Cynthia GomezAssistant Secretary for Tribal Governmental

Activities and Environmental JusticeCalifornia Environmental Protection Agency

17th Annual Tribal/US EPA ConferenceOctober 21, 2009Tucson, Arizona

CaliforniaProtecting The Environment and Resources

California Indian TribesCalifornia Indian Tribeso California has second largest number of California has second largest number of

federally-recognized Tribes in the Nation.federally-recognized Tribes in the Nation.o According to 2000 US Census, California has According to 2000 US Census, California has

the largest Native American population in the the largest Native American population in the US. US.

o 109 Tribes that are recognized by the federal 109 Tribes that are recognized by the federal government. government.

o 89 Non-federally recognized Tribes89 Non-federally recognized Tribes

Air Resources Board

Integrated (solid) Waste

Management Board

Department of Toxic

Substances Control

(hazardous waste)

State Water Resources

Control Board

Department of Pesticide

Regulation

Office Of Environmental

Health Hazard Assessment

California Environmental Protection Agency

Air Resources Board Office of EnvironmentalHealth Hazard Assessment

Integrated Waste Management Board Department of Pesticide Regulation

Regional W ater Quality Control Boards

State Water Resources Control Board Department of Toxic Substances Control

Office of theSecretary

California EPACalifornia EPA

Global WarmingGlobal Warming• Devastating environmental and Devastating environmental and

economic impactseconomic impacts• Increased temperatures Increased temperatures • Loss of snowpackLoss of snowpack• Heat waves Heat waves • Rising sea levelsRising sea levels

DWR Statewide Integrated DWR Statewide Integrated Regional Water Regional Water

Management PlanManagement Plan

Update 2009

Update 2009 – State’s Update 2009 – State’s BlueprintBlueprint

Integrated Water Management & Integrated Water Management & SustainabilitySustainability

Water Plan Update 2009:Water Plan Update 2009:Tribal ParticipationTribal Participation

1. Tribal Communication Committee met monthly since Oct 2007

2. First Tribal Water Plenary Jan 2008

3. Tribal briefings at 2008 Regional Workshops, some hosted by Tribes

4. TCC Tribal Communication Plan

5. Tribal Flood Session at FMA Conference Oct 2008

6. Planning for 2009 Tribal Water Summit

Water Plan Update 2009Water Plan Update 2009Contact Information:Contact Information:

Barbara CrossBarbara CrossGovernment & Community LiaisonGovernment & Community Liaison

Office of the Director, CA Dept of Water ResourcesOffice of the Director, CA Dept of Water Resources

PO Box 942836, Sacramento, CA 94236-0001PO Box 942836, Sacramento, CA 94236-0001

(916) 653-5150(916) 653-5150

bcross@water.ca.gov bcross@water.ca.gov

http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/

State Parks and BeachesState Parks and BeachesPatrick's Point State Park

Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park

Little Tule River

Prehistoric Fish Traps --

Ahjumawi Lava Springs State

Park

State Parks and BeachesState Parks and Beaches• Effects on Cultural UsesEffects on Cultural Uses• Picture: Anza Borrego Desert State Park -- Picture: Anza Borrego Desert State Park --

which contains numerous sacred siteswhich contains numerous sacred sites

State Parks and BeachesState Parks and Beaches• Significant Budget Reductions - $14.2 millionSignificant Budget Reductions - $14.2 million• Full Closures AvertedFull Closures Averted• Service Reductions will be shown in:Service Reductions will be shown in:

• Reducing hour and/or days a park is openReducing hour and/or days a park is open• Extending seasonal closuresExtending seasonal closures• Closures of portions of parksClosures of portions of parks• Maintenance reductionMaintenance reduction

State Parks – Service State Parks – Service ReductionsReductions

Parks Service Reductions Parks Service Reductions Potential Impacts Potential Impacts on Native American Cultural Uses:on Native American Cultural Uses:

• Conflict with ceremonies and Conflict with ceremonies and dances or other cultural eventsdances or other cultural events

• Hinder/prevent access for Hinder/prevent access for traditional gatherings during traditional gatherings during certain times of the yearcertain times of the year

