Improving the Environment 

 In Indian Country and 

Environmental Justice Communities 

US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6 

Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs 

 Fiscal Year 2006 
2 

From the Director 

The following report highlights the environmental accomplishments 

achieved in Indian Country and the Environmental Justice communities of 

Region 6 during fiscal year 2006. 

This report reflects the work done by Region 6 staff and Region 6 tribes, 

Environmental Justice communities, state partners and stakeholders. As 

indicated in the following pages, substantial progress has been made this 

year in improving the environment and public health, and in building essential relationships. 

The Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs is a liaison and advocate for the communities we serve. We strive to incorporate the principles 

of empowering communities and respecting culture and tradition while 

working with our partners to achieve environmental results. 

Our Tribal Team is committed to honoring the federal trust responsibility 

pursuant to negotiated agreements, federal law and EPA's Indian Policy. 

This is accomplished through protecting natural resources and traditional 

lifeways while encouraging capacity building. 

Vulnerable communities throughout Region 6 turn to our Environmental 

Justice Team for support in addressing the disproportionate environmental 

impacts that threaten them. The critical element in all of our activities is 

collaboration with the various program staff and with the communities 

themselves. 

Thank you for your contributions toward this year’s successes in both 

Tribal and Environmental Justice contexts. We look forward to another 

challenging year in 2007. 

Jonathan B. Hook 

Director, Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs 

January, 2007 
3 

 

Improving the Environment 

 In Indian Country and 

Environmental Justice Communities

Region 6 

Fiscal Year 2006 Accomplishments 

Clean Air in Our Communities 

Clean and Safe Water 

Protecting and Restoring Land 

Healthy Communities 

 Region 6 Colonias Initiative 

 Kelly Area Collaboration 

 Old Acres Homes Citizen’s Council 

Compliance and Stewardship 

 Improving Drinking Water 

Hurricane Response 

Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs 

4 

5 

6 

8 

10 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

19 
4 

Clean Air in our Communities 

Air Quality in Indian Country 

Tribal lands in Region 6 generally have limited 

outdoor air quality issues. Five Region 6 tribes 

received EPA grant support specifically for air 

quality activities. 

Seventy percent of the 65 federally recognized 

tribes in the Region have completed an initial 

grant to investigate air quality issues. As part of 

this initial investigation, tribes complete a preliminary assessment of emission sources on their 

lands and make general assessments of the potential for air quality problems. 

Seven Region 6 tribes are currently conducting 

additional monitoring, either to supplement existing monitoring networks or to further investigate 

problems identified in their initial project period. 

Monitoring being conducted by the tribes includes particulate matter, ozone, toxics and bioaerosols. 

Air Quality Monitoring Assistance 

Provided by ITEC 

The Inter-Tribal Environmental Council (ITEC) 

was created in 1992 to maximize the use of 

funding and environmental services for Region 

6 tribes. Since its formation, ITEC’s membership has grown to include forty tribes from Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. EPA has provided ITEC with a series of grants, including 

$737,000 this year, to assist with air quality 

improvement in Indian Country. ITEC assists 

tribes with developing air monitoring programs 

and maintaining air quality monitoring equipment, and by providing information and training 

on various air quality issues. The consortia also 

assists tribes with air quality related data entry 

and independent equipment audits. ITEC’s work 

capitalizes limited resources, resulting in 

cleaner air for the Region’s tribes. 

Indoor Air Quality 

Tribes in parts of New Mexico and Oklahoma live 

in areas with high levels of indoor radon. This year 

three New Mexico tribes, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the Pueblo of Taos and the Pueblo of San 

Ildefonso, and three Oklahoma tribes, the Cherokee Nation, the Eastern Shawnee Nation and the 

Seminole Nation, received EPA grant support to 

run radon programs to test homes, schools and 

businesses. 

• These six tribes received radon canisters for 

testing purposes, provided free by EPA’s Las 

Vegas laboratory, and conducted radon testing. 

• All six tribes provided radon outreach material 

to their members this year. 

• The Jicarilla Apache Nation conducted a demonstration project to reduce radon levels in 

homes with high radon readings. 

Region 6’s Asbestos-In-Schools program 

inspected eighteen charter schools in 

Environmental Justice areas. 

Buffalo grazing at the Pueblo of Picuris 
5 

 

Clean and Safe Water 

Water sampling at the Pueblo of Taos 

The United States has one of the safest water supplies in the world today. However, in 2003, only 60 

percent of the tribal population in Region 6 received water meeting all drinking water health-based 

standards. Significant EPA resources have been directed toward improving tribal drinking water, including funds for drinking water infrastructure, training and technical assistance. The investment has paid 

off. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2006, more than 91 percent of the Region 6 tribal population was 

receiving drinking water that met all health-based standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 

Region 6 continues to focus on the provision of safe drinking water to the tribal population. Fifty tribes 

in Region 6 received EPA grant support for water quality and/or drinking water quality. Source Water 

Assessments have been completed for 76 (96 percent) of all public water supply systems on tribal 

lands. Sixty-three (80 percent) of those systems have partnered with Region 6 to develop and implement programs that add an additional level of protection to the drinking water sources for more than 

60,000 Native Americans. 

