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P2 News Archive
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Archived Tribal News Articles:
Native businesses partner with Exousia to improve housing 09/02/2008
Native businesses partner with Exousia to improve housing
Structural Insulated Panels offer an environmentally friendly alternative to "stick-building" with 2-by-4 and 2-by-6 dimension lumber. These custom-made panels dramatically cut down on construction debris. Also, the materials used to make the SIPs are environmentally friendly, producing far less carbon monoxide when compared to traditional housing. Exousia Advanced Materials Inc. thinks this technology could be the solution to meeting the housing shortage on American Indian reservations. The first company Exousia teamed up with was Nu'Eta Nation Tribal Builders, owned by the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota. The new buildings on Pine Ridge include a men's resource center and a new administration building combined with a day care center. In Rapid City there are plans for five new buildings, including an administration complex, halfway house and counseling center.
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Native nonprofit to focus on green-collar careers 09/02/2008
A new Native-operated 501(c)(3) is turning its focus on green-collar careers for American Indians and veterans. Native Workplace is officially announcing its new effort to help the community connect with the thousands of careers created by growth in renewable energy industries. Native Workplace is focusing on two main goals: educating the community and recruiting tribal members and veterans into training and employment nationwide.
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Northwest SEED Releases Northwest Tribal Energy Planning Guidebook 09/02/2008
With funding provided by the Bullitt Foundation, Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development (Northwest SEED) just released a new tool to help Native American tribes develop a plan to achieve energy independence. Energy Planning: A Guide for Northwest Indian Tribes contains information and resources to help select and implement projects to conserve energy, generate clean renewable energy, construct efficient and environmentally friendly buildings, and other energy-related community or business projects-all tailored to the geography of the Northwest and the people of its tribes.
The guidebook is designed to help tribes tackle energy planning in three primary ways. First, the guidebook presents information on the process of developing an energy plan. Second, the guidebook provides in-depth information about conservation and efficiency, renewable energy, green building, and other special project types. Finally, the guidebook includes a full section on resources and financing for both developing and implementing a tribal energy plan.
For more or to obtain a copy of the guide, contact Leslie Moynihan, Project Manager, Northwest SEED, at (206) 267-2215 or leslie@nwseed.org
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Native Non-Profit to Focus on Green Collar Careers 08/25/2008
Native Workplace (NWP) is officially announcing their new effort to help the community connect with the thousands of careers created by growth in renewable energy industries.
Their mission is to promote Green Collar careers, and to develop an American Indian & Veteran workforce for green industries. However, they also intend for NativeWorkplace.com to become a hub for information regarding green growth in Indian country as well as an educational site.
For more information contact the organization directly or see the website at www.NativeWorkplace.com
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Pollution Prevention Grant Opportunity 03/05/2008
EPA has approximately $4.1 million to support pollution prevention grants to States, Tribes, and Intertribal Consortia in FY 2008. The deadline for proposals is April 16, 2008.
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DOE creates Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs 10/31/2007
The new U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, to reside within Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, will assist DOE's work with tribes to promote clean, reliable and affordable energy.
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Student can apply for internships with DOE's Tribal Energy Program 10/31/2007
The US Department of Energy's Tribal Energy Program is offering 2008 summer internships to Native American students interested in renewable energy. To be considered, they must be current college upper-classmen or graduate students, and apply by February 22, 2008. Interns will assist a cross-disciplinary team to perform specific tasks at Sandia National Laboratories, and gain experience with a variety of renewable energy systems. The program pays relocation expenses and salary commensurate with academic status in an appropriate technical major. For questions, contact Sandra K. Begay-Campbell, Sandia National Laboratories at (505)844-5418 or skbegay@sandia.gov.
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Tribal colleges can play a role in fighting climate change 10/31/2007
The recent Tribal College Forum VI, sponsored by NativeView - an organization of tribal colleges, government agencies and industry with the purpose of integrating earth sciences and American Indian knowledge - focused on climate change with discussions on what tribal colleges could do to assist the protection of local ecosystems. Many tribal colleges are working toward creating "green" campuses. Some currently don't have recycling programs, but tribal colleges can find ways to recycle and bring the communities along with innovative methods. Studies and surveys conducted by tribal college students will compile data that could show changes within reservation ecosystems that will be used to develop methods to mitigate damage to the environment.
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Tribes receive federal funds for renewable energy strategies 10/31/2007
The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is providing up to $2 million for 15 Native American tribes and Alaskan villages to support the advancement of renewable energy technologies on tribal lands and rural Alaskan villages. In Montana, the Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation will use $117,000 to develop a strategic energy plan to incorporate the use of biomass resources that could be used for heating selected facilities. Other funded tribes are located in Alaska, California, New York, North Carolina, Oregon and Wisconsin. Most of the grants involve planning for the development of alternative energy sources.
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Winona LaDuke inducted into National Women's Hall of Fame 10/31/2007
Winona LaDuke was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls Oct. 7, joining eight other inductees. LaDuke has dedicated her life to protecting the earth, advocating for renewable energy resources, and protecting and preserving American Indian cultures. Her efforts involve the preservation of ancient traditions, such as the wild rice that is central to her cultural and spiritual way of life.
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Tribal access to water infrastructure
08/13/2007
The Environmental Protection Agency and four other federal agencies
signed two important tribal infrastructure agreements to improve water
infrastructure on tribal lands and focus efforts to increase access to
safe drinking water and basic wastewater facilities to tribes. The first
agreement promotes coordination between federal tribal infrastructure
programs and financial services. The second agreement was created to
improve access to safe drinking water and wastewater facilities on
tribal lands. The agreements were signed by EPA, the Department of the
Interior, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of
Agriculture, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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8th Annual National Tribal Conference on Environmental Management 08/08/2007
In June 2008, the MT-WY Tribal Leaders Council will host in Billings, Montana the 8th Annual National Tribal Conference on Environmental Management, "Nurturing Mother Earth...Our Peoples Destiny." Currently the Council invites entries for a logo and artwork contest. The Artwork should have a Native American and Environmental theme and be submitted to: NTCEM CONTEST here at the MTWYTLC Office. There will be a $500 award given to the chosen artist.
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Indian Land Consolidation Symposium 07/11/2007
The Indian Land Working Group has announced that the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin will host the 17th Annual Indian Land Consolidation Symposium, October 30 - November 2, 2007 in Green Bay. Symposium topics will include "Forming Native Land Trusts/Conservancies."
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Tribal energy organization wins worldwide recognition 07/11/2007
The World Economic Forum has presented the first-ever World Clean Energy Special Award for Courage to the Intertribal Council on Utility Policy (ICOUP)for its work establishing the first commercial wind power generation on any reservation. ICOUP built a 750-kilowatt turbine on the Rosebud Reservation in addition to a plan that would create wind power energy for the western United States. The courage award recognized the ICOUP plan that would extend wind power to 3,000 megawatts from tribally owned power turbines on reservations across the northern Great Plains by 2015. The plan is referred to as Environmental justice Intertribal Wind Power. The goal is to generate enough alternative energy for the reservations with the surplus power to be sold through the federal power grid system to generate revenue and economic development for the tribes.
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WA E3 - Education. Environment. Economy. 06/25/2007
The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians strongly endorses the E3 Washington effort which is coordinated by the Environmental Education Association of Washington. Growing numbers of stakeholders are joining the E3 initiative. There's nothing fancy about the way it works. Educators, natural resource managers and others get together to brainstorm ideas at the watershed level. Statewide summits are held to help the plans come together and support the programs needed to make headway. The truly great thing about this program is that it is joining the inner city teacher with the farmer, the environmentalist with the businessman and the Indian with the non-Indian.
