CAL/EPA Tribal Consultative Listening Sessions

[NaepcA1]

Recently you spoke with Arsenio Mataka regarding Cal/EPA’s Tribal Advisory Committee and Tribal Policy. Attached is a copy of the letter from our Agency Secretary to your respective Tribe regarding our Tribal Policy input solicitation and letter from Arsenio regarding the Tribal Advisory Committee membership solicitation. Both the Tribal comment period for the Cal/EPA Tribal Policy and Cal/EPA Tribal Advisory Committee membership nomination deadline is July 1, 2013 (more information can be found in the respective attachments and below).

I’m also pleased to share with you that Cal/EPA has scheduled its Cal/EPA Tribal Consultative Listening Sessions in support of our efforts to revise our Cal/EPA Tribal Policy. Cal/EPA has scheduled these listening sessions on June 25 and June 27, 2013 to gain input to improve and strengthen the Cal/EPA Tribal Policy for working with tribal governments.

Both sessions will follow a similar format and provide the same information.

Listening Session #1 Listening Session #2
June 25, 2013 June 27, 2013
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
California Department of Industrial Relations - Santa Rosa District Office
Room 405
50 D Street
Santa Rosa, CA 95404 Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians
EPA Conference Room
1 West Tribal Road
Valley Center, CA 92082
Although advanced registration is not required for these listening sessions, RSVPs are appreciated. RSVPs may be directed to me at Malinda.dumisani@calepa.ca.gov or (916) 445-9480. Agendas will be provided for those who R.S.V.P. and will also be available on Cal/EPA's Tribal website on June 18, 2013. After considering received input, Cal/EPA will release a draft policy and accept comments. Cal/EPA will then work with the Tribal Advisory Committee and its boards, departments and office to develop a final draft policy, which Cal/EPA will share with all Tribes for another round comments prior to its adoption.
Cal/EPA is dedicated to strengthening its collaboration with Tribes and ensuring that Tribes have input on the issues that touch health, environmental quality and economy. Input from Tribal governments is critical to the success of this policy revision. We hope you can participate and/or please forward to those you think may be interested.

Malinda Dumisani
Special Assistant for Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs
Office of the Secretary
California Environmental Protection Agency
916.445.9480