Safe Drinking Water for the 

Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas 

As part of a Tri-National Emergency Response 

Exercise involving the U.S., Mexico and the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas (KTTT), the Region 

6 Superfund Emergency Readiness Team and 

Drinking Water Section coordinated to provide a 

one-day drinking water training session in September 2006. The Kickapoo Nation hosted the 

training at their reservation. Approximately 50 

people attended the training, including representatives from KTTT, Mexico and the U.S. The training covered drinking water system information 

and regulations, EPA Emergency Response guidance for intentional contamination incidents, security assistance options for water systems, sampling procedures and techniques and using field 

testing equipment. EPA staff also included training information specifically designed for KTTT 

staff and their current concerns, strengthening 

relations between EPA and the Tribe. 

This year over 30 Region 6 tribes had 

active water quality monitoring 

programs for surface waters. 

Ten tribes in Region 6 have EPA - 

approved water quality standards. 

Region 6 and the New Mexico Environmental 

Finance Center conducted five training 

sessions on Safe Drinking Water Act implementation to reduce risk at targeted facilities. A total of 

468 continuing education credits were 

earned at these training sessions. 

Region 6 awarded 42 grants to local 

communities to address drinking water and 

wastewater infrastructure needs. 

Region 6 awarded four grants to tribal 

communities to address immediate water 

infrastructure needs this year. 
6 

Protecting and Restoring Land 

The protection and restoration of land remains a high priority for Region 6 tribes and communities. Region 6 is working closely with our tribes to assess, clean up and close the many open dumps on tribal 

lands. Region 6 is also partnering with the Indian Health Service on an initiative for the agencies to coordinate the tracking of tribal solid waste measures and continues to work closely with our tribes on the assessment, monitoring and clean up of hazardous waste sites. 

Region 6 Superfund Success 

Staff assessed 18 sites for hazardous waste 

on the tribal lands of 16 Region 6 tribes this year. 

Funded six management assistance programs, 

through which tribes provide technical assistance at 

Superfund and other hazardous waste removal sites. 

Sponsored two Hazardous Waste and Emergency 

Response training sessions for Region 6 tribes. 

Conducted Superfund Cost Recovery and Enforcement 

training sessions for several Oklahoma tribes and the 

Santa Clara Pueblo of New Mexico. 

The Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma successfully cleaned up four illegal dump sites 

on their trust land with EPA solid waste 

management grant support - $85,293 

this year. The Tribe is now using a hidden surveillance system on a fifth site to 

catch illegal dumpers in the act, and created a Web site to post video of illegal 

dumping at the site. The Tribe has also 

coordinated with the local newspaper to 

distribute warnings about illegal dumping to all residents. 

This former Mica Mine site at the Pueblo of Picuris 

Is an example of land that has been blighted by mining activities. 

EPA is helping tribes clean up open dumps, like 

this one at the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas. 
7 

Protecting and Restoring Land 

The Inter-Tribal Environmental Council’s 

Solid Waste Achievements 

EPA Region 6 provided the Inter-Tribal Environmental Council (ITEC) $99,900 in FY 2006 solid 

waste management funding. ITEC was able to 

assess approximately 45 open dumps within 

ITEC member tribes’ boundaries and assisted 

with open dump screening for closure activities 

of 21 open dumps. ITEC also developed a Quality Assurance Project Plan for open dump assessments utilizing GIS technology and field 

screening technologies. This Plan will serve as a 

model for tribes and will enable ITEC to conduct 

confirmatory sampling of open dump sites in 

the future. This service will greatly assist tribes 

without adequate funding or expertise. To provide outreach to Region 6 tribes on the importance of cleaning up open dumps, ITEC coordinated a session at their annual conference, featuring EPA and tribal speakers. 

EPA Region 6 and Indian Health Service 

Solid Waste Collaborative 

EPA Region 6 and the Indian Health Service 

(IHS) are collaborating on an initiative to coordinate the tracking of tribal solid waste measures, 

in order to reduce confusion for the tribes and 

resolve reporting discrepancies. Region 6 and 

IHS coordinated a National Solid Waste Management Workshop and Training for tribes in August 

2006. This was the first national training for 

multiple tribes on the new draft model Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan that EPA 

is helping to develop. Tribes provided feedback 

on the draft plan and shared successes and 

challenges related to their solid waste programs. 

The successful workshop included representatives from 15 tribes, EPA regions 6 and 8, IHS 

and the New Mexico Environment Department. It 

is now being considered as an EPA model for 

future trainings throughout the country. 

