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EPA works cooperatively with tribal government to enforce FIFRA, as it
does with states and territories. For example, under FIFRA Section 23,
EPA may enter into cooperative agreements with tribes. These agreements
may include provisions for tribes to assist EPA in ensuring compliance
with FIFRA by obtaining federal inspector credentials, conducting inspections
and recommending enforcement actions to EPA. As a separate matter, EPA
also provides funding to tribes to assist in the development and implementation
of pesticide programs under tribal law.
EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) works with tribes, EPA regions,
states, other EPA program offices (e.g., the American
Indian Environmental Office (AIEO)), the EPA Office of General Counsel
(OGC) and other federal agencies to coordinate efforts related to tribes
and pesticides. In particular, OPP works closely with the EPA Office
of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) which provides continuing
funding support, through the EPA regional offices, for tribal cooperation
in pesticide enforcement and related activities. OECA presently has cooperative
enforcement agreements with 38 tribes.
It is OPP's goal to help tribes resolve pesticide issues regardless of
whether they have an established pesticide program. To further that goal,
OPP directly funds tribal program projects and provides EPA liaison to
the Tribal Pesticide Program Council.
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