Comment & Consultation
DOI Dear Tribal Leader Letter re: upcoming consultation sessions – Various Dates
Attached is a Dear Tribal Leader Letter (DTLL) from the Department of the Interior announcing six upcoming in-person/hybrid Tribal consultation sessions around the country, one virtual Tribal consultation session, and one BIE related virtual consultation. The consultations will take place in Anchorage, AK; Sacramento, CA; Albuquerque, NM; Bloomington, MN; Oklahoma City, OK; and Washington, DC. The focus of these consultations will be related to Executive Order (EO) 14210—Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative and per the DTLL, will include the following topics – 1) Restructuring of Indian Affairs to support more efficient interactions with Tribes; 2) Addressing current funding structures, including identifying efficiency barriers to expedite funding to Tribes and Tribal programs; and 3) Increasing Indian Affairs support for Tribal self-governance and self-determination.
Additional details are included in the letter and consultation details are listed generally below along with registration links for virtual access.
Alaska Consultation
Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Type: In-person and Virtual (Hybrid) Tribal Consultation
Session: 10:00 am – 3 :30 pm Alaska Daylight Savings Time
James M. Fitzgerald U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building
Conference Room
222 W 7th A venue
Anchorage, AK 99513
Federal Building – will require valid ID and security requirements for building entrance.
Zoom registration link: httns://tinvurl.corn/2i5kmf6c
California Consultation
Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
Type: In-person and Virtual (Hybrid) Tribal Consultation
Session: 10:00 am – 3:30 pm Pacific Daylight Savings Time
John E. Moss Federal Building
Stanford Room
650 Capital Mall
Sacramento, CA 95814
Federal Building – will require valid ID and security requirements for building entrance.
Zoom registration link: https:/ /tinyurl.com/4kaw23na
Albuquerque Consultation
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Type: In-person and Virtual (Hybrid) Tribal Consultation
Session: 10:00 a.m. -3:30 pm Mountain Daylight Savings Time
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
Auditorium
9169 Coors Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87121
Zoom registration link:
https:/ /tinyurl.com/ycj9f9y9
Minnesota Consultation
Date: Thursday, May 29, 2025
Type: In-person and Virtual (Hybrid) Tribal Consultation
Session: 10:00 am- 3:30 pm Central Daylight Savings Time
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Visitor Center Auditorium
3815 American Blvd E
Bloomington, MN 55425
Zoom registration link: https:/ /tinyurl.com/f5teu4ur
BIE Interested Parties – Virtual Consultation
Date: Friday, May 30, 2025
Type: Virtual for the BIE Interested Parties
Session: 10:00 am- 3:30 pm Eastern Time
Zoom registration link: https://tinyurl.com/5acbm7us
Oklahoma Consultation
Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Type: In-person and Virtual (Hybrid) Tribal Consultation
Session: 10:00-3:30 pm Central Daylight Savings Time
Supreme Court of Oklahoma
Judicial Center Auditorium
2100 North Lincoln
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Federal Building – will require valid ID and security requirements for building entrance.
Zoom registration link: https:/ /tinyurl.com/3x2bzf98
Washington, DC Consultation
Date: Thursday, June 5, 2025
Type: In-person and Virtual (Hybrid) Tribal Consultation
Session: 10:00 am- 3:30 pm Eastern Daylight Savings Time
U.S. Department of the Interior
Yates Auditorium
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240
Federal Building – will require valid ID and security requirements for building entrance.
Zoom registration link: https://tinyurl.com/bdemyc49
Virtual Tribal Consultation
Date: Friday, June 6, 2025
Type: Virtual Tribal Consultation
Session: 10:00 am- 3:30 pm Eastern Daylight Savings Time
Zoom registration link: https://tinyurl.corn/txhp98ua
Bradford Island National Priorities List Site – Ends May 6
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation scheduled an annual meeting with U.S. EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding Bradford Island National Priorities List Site. Letter is on the TCOTS site.
North Ridge Estates OU2 Superfund Site Proposed Plan – Ends May 2
Re: Offer for Government-to-Government Consultation to the Klamath Tribes regarding the Proposed Plan for No Further Action at the North Ridge Estates Operable Unit 2 Superfund Site
U.S. EPA offered government-to-government consultation to Klamath Tribes regarding a Proposed Plan for no further action at Operable Unit 2 (OU2) at the North Ridge Estates Super Fund Site. That site was added to the National Priorities List in 2011.