Tar Creek Superfund Site

The Tar Creek Superfund site is home to some members of nine 

Region 6 tribes. The site is a former lead and zinc mining area located in Ottawa County, Okla. Previous mining activity deposited 

large quantities of mine tailings in piles on the ground, known as 

“chat piles.” Chat piles, some of which are owned by tribes, have 

good economic value and can be used as aggregates in transportation projects. 

In the fall of 2005, Region 6 did a Source Oriented Air Monitoring 

study of the Bird Dog tailing pond and chat pile. One of the objectives of the study was to provide field training to the Quapaw Tribe 

Environmental Department personnel on the latest air monitoring 

equipment and proper air sampling techniques and methodologies. In May 2006, EPA provided the Quapaw Tribe $175,000 to 

perform Source Air Monitoring tasks in and around the chat sales/

processing facilities pilot project area and to monitor chat sales 

activities to ensure that dust is not adversely affecting public 

health and the environment. This chat sale pilot project and the air 

monitoring being done by the Quapaw will potentially serve as the 

model for future chat removal operations within the Tar Creek 

Superfund site. 

Chat piles at the Tar Creek Site 

dominate the horizon. 
8 

Healthy Communities 

The successful protection and restoration of communities and ecosystems in Region 6 depends on collaboration with our federal, state, tribal and local government partners and community stakeholders. Region 6 strives to work with tribes and communities to protect the environment by strengthening those 

communities and respecting culture and tradition. 

Lead-Based Paint Inspections 

This year, Region 6 focused lead-based 

paint inspections on areas known to have 

potential Environmental Justice concerns, 

conducting nearly 25 percent of these inspections in Environmental Justice areas. 

Residents were informed of the risk in 

their homes following the inspections, allowing for more informed decision-making 

by the community. 

Brownfields Achievements 

This year, Region 6 provided a $165,000 Brownfields 

grant to the Inter-Tribal Environmental Council and the 

Cherokee Nation to write Brownfields law and regulations. 

Region 6 also provided $75,000 in Brownfields grant 

support to the Absentee Shawnee Tribe. The Tribe conducted training on “Brownfields 101” and for tribal members who are dealing with structures that were illegal 

methamphetamine labs. 

Through the Brownfields Job Training program, three environmental job training programs were created. The programs, established in Oklahoma City, Shreveport, La., 

and the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, train students to perform work involved with environmental assessment and cleanup activities. Almost 100 students 

were trained this year alone. 

Tri-National Emergency 

Response Exercise 

During a week in September 2006, Region 

6 participated in and assisted with the coordination of a tri-national exercise, at the 

request of the Mexican government on behalf of the Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente (PROFEPA), Protección 

Civil and the The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe 

of Texas (KTTT). The KTTT has lands in both 

the U.S. in Eagle Pass, Texas and in 

Nacimiento, Coahuila, Mexico, giving the 

KTTT a unique set of environmental challenges. 

The purpose of the exercise was to improve 

coordination and communication in the 

event of a hazardous material spill or biological threat along the U.S./Mexico border 

that could potential affect all three national 

communities. The exercise activities included training, a simulated chemical spill 

and response and a tabletop exercise designed to mimic a biological threat. Jhana Enders of EPA Region 6 and Tribal Administrator 

Roy Bernal of the KTTT attend the Tri-National Exercise. 
9 

Healthy Communities 

Tribal Grant Workshops 

Region 6 held three workshops for tribes focusing on Solid Waste, Brownfields and Community Action for 

a Renewed Environment (CARE) grants. In October 2005, about fifty participants from 17 Region 6 tribes 

attended two of these workshops held in New Mexico. Region 6 staff, in conjunction with the Indian 

Health Service (IHS), presented information on Solid Waste Open Dump grants, Brownfield grants and the 

new CARE grants. EPA is helping tribes better understand how the grants are ranked and the elements of 

a competitive proposal. The New Mexico Environment Department also discussed their Voluntary Cleanup 

Program and potential opportunities for tribes to have the State and/or EPA conduct free site assessments of contaminated properties on tribal lands, particularly for open dumps, which are a growing concern. IHS helped advertise the workshops, discussed services offered to tribal communities and distributed an electronic copy of presentations from the workshops to the tribes. 

In December 2005, Region 6 and The Inter-Tribal Environmental Council (ITEC) sponsored a third workshop in Okmulgee, Okla. Representatives from 14 Region 6 tribes attended the workshop, hosted by the 

Creek Nation. The tribes saw presentations on the Region’s Tribal Solid Waste Program and the new CARE 

program. EPA also provided information on the Brownfields program and how the tribes can increase their 

involvement. EPA presenters again focused on grant basics, such as grant-ranking and writing strong proposals. ITEC presented information on their Brownfields and Solid Waste programs and the environmental 

services they offer to their tribal members. 