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Western governors' hot topic is alternative energy 06/25/2007
Discussions over clean energy and carbon sequestration dominated the 2007 Western Governors' Association's recent annual meeting in the Black Hills. Ten of the 19 governors were in attendance and elected officials from Canada were also present.
Many Indian Reservations lie in areas with good prospects for wind energy. For example, six of South Dakota's tribal reservations are located in the western part of the state, where tests have proven there is plenty of wind. Tribes with the will to construct wind farms for economic development, however, do not have the financial wherewithal to partner with developers to create the wind farms on tribal lands. And most of the land on which wind farms would be constructed are privately owned or not near a power grid system on which to connect, which creates problems in siting wind farms. The tribes are at a disadvantage because they are not allowed to use the Production Tax Credit as an incentive for developers. PTC provides a 1.9 cent-per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) tax credit for electricity generated for the first 10 years of a renewable energy facility's operation. The Intertribal Council on Utility Policy asked the governors to sign on to a letter that would request congressional committees to pass House Bill 1956, which would change the IRS rules to allow tribes to be part of the PTC for alternative energy.
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Funding: Water Environment Research Foundation seeks proposals 06/19/2007
The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) is seeking pre-proposals, due July 20, 2007, to advance science and technology addressing water quality issues. Proposals in all relevant wastewater and water quality areas are welcome. Current research includes such P2 topics as watershed management to protect water quality, and energy efficiency in operations.
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National Forum on Tribal Environmental Science 06/19/2007
Sponsored by the National EPA--Tribal Science Council (TSC) and hosted by the Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) in Ocean Shores, WA, in September 2006, the Forum was conducted as a result of the recommendations in National Tribal Science Priorities. For more than 300 attendees, including representatives from more than 125 Indian tribes and Alaska native villages, the Forum offered technical training in nine high priority areas and presentations of cutting-edge tribal environmental science-related case studies. Success stories throughout Indian Country were also shared through a poster session, exhibits, and networking sessions. A 253-page proceedings is available on the website.
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WA: Yakama utility wants to power entire reservation 06/19/2007
One of a handful of tribal utilities in the nation and currently purchasing power from the Bonneville Power Administration, the Yakama Nation is looking at its water, wind and even the potential for wood fuel to generate its own. The tribal utility wants to supply power to its entire 1.2 million-acre reservation. In the process, it plans to reduce average residential rates about $20 a month. One of the strategies is to use idle farmland to grow hybrid poplars to be chipped and burned at a bioplant to create steam to turn turbines for power generation, which would have the additional benefit of paying for land leases and irrigation fees. The Public Utility District is working with the tribe to develop the bioplant. Also, the tribe is currently measuring wind resources in hopes of erecting multiple turbines.
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Renewable Energy for Tribal Community Development: A Strategic Energy
Planning Workshop
05/31/2007
A mission of the Department of Energy's Tribal Energy Program (TEP) is to enhance human capacity through education and training. Building knowledge and skills is essential to developing, implementing, and sustaining conservation and energy development projects on Tribal lands.
The Strategic Energy Planning Workshop will be held August 13-16, 2007 in Denver, Colorado. Other upcoming training opportunities include Weatherization Program Basics for Tribes in Bozeman, Montana, July 16-20, 2007; a Wind Energy Symposium in Boulder, Colorado, August 28-31, 2007; a Business Development & Financing Workshop in Denver, Colorado, October 2-4, 2007; and a Tribal Energy Program Review in
Denver, Colorado, November 5-8, 2007.
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Tribal P2 Workgroup asking for input from Tribal leaders and environmental professionals 05/31/2007
The NPPR Tribal Workgroup consists of environmental professionals from tribal entities, local, state and federal agencies, academia, and not-for-profit organizations whose mission is to work collaboratively with tribes throughout the United States in reducing the environmental and health risks associated with the generation of waste in or on tribal lands. A geographically dispersed team, the group meets monthly via conference call. The Workgroup's primary project to date has been to launch the Tribal Pollution Prevention Web Portal (www.tribalp2.org). The Workgroup needs feedback to discern whether the web portal is meeting needs as envisioned, and what other projects the Workgroup should consider to support tribal programming for pollution prevention (P2). The Workgroup invites you to please click on the link to take the needs assessment survey.
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Blueprint for Greening Affordable Housing 05/23/2007
Global Green Publications offers this document to support community-based affordable housing developers. The publication demonstrates environmental building principles through case studies. It also offers recommendations for design, construction and operation.
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Funds for "green" rural housing 05/23/2007
The Housing Assistance Council has Green Fund Capacity Grants of up to
$15,000 to promote the effective use of green building technologies for
the development of affordable rural housing. Selected grant recipients
must use the awarded funds to support green building/healthy homes
techniques and practices in housing developments. Supported by Home Depot, applications are due July 15.
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Source Reduction Assistance Grants available from EPA 05/23/2007
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued the FY 2007 Request for Proposals for the Source Reduction Assistance Grants Program for eight of EPA's Regions (1-3, 5-7, 9-10). Each region has up to $163,000 available for a wide range of projects to support pollution prevention/source reduction and/or resource conservation activities. Over the past three years, annual funding has fluctuated between
$4,500,000 - $4,100,000. Since the inception of the grant program in
1988, EPA has awarded 32 grants to Tribes. EPA requires the applicant to provide a minimum 5% match. Proposals must be received or postmarked by June 18, 2007.
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Kayapo of Brazil prevent pollution through sustainable agriculture 02/28/2007
The Kayapo, which includes 5,000 people in 14 communities, own and manage 28.4 million acres of rain forest, a territory the size of Ohio and the world's largest area of tropical forest protected by a single indigenous group. They have found unity in focusing on their traditional methods of Brazil nut harvesting after logging and mining activities in the 1980s and '90s divided community members. Sustainable agriculture not only can replace mining and logging as sources of income, but helps them defend their territory against the current encroachment of cattle ranches, soy farms and other activities that damage and pollute Kayapo lands. The Forest Stewardship Council certified the Bau Indigenous Territory of the Kayapo Nation in 2006.
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Funding for Tribal Environmental Programs 02/20/2007
A program from the Department of Health and Human Services provides support for the strengthening of tribal governments or organizations to identify, plan, develop and implement environmental programs in a manner that is consistent with Tribal culture for Native communities. Approximately $1.5 million is available to fund twenty to thirty grants of up to $250,000. Deadline: 03/14/2007.
This program emphasizes community-based, locally designed projects. Program areas of particular interest include:
-- Projects to develop regulations, ordinances and laws to protect the environment;
-- Projects to develop the technical and program capacity to carry out a comprehensive Tribal environmental program and perform essential environmental program functions to meet Tribal and Federal regulatory requirements;
-- Projects that promote environmental training and education of Tribal employees;
-- Projects that develop technical and program capacity to monitor
compliance and enforcement of Tribal and Federal environmental regulations, ordinances and laws.
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National Forum on Tribal Environmental Science 08/30/2006
The National EPA-Tribal Science Council and the Quinault Indian Nation will sponsor a conference September 24-29 to provide an opportunity for tribal environmental professionals to learn from and network with peers in other tribes. Participants will share success stories on important environmental science issues with other tribes. The Conference will include trainings, presentations, networking, and field trips. Registration is free.
