Document ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0461-0114
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2016-05-16T04:00Z

EPA Tribes-only Consultation and Coordination Webinar on Potential Reinterpretation of Clean Water Act TAS 
                   September 1, 2015 2:00  -  4:00 p.m. EDT
                                Webinar Summary

Presenters:	Tom Gardner, EPA Office of Science and Technology
	Tod Siegal, EPA Office of General Counsel
Moderator:	Luke Cole, EPA Office of Science and Technology 
Participants:	See last page  -  about 30 participants attended

Presentation Summary 

The webinar began with introductions and instructions for participants, followed by a presentation by Mr. Gardner and Mr. Siegal based on briefing slides available in the docket for the rulemaking at www.regulations.gov. Search for Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0461. 

The webinar continued with an opportunity for questions and comments from tribal participants. Questions were submitted by participants either in writing through the chat window to the EPA moderator, Mr. Cole, or over the phone after the phone lines were opened.

The following is a list of questions and comments received from tribal participants during the webinar. For each of the questions, the EPA presenters provided responses that were consistent with the presentation materials and other information available at http://www.epa.gov/wqs-tech/revised-interpretation-clean-water-act-tribal-provision. Views and comments provided were acknowledged.

Questions and Comments
 If a tribe operates in 2 states and has land, do we need to have 2 TAS?
 For those tribes that already have attained TAS status, will the reinterpretation aid in the attainment of dedicated funding for those Tribes to implement those programs?
 Could you please clarify the definition of reservation? Is it a trust land only or can it include the simple fee land owned by the Tribe, not the individual?
 Once TAS status is attained, does a tribe have authority to implement all CWA programs or is TAS status only obtained for specific, discreet CWA programs?
 As more tribes get TAS delegation, it would seem that 106 funding for Tribes should be requested and more importantly ensure that there will be continued adequate funding to support TAS delegation and WQS.
 In the Federal Register, does it compare or summarize the old and the newly proposed language?
 In reference to CWA 303d, could a tribe develop listings and TMDLS under their own inherent sovereignty?
 Does an EPA approval of a tribe's TAS application also approve the tribes WQS?
 Did EPA consult with any parties outside of the federal government in preparing this proposal?
 Once a tribe applies, and is approved for TAS for 303c 401 is there a time frame or time requirement for a tribe to develop WQS?
     Will the Q&A be provided as a follow up item?
 A representative from the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians expressed support for the reinterpretation and indicated they would be submitting written comments as well.

Webinar Attendees

  First Name
  Last Name
                                    Affiliation
Dejene
Alemayehu
Kaw Nation
Dianne
Barton
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
Kara
Berst
Chickasaw Nation
Michael
Bolt
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Scott
Bulgrin

Andy
Byrne
EPA American Indian Environmental Office
Alex
Cabillo
Hualapai Tribe
Frank
Chaves
Pueblo of Sandia
Ken
Clark
Nez Perce Tribe
Susan
Corum
Karuk Tribe
Douglas
Cox
Menominee Tribe
David
Cummings
Nez Perce Tribe
Crystal
Davis
Sac and fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa
Jeremy
Fincher
Sac and Fox Nation
Kevin
Greenleaf

James
Holt
Nez Perce Tribe
Daugherty
Johnson
Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
Kathleen
Mayo
U.S. EPA
Ralph
McCullers
Poarch Creek Indians
Lisa
Meday
Seminole Tribe of FL
Carl
Merkle
Confederated Umatilla Tribes
Cynthia
Naha
Santo Domingo Tribe
James
Payne
Morongo Band of Mission Indians Environmental Protection Department
Sam
Penney
Nez Perce Tribe
Pah-tu
Pitt
 
Lionel 
Puhuyesva
Hopi Tribe
Linda
Robins
Chickasaw Nation
Ivy
Smith
Delaware Nation of Oklahoma
Craig
Watkins
Wichita Department of Environmental Programs
David 
Werbach
USEPA Region 5