NEWS ARCHIVE
Montana tribes honored with national conservation award - May 16, 2012
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will be honored with the National Wildlife Federation Conservation Achievement Award in Government. CSKT established the nation's first tribally designated wilderness area on the Flathead Indian Reservation.
Toxins in Columbia River of particular concern to fish-reliant tribes - May 8, 2012
A federal study found 100+ toxins in the Columbia River, including flame retardants, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, personal care products, and cleaning products. The findings are of particular concern to tribes whose diets are high in fish from the river.
Moapa Paiute tribal members ask for closure of Nevada coal plant - May 3, 2012
Members of the Moapa Band of Paiutes spoke at an EPA public hearing, pointing to pollution from the nearby Reid Gardner Generating Station as the cause of a host of medical problems, including respiratory ailments, heart disease, headaches and strokes.
Crow Water Compact signed (audio) - April 27, 2012
Officials from the Department of Interior, the State of Montana and the Crow tribe signed the Crow Water Compact, closing a decades-old dispute over water rights on Montana's Crow Indian Reservation.
Judge throws out Encana lawsuit - April 24, 2012
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that Encana Oil and Gas filed against a tribal judge on the Wind River Indian Reservation. An Encana spokesman says the company will appeal.
Federal government admits mismanagement of resources for tribes - April 24, 2012
One of the tribes the government has settled with is the Ute Mountain Tribe of southwestern Colorado. Mistakes involved natural resources, including mismanagement of funds and clean-up.
Alaska tribal member honored with Goldman Environmental Prize - April 16, 2012
Caroline Cannon of the Inupiat tribal community in Alaska will be honored along with five others for their efforts to conserve their local environments and ways of life. Cannon has fought on behalf of her village against pollution threats.
New environmental youth corps launched in Michigan - April 15, 2012
The Sault Tribe Environmental Youth Corps (STEYC), newly launched in Sault Ste. Marie, MI is a youth club that appeals to high school age students who are concerned with the environment and its condition.
Oklahoma bill that would exclude tribes from environmental policymaking process refused hearing - April 12, 2012
An OK House committee chairman refused to bring to hearing a bill that sought to exclude tribes from the environmental policymaking process. Sen. Greg Treat, the bill's author, may seek to insert the language into another measure.
Oklahoma Bill calls for exclusion of tribes from environmental policymaking process - April 3, 2012
An OK. bill authored by Sen. Greg Treat aims to amend some existing legislation, primarily to remove the word "tribal" (e.g. "tribal" would be dropped from mandates regarding compliance with federal, state, local and tribal environmental regulations).
Sierra Club, Tribe oppose EPA proposal for coal plant - April 3, 2012
The Sierra Club has joined with the Moapa Band of Paiutes to oppose the EPA's proposed rule that would allow new nitrogen oxide burners to be installed at a coal plant near Moapa, instead of an emissions technology known as catalytic reduction.
Tribe, others file lawsuit challenging suction dredges for gold mining - April 3, 2012
Filed against California Department of Fish and Gamer by the Karuk tribe, conservation groups and salmon fishermen, the lawsuit aims to stop suction dredges that the plaintiffs say destroy salmon habitat in California rivers.
Oil & Gas Development in the Bakken (audio) - April 3, 2012
U.S. Interior Secretary Salazar says the dept. is working on proposed regulations for the hydraulic fracturing process, and a new automated system to speed up oil & gas permitting. Drilling applications in the Bakken have increased 500% in 5 years.
EPA, oil companies reach deal to protect Montana community drinking water - March 26, 2012
The EPA reached an agreement with three oil production companies operating on the Fort Peck Reservation, requiring monthly testing and any actions necessary to maintain an uninterrupted supply of safe water to residents.
Oil and gas drilling plans suspended on Blackfeet Indian Reservation - March 18, 2012
Faced with tribal opposition, a Denver-based oil & gas company has suspended plans for exploratory drilling at a site on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, near a spiritually, culturally and ecologically significant site just east of Glacier National Park.
