### EPA POLICY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS OM INDIAN RESERVATIONS

INTRODUCTION

The President pub1 i shed a 

### Federal Indian Pol i c y 

### on January 

## 24 1983 supporting the primary r

### o l 

### e of 

### T r i 

### b a l 

### Governments i 

### n matters a f fe c t i n

### g American Indian reservations That pol i c y 

### stressed two re1ated themes



# 1

t 

### h a t 

### the Federal Government 

# w i l l 

### pursue the p r i 

### n c i 

### p l e of 

### Indian self

## government and 2 t h a t 

### it w i l l 

### work d i r

### e c t l y 

## w i t h 

### T r i b

### a l 

### Governments on a 

### government 

## togovernment basis

The Envi ronnental Protection Agency 

## EPA has previ ously 

# issued general statements o f 

### p o l i cy 

### which recognize the importance o f 

### T r i 

### b a l 

### Governments

i 

### n regulatory a c t i v i t i e s t h

### a t 

### impact reservation envi ronments It i s the 

### purpose o f t h i s 

### statement t 

### o consolidate and expand on ex i s t i 

### n g 

### EPA Indian Po1 

## i cy statements i 

### n a 

### manner consistent 

## w i t

### h t h

### e ov

### e ra l l 

### Federal p

### o s i t i 

### o n

i 

### n support o f Tri bal sel f governmentti 

### and 

## government togovernment re1 

# at

i 

### o n s 

### between Federal and T r i 

### ba1 

## Governments Thi s s

### tatement sets f o r t h 

### the p r i 

### n c i p l 

### e s t 

### h a t w
i l l 

### guide t

### h e 

### Agency i n 

### dealing 

## w i t 

### h Tribal Governments and i 

### n responding t o 

### the problems o f 

### environmental management on American Indian reservations i 

### n order t o 

### pr

### o t

### e c t 

### human health and the environment The Pol i c y i s 

### intended t 

### o provide guidance for 

### EPA program managers i 

### n the conduct o f 

### the Agency's congressionally mandated r

### e sp o 

### ns i 

### b i l i t i e s As 

## such it applies t 

### o 

# €A only and does not a r t i c 

### u l 

### a t e p

### o l i c y f o r 

### other Agencies i 

### n the conduct o f t 

### h e i r 

### respective re sp

### o n s i

### b i l i t i 

### es



### It i s 

### important t

### o emphasize t 

### h a t the 

### implementation of regulatory programs whi 

### ch wi 11 real

## ize these p r i

### n c i pl es 

### on I

### n d i 

### an Reservations cannot be accomplished immediately 

## E
f f

### ec t i v

### e implanentation w i l l 

### take careful 

## and conscientious work by €

## PA t 

### h e 

### Tribes and 

## many others I n 

## many cases it w i l l 

### requi re 

### changes i n appl 

## i cable s t

### a t

### u t o ry 

### a u t h

### o r i t i e s 

### and 

## regulations It 

## w i l l 

### be necessary t o 

### proceed i 

### n a c

### a re f

### u l l y 

### phased 

## way t 

### o learn from successes and f a i 

## 1ures and t 

### o gain 

## experience Nonetheless by beginning work on the p r i 

### o r i t y 

### problems t 

### h a t 

### ex i s t 

### now and continuing i 

### n the d i re c t i o 

### n esiabl ished under these p r i n c i p l 

### es 

### over 

## time we can s i 

### g n i f i c a 

### n t l y 

### enhance envi ronmental qua1 i t y 

### on reservation 

## 1ands

POLICY