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Report from Interior and Energy Departments supports continued tribal sovereignty over energy rights-of-way (ROW) 08/30/2006
A draft study provided to Congress asserts that "A tribe's determination of whether to consent to an energy ROW across its land is an exercise of its sovereignty and an expression of self-determination. The implication of any reduction in the tribe's authority to make that determination is that it would reduce the tribe's authority and control over its land and resources, with a corresponding reduction in its sovereignty and abilities for self-determination." Current law mandates that Indian tribes give consent to energy projects on their lands, and that law should not be changed. In the past, the issue has pitted tribes against energy companies, with Native leaders objecting to proposals to tighten the requirement. Part of the opposition is financial as changing the law could cost some tribes millions in lost revenue. Although not a member of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the Navajos have been engaged in a dispute with builders of a planned energy corridor that would slice through tribal land. Efforts in Congress to overturn tribal consent may constitute an overreaction by a few in the energy industry to this single troubled negotiation. NCAI president Joe Garcia reads the report as unequivocally supporting tribal consent over Indian lands concerning energy rights-of-way, and secondly finding no evidence to support claims that the tribes' exercise of consent poses any threat to national security nor raises energy costs. Rather, it concludes that the present process for rights-of-way negotiations is working fine and there is no need to change existing law. Comments are requested on the draft report by September 1, 2006. The draft report appeared in the Federal Register for Aug. 9 and is available at http://1813.anl.gov for comment instructions.
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CO, WY: September listening sessions on "cooperative conservation" 08/28/2006
The Secretaries of Agriculture, Interior, Commerce, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality have announced the dates and locations of the next set of listening sessions on cooperative conservation and environmental partnerships. Sites in Region 8 are: Colorado Springs, Colorado, 9 a.m., Sept. 15, 2006, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, the Gymnasium. USDA Under Secretary Mark Rey will attend. Pinedale, Wyoming, 1 p.m., Sept. 19, 2006; Sublette County Library, Lovatt Room, 156 S. Tyler. Michael Bogert, Counselor to the Secretary of the Interior, will attend. The listening sessions give citizens an opportunity to exchange ideas on incentives, partnership programs, and regulations that can improve results and promote cooperative conservation and environmental partnerships. Specific questions will include:
* How can the federal government enhance wildlife habitat, species protection, and other conservation outcomes through regulatory and voluntary conservation programs?
* How can the federal government enhance cooperation among federal agencies and with states, tribes, and local communities in the application of environmental protection and conservation laws?
* How can the federal government work with states, tribes, and other public- and private-sector partners to improve science used in environmental protection and conservation?
* How can the federal government work cooperatively with businesses and landowners to protect the environment and promote conservation?
* How can the federal government better respect the interests of people with ownership in land, water, and other natural resources?
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Environmental Justice grant programs 08/01/2006
EPA is requesting two types of proposals addressed to environmental justice. Both are due 10/23/06. The ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING PROGRAM seeks to build the capacity of community-based organizations to address environmental and/or public health issues at the local level. $1 million expected to be available, 10 awards anticipated. The ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SMALL GRANTS
PROGRAM (EJSG) seeks to support and empower communities that are working on local solutions to local environmental and/or public health issues. The EJSG Program is designed to assist recipients in building collaborative partnerships that will help them understand and address the environmental and/or public health issues in their communities. $500K expected to be available, up to 10 awards anticipated.
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Green School Sweepstakes: a chance to win $5,000 08/01/2006
Make your school clean and green by using safe, affordable, cleaning products. To draw attention to the human health and environmental risks of the cleaning products used in many schools and to encourage them to use better products, the Center for a New American Dream is sponsoring a $5,000 nationwide sweepstakes. Contest deadline is 5:00pm (EST) on Thursday, September 21, 2006.
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Indigenous Environmental Network conference 08/01/2006
The Indigenous Environmental Network sponsored the "Indigenous International Grassroots Environmental Gathering" in Cass Lake, Minnesota on the Leech Lake Ojibwe Nation July 6-9, 2006. Presentations such as "Greenaction mobilizes community power to win victories that change government and corporate policies and practices to protect health and to promote environmental justice" and "Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative!" may be accessed at the web site http://ienearth.blogspot.com . PennElys Goodshield of the Sustainable Nations Development Project in Trinidad, Calif. led a hands-on straw bale building and earthen plaster workshop. The sad truth, however, is that much of the conference focused on American Indian battles to restore environmental health, for example the "land saturated with toxins and residues of oil production" faced by the Ponca of Oklahoma.
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Sac and Fox Nation pursues "environmentally friendly" oil refinery 08/01/2006
The Sac and Fox Nation and two companies will be building the first new oil refinery in north central Oklahoma in 30 years. Sac and Fox Chief Kay Rhoads told the Tulsa World the tribe will provide the land for the refinery. According to Tom Beaver writing for the Ottawa Kansas Herald, Chief Rhoads says the refinery is a way to develop economically in areas independent of its casinos, but also to move toward environmental sustainability. "We are looking at ways to refine oil and use the byproducts as another source of alternative energy in a way that will be environmentally friendly," she said. "We want to know how to sustain our domestic fossil fuels and protect the environment at the same time."
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Water Update - new publication from the National Water Program 08/01/2006
The National Water Program, a Partnership of USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) and the Land-Grant universities, has begun publishing the Water Update. The first issue focuses on findings of a survey of state Water Quality Coordinators based at land-grant colleges. One finding was that most of the Coordinators had mostly Extension appointments, but Coordinators from the "1994 land-grants" (Tribal Colleges) did not have Extension dollars supporting their appointments. By far the Coordinators considered EPA and the State environmental agencies their most important partners (as opposed to agricultural or health agencies). The most significant areas of their water programming expertise were watershed management, and drinking water & human health, followed by pollution assessment (programming to help various types of resource managers to recognize their pollution contributions in order to take action to prevent pollution). These 3 areas were also considered the top programming needs. One comment among many on the current state of the National Water Program partnership was that the partnership needs, "more proactive attention to needs and issues in Indian country: training, education and resources." The survey asked Coordinators about emerging issues. Responses included pharmaceutical contaminants, endocrine disruptors, water security and scarcity, and pollution assessment and prevention. Many of the concerns expressed for the future of the program addressed the shift in USDA/CSREES funding from Extension to Research.
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Environmental Justice Small Grants Program 07/03/2006
The EJSG program administered by the US EPA is designed to provide funding for eligible applicants working on, or planning to work on, a project that addresses a local environmental and/or public health issue within an affected community. The Program is designed to help communities understand and address their exposure to multiple environmental harms and risks. The primary purposes of proposed projects should be to create and/or develop collaborative partnerships, educate the community, develop a comprehensive understanding of environmental and/or public health issues, and identify ways to address these issues at the local level. Non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for grants of up to $50,000. Due date: October 23, 2006.
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Mercury warnings a new part of tribe's tradition 07/03/2006
Tina and Rick Van Zile are members of the Mole Lake Ojibwe tribe in northern Wisconsin. Each spring for more than 15 years, they have gone spearfishing together, engaging in a tradition for their tribe and gathering food that is vital to their diet. But in recent years they have added something new to the old ways -- they consult a color-coded map that tells them which of the more than 50 lakes in the region have the highest mercury levels. Because fishing is so central to the traditions, social life and economic sustenance of many Indian tribes, the warnings have special significance for them.
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Tribal pesticide and special projects; 2006 request for proposals 07/03/2006
EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), in coordination with the EPA regional offices, is soliciting pesticide and special project proposals from eligible tribes, Alaska native villages, and intertribal consortia for fiscal year (FY) 2006 funding. Under this program, cooperative agreement awards will provide financial assistance for projects that assess or reduce risks to human health and the environment from pesticide exposure. The total amount of funding available for award in FY 2006 is expected to be approximately $400,000, with a maximum funding level of $50,000 per project. Proposals must be postmarked on or before August 7, 2006.
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Workshops to improve and protect air quality in Indian Country 06/26/2006
The EPA, in conjunction with the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) and the National Tribal Air Association (NTAA), will hold two training workshops for tribal environmental professionals in Tulsa, OK from June 27 - 29, 2006 and one TBA in February 2007.
