Tribe/Organization. United South and Eastern Tribes. Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Penobscot Nation, Guest Presenter

Transcription

1 National Tribal Water Council and EPA Monthly Conference Call Wednesday, April 13, :00-3:30pm EST EPA East Room 2369B Call in number: ; Conference Code: # I. Introductions Name Felicia Wright Matt Richardson Sam Russell Susan Holdsworth Stephanie Vaughn Gary Hudiburgh Zoe Ruge David Harvey Ken Norton, Chair Phillip Cernera Shaun Livermore Kathleen Brosemer Micco Emarthla James Holt Steve Terry Jennifer Bennett Denise Jensen Nancy Schuldt Pamela Blasdell Angie Reed Tribe/Organization EPA / OW EPA / OWM EPA / OGWDW EPA / OWOW EPA EPA / OWM EPA / OW / OST IHS National Water Tribal Council Coeur d Alene Tribe Poarch Creek Indians Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Tribe Seneca-Cayuga Tribe Nez-Perce Tribe United South and Eastern Tribes United South and Eastern Tribes Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa ATTAIN, LLC Penobscot Nation, Guest Presenter Agenda: 1) Update from prior NTWC call 2) Discussion with Indian Health Service on Tribal Drinking Water Data Reporting Changes 3) Review Action Items from March 30 EPA-National Tribal Water Council Faceto-Face meeting in Washington, DC 4) Future Call Topics and Actions EPA and NTWC Meeting April,

2 1) Update from prior NTWC call Ken Norton, NTWC The Tribal Governance Group (TGG) gave a presentation on the interaction with the Exchange Network (EN) and E-Enterprise explaining the lack of tribal participation on both governance committees. The goal is to expand tribal participation on both governance committees. The National Tribal Water Council (NTWC) will provide a support letter from the TCG for stronger representation. Reviewed actions from spring meeting. Ken noted the NTWC is still committed to working with MaryLu Socia on Baseline water quality standards (WQS). Discussed 401 certification process in preparation for the meeting Debra downing on the May 11 th EPA and NTWC call. Discussed creating a follow-up letter to Joel Beauvais and will send that out soon and recap of our important issues. The goal is to have it out after the May 11 th conference call. Felicia Wright asked Steve Terry to introduce the new members of the NTWC. Micco Emarthala is a water quality specialist who recently took over as the environmental specialist and cultural and historical preservation director for his tribe, Seneca-Cayuga. James Holt is a resources director for the Nez-Perce Tribe. He oversees water quality, 106, 316 and drinking water and solid waste, and is the climate chair coordinator. Felicia announced Sarah Furtak who has been the lead for the Clean Water 303(d) Treatment As State (TAS) rule and contact for the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program and watersheds has accepted a new job. Ken Norton thanked Sarah for her efforts and the NTWC was greatly appreciative to her efforts. She also noted that EPA Office of Water (OW) intends to draft a letter to Dave Fuller contributions on the NTWC. 2) Discussion with Indian Health Service on Tribal Drinking Water Data Reporting Changes David Harvey, Indian Health Service (IHS) Discuss the technical changes to tribal drinking water data in IHS s systems that EPA relies on to track program results. This is related to National Water Program Guidance tribal strategic measure currently open for public comment ( ) EPA and NTWC Meeting April,

