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How a Tribe Can Work Effectively with SIP-development agencies…

…Or Not

Presented byScott Weir, Air Quality Coordinator

Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas

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Do not assume your State and Local colleagues will contact you

• Tribes are:– Not on their minds– Often overlooked when compiling contact lists– Avoided as potential sources of conflict– Considered minor stakeholders– Misunderstood

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If you want to know…

• You must know where to look• Be proactive• Develop strong relationship with an

appropriate State colleague– e.g., One State in Region 7 has only one reliable

air program contact– Tribal friendly on his own initiative

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KS Bureau of Air Guidelines for Communication with the Tribes within the

State of KansasBureau of Air Guidelines for Communication with the Tribes within

the State of Kansas Introduction: The mission of the Bureau of Air (BOA) is to “protect the public health and environment from air pollution”. Goals of BOA are to conserve air quality, control air pollution, and protect the public health. The BOA monitors concentrations of various pollutants in the atmosphere and models the spread and distribution of those pollutants. In addition, BOA collects statewide data on emitters of these pollutants, and attempts to minimize the release of air pollutants through permitting and Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART). These guidelines are meant to improve the working relationship between BOA and the tribes whose reservations lie within the State of Kansas. This relationship includes communication regarding the Regional Haze Rule, keeping tribes informed of permitting actions within counties near Tribal reservations, and general communication regarding the work of BOA and the Tribal environmental agencies. These guidelines were drafted with input from the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas, the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska, and the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. The Iowa Tribe in Kansas and Nebraska was contacted, but refrained from providing input into the drafting of these guidelines. BOA should keep in mind that every tribe is unique, and capabilities as well as characteristics of the different tribes vary greatly. Tribal populations can range from several hundred to several thousand and their territory can vary in kind. Turnover occurs in both Tribal government and at BOA, and thus personal professional relationships that exist one year may not the next. For this reason, it is important to build an effective interagency relationship between BOA and Tribal environmental agencies.

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Kansas State Guidelines for Communication with Tribes

• Sincere attempt to improve communication with Tribal air programs

• Developed with Tribal input through face-to-face meetings

• Defined area of interest as eight counties as well as four specific reservations

• Established protocols for communication• Created two Bureau of Air Tribal Liaisons

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State Guidelines for Communication (cont.)

• Development tasked to ITEP EEOP Intern• Well received by Tribes• Led to specific meeting with KDHE regarding

a PSD issue• Works well when State remembers to make

contact• Weak point is that Tribes are “Out of sight –

out of mind”

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Stay Connected• From: Scott Weir [mailto:scott.weir@ktik-nsn.gov]

Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2014 7:44 AMTo: Douglas WatsonCc: viswatej.attili@ktik-nsn.govSubject: Guidelines for CommunicationImportance: High

•  • Doug:•  • Attached is an updated copy of Bureau of Air Guidelines for Communication with the Tribes within the State of Kansas. Please note that

there are 2 changes in contacts:•  • Viswatej (Tej) Attili is now the Director of the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas Environmental Office; and• Ms. Billie Toledo is now the Environmental (Air) Technician for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.•  • To my recollection, there have only been two notices to Tribal programs from BoA in the last 5 years. I am, therefore, concerned that the

guidelines might not always be applied as intended. But then, maybe controls on various sources have been so effective that our air quality is so good that there has been no cause for any notices to be sent. We do receive (and appreciate) invitations to the Clean Air Act Advisory Group meetings (per the guidelines), which are attended by the Tribes as time and funds for travel allow.

•  • I guess maybe all I’m asking is that you keep the various BoA Section Chiefs aware of our interest and the existence of the Guidelines

for Communication. In the meantime, my own inquiries to BoA have certainly been answered in a timely manner.•  • By the way, what is the status of the Regional Haze SIP? The last I knew, it was undergoing some sort of federal review…•  • Thank you for your efforts to improve and maintain air quality, and for your continuing cooperation with your Tribal colleagues.•  • -Scott Weir, Air Quality Coordinator• Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas

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Stay Connected (cont.)

Hey Scott, Hope all is going well with you. Thanks for the update on the contact list. I will make those changes to our master copy. I will also forward the updates on to the permitting staff and relate to them your concerns. I have been a little removed from the Regional Haze process since assuming the Monitoring Unit Chief position but I will get an update. Did you folks receive a copy of the original approved plan? I know we are in the process of providing the required 5-year update as called for in the RH rule. I’ll check with Miles and see if I can get an update or have him update you and the other tribes. Thanks -Doug

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Kansas Clean Air Act Advisory Group• Good Morning!• • Please find attached the Agenda for the next Clean Air Act Advisory Group meeting. •  • This e-mail also serves as a reminder for those of you that have not registered and would like to.•  • The next Kansas Clean Air Act Advisory Group will be meeting on August 5, 2014 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Wichita Marriott Hotel, 9100 Corporate Drive, Wichita, 

KS  67207 (800)228-9290.  It is being held in conjunction with the 2014 Kansas Environmental Conference again this year which is being held at the same location on August 6-7, 2014.

•  • Registration for the KS CAAAG meeting is due no later than July 21, 2014.  •  • The link below is for the 2014 Kansas Environmental Conference as well as the Kansas Clean Air Act Advisory Group meeting.   You can register for both or separately as 

well.  The Bureau of Air will not be sending out a separate registration form this year for the Clean Air Act Advisory Group meeting, as it has been suggested in past years that members would prefer to register using a credit card as opposed to sending in a check.  The cost for the Clean Air Act Advisory Group meeting is $38.00, lunch included.  The link for registering is:

•  • http://www.kdheks.gov/sbcs/environment_conf.html•   • Please contact me at the number listed below if you have any questions•  • Linda Vandevord• Bureau of Air• 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 310• Topeka, KS 66612• 785.296.6423• 785.296.7455• lvandevord@kdheks.gov •  

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Your best bet…

• Network and develop at least one solid contact in the State Air Quality Program

• Be proactive

• Touch base often

• Attend State-sponsored advisory group meetings, etc.

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Scott Weir, Air Quality CoordinatorKickapoo Tribe in Kansas

Environmental Office

785.486.2601 ext. 2

scott.weir@ktik-nsn.gov