The federal Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday a project it is funding is helping Utah Indian tribes establish or promote existing efforts to deal with various pollution problems.
The project, Environmental Justice Through Pollution Prevention, addresses five key areas facing local tribes: solid waste disposal, drinking water, education and training, developing partnerships with local governments, and contamination caused by nuclear tests of the 1950s.Project manager Stephanie Bernkopf said the EPA is working in coalition with local tribal representatives to better involve the local American Indian community in more pro-active approaches toward environmental quality issues. She said the program strives to help the tribes plan strategy and coordinate activities.
Bernkopf said 25 years ago the focus of environmental quality efforts was on pollution control, but this EPA program stresses prevention. She said she has thus far met with all tribal councils and held training meetings. Other plans include introducing revenue generation concepts to help tribes raise money for environmental projects.
Some specific issues for some of the tribes include the closing of old dumps that don't meet federal standards and establishing the apparatus to enforce environmental regulations.