Household Hazardous Waste 

Educational Outreach Video 

The Yselta del Sur Pueblo 

created an educational video 

about the identification and 

proper disposal of household 

hazardous waste. The video, 

Black River, was produced 

with a Border 2012 grant 

from EPA. 

Black River also highlights 

the hazards of illegal dumping, particularly used motor 

oil, which is a prevalent problem. The video’s target audience includes tribes and indigenous communities on 

both sides of the U.S./Mexico 

border and was produced in 

both English and Spanish. 

Participants listened to an EPA speaker at a New Mexico Grant Workshop 

Alternative Dispute Resolution 

The Region 6 Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs 

(OEJTA) strongly promotes the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution 

and/or Environmental Conflict Resolution as a tool for addressing differences between EPA, states, tribes and communities. OEJTA has 

provided several opportunities to resolve conflict. Several listening/

consultation sessions were held relating to the implementation of 

Section 10211 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005, including a facilitated session with tribes 

and Ann Klee, EPA’s former General Counsel. OEJTA has also worked 

with several Environmental Justice communities on dispute resolution, including an ongoing multi-stakeholder project targeting the former Kelly Air Force Base and the New Orleans East Vietnamese community following Hurricane Katrina. 
10 

Region 6 Colonias Initiatives 

In Spanish, the word colonias means neighborhood, but the term is also used to describe unincorporated 

settlements in the border region with generally substandard housing and little infrastructure. Colonias 

often lack basic necessities, such as safe drinking water and sewer connections, paved roads, and in 

some cases, even electricity. Colonias settlements are prevalent in the states that border Mexico. 

Nueces County Regional Colonia Initiative 

Community residents of Corpus Christi raised concerns to EPA Region 6 about the deplorable conditions 

in which many colonia residents are forced to live. However, since most of the problems associated with 

colonias are local or county issues, EPA generally does not have the authority to address them. In Texas, 

the Office of the Secretary of State is charged with seeking solutions for the more than 1,600 colonias 

along the Texas border. After consulting with community leaders, EPA and county officials, the Secretary 

of State’s office proposed forming a colonia initiative and inviting stakeholder representatives to participate. EPA Region 6 assisted with an initial summit meeting in February 2006, which began the Nueces 

County Regional Colonia Initiative. The group continues to meet each month, and participants include 

county officials, various state, local and federal agency representatives, non-profit organizations, faithbased organizations, health groups, academia, and grassroots and colonia organizations. 

The group is currently developing a strategic plan and working to define goals and objectives with determined timeframes. Serious challenges under discussion include the lack of potable water, lack of sewer 

and waste collection, water-borne health problems, lack of proper drainage, lack of paved roads, soil contamination due to oilfield wastes and emergency response issues. Each stakeholder having a voice at 

these meetings should ensure that the resulting strategic plan will provide viable solutions to the real 

problems of these communities. As a result of the creation, planning and activities of this broad-based 

coalition, the residents of these communities have realistic expectations for addressing their environmental and quality-of-life problems. 

Colonia residence south of Albuquerque Water supply for colonia residence south of Albuquerque 
11 

Region 6 Colonias Initiatives 

New Mexico Colonias Summit 

The plight of colonias residents in New Mexico received attention during the four New Mexico Environmental Justice Listening Sessions, held in 2004. To address this issue, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) decided to undertake a Colonia Summit with the support and assistance of EPA Region 

6. The Summit was designed to build strong coordination among all levels of government to resolve critical environmental justice and health issues, resulting in improved living conditions in colonias and rural 

communities. An Advisory Steering Committee, composed of colonia community leaders, non-profit and 

state representatives, provided guidance and advice. Various agency and key community leaders met to 

discuss current issues and create a plan of action, which was later shared and refined at informal community discussions, or Juntas Comunitarias. An initial launch was held in late 2005, and the Juntas 

Comunitarias began early in 2006 in Dona Aña County. The overall goal of the project was to conduct a 

detailed analysis of colonias and rural communities’ environmental issues, focused on three communities 

in Eddy, Dona Aña and Luna counties. 

Five Juntas Comunitarias were held in the colonias, providing forums for discussion at the local level. At 

these informal meetings, the Advisory Steering Committee began to address critical community environmental issues identified by community residents and other stakeholders. The Juntas Comunitarias also 

provided an opportunity for participants to recommend creative ways for the State to partner with local 

communities and provide the necessary tools for understanding and resolving environmental concerns. 

NMED held “Colonias Day” in Santa Fe on February 4, 2006. The day was a tremendous success, with 

more than 100 colonias residents in attendance. The residents attended the legislative sessions and met 

with their legislative representatives to advocate for critical infrastructure projects in their areas. Gov. 

