Tribes and Federal Facilities

Tribal governments have distinct roles in cleanups of federal facilities under treaties with the U.S. government. Accordingly, FFRRO works in partnership with tribal governments, both at the facility level and at the national policy-making level. The framework for FFRRO tribal involvement is a tribal strategy that is designed to address the needs of and mitigate impacts to American Indian tribes, including Alaskan Native villages, living on or near federal facilities. It includes:

• Working with tribes on a government-to-government basis consistent with EPA's trust responsibility to protect tribal health and environments.
• Involving tribes in the cleanup process through meaningful dialogue that respects the unique needs of each community.
• Developing partnerships that will enhance capacity and participation in the environmental decision-making process at federal facilities.

Communication with Tribes
An important focus of the tribal strategy is improved communication with American Indians living on or near federal facilities regarding progress made throughout the environmental restoration process. To strengthen this communication, FFRRO is working to involve tribes in the cleanup process through various forums. Talking Stick (PDF, 2 pages, 113KB) is a general brochure about EPA's involvement at federal facilities sites around Indian Country.

Technical Assistance to Tribes
Technical Outreach Services for Native American Communities (TOSNAC) provides technical assistance to American Indians dealing with federal facilities cleanup issues. This program is national in scope and coordinated through the Haskell Environmental Research Studies Center at Haskell Indian Nations University. It provides first contact, needs assessment, initial support and long-term technical support.

National Tribal Organizations
National Tribal Environmental Council (NTEC) is a national tribal organization that provides outreach and conducts research on a variety of hazardous substance contamination issues that impact tribes.