|
Tribal governments have distinct roles in cleanups of Federal facilities
under treaties with the U.S. government. Accordingly, FFRRO works in
partnership with tribal governments, both at the facility level and at
the national policy-making level. The framework for FFRRO tribal
involvement is a Tribal Strategy that is designed to address the needs
of and mitigate impacts to Indian Tribes, including Alaskan Native
villages, living on or near Federal facilities. It includes:
- Working with tribes on a government-to-government basis consistent
with EPA’s trust responsibility to protect tribal health and
environments
- Involving tribes in the cleanup process through meaningful
dialogue that respects the unique needs of each community
- Developing partnerships that will enhance capacity and
participation in the environmental decision making process at
Federal facilities
EPA's Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office (FFRRO) provides financial assistance to the Tribal Association on Solid Waste and Emergency
Response (TASWER)  , established in 1998 in part to provide a government-to-government
mechanism for proactively involving tribes in tribal solid waste and Federal facility cleanup
programs.
An important focus of the Tribal Strategy is for improved communication with Native Americans
living on or near Federal facilities regarding progress made throughout the environmental
restoration process. To strengthen this communication, FFRRO is working to involve tribes in the
cleanup process through various forums.
Talking Stick: A general brochure about EPA's involvement at closed Department of Defense and Energy sites around Indian Country
| 