Richardson subsequently created an Environmental Justice (EJ) Task Force to work with colonias and 

other EJ communities and to make subsequent recommendations for improvement to the State. NMED 

anticipates holding a series of “Toolbox Trainings” and steering committee meetings in 2007 to begin addressing the issues identified at the Juntas Comunitarias. 

This colonia in El Paso County, Texas, is an example of the difficult living conditions faced by colonia residents. 
12 

Kelly Area Collaboration 

In 2003, the Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice workgroup (IWG) selected the 

Kelly Area Collaborative as one of its national pilot projects. Kelly Air Force Base (KAFB) is a former U.S. 

Air Force base located in San Antonio. For years, many residents in the low-income, 90 percent Hispanic 

neighborhoods near KAFB have believed that their health problems were caused by the Air Force contaminating the area with an industrial solvent, trichloroethylene. 

The Air Force Real Property Agency, EPA Region 6, San Antonio Metro Health, the Texas Commission on 

Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Kelly USA agreed to participate in the project. EPA, San Antonio Metro 

Health and the Air Force Real Property Agency shared facilitation expenses for the planning meetings and 

the roundtables. Additional partners in the collaborative effort included the Edgewood Independent 

School District, City of San Antonio’s Planning Department and the Quintana Neighborhood Association. 

The first community meeting was held in May 2006, to identify community concerns and priorities regarding the environment, health and economic revitalization of the KAFB area. The 60 participants devised a 

plan for future roundtables and implementation meetings, including an Environmental Roundtable and a 

separate Health Roundtable. The group is working collaboratively to identify solutions for the challenges 

they face together. This collaborative process leverages the limited resources of several agencies 

throughout various levels of government in order to maximize results. The Kelly Area Collaboration process has removed barriers and moved forward the agenda for restoration and revitalization of the area. 

Participants networking at a Kelly Area 

Collaborative Community Meeting 
13 

Old Acres Homes Citizen’s Council 

Old Acres Homes Inc. is an historically African-American, low-income community in Houston. There is 

widespread perception among the community residents that former landfills in the area contributed to 

water and soil contamination and are negatively affecting neighborhood health. The Old Acres Homes Citizen’s Council, Inc. is a community organization working to bring social, environmental and economic revitalization to the area. 

In 2006, the Old Acres Homes Citizens Council used an EPA Environmental Justice Small Grant to conduct baseline data gathering to evaluate the potential impact of landfills on water quality in The Acres 

Homes area. The Council conducted interviews/surveys through door-to-door and telephone polling, attending community and civic meetings, and interviewing at the community Health Center, Multi-Service 

Center and the gym. Students from Prairie View A&M University assisted with survey completion, and the 

City of Houston Health Department, Planning Department and Mayor’s Office also provided technical expertise and guidance. 

Approximately 225 community members participated in three Community Forums hosted by the Council 

to provide information about the project, request active participation and report on the project’s final outcome. The City of Houston provided educational material on environmental health issues at these Forums. 

The survey results showed that community residents consider the landfills to be a problem. They were 

concerned about smell, run-off, drainage and trash dumping. Respondents reported health problems, 

ranging from skin rashes and coughing to cancer. 

The partners involved in the project continue to meet to discuss health issues and seek additional 

funding to continue community education and resolution of these issues. In addition, through the 

work of this project, the Acres Homes community residents, businesses and other stakeholders have increased their ability to understand and seek solutions to environmental 

health issues proactively.

Old Acres Homes Citizen’s Council 

Community Meetings included presentations 

on environmental health issues. 
14 

Compliance and Stewardship 

Region 6 strives to improve environmental behavior by empowering and assisting the public to ensure 

compliance with federal environmental laws and regulations. We are working with our communities and 

tribes to increase voluntary and self-directed actions to minimize pollution before it is generated and to 

promote environmental stewardship. 

Building tribal capacity and improving compliance while ensuring tribal sovereignty are key elements for 

protecting the environment in Indian Country. Currently 94 percent of the 65 federally recognized tribes 

actively working with EPA in culturally appropriate ways to improve the environment in Indian Country. 

This year, Region 6 supported tribal capacity activities by awarding General Assistance Program grants to 

50 tribes and 2 tribal consortia. Region 6 staff also provided on-site technical assistance to 61 Region 6 

tribes on General Assistance Program grant applications for fiscal year 2007. 

Compliance Assistance for Tribes 

All of the 66 tribal drinking water systems in 

Region 6 subject to federal drinking water requirements received compliance assistance 

materials from EPA. 

Approximately 10 tribal professionals received 

inspector training at one of five inspector 

workshops hosted by Region 6. The Region 

also initiated work with the Pueblo of Sandia 

to authorize a Tribal inspector to conduct federal NPDES inspections in 2007. 

Black Bear Creek runs through the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma 

Environmental Education 

Several Region 6 tribes have incorporated Environmental Education into their outreach programs. 

