EPA’s Brownfields Program empowers tribes, 

states, and communities by providing money and 

technical assistance to prevent, assess, safely 

clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfi elds. EPA 

is proud of its partnership with the more than 

60 tribes that are creating and enhancing Tribal 

Response Programs to address the cleanup and 

reuse of contaminated property in Indian country. 

Through these response programs, tribes are taking 

an active role in combating environmental issues 

prevalent in Indian country, while creating selfsufficient organizations for environmental protection. 

Together, we’ve made progress in tackling the 

challenges to restoring lands and, in the process, 

helped revitalize impacted communities. This report 

highlights the accomplishments tribes are making in 

restoring their land and provides examples of tools 

tribes are developing to meet the needs of their 

communities. We look forward to continued success 

from Tribal Response Programs and to building on 

our growing partnership. 

– Susan Parker Bodine, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s 

Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response 

Prepared by: 

SRA International, Inc. (Contract No. EP-W-07-023) 

3434 Washington Boulevard 

Arlington, VA 22201 

Prepared for: 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response 

Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization 

Washington, DC 20460 

Forward 
Purpose

This report highlights how tribes are using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) brownfields funding 

to address contaminated land in Indian country1

 and other tribal lands. It also highlights the challenges they 

face. It provides an historic overview of EPA’s Brownfi elds Program, as it relates to tribes, and demonstrates EPA’s 

commitment to the development of tribal capacity to deal effectively with contaminated lands in Indian country. The 

report includes examples of tribal successes to both highlight accomplishments and serve as a resource for ideas, 

information and reference. 

1 Use of the terms “Indian country,” “tribal lands,” and “tribal areas” within this document is not intended to provide legal guidance on the scope of any program being described, nor is 

their use intended to expand or restrict the scope of any such programs, or have any legal effect. 

1 
Overview and History of Brownfields Tribal Funding

Overview

2 

There are 561 federally recognized tribes within the United States. Each tribe is an independent, sovereign nation, 

responsible for setting standards, making environmental policy, and managing environmental programs for its 

people. While each tribe faces unique challenges, many share similar environmental legacies. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

MAP OF INDIAN COUNTRY WITHIN EPA REGIONS 1 THROUGH 10 

Federally Recognized Tribes 

Environmental issues in Indian country run the gamut from developing basic administrative infrastructure to passing 

sweeping new laws; from controlling illegal open dumping to developing wastewater and drinking water infrastructure; 

from controlling and removing leaking underground storage tanks to asbestos and lead abatement and removal; and 

from air pollution to the cleanup and reuse of contaminated land. 

Given each tribe’s unique history and culture and the complex jurisdictional issues, the ability to deal effectively 

with environmental issues in Indian country calls for non-traditional approaches and new ways of thinking. The 

EPA Brownfields Program is providing these approaches with progress and results occurring in many parts of Indian 

country. 

Brownfields and Contaminated Land in Indian Country 

Brownfields and other contaminated lands are found throughout the United States. Often legacies of an industrial 

past or bygone business, they dot the landscape of large and small communities. Brownfields are defined as “real 

property the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence 

of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant,”2

 they come in many forms and sizes. Brownfields can be the 

abandoned warehouse or corner gas station, the local mill site or abandoned mine. In Indian country they are as diverse 

as the communities in which they are found. 

2 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, § 101(39). 
To address the myriad environmental issues in Indian country, many tribes establish their own environmental protection 

and natural resource management offices. To clean up and reuse contaminated lands, many create brownfields 

programs or “Tribal Response Programs.” However, despite best efforts, tribal communities often lack funding to 

sustain environmental program capacity building and continue to need technical assistance and expertise. 

Additionally, many tribes seeking to address brownfields in their communities face problems that are found in many 

small or rural areas in the United States. Rural locations typically do not have the technical resources that many larger 

communities have, nor the economic drivers associated with more dense populations that might spur cleanup and reuse. 

While the benefits of reusing existing buildings and infrastructure may be apparent, the funding to make the cleanup 

and reuse possible are often not present. Tribes may seek to return contaminated land to a non-economic reuse (e.g., 

returning land to a culturally beneficial reuse), which often must be funded by the public sector or tribal government 

and which may not attract the interest of those with private cleanup dollars. 

Despite the challenges, revitalization of contaminated lands is an environmental issue being addressed successfully 

in parts of Indian country. With the assistance of grants and other resources available through EPA’s Brownfields 

Program, tribes are making great strides in cleaning up and returning contaminated land back to productive use. By 

using the grants and tools available, tribes address their fundamental environmental and revitalization goals and enrich 

the health and welfare of their communities. This in turn fosters greater environmental awareness, and allows for the 

sustainable reuse of tribal land in a manner determined by the tribes themselves. 