• Hinder/prevent access to sacred Hinder/prevent access to sacred sites/locations for ceremonial sites/locations for ceremonial purposes or traditional purposes or traditional gatheringsgatherings

State Parks – Service State Parks – Service ReductionsReductions

(continued)(continued)Parks Service Reductions Parks Service Reductions Potential Impacts Potential Impacts

on Native American Cultural Uses: on Native American Cultural Uses:

• Displacement of Displacement of traditional plants traditional plants gathered and usedgathered and used

• Damage to sacred Damage to sacred sties, reconstructed sties, reconstructed village sites and village sites and dance locationsdance locations

CA State Parks CA State Parks Information Source:Information Source:

Blaine LambBlaine LambChiefChief

Archaeology, History & Museums DivisionArchaeology, History & Museums DivisionCalifornia State ParksCalifornia State Parks

(916) 653-9946(916) 653-9946

blamb@parks.ca.gov blamb@parks.ca.gov

For Parks Districts:http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24248

SWRCB and Clear Lake SWRCB and Clear Lake AlgaeAlgae

Clear Lake, CA Blue Green Algal Bloom

Clear LakeClear Lake

Clear Lake, CA Baby Baskets, Robinson Rancheria

Big Valley Rancheria-

Clear Lake, CA

Blue Green AlgaeBlue Green Algae

Blue Green Algal Bloom

Algal Bloom ImpactsAlgal Bloom Impacts

Waterboards & Waterboards & Clear Lake Algal BloomsClear Lake Algal Blooms

Lake (local) County Lake (local) County Contact Contact

RE: Blue-Green AlgaeRE: Blue-Green AlgaeLake County Environmental HealthLake County Environmental Health

(707) 263-1164(707) 263-1164

http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Water_Resources/Clear_Lake_Information.htmWater_Resources/Clear_Lake_Information.htm

CIWMB GrantsCIWMB Grants

• Tribes are eligible to apply for several CIWMB Tribes are eligible to apply for several CIWMB grants.  grants. 

• Tribes funded in FY 2008-09:Tribes funded in FY 2008-09:– Tule River Tribal Council, $250,000 -Tule River Tribal Council, $250,000 -

Targeted Rubberized Asphalt Concrete Grant Targeted Rubberized Asphalt Concrete Grant AwardAward

– Pinoleville Pomo Nation, $11,880 -Tire Pinoleville Pomo Nation, $11,880 -Tire Derived Product Grant in March 2009.Derived Product Grant in March 2009.

– Pala Band of Mission Indians, $16,690 -Pala Band of Mission Indians, $16,690 -Waste Tire Cleanup and Amnesty Event Waste Tire Cleanup and Amnesty Event Grant.Grant.

CIWMB GrantsCIWMB Grants

For More Information on CIWMB For More Information on CIWMB Grants:Grants:

http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Grants/

Grants Administration Unit at Grants Administration Unit at (916) 341-5062(916) 341-5062

Yurok Reservation Yurok Reservation CIWMB Cleanup ActivitiesCIWMB Cleanup Activities

• Three large illegal disposal sites on Yurok Three large illegal disposal sites on Yurok Reservation posed significant threats.Reservation posed significant threats.

• Cleanups approved in August 2008.Cleanups approved in August 2008.• Yurok Tribe, US EPA, Indian Health Yurok Tribe, US EPA, Indian Health

ServicesServices• Fall 2008: 2 sites cleaned up Fall 2008: 2 sites cleaned up • Final site to be cleaned by October 2009Final site to be cleaned by October 2009

Wastewater Treatment Plant Wastewater Treatment Plant Classification and Operator Classification and Operator

Certification ProgramCertification Program• Ensure wastewater treatment plants are Ensure wastewater treatment plants are

properly operated and maintainedproperly operated and maintained• Law requires every person employed in the Law requires every person employed in the

operation of a public wastewater treatment operation of a public wastewater treatment plant to have a valid operator certificate.plant to have a valid operator certificate.

