EPA 745-N-98-001

www.epa.gov

United States

Environmental Protection

Agency

Office of Pollution 

Prevention and Toxics

Volume 1 Number 1 September 1998

OPPT Tribal News

In This Issue

1 PCB Spill in North Dakota

2 Greetings from OPPT Director

3 News and Events

4 Introducing OPPT Programs

5 Grants

6-7 EJP2 Grants

8-9 News About Lead

10 Initiatives

11 Interview with Sharri Venno

12 Calendar, Web Sites

PCB Spill Cleanup in

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

O

n February 5, 1998, EPA received an urgent telephone call from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in

North Dakota about possible PCB contamination

from leaking fluorescent light ballasts. The light ballasts

were located in the elementary school, administration

building, high school library, and several Bureau of

Indian Affairs buildings on the reservation.

EPA confirmed that many of the buildings’ light fixtures did contain harmful PCBs, and many were leaking.

This posed a direct health threat to employees and children exposed to the hazardous materials. An interagency

cleanup team was able to successsfully contain, remove,

and ensure the safe disposal of PCB-contaminated materials. Team members also tested other areas for contamination, trained tribal staff to identify and test for PCBs, and

ensured that fixtures containing PCBs were removed and

replaced.

Ms. Kim Le of EPA’s Office of Enforcement,

Compliance, and Environmental Justice, and Mr. Randy

Brown of EPA Region 8’s Office of Pollution Prevention,

State and Tribal Assistance, were the EPA point persons

for the cleanup team. The interagency team was made up

of officials from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA),

Indian Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease

Registry, and key tribal representatives.

In addition to PCBs, tribal members were concerned about

potential dioxin contamination in some of the BIA buildings.

Environmental News for 

Indian Tribes from the 

Office of Pollution 

Prevention and Toxics

Working together together

Continued on page 2
2

OPPT’s Mission 

Promote pollution prevention

Promote the use of less toxic chemicals

Promote the reduction of risks

Promote public understanding of the risks of chemicals

GREETINGS 

from OPPT’s

Director!

We are excited to present the

first edition of EPA’s Office

of Pollution Prevention and

Toxics quarterly tribal newsletter! This

newsletter offers an excellent opportunity for readers to become better acquainted with our program

and projects. Our Office is continuing to seek better ways to

communicate with our tribal partners in managing the complex

environmental issues that we face each and every day. We hope

this newsletter will allow tribal members, governments, and

organizations to effectively participate in and benefit from our

different programs and funding opportunities.

OPPT is committed to working in partnership with tribal

governments to safeguard and protect the environment from

toxic hazards and to promote pollution prevention in Indian

country. This past year, OPPT took significant steps to foster

better communication links through its newly established tribal

program. The first priority of this program is improved communication so we can better exchange information regarding environmental concerns and issues facing Indian country today.

In order for us to succeed, we want to hear any comments,

ideas, and concerns that you may have about our programs and

activities. Please feel free to contact us through Phil Robinson,

Chief of our Liaison Branch, at 202-260-3910.

We look forward to continuing to work with Indian tribes

and providing newsletters that are of interest and value to your

environmental concerns, now and in the future. 

Sincerely,

William H. Sanders, III, Dr.P.H., P.E.

Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics

The cleanup team’s dioxin expert confirmed the contamination and traced the

source to the ceiling tiles. Team members

took samples, tested for the presence of

dioxin, and safely removed contaminated

materials from the affected areas. 

From the beginning, the tribal community expressed concerns and uncertainty about potential adverse health

effects from exposure to PCBs and dioxin. To allay these concerns and prevent

rumors or misinformation from spreading, the cleanup team initiated an extensive public outreach effort, including

appearances on public radio talk shows;

individual and public meetings; information fact sheets; taking numerous PCB

wipe samples to determine the extent of

the contamination and reduce fears; and

meeting with key tribal and BIA officials

to discuss EPA’s findings and make recommendations.

For more information on the cleanup,

contact Randy Brown, Region 8, at 

303-312-6048.