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Tribal Program Office Newsletter 06/21/2006
The Tribal Program Office Newsletter is published monthly and circulated among the Tribes within EPA Region 9. The Newsletter contains the latest information concerning Tribal meetings, conferences, environmental training programs, grant and loan information, deadline dates, and contacts for further questions. The Tribal Program Office welcomes your information as it pertains to the categories mentioned above. Please contact Maria Castain to submit an entry: castain.maria@epa.gov
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Workshops to Improve and Protect Air Quality in Indian Country 06/21/2006
The EPA, in conjunction with the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) and the National Tribal Air Association (NTAA), will hold two training workshops for tribal environmental professionals in Tulsa, OK from June 27 - 29, 2006 and one TBA in February 2007.
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Funding: EPA regional Source Reduction Assistance Grants 05/31/2006
Tribal entities in all of EPA's regions except Regions 1, 8 and 9 are eligible to apply for funds to support source reduction/pollution prevention and/or resource conservation activities. Each region has developed a list of projects it will consider under this program. A 5 percent funding match is required.
Due date: June 19, 2006
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Navajo Nation showcases innovative designs 05/31/2006
The Navajo Nation's innovative and energy efficient designs and building materials were highlighted at this year's Construction in Indian Country conference. Focused on identity and culture, Navajos from Navajo FlexCrete Building Systems and the Navajo Housing Authority displayed models and photographs of an energy-efficient hogan design, which reduces electrical use by 70 percent. FlexCrete blocks, made of aerated fly ash, are affordable and provide excellent insulation.
Arizona State University's Stardust Center for affordable homes designed an energy-efficient hogan in an isolated area near Chaco Canyon. Four Navajo students in the College of Design participated in the project. The new model incorporates the hogan and traditional shade into the design and honors the traditional clockwise movement when entering a Navajo home. The roof is designed as an inverted shed to collect rainwater, stored in an underground tank with a hand pump for watering plants and animals.
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Tribal: Navajo Nation Will Administer Its Clean Water Act Programs 05/10/2006
The largest Indian reservation in the US, the Navajo Nation, became the 34th tribe out of 563 US tribes to be have the EPA stamp of approval to administer Clean Water Act programs. Such programs will form the basis of water quality limitaions and discharge requirements within its jurisdiction. "We are pleased to celebrate this achievement with the Navajo Nation. We'll continue to work together to protect and restore vital water resources on tribal land," said Alexis Strauss, the EPA 's Water Division director for the Pacific Southwest region.
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Western Shoshone and others file suit to halt detonation 05/01/2006
A tribe of Western Shoshone has joined with non-Indian plaintiffs from Utah and filed suit in federal court in Las Vegas to stop the United States from detonating 700 tons of explosives at the Nevada Test Site, which is on ancestral Western Shoshone land.
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EPA honors tribes as environmental heroes 04/24/2006
At EPA's 8th annual Environmental Awards ceremony, the Region 9 administrator made awards to three dozen organizations and individuals throughout the Pacific Southwest for excellence in their efforts to protect and preserve the environment in 2005. The environmental heroes recognized were from the Tohono O'odham Utility Authority, the Karuk Tribe, Ak Chin Indian Community, the Navajo Nation, and Ho'oulu Lahui of Pahoa.
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DOE's Tribal Energy Program is offering summer internships 04/05/2006
DOE's Tribal Energy Program is offering summer internships to Native American students who are interested in renewable energy and who are currently college upper-classmen or graduate students. To be considered for the 2006 summer program applications must be received by February 24, 2006.
For eligibility requirements and how to apply, please see the application "Featured" at www.eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy or contact Sandra K. Begay-Campbell, Sandia National Laboratories at (505) 844-5418 or skbegay@sandia.gov
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Tribal Pollution Prevention events, workshops and conferences 04/05/2006
Tribal Pollution Prevention events, workshops and conferences are featured on the Peaks to Prairies events listing.
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Tribal: Colville tribal voters reject mining 04/05/2006
Voters on the Colville reservation decisively rejected a mining referendum that could have brought huge financial gains from molybdenum extraction. Visions for Our Future, a non-profit grass-roots organization concerned about preventing destruction to natural resources and saving sacred sites on the reservation, led the opposition effort.
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Tribal: Stillaguamish win grant for high school ecology program 04/05/2006
The Puget Sound Action Team, a state agency that is working to improve the health of Puget Sound, awarded a $4,744 grant to the Stillaguamish Tribe for a high school ecology program. The grant is one of 12 awards amounting to nearly $487,236 to involve the public in protecting and restoring Puget Sound. Stillaguamish will work with 60 students to analyze water samples in retention ponds and streams that receive parking lot runoff and effluent from school car washes. Students will research solutions, and work with Stillaguamish to reduce pollutants. A community outreach campaign will promote environmentally friendly cleaning products and practices.
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Comments requested: Profile of Tribal Government Operations 03/15/2006
EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance seeks comments on a draft "Tribal Profile" that presents information on many aspects of tribal government operations that may affect the environment. The Tribal Profile provides tribes with key information needed to comprehensively understand the environmental regulations that may apply to their tribal operations and facilitate compliance. In addition, the Tribal Profile can help tribes build their environmental compliance programs. The Tribal Profile also contains material on an array of available EPA technical and compliance assistance tools and financial and pollution prevention opportunities applicable to tribal operations.
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Protecting cultural & natural resources and air quality in Indian Country and elsewhere along the U.S.-Mexico border 03/15/2006
EPA has published the ninth in a series of reports from the Good Neighbor Environmental Board (GNEB) advising the President and Congress on to how to better protect Native American cultural and natural resources along the U.S.-Mexico border. The report cites damage to sacred Tribal sites, and air pollution at congested border crossings. In addition to improved border security, urban growth management, and public involvement in preservation, the report recommends "greener" transportation options, including new technologies and fuels that reduce emissions, and encouraging public transportation, ridesharing, car-sharing, biking and walking in border cities.
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Tribal P2 Work Group hosts panel at 2006 Environmental Summit 03/03/2006
At the May 2006 Environmental Summit in Atlanta, Georgia, the Tribal Pollution Prevention Work Group will host a panel titled: Tribal Pollution Prevention: Updates and Opportunities. Organizer & moderator: Elizabeth Bird (Peaks to Prairies Coordinator, ebird@montana.edu). Speakers: Charles J. "Charlie" Lippert, Air Quality Technician, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe DNRE; Tom Wojciechowski, Project Manager, Bad River Tribal Government Offices; others TBD.
Description: Learn what Tribal communities are doing in the way of P2 and environmental improvement. Find out how P2 technical assistance providers are interacting with Tribes, their barriers to implementation, and opportunities for success.
Early registration for the summit has been extended to March 17.
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Funding: EPA requests applications to establish a national tribal water program council. 02/16/2006
The Tribal Water Program Council (TWPC) will work to raise awareness on water related issues pertaining to the health of tribal communities and the quality of tribal aquatic resources and watersheds. $800K expected to be available, 1 award anticipated. For more info, contact Karen Rudek at (202) 564-0472 or go to: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=7706
Refer to Sol# EPA-OW-IO-06-01.
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MT: Master plan for the Chippewa/Cree Reservation receives architectural award 02/16/2006
An MSU professor of architecture and his student received one of the highest American architectural awards for his master plan for the Chippewa/Cree Reservation southwest of Havre, Montana. The winning plan for the 130,000-acre Rocky Boy's Reservation was an extension of a Community Design Center project. The center helps cities, towns and non-profit organizations throughout the region, offering professional architectural planning with the assistance of MSU students. The tribe's planning committee voted to use Johns and Orr's master plan as a basis for a zoning plan for the reservation. Chippewa-Cree tribal officials sought the center's guidance because they project that the reservation's population, now ranging from 2,700-4,500 people, could mushroom to 19,000 by the year 2050, largely fueled by a proposed casino and other growth. Grant from the Walking Shield Foundation and MSU's College of Arts and Architecture helped complete the plan.
