The Indian General Assistance Program€¦ · • Approximately $27.7 m to Alaska federally...
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Historical Role of EPA’s Indian Environmental General Assistance Program in the development of the Local Environmental Observer Network Santina Gay, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency CLEO Workshop Inari, Finland June 2, 2016
Transcript of The Indian General Assistance Program€¦ · • Approximately $27.7 m to Alaska federally...
Historical Role of EPA’s Indian Environmental
General Assistance Program in the development of
the Local Environmental Observer Network
Santina Gay, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
CLEO WorkshopInari, Finland June 2, 2016
Overview U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mission
Region 10, Alaska Operations Office
What is IGAP?
Authorities
Purpose
Types of activities
Capacity building with GAP and relationships with LEO
Using the GAP model as a potential future Arctic Council project to support LEO
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Established in 1970 to “protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment, the air, water, and
land upon which life depends”.
•Federal Agency
•Headquartered in Washington DC
•10 Regional offices
What is GAP?• GAP was established in the early 1990’s when Tribal
Leaders articulated the need to the federal government for ‘local capacity’ and ‘local environmental programs.’
• 1992, Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Act authorized U.S. EPA to issue GAP grants
• Approximately $27.7 m to Alaska federally recognized tribes, and to tribal consortia providing service to Alaska Tribes
• Provides baseline funding of $75,000-125,000 annually per community (began with only a few communities receiving the grant, and a few consortium, and is now over 550 employees, 220 communities in Alaska)
Typical Activities
• Establish the administrative, legal, and technical capability of the Tribe to develop and operate a Tribal environmental program.
• Establish an environmental office
• Hire and train staff
• Purchase office supplies
• Conduct an administrative review
of Tribal programs
• policies and procedures
• accounting services
• auditing
• to ensure compliance with Federal regulations
Typical Activities
• Conduct a locally-based environmental assessment to identify all potential environmental issues
• Identify baseline environmental needs
in order to administer an environmental program
• Prioritize environmental concerns
• Strategize how to address these problems
• Develop a local comprehensive environmental plan
• Acquire training in environmental program priority areas
• Water, air, waste, pollution prevention, alternative energy, emergency response planning
Typical Activities
• Conduct local education & outreach with:
• Newsletters, tourist education and outreach, school activities,
social media development (websites/facebook page/twitter)
• Foster compliance with federal environmental
statues by developing local ordinances, programs,
and education tools
• Establish a local communications network capable of
working with Federal, State, Local, Tribal and other
environmental officials.
• Regular local program briefings for council, community
• Local environmental committee meetings
Solid and Hazardous Waste Implementation
Local staffer is out in the field doing clean up of solid and
hazardous waste sites
Goodnews Bay Dump - Before
Goodnews Bay Dump - After
“Last fall we barged out 70 plus junk vehicles and 3 totes of
lead acid batteries.”Shirley Kriska, Nulato
With local staff capacity, communities can use the GAP grant as a stepping stone to apply for additional funds.
“We started a recycling center through a Alaska Native Health Board
Grant. We received the Tribal Open Dump Grant for two years and stopped smoking in and near public buildings through the Clean Indoor
Air Demonstration Grant.” Lorraine King, Ekwok
2007-08 Arctic Council Project with Alaska and Chukotka Communities
Through GAP, local communities often mentor others
Abandoned drum clean up in Sand Point, Alaska
With environmental staff in place in over 220 communities in Alaska, a point of contact is available to be a liaison for Elders, youth, local government, households, regional organizations, and the federal agencies on important issues.
LEO network is an example of a project that arose out of the multi-layered GAP service network, with a statewide consortium providing service to Alaska communities.
Capacity Building with GAP and Relationships with LEO
Capacity Building with GAP and Relationships with LEO
• The success of LEO is greatly due to the well-
established IGAP network of ‘active’ Tribal
Environmental Managers in the state. There are over
120 LEO member communities in Alaska, including
the communities of Barrow, Nome, and Shishmaref.
In Shishmaref, LEO posts since 2012 have reported
hazardous sea ice conditions, an unusual mortality
event with hairless seals, rare birds, late freeze up, and
a bear siting out of normal range.
Capacity Building with GAP and Relationships with LEO
Example: Marine mammal sickness in the Arctic
As local environmental observers began to understand the circumpolar events maps (CEMs), and build their capacity to use Google maps, things began to click, and GAP managers found that they had a lot to add to what was being reported in the newspapers, and posted to the CEM’s. LEO’s began to share their own observations…and the LEO network expanded to include communications with other indigenous environmental coordinators, local and regional leadership, public health and environmental officials, academic partners, fish and wildlife managers,weather and climate services, and federal/state agencies.
Capacity Building with GAP and Relationships with LEO
Climate change is having a broad range of impacts in Alaska. By tracking events with LEO, we can: Build tribal capacity by raising awareness about
climate change.
Evaluate potential climate ‐ impact connections.
Understand climate trends and seasonal change.
Develop the dialogue about climate adaptation, which
may positively influence agency policies and programs.
Perform surveillance about emerging climate events
so that the health of the environment and Alaskans can
be protected.
Local Environmental staffer in Kwigillingok, Darrel John, recorded in May 2011 that the river bank in the village was 100 feet from this occupied house. By October 2011, it was 80 feet. Over 20 feet of river bank had eroded in 5 months.
Photo courtesy of KESD IGAP
Messages for your consideration
A local capacity building (general assistance) model similar to GAP can be used in other countries as a potential future Arctic Council project to support and bolster a successful LEO network
Collaboration with existing Arctic Council projects in CAFF and SDWG could bring robust deliverables and an integrated structure of support to LEO with Permanent Participants, governments, nonprofit, and academic institutions collaborating together.
Increased communications and collaboration directly with Permanent Participant Groups within the Arctic Council is desired to ground and connect the CLEO project to Permanent Participant goals and priorities for future workshops.
Capacity Building with GAP and Relationships with LEO