I 

### n carrying out our responsib i 

### 1

## ities on Indian 

## reservations the fundamental o 

### bj

### ec t i v e 

### of the Envi ronmental Protecti on Agency i s t 

### o p ro t

### e c t 

### human health and the 

## environment The k2ynote o f t 

### h i s 

### e f f o r t w i l l 

### be t 

### o give special consideration t 

### o T r i

### b a l i 

### n t

### e re s t s i 

### n making Agency pol i cy 

### and t 

### o i 

### ns

### u r

### e t h e 

### close involvement of 

### T r i b a l 

### Governments i n 

### making decisions and managing envi ronrnental 

### programs a f f e c t i 

### n g reservation 1

## ands To meet t h i s 

### objective the Agzncy 

## w i l l 

### pursue the f o l l 

### o

# w i 

### n g 

### pr i 

### n c i 

### p l e s

# 1 THE AGENCY STANDS READY TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS ON A 

## ONETOONE BASIS 

## THE GOVERNMENT 

## TOGOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP RATHER THAN AS SUBDIVISIONS OF OTHER 

## GOVERNMENTS

EPA recognizes T r i b

### a l 

### Governrents as sovereign e n t i t i 

### e s 

### with primary
a u t h

### or i t y 

### and r

### e s

### p o n s i b i l i t y for the 

### reservation 

## populace Accordingly EPA w i l l 

### work d i r

### e c t l y 

## w i t 

### h T r i b

### a l 

### Governments as the independent a u t

### h o r i ty

f o r 

### reservation a f f

### a i rs 

### and not as p o l i t i c

### a l 

### subdivisions of 

### States or other governmental 

## units



## 2 THE AGENCY WILL RECOGNIZE TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AS THE PRIMARY PARTIES FOR SETTING 

## STANDARDS MAKING ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY DECISIONS AND MANAGING PROGRAMS FOR 

## RESERVATIONS CONSISTENT WITH AGENCY STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS

I n 

### keeping 

## w i t h 

### the p r i 

### n c i p l 

### e of 

### Indian self

## government the Agency
w i 

## 11 view T r i

### b a l 

### Governments as the appropriate 

## non Federal parties f

### o r 

### making decisions and carrying out program r

### e s

### p o 

### ns i 

### b i l i t i e s a f f

### e c t i 

### n g 

### Indian 

## reservations t 

### h e i r 

## environments and t

### h e h

### e a l t h 

### and welfare o f 

### the reservation 

## populace Just as EPA's d 

### e l i 

### berations and a c t i v i t i e s 

### have

t r a

### d i t i o 

### n a l l y i

### nv

### o l v

### e d t

### h e i n t e r

### es t s 

## and or p

### a r t i c i p

### a t i 

### o n o f 

### State 

# Governments

EPA w i l l 

### look d i r

### e c t l y t o 

### T r i 

### b a l 

### Governments t o 

### play t 

### h i s 

### lead r

### o l 

### e

f

### o r 

### matters a f f e c t i n

### g reservation envi 

## ronmnts



# 3 THE AGENCY WILL TAKE AFFIRMATIVE STEPS TO ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST TRIBES I N ASSIJMING 