Colorado tribe becomes first to operate Clean Air Act Program - March 10, 2012
The Southern Ute Indian Tribe became the nation's first Native American operator of a Clean Air Act program. The EPA gave approval for an in-house permitting program to cover the reservation's 1,058 square miles.
U.S. Forest Service grant supports Children's Forest - March 10, 2012
The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will partner with the South Tahoe Environmental Education Coalition, the Tahoe Heritage Foundation, and the Washoe Tribe of California and Nevada to establish a place local youth can learn about forest management.
Navajo Nation considers investment in grid connection project - March 7, 2012
If developed and expanded, the Tres Amigas project could allow large-scale wind and solar projects in the Southwest and the Great Plains to access large power markets.
Wyoming Senate Gives Initial Approval for Funding of Uranium Cleanup - February 24, 2012
The Wyoming Senate has given initial approval to a Joint Resolution asking Congress to increase funding and monitoring at the Riverton Uranium Mill Tailings remediation site on the Wind River Reservation.
Wyoming Senator opposes tribes taking lead role on two issues impacting tribal trust assets - February 24, 2012
Wind River tribal officials have pushed to be the lead agency on the issues of water contamination in the town of Pavillion, and possible actions to remediate a contaminated uranium site. Casper Senator Kit Jennings opposes the stance.
Arizona Tribal Group Testifies Against Land Exchange Bill - February 13, 2012
AZ tribal leaders testified against US HB 1904, a bill that would allow copper mining on Native American land. The land exchange bill would swap 2,000+ acres of federal land in the Tonto National Forest to the private mining firm Resolution Copper.
Ecotrust calls for Indigenous Leadership Award nominations - February 10, 2012
Nominations are open for Ecotrust's 11th annual Indigenous Leadership Award, recognizing native leaders dedicated to improving the social, economic, and environmental conditions of their homelands. The 2012 nomination deadline is April 1st.
Vote takes freeway off Arizona tribal land, battle continues to save sacred mountain - February 10, 2012
The Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) voted not to allow a freeway on tribal land. The question remains as to whether the Loop 202 extension around South Mountain will continue. AZ Dept of Transportation to continue with Environmental Impact Studies.
Canada's Enbridge won't offer first nations better terms - February 9, 2012
Enbridge Inc's chief executive office said the firm will not offer better financial terms to aboriginal bands who oppose the Northern Gateway oil pipeline. Enbridge needs to consult with a total of 45 native communities along the proposed route.
Inuit Traditional Ecological Knowledge Reveals Killer Whales Migrating North - February 2, 2012
A new study tapping Inuit Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) has confirmed that killer whales, whose dorsal fins impede passage in and around sea ice, are now ranging north due to melting sea ice, threatening the Inuit's food supply.
Overlooked Waste Site on Navajo Nation Now Cleaned Up - February 2, 2012
The Navajo Nation is celebrating the "clean closure" of a uranium waste dumping ground that was overlooked during federal cleanup efforts in the 1990s. The nation first had to prove that the site was related to the Rare Metals uranium mill.
Tribal Leaders Oppose Wisconsin Mining Bill Approved by Assembly - January 26, 2012
Many Wisconsin tribal leaders oppose a bill which would ease the way for an iron ore mine, relax environmental standards involving wetlands, groundwater and rock disposal, and eliminate public participation processes known as contested case hearings.
California Cabazon tribe agrees to air quality monitoring - January 19, 2012
The Cabazon tribe granted authority to inspectors to enter sovereign tribal land to monitor environmental laws on a reservation industrial park and issue violations. This allowance comes in response to noxious odors which sickened nearby schoolchildren.
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) e-waste recycling program successful - January 16, 2012
The CNO program, which launched a year ago with an event during which 37,000 pounds of e-waste were collected, has been recognized with several awards, and is expected to be a profitable venture for the tribe while reducing environmental hazards.
Oklahoma awards grant to Intertribal Land Use Committee for asbestos abatement - January 10, 2012
The Oklahoma Dept. of Environmental Quality has awarded a grant of $200,000 to the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache Intertribal Land Use Committee. The grant will be used for asbestos abatement of five buildings on the Fort Sill Indian School campus at Lawton.