• The Caddo Nation and Chickasaw Nations have 

now incorporated Environmental Education into 

their Head Start programs. 

• The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes of Oklahoma 

make environmental presentations at health fairs 

and are working on an environmental newsletter. 

• The Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma produces annual 

calendars and other environmental educational 

materials for their community and schools. 

• The Jena Band of Choctaw sponsors a summer 

Environmental Education camp for tribal youth 

and has created games and other outreach materials focusing on Environmental Education. This waterway streams through land of the United 

Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma. 
15 

Improving Drinking Water for Low-Income 

Communities in New Mexico 

The majority of America’s drinking water comes from large scale municipal water systems, 

whose sources are rivers, lakes and reservoirs. However, millions of Americans depend on private water sources, such as wells and aquifers. EPA Region 6 and the state of New Mexico 

work to ensure that all drinking water systems are in compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act 

regulations, focusing on securing projects to improve drinking water for low-income communities whose annual average incomes range from $10,000-$19,000. These drinking water standards apply to public water systems, which provide water for human consumption through at 

least 15 service connections, or regularly serve at least 25 individuals. Public water systems 

include municipal water companies, homeowner associations, schools and businesses. 

Lordsburg – serves 3,100

This system has historically battled high fluoride levels. People 

who drink water with fluoride levels above EPA’s drinking water 

standard of 4mg/L for many years could get bone disease, causing pain and tenderness. EPA has set a secondary fluoride standard of 2mg/L to protect against dental fluorosis, which causes 

brown staining and even pitting of permanent teeth. EPA and the 

State issued a Joint Enforcement Order to require Lordsburg to 

bring its drinking water into compliance with the fluoride standards and to notify the community about the violations until they 

are corrected. 

Lordsburg is installing an activated aluminum treatment and filtration system. When the project is completed in spring 2007, fluoride 

will be reduced, providing improved drinking water to residents. 

El Barranco Mutual Domestic Water 

Users Association – serves 25

High levels of total coliforms and turbidity 

caused routine violations of the Safe Drinking 

Water Act and raised concerns about the safety 

of the water. These violations are usually a result 

of problems with the treatment system and/or 

the distribution pipes. They indicate that the water may be contaminated with bacteria that can 

cause life-threatening disease. 

Citations had also been issued for minor violations, such as not sampling and testing the water as required to ensure safety. Because of an 

Administrative Order issued by EPA Region 6, El 

Barranco converted from a surface to a ground 

water source. A new well was drilled and a new 

storage tank, water distribution system, chlorination system, well-head, pumphouse and security 

fence were installed. 

In July the system achieved full compliance with 

the Safe Drinking Water Act and is now providing 

safe water the community. 

Miami Domestic Water Users 

Association – serves 130

EPA Region 6 issued an Administrative Order to the system for failing to appropriately 

disinfect and filter drinking water. After installing an ultrafiltration membrane water 

treatment and plant and 

equipment, the system is delivering safe drinking water to 

the community.

Columbus – serves 2,000

This system is also working to reduce high fluoride levels as a result of a joint effort by EPA Region 6 and the state of New Mexico. The installation of filtration media is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year.

Fort Sumner – serves 1,200

Historically high levels of combined Radium 

226/228 caused violations of the Safe Drinking 

Water Act and potentially increased long-time 

residents’ risk of developing cancer. Citations 

had also been issued for minor violations, such 

as not performing required sampling and analysis 

After EPA Region 6 issued an Administrative Order requiring compliance, the system installed 

two reverse osmosis filtering units, a chlorination 

station and a cooling facility. They also installed a 

slow, sand filtration pretreatment unit and new 

plumbing and equipment. Since July, this system 

has maintained full compliance with the Safe 

Drinking Water Act. 
16 

Hurricane Response 

The devastation caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the monumental recovery effort that followed 

solidified the importance of incorporating Environmental Justice (EJ) activities and considerations in environmental decision-making, particularly in relationship to natural disaster response. Although natural disasters do not discriminate, minority, low-income, elderly and tribal populations are often more vulnerable 

to related environmental and public health impacts. Hurricane victims may be exposed to hazards 

through flood waters, mold and debris. The disruption of normal health care services exacerbated public 

health concerns. Two important steps taken by the Region 6 Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal 

Affairs were the deployment of an EJ Liaison to the Incident Command Center to assist with identifying 

and addressing EJ issues and the creation of an interagency and community focused taskforce. 

EJ Interagency Task Force 

EPA Region 6 coordinated the establishment of a regional response mechanism, the Environmental Justice Interagency Taskforce (EJIT), to collaboratively address environmental and public health concerns in 

areas impacted by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The primary goal of EJIT was to provide an avenue for involved agencies to gather input and concerns from impacted communities. 

Participants: In addition to representatives from federal, state and local governments, the taskforce included participants from academia, industry and the community. 