U.S. EPA Brownfields Resources for Revitalization of Contaminated Land in 

Indian Country 

Since the inception of EPA’s Brownfields Program in 1995, the program’s goal has been “to empower states, tribes, 

communities, and other stakeholders in economic development to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, 

safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields.” The program provides financial and technical assistance for 

brownfields revitalization, including annual competitive grants for environmental assessment, revolving loan funds 

(RLF), cleanup, and job training, and non-competitive funding for state and tribal response programs. 

In 2002, the passage of the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act—referred to as the 

Brownfi elds Amendments—codified many of the policies EPA developed. The Brownfi elds Amendments authorized, 

among other things, two main sources of funding that may assist tribes in revitalizing contaminated land in Indian 

country: 

(1) Section 128(a) State and Tribal Response Program funding 

(2) Section 104(k) competitive grant program funding 

Tribal Response Program Grants 

Tribal Response Program funding—referred to as “Section 128(a)” funding after the section of the Comprehensive 

Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) that it falls under—can be used to create new 

or to enhance existing environmental response programs. Authorized at $50 million per year and shared among states, 

tribes and territories, the funding is awarded on an annual basis. The primary goal of the funding is to ensure that 

response programs include, or are taking reasonable steps to include, the following four elements in their programs: 

1. Timely survey and inventory of brownfields sites. 

2. Oversight and enforcement authorities or other mechanisms and resources to ensure that a response action 

will protect human health and the environment. 

3. Mechanisms and resources to provide meaningful opportunities for public participation. 

4. Mechanisms for approval of a cleanup plan and verification and certification that cleanup is complete. 

The funding can also be used for limited site assessments or cleanups at brownfields sites; for other activities that 

increase the number of response actions conducted or overseen by a state or tribal response program; to capitalize 

3 
revolving loan funds for cleanup; to purchase environmental insurance; or to develop other insurance mechanisms for 

brownfields cleanup activities. 

Since the passage of the Brownfields Amendments, EPA has distributed over $32 million in Section 128(a) 

funding to tribes nationwide. Examples of activities that tribes are conducting with their Section 128(a) funding 

include: 

• The Native Village of Port Heiden used Section 128(a) funding to initiate the development of a tribal 

response program. They focused their funding on developing an inventory of properties and a public 

record, obtaining technical training for staff members, and conducting outreach and education to engage the 

community in environmental and brownfi eld issues. 

• The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Tribe assessed contamination on the former St. Croix Girls Camp that had 

for years been used as dump site. Using its Section 128(a) funds, the tribe cleaned up the property and will 

return it to reuse as a school. 

• The Absentee Shawnee Tribe’s Executive Committee passed three codes—Brownfi elds Voluntary 

Redevelopment, Solid Waste, and Environmental Management—to create the Office of Environmental 

Health (OEH) and Office of Environmental Protection (OEP). 

• The Seminole Tribe of Florida utilized its funds to provide oversight of limited soil removal at a property 

on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation. The property, once used for illegal dumping and vehicle 

storage in a rural section of the reservation, has been reopened and the tribe plans to develop a recreational 

resort. 

Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants (ARC Grants) 

The 104(k) competitive grants are awarded through an annual competition. Most federally recognized tribes are 

eligible to apply for this funding.3 ARC grants may be used to address sites contaminated by petroleum and hazardous 

substances, pollutants or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum). Opportunities for 

funding are as follows: Brownfields Assessment Grants (each funded up to $200,000 over three years); Brownfields 

Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants (each funded up to $1,000,000 over five years); and Brownfields Cleanup Grants 

(each funded up to $200,000 over three years). 

Job Training Grants 

Job Training grants—competitively awarded on an annual basis—are also available to most federally recognized 

tribes.3 To help residents located in areas affected by brownfields take advantage of jobs created by the assessment and 

cleanup of these properties, EPA initiated the Brownfields Job Training grants. Among other things, the grant funds 

may be used for: 

• Training residents in the handling and removal of hazardous substances, including training for jobs in 

sampling, analysis and site remediation;

• Training in the management of facilities at which hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants or petroleum 

contamination are located; 

• Training for response activities often associated with cleanups such as landscaping, demolition and ground 

water extraction; 

• Development/refinement of existing curriculum for the training described in this section; 

• Training participants in the techniques and methods for cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks and 

other sites contaminated by petroleum products, asbestos abatement, or lead abatement where these topics 

are a component of a more comprehensive hazardous waste management training course or environmental 

technology training course. 

3 In Alaska, only an Alaska Native Regional Corporation and an Alaska Native Village Corporation, as those terms are defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, and the 

Metlakatla Indian Community are eligible. CERCLA § 104(k)(1). 

4 
To leverage success, tribes use combined funding sources to build upon the success of established programs. 

Below are a few examples: 

• The Gila River Indian Community used Section 128(a) funding to assess a 160-acre property found 

to have soil and ground water contamination. With assistance from an EPA Brownfields Cleanup grant, 

contamination was removed and the property is now home to a Diabetes Education and Research Center.