PCB Spill Continued from page 1

OPPT TRIBAL PROGRAM 

William H. Sanders, III

Director, OPPT

Susan Hazen

Director, Environmental Assistance Division

Philip Robinson

Chief, Liaison Branch

OPPT Tribal Workgroup

Mary Lauterbach, Chairperson, 202-260-9563

Robert Wright, National Programs Chemicals

Division

Louise Little, Pollution Prevention Division

Annette Nold, Economics, Exposure and

Technology Division

Linda Goodman, Information Management

Division

Robin Wisnosky, Environmental Assistance

Division

Randy Brinkhuis, Risk Assessment Division

Joe Boyd, Chemical Control Division

Dave Combs, EPA Region 8

Newsletter

Jennifer Couture, Editor

Gilah Langner, Stretton Associates, Inc.

(Editorial Assistance)

Brian Adams, Big Fish Design 

(Graphic Design)
EPA Releases Most Recent Data

on Toxic Releases

On June 18, 1998, EPA announced the most recent

Community Right-to-Know information under the Toxics

Release Inventory (TRI) program. Total industrial releases of

toxic chemicals in U.S. communities decreased 4 percent, from

2.5 billion pounds to 2.4 billion pounds in 1996. 

The greatest percentage reduction in environmental releases

of chemicals occurred in underground injection wells, where

discharges were reduced from 240 million pounds in 1995 to

204 million pounds in 1996 -- almost 15 percent. Reported air

emissions were down 115 million pounds -- a seven percent

reduction -- in 1996. Surface water discharges and land releases

both reported increases of about nine percent in 1996 compared

to the previous year.

In order to provide more information to the public about

industrial releases of toxic chemicals, the Clinton Administration

expanded EPA’s Toxic Chemical Right-to-Know Program. In

1997, EPA required seven new industry sectors to begin reporting their releases of TRI chemicals by July 1999. These industries are: metal mining, coal mining, electric utilities which

combust coal and/or oil, solvent recyclers, hazardous waste

treatment and disposal facilities, chemical distributors, and

petroleum bulk plants. With the addition of these sectors, the

number of facilities reporting to the TRI program will increase

approximately 30 percent.

Starting next year, OPPT plans to make available tribal TRI

reports in a format similar to state TRI reports. The 1996 TRI

data and related information are available on the Internet at

http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/tri. To obtain a hard copy of the

TRI Public Data Release, call the TRI Hotline at 1-800-490-9198. 

Headquarters

Tribal Training

Kick-Off Session

On July 22, 1998, approximately 

160 EPA managers and staff participated

in a “Working Effectively with Tribal

Governments” training course. The

course provided an excellent introduction

to tribal culture and history, as well as

the key issues involved with implementing EPA’s Indian program. The training

consisted of four components:

◗ Introduction to Tribal History, presented by Karen Biestman from EPA

Region 9

◗ EPA’s Indian Program and Policy,

presented by Caren Rothstein,

OPPTS, and Janemarie Freiheiter,

Region 8

◗ Legal Issues, with Jim Havard,

Office of General Counsel

◗ Cultural Panel, with Jean Gamache

from EPA Region 10, Karen Biestman

from EPA Region 9, and Jerry Pardilla,

Executive Director, National Tribal

Environmental Council

The training was developed by several EPA offices under the leadership of the

American Indian Environmental Office

and OPPT. From all reports, the training was well received and feedback has been positive. Stay

tuned for more information

on a follow-up session

with EPA staff. 

3

4TH National Tribal Conference

In May 1998, the Prairie Island Indian Community sponsored the 4th National Tribal Conference in Red Wing, Minnesota.

EPA staff from the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics

(OPPT) served on a lead awareness panel with representatives

from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Upper and

Lower Sioux Community of Minnesota. EPA presented an

update on the requirements of 402/404 TSCA and availability 

of 404(g) grants funds. CDC staff discussed their lead screening

program. The Upper and Lower Sioux Community representative explained their training and certification program.

News & Events

Jerry Pardilla
4

What is the AIEO?

The American Indian Environmental

Office (AIEO) was established by EPA

Administrator Carol Browner in 1994 as

part of an effort to build a partnership

with Indian tribal governments to protect

the public health and environment in

Indian country.

AIEO strives to ensure the cooperation of EPA Headquarters and Regional

Offices with Indian tribes. EPA views

tribal governments as the primary 

parties for setting standards, making

environmental policy decisions, and 

managing environmental programs 

in Indian country.

In partnership with Indian tribal governments, EPA addresses the environmental protection and public health needs

of 1.6 million Indians and non-Indians

who live on more than 60 million acres

of land in Indian country. The challenge

for Indian tribes and EPA is to ensure

that the extensive air, land, and water

resources in Indian country and the

places where people live and work are

protected from pollution threats, consistent with tribal and/or federal standards. 

