Project Resources - Search Results

Environmental Assessment Worksheet

Though a Commissioner's Order, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe began an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) review process, in order to have coordination between programs and departmetns with projects around the Reservation. Each EAW is assessed by different individuals with technical expertise regarding Air Quality, Archaeology/Cultural Resouces, Forestry, Land Leases/Titles, Solid/Hazardous Waste, Water Quality (both surface and ground) and Wildlife/Fisheries. Each category are then reviewed against both with Tribal Laws and Customs, and with Best Available Practices in environmental management. Often during this process, the short-coming of the community planners are flushed out so that they can better serve the public and the tribal resources. However, the process still lacks the ability to review for overall safety and with potential O&M costs impact to the tribe, so the DNRE is now working together with the other departments to try to close up these review loop-holes that can cause approvals of projects that negatively impact tribes' environmental and resource access. A recent change for the EAW process was to bring in a public comment period for all public infrastructure projects, in order to enpower the community with a voice on their resouces and environmetal access.

For more information: http://www.millelacsband.com/

OPPT Tribal News

EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics publishes a newsletter approximately twice per year including articles featuring tribal initiatives and issues. The publication "...seeks to provide an opportunity to promote a two-way dialogue with EPA and American Indian Tribes, including Alaskan Native Villagers, regarding a vast array of environmental issues and concerns that affect Indian country. The mission and hope of the publication is to maintain an open, constructive exchange of information between the federal government, Tribal governments, and Tribal organizations...."

For more information: http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/tribal/pubs/

P2Rx Metal Fabrication & Machining Topic Hub

Gives an overview of the industry and the types of products it manufactures with information about the key processes and raw materials used; waste streams, environmental compliance, worker health and safety, and economic impact of inefficient operations; and technologies and operating practices that reduce the hazards, quantities and costs of waste. Also links to a bibliography of on-line resource and a database of activities by assistance programs in this area.

For more information: http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/topichub/index.cfm?page=toc&hub_id=23

P2Rx Metal Finishing Topic Hub

Overview of the metal finishing industry including small shops and metal finishing operations that are part of a larger manufacturing process. Gives information about the key processes and raw materials used, waste streams, environmental compliance, worker health and safety, economic impact of inefficient operations, technologies and operating practices that reduce the hazards, quantities and costs of waste. A bibliography of on-line resources is included for more detailed information.

For more information: http://www.pprc.org/hubs/toc.cfm?hub=24&subsec=7&nav=7

P2Rx Textile Manufacturing Topic Hub

Provides a description and history of textiles industry in the US along with an overview of key processes, the waste streams produced, opportunities for more efficient manufacturing, and economic and regulatory incentives to improve process efficiency. A bibliography of key resources is also included with links to on-line publications about specific issues.

For more information: http://wrrc.p2pays.org/p2rx/index.cfm?page=toc&hub_id=446&subsec_id=7

Profile of Tribal Government Operations

The Tribal Profile presents information on many aspects of tribal government operations affecting the environment. It provides tribes with key information about environmental regulations and can also help tribes build their environmental compliance programs. The Tribal Profile contains material on an array of available EPA technical and compliance assistance tools as well as financial and pollution prevention opportunities applicable to tribal operations.

For more information: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/publications/assistance/sectors/ notebooks/tribal.html

Tribal Water Quality Accomplishments

Tribes in the American southwest have made great strides in their efforts to monitor and control nonpoint source (NPS) pollution on reservation lands. Many of these tribes’ projects were recently highlighted in this publication. The document describes how the Indian tribes have used Clean Water Act Section 106 funds for water quality monitoring, thus enabling them to develop NPS pollution runoff control and management programs that ultimately improved environmental quality. The document describes the long-term results of water quality monitoring from the NPS management programs and other management efforts by 12 tribes in California, Nevada, and Arizona. Thanks to EPA and the other federal agencies that offer training and environmental program development and project support, increasing numbers of tribes are managing comprehensive water quality programs to protect, improve, and enhance natural resources for the benefit of all Tribal members.

For more information: http://www.epa.gov/region9/water/tribal/pdf/tribal-water-quality-accompl ishments.pdf

Tribes Supply Green Building Market with Certified Lumber

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) provides third-party certification for environmentally sound forestry operations. Supplies of sustainably managed and harvested timber are important for green building programs like LEED.

The First Nations Development Institute reported (2002) that tribes have gained increased control over their forests in recent years, and tribal foresters are seeking exposure for their sustainable forestry practices which are part of their traditional way of life.

Tribes completing certification assessments include; The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs in Oregon, the Nez Perce Tribe in Idaho, the Confederated Salish and Kootneai Tribe in Montana, the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Arizona, the Mescalero Apache Tribe in New Mexico, the Spokane Tribe of Washington, the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians in Minnesota and the Ft. Bidwell Indian Community in California. Several of these have obtained full FSC certification. Twenty-seven more tribes have gone through scoping assessments.

For more information: http://www.fsc.org/north-america.html