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Blackfeet tribal business council member reinstated 02/06/2006
The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council decided against ousting Councilman Sam Pat Schildt and opted to postpone the expulsion hearing until February 21st. Schildt, a long-established oil and gas consultant, was originally suspended on January 12 on the grounds that he was improperly involved with resource extraction companies intent on drilling on tribal land. Though he admits he does have connections with prospecting oil and gas companies, he insists that the information he has shared is readily available to the public on the Internet or through the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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EPA approves Navajo Nation for Clean Water Programs 02/06/2006
The EPA approved the Navajo Nation's application to control federal Clean Water Act programs, including administering water quality standards and water quality certification programs. The Navajo Nation is one of 34 tribes out of 563 nationwide to receive the approval. The tribe partner with the EPA to create water quality standards. Once these are approved, they will be the basis of water quality-based effluent limitations and other for discharge requisites.
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MT: Stricter water pollution rules needed 02/06/2006
The Montana Environmental Information Center and the Fort Belknap Indian Community, the tribal council for the Fort Belknap Reservation are requesting more stringent regulation on water pollution standards. They petitioned the Montana Board of Environmental Review to amend the rules for issuing new mine permits under Montana's Metal Mine Reclamation Act. About five former mines in Montana, like the Zortman-Landusky gold mine, on the border of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, will require over one hundred years of treatment. The proposed rule would require water contamination to be eradicated by the time reclamation work comes to an end, rather than such extensive treatment times. This would protect the state's natural resources and its taxpayers, as said by about 30 people who spoke to a state board Wednesday on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Representatives and supporters of the mining industry at a hearing in Boulder said the rule would damage the state's economy.
Fort Belknap Reservation Tribal Chairwoman Julia Doney stated, "We say perpetual water treatment at Zortman-Landusky. Why doesn't the state of Montana save itself some money?"
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Tribal P2: Indigenous People Take a Stand on Global Warming 01/17/2006
The U.N. conference on global warming found American Indians, Alaska Natives and the First Nations of Canada standing in solidarity with indigenous peoples throughout the world during the U.N. conference on global warming.
The Tiohtia:ke Declaration reaffirmed the positions of indigenous peoples who have participated in U.N. climate conferences since the late 1990s. It reads, "the burning of oil, gas and coal as fossil fuels is the primary source of human-induced climate change. Indigenous Peoples have experienced systematic and repeated violations by oil, gas, mining and energy industries infringing on our inherent right to protect our traditional lands." The declaration was endorsed by most indigenous groups at the U.N. meeting.
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Tribal P2: ANWR to Remain Intact 01/03/2006
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will continue to be locked away to oil drilling, which is a disappointment to the majority of Alaskans who support opening the refuge, but a cause for celebration for the Native tribes who live nearby. The Gwich'in people, who depend on caribou in the refuge for food and survival, staged a month-long protest last summer to call attention to the threat drilling poses to their lifeways. Their efforts were rewarded Dec. 21 when the Senate voted down a bill that would have opened ANWR to drilling.
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Tribal P2: Water Conservation Through Wastewater Use 01/03/2006
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe was recently granted a permit by the Department of Environmental Protection to use treated wastewater to meet the course's 600,000-gallon-a-day water requirements. The tribe's wastewater plant uses microbes to get rid of any organisms, then disinfects the water using ultraviolet light.
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Cree Village Ecolodge: An Eco-Friendly Inn 12/28/2005
The Ecolodge opened in summer 2000. Today, visitors from around the globe discover the best of the traditional Cree culture, as well as diverse outdoor activities, a comfortable bed and excellent meals, all wrapped up in the vast Canadian north in an ecologically friendly building and environment. Ecological innovations include the heating system, natural ventilation, low emission paints, energy-efficient lighting, biodegradable cleaning supplies and natural, organic furnishings.
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Alaska Native Village Goes Green 12/06/2005
The fall 2005 issue of the magazine "Rural Voices" features a story about the Alaska village of Little Diomede. The village, with the help of the Rural Alaska Community Action Program (RuRALCAP), leveraged Bureau of Indian Affairs funds to rehabilitate homes in an energy-efficient manner. At Little Diomede, the villages housing was in dire condition and the traditional council had just voted, with great sadness, to begin relocating the villagers to the mainland. Relocation would mean not only physically uprooting families, but abandoning centuries of seafaring subsistence culture that relies on the harvesting of migratory birds and marine mammals. RurAL CAP assembled funding to rehabilitate every occupied home on the island, increasing energy efficiency through insulation, new windows, siding, and installation of high efficiency water heaters and oil stoves. In addition, durable materials replaced dilapidated structural elements, and interior mold and condensation issues were addressed. Local residents performed all the work under supervision of a RurAL CAP foreman. Fuel sales at the village store were sharply reduced, with some residents reporting a 50% reduction in fuel consumption. Family health also improved.
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Grants Help Tribes Educate on Lead-Based Paint 12/06/2005
Several tribes within the area served by Region 9 of the Environmental Protection Agency have received grants to conduct educational outreach on the hazards of lead-based paint. The grants also provide funds to test for lead hazards in tribal homes and facilities. EPA Region 9 serves states and tribal nations in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Islands.
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$2.5 Million in Grants Available for Tribal Air Programs in EPA Region 9 11/28/2005
Region 9 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is currently soliciting grant and/or cooperative agreement proposals for the Tribal Clean Air Act Grant Program. A total of $2.5 million will be awarded to eligible applicants carrying out projects that serve the lands in Indian Country within EPA Region 9, which serves Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific islands. The grant program will provide funding for tribal air pollution control programs and projects aimed at conducting and promoting the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, and control of air pollution. In addition, the goal of these grants/cooperative agreements is to assist tribes in developing the capacity to manage their own air quality programs in accordance with their individual needs. Applications are due by January 13,2006.
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Colorado: Renewable Energy Summit Launches New Era of Energy for Tribes 11/28/2005
At the first Native Renewables Energy Summit in Denver, Alaska Natives and American Indian representatives across the U.S. and Canada met to discuss the potential of renewable energy to protect the environment and reap economic benefits. The summit showcased renewable energy projects already in the works on tribal lands, and highlighted climate change concerns that tribal communities and cities share.
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EPA Soliciting Grant Proposals for Region 8 Projects 11/28/2005
Region 8 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is requesting proposals for the Fiscal Year 2006 Regional Priorities Grant Program. This competitive process solicits project proposals that will achieve measurable environmental and public health results within the priority areas of energy, agriculture, and enhancing capacity to provide public health and environmental protection in Region 8 states and Tribal lands. EPA Region 8 serves Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and 27 Tribal nations. Proposals are due by December 20, 2005. View the Request for Proposals.
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Native American Environmental Symposium December 5-9 11/23/2005
A national symposium, Native Americans Coming Together Caring For Mother Earth is coming up December 5 - 9, 2005. It is sponsored by the Indian Nations Conservation Alliance (INCA) and the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC). The symposium will occur at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, NV.
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Native Renewable Energy Summit Brings City, Tribal Reps Together 11/23/2005
City and Tribal representatives met in Denver November 15-17 for the Native Renewable Energy Summit. The summit was designed to elicit workable plans for tribe and city collaboration. Mayors from 180 cities across the country have signed an agreement to participate in the Kyoto Protocol, even though the federal government is not a party to that international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. So far, three cities - Boulder, Colo., Aspen, Colo. and Seattle - are exploring partnerships with tribes.