• SWRCB Office of Operator Certification SWRCB Office of Operator Certification responsible for testing applicants and issuing responsible for testing applicants and issuing certifications (OOC) certifications (OOC)

Wastewater Treatment Plant Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification Regulation Operator Certification Regulation

AmendmentsAmendments

• Comments from Tribes concerned that Comments from Tribes concerned that the regulation amendments are being the regulation amendments are being stalledstalled

• Status of the draft regulations Status of the draft regulations • Timeline for completionTimeline for completion

Wastewater Treatment Plant Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification Regulation Operator Certification Regulation

Amendments TimelineAmendments Timeline

– Notice published in Office of Administrative Law Notice published in Office of Administrative Law Register (begins public comment period) - April 2010Register (begins public comment period) - April 2010

– Public Comment Period Ends - July 2010Public Comment Period Ends - July 2010– Waterboards Meeting to Consider Approval of Waterboards Meeting to Consider Approval of

Proposed Regulations – targeted for October 2010Proposed Regulations – targeted for October 2010– Regulations Effective - Jan 2011Regulations Effective - Jan 2011

Cal/EPA WaterboardsCal/EPA Waterboards

Office of Operator CertificationOffice of Operator Certification

Division of Clean Water ProgramsDivision of Clean Water Programs

State Water Resources Control BoardState Water Resources Control Board

PO Box 944212PO Box 944212

Sacramento, CA 94244-2120Sacramento, CA 94244-2120

www.swrcb.ca.gov/cwphome/opcertwww.swrcb.ca.gov/cwphome/opcert

(916) 341-5819(916) 341-5819

Cal/EPA 2009 EJ Small Cal/EPA 2009 EJ Small GrantsGrants

• Eligible entities are to 501©(3) IRS tax Eligible entities are to 501©(3) IRS tax exempt non-profit organizations and exempt non-profit organizations and federally recognized Tribal governments.federally recognized Tribal governments.

• 46 Total Applications = $877,881 requested46 Total Applications = $877,881 requested• Tribal & Tribal Related = 5 applicants -Tribal & Tribal Related = 5 applicants -

$91,585 requested$91,585 requested– Tribes: 3 applicants = $52,540 requestedTribes: 3 applicants = $52,540 requested– Tribal related: 2 applicants = $39,045 Tribal related: 2 applicants = $39,045

requestedrequested

Ca/EPA EJ Small Ca/EPA EJ Small Grants Program ContactGrants Program Contact

Malinda DumisaniMalinda Dumisani

Cal/EPA EJ Small Grants Program ManagerCal/EPA EJ Small Grants Program Manager

California Environmental Protection AgencyCalifornia Environmental Protection Agency

(916) 445-9480(916) 445-9480mdumisani@calepa.ca.gov

Please contact if any questions regarding the Please contact if any questions regarding the Grants Program or the Agency’s Grants Program or the Agency’s Environmental Justice ProgramEnvironmental Justice Program

Cal/EPA Tribal PolicyCal/EPA Tribal Policyo Approved October 19, 2009, by Agency Secretary Linda

S. Adamso The mission of CalEPA is to restore, protect and

enhance the environment to ensure public health, environmental quality and economic vitality.

o Recognizes Tribal Sovereignty.o Work together to resolve respective issues of concern

and/or mutual interest .o Respecting the protocols of each respective tribes.

Cal/EPA Tribal PolicyCal/EPA Tribal Policyo Provides Framework for Cal/EPA and its BDOs to

improve and maintain communication and collaboration between Cal/EPA, its BDOs and California Indian Tribes to further the mission of Cal/EPA

o Also provides commitment to educate appropriate staff, become informed about the cultural setting of California Indians, their environmental issues and tribal histories for the purpose of improving Cal/EPA’s understanding of and connection to California Indian Tribes.

Thank youThank youCynthia Gomez

Assistant Secretary for Tribal Governmental Activities and Environmental Justice

California Environmental Protection Agency

Mailing Address: PO Box 2815 Sacramento, CA 95812

Physical Address: 1001 I StreetSacramento, CA 95814

(916) 323-2559cgomez@calepa.ca.gov