• The Spirit Lake Nation used EPA Brownfields grants to assess and clean up four idle properties, using the 

environmental expertise of tribal graduates from an EPA funded Brownfields Job Training program. 

• The Rosebud Sioux Tribe leveraged additional grants to supplement their Section 128(a) funding and 

complete several brownfields projects. They developed a brownfields inventory of 63 properties with 

Section 128(a) funding and cleaned up 32 of those properties with an Open Dump grant from the Bureau of 

Indian Affairs (BIA). 

BROWNFIELDS FUNDING AWARDS TO TRIBES 

$9 Mil 

$8 Mil 

Grant Funds$7 Mil 

$6 Mil 

$5 Mil 

$4 Mil 

$3 Mil 

$2 Mil 

$1 Mil 

$0 

Years 

1997 

1998 

1999

2000 

2001 

2002 

2003* 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

Competitive Grants

Section 128(a) Grants

* Passage of Brownfields Amendments to CERCLA 

5 
Brownfields Tribal Highlights and Results

Developing and Enhancing Programs for Tribal Needs

6 

Tribes use Section 128(a) Tribal Response Program funding for a variety of activities. Tribal response programs 

conduct assessments and provide oversight at properties, create codes and ordinances, develop inventories of 

properties, and educate their communities about the value of protecting and restoring tribal natural resources and 

community health. 

This section highlights how Section 128(a) and other funding has been applied in tribal environments, as well as the 

obstacles encountered and lessons learned. These highlights serve as a reference for tribes to learn from what other 

tribes have accomplished with brownfi elds funding. 

MENOMINEE INDIAN TRIBE OF WISCONSIN (EPA Region 5) 

Building Capacity: Policy Development for Clandestine Drug Lab Sites (Meth Labs) 

Location: Central and Mideastern Wisconsin 

Size: Approximately 236,000 acres 

Population: Approximately 4,000 

Website: http://www.menominee-nsn.gov 

The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin is one of the 

first tribes in the country to develop and adopt their own 

clandestine drug lab cleanup ordinance and guidance. 

In July 2007, the Menominee Indian Tribe used Section 

128(a) funds to complete and adopt an ordinance entitled 

“Cleanup of Clandestine Drug Lab Sites.” The ordinance 

provides regulation on notifications, responsibility to act, 

and responsibility for costs and recovery for any structure (including mobile structures) with contamination from a 

drug lab within the external boundaries of the tribal lands. Drafting the ordinance was a labor intensive effort and the 

tribe’s Environmental Services Department teamed with many levels within the tribe to finalize the regulation. The 

Environmental Services Department worked with the tribal legislature and Enforcement Committee to defi ne property 

owner rights and develop cost recovery options before the ordinance was adopted. 

In addition, the tribe developed a “Clandestine Drug Lab General Cleanup Guidance” to accompany the ordinance. The 

guidance assists property owners, remediation contractors, and tribal authorities with their efforts to reduce exposure to 

contamination from former clandestine drug labs. The ordinance and guidance focus on innocent landowners’ ability to 

clean up their properties and recover costs. 

For more information regarding the Menominee Tribe’s clandestine drug lab cleanup ordinance and guidance or 

Environmental Services Department, please contact Gary Schuettpelz at gschuettpelz@mitw.org or (715) 799-6152. 

The mission of the Menominee Environmental Service Department 

is to defend the environmental integrity of the land, air, and 

water which makes up the cultural and earth resources of the 

Menominee People. The clandestine drug lab cleanup ordinance 

will assure that the health needs are maintained for future 

generations of Menominee. 
Location: Upper Peninsula of Michigan 

Size: Approximately 56,700 acres 

Population: Approximately 3,200 

Website: http://www.kbic-nsn.gov 

KEWEENAW BAY INDIAN COMMUNITY (EPA Region 5) 

Brownfields Reuse: Using Multiple Funding Sources and Partnerships 

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) is using Section 

128(a) funding to actively locate and identify brownfield 

properties, and build an inventory of properties within the L’Anse 

Reservation boundaries. They are developing an inventory by 

talking to tribal elders, using historical society resources, and 

talking with tribal members about former uses of abandoned 

or under utilized properties on the reservation. Visual surveys 

are also being completed. In addition, KBIC brownfields staff reviews historical property documents and aerial 

photographs of the reservation. KBIC’s Natural Resources Department (NRD) is developing protocols and cleanup 

standards that will establish a process for moving properties through the assessment and cleanup phases of brownfields 

reuse. 

