Brownfields Program Overview

A program which ensures the protection of the tribes’ natural resources by surveying the Reservation for unauthorized or abandoned sites and structures which may contain solid and especially hazardous materials. Such materials have the potential to contaminate the natural resources of the tribes, and pose serious health threats to the Reservation residents.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) definition of a Brownfields is: Brownfields are real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Assessing, cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties takes development pressures off of undeveloped, open land, and both improves and protects the environment.

OEP oversees the Brownfields program and ensures that documentation requirements are met:

• Quality assurance or quality control approvals
• Grant requirements
• Development of Standard Operating Procedures
• Assessment documentation
• Formal presentations to user groups and Tribal Executive Board members

The office conducts inspections and analysis of potential Brownfields sites and/or pollution sources and problems through methods such as literature and document review, field inspection, investigations, sample collection, observations and personal interviews.

Monitoring and abatement plans are designed for Brownfield sites in compliance with Federal EPA Brownfields statutory language.

The tribes maintain budgets and ensure that work tasks are completed according to budgeted amounts by negotiating costs with contractors and estimates costs needed to complete the objectives outlined in work plans.

Other related work will be performed if required.