Overcoming Obstacles to Partnering Fond du Lac and CenRAP

Introduction The 1999 Regional Haze Rule called for the creation of Regional Planning Organizations, or RPO’s, where states and tribes would come together to address regional haze. The 1999 Regional Haze Rule called for the creation of Regional Planning Organizations, or RPO’s, where states and tribes would come together to address regional haze. The Central Regional Air Planning Association is an offshoot of CenSARA, an organization of nine midwestern state air agencies, including Minnesota, where FdL is located. The Central Regional Air Planning Association is an offshoot of CenSARA, an organization of nine midwestern state air agencies, including Minnesota, where FdL is located. When CenRAP was created as a sister agency to CenSARA, tribes wanted to be included. When CenRAP was created as a sister agency to CenSARA, tribes wanted to be included.

Obstacles States were not used to working with tribes and went ahead and started writing bylaws, with the intent of bringing tribes in later. States were not used to working with tribes and went ahead and started writing bylaws, with the intent of bringing tribes in later. Tribes in the nine-state areas wanted to be involved from the on-set. Tribes in the nine-state areas wanted to be involved from the on-set. Some CenRAP states were not very enthusiastic about including tribes, or didn’t understand why tribes wanted to be included. Some CenRAP states were not very enthusiastic about including tribes, or didn’t understand why tribes wanted to be included. Broad geographic areas covered in this region includes a broad array of political and cultural views. Broad geographic areas covered in this region includes a broad array of political and cultural views. The original draft by-laws had very limited tribal representation. The original draft by-laws had very limited tribal representation.

Why Did Tribes Want to Be Involved? RPO’s were seen as “the wave of the future” and tribes wanted to be included from the start. RPO’s were seen as “the wave of the future” and tribes wanted to be included from the start. Visibility can be an important cultural value. Visibility can be an important cultural value. The same pollutants that influence visibility affect health. The same pollutants that influence visibility affect health. Getting involved in this group could lead to great contacts for tribes to utilize. Getting involved in this group could lead to great contacts for tribes to utilize. Promotes state/tribal relations. Promotes state/tribal relations.

How did Tribes Overcome Obstacles? Going to the funding source (EPA) and reminding them of their trust responsibility. Going to the funding source (EPA) and reminding them of their trust responsibility. Once tribes were in the meetings, we needed to prove ourselves. We did this by reminding the states what we had to offer, showing up consistently (even though this is not always easy), taking on tasks, serving as co-chairs of working groups, and working professionally with the states. Once tribes were in the meetings, we needed to prove ourselves. We did this by reminding the states what we had to offer, showing up consistently (even though this is not always easy), taking on tasks, serving as co-chairs of working groups, and working professionally with the states. It helped that there was a deadline for regional haze SIP’s. Issues of representation had to be settled so the group could move forward. It helped that there was a deadline for regional haze SIP’s. Issues of representation had to be settled so the group could move forward.

Outcomes Tribes gained nine seats on the policy oversight group (POG), same as the states. Tribes gained nine seats on the policy oversight group (POG), same as the states. Partnerships were formed between states and tribes for monitoring. Partnerships were formed between states and tribes for monitoring. Tribes hold the Vice-President and Secretary/Treasurer positions on the POG. Tribes hold the Vice-President and Secretary/Treasurer positions on the POG. Both states and tribes participate together on the POG, Steering Committee, and workgroups. Both states and tribes participate together on the POG, Steering Committee, and workgroups. Work was completed with only legislative delays. Work was completed with only legislative delays. State/tribal work continues….. State/tribal work continues…..

Partnerships Formed Both states and tribes have attended CenRAP training in data management. Both states and tribes have attended CenRAP training in data management. Both attended Blue Skyways and Smoke Management sessions. Both attended Blue Skyways and Smoke Management sessions. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and MN tribes have a permitting notification agreement for air, and one in the works for water. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and MN tribes have a permitting notification agreement for air, and one in the works for water. Cherokee and Sac and Fox Nations are filling important monitoring gaps. Cherokee and Sac and Fox Nations are filling important monitoring gaps. States have come to learn about our funding/staffing issues. States have come to learn about our funding/staffing issues. Valuable contacts have been made between states, tribes, FLM’s, EPA, CenRAP, etc. Valuable contacts have been made between states, tribes, FLM’s, EPA, CenRAP, etc.

Working Professionally Show that we are here not soley to shoot things down nor to rubber stamp – we are here to get things done the best way possible. Show that we are here not soley to shoot things down nor to rubber stamp – we are here to get things done the best way possible. We are willing to learn and also have much to teach. We are willing to learn and also have much to teach. Work within the regulatory framework. Work within the regulatory framework. Let others know that we care about the same issues. Let others know that we care about the same issues.