Meetings: EJIT conference calls were held weekly to share information on response activities and community concerns. 

Site Tour: EPA and the city of New Orleans co-sponsored a tour of several areas impacted by the hurricanes in order to give EJIT participants an “on the ground” perspective of the impacts. 

A secondary outcome of the taskforce was the sharing and channeling of cleanup information between 

agencies and communities by making outreach materials accessible to the taskforce members. Perhaps 

more importantly, the EJIT established an informal communication network for information sharing that 

went beyond the official conference calls. 

Hurricane destruction in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans 

Integrating EJ into Emergency Response 

During the hurricane response, it became apparent that the implementation of the Incident 

Command System was not sufficient to meet 

the potential needs of EJ and Tribal communities. EPA is in the process of evaluating its disaster preparedness and response procedures 

to ensure that all communities, including minority and low-income communities, are not disproportionately and adversely affected by federal 

decisions. Region 6 will continue its work with 

the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response to ensure the integration of EJ into the 

Incident Command Structure, at both the national and regional levels. 
17 

Hurricane Response 

Hurricane Katrina destroyed homes in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans 

EJ Liaison 

The EJ Liaison established and maintained relationships with federal, state and local agencies in order to 

provide public health information to vulnerable populations. 

Staffing: The Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs staffed the EJ Liaison by rotating staff on a 

two to four week basis. The EJ Liaison attended public and community meetings and assisted with distributing environmental and public health flyers in English, Spanish and Vietnamese to communities 

impacted by the hurricanes. 

Community Outreach: In partnership with a local community organization, federal, state and local agencies, the EJ liaison hosted a community meeting, providing a forum for communities to have their environmental concerns addressed by the appropriate agencies. 

Outreach to Tribal Population: The EJ Liaison provided outreach to the United Houma Nation of Louisiana 

and worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Louisiana Department of 

Health and Hospitals to develop a low-literacy fact sheet and presentation on the risks and health effects associated with mold. 

Grant Assistance to Hurricane Impacted Areas 

In response to the hurricanes, the EPA Office of Environmental Justice made grant money available to Region’s 4 and 6 to fund community based projects directly related to environmental justice issues in hurricane affected communities. To assist communities in successfully competing for these funds, Region 6 

held grant workshops in four communities affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Houma, Lake Charles 

and New Orleans, La., and Beaumont/Port Arthur, Texas. The presentations focused on the contents of 

the grant solicitation, helpful hints in writing a successful grant proposal, and a question and answer period. Subsequently, the Region awarded three $50,000 grants in September 2006 to assist communities 

with recovery efforts: 

The Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing group will conduct a project to form collaborative 

partnerships to identify, prioritize and develop plans to address hurricane related environmental problems and perceived health impacts. 

Texas Recyclers Association, Inc. will provide educational outreach, interactive activities and hands-on 

training related to energy conservation to promote safe environment practices for economicallydisadvantaged households affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 

The Louisiana Environmental Action Network will provide protective gear, educational materials and 

training sessions to help protect recovery workers and residents from exposure to mold and other hazardous substances found in flood damaged homes and buildings. 
18 

Outreach to the Vietnamese-American Community 

Providing vital environmental information to hurricane affected communities was a top priority for 

EPA. Region 6’s Vietnamese-American staff routinely offer their skills in translating Agency documents into Vietnamese. Providing information in native languages increases awareness of environmental and public health issues and enables people with limited English proficiency to make more 

informed decisions regarding their lives and their local environments. This service has never been 

more imperative than after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which displaced approximately 50,000 

Vietnamese-Americans. 

Region 6 led a translation team consisting of native-speaking Vietnamese-American staff from the 

Office of Water, Office of Pesticides and Regions 3 and 9 to ensure that all EPA translated documents were technically accurate, linguistically appropriate and culturally sensitive. Approximately 

20 brochures, pamphlets and flyers and eight public service announcements were translated into 

Vietnamese during the hurricane recovery efforts. 

Translated products included vital information and guidance on subjects such as the emergency 

disinfection of drinking water, how to deal with mold, flood water, asbestos and lead, how to clean 

up sediments, what to do when returning to homes and businesses after hurricanes, hazardous 

waste disposal and how to deal with commercial debris. 

Region 6 also assisted in creating a Web site to post EPA resources in Vietnamese for hurricane 

preparation and recovery and assisted the Agency's New Orleans Command Center in distributing 

more than 3,000 flyers and handouts to Vietnamese-American evacuees and communities in the 

affected areas. To publicize EPA’s newly created Vietnamese Web site and resources in Vietnamese for hurricane preparation and recovery, Region 6 participated in talk shows broadcasts on local ethnic radio stations in Dallas and Houston. 