Consultation period runs from April 2 to May 2, 2025
Consultation letter is on the TCOTS site.
EPA’s Water Quality Standards Handbook – Comment by Apr 30
On March 12, EPA and the U.S. Department of the Army announced their intent to undertake a rulemaking to revise the definition of “waters of the United States” definition in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, 598 U.S. 651 (2023). On March 21, the agencies initiated consultation with federally recognized Indian Tribes on key topics related to the definition. EPA will hold a listening session for Tribes on April 30.
- Learn more on TCOTs.
- Read the Federal Register notice.
- Register for the listening session on April 30.
Waters of the United States – Comment by May 20
On December 12, 2024, EPA released three draft Water Quality Standards Handbook chapters for a 90-day public comment period. EPA has extended the public comment period until April 30. EPA’s Water Quality Standards Handbook page includes instructions for providing comments.Submit comments
Waters of the United States – Comment by May 20
On March 12, EPA and the U.S. Department of the Army announced their intent to undertake a rulemaking to revise the definition of “waters of the United States” definition in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, 598 U.S. 651 (2023). On March 21, the agencies initiated consultation with federally recognized Indian Tribes on key topics related to the definition. EPA will hold a listening session for Tribes on April 30.
Register for the listening session on April 30.
Waters of the United States: EPA Listening Session for Tribes – Apr 30
On March 12, EPA and the U.S. Department of the Army announced their intent to undertake a rulemaking to revise the definition of “waters of the United States” definition. On March 21, the agencies initiated consultation with federally recognized Indian Tribes. EPA will hold a listening session for Tribes on April 30.
Waters of the United States – Comment by May 20
On March 12, EPA and the U.S. Department of the Army announced their intent to undertake a rulemaking to revise the definition of “waters of the United States” definition in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, 598 U.S. 651 (2023). On March 21, the agencies initiated consultation with federally recognized Indian Tribes on key topics related to the definition. Webinars are scheduled on March 31 and April 30.
- Learn more on TCOTs.
- Read the Federal Register notice.
- Register for the webinar on March 31.
- Register for the webinar on April 30. The link to this webinar is not yet posted.)
The agencies also announced a series of six listening sessions. Opportunities to register will be posted on the Public Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement Activities web page
Waters of the United States – Consultation ends May 20, 2025
On March 12, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that EPA will work with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to review the definition of “waters of the United States.” A joint memorandum also issued guidance to field staff on implementation of “continuous surface connection” consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court’s May 25, 2023, decision in the case of Sackett v. EPA.
The agencies announced a Federal Register notice publicizing six listening sessions and a 30-day recommendations docket to solicit feedback on key aspects of the definition of “waters of the United States.” Opportunities to attend the listening sessions and provide comments will be posted on the Public Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement Activities web page.
Consultation period starts March 31, 2025
Consultation period ends May 20, 2025
Withdrawal of Tribal Baseline Water Quality Standards Rule
On December 20, EPA withdrew the proposed rule, “Federal Baseline Water Quality Standards for Indian Reservations.” The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register and was undergoing review by the Office of Management and Budget. EPA is instead focusing its resources on engaging with Tribes to support their efforts to seek authority to administer their own water quality standards (WQS) programs under the Clean Water Act’s provision for an eligible Tribe to be treated in a similar manner as a state (TAS). EPA will continue to work closely with, and offer support to, Tribes that are interested in pursuing TAS to administer a WQS program and developing their own WQS under the Clean Water Act. If you have questions or would like to discuss TAS and WQS-related topics, contact Rachel Renkins, Water Quality Standards Coordinator, at Renkens.Rachael@epa.gov.
Presentation: How Tribes Can Influence Agency Decision Making
Public participation matters. Democratic, legal, and management principles justify why public comments make a difference in regulatory policy. Big Corporations, private citizens, industry polluters also comment, it is important that Tribal perspectives are represented alongside others.
Slides from RTOC Policy Advisor, Rich Eichsteadt on How Tribes Can Influence Agency Decision Making.pdf
Federal funding freeze halts key infrastructure projects in tribal communities
www.npr.org
Riverbank stabilization, lead and asbestos contamination are just some of the projects tribes planned to address before the Trump administration froze funds.
us06web.zoom.us
Rather than serving purely as a constraint on economic development, many tribes and Native communities have incorporated environmental resilience and adaptation strategies and activities into their ec...