KBIC completed the assessment and cleanup of the Sand Point brownfield site using EPA Brownfi elds Assessment 

and Cleanup funds, funding from the Great Lakes Commission Soil Erosion and Sediment Control program, and tribal 

funds. KBIC also used a portion of its Section 128(a) funding for cleanup. The property on the west side of Keweenaw 

Bay on the south shore of Lake Superior was covered with stamp sand impacted by copper ore processing waste 

containing low concentrations of heavy metals. The stamp sands entered Keweenaw Bay from a copper stamping mill 

in the early 1900s and were carried southward by lake currents and deposited on Sand Point. KBIC partnered with 

the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and the 

Upper Peninsula Resource Conservation and Development Council (UPRCDC) to conduct environmental assessment 

activities at the property and examine potential corrective actions for the property. An analysis of brownfi elds cleanup 

alternatives led to the selection of constructing a soil cover over the stamp sands to reduce exposure to and erosion of 

stamp sands from the property into Keweenaw Bay. As part of the cleanup, a soil and vegetation cap was constructed 

over more than 33 acres of impacted land. KBIC transformed the property into a recreational area for use by tribal 

members and the general public. KBIC’s long-term plan is to incorporate attractive greenspace and landscape 

architectural design to provide hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and areas for personal reflection. 

KBIC will focus on increasing community awareness and developing assessment and cleanup protocols in the coming 

years. The tribe plans to conduct outreach to develop the vision for the cleanup and reuse of brownfield properties and 

visit area schools to teach children about the importance of land stewardship. Increasing the community’s knowledge of 

brownfields and defining their tribal environmental program will provide better protection of human and environmental 

health, making the reservation a healthier and safer place to live. 

For more information regarding KBIC’s Sand Point project or their Environmental Response Program, please contact 

Katie Kruse at kkruse@kbic-nsn.gov or (906) 524-5757, ext. 20. 

“Brownfields funding enabled us to create and define our program, 

identify brownfields properties, create an inventory, and start the 

process of getting properties assessed and cleaned up.” 

– Katie Kruse, KBIC Environmental Response Program Specialist 

7 
ABSENTEE SHAWNEE TRIBE (EPA Region 6) 

Providing Environmental Training by Coordinating EPA Brownfi elds Resources 

The Absentee Shawnee Tribe provided environmental 

Location: Central Oklahoma job training to 65 students to date, with 91% obtaining 

Size: More than 12,000 acres in parts of employment and an average post-training hourly wage 

Pottawatomie, Oklahoma and Cleveland Counties of $13.50. Before graduating, students are trained in: 

Population: Approximately 3,000 asbestos remediation, HAZWOPER, emergency confined 

Website: http://www.astribe.com/OEP.htm space training, first aid and CPR, National Incident 

Management System (NIMS), and an inspector contractor 

supervisor class. The Absentee Shawnee job training 

program, in partnership with the Gordon Cooper Technology Center and East Central University of Oklahoma, is one 

of three accredited asbestos training programs in Oklahoma and the only one that provides free training. 

A $200,000 EPA Brownfields Job Training grant awarded in 2006 provided the main funding source. Students then 

developed skills on actual assessment and cleanup projects. This coordinated effort gave students real life experience 

and supports site specific efforts of the tribes’ Section 128(a) funded brownfi elds program. 

The tribe’s brownfi elds office and job training classroom is located on a 21-acre property that was the focus of an 

EPA Brownfields Assessment grant awarded in 2004. The property is a former pipe supply business with hazardous 

substances and petroleum contamination on portions of the site. Students use this and other nearby brownfi elds with 

illegal dumping, asbestos and mold issues to learn a range of skills, including how to: conduct site screenings; conduct 

mold assessment and inspections; use a global positioning system (GPS) to mark properties; and use equipment such 

as underground survey instruments. The students’ practice provides information to the brownfi elds office and supports 

assessment and cleanup activities. 

The tribe’s Office of Environmental Protection hired some graduates to work within its brownfields program. For 

example, one student is now an asbestos trainer and another entry level staff member has been promoted to help with 

assessment and cleanup activities after going through the program. Other graduates have obtained employment in the 

asbestos and solid waste field, with some working for the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 

For more information regarding the Absentee Shawnee’s environmental job training and brownfields efforts, please 

contact Renee Hood at reneeh@astribe.com or (405) 273-9966. 

“Many companies have been impressed with our 

graduates because due to their extensive training 

beyond just asbestos remediation, they are able 

to recognize additional issues such as emergency 

confined space problems.” 

– Renee Hood, Absentee Shawnee Environmental Director 

8 
A creek located on one of the brownfields properties on the Cherokee 

Nation brownfi elds inventory. 