In 1998, working with Indian tribes

and all parts of EPA, AIEO will design a

framework for conducting a baseline

assessment of ambient environmental

conditions, pollution releases, and physical modifications to ecosystems. The

President’s budget for 1999 includes significant new resources to implement the

baseline assessment.

AIEO is also working with Indian

tribes and all parts of EPA to ensure that

tribal concerns and issues are appropriately considered in the Agency’s annual

planning and budgeting process and

multi-year planning activities under the

EPA Strategic Plan. Since 1994, significant increases have been made in EPA’s

Indian budget. With these resources, EPA

and the tribes have the opportunity to

strengthen their partnership for a cleaner,

healthier environment. Contact: Richard

Regan, AIEO, at 202-260-1008.

1998 OPPT Tribal Program

This year, EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics

(OPPT) has undertaken several new activities for building a

more effective partnership with Indian tribes in protecting and

safeguarding the environment. OPPT’s tribal program for 1998

was developed with the advice of other EPA offices and in 

consultation with tribal coordinators from the EPA Regional

Offices, the American Indian Environmental Office, the

National Indian Workgroup, EPA’s Tribal Operations Committee,

the OPPT Forum on State and Tribal Toxics Action (FOSTTA),

and members of Indian tribes. 

A major focus of the OPPT’s 1998 tribal program has been

on better ways to communicate our program and activities with

the tribes. Currently under development is a comprehensive

communications package for tribes that will explain OPPT programs, list contact people and Internet Web sites, and compile

and summarize grant information. This newsletter is another element of the package and is expected to be published quarterly. 

Other major activities of OPPT’s 1998 tribal program

include grants funding, internal training on tribal issues, followup activities from EPA Tribal Operations Committee meetings,

interagency coordination efforts, and stakeholder outreach. 

OPPT is very interested in obtaining feedback from tribal

organizations. To comment or for more information, contact

Mary Lauterbach, 202-260-9563 or lauterbach.mary@epa.gov.

Forum on State and Tribal

Toxics Actions (FOSTTA)

Created in 1991, FOSTTA is a forum which allows state and

tribal officials to address toxics-related issues and to improve

communications and coordination among states, tribes, and

EPA. The group is organized into the FOSTTA Coordinating

Committee; four issue-specific projects (pollution prevention,

chemical management, Toxics Release Inventory, and lead); 

and two work groups on tribal affairs and community-based

environment.

Membership in FOSTTA is open to state and tribal health

and environmental officials for a two-year period, subject to

renewal. Candidates for membership may be nominated by

agency officials, state and tribal officials, professional societies,

or the general public. FOSTTA meets three times a year in the

Washington, DC area, with support from the National

Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Contact: George

Hagevik, NCSL, at 303-830-2200.

Introducing OPPT’s Tribal Programs
PPIS Grants Fund Tribal Projects 

Created under the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, the

Pollution Prevention Incentives for States (PPIS) grant program

helps establish and expand state and tribal multimedia pollution

prevention (P2) programs. Grants are aimed at building P2

capabilities and testing innovative P2 approaches at the local

level. EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, which

administers the grant program, emphasizes the sustainability of

P2 programs and the need to ensure that pollution prevention is

a critical component in the delivery of environmental protection

in the future.

In 1992, the All Indian Pueblo Council became the first 

tribal organization to receive a PPIS grant. Since then, EPA

has supported 24 tribal PPIS projects, with total EPA funding

exceeding $1 million. In FY 1998, the following three grants

were awarded to tribes under the PPIS grant program:

Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians: In partnership with the

Southern Aroostook (Maine) Soil and Water Conservation

District, this grant sponsors several projects that demonstrate

Best Management Practices (BMPs) to prevent erosion, nutrient

enrichment, and bacterial contamination in streams running

through fields used for grazing livestock, near the Meduxnekeag

watertable. Grantees are organizing a Pasture Support Group

interested in using P2 grazing techniques for their livestock. To

preserve the quality and quantity of nearby water sources, innovative techniques are being introduced to the larger agricultural

community through pasture walks. The Houlton Band of

Maliseet Indians will monitor E. coli bacteria levels at test sites

before and after these initiatives as an indicator of the impact of

the project. 

The Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of

Alaska were awarded a grant to address ongoing solid waste

problems within the Juneau Native village through a demonstration project that emphasizes waste reduction. This communitybased project has the following goals: identify the solid waste

issues confronting the community, establish appropriate

responses, and assess resources that are currently available.

Efforts are being made to involve key individuals at the state

and federal levels, and to research how other native groups have

addressed similar problems. If the reduction of solid waste within the villages is successful, this pilot project will be replicated

at other tribal sites in southeast Alaska.

The Coeur D’Alene Tribe in Idaho was awarded a PPIS

grant to limit the use of pesticides in order to improve the quality of ground and surface water on the reservation. The grant

established a youth conversation camp to do labor-intensive,

TSCA

Section 404(G)

Lead Grants

EPA issues grants to help states,

tribes, and territories finance lead-based

paint activities. Under the authority of

Section 404(g) of the Toxic Substances

Control Act (TSCA), these grants are

awarded by EPA’s Regional Offices at

the end of each fiscal year. The total

amount of grant money available for FY

1998 is $12.5 million with a $1.5 million

“set-aside” for Indian tribes, plus an

additional $1.2 million appropriated for

tribes this year. For more information, 

contact Robert Wright, OPPT, at 

202-260-7800.

Inter-Tribal Council 

of Michigan Receives

EPA Lead Grant

The Inter-Tribal Council of

Michigan, Inc. (ITC) is one of the 

winners of an EPA Lead Poisoning

Prevention and Lead Hazard Awareness

Public Education and Outreach Grant.

ITC is a non-profit Indian community

action agency that acts on behalf of 

federally-recognized tribes in Michigan.

ITC plans to modify educational materials to specifically address Michigan tribal

needs. Materials will be distributed to

health care professionals and clinics, day

care providers, parents and guardians,

pregnant women, housing and maintenance staff, and community groups. ITC

will also present educational workshops

and run an active media campaign. 

For more information about ITC and 

the work they will be doing on this 

project through December 1999,

contact Paul Schmeichel, 

the ITC Environmental

Services Coordinator, 

at 906-635-4208.

5

Grants

Continued on page 9
6

Environmental Justice 1997 EJP2 Grants

Haudenosuanee Environmental Task

Force: An Indigenous Strategy for

Long-Term Pollution Prevention

(Grant Award: $100,000)

The Haudenosaunee Environmental Task

Force (HETF) was founded to address

the environmental concerns of the

Iroquois Confederacy; to prevent future

pollution problems; and to develop

restoration plans to sustain the indigenous people, their culture, and the natural

world for future generations. The grant is

intended to help HETF function more

efficiently as a clearinghouse for the

exchange and dissemination of environmental information. HETF will complete

the design of community education pollution prevention programs that combine

traditional environmental knowledge

with scientific and technical information.

HETF will also coordinate a conference

bringing together experts and the 

community to discuss environmental

laws, pollution prevention, and

Haudenosaunee culture.

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians:

Environmental Justice Through

Pollution Prevention ($91,632)

The Choctaw received a grant to conduct

a comprehensive investigation into pollution prevention opportunities and barriers

facing the community. The research will

produce recommendations for the development of a community-wide pollution

prevention plan. To support economic

and natural resource development, the

project has three components. The first is

a sociological assessment of Choctaw

community members. The second is a

natural resource assessment, focusing on

the watershed and tribal interactions with

fisheries. The final component is an evaluation of waste reduction and energy

conservation opportunities and barriers

on the reservation. Defining tribal education and training needs, as well as nonregulatory strategies and technologies for

effecting community-wide pollution prevention, is a priority. Tribal members are

involved in data collection and interpretation, recommendation development,

and oversight efforts. 

EJP2 Grants Fund Tribal

Pollution Prevention Projects

EPA’s Environmental Justice through Pollution Prevention

(EJP2) grants program looks for ways to help environmental

justice communities deal with environmental problems by using

pollution prevention, rather than pollution control. Pollution

prevention means reducing or eliminating pollution at its

source, prior to recycling or treatment. Pollution prevention can

cut environmental risks while promoting public involvement

and economic benefits. 

Since the inception of the EJP2 grant program, EPA has 

awarded 22 grants to tribal communities. Nine tribal applicants

won grants in FY 1997 (see accompanying decriptions). Grant

funds support: 

1. Local environmental, environmental justice, and community

grassroots organizations that promote environmental justice,

preferably by using pollution prevention; and

2. National and regional organizations working in partnership

with local organizations or tribal governments to promote

environmental justice using pollution prevention approaches. 