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Sac and Fox Nation Begins Ozone Monitoring Program 11/23/2005
The Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma has begun an ozone and meteorological monitoring program. A mobile monitoring station that will also test for Particulate Matter will be operational in June 2006. It can be utilized by any tribe for 90 days for just the cost of utilities. Data will be uploaded to Cherokee Nation daily via satellite uplink. The data collected will not be used for regulatory purposes, but can be used by tribes to determine if further sampling is warranted. This story was featured in the September 2005 newsletter in the link below.
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Tribes Make Water Quality Monitoring Data Available 11/23/2005
The Inter-Tribal Environmental Council (ITEC), in partnership with Gold Systems, Inc. out of Salt Lake City, has completed delivery of water quality monitoring data from seven ITEC member tribes to the national Storage and Retrieval (STORET) data warehouse. STORET is an EPA database of ambient environmental data relating to water quality. The original STORET was developed in the 1960s, and today the system continues to serve as EPAs principal repository for marine, freshwater and biological monitoring data. STORET is currently used by a variety of groups, including federal agencies, states, tribes, local governments, academic groups, watershed and volunteer monitoring organizations and the public. Currently, data
submitted by the participating tribes can be accessed on the Storet website.
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$100,000 Available in Grants for Air Pollution Reduction Initiatives 11/22/2005
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced the availability of two $50,000 grants to facilitate state, local or tribal innovative approaches to reducing air pollution through the demonstration of new programs, technologies, and strategies. The application deadline is January 6, 2006.
View the Request for Applications (pdf).
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Environmental Films Feature Aboriginal Community Struggles 11/15/2005
The sixth annual Planet in Focus International Environmental Film & Video Festival,held in September in Toronto, included films about aboriginal communities worldwide. One film, "Athlii Gwaii: The Line at Lyell", focused on conflict over forest clear-cutting on Queen Charlottes Island, British Columbia. The struggle has evolved to co-environmental management of the islands forest ecosystem by the Haida First Nation and the government of British Columbia. The documentary has aired at film festivals and on television stations across Canada.
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Two Native Youths Honored for Environmental Activism 11/15/2005
Two American Indian teenagers were honored with the nation's most prestigious award for leaders of tomorrow's environmental and social movements. Erika Chase, Hupa, and Kayla Carpenter, Yurok, both 17, received 2005 Brower Youth Awards from the San Francisco-based Earth Island Institute. In response to the 2002 fish kill (more than 64,000 salmon) in the California's lower Klamath Basin, they organized an annual 39-mile Salmon Relay Run to raise awareness about river and fish population health. Mirroring a salmon run, the route begins at the mouth of the Klamath River and travels upstream to the Trinity River.
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Pilot Program to Make Emergency Exempted and Special Local Needs Pesticides Available In Indian Country 11/08/2005
Under federal pesticide law, growers in Indian country do not explicitly have access to pesticide emergency exemptions or special local needs registrations. On November 1 the EPA Administrator authorized two findings that will allow farmers to use the same pesticides for combating pests in emergency situations as is used on neighboring lands. To test the feasibility of this approach, the Agency is implementing two pilot projects. One project involves growers in the Yakama Reservation and other Yakama Nation Indian country in Washington State, and the other applies to growers in Indian country nationwide. The pilots will expire in December 2007, after which EPA will assess whether this approach should be continued or expanded.
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Northern Cheyenne Settle in Coalbed Methane Suit 11/02/2005
The Northern Cheyenne Indian Tribe, a federal land agency and an energy development company have settled a lawsuit over coalbed methane drilling near the reservation, with the government agreeing to consult with the tribe on cultural issues. The tribe sued the Bureau of Land Managment for violating environmental laws, its trust responsibility to the tribe and the National Historic Preservation Act by excluding the tribe from consultation on cultural issues.
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Environmental Protection Agency Awards Over $40 million for Tribal Environmental Projects 11/01/2005
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded more than $40 million in grants for environmental protection projects to tribes in California, Arizona and Nevada. The EPA's funding will be used to develop environmental programs, build water and sewage treatment systems, and implement air pollution control, solid waste management, watershed monitoring and restoration projects. The money will be distributed to more than 140 tribes in the region.
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Native Renewable Energy Summit November 15-17 10/31/2005
This summit, held in Denver, Colorado, will bring together tribal leaders, local leaders and state officials to promote renewable energy and Native Renewables projects both in capital markets and for community development. With Green Tags and Renewable Energy Credits, Native Renewables projects can generate immediate financial rewards to revitalize Native economies.
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Help for Native American and other Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers 10/26/2005
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a request for proposals for Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (OASDFR) Grants. The "Section 2501" program will disburse $5.9 million. The closing date for grant applications is December 2, 2005. This program provides funds to organizations to provide hands-on assistance, for example through workshops and site visits, to encourage and assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. It supports outreach and assistance activities in farm management, conservation and environmental protection programs, financial management, marketing, and other areas. OASDFR's purpose is to assure opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to successfully acquire, own, operate, and retain farms and ranches; and assure equitable participation in the full range of USDA programs. Eligible entities include Native American Tribal Governments and Native American Tribal Organizations.
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Tribal Renewable Energy Subsidies 10/25/2005
Do you have a renewable energy generation facility? If so, you may be eligible for financial incentive payments of 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour for the first ten year period of operation for electricity produced and sold. The Department of Energys Renewable Energy Production Incentive (REPI) makes payments depending on Congressional appropriations each year. Eligible electric production facilities are those owned by State and local government entities (such as municipal utilities), not-for-profit electric cooperatives that started operations between October 1, 1993 and September 30, 2003, and beginning with the Energy Policy Act of 2005 Indian tribal governments or subdivisions thereof and Native Corporations. The point of contact for questions concerning REPI policy issues and the availability of appropriations for the REPI program is Dan Beckley . The point of contact on REPI implementation (facility qualifications, applications, and payments) is Christine Carter .
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License Approved for Nuclear Storage Facility on Skull Valley Goshute Reservation 10/22/2005
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved a license for a nuclear storage facility on Skull Valley Goshute tribal land. The approval has sparked new questions about the federal government's use of the region as a U.S. Army test site for biological and chemical weapons. The Goshute trive and the state of Utah are opposing the Private Fuel Storage Limited Liability Consortium's current plan to store more than half of the nation's high-level nuclear waste on 17,444 acres of tribal land.
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Northern Cheyenne Pact Makes Tribe Key Player in Coal Development Plans 10/19/2005
At Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer's recent energy summit, coal developers talked about the Otter Creek Valley near the Northern Cheyenne reservation and how all the "stakeholders" must work together if development is to occur. However, they never mentioned the Northern Cheyenne Tribe as a stakeholder. Northern Cheyenne tribal official William Walks About said his tribe is often treated like a "side issue" when people talk about coal development in southeast Montana. But a legal agreement in with the state guarantees the the tribe has its voice heard. According to the pact, anyone who mines Otter Creek coal just east of the reservation or proposes building power plants in the Otter Creek Valley must offer job training and job opportunities to Northern Cheyenne tribal members, protect Cheyenne cultural sites and resources, offer contract opportunities for American Indian-owned businesses, and have a strict environmental monitoring program.
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Hualapai Tribe At Odds with Park Service Over Recreation in Grand Canyon 10/14/2005
Arizona's Hualapai Tribe and the National Park Service are locked in a battle as to who controls the river along the 108-mile northern boundary of the reservation, in the Grand Canyon. The river tour industry transports nearly 25,000 people annually through the Grand Canyon. The Hualapais claim an executive order, signed by President Arthur in 1883, gives them control of the northern boundary of the river. A federal solicitor declared in 1999 during a water rights case that the tribal boundary was actually at the high water mark, giving the tribe would have no claim to the river at normal levels. Friction is building as the Park Service prepares to complete its long-awaited Colorado River Management Plan, which will regulate the number of people on river trips passing through the Grand Canyon.