CHEROKEE NATION/INTER-TRIBAL 

ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL (ITEC) (EPA Region 6) 

Technical Assistance: Providing Services and Training Other Tribes 

Location: Northeastern Oklahoma

Size: 14 County Tribal Jurisdictional Service Area 

Population: 40 ITEC member Tribes in Oklahoma, 

New Mexico and Texas

Website: http://www.itecmembers.org

The Cherokee Nation Environmental Programs/Inter-Tribal 

Environmental Council (ITEC) provides environmental 

compliance and capacity building services for the Cherokee 

Nation, as well as to 40 additional member tribes in 

Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico for EPA-related programs, 

including brownfields. The Cherokee Nation received Section 

128(a) Tribal Response Program funding in 2003 to build upon 

its strong environmental program. Since 2003, the Cherokee Nation has made great strides in enhancing its program, 

as well as providing technical assistance and training to ITEC member tribes. With a staff of 30 full time employees 

in their Environmental Program, the Cherokee Nation conducts site visits, Phase I and II assessments, and is in the 

process of redeveloping several key properties in the Tahlequah area, the capital of the Cherokee Nation. 

The tribe is focusing on cleanup and redevelopment efforts in the Cherokee Nation to increase tourism to the area. 

There are approximately 15-20 properties on the Cherokee Nation Brownfields inventory with more expected to be 

added as communication occurs with additional property owners and group leaders. The largest brownfi eld property 

is the Old Markoma Bible Academy—a 19 acre tract with five buildings that have lead and asbestos contamination. 

The property is slated to be redeveloped for office space, a school and an elder care facility. A Phase I assessment was 

performed in August 2005 and a Phase II is planned for 2008. 

Another significant accomplishment is the Cherokee Nation’s leadership role in providing Meth Lab Hazard 

Assessment training. The tribe presented its Meth Lab Hazard Assessment course to staff from over 20 different 

tribes within EPA Region 6 and participated in several national and regional meetings, including the National Forum 

on Tribal Environmental Science and the National Brownfields Conference. The training covers three parts: 1) how 

to identify illegal manufacturing processes; 2) how to assess former meth lab sites; 3) and how to remediate these 

properties. The Cherokee Nation is currently working on a “Train the Trainer” course funded by an EPA Brownfields 

Technical Assistance Grant. 

For more information regarding the ITEC technical assistance program or the Cherokee Nation’s Environmental 

Department or Meth Lab Assessment Training, please contact Bobby Short at bshort@cherokee.org or (918) 453-5089. 

The Meth Lab Assessment Training has empowered tribal participants with 

the information and tools necessary to safely and effectively address the 

residual contamination generated by illegal production of meth. 

9 
10 

CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES (EPA Region 8) 

Increasing Capacity to Work on a Variety of Brownfi elds Types 

Location: Northwestern Montana 

Size: Approximately 1.3 million acres 

Population: Approximately 7,000 

Website: http://www.cskt.org 

Housing is a significant problem on the 

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes 

(CSKT) Reservation with approximately 400 

people awaiting homes. Many people could be 

housed on properties that currently sit idle due 

to contamination. CSKT’s Tribal Brownfields 

Response Program was created in 2003 and 

focuses on assessing and cleaning up a portion 

of its 127 inventoried brownfields and reusing 

them for housing. CKST completed several 

assessments with its Section 128(a) Tribal 

Response Program funding and recently received 

its first EPA Brownfields Cleanup grant. 

CSKT staff addressed a wide range of the reservation’s contaminated land issues, from dump sites, to lead issues, 

to gas stations. In the future, they plan on taking on the unique challenges associated with meth labs, asbestos and 

contamination near waterways. CSKT staff developed their broad expertise through numerous trainings, including 

courses on Phase I and Phase II assessments and asbestos, meth labs, lead, underground storage tanks (USTs) and 

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) issues. While CSKT does utilize consultants, this training enables 

staff to analyze assessment results and provide project oversight. 

For more information regarding the CSKT Tribal Brownfields Response Program, please contact Marlene McDanal at 

mmcdanal@cskt.org or (406) 883-2888 ext 7215. 

“Brownfields funding has had an impact on the CSKT 

Tribe by cleaning up land for much needed housing 

for tribal members.” 

– Marlene McDanal, CSKT Tribal Brownfields Response Program Coordinator 

CKST staff removing refuse from an illegal dump site. 
FORT BELKNAP RESERVATION, GROS VENTRE 

AND THE ASSINIBOINE TRIBES (EPA Region 8) 

Community Involvement: Restoring Valuable Tribal Resources 

Location: Montana 

Size: 675,147 Acres 

Population: Approximately 5,000 

Website: http://www.fortbelknapnations-nsn.gov 

Home to the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine tribes, the 

Fort Belknap Indian Community (FBIC) uses EPA 

Brownfields grants to assist community groups’ efforts 

to restore a valuable, community landmark. In 2004, 

the Fort Belknap community received a Brownfields 

Section 128(a) Tribal Response grant to further their 

capabilities to address contaminated properties within 

the reservation. Using the grant funds, the community identified numerous properties as potential brownfi elds. Once 

identified, the properties are inventoried and scored according to recently developed ranking criteria to establish 

priority for cleanup. 

