personnel is a gradual process

22. Do’s and Don’ts • Do- keep it casual. (We are not enforcement) • Don’t- over promise and under deliver • Do- be patient if relationship takes time to develop • Don’t- be pushy and repetitive

23. Consistency • E9 Circuit Rider program conducive to consistency • How can we generate consistency in more restrictive programs? • Emails blast for workshops, exam review, regulatory change…. • Text groups – text contacts when you will be in area • Calls – call your contacts periodically to check in

24. Recognize Hidden Factors • Utilize information from conversation • “Can’t meet right now we are reading meters all week” • “Todays a bad day for visit working on my chlorine pump”

25. Take Away • Generate consistency • Be patient, timing is key! • Follow through on TA • Regular check ins