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November is American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month 10/06/2005
American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month originated in 1915 when the president of the Congress of American Indian Associations issued a proclamation declaring the second Saturday in May of each year as American Indian Day. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating November 1990 as National American Indian Heritage Month. Similar proclamations have been issued every year since 1994.
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Coalbed Methane Development Proposed on Northern Cheyenne Reservation 09/14/2005
The Association for the Advancement of Indigenous Resources says that coalbed methane development should be considered on the Northern Cheyenne reservation. The organization was recently formed to educate tribal members about coalbed methane, according to Terry Beartusk, the organization's director. There is money to be made with development that is responsible, reasonable and sensitive to the concerns of tribal members, Beartusk said. Coalbed methane development has expanded in the Wyoming portion of the Powder River Basin and has been the focus of intense scrutiny in southeastern Montana in recent years. The group is surveying locals about their concerns with coalbed methane and plans on hosting feasts in each district on the reservation to provide information. In particular, the group plans to address concerns about air quality, water quality, royalties and possible damage to surface lands.
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EPA to Help States Reduce Fine Particle Air Pollution 09/14/2005
As part of the nationwide effort to improve air quality, the Environmental Protection Agency is proposing the steps state, local and tribal governments can take to reduce fine particle pollution in areas that do not meet EPA's health-based standards. A proposed rule describes the planning framework and requirements for state, local and tribal governments to consider when developing their plan to reduce air pollution to meet the standards. The EPA issued the fine particle standards in 1997 and all areas must meet the standards by 2010. The agency estimates that meeting these standards will prevent at least 15,000 premature deaths, 75,000 cases of chronic bronchitis, 10,000 hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular disease, hundreds of thousands of cases of asthma, and 3.1 million lost-work days.
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Montana: Environmental Group, Development Firm Strike Deal on Coalbed Methane 09/14/2005
An environmental group and energy development firm have reached an agreement to let coalbed methane production in a southeast Montana project continue, with restrictions on land disturbance and water disposal. The agreement between the Northern Plains Resource Council and Fidelity Energy and Production Co. affects an order U.S. Magistrate Richard Anderson issued earlier that halted the Tongue River-Badger Hills Project near Decker pending further environmental study. A decision by Anderson in a related study to allow federal leases in a portion of southern Montana on an interim basis is being appealed by both the environmental group and the Northern Cheyenne. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is set to hear arguments in the matter Thursday in Seattle.
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Utah: Nuclear Waste Storage Plan on Reservation Meets Opposition 09/14/2005
The plan to store nuclear waste on the Goshute Indian Reservation, recently signed off on by Nuclear Regulatory Commission, met opposition from leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church who broke their eight-year silence on the plan and voiced their disagreement. Opponents of the waste plan vow to stop a group of utilities called Private Fuel Storage LLC from leasing land on the tribal lands, which are about 45 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. The facility will store up to 44,000 tons of used reactor fuel.
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Montana: Energy Symposium To Address Energy Issues and Environmental Concerns 09/12/2005
A symposium on Montana's energy future will be held October 18-19th on the Bozeman campus of Montana State University. Event topics will include energy production, renewable energy, conservation, transmission issues and enviornmental concerns. The mission of the symposium is to start the process of developing a comprehensive, long-term energy policy for Montana. Governors of New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon and West Virginia will discuss energy issues in their states, and representatives from the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Department of Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will be in attendance. The public is invited to the symposium. The cost is $50, although students with valid student identification can attend free of charge. For more information, including registration information and an updated agenda, visit www.energyfuture.mt.gov.
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Utah: Tribal Endangered Species Conference Unites Conservation Efforts on Tribal Lands 09/06/2005
As the owners and managers of 95 million acres across the United States, Americans Indians can play a unique and pivotal role in the effort to preserve America's endangered and threatened species. The Tribal Endangered Species Conference, held this week at the University of Utah and sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation, was convened to unite conservation efforts on the nation's tribal lands. "There are so many tribes across the country doing good work, but we needed a way to facilitate this work so everybody can learn from each other," says Steve Torbit, director of the National Wildlife Federation's Tribal Lands Program. Tribal biologists and conservationists at the conference pointed out the vital roles American Indians already have played in reviving the nation's most endangered species. For example, the Nez Perce tribe has been an important cog in the reintroduction of the wolf to central Idaho.
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Navajos Receive Water Protection Award for Banning Uranium Mining 09/05/2005
The Karl Souder Water Protection Award of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center was awarded to three Navajos for their roles in banning uranium mining on the Navajo Nation. "I believe in economic development and that there is a place for it. However, there is a choice to be made --whether we make a dollar or survive for generations to come. We decided it was more important to have generations and generations after us," said Navajo Councilman George Arthur. Arthur sponsored the Dine' Natural Resources Protection Act, which banned uranium mining and processing on the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation Council passed the act in April. Lynnea K. Smith, of the Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining, also received the water protection award along with Esther Yazzie-Lewis, president of the Southwest Research Center board.
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Denver World Oil Conference November 9-10, 2005 08/29/2005
World oil production is expected to peak and then start to decline, perhaps in the next decade. This conference, entitled "Beyond Oil: Potential Responses to Peak Oil Impacts," will discuss the impacts of a peak in world oil production. Since oil provides nearly 40% of world energy, peak oil will be a significant turning point in human history, with far-reaching consequences. The conference will present ways in which citizens, corporations, cities, and states can take intelligent actions to prepare for more expensive petroleum and to mitigate the negative impacts of peak oil. Presentations will include alternative fuels status and issues, an update from car manufacturers, and an exploration of policy options, especially at the municipal level.
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EPA Brownfields Job Training Program Requesting Grant Applications 08/26/2005
EPA's Office of Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment is now requesting applications for brownfields job training grants. Applications are due September 16, 2005. The goals of the job training program are to prepare trainees for future employment in the environmental field and facilitate cleanup of brownfield sites contaminated with hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants and petroleum. Brownfields are properties - urban, suburban, rural, waterfront, tribal, or international - that face redevelopment challenges because they contain hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties takes development pressures off of undeveloped, open land, and both improves and protects the environment.
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New Mexico: National Association for Environmental Education Conference to Focus on Sustainability 08/26/2005
The 34th annual National Association for Environmental Education conference will be held October 25-29 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This year's conference will focus on issues of sustainability of our society and its natural resource-based economy, and the role environmental educators can play to help right the course. Conference discussions will include environmental, social, and economic issues and the how educators can help create a more knowledgeable global citizenry.
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Comment Period Extended for Environmental Justice Strategic Plan 08/11/2005
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency is developing an Environmental Justice Strategic Plan to integrate its environmental justice efforts more fully into Agency programs and operations. On June 22, 2005, the Office of Environmental Justice issued a Federal Register Notice seeking public comment on the draft Framework for Integrating Environmental Justice and Environmental Justice Strategic Plan Outline. On July 28, 2005, EPA issued a Supplemental Notice in the Federal Register reopening the public comment period until August 15, 2005 to provide the public more time to comment.
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NEW TOOL: Calculate the Benefits of Switching Your Fleet to Hybrid Vehicles 08/04/2005
Fleet managers can use a new, free software tool to help them calculate the environmental and financial benefits of switching to hybrid vehicles. The Hybrid Electric Vehicle Fleet Cost and Benefits Calculator Tool was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Center for a New American Dream, and the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. The software computes potential savings by taking into account purchase price, fuel costs, repair and maintenance costs, resale value, and applicable tax incentives. The tool was developed for use by both business fleet managers and those in federal, state, local and tribal governments who are interested in reducing fuel costs and improving air quality.