3 David Harvey participated in the call with Matt Richardson and Sam Russell. The measure uses data that show the number of homes that changed from status of four to five. The data that was reported on a project basis and it was an estimated count. In 2014 the database was updated to track the deficiency level at the housing level more accurately with geo coordinates. With this change the data shows an improvement in services for Indian Country (IC). In early 2000, 12% to 15% of IC lacked access to drinking water and sanitation. With the new data it is down to 6.5%; however, the change is a reflection of more accurate tracking. It could be misinterpreted as progress in meeting the initiative. The raw numbers should be looked at and reported. Sam Russell clarified that IHS is still tracking the number of homes without access to safe drinking water and sanitation. In 2015, 15,000 homes lacked basic access to sanitation services and 17,000 to drinking water. This data will be reported to congress to demonstrate work still needs to be done in IC. Next Steps: EPA will proceed forward dropping measure SDW-18.N11. IHS and EPA OW drinking water program will continue discussions to resolve this issue. Will be reaching back out to the NTWC on how EPA plans to move forward. Interagency Task force Ken Norton mentioned the discussion at the spring workgroup meeting about reinvigorating the ITF. Matt Richardson communicated the NTWC concerns about the Interagency Task Force (ITF) to his management. He noted that there are a couple of subgroups working on solid waste issues that will put out reports in June. Sheila Frace is proposing to hold a subgroup meeting for July/August and there is a subgroup looking at operational costs that should be restarting. Matt also noted that he put in proposal chain for an ITF meeting at the Tribal Land Forum. Depending on who attends a panel can be set up. 3) Review Action Items from March 30 EPA-National Tribal Water Council Faceto-Face meeting in Washington, DC Felicia Wright, OW and Steve Terry, USET, ALL Felicia reviewed the EPA action items from the spring meeting. EPA and NTWC Meeting April,

4 Baseline WQS The next workgroup meeting is scheduled for April 26, The NTWC will be invited. MaryLu Socia will send out the invite. April 26 th. Felicia asked MaryLu to provide the NTWC with a heads up on discussion topics. Omnibus Bill - $1 Million for tribes with WQS A conference call was held to announce the funding and clarifying questions. Final guidance will come out next week. There will be a follow-on call a week after the guidance comes out. There is no cap per tribe. How many tribes within the region have TAS. Fund will be allocated by number of tribes with WQS in each region which is roughly $20,000 per tribe. It s not competitive process Tribes that do not come forward for the funding will have their allocation go back to pot for the remaining tribes in each region. 4) Future Call Topics and Actions: Tribal E-Enterprise and OW s Water Quality Data Tribal Roadmap Tool (Laura Shumway, OWOW) 401 Certification considering process facilitating tribal exercise of authority under Section 401(a)(2) (Proposed for May 11) National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Tribal Consultation and the CWA (Proposed for June or July) Action Items OW Follow-up: Day 2 Baseline WQS EPA will send the NTWC info related to tribes whose waters would be covered by the Baseline effort. From Fred Leutner with OW s OST program: During the National Tribal Water Council meeting March 30, Council members requested a list of tribes whose waters would potentially be covered by the baseline water quality standards (BWQS). EPA does not have a verified list at this time, but may have better information as the work progresses. As we mentioned in the March 30 meeting, the BWQS would potentially apply to waters of federally-recognized tribes with reservations that do not have water quality standards applicable under the Clean Water Act. Information from the Bureau of the Census indicates that as of 2010, over 300 tribes have reservation lands. EPA s records show that 43 tribes have water quality standards applicable under the CWA. EPA and NTWC Meeting April,

5 Where are the over 300 tribes with reservations located? EPA does not have a verified list of tribes with reservation lands at this time. However, information collected by the U.S. Census Bureau in coordination with the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Interior for the 2010 Census lists over 300 federally-recognized Indian tribes with reservations either formal reservations, or tribal trust lands not located within a formal reservation, or both. The Census list is available at _10_SF1_GCTPH1.US03&prodType=table. Where are the 43 tribes with water quality standards applicable under the CWA? The 42 tribes with EPA-approved tribal water quality standards, plus the one tribe (Colville) for which EPA promulgated federal standards, are listed on EPA s website at: Please let me know if you need more information. Day 2 Lead and Copper Rule Discussion From Maria Lopez-Carbo with OW s Drinking Water Program: Links to Lead Copper recommendations (1-pager): Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment Evaluation Technical Recommendations: Drinking Water Requirements for States and Public Water Systems: Lead and Copper Rule: Lead and Copper Rule Compliance Help for Primacy Agencies: Lead and Copper Rule Compliance Help for Public Water Systems: Upcoming Drinking Water Trainings: EPA and NTWC Meeting April,