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Pacific Southwest, Region 9

Serving: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, 148 Tribes

 

Tribal Successes and Challenges: Air Quality

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

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Smoke from forest fire, Hoopa Valley Reservation

Tribes set up air monitoring stations to measure pollution

As of late 2002, twenty-six tribes received EPA funding for air quality programs. There were 42 air monitoring stations at 23 tribal sites.

  • EPA and the Navajo Nation took enforcement action against a major oil company for Clean Air Act, Oil Pollution Act, and Community Right-to-Know violations at the Aneth Oil Field on the Navajo Nation. The company paid over $600,000 in penalties and over $500,000 to improve drinking water and sanitation facilities and buy emergency response equipment for the Navajo Nation.
  • The Yurok Tribe of northwestern California used EPA funds and equipment from EPA’s lab in Las Vegas, Nev., to build a weather station.

Remaining Challenges

  • Of the 147 tribes in the Pacific Southwest, 58 live in areas that do not meet federal clean air standards.
  • Most major air pollution sources in these areas are off-reservation and not subject to tribal jurisdiction.
  • Many tribes still lack air monitoring data and trained air quality staff.

 

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