Region 6 Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs

Region 6 serves 65 federally recognized Native Nations. Our Tribal Team members act as liaisons to tribes and manage General Assistance Program grants. We partner with tribes located in Region 6 on a government-to-government basis, consistent with their inherent sovereignty. Through these activities, we strive to strengthen the relationship between Tribes and EPA. Our office also assists other Divisions in working with tribes and helps resolve problems encountered in addressing environmental issues.

Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma Awarded Brownfields Grant

EPA has selected the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the seven-acre Old Lillard Pipe Supply site at 40206 Benson Park Road in Tecumseh. The site was used to sell new and used oil field equipment from the early 1960s to the mid-1990s, and was idle until 2003, when the tribe purchased it. It is contaminated with metals and drums of unidentified substances. Grant funds also will be used to support community involvement activities. Click here for additional information on the brownfields program.

Region 6 General Assistance Program

The General Assistance Program is a grant program for federally-recognized tribes and tribal consortia to plan, develop, and establish environmental protection programs in Indian country, as well as to develop and implement solid and hazardous waste programs on tribal lands. Below is a link to the Region 6 2008 Funding Opportunity packet and workplan template.

FY08 Gap Funding Opportunity Packet [pdf, 30kb, 5 pages]

GAP Workplan Template [pdf, 23kb, 1 page]

Link to GAP Online

Tribal GAP Online User's Manual

Regional GAP Online User's Manual

Second International Indigenous Youth Video Conference on the Environment

Indigenous youth from Uganda, Malaysia, Russia, and the United Stated connected on March 6, 2008, through a video conference to collaborate on the environmental issues.

Click here for more information on the Video Conference.