Approximately $4 million is available for FY 1998 grants.

The deadline for applications was April, and awards will be

announced in October 1998. 

Defining Environmental Justice

In a 1992 report, Environmental Equity: Reducing Risk

for All Communities, EPA found that people of color and

low-income communities experience higher exposure to

toxic pollutants than the general public. The environmental

justice movement has focused attention on equitable environmental protection for all and on empowering those most

often disenfranchised from the decision-making process.

“Environmental justice” is defined by EPA as the fair 

treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with

respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement

of environmental laws, regulations, programs, and policies.

Fair treatment means that no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic

group should bear a disproportionate share of the negative

environmental consequences resulting from the operation of

industrial, municipal, or commercial enterprises, or from the

execution of federal, state, local, or tribal programs.
Fond du Lac Reservation Business

Committee: Pollution Prevention

Initiative ($22,080)

The Fond du Lac Reservation

Business Committee’s solid waste

specialist is conducting waste audits

on eight businesses on the reservation. The goal is to remove persistent

toxins from the businesses’ waste

streams and educate their employees

on pollution prevention alternatives

for reducing solid waste. The source

reduction audits involve the staff and

management of these businesses to

help identify areas where toxic substances are being used. The specialist

will then assist the businesses in

implementing appropriate changes to

reduce or eliminate hazards from the

waste streams and follow up on their

progress. 

Lower Sioux Reservation: 

Wind Energy Demonstration

Project ($90,000)

Coal, oil, and gas-fired power plants

are disproportionately located near

minority, tribal, and less politically

established communities. The development of a local wind-powered electrical energy resource will reduce

dependency on pollution-creating

energy production methods. The project will allow the Lower Sioux community to control its source of electrical energy, while reducing the amount

of pollution created. The project has

three components: (1) a wind energy

system demonstration project called

the Lower Sioux Wind Energy; 

(2) the Project Generation and

Distribution System Design and

Specification Report; and (3) educational and community input activities

such as public meetings and information dissemination. 

Montana State University: Tribal

College EJP2 Scholarship,

Internship and Empowerment

Program ($100,000)

The Montana Pollution Prevention

Program is an educational and nonregulatory program of the Montana

State University Extension Service

(MSUES). As a land-grant university,

MSUES provides education programming throughout Montana, including

all tribal colleges. Through successful

past experiences with Montana tribes,

the Montana Pollution Prevention

Project will facilitate the creation of

the Tribal College Environmental

Justice/Pollution Prevention Scholarship,

Intern, and Empowerment Program.

This scholarship and internship program at MSU will provide pollution

prevention support courses, in addition to creating experiential learning

opportunities for Native American

faculty and students from Montana’s

seven tribal colleges.

Montana Tribal Business

Information Network: Pollution

Prevention Technical Assistance

and Training Project ($85,000)

The Montana Tribal Business

Information Network (TBIN) is 

comprised of seven Tribal Business

Information Committees, which form a

Pollution Prevention Tribal Cooperative.

The cooperative serves all seven of the

Native American reservations in

Montana. The grant provides technical

assistance and training to the Tribal

Business Information Committee on

each reservation, enabling them to

identify and use pollution prevention

technologies. 

Running Strong for American

Indian Youth: Pollution Prevention

in Agriculture ($30,000)

Running Strong for American Indian

Youth sponsors and operates the Slim

Buttes Community Agricultural

Development Project on the Pine

Ridge Indian Reservation in South

Dakota. Grant assistance is enabling

the Slim Buttes project to undertake

demonstration and training activities

that promote organic gardening and

sustainable community agriculture.

The program will involve workshops,

field demonstrations, new composting operations, and the

creation and dissemination

of written materials.

Chickaloon Native Village:

Renewable Energy Development for

Alaskan Native Villages ($80,000)

This project establishes an integrated

framework to help Alaska native villages assess the development potential

of renewable energy resources on village land. Developing these resources

should help villages lessen their

dependence on fossil fuels and reduce

air pollution. The community will

experience direct and indirect economic benefits from the reduced pollution and local production of renewable energy. 