### REGULATORY AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR RESERVATION 

## LANDS

The Agency w i 

### 11 a ss i s t i

### n t

### e r

### es t

### e d 

## T r i b

### a l 

### Governments i n 

### developing programs and i n 

### preparing t 

### o assume regulatory and program management

r

### e s

### p o 

### n s i b i l i t i 

### e s f

### o r 

### reservation 

## lands Mit h i n 

### the constraints o f 

### EPA's
a u t h o r i t y 

### and 

## resources t h i s a i d 

### w

i l l 

### include providing grants and other assistance t

### o Tribes s i

# m i l 

### a r t 

### o t 

### h a t 

### we provide State 

## Governments The Agency 

## wi11 encourage Tribes t o 

### assume delegable responsi b i 

### 1it i 

### es i 

# e responsibi 1

# i t i e s 

### which the Agency has t r

### a d i t i 

### o n a l l y 

### delegated t 

### o State Governments f o r 

# non reservation 

## lands under terms si

# m i l 

### a r t 

### o those governing delegations t o 

## States 

# U n t i l 

## T r i 

### b a l 

### Governments are 

## w i l l i 

### n g and able t 

### o assume fu11 

# responsib

i l i t y f

### o r 

### delegable programs the 

### Agency 

## w i l l re t

### a i n re sp

### o n si

### b i l i t y

f o r 

### manaying programs f

### o r 

### reservations unless the State has 

### an express grant o f j u r i sd i c t i 

### o n from Congress s

### u f f i c i 

### e n t t o 

### support delegation t o 

### the State 

## Government Where €

### PA r

### e t a i 

### n s 

### such r

### esp

### o ns i 

### b i l i t y 

### the Agency
w i l l 

### encourage the 

### Tribe t o p

### a rt i c i p a t e i n 

### policy 

## making and t 

### o assume appropriate lesser or p a r t i a l r

### o l

### e s i n the 

### management of 

### reservation programs

## 4 THE AGENCY WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO REMOVE EXISTING LEGAL AND PROCEDURAL IMPEDIMENTS 

## TO WORKING DIRECTLY AND EFFECTIVELY WITH TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS ON RESERVATION 

## PROGRAMS

A 

### number of 

### serious constraints 

## and u n c e rt a i 

### n t i e s i n the 

### language

o f our 

### statutes and regulations have l i

# m i t e

### d our 

### a b i l i t y t 

### o work d i r e c t l y 

### and e f fe c t i v e l y 

# w i t h 

### T r i b

### a l 

## Governwnts on reservation problems As impediments i n our 

## procedures regulations or statutes are i 

### d e 

### n t i f i e

### d which l i 

### m i t our a 

### b i l i t y t 

### o work e f f

### e c t i v e l y 

## w i t h 

### Tribes consistent 

## w i t h

t 

### h i s 

## Policy we w i l l 

### seek t o 

### remove those 

## impediments


# 5 THE 

## AGENCY I 

### N KEEPING WITH THE FEDERAL TRUST RESPONSIBILITY WILL ASSURE THAT TRIBAL 

### CONCERNS AND INTERESTS 

## ARE CONSIDERED 

### WHENEVER EPA'S ACTIONS 

## ANDOR DECISIONS MAY AFFECT RESERVATION 

## ENVIRONMENTS

EPA recognizes t

### h a t a t r

### u s t r

### e s

### p o 

### n s i b i l i t y 

### derives from the 

# hist

o r i c a l r

### e l

### a t i

### o n sh i p 

### between the Federal Government and Indian Tribes
as expressed i 

### n c

### e r t

### a i n t r

### e a t i 

### e s 

### and Federal Indian 

## Law I 

### n keeping 

## w i t 

### h t

### h a t t r u s t re sp

### o n si

### b i l i t y 

### the Agency w

i l l 

### endeavor t o 

### protect the environmental i 

### n t

### e re s t s 

### of Indian Tribes when carrying out i t s

r

### e s p

### o n s i b i l i t i 

### e s t h

### a t 

### may a f f

### e c t 

### the 

## reservations 

# 6 THE AGENCY WILL ENCOURAGE COOPERATION BETWEEN 

## TRIBAL STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO RESOLVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS OF MUTUAL 

## CONCERN

Sound environmental planning and management require the cooperati on and mutual consideration o f 

### neighboring governments whether those governments be 

### neighboring 

## States Tribes o r l

### o c a l u 

### n i t s 

### o f 

### government Accordingly EPA w i 

## 11 encourage e a r l y 

### communi cation and cooperati on among 

## Tribes States and l o c

### a l 

### governments This i s 

### not intended t o 

### lend Federal support t 

### o any one party t o 

### the jeopardy o f 

### the i n t e r

### es t s
o f 

### the 

## other Rather it recognizes t 

### h a t i n 

### the f i 

### e l d 

### o f 

### environmental regulation problems are often shared and the p r i 

### n c i 

### p l 

### e o f 

### comity between equals and neighbors often serves the best i 

### n t

### e r

### e s t s o f 

## both


## 7 THE 

### AGENCY WILL WORK 

## NITH OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES WtlICH 

### HAVE RELATED RESPONSIBILITIES 

## ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS TO 

### ENLIST THEIR INTEREST AND SUPPORT IN COOPERATIVE EFFORTS TO HELP TRIBES ASSUME ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES FOR RESERVATIONS

