Contacts

The Contacts listed below are individuals and organizations in EPA and tribal groups that you can call for assistance on tribal environmental science issues. When seeking assistance from EPA, you should first contact one of the Regional EPA representatives for your area. The agency sponsored tribal groups can be utilized as a way to provide input to the EPA. For questions concerning tribal policy or regulatory issues, additional EPA and tribal contacts are listed at the EPA's American Indian Website.

• Regional EPA Science Contacts
• National EPA Science Contacts
• EPA-Sponsored Tribal Workgroup Contacts
• Tribal Science Organization Contacts

Regional EPA Science Contacts

Regional Science Liaisons
Each EPA Region has an individual designated as the Regional Science Liaison. Established by EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD), the Regional Science Liaison serves to address science issues across environmental programs throughout the Region as well as address research issues between ORD and the regions. Go to the Regional Science Program to learn more about the Regional Science Liaison for your region.

National EPA Science Contacts

Science Advisory Board (SAB)
Congress established the EPA SAB and gave it a broad mandate to advise the Agency on technical matters. Consisting of external academic and other scientific experts, the Board's principal mission includes reviewing the quality and relevance of the scientific and technical information being used or proposed as the basis for Agency regulations, research programs and the technical basis of applied programs, and generic approaches to regulatory science, including guidelines governing the use of scientific and technical information in regulatory decisions as well as critiquing analytic methods, advising EPA on broad scientific matters and other short-notice programs.

Vanessa T. Vu, Director
EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office
(202) 564-4533
vu.vanessa@epa.gov

Science Policy Council (SPC)
The EPA SPC is an internal EPA group that serves as a mechanism for addressing EPA's many significant science policy issues and is headed by the EPA's Science Advisor. With a goal of integrating policies that guide Agency decision-makers in their use of scientific and technical information, the SPC works to implement and ensure the success of selected initiatives recommended by external advisory bodies such as the National Research Council and the Science Advisory Board, as well as others such as the Congress, industry and environmental groups, and Agency staff. For more information on the Science Policy Council activities, visit their web site.

EPA-Sponsored Tribal Workgroup Contacts

Tribal Science Council (TSC)
The Tribal Science Council provides a forum for interaction between Tribal and Agency representatives of mutual benefit and responsibility to work collaboratively on environmental scientific issues. Membership consists of a single tribal representative from each of the nine EPA Regions with federally recognized tribes, an additional tribal representative designated in Region 10 to represent Alaska Native communities, and a single Agency representative from each Headquarters program office and region. Agency representatives are designated by Assistant Administrators from the EPA program office and regions. Tribal representatives are nominated by their Regional Tribal Operations Committees through the National Tribal Operations Committee.

National Tribal Air Association (NTAA)
The NTAA is a tribal air quality organization dedicated to insuring that Tribes themselves set priorities and determine mechanisms for interacting with other governments on air issues. The mission of the NTAA is to collectively advance air quality management policies and programs, consistent with the needs, interests, and unique legal status of American Indian Tribes, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. NTAA is housed at the National Tribal Environmental Council (NTEC) in Albuquerque, NM.

National Tribal Water Council
In late 2006, the Office of Water (OW) provided funding to establish and administer a national Tribal Water Council (TWC). The TWC is a tribal technical resource and program and policy dialogue and development group. It focuses on protecting the aquatic resources of Indian country by supporting tribal implementation of the requirements of the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act as well as by encouraging tribes to enter into partnerships with other stakeholders and to engage in voluntary water resource protection. The organization provides a recognized means for tribes to provide EPA with input on national water protection policies and initiatives, and assures that the tribal voice will continue to have a strong influence on long-term strategies adopted by the Office of Water.

Tribal Pesticide Program Council (TPPC)
The Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Tribal Program organized the TPPC in late 1999. TPPC is a tribal technical resource and program and policy dialogue and development group, focused on pesticide issues and concerns. It meets twice a year and provides a vehicle through which tribes can voice opinions on national pesticide policies and raise tribal pesticide issues to federal attention. The TPPC is a strong partner with the EPA to ensure that tribes will continue to provide a major impetus for the long term strategic direction taken by the Office of Prevention, Pesticide, and Toxic Substances (OPPTS) Tribal Program as it strives to build tribal capacity and produce an Agency pesticide strategy that is responsive to tribal needs and concerns. In addition, the TPPC serves as a technical resource pool for tribes in Indian country.
Membership: The TPPC is composed of authorized representatives from federally recognized tribes and Indian nations and intertribal organizations. Authorization must be in writing by a letter from either the Tribal Chairperson or a letter or resolution from the Tribal Council or similar governing body. At this time there are 42 authorized representatives, including some authorized alternates. Thirty-two tribes or Indian nations have authorized representatives.