America Works Partnership:

Pollution Prevention Program in

Construction for Public Housing

Residents and Native Alaskans

($160,138)

The America Works partnership

works with the United Brotherhood of

Carpenters, the International

Brotherhood of Painters and Allied

Trades, public housing authorities,

and the Alaskan Native Council to

recruit and train poor, minority youth

in a pre-apprenticeship program that

creates lifelong careers as skilled

union trades people. This project provides pollution prevention training for

America Works pre-apprentices in

Chicago, IL; Oakland, CA; and

Alaska. Also included in the project

are pollution prevention education

and assistance for painter and carpenter contractors in these locations, as

well as pollution prevention training and policy development

for the Oakland and

Chicago Housing

Authorities.

1997 EJP2 Grants

7
8

Quick Takes

Child Health Champion:

◗ The Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky

Boy’s Reservation in Montana was selected in May 1998 as one of eleven communities to receive a Child Health Champion

Pilot Program grant. The program will

focus on the effect on children’s health

from pesticide use and run-off. 

TAS Checklist:

◗ A checklist is in the works for the TAS

applications for lead grants and program

authorization applications. The checklist

was adapted from one used for the Water

Quality Standards TAS approval process.

It will be distributed to the tribes and other

Regions.

Lead Abatement Training:

◗ During the week of June 15th, the Lead

Program Coordinators from the Chippewa

Cree Tribe and the Crow Tribe jointly

sponsored a training course on Lead

Abatement for Supervisors, Contractors,

and Workers. The course was held at the

Montana Environmental Training Center at

Montana State University, Great Falls

Campus. Both tribes sent eight people

from their reservations who are directly

involved in performing or overseeing

remodeling, renovation, and maintenance

work on housing and schools. 

National Lead Grantees Conference:

◗ Representatives from the EPA Regional

Office, the Chippewa Cree Tribe, and the

Crow Tribe attended the National Lead

Grantees Conference held in Phoenix on

June 22-24. The conference was hosted

by the EPA, CDC, HUD, the National

Institute of Environmental Health

Sciences, and the Agency for Toxic

Substances and Disease Registry. A tribal

break-out session with a panel of representatives from EPA, CDC, and Indian Health

Services offered tribes an opportunity to

voice some of their concerns, opinions,

and questions.

In May 1998, an unprecedented meeting took

place in Washington, DC to discuss lead issues

faced by Indian tribes. Present were officials from

EPA, Housing and Urban Development (HUD),

Indian Health Services (IHS), Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Bureau of

Indian Affairs (BIA). Sarah Eagle Horse, the new

tribal contact who recently joined EPA after working for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe as a tribal

Lead Coordinator, reported on the difficulties tribal

programs face in trying to gather data and get cooperation from other agencies. Because the prospect

of all these agencies working together with the

tribes has such great potential, a second meeting

was scheduled for June.

The meeting of Regional Tribal Lead

Coordinators on June 3-4, 1998 was hosted by EPA

Region 8. Three of the four tribes currently holding

Section 404(g) grants and working towards applying for authorization were able to attend (Chippewa

Cree Tribe, MT; Crow Tribe, MT; and Standing

Rock Sioux Tribe, ND). Dave Combs, leader of the

Lead Team, explained the changes and delay in the

Notice of Funding Available for the coming year’s

grants, and discussed the $1.2 million set-aside

grant money. Each tribe presented an update on its

program’s status and progress, as well as successes

and problems. Most tribes reported that they were

on track and working towards authorization. 

Also discussed at the meeting were the

“Treatment in the same manner as a State” (TAS)

policy, the authorization application process, 

revisions to the HUD Chapter 7 guidelines, and 

the TSCA Sections 1018, 1012 & 1013 rules.

Arrangements were made for a representative of

HUD to meet with the group. Names of programs

and individuals were provided for possible sources 

of funding of lead abatement projects on the reservations. Other items of interest are noted on the right.

News About Lead

Interagency Meeting on Tribal Lead Issues
Call the National Lead Information

Center at 1-800-424–LEAD.

Speak with trained lead information specialists.

Get answers to your questions about:

◗ EPA lead-based paint rules and regulations,

◗ Lead hazards,

◗ Renovation safety,

◗ Blood-lead level testing/results, and

◗ Finding a lead service provider (1-888–LEAD–LIST).

Obtain copies of important lead pamphlets, including:

◗ “Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home,”

◗ “Lead Poisoning and Your Children,”

◗ “Lead in Your Home: A Parent’s Reference Guide,”

and

◗ “Reducing Lead Hazards When 

Remodeling Your Home.”

