News & Features

American Indian Tribal Portal Launched
The Environmental Protection Agency has launched the portal website to help the tribal community, its supporters and the public find tribal environmental information and data through a single web-based access point. The new cross-agency website allows EPA to consolidate and share environmental information reflecting the tribal community's perspective and needs into a central, easy-to-navigate structure. Various EPA programs, such as enforcement, waste, underground storage tanks and water, are also consolidating their tribal information through this website.

U.S EPA awards more than $50,000 to Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians for childhood lead poisoning reduction outreach

Grant focuses on prevention and screening | Full Story

Efforts to protect water supplies from leaking underground tanks result in record year

Over 100 inspections educate tank operators, protect water supplies | Full Story

U.S. EPA authorizes Navajo Nation to carry out program that protects groundwater

Tribal government to run underground injection control program | Full Story

Soil Cleanup on Navajo Nation EPA, in conjunction with the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency, will begin cleaning up radium-contaminated soil in the Coyote Canyon Chapter of the Navajo Nation. News Release

Clean Air Plan for Four Corners Power Plant
EPA has finalized a clean air plan that includes emission limits for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, total particulate matter, and opacity for the Four Corners Power Plant located on the Navajo Nation. News Release | Web site

Cocopah’s Efforts to Restore the Lower Colorado River Limitrophe For many centuries, the Cocopah, known as the River People, lived in harmony with the mighty Lower Colorado River Delta region, one of the largest tidal wetlands in the world.
Feature Story

Judge Issues Order Against Illegal Dump A federal judge has ordered California firms to pay up to $42.8M in cleanup costs at the Torres Martinez Reservation for dumping violations. Feature Story

Torres Martinez Solid Waste Collaborative Progress Report to the Public. The Collaborative, consisting of 25 federal, state and local agencies. Since October, members of the Collaborative have cleaned up 10 of the largest open dumps on the Reservation, enforced against illegal dumping on and off the Reservation, created an effective community outreach program increasing awareness of the problem, and have visibly reduced dumping on the reservation and in nearby Riverside County.
For more information on the Collaborative go to our webpage

Gila River Indian Community environmental plan formally accepted; First tribal comprehensive air quality plan nationwide After years in the making, the Gila River Indian Community will deliver to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a Tribal Implementation Plan, a blueprint of how to achieve improved air quality on tribal lands.
News Release

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe to Manage Clean Water Act Programs The tribe will develop water quality standards which will form the basis for permit requirements for discharges to waters within the tribe's jurisdiction.
News release

Fort Independence Indian Reservationin Owens Valley, California has built a successful, nationally recognized solid waste program from the ground up with Tribal leadership and grant support from U.S. EPA

Hualapai uses discarded waste to create "Earthship" Environmentally-friendly office space Earthships are buildings made from recycled and recovered material. They are so well integrated into the landscape that they remain naturally warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Clean Water Act Requirements for Construction Projects in Indian Country Construction occurring in Indian Country is now subject to Clean Water Act (CWA) regulations.
More information (PDF) (2 pp, 339K, About PDF)

Navajo uses of Native plants receives environmental education grant from EPA
Maybelle Little teaches at The Arboretum