Kellie J. PoolawDirector of Environmental Programs

Delaware Nation of OklahomaNational Tribal Forum on Air Quality

May 1, 2013

SUCCESSFUL OUTREACH FOR

SMALLER TRIBES

Anadarko, Oklahoma

• Located ~60 miles southwest of OKC• County seat of Caddo County• Population=6,762 (2010 Census)• ~42% is Natives• ~28% of all households live below the poverty level• Home to Delaware Nation, Wichita Tribe, Apache Tribe,

Riverside Indian School, Regional & Area BIA offices & IHS Clinic

• Members of Caddo Nation, Comanche Nation, Cheyenne & Arapaho, Fort Sill-Apache & Kiowa Tribes also represented

• And the 2012 State Football Champions, State Girls’ Basketball Champions , Weightlifting & Cross Country State Champions

• A/k/a “Dodge”

DELAWARE NATION OF OKLAHOMA

• Located 2 miles North of Anadarko (~60 miles southwest of OKC)

• Covers 1,140 square miles• 729,600 acres• Jurisdiction shared with Caddo Nation &

Wichita Tribe• Includes parts of Caddo, Grady, Blaine,

Custer, Washita and Canadian Counties• Current enrollment-1,456• Operates Gold River Casino-Anadarko;

Casino Oklahoma-Hinton;

DELAWARE NATION ENVIRONMENTAL

PROGRAMS• Established in 1998 through General

Assistance Program (GAP) Grant• Currently employs Director, Environmental

Technician (also serves Air Program), Water Quality Coordinator & WQ Technician

• Operates GAP, CAA 103 & CWA 106• Also serves as Nation’s Emergency

Management Squad

Delaware Nation Air Program

• Also established Air Program in 1998• Used low-vol passive Ozone monitors to

determine need for monitoring• Initially began with PM collocated monitors

for 2.5 & 10• QAPP approved for Ozone & Met

monitoring in 2005• IAQ education

LOCAL ISSUES• Exceptional drought• Illegal open pit dumping• Illegal burning of trash & tires• Crop dusting & misuse of pesticides• Littering• Improperly maintained vehicles • Hydraulic Fracturing or “Fracking”

– Oklahoma is an oil & gas state– Many concerned more about the money than

the environment on all levels (from boardroom to dining room)

• Local Media• Politics • Lack of education-environmental or otherwise• Apathy

TRIBAL ISSUES• Funding• Inadequate disposal options

– No curbside recycling in the area– Uninformed masses

• Allowed dumping– Many Indian landowners allow friends and family

members to dump on their land– “You can’t tell me what to do with my own land!”

• Checkerboard land ownership– Fractionated lands– Multiple owners– No oversight of property by owners

• Owners live elsewhere/have died• Elderly owners who are unable to provide oversight• Illegal dumping• Poaching

TRIBAL ISSUES

• Lack of enforcement on tribal lands and leases– Poor stewardship by lessees– Some lessees do not abide by grazing ratio or

lease terms– Inadequate response from Law Enforcement

• Mold issues in tribal housing• Non-Green Business Practices

– Casinos still utilizing Styrofoam– Lack of energy conservation

• Laziness• Politics

Shared Frustrations

The Myths• Tribes have unlimited resources

at their disposal. They do not need support, monetarily or otherwise, for their activities.

• Tribes should be able to provide any and all services at no cost to the member, from cradle to grave, no matter what cost to the tribe.

The Truth• Tribes depend on community

support for successful events and practices.

• Self-sufficient tribal members contribute to the overall sustainability of the tribe.

• We all bear the responsibility of environmental stewardship.

What does DNEP offer the community?

Air Quality Signs

Local Air Quality Update

• Created by DNEP Air Coordinator Jason Pruner as a way to promote awareness to Local Air Quality Issues

• Sent a few times a week• Weather updates, AQI,

Allergy Alert & fun facts

Delaware Nation Tire Cage

America Recycles Day

Student Volunteers

Electronics Recycling

Trash Off

Green Scene

Weather School

Keep Delaware Nation Beautiful• Established in

2012• First official Tribal

affiliate of Keep Oklahoma Beautiful

• Obtained Cigarette Litter Prevention Program Grant to address harmful disposal practices

• Able to apply for more grants through membership

• Winner of the 2012 ODOT Trash Off Award

Involving Other Departments

Complex Volunteers

Supporting Other Tribes

Involving the Community

OTHER ACTIVITIES

• EPA Region VI NTAA Alternate • Earth Day• Cigarette Litter Prevention Program• Environmental Bingo!• World Water Monitoring Challenge• Listening Ears Story Time Hour• Anadarko Beautification Committee• Oklahoma Emergency Management

system

ANY QUESTIONS?

DELAWARE NATION ENVIRONMENTAL

PROGRAMSDirector of Environmental Programs-Kellie J. Poolaw Environmental Technician/Administrative Asst.-Ivy SmithWater Quality Coordinator-Christina CooperWater Quality Technician-Josh WorcesterP.O. Box 825 Phone: (405) 247-2448Anadarko, OK. 73005 Fax: (405) 247-9393