One of the properties identified, the Lodge Pole Hall, has been of interest to the community due to its historical 

significance. Built in 1930, the Lodge Pole Hall originally functioned as a community building and has been closed 

and abandoned since 1970. Through a community led effort, the Fort Belknap Planning Department put the site on the 

National Registry of Historic Places. Their goal is to renovate the hall as a community cultural center and museum and 

revitalize it for community functions, such as dances and meetings. To move forward with renovation, the property 

first needed an environmental assessment. In cooperation with Fort Belknap Brownfields Program, the community 

used Section 128(a) funds to complete Phase I and Phase II assessments on the property and a Phase III is now in 

progress. The community hopes to have cleanup completed by next year and have the property revitalized as a valuable 

community meeting place. 

For more information regarding the Fort Belknap Brownfields Program, please contact Sherry Bishop at (406) 353-

8465 or visit http://www.ftbelknap-nsn.gov/brownfields. 

“It has always been said, that a community driven 

brownfields project is essential for a successful 

brownfields program. The Gros Ventre and Assiniboine 

Tribes of the Fort Belknap Indian Community, recognize 

the importance of “communities” working together 

to promote a healthier and safer environment, while 

at the same time maintaining honor for the traditional 

and cultural values of its people.” 

– Sherry Bishop, Brownfi elds Coordinator 

11 
12 

GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY (EPA Region 9) 

Leveraging Resources: Building on Successful Program Development 

Location: Central Arizona 

Size: Approximately 372,000 acres 

Population: Approximately 16,000 

Website: http://www.gric.nsn.us 

Since 1995, the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) utilized a 

range of EPA funding sources to develop a successful brownfields 

program. These EPA funding sources include: Superfund Preliminary 

Assessment/Site Inspection (PA/SI) funding; Targeted Brownfields 

Assessment (TBA) funding; a Brownfields Showcase Community 

grant; two Brownfields Assessment grants; a Brownfi elds Cleanup 

grant; and Section 128(a) Tribal Response Program funding. Each 

resource enabled GRIC to leverage additional funding. For example, an inventory conducted with PA/SI funding 

helped GRIC leverage TBA funds by identifying specific environmental assessment needs. Through their TBA 

experience, GRIC exhibited that they had built the capacity to manage a brownfields grant, thereby increasing their 

competitiveness for the Brownfields Showcase Community grant. 

These resources enabled GRIC to develop a comprehensive inventory of approximately 60 to 70 brownfi eld properties, 

assess approximately 20 properties, clean up several priority properties, and develop key partnerships. All of these 

activities directly impact tribal members. The Section 128(a) Tribal Response Program grant and Brownfi elds Cleanup 

grant allowed GRIC to assess and clean up petroleum contamination from leaking underground storage tanks on the St. 

John Mission property. The property was redeveloped into a Diabetes Education and Resource Center, which is widely 

used by the GRIC community members for treatment and research. 

By working with a range of partners through the Brownfields Showcase Community grant, GRIC leveraged resources 

to support other tribal programs, including an environmental health grant from the Agency for Toxic Substances and 

Disease Registry (ATSDR) to investigate the human health risks of workers and residents who are in close proximity to 

contaminated properties and a grant to the tribe’s Fire Department to address hazardous waste. 

GRIC uses its Section 128(a) Tribal Response Program funding to complement other grants, build on the success of 

its established program, and continue its commitment to sustainable development that preserves the environment for 

future generations. 

For more information regarding the Gila River’s brownfields efforts or their Department of Environmental Quality, 

please contact Dan Marsin at dan.marsin@gric.nsn.us or (520) 562-2234. 

The cleanup and redevelopment of the St. John 

Mission property into a Diabetes and Education 

Resource Center significantly impact the 

community. The Center provides treatment and 

research for more than 50 percent of tribal adults. 
YUKON RIVER INTER-TRIBAL WATERSHED COUNCIL (EPA Region 10) 

Community Outreach: Educating the Community Spurs Environmental Stewardship 

The Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council 

Location: Central Alaska and Northwestern Canada (YRITWC) is a coalition of 66 tribes and First 

Size: Approximately 1.1 million acres Nations that was established in 1997 by a group of 

Population: Consists of 66 First Nations and Tribes tribal leaders and elders. They were concerned about 

Website: http://www.yritwc.com the increase in cancer among communities and other 

health issues caused by the possible contamination 

of the Fortymile watershed, a tributary of the Yukon 

River. Since receiving Section 128(a) Tribal Response Program funding in 2005, the YRITWC Brownfi elds Program 

has partnered with 36 tribes, working with them to identify, prioritize and assess potential brownfields. 