EPA w i l l 

### seek and promote cooperation between Federal agencies t 

### o p r

### o t

### ec t 

### human health and the environment on 

## reservations We wi 11 work 

## w i t 

### h other 

### agencies t o c l e

### a r l y i d 

### e n t i fy 

### and d e l i

### n e a t e t

### h e 

## roles

r e sp o 

### n s i 

### b i l i t i 

### es 

### and re l 

### a t i 

### o n s

### h i p s of 

### our respective organizations and

t o 

### as s i s t 

### Tribes i n 

### developing and managing envi ronnental programs f o r 

### reservation 

## lands

# 8 THE AGENCY WILL STRIVE TO ASSURE COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL STATUTES AND REGULATIONS ON INDIAN 

## RESERVATIONS

I n 

### those cases where f a c i l i t i e s 

### owned or managed by T r i b

### a l 

### Governments are not i n 

### compliance 

## w i t 

### h Federal environmental statutes EPA w i l l 

### work cooperatively 

## w i t 

### h T r i 

### b a l 

### leadership t 

### o develop means t 

### o achieve compliance providing technical support and consul 

## tation as necessary t o 

### enable 

## T r i

### b a l

f

### a c i l i t i 

### e s t 

### o 

## comply Because o f 

### the d i s t i n c t 

### status o f 

### Indian Tribes and the 

### complex legal issues involved di r

### e c t 

### EPA action through the j u

### d i 

### cia1 or
a

### d

# m i 

### n i s t r

### a t i v

### e process w i 

### 11 be considered where the Agency determines i n i t s 

## judgment that 

# 1 a s i 

### g n i f i c a 

### n t t h r

### e a t t 

### o human h e

### a l t

### h o r 

### the environment

exi s ts 

# 2 such action would reasonably be expected t o 

### achieve e f f

### e c t i v

### e

r

### e su l t s i 

### n a timely 

# mnner and 

# 3 the Federal Government cannot u t i l i z e 

### other a l t

### e r n a t i v

### e s t 

### o c

### o rr

### e c t t

### h e problem i 

### n a 

### timely fashion

I n 

### those cases where reservation f a c i l i t i e s 

### are c l 

### e a r l y 

### owned or managed by p r i v

### a t

### e p

### a r t i 

### es 

### and there i s 

### no s

### u b s t a n t i

### a l 

### T r i 

### b a l i n t e r

### e s t 

### or control involved the Agency w

i l l 

### endeavor t 

### o act i 

### n cooperation 

# w i t 

### h the affected 

## T r i b

### a l 

### Government but w

i l l 

### otherwise respond t 

### o noncompliance by pr iv

### a t

### e p a r t i 

### es 

### on Indian reservations as the Agency would t 

### o noncompliance by the p r i v

### a t e 

### sector elsewhere i 

### n the 

## country Where the Tribe has a substantial pro p r i 

### et

### a ry i 

### n t

### e r

### es t i 

### n or control 

## over the p r i v a t e l y 

### owned or 

### managed

f a c i l i t y EPA 

## will respond as described i 

### n the f i r s t 

### paragraph 

## above


## 9 THE AGENCY WILL INCORPORATE THESE INDIAN POLICY GOALS INTO ITS PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDING ITS 

## BUDGET OPERATING 

## GUIDANCE



# LEGISLATIVE

INITIATIVES MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM AND OFlGOING 

### POLICY AND 

### REGULATION DEVELOPMENT 

## PROCESSES

It i s 

### a central purpose o f t h i s 

### e f f o r t t o 

### ensure that the p r i 

### nc i 

### p l

### e s
o f t h i s Pol i c y are 

### e f f

### e c t i v e l y i 

### n s t i t

### u t i 

### o n

### a l i ze d 

### by incorporating them i 

### n t o 

### the Agency's ongoing and 

## long term planning and management 

## processes Agency managers w

i l l 

### include sp

### ec i f i c 

### programmatic actions designed t o 

### resolve



# problems

on Indian reservations i n 

### the Agency's ex i s t i 

### n g f i sc

### a l 

### year and 

## longterm planning and management 

## processes

kiilliarn 

# D Ruckelshaus