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EPA reviews Bad River Band clean-water authorization application; public meeting set for Sept. 21

Release Date: 09/12/2006
Contact Information: Phillippa Cannon, (312) 353-6218, [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 06-OPA162

CHICAGO (Sep. 12, 2006) - The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians in northern Wisconsin has applied to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for authorization to administer the water quality standards program under the Clean Water Act. Approval would allow the Band to adopt, review and revise water quality standards and to certify that discharges to surface water within the reservation comply with those standards.

EPA is reviewing the application and has requested comments from the state of Wisconsin by Oct. 27. Local governments and others wishing to comment on the Band's assertion of authority should submit comments through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Comments should go to Todd Ambs, water division coordinator, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921, fax (608) 266-6983, e-mail: [email protected]

EPA will hold an information meeting on the federal water quality standards program and the eligibility process for program authorization on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Ashland High School Auditorium, 1600 Beaser Ave. Persons needing special accommodations should call EPA Community Involvement Coordinator Don de Blasio at (800) 621-8431 by Sept. 18.

Since 1989, 37 tribes in the United States have been authorized to administer the water quality standards program. These include three tribes in EPA Region 5: the Sokaogon Chippewa Community (Mole Lake) in Wisconsin, and the Fond du Lac Band of Chippewa and the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa in Minnesota.

A fact sheet and the band's application will be posted on EPA's Web site: https://www.epa.gov/region5/water/wqs5/wqstribes.htm

The application may also be reviewed at the Ashland County Clerk's Office, 201 Main St. W., Ashland; Iron County Clerk's Office, 300 Taconite St. - Suite 101, Hurley; Bayfield County Clerk's Office, 117 E. Fifth St., Washburn; and Vaughn Public Library, 502 Main St. W., Ashland.