# Presentation: 005467

## Putting the “Emergency” Back into “Emergency Public Information”Phil Taylor (Los Alamos County), Elmer Torres (LANL)and  Vanessa De La Cruz (LANL)

## Relationship/Infrastructure/Communication

- Government-to-Government relations are maintained between LANL and 22 American Indian Tribal Governments in New Mexico.
- The 22 tribal governments are recognized by the Federal Government as sovereign Indian Tribes.
- Daily communication and interaction occurs between the tribal governments, staff and environment departments.
- Interactions involve environmental issues such as:
- health, safety and  cultural site preservation,
- Other interactions include issues such as:
- employment, economic development and business initiatives.

## Relationship/Communications Link

- These are the guiding principles used in the communications link:
- The DOE American Indian Policy and the American Indian Religious Freedom Act
- President Clinton’s White House Memorandum (April 29, 1994), on “ Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal Governments.”
- DOE Secretary of Energy Hazel O’Leary’s Memorandum (May 18, 1994), on implementation of the principles of the White House Memorandum
- Executive Order 13007-Indian Sacred Sites
- Executive Order 13175-Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments(2000)
- President George W. Bush Memorandum (September 23, 2004) for the Heads of Executive Department Agencies, Government-to-Government Relationship with Tribal Governments

## Area Map of Surrounding Pueblos

## What are the Accord Agreements?

-      The Accords, signed in 1992 between DOE Headquarters and the Pueblos of Cochiti, San Ildefonso, Jemez and Santa Clara, do the following:
- affirm sovereignty and the trust relationship
- improve communications
- provide a framework for Government-to-Government relationship
- Provide DOE consultation regarding cultural, religious and environmental resources

## What are the Cooperative Agreements?

- The Cooperative Agreements, signed in 1994 with the Pueblos of Cochiti, Jemez and San Ildefonso, and in 1996 with Santa Clara, do the following:
- 		-Affirm the trust relationship/duty as contractor
- 		-Improve communications, information and
- 		 data sharing
- 		-Further develop the long-term working relationship
- 		-Assist Pueblos through Technical Assistance to
- evaluate environmental and cultural resources
- establish mechanism for meaningful participation in on-going and new Laboratory activities and
- establish mechanism to inform each other in a proactive and timely manner

**Notes:**
Reaffirmed in 1997 by Director Browne and in 2003 by Director Nanos

## Emergency Communication Protocol

- Signed between LANL and Pueblos of San Ildefonso, Santa Clara, Jemez and Cochiti
- Provides Communication Protocol between Pueblos and LANL for emergency notifications
- Identifies contact personnel and telephone numbers 24/7 for Pueblos and LANL, updated annually.
- Identifies incident type that activates notification process, whether on Pueblo lands or LANL property
- Agreement reviewed annually and remains in effect until terminated in writing by either party.
- Coordinated participation in annual LANL Emergency Exercise.