In the early stages of the program, YRITWC provided general brownfields overview trainings for communities that 

supported the goal of addressing brownfields throughout the watershed. During these sessions, partners such as 

the Alaska Department of Conservation (DEC) and other brownfields grantees were often involved to share their 

experiences and success stories. As the program developed, tribal members and elders played a key role in developing 

a watershed-wide inventory, which includes 229 sites, by identifying potential brownfields and sharing historical 

property information. After YRITWC staff conducts site visits and adds properties to the inventory, each tribe selects 

their priority brownfields site. Community input and partnerships have been critical in identifying brownfi elds and 

enabling YRITWC to more easily prioritize assessment activities across the watershed. Educating the community 

and involving them in the inventory process has also improved environmental awareness and spurred environmental 

stewardship. 

YRITWC training and outreach efforts have evolved over time. The Brownfields Program now provides an annual 

workshop to inform tribal environmental workers about the program so they can lead local brownfi elds efforts. 

Interactive youth training has also been incorporated in classrooms, camps and at YRITWC bi-annual summits to teach 

children about the importance of long-term land preservation, pollution prevention and environmental stewardship. 

In early 2008, the Brownfields Program partnered with other tribal programs to provide a ten-day Hazardous 

Waste Response Training to 30 participants. The training provided a series of environmental certifications such as 

HAZWOPER, Emergency Response Training and Hazardous Materials Transportation. 

For more information regarding the YRITWC Brownfields Program, please contact Sonta Hamilton at shamilton@ 

yritwc.com or (907) 451-2549. 

“For tribes in Alaska, brownfields is a new buzz word, but it is not a new 

area of concern. Contaminated site issues have always been a priority 

for rural communities because of impacts of mining, military and other 

industries. Although these remote communities are not accessible by 

road and have other limitations, many tribes have already received 

brownfields funding to begin addressing sites through assessment, 

cleanup, and reuse.” 

– Sonta Hamilton, YRITWC Brownfi elds Program 

13 
Building for the Future

As described in this report, tribes use many 

different approaches to protect and restore 

natural resources and community health. A number 

of tribes developed ordinances or passed codes to 

increase their authority and better define their tribal 

environmental programs. Many tribes developed 

outreach programs to educate the community about 

brownfields issues. This led to increased awareness 

that engages the community, enriches its health, 

and preserves its cultural history. Additionally, 

other tribes use multiple grants and funding sources 

to build on their tribal brownfields and response 

programs. 

As tribes develop their programs to meet the 

environmental needs of their community, several 

challenges remain. For example, tribes may: 

• Lack dedicated funding for tribal 

environmental program capacity building, 

making it difficult to develop expertise and technical skills.

• Be challenged by the environmental damage from illegal activity (random dumping or meth labs) by non-tribal 

persons or entities. 

• Face jurisdictional issues that can make managing and resolving environmental issues difficult. 

• Experience a lack of development opportunity because of complex property ownership issues in Indian 

country. 

The approaches highlighted in this report demonstrate how tribal response programs continue to evolve and address 

these challenges. Tribes are using Section 128(a) Tribal Response Program funds to build their programs and develop 

expertise and technical skills. Tribes are dealing directly with the effect of meth labs in Indian country and reaching out 

to their state environmental counterparts to work collaboratively on environmental issues. 

Tribes indicate that they will focus resources on the following activities in the coming years: 

• Leveraging additional funding and resources to meet gaps in funding and technical assistance – Many tribes 

are considering applying for additional EPA Brownfields grants and leveraging other resources to build on their 

existing programs. 

• Developing the capacity to conduct Phase I and oversee Phase II assessments – More tribes are attending 

training with the long-term plans of enabling staff to become “Qualified Environmental Professionals” to 

conduct Phase I assessments and to gain the expertise to better oversee consultants as they conduct Phase 

II site assessments. The goal is to streamline the assessment process and reduce the costs associated with 

characterizing a property. 

• Increasing community education and ensuring cultural sensitivity in outreach efforts – Tribes will continue 

to work closely with their tribal and surrounding communities to increase awareness of brownfi elds issues, 

environmental stewardship and cultural history. 

• Increasing Meth Lab Assessment and Cleanup ordinance development and training – With the growing number 

of illegal meth lab production sites and meth use sites across the country, tribes are creating ordinances to clean 

up meth lab sites and attending trainings to determine how to identify illegal manufacturing processes, assess 

former meth lab sites and remediate these properties. 

Sand Point, a formerly contaminated property, is now a recreational area on the 

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community reservation. 

