Environmental Protection Services

The Eastern Shawnee Tribe Environmental Department has many duties while strengthening the capacity of its governing structure and maintaining a viable Environmental Program. The Environmental Department can provide Tribal members with information regarding water quality, indoor air quality, illegal solid waste dumps, recycling, and other environmental issues affecting Eastern Shawnee lands.

Ongoing Projects of the Environmental Department

Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP)

In 1992, Congress passed the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Act (42 U.S.C. 4368b) which authorizes EPA to provide General Assistance Program (GAP) grants to federally-recognized tribes and tribal consortia for planning, developing, and establishing environmental protection programs in Indian country, as well as for developing and implementing solid and hazardous waste programs on tribal lands.

The goal of this program is to assist tribes in developing the capacity to manage their own environmental protection programs, and to develop and implement solid and hazardous waste programs in accordance with individual tribal needs and applicable federal laws and regulations.

Through our GAP grant we maintain an environmental presence for the Tribe prioritizing in recycling, safety, environmental protection, and community outreach.

More information on Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP)

Clean Water Act- Section 106

The Water Quality Grant helps us monitor surface waters within Eastern Shawnee Tribe treaty boundaries as part of the Grand Lake Watershed. We collect and analyze water samples from six ambient water sites on a monthly basis. Three sites are located on Lost Creek, one site on Flint Branch, and two sites on Spring River. The data is used to assess the quality of water and determine if the water bodies meet their designated uses. In addition to monitoring water quality, the program is designed to protect aspects of human health through bacteria and fish analysis. We sample for E. coli and Enterococcus bacteria twice a week in the summer. When bacteria counts are too high, we post swimming advisories at Lost Creek and Spring River and throughout the tribal complex. These warnings help protect tribal members and the general public from health risks associated with bacterial illness. Also, on Spring River, fish are collected and the tissue analyzed for heavy metal content to ensure safe levels for consumption. All data collected is uploaded into an EPA database. Well testing is available to local residents upon request. Public education is an important part of the Water Quality Monitoring Program to educate the community on all aspects of water quality. Grant funding provides for several education events each year and participation in local festivals, fairs, and powwows.

More information on the Clean Water Act Section 106

Clean Water Act – Section 319

Congress amended the Clean Water Act (CWA) in 1987 to establish the section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Program because it recognized the need for greater federal leadership to help focus State and local nonpoint source efforts. Under section 319, States, Territories, and Indian Tribes receive grant money which supports a wide variety of activities including technical assistance, financial assistance, education, training, technology transfer, demonstration projects, and monitoring to assess the success of specific nonpoint source implementation projects.

Non-Point Source pollution is water pollution affecting a water body from diffuse sources, such as polluted runoff from agricultural areas and urban storm water runoff. The Eastern Shawnee Tribe has prepared a Nonpoint Source Management Plan to address the environmental degradation caused by the nonpoint sources (NPS) of pollution identified in the Eastern Shawnee Tribe Nonpoint Source Assessment. The overall goal of this Management Plan is to improve water quality on Eastern Shawnee lands. The Eastern Shawnee Tribe has also developed a comprehensive watershed management plan and community education program to educate the community and encourage awareness of the watershed as a whole.