Tribal Science Organization Contacts

The American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES)
AISES is a national, nonprofit organization which nurtures building of community by bridging science and technology with traditional Native values. Through its educational programs, AISES provides opportunities for American Indians and Native Alaskans to pursue studies in science, engineering, and technology arenas.

Pamela Silas, Executive Director
The American Indian Science & Engineering Society
P.O. Box 9828
Albuquerque, NM 87119-9828
(505) 765-1052
(505) 765-5608 (fax)
everett@aises.org

Alaska Native Science Commission
The Alaska Native Science Commission was created to bring together research and science in partnership with the Native community. It serves as a clearinghouse for proposed research, an information base for ongoing and past research and an archive for significant research involving the Native community. The commission provides information, referral and networking services for researchers seeking active partners in the Native community.

Patricia Longley Cochran, Executive Director Alaska Native Science Commission
429 L Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 258-2672
(907) 258-2652 (fax)
pcochran@aknsc.org

Canadian Aboriginal Science and Technology Society (CASTS)
CASTS was formed in 1992 by Calgary area aboriginal professionals concerned about the under-representation of aboriginals in science and technology fields. CASTS is a national, non-profit organization with the goal of increasing the number of Aboriginals in science and technology education programs and careers.

Alexandra McGregor
Executive Director
Canadian Aboriginal Science and Technology Society
236 Paganokomin Mikan
Kitigan Zibi Anishnabeg (Maniwaki), QC J9E3B1
(819) 441-0814

Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP)
ITEP was established at Northern Arizona University (NAU) in 1992, in cooperation with USEPA. ITEP was created to act as a catalyst among tribal governments, research and technical resources at NAU, various federal, state and local governments, and the private sector, in support of environmental protection of Native American natural resources. ITEP's mission is to assist Indian Tribes in the management of their environmental resources through effective training and education programs.

Cal Seciwa, Director
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals
Northern Arizona University
PO Box 15004
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
(928) 523-9651
Virgil.Masayesva@nau.edu

International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management (IIIRM)
IIIRM is a nonprofit corporation established to assist Indian tribes and other indigenous peoples in the sustainable utilization, management, development, and conservation of their natural resources and protection of their environment. In support of this goal, IIIRM conducts workshops and conferences, carries out research, operates internship and fellowship programs, and works directly with tribes to provide technical support to manage resource development and conservation projects; establish legal, regulatory, scientific, and technical systems for environmental protection and restoration programs; and develop and implement education and training programs to build or enhance technical and management skills.

Mervyn L. Tano
President
International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management
444 South Emerson Street
Denver, CO 80209-2216
(303) 733-0481

National Indian Health Board (NIHB)
The NIHB , a non-profit organization, represents tribal governments operating their own health care delivery systems through contracting and compacting, as well as those receiving health care directly from the Indian Health Service. The NIHB conducts research, policy analysis, program assessment and development, national and regional meeting planning, training and technical assistance programs, and project management. The NIHB presents the tribal perspective while monitoring federal legislation and opens opportunities to network with other national health care organizations to engage their support on Indian health care issues.

Stacy A. Bohlen
Executive Director
National Indian Health Board
926 Pennsylvania Ave SE
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 507-4070

Native American Fish and Wildlife Society
The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society is a non-profit membership organization for the protection, conservation and enhancement of Native American fish and wildlife resources.

Karen Lynch
Native American Fish & Wildlife Society
8333 Greenwood Blvd
Suite 260
Denver, CO 80221
(303) 466-1725

Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
SACNAS is to encourage Chicano/Latino and Native American students to pursue graduate education and obtain the advanced degrees necessary for research careers and science teaching professions at all levels.

Judit Camacho
Executive Director
SACNAS
PO Box 8526
Santa Cruz, CA 95061-8526
(831) 459-0170