Havasupai Tribe to develop and enforce water quality standards (AZ)
Tribe receives “Treatment in the same manner as a State” from U.S. EPA
SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S. EPA announced the approval of the Havasupai Tribe’s application for “Treatment in the same manner as a State” under Section 303 of the Clean Water Act.
This decision promotes tribal
self-government, empowering the Havasupai Tribe to develop water
quality standards in order to protect Tribal waters, which include
numerous creeks, springs, and approximately 155 acres of freshwater
wetlands.
“We are pleased to formally recognize the
Havasupai’s authority under the Clean Water Act,” said
Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the
Pacific Southwest. “The waters on Havasupai land are integral
to their life and culture, so it’s fitting that the Tribe
make the decisions protecting them.”
The Havasupai Tribe will develop water quality
standards for their waters, including Havasu Springs which flows
into Havasu Creek. Similar to the process used by States, proposed
tribal standards will be available for public review and comment,
and EPA must approve them before they go into effect under the
Clean Water Act. At that point the Tribe will be responsible for
taking enforcement actions when there are violations of the
Tribe’s water quality standards.
The Havasupai Reservation is located in north
central Arizona on the south rim of the Grand Canyon, and spans
approximately 185,000 acres. The Reservation contains 139.6 miles
of creeks of which 6.4 miles are perennial, 132.4 miles are
nonperennial and 0.8 miles are canals. The Havasupai people are
called Havasu ‘Baaja, which translates into People of the
Blue-Green Waters. Their name reflects the beautiful blue-green
water from Havasu Springs that flows as Havasu Creek to the Village
of Supai and down four waterfalls to become tributary to the
Colorado River.
For more information on “Treatment in the
same manner as a State,” please visit: http://www.epa.gov/tribalportal/laws/tas.htm
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