Federal Government Resources
Environmental Protection Agency
TribalAIR Office of Air and Radiation
The TribalAIR web site is designed to strengthen EPA and Tribal air quality programs in Indian Country by: providing timely and user-friendly access to key information; promoting the exchange of ideas; making available relevant documents to all environmental professionals who live and work in Indian Country. Links to partners and contacts; tribal air monitoring support; air programs; tribal authority rule; training; tribal policies and initiative.
American Indian Lands Environmental Support Program (AILESP)
AILESP integrates and assesses recent multi-media point-source releases, the potential impacts of contaminants, and recent compliance and enforcement histories for facilities located on and within five kilometers of Tribal areas. AILESP aims to provide this information to environmental managers at EPA headquarters, regions, and tribes to assist in focusing resources for environmental and human health protection.
EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA)
Site provides Tribes with the information about OECA's Tribal program to further their success in achieving compliance with environmental laws, and to assist in developing and implementing environmental compliance and enforcement programs.
Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (OPPT)
OPPT is committed to working in partnership with tribal governments to safeguard and protect the environment from toxic hazards and to promote pollution prevention in Indian country. Links to tribal programs; regional programs; tribal contacts.
Municipal Solid Waste Management in Indian Country
Contains information helpful to tribes interested in starting a tribal waste management program, handling hazardous waste, opening a new landfill or transfer station, or cleaning up an old dump site. Contains publications, educational materials, funding sources, federal and tribal regulations, and links to other federal agencies, tribal programs, and professional associations.
Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water Tribal Program Information
Site contains Tribal drinking water and underground injection control programs; Tribal source water protection program; Tribal Operator certification program draft guidelines; Tribal drinking water compliance information; Tribal drinking water needs; funding opportunities; regional information; links.
Office of Water
Contains proposed Federal water quality standards for Indian Country.
Office of Wastewater Management
OWM is working in partnership with the EPA Regions, other federal agencies, tribal organizations, state agencies and others to help build tribal wastewater infrastructure, improve water pollution control programs, and strengthen tribal capacity to effectively manage their public health and water resource programs. Site contains tribal assistance programs; program guidance; contacts; publications/resources; related links; education/training.
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Links to environmental data, contacts, and areas of interest (strategies and policies, grants, Title VI).
Community Based Environmental Protection (CBEP)
Integrates environmental management with human needs, considers long-term ecosystem health and highlights the positive correlations between economic prosperity and environmental well-being. Links to CBEP projects, policy, tools, case studies, and resources.
EPA's Brownfields Initiative
EPA's Brownfields Initiative will empower States, communities, and other stakeholders in economic development to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields.
Department of the Interior
US Geological Survey (pdf)
Activities related to American Indians and Alaska Natives. 1999 report containing conversion factors; environmental activities; resource activities; technical assistance including surface-water monitoring stations and sediment monitoring stations; Tribes or Tribal governments mentioned in the report; USGS contacts.
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Contains Indian affairs manuals, congressional relations, budget and GPRA, announcements, current news and events, links to treaties, laws and executive orders; information about tribal governments and intra-tribal organizations.
National Forest Service
The Forest Service works with State forestry organizations to help private landowners, including Indian tribes and landowners, to apply good forest practices. The Forest Service performs research to find better ways to manage and use our Nation's resources and provides technical assistance. The Forest Service works with indigenous people in other parts of the world through its Office of International Programs. Programs include range management; special land use; timber sale; free use timber; forest health protection; rural community fire protection; forestry incentive programs; forest stewardship program; economic recovery; rural development.
Bureau of Land Management
General procedural guidance for Native American Consultation Handbook. The goal is to assure that tribal governments, Native American communities, and individuals whose interests might be affected have a sufficient opportunity for productive participation in BLM planning and resource management decision making. This Handbook is mainly devoted to providing general guidance for determining when, where, what kind, and how much consultation is needed.
US Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Native American Liaison
Working together with Regional Native American Liaison Officials from among the Federally recognized tribes nationwide, identifies areas where both Federal and tribal conservation efforts can most effectively conserve fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats.
National Park Service American Indian Liaison Office
They are working to improve relationships between American Indian Tribes, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and the National Park Service through consultation, outreach, technical assistance, education, and advisory services.
National Park Service Tribal Preservation Project
The National Park Service (NPS) Tribal Preservation Program assists Indian tribes in preserving their historic properties and cultural traditions. Its main purpose is to help tribes strengthen their capabilities for operating sustainable preservation programs. Projects that provide training for tribal members and have a lasting impact on the tribe are given the highest priority in the funding process.
Bureau of Reclamation Native American Affairs Office
The Bureau of Reclamation Native American Affairs Office is responsible for developing and coordinating policy and technical guidelines for Reclamation's Native American Affairs program, providing technical assistance and participating in Indian Water Settlements negotiation and implementation team activities, providing liaison with Reclamation offices, Departmental officials, other Federal agencies, the Congress, OMB, and the Office of the Secretary.
Department of Energy
Indian Nations Program
This site contains program information and policy; tribes involved with the program; current issues with links to related sites; counterpart at DOE Headquarters including tribal programs.
Indian Nations Program
Contains program summary, mission and goals; DOE American Indian policy; President Clinton’s re-affirmation of government to government relations with Native American Tribal Governments.
American Indians and Cultural and Natural Resource Management
The Law and Practice Regarding Federal Lands is a course that offers a comprehensive overview of treaties, laws, executive orders, regulations, policies and court cases that address American Indians access to and use of cultural and natural resources managed by federal agencies. The course combines classroom learning with group discussions of "real world" situations where conflicting priorities, laws, and legal mandates are explored. The course is co-sponsored by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and hosted by a different Native American Tribe every year.
Department of Energy
DOE American Indian Policy; Federal Indian policy; Indian organizations; technical support; news items.
US Dept of Agriculture
Natural Resource Conservation Service
NRCS programs include soil survey program; technical assistance program; resource conservation and development program; American Indian liason; watershed projects; wildlife habitat incentive programs; conservation of private grazing land; wetland reserve programs; environmental quality incentive program; emergence watershed protection program; Tribal conservation districts.
USDA
USDA programs for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Guide includes the following areas: Natural resources and the environment; farm and foreign agricultural services; rural development; research, education, and economics; marketing and regulatory program.
Other
Bureau of Indian Affairs; Environmental Management: Indian Programs
Objectives: To determine environmental impacts of Federal projects on Indian lands; to conduct surveys of Bureau of Indian Affairs controlled Federal lands and facilities, and of Indian lands, in order to identify hazardous waste sites, evaluate the potential threat to health and the environment, and develop the necessary remedial actions; to train area, agency and tribal staff in waste management principles; and to respond to emergencies and alleviate adverse health or environmental impacts.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA has developed a draft American Indian and Alaska Native Policy that reflects the Agency's commitment to a government-to-government relationship. The draft policy reinforces the importance of partnership between and among all levels of government on issues related to disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery. Contained within this draft policy are guiding principles for FEMA's interactions with Tribal governments.
Department of Defense, Native American Briefing
Federal department's Environmental Security office outlines background, policies, procedures, and programs for regulation within Native lands. Includes historical relationship between the DoD and Native Americans; American Indian and Alaskan Native Tribal Governments; Environmental regulations in Indian Country; selected authorities and programs.
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Site includes members, past hearings, briefings, legislation, press, history, links, staff, and internship information.