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Virgil Masayesva Native American Environmental Education Scholarship Fund Established 08/04/2005
A scholarship fund has been created at Northern Arizona University in memory of Virgil Masayesva and his work to promote Native American environmental education and protection issues. The fund will support qualified Native American students who are pursuing environmental careers and others who are working toward careers related to environmental protection of Indian Country. Masayesva was co-founder and director of the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) at Northern Arizona University.
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States Funded to Weatherize Low Income Housing 07/19/2005
The U. S. Department of Energy has awarded $92.5 million to 19 states to improve the energy efficiency of low-income family homes. Plugging air leaks, improving insulation and tuning air conditioning and heating systems are some of the improvements that will be made in order to reduce energy waste and lower energy bills. Approximately 92,300 homes will be upgraded with the money. It is estimated that weatherization can reduce an average homes energy costs by $237 a year. The program is administered by states, tribes and 970 local agencies. Every state, the District of Columbia, the Navajo Nation and the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona will receive weatherization grants this year.
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New Resource on Mercury Switch Recycling 07/15/2005
Tribes have the opportunity to develop a sustainable industry that also benefits the environment by recovering mercury switches in junk vehicles. A new resource provides recommendations on how to recycle mercury components in thermostats and motor vehicles. Illinois EPA prepared the report in response to Public Act 93-0964. You can find this resource in the tribal portal Project Resources. It is also available in the link below.
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BIA school is LEED certified 07/11/2005
Baca Dlo'ay azhi Community School, on the Navajo Nation reservation in Prewitt, New Mexico, was recently LEED-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. The 78,900 ft2 (7,330 m2) building, which employs Native American cultural concepts in its green design, serves students in kindergarten through grade six. The school received LEED certification for a number of innovations, including daylighting, low-emissivity windows, shading, air filtration, materials with recycled content, an efficient mechanical system, and a sophisticated energy-management system. The new school is expected to use 20% less energy and 30% less water than a traditionally-built school. (Source: U.S. Green Building Council.)
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Indigenous Leaders Sought for Buffett Award 07/07/2005
Ecotrust is requesting nominations for the Buffett Award for Indigenous Leadership. Funded by the Peter and Howard Buffett families, the award recognizes outstanding individuals in the field of conservation and community development. Individuals are eligible if they are First Nation or tribal members, over 35 years of age, and work or have worked with an indigenous organization or community within the Pacific salmon territory of North America. A $25K
cash award will be presented and four honorees will receive a $2.5K cash award. Nominations are due 9/31/05.
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Navajos Power Residences with Sun and Wind 07/05/2005
(Salt Lake Tribune) In New Mexico, remote hogan's are being equipped with renewable energy systems to supply families and elderly tribe members with power. Costs for running power lines to the homes would have been prohibitive. Sacred Power, an Indian owned utility, partnered with the communities of Torreon-Star Lake and Ojo Encino to build and install the systems. The systems also come with energy-efficient refrigerators and light bulbs and the company is providing on-going maintenance of the systems for two years and training residents to conserve energy.
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Tribal Composting Nourishes Land and Tradition 06/30/2005
The newest issue of U.S. EPA's Tribal Waste Journal focuses on a variety of innovative composting approaches, including: backyard, fish and wood waste, food waste and biosolids, vermicomposting in schools, green waste composting in an arid climate, mixed solid waste composting in Alaska, and cultural gardens and green roofs. It features the stories and experiences of the: Blackfeet Tribe of Montana, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Fond du Lac Reservation, Haines Sanitation, Inc., Ho-Chunk Nation, Kake Tribal Corporation, Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, Oneida Tribe of Wisonsin, Redwood Valley Rancheria, and Slat River Pima Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona. As always, this issue also contain an extensive list of useful resources, tribal, village, and state contacts; and the Kids Page.
Free copies are available from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP)--phone: 800/490-9198; e-mail: ncepimal@one.net. Document #: (EPA530-N-05-001). It is also available online (see headline link).
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Montana Tribes Restore River 06/29/2005
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Northwestern Montana are midway in a multi-year plan to restore 22 miles of the Jocko River. By planting bushes and trees, creating new flood plains, and redirecting the river into historical beds, the project hopes to provide better habitat for bull trout and improve water quality.
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Intertribal Agriculture Council Publishes Newsletter 06/24/2005
The Intertribal Agriculture Council publishes a quarterly newsletter (on-line and hard copy) with reports from each region about agriculturally related success stories. The spring 2005 issue includes information about the Wampanoag Aquinnah Shellfish Hatchery, the Indian Nations Conservation Alliance, and a 4-H youth program in Texas to plant, grow and eventually sell Christmas trees. Site visitors can sign up to receive notification when new newsletters are posted.
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Renewable Energy Conference Earlybird Date Approaches 06/24/2005
Registration for the South West Renewable Energy Conference (August 1-2, 2005 in Santa Fe, New Mexico) at the earlybird rate ends July 1. On-line registration is available. Key sponsors include: Northern Arizona University, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, PNM Utility, Grand Canyon Trust, Sandia National Laboratories, Western Resource Advocates and others. The Conference Program will present a wide range of information about issues regarding the development of wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and other forms of renewable energy on tribal, federal, state and private lands.
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Tribes Receive Renewable Energy Grants (DOE) 06/17/2005
The U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it is making nearly $2.5 million available to 18 Native American tribes to advance the use of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies on tribal lands. A variety of wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and energy planning projects were funded. A complete list of projects is available with the original story. The National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, Colorado will administer the grants.
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Grant to Address Climate Change 06/13/2005
A $17.9 million Department of Energy grant was awarded to the Big Sky Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership headed by Montana State University. The Big Sky partnership is composed of public and private sector research institutions, businesses, tribal nations, international cooperators and state agencies. The partnership is part of a national carbon sequestration network to further develop ways of capturing and storing greenhouse gases. Research will center on storage in underground geological formations, cropland and forestland. It will also look at next-generation energy power plants.
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Tribal Golf Courses Go Green 06/13/2005
(Indian Country Today) As tribal governments become more involved in recreation industries like casinos, they are also seeking to offer their patrons a challenging golf experience that is aesthetically and environmentally pleasing.
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World Wilderness Conference Highlights Native Lands Issues 06/07/2005
The 8th World Wilderness Congress (WWC) will be held September 30 - October 6, 2005 at the Egan Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska. The conference will bring together indigenous groups from the United States, Canada, Central and South America, Asia and Africa with the goal of forming an international Native Lands and Wilderness Council. Participating groups will present case studies of indigenous conservation initiatives, and groups that have developed or are developing conservation projects on their traditional wild areas will share their experiences. The Conference is sponsored by the WILD Foundation.
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$7.5 Million Available in Clean School Bus Grants (EPA) 06/01/2005
The EPA has announced an availability of funds and is soliciting applications from school districts, including federally recognized Indian tribes which operate schools, for retrofit and/or replacement projects that reduce pollution from school buses. This is through the use of EPA verified or certified and/or California Air Resources Board verified pollution reduction technologies. The closing date for receipt of Applications is July 22, 2005.
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Indigenous Leadership Awards 06/01/2005
Ecotrust requests nominations for the Buffett Award for Indigenous
Leadership. This award, funded by the Peter and Howard Buffett
families, recognizes outstanding individuals in the field of conservation and community development within the Pacific salmon territory of North America. One $25K cash award will be presented to an individual whose activities demonstrate leadership to improve the social, economic, political, and environmental conditions in his or her homelands. Four honorees will receive a $2.5K cash award. Responses due 9/31/05.
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