4: Risk Management Methodologies

Enhance and Modify Risk Management Methodologies to Meet Tribal Cultural Concerns and Protect Public Health and the Environment in Indian Country and Other Tribal Areas Including in Alaska.

Other Information:

Ongoing Activities – Goal 4 OPPTS is currently involved in several activities that support the objectives and work-activities developed for Goal 4. Lead Program OPPT has developed a baseline assessment and lead awareness grant program exclusively for Indian tribes and tribal consortia. This grant program supports an assessment of exposure and risks of exposure to lead poisoning of tribal children by including blood-lead screening of children, inspecting older homes, testing paint, dust, and soil for hazardous lead levels, and training individuals to perform lead inspections and risk assessments. The lead awareness portion of the grant supports educational outreach activities. Since it’s inception in fiscal year 1999, OPPT has awarded 60 grants totaling nearly $3 million to tribes. OPPT has supported the development and presentation of lead awareness workshops by developing a Lead Community Tool Kit. A special version of the training manual was developed for Native American communities and is available from the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD. A lead poisoning prevention manual for tribal day centers and families was published which explains screening, healthful diet, and basic preventive steps. The manual is also available in CD-ROM and video. Increasing Tribal Capacity for the Assessment of Traditional Lifeways This project will help increase tribal capacity to assess environmental health threats from toxic chemicals, including PBTs, in traditional foods. OPPTS intends to work with tribes to enable them to conduct their own exposure/risk assessments based upon the unique circumstances associated with their cultural beliefs, religions and lifestyles. For this project OPPTS is working with EPA’s regional offices, OPP, the Community Based Environmental Protection Workgroup in OPPT, other EPA program offices, and a number of tribal organizations, including the TOC, FOSTTA, and the TPPC. Geographic Exposure Modeling System (OPPT) OPPT has recently made available tools such as the new Geographic Exposure Modeling System (GEMS). This system includes models and data for ambient air, surface water, soil, and groundwater, and makes the models much easier to use than their stand-alone counterparts. GEMS has statistical analysis, graphics, and GIS capabilities for analyzing and displaying data and environmental modeling results. GEMS is expected to be available soon on the internet. OPPT has also developed another technical tool to be used in schools (grades 7-12): the Toxic Release Inventory Package. This package is designed to enable students to use large databases as tools in science and social sciences classes. Pesticide Management Planning (OPP) OPP provides support for the development and presentation of ground and surface water management workshops and other technical training. Through July 2003, more than 75% of the tribes in the lower 48 states had sent representatives to receive ground and surface water and pesticide management training through this program. OPP plans to continue its efforts to identify, prioritize and develop tribal training in areas ranging from pesticide and groundwater sampling to inspector training and education on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods.

Objective(s):

4.1: Exposure Risk

4.2: Risk Exposure Models and Methodologies

4.3: Bio-accumulative and Toxic Pollutants

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