Environmental

Environmental

Mission

The mission of the Quapaw Nation Environmental Department is to protect human health, the environment, and the cultural heritage of the Quapaw people through applying scientific methods in understanding impacts to our natural world.

The Environmental Department can provide Tribal members with information regarding water quality, air quality, illegal solid waste dumps, recycling, Tar Creek site issues (including some chat sales information), and other environmental issues affecting Quapaw Tribal lands and Northeast Ottawa County.

Ongoing projects of the Environmental Department:

General Assistance Program (GAP) Grant

The GAP Grant is in place to help develop and build capacity within the Tribe's Environmental Department to manage their own environmental protection programs and to develop and implement solid and hazardous waste programs in relation to the Tribe's needs and applicable federal laws and regulations.

Clean Water Act (CWA) 106 Grant

The CWA 106 Grant helps us monitor surface waters within Quapaw Tribe jurisdictional boundaries. We collect and analyze water samples from eight sites on Beaver Creek, Tar Creek, Elm Creek, and Spring River. The data is used to assess the quality of water and determine if the water bodies meet their designated uses.

CWA 319 Grant

The CWA 319 Grant or Non-Point Source (NPS) pollution encompasses sources of pollution that do not come from a pin-pointed source; examples of NPS pollution include urban and agricultural runoff. The CWA 319 Grant provides funding to improve water quality and watershed health. Activities under this grant include investigating origins of NPS pollution, developing a comprehensive watershed management plan, and educating the community about how they can reduce NPS pollution.

Clean Air Act (CAA) Grant

The CAA  Grant is for monitoring, permit review and outreach and education for ambient air quality issues. We monitor ambient air quality for ozone, particulate matter, ammonia, lead in total suspended particulates, temperature, wind speed and wind direction, and relative humidity.

Superfund Cooperative Agreements

  1. The Superfund Cooperative Agreements ensure that the interests of the Quapaw Tribe and the protection of human health and the environment within Quapaw jurisdiction are addressed in all matters regarding the Tar Creek Superfund Site. Additionally, the Superfund Cooperative Agreements allow the Quapaw Tribe to:
  2. Report all information gathered regarding the Site to the Tribal Business Committee.
  3. Provide technical review of Superfund documents (investigations, studies, reports, etc.) regarding the Site.
  4. Participate in meetings, conference calls, and decision planning related to ongoing Remedial Design/ Remedial Action projects, particularly as they pertain to Tribal Lands.
  5. Represent the Quapaw Environmental Program in working with the EPA, US Corps of Engineers, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and other appropriate federal and /or state agencies on superfund issues.
  6. Stay current on information and developments regarding CERCLA issues.
  7. Attend meetings, conferences, and training as required to achieve the above-listed goals.
  8. Provide field oversight when Superfund activity occurs on Tribal land and when requested by stakeholder agencies.
  9. Ensure that the Tribe is involved in all projects related to tribal lands at the Tar Creek and Cherokee County Superfund Sites.

Various Superfund Cooperative Agreements include:

Management Assistance Grant

Remedial Response Grants: Catholic 40, Beaver Creek North, Distal 7 North (Drainage Feature), Distal 13, Distal 10 and 12, Bird Dog, Smelter Site Phase I and II, CB199, Distal 10a/b, Marketable Chat Piles Projects, Howe Interim Measures

New Cooperative Agreements will be added to this list as current remedial projects finish and new remedial projects are started. Please contact the Quapaw Nation Environmental Department with any questions concerning ongoing projects.

Outreach and Education

The Quapaw Nation Environmental Department presents informational and educational programs throughout the community to increase awareness of issues that impact human health and the environment.