EPA Assistant Administrator for Water G. Tracy Mehan, III, announced the release of a video that documents the successful protection of water quality on Native American reservations.
"Our Water Our Future: Saving Our Tribal Life Force Together" shows the efforts of the Pueblo of Acoma in New Mexico and the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation in Washington in developing water quality standards.
Tribal elders and leaders, and the directors and staffs of tribal environmental departments recount their experiences. The tribes took positive steps to protect present and future generations in adopting water quality standards for their reservations. EPA approved the Pueblo of Acoma's water quality standards in 2001 and those of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation in 1997.
Segments of the video can be viewed online at: www.epa.gov/waterscience. Tribal-adopted and EPA-approved water quality standards for these two tribes (and for other authorized tribes) are available online at: www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/wqslibrary/tribes.html.
EPA is distributing copies of the video to all federally recognized Indian tribes. Copies are also available by contacting Eleanor Jackson at 202-566-0052 or [email protected].
Source: EPA