CHEROKEE NATION Tribal Perspective on Site Assessment Activities 2007 National Site Assessment Symposium Jason White Superfund Program In 1990, Cherokee Nation became the second tribe in the United States to sign an EPA Superfund Memorandum of Agreement. This established a Superfund program through the Cherokee Nation’s Hazardous Waste Management Office now known as the Cherokee Nation Environmental Programs. Cherokee Nation Environmental Programs • Radon • Lead Based Paint Inspection Program • Clean Air Program • General Assistance Program • Solid Waste • Superfund • Underground Storage Tank • Brownfields • Clean Water Program • Environmental Review Program (BIA, NAHASDA, and Water and Sanitation) • ASTM Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (Cherokee Nation Realty, Roads, and Engineering) InterInter--TribalTribal EnvironmentalEnvironmental CouncilCouncil (ITEC)(ITEC) formedformed inin OctoberOctober ofof 19921992 ¾ CherokeeCherokee Nation’sNation’s EnvironmentalEnvironmental ProgramProgram servesserves asas thethe leadlead agentagent ¾ ITECITEC providesprovides servicesservices toto 4141 TribesTribes fromfrom Oklahoma,Oklahoma, NewNew MexicoMexico andand TexasTexas Inter-Tribal Environmental Council Absentee-Shawnee Tribe Osage Nation Alabama-Coushatta Tribe Otoe-Missouria Tribe Alabama-Quassarte Tribe Ottawa Tribe Apache Tribe Pawnee Tribe Caddo Indian Tribe Peoria Tribe Cherokee Nation Ponca Tribe Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribe Pueblo of Laguna Citizen Potawatomi Nation Pueblo of Santa Ana Comanche Tribe Pueblo of Santa Clara Delaware Nation Pueblo of Taos Eastern Shawnee Tribe Pueblo of Tesuque Fort Sill Apache Tribe Quapaw Tribe Iowa Tribe Sac & Fox Nation Jicarilla Apache Nation Seminole Nation Kaw Nation Seneca-Cayuga Tribe Kialegee Tribal Town Thlopthlocco Tribal Town Kickapoo Tribe Tonkawa Tribe Kiowa Tribe Wichita & Affiliated Tribes Miami Tribe Ysleta Der Sur Pueblo Modoc Tribe Zuni Tribe Muscogee (Creek) Nation Site Assessment Activities 285 site projects evaluated, including, 85 Pre-CERCLIS screenings, 136 Preliminary Assessments, 60 Site Investigations, 4 SIP, and 1 RI/FS. Pre-Cerclis Site Evaluations •To date, 85 Pre-CERCLIS reports have been completed by ITEC staff members. Preliminary Assessments •To date, 136 PA’s have been completed by ITEC Staff members. Site Investigations • To date, 60 SI’s have been completed by ITEC staff members SIP • To date, 4 SIP’s have been completed by ITEC staff members ADD SLIDE 24 ADD SLIDE 22 Cherokee Nation has been conducting site assessment activities for 17 years Kenwood Bullhollow Tribal Site Assessment • Interview Tribal Citizens • Collect soil, sediment, surface water, groundwater, cave water and sediment samples. • Evaluate Cultural Impacts • Endangered and threatened species Impact to Tribal Resources Kenwood Bullhollow Tribal Involvement • Tribal Consultation – early and often will promote better Tribal Involvement within the site assessment process. • Tribal Resources – EPA Superfund Subpart O and Indian General Assistance Program (Gap) along with other Environmental Programs. More Tribes are participating in site assessment activities than 10 to 15 years ago. • Tribal Input – Tribes know their resources and can provide feedback on the best cleanup that is protective of their Tribal Lifeways. • Tribal Risk Assessment – should account for the unique ways tribal citizens use the watershed resources for food, recreation, and cultural and ceremonial purposes..