Learn about new technical studies and reports.

Access EPA’s Lead Program at

www.epa.gov/lead

Get information on all aspects of EPA’s and other

federal agency lead poisoning prevention programs.

Access the Lead Listing Internet site

at www.leadlisting.org/ 

Get information on lead service providers in your area.

(Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of

Housing and Urban Development). 

Hot off the Press!

“Lead In Your Home: A Parent’s

Reference Guide” 

EPA’s latest lead hazard awareness publication is Lead In Your

Home: A Parent’s Reference Guide.

Available free of charge from the

National Lead Information Center’s

hotline at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323),

the new guide is a comprehensive

and colorful resource for anyone

wanting to learn more about preventing lead poisoning in the home.

The publication is equally helpful

for renters, homeowners, parents,

guardians, or just about anyone

looking for more information on

lead. Call now for a free copy!

9

small scale spraying, biocontrol of weeds with insectaries, survey of weed species, and revegetation of land tracts with native

species of grasses. The objective is the reduction of extensive

pesticide use on tribal land.

For more information on these and other P2 project grants,

contact Christopher Kent, OPPT, at 202-260-3480 or via e-mail

at kent.christopher@epa.gov.

Questions About Lead?

PPIS Continued from page 5
10

Question: What do you get when you combine an organization with lots of good environmental information with another

group that has entrée to hundreds of colleges? Answer: You get

a terrific alliance — in this case, one that brings together EPA’s

Design for the Environment (DfE) Program and the non-profit

Partnership for Environmental Technology Education (PETE). 

The DfE Program works with small- and medium-size

industries in such sectors as printing, electronics, garment care,

automotive, and industrial laundry, to provide businesses with

the information they need to make environmentally-informed

choices.

PETE provides leadership in environmental education and

training in community, technical, and tribal colleges around the

country. PETE is currently affiliated with over 650 colleges.

The DfE program has a wealth of pollution prevention and

technical information developed for the business community,

while PETE has the capability of transferring this information

to college curricula, training programs, and existing training

networks. In the first year of the DfE-PETE partnership, PETE

developed several important pollution prevention curricular

materials, including a Guide to P2 Internet Resources, a P2

credit course, and a P2 Guide for the Auto Repair Industry.

PETE also sponsored dynamic training programs and networks

for two P2-in-Chemistry courses for chemistry instructors which

promote new approaches in the use and disposal of chemicals in

the classroom and laboratory.

In another area, PETE has held several Tribal College

Workshops, designed to foster communications among participants. Over 40 faculty and administrators representing 18 tribal

colleges attended the first workshop held in Jackson Hole, WY.

Participants expressed two important needs: (1) faculty

exchanges and mentoring opportunities among non-tribal and

tribal colleges, and (2) the incorporation of tribal/cultural values

and traditions in environmental technology education. 

A second workshop was held this past spring in Santa Fe,

NM. PETE is also sponsoring a Tribal Forum this summer with

the goal of adding “tribal perspectives” to environmental curricula. A larger joint workshop for over 300 participants is planned

for next year, sponsored by PETE and Montana State

University. For more information, contact Dave Boon, PETE,

303-404-5259, or Carol Hetfield, EPA, 202-260-1745.

DfE and PETE 

Join Forces for Change 

Initiatives

“Act Locally” Ready

for On-Line Access

EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides,

and Toxics (OPPTS) has completed the

first phase of its community-based projects with “Act Locally,” a listing of tools

to help communities learn more about

toxics and pesticides issues, resolve 

problems relating to toxics or pesticides, 

and find additional resources. “Act

Locally” can be found on the Internet at

http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/cbep/

actlocal. A printed version will also be

available at a later date.

“Act Locally” is a catalogue of analytical tools, hotlines, clearinghouses,

databases, and software programs, guidelines and other publications, initiatives,

partnerships, training, funding activities,

and program information. These

resources can teach communities about

potential chemical risks, and help them

develop strategies to mitigate those risks

and improve the local environment.