14 
EPA Regional Tribal Response Program Coordinators

EPA Region 1 EPA Region 7 

Diane Kelley Susan Klein 

(617) 918-1424 (913) 551-7786 

kelley.diane@epa.gov klein.susan@epa.gov 

EPA Region 2 EPA Region 8 

Alison Devine Bernadette Gonzalez 

(212) 637-4158 (303) 312-6072 

devine.alison@epa.gov gonzalez.bernadette@epa.gov 

EPA Region 4 Stephanie Wallace

Brian Holtzclaw (406) 457-5018

(404) 562-8684 wallace.stephanie@epa.gov 

holtzclaw.brian@epa.gov 

EPA Region 9 

EPA Region 5 Nuria Muniz 

Kelley Moore (415) 972-3811 

(312) 886-3598 muniz.nuria@epa.gov 

moore.kelley@epa.gov 

EPA Region 10 

EPA Region 6 Susan Morales 

Diana Hinds (360) 753-9079 

(214) 665-7561 morales.susan@epa.gov 

hinds.diana@epa.gov 

For more information on EPA’s

State and Tribal Response Program, please visit:

http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/state_tribal.htm

For additional information regarding EPA’s

American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO) efforts to 

strengthen public health and environmental protection 

in Indian country, please visit:

http://www.epa.gov/indian

For more information on the Indian 

Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP) 

grants, please visit: 

http://www.epa.gov/indian/gap.htm 

For additional information on 

the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) 

programs, services and grants, please visit:

http://www.doi.gov/bureau-indian-affairs.html

15 
EPA Brownfields Tribal Grantees (Through FY2007)

EPA Region 1 

Passamaquoddy Tribe - Sibayik Environmental Dept. – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

EPA Region 2 

Seneca Nation of Indians – Assessment Pilot, Cleanup Grant, and Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

EPA Region 4 

Seminole Tribe of Florida – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

EPA Region 5 

Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Forest County Potawatomi – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community – Assessment Pilot, Assessment Grant, Cleanup Grant, and Section 128(a) 

Tribal Response Grant 

Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Lower Sioux Indian Community – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Little River Band of Ottawa Indians – Assessment Pilot, Cleanup Grant, and Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Oneida Nation of Wisconsin – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Red Lake Band of Chippewa – Assessment Pilot 

St. Croix Chippewa Indians – Assessment Grant, Cleanup Grant, and Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

EPA Region 6 

Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma – Assessment Grant, Job Training Grant, and Section 128(a) Tribal 

Response Grant 

Cherokee Nation/ Inter-Tribal Environmental Council (ITEC) – Assessment Pilot and Section 128(a) Tribal 

Response Grant 

Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma – Assessment Pilot 

Comanche Nation – Assessment Pilot 

Picuris Pueblo Indian Reservation – Cleanup Grant 

Pueblo of Acoma – Assessment Pilot 

Ysleta del Sur Pueblo – Assessment Grant 

EPA Region 7 

Omaha Tribe of Nebraska and Iowa – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

EPA Region 8 

Blackfeet Nation – Assessment Grant, Job Training Grant, and Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Chippewa Cree Tribe – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes – Cleanup Grant and Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Crow Creek Sioux Tribe – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Crow Nation – Assessment Pilot 

Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Fort Peck Tribes – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Fort Belknap Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes – Assessment Pilot, Job Training Grant, and Section 128(a) Tribal 

Response Grant 

16 
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe – Assessment Grant and Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Ogalala Sioux – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Rosebud Sioux Tribe – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Shoshone & Arapahoe Tribes – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Southern Ute Indian Tribe – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Spirit Lake Nation – Assessment Pilot, Cleanup Grant, Job Training Pilot, and Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe – Cleanup Grant and Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Three Affiliated Tribes (MHA Nation) – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians – Assessment Pilot and Grant, Job Training Pilot, and Section 128(a) 

Tribal Response Grant 

Ute Indian Tribe – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Ute Mountain Ute Tribe – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Yankton Sioux Tribe – Assessment Pilot and Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

EPA Region 9 

Ely Shoshone Tribe – Assessment Pilot 

Gila River Indian Community – Assessment Pilot and Grant, Cleanup Grant, and Section 128(a) Tribal Response 

Grant 

Hoopa Valley Tribe – Assessment Pilot 

Hopland Band of Pomo Indians – Assessment Grant and Cleanup Grant 

Navajo Nation – Assessment Pilot and Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community – Assessment Pilot, Assessment Grant, and Cleanup Grant 

Tohono O’odham Nation – Assessment Pilot and Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

White Mountain Apache Tribe – Assessment Pilot 

Wiyot Tribe – Cleanup Grant 

Yurok Tribe – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Region 10 

Anvik Tribal Council – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation – Assessment Pilot and Grant, Job Training Grant and Section 128(a) 

Tribal Response Grant 

Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe – Cleanup Grant and Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Lesnoi Village (Woody Island) Indian Tribe – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Makah Tribe – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Metlakatla Indian Community – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Native Village of Port Heiden – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Native Village of Selawik – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Native Village of Tunanak – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Nez Perce Tribe – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Puyallup Tribe of Tacoma – Assessment Pilot and Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Skokomish Indian Tribe – Assessment Grant 

Swinomish Indian Tribal Community – Assessment Grant and Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Shoshone-Bannock Tribes – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council – Section 128(a) Tribal Response Grant 

17 
United States Office of Solid Waste EPA-560-R-08-002 

Environmental Protection and Emergency Response April 2008 

Agency http://www.epa.gov/brownfields