2.1: Tribal Capacity
OPPTS intends to help build tribal capacity to assess environmental threats from toxic chemicals and pesticides, including
persistent bio-accumulative toxics (PBTs), persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and radionuclides in foods and other mate-
rials important to tribal peoples, cultures and traditions.
Other Information:
Work Activity 2.1.1 OPPTS intends to provide innovative training and outreach to improve the ability of tribes to understand
risks associated with lead and asbestos educate community members on these risks, and consider options to address these risks.
Work Activity 2.1.2 OPPTS intends to work with interested tribes to help them work toward obtaining TSCA sections 402 and
406 lead program authorization and/or pursue implementation of pesticide management activities, including development of FIFRA
compliant pesticide codes. Work Activity 2.1.3 OPPTS intends to provide grants for targeted pesticide-related “field projects”
such as surface and water quality management, endangered species protection, integrated pest management, and pesticide assessment,
education and outreach. Work Activity 2.1.4 OPPTS intends to work to supplement resources for pesticide management related
activities in ICOTA. Work Activity 2.1.5 At the request of tribal environmental groups, OPPTS intends to hold a meeting for
tribes to highlight priority issues facing ICOTA. Based on the discussion held at the meeting, OPPTS intends to work with
its tribal partners to create a comprehensive guidance document geared towards protecting traditional lifeways resources.
The guidance should assist tribes in successfully identifying and evaluating potential toxic chemicals impacting traditional
lifeways. Work Activity 2.1.6 OPPTS intends to enable federally-recognized tribes to utilize and test the tools and guidelines
developed for work activity 2.1.5. These tools should enable tribes to better understand and manage contaminant exposure pathways
and risks resulting from unique circumstances associated with their subsistence practices and traditional ways of life. Work
Activity 2.1.7 OPPTS intends to complete a pilot effort to upgrade LifeLine, an existing software tool to enable it to evaluate
potential, unique exposure and risk opportunities that may exist for two tribal groups, each of which practices its own traditional
cultural lifeways. During 2004, the usefulness of the upgraded tool should be evaluated and a determination should be made
as to the feasibility of extending the project to include tribes in other bio-geographical areas of the United States.
Indicator(s):
|
