Regional Workbench Consortium

Regional Workbench Consortium - Using the Technologies of Tomorrow for the Problems of Today

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Community Outreach Core
Integrating Superfund Science and Traditional Environmental Knowledge:
A Tribal Regional Workbench Approach

Co-PIs (UC San Diego)
Richard Marciano, Ph.D., San Diego Supercomputer Center
David Pellow, Ph.D., Ethnic Studies
Keith Pezzoli, Ph.D., Urban Studies and Planning

Initial Tribal Partners
Michael Connolly, Laguna Resources, Campo Indian Reservation
Phil Green, Environmental Coordinator, Campo Tribal EPA
Ralph Goff, Tribal Chairman, Campo Indian Reservation
David Conrad, Executive Director, National Tribal Environmental Council (NTEC)
Lisa Gover, NTEC and Superfund Working Group
Dean Mike, Tribal Chairman, 29 Palms Tribal EPA
Dr. Marshall Cheung, Environmental Coordinator, 29 Palms Tribal EPA
Ken Bailey, Bureau of Indian Affairs

Other contacts associated with Tribal Programs (to be developed)
Bobbye (Barbara M.) Smith, Ph.D, US EPA Regional Science Liaison to Region 9/ORD.
Kesner Flores, Cortina Indian Rancheria, National EPA-Tribal Science Council.
Dr. Eugenia McNaughton, Environmental Scientist, US EPA Region 9, Border 2012.
Michele Dineyazhe, Environmental Scientist, EPA Pacific Southwest Tribal Program.
Stuart Harrris, Director, Department of Science and Engineering, Confederated Tribes of
the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Barbara Harper, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Marc Chavez, American Indian Academic Coordinator, UCSD Native Scholar Program.
Rebecca Davis, Associate Regional Planner, SANDAG Tribal Liaison.
Jared Aldern, The Land Conversation, Traditional American Indian Land Management.
Jack Airheart, Walipi Nation, Tribal Planning for Sustainable Development.
Debbie Lowe, US EPA Region 9 Environmental Justice Program.
Dean Seneca, Office of Tribal Affairs, ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry).

Click image above for a more complete list of participants in the overall SBRP program

PROPOSAL TEXT AND LETTERS OF SUPPORT

Superfund Basic Research Program (SBRP) grant renewal (2005-2010)
SBRP Community Outreach Core proposal text (pdf file, 1.8m)
SBRP Community Outreach Core letters of support (pdf file, 7.9m)

Other Links
Link to Tribal resources (click here)
Click here for the Research Translation Core
Click here for details about the SBRP grant renewal


Superfund sites/ w 50 mile buffer	US EPA Region 9 Indian lands	Indian Lands near Superufund Sites	SBRP Case Study Areas	Kumeyaay Historic Map by Mike Connolly

A selection of images from the proposal, click thumbnail for larger version.

Community Outreach Core
Abstract
The Community Outreach Core is an environmental justice project involving the communication and sharing of SBRP-generated knowledge and tools with Tribal communities affected by hazardous waste sites and toxicants. We will use a Tribal Regional Workbench approach to enabling equitable environmental stewardship of Indian Reservations. The broad objective is to shift the emphasis from risk assessment as a disease paradigm to risk assessment as a wellness paradigm that embraces Tribal Traditional Lifeways. This new approach is identified as a high priority by the U.S. EPA’s National Tribal Science Council, the National Tribal Environmental Council (NTEC), and Tribal environmental protection agencies. We will directly collaborate with Tribal communities both locally: (a) the Campo Indian Reservation, part of the Kumeyaay Nation; (b) the Tribal environmental lab located at the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, and nationally: (c) the Superfund Project Group of NTEC. These communities include prominent Tribal scientists who will help us create a unique Tribal information system that will be called the Tribal Regional Workbench (modeled after the UC San Diego’s SBRP Regional Workbench). The Tribal-RWB will be developed as a forum and an ensemble of datasets and information and knowledge integration tools to support online analysis, visualization and communication of environmental justice and quality of life issues explored within the Core's collaborative projects. The Community Outreach Core has five aims, grouped into two broad categories: (1) Communication and Environmental Justice, and (2) Knowledge Systems Integration. Specific aims include (1) (a) to build a Tribal Regional Workbench Web site; (b) to share SBRP-generated knowledge and tools; (2) (a) to host a regional gathering of tribal leaders and scientists; (b) to facilitate training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students; and (c) to co-author a series of papers, articles, and other publications with Tribal partners.