News Releases from Region 05
EPA awards $45,000 grant to Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians to improve air quality in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
For Immediate Release No. 17-OPA080
CHICAGO (Aug. 23, 2017) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a $45,620 grant to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians that will fund the tribe’s work to reduce pollution and improve air quality in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
“At EPA, we are protecting the environment by engaging with our tribal partners,” said Administrator Scott Pruitt. “This grant represents what EPA is all about, empowering tribal nations to protect their environment to ensure clean water, air and land for America’s tribes.”
In collaboration with the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe will use the grant to train its staff to conduct air quality assessments and to interpret air monitoring data from industries in the eastern U.P. In addition, the tribe will:
· Assess wood stoves.
· Develop a database of its diesel vehicles.
· Explore the use of cooking oil to power field vehicles.
· Engage the community on air quality issues.
“We face many issues involving air quality and these grants will help us be better prepared to improve our air quality,” said Kathie Brosemer, environmental department manager, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
Based in Sault Ste. Marie, the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan provides a cooperative forum for 11 tribes: Bay Mills Indian Community, Hannahville Indian Community; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish (Gun Lake Tribe), Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, and the Nottawaseppi Band of Huron Potawatomi.
For more information on EPA programs in Indian Country: https://www.epa.gov/tribal.
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