Wednesday, Jul 6 2011 3:41PM
A number of tribes reside in areas where air quality standards don't meet requirements under the Clean Air Act.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and several rural Native American tribes recently formed plans for new regulations as part of the Clean Air Act meant to protect human and environmental health in Tribal areas through emissions rules for new and developing facilities.
According to the EPA, 77 tribes are located in regions where national air quality standards regarding pollutants aren't being met. The new regulations require permits for large facilities that emit more than 100 tons of pollution per year in Tribal areas. Additionally, smaller facilities that emit less pollution per year must register in Tribal areas.
"These actions will limit harmful pollutants, provide the health protections tribal families deserve and allow for an open and transparent permitting process," said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "The actions also bring clean air permitting programs for Indian country in line with state and federal programs."
Before these new rules were adopted, Jeff Philip, EPA spokesperson for Region 10 - which includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and 271 tribes - told the Western Front the regulations build on other air quality measures taken in 2005. A pilot program called the Federal Air Rules for Reservations helped the EPA create air quality regulations for tribes in Washington.