Tribal Nations and Indigenous Peoples Engagement in NEPA: Challenges and Best Practices

Webinar: Tribal Nations and Indigenous Peoples Engagement in NEPA: Challenges and Best Practices

This webinar will consist of Tribal Nations and Indigenous Peoples sharing their experiences engaging in the decision-making processes that are part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  The presenters will share best practices, lessons learned, challenges, and recommendations for improving the effective identification and consideration of Tribal and Indigenous interests and concerns in NEPA. 

Date & Time: June 29, 2022, (11:30 AM – 1:00 PM PT), (2:30 PM – 4:00 PM ET)

To register: https://usepa.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_TM3PYua5Sd6nb6TUI_dsqQ

Presenters:

• Kim Merryman, Environmental Assessment, Environmental Protection Services, Department of Risk Management, Division of Legal and Compliance, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
• Sally Manning, Environmental Director, Big Pine Paiute Tribe
• Joye Braun (Cheyenne River Sioux Member), National Pipelines Organizer, Indigenous Environmental Network
• Danny Gogal, Tribal and Indigenous Peoples Program Manager, Office of Environmental Justice, U.S. EPA (Facilitator)

Background

This webinar is being held in conjunction with a workshop on Intergovernmental Relations in NEPA Processes: Tools, Resources, and Considerations for Tribal Nations and Indigenous Peoples, being planned for late summer/early fall, to be hosted by the Udall Foundation’s National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution, in partnership with the U.S. EPA, Office of Environmental Justice, and the University of Arizona’s Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy.  The workshop will consist of a facilitated dialogue amongst Indigenous Peoples and NEPA practitioners from Tribal Nations   and Federal agencies to share challenges, best practices, and lessons learned relating to collaboration, partnering, and shared stewardship in the NEPA process.  Stay tuned for more information on the workshop in the coming weeks, or track updates on the Udall Foundation’s News and Events webpage.

This webinar is part of the U.S. EPA Environmental Justice Webinar Series for Tribes and Indigenous Peoples – to build the capacity of tribal governments, indigenous peoples and other environmental justice practitioners, and discuss priority environmental justice issues of interest to tribes and indigenous peoples. It is also the third webinar of a mini-series on NEPA:  National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Overview and Tribes as Cooperating Agencies – held July 2021; and Environmental Justice and the NEPA Review Process – held August 2021.

Please note that the webinar is planned to be recorded and is expected to be available on the following EPA website a few weeks after the webinar: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-tribes-and-indigenous-peoples. Recordings of past webinars are also available on this page.

For questions about this webinar, or the EPA EJ Webinar Series for Tribes and Indigenous Peoples, please contact Danny Gogal, Office of Environmental Justice, gogal.danny@epa.gov.