Mission Statement

The Delaware Nation Environmental Programs will protect, enhance, promote, preserve and regulate our native lands, water and air for the health and welfare of the Delaware Nation Community and tribal members.

Vision Statement

To mentor the next generation of environmental specialists for the sustainability, tribal customs, and traditions for future generations by becoming the natural stewards of the earth.

Core Values

Protect, Enhance, Promote, Preserve, Regulate, Teach, Leadership, Stewardship

Location

In the northern section of the Tamanend Building behind the Administration Building

 
General Assistance Program - GAP Program

Jason Pruner, GAP Coordinator/DNEP Director

The Delaware Nation established the Environmental Programs (DNEP) on November 1, 1997.  The department began development of the infrastructure necessary to expand the program into different project areas. The GAP Program is the core program with all other programs revolving around it. The GAP Program is set up as a capacity building program.  It is designed to establish an office, provide necessary equipment and staff the office with trained and qualified personnel. The GAP Program seeks funding that will address the environmental concerns of the Delaware Nation. The DNEP works with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that facilities with the Delaware Nation jurisdiction are in compliance with environmental laws and ordinances. This may include tribal laws and ordinances that the department has helped to enact.

Mentoring the next generation of environmental managers for the community is a strategic goal for the DNEP. This includes the continuing education and training of the staff, and the Executive Committee.

 

Air Quality Monitoring Program

Kellie Poolaw, Air Program Coordinator

The Delaware Nation Air Quality Monitoring Program was established in 2001.  The purpose of the program is to monitor air quality to determine if federal air quality standards are being met. The Air Program is currently monitoring for Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), Ground Level Ozone, and Meteorological Conditions (Wind Speed, Wind Direction, Temperature, Barometric Pressure, and Rain). The program is involved with local, tribal, state, regional, and national committees that play a key role in providing the community with information regarding air quality monitoring activities.

A new aspect of the Air Program is being implemented to provide tribal members with daily access to air quality information. The Ozone Alert Program provides information via email on the daily air quality forecast and ozone alerts in the local area. An Air Quality Index sign is located at the north entrance to the tribal complex as a public service to provide the daily air quality forecast. Contact Air Coordinator Kellie Poolaw at kpoolaw@delawarenation.com or 405-247-2448 ext. 1172 if you wish to join the Delaware Nation Ozone Alert Program and receive daily air quality information. 

Ozone levels typically rise in much of the nation between May and October due to a combination of higher temperatures, more sunlight, and stagnant air.

Several groups of people particularly sensitive to ozone especially when they are active outdoors. Physical activity causes people to take deeper, faster breaths. Some of those groups include:

· Active children

· Active adults

· People with asthma or other respiratory diseases

Ozone is not always bad, up high it is good but down low it can become dangerous.

Stop by or call our office to find out what you can do to help, or join the Ozone Alert Group to get ozone updates through email.

Air Now 
 http://www.airnow.gov/

OKC Pollutant and Ozone Information 
 http://www.deq.state.ok.us/AQDNew/AQIndex/OKC/okcaqi.htm

 

Lawton Pollutant and Ozone Information 
 http://www.deq.state.ok.us/AQDnew/AQIndex/LAWTON/lawtonaqi.htm

Water Quality Program

Shaw Artichoker, Water Program Coordinator

The Clean Water Act (CWA) 106 Water Quality Program is currently in its fifth year, staring in October 1, 2004.  The CWA 106 Water Quality Program authorizes the EPA to provide federal assistance to help establish and implement an ongoing water pollution control program.  The first phase of this program was to complete a thorough assessment of all water bodies within the Delaware Nation tribal boundaries.  The second phase is to document water quality problems that the Delaware Nation tribal members are experiencing with their water. The third phase is to establish a five-year baseline study to help establish enforceable water quality codes for the Delaware Nation.  The Water Program will work with EPA and the State of Oklahoma to improve the quality of tribal waters.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Shaw Artichoker ( Water Coordinator)  at (405) 247-2448

 

 

 

EPA Home  - Information on a lot of environmental problems you might experience or have a question about.

EPA Water Home – Water, Water, Water.

USGS-Real Time Stream Data for Oklahoma  - Find out the current water depth of a local river in Oklahoma.

ITEC (Inter-Tribal Environmental Council) – A tribal council of 41 tribes in Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas.

Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) – The state of Oklahoma’s main environmental page.

 

Oklahoma Corporation Commission – A state agency responsible for the care of Oklahoma’s natural resources.

 

Oklahoma Water Resource Board (OWRB) – Purchase a copy of the new 2007 Centennial edition of the Oklahoma Water Atlas here.

 

Oklahoma Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s conservation department in Oklahoma.

 

Oklahoma Rural Water Association – Operates and manages public water supplies and wastewater facilities in rural Oklahoma.

 

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation  - Here is were you can get information on hunting and fishing licenses for the state of Oklahoma.

 

Oklahoma Biological Survey  - Home of BioBlitz a complete biological study of a new site in Oklahoma every year.  Volunteers appreciated!

 

World Water Monitoring Day – This department participates in this world wide event during the month of October.  We need Delaware Nation tribal members to join in.

 

Earthday  - Go here to check your “Ecological Footprint”, it’s about how much of the earth’s resources you are using up!

 

DNEP Staff

 

Delaware Nation Environmental Programs
P.O. Box 825
Anadarko , Oklahoma 73005
Phone:    405-247-2448
Fax:  405-247-9393