These locales were chosen because the majority of hurricane-affected Vietnamese-Americans 

were relocated to these areas. Saigon Houston Radio is the major radio station for more than 

150,000 Vietnamese-Americans living in Houston. Region 6 staff also provided interviews to the 

Vietnamese-Voice of America and Vietnamese Public Radio in Washington, DC, and The TimesPicayune in New Orleans. Vietnamese-Voice of America broadcasts more than 1,000 hours of 

news, information, educational, and cultural programming every week to an estimated worldwide 

audience of more than 100 million people. 

The Region 6 Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs facilitated communication between 

a New Orleans East Vietnamese community, industry and the State regarding the use of a local 

landfill for hurricane debris disposal. Community residents were opposed to the use of the landfill 

since they believed the long-term impacts would have negative consequences on health, quality of 

life, recovery and revitalization. This process highlighted the necessity of interjecting public participation into the emergency response decision-making process. Region 6 is working with the state 

and EPA’s Office of Solid Waste to evaluate the current public process to make recommendations 

for change. 
19 

The OEJTA Office and Staff 

Support Staff 

 

 James Butler 

 Carrie Clayton 

 James Pruitt 

 Director 

 Jonathan Hook 

 Strategic Planner/ 

Management Analyst 

 Ginny Vietti 

 Deputy Director

 Deborah Ponder 

Acting Associate 

Director, Tribal Affairs 

Joy Campbell 

 Associate Director, 

Environmental Justice 

 Shirley Augurson 

 EJ Liaisons

 Linda Falk 

 

 Nelda Perez 

 

 Shirley Quinones 

 Charlotte Runnels 

Tribal 

Ombudsman 

Mark Allen 

 GAP Project Officers

 

 

 Eve Boss Jay Harris 

 

 

Curtis Hicks Dale Roy 

 Linda Falk 

 Shirley Quinones 

 

 

Circuit Rider 

Vacant 
20 

Region 6 Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs 

Environmental Justice Team 

Linda Falk 

Nelda Perez 

Shirley Quinones 

Charlotte Runnels 

New Mexico and U.S./Mexico Border 

Texas 

Arkansas and Oklahoma 

Louisiana 

214-665-8535 

214-665-2209 

214-665-2713 

214-665-6442 

Tribal Team 

214-665-8036 

214-665-2719 

214-665-8110 

214-665-8535 

214-665-2260 

214-665-3106 

214-665-2713 

214-665-8065 

1445 Ross Ave., Suite 1200 

Dallas, TX 75202 

Jonathan Hook, Director 

Deborah Ponder, Deputy Director 

James Butler, Management Assistant 

Carrie Clayton, Secretary to the Director 

James Pruitt, Student Intern

Ginny Vietti, Strategic Planner 

1-800-887-6063 

http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6dra/ejtribal 

Shirley Augurson, Associate Director 214-665-7401 

Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of 

 Oklahoma 

Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town 

Cherokee Nation/Inter-Tribal 

 Environmental Council 

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma 

Citizen Potawatomi Nation 

Pueblo of Isleta 

Kialegee Tribal Town 

Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma 

Pueblo of Acoma 

Pueblo of Laguna 

Pueblo of Nambe 

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas 

Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma 

Chickasaw Nation 

Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana 

Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana 

Jena Band of Choctaw Indians 

Jicarilla Apache Nation 

Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma 

Apache Tribe of Oklahoma 

Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribe of Oklahoma 

Pueblo of Cochiti 

Comanche Nation of Oklahoma 

Delaware Nation 

Pueblo of Jemez 

Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma 

Muscogee (Creek) Nation 

Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma 

Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma 

Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council, Inc. 

Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma 

Kaw Nation 

Osage Nation 

Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma 

Joy Campbell, Acting Associate Director 

Mark Allen Tribal Ombudsman 

Eve Boss 

 

Linda Falk 

Jay Harris 

Curtis Hicks 

Shirley Quinones 

Dale Roy 

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma 

Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma 

Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma 

Sac & Fox Nation 

Santo Domingo Tribe 

Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma 

United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee 

 Indians of Oklahoma 

Wyandotte Nation 

Pueblo of San Felipe 

Pueblo of Sandia 

Zuni Tribe 

Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas 

Mescalero Apache Tribe 

Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma 

Pueblo of Santa Ana 

Thlopthlocco Tribal Town 

Tunica-Biloxi Indians of Louisiana 

Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of Texas 

Pueblo of Picuris 

Pueblo of Pojoaque 

Pueblo of San Ildefonso 

Ohkay Owingeh 

Pueblo of Santa Clara 

Wichita and Affiliated Tribes 

Pueblo of Zia

Seminole Nation of Oklahoma 

Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma 

Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma 

Shawnee Tribe 

Pueblo of Taos 

Pueblo of Tesuque 

Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma 

214-665-8069 

214-665-7461

214-665-3155 

214-665-8534 

214-665-6650 

214-665-7431