There is a growing awareness that

many of today’s environmental problems,

such as non-point water sources and

sprawl, cannot be solved completely by

traditional regulatory approaches. These

often require local, on-the-ground

approaches with direct community

involvement. OPPTS views its role as

facilitating not only the public’s “right to

know” but the public’s “right to understand” by making accessible its expertise

in toxics and pesticide issues and its scientific knowledge. “Act Locally” is an

effort to give communities ready access

to this scientific knowledge base and

expertise, and is a further expression of

EPA’s promotion of community-based

environmental protection. 
For the past five years, Sharri

Venno has been an Environmental

Planner/Natural Resources

Director with the Houlton Band

of Maliseet Indians in Aroostook

County, Maine. The Houlton

Band comprises 800 acres and

has 600 members. Because of

Ms. Venno’s involvement with

the Forum on State and Tribal

Toxics Action (FOSTTA) and

her concern about tribal issues,

she was named chair of the

FOSTTA Tribal Affairs Work

Group at its inception in June

1997. The Tribal Affairs Work

Group deals specifically with

issues of concern to Indians.

Q. What are some of the 

work group’s accomplishments

so far? 

A. Our accomplishments

include: participating in a tribal

session at the June 1998 national

interagency meeting for EPA’s

lead program grantees, establishing an interagency tribal lead

task force, and finalizing a mission statement. We plan to use

the statement as a recruitment

tool to encourage other tribal

representatives to join the work

group.

Q. What progress has the

work group made? 

A. We have made progress in

developing interagency coordination on a variety of toxics

issues that affect tribes. Also,

we’re improving communication

to tribes about OPPT programs

and initiatives, and providing

input to OPPT regarding the

form and function of their newly

established tribal program.

Q. How many members are

there in the work group? 

A. The number varies, but generally we have two to five tribal

representatives, two state reps,

two EPA regional reps, and three

EPA headquarters reps.

Q. What does the work group

hope to accomplish in FY 99? 

A. We hope to increase tribal

representation to at least eight

members and improve our ability to address the work group’s

mission statement. We also need

to determine what level of organization the work group will

have — for example, should it

remain at the work group level

which meets for a half day on a

Sunday, or upgrade to the committee level which meets one

and a half days during the week,

or try some intermediate format

that allows the workgroup members to participate in the other

FOSTTA projects. 

Q. Do you have a wish list for

the work group? 

A. Ideally, we would like tribal

representation on the work group

to be very

broad-based,

including tribes from

every geographic area;

small, medium-sized and

large tribes; and tribes with a

variety of toxics issues.

Q. Are you excited about what

the work group is doing or will

be doing in the future? 

A. Absolutely! The legal relationship between EPA and

American Indian tribes is fundamentally different from that

between EPA and states because

of EPA’s trust responsibility for

tribes. In addition, whereas the

EPA/state working relationship

is well-established, the working

relationship between EPA and

tribes is still being developed.

The FOSTTA Tribal Affairs

Work Group provides a crucial

opportunity for OPPT and tribes

to discuss how their relationship

should develop in order to be

positive, effective, and appropriate to each unique tribal circumstance. 

Another positive aspect of

FOSTTA’s Tribal Affairs Work

Group is the participation of

states. Toxics contamination

doesn’t respect political boundaries. Only when federal, state,

and tribal governments work

together can we achieve the

goal of a healthy environment for everyone. 

11

Interview — Sharri Venno
EPA

OPPT

Pollution

Prevention

Act Locally

Enviro$en$e

Asbestos

Ombudsman

Hotline

EPCRA Hotline

Lead Hotline

www.epa.gov

www.epa.gov/opptintr

www.epa.gov/opptintr/p2home/index

www.epa.gov/opptintr/cbep/actlocal

es.epa.gov

1-800-368-5888

1-800-535-0202

1-800-532-3394

Mark Your Calendars! EPA Web Sites and Hot Lines 

October 18-23

National Congress of American Indians (NCAI): 

55th Annual Session. Myrtle Beach, SC. 

Host Hotel: Myrtle Beach Wyndham Resort:1-800-996-3426.

Landmark Resort Hotel: 1-800-845-0658. 

Contact NCAI at 202-446-7767.

October 21-22

EPA Region 8 Tribal Leaders Summit. Denver, CO.

Contact Judy Hervig at 303-312-6290.

October 26-28

65th Annual PNPCA Conference: Our Living Legacy.

Portland, OR. This program will feature over 60 technical programs on wastewater treatment, watershed 

management, public education, competitiveness and 

privatization, collection systems, water quality and 

modeling, management, and other topics. 

Contact the Pacific Northwest Pollution 

Control Association (PNPCA) at 503-579-1472.

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