From Deseret News archives:
Ute Tribe trying to clean air
Currently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issues permits according to its standards on the tribe's land. But last week, the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council approved its own air-quality code, which eventually is intended to surpass the federal agency's level of regulation.
Tribal Chairman Clement J. Frost called it the "culmination of many years of work" and "an important step forward in the implementation of the joint air-pollution regulatory approach taken by the tribe and the state of Colorado."
Under the program, the tribe would assume responsibility for monitoring air quality, issuing permits and conducting inspections. Although states have taken on these functions, often establishing more stringent standards, Indian tribes have largely left this to the federal government.
James Temte, an air-quality scientist with the tribe's air-quality program, said that initially the code will be fairly similar to federal regulations, but once the program is up and running, the tribe can seek more stringent standards, which will have to be approved by a joint commission of state and tribal representatives.
Temte said the new program would add about four new positions to handle permits and inspections. The EPA's regional office, meanwhile, must spread its limited staff among six states and 27 tribal nations. The tribe's additional staff would allow it to conduct annual inspections; now only a fraction of the major emission sources are inspected each year.
Temte said the Southern Ute Tribe is the first to go for a permitting program using its own regulations.
He said running the program locally will ensure a quicker response when problems arise. And it means the tribe is in charge of not only its land but its air.
"Another positive aspect of this code is it enhances tribal sovereignty," he said.
The code, which was developed with review by the state and the EPA, now goes to the joint state-tribe commission. Final approval must come from the EPA, which has a year to make a decision. Once passed, it would be reviewed every three years.
The Ute Indians once lived in much of Colorado and eastern Utah and hunted across a larger area. A related group, the Northern Ute tribe, lives at the Uintah-Ouray Indian Reservation in eastern Utah.
Recent comments
Wanted to ask what the status of this project is. I would be...
Steve McClanahan | Nov. 4, 2008 at 12:57 p.m.
- Advocate charged with sex abuse 1:57 p.m.
- NASA still puzzled about rocket test 1:55 p.m.
- GM agrees to reconsider closings 1:40 p.m.
- Mr. Football 2009: Tuni Kanuch 1:26 p.m.
- Miles, A.K. to play Friday 1:12 p.m.
- Obama open to ideas to stop losses 1:11 p.m.
- House votes to extend tax on estates 1:01 p.m.
- What do cats do home alone? 12:58 p.m.
- Report saps stock market gains 12:57 p.m.
- U.K. denies entry to bin Laden's son 12:49 p.m.
- Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
- Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
- Mitchell said to share LeBaron traits
- Aggies shoot past Cougars
- Miles is back, but others still out
- Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
- BYU prof a 'Top Global Thinker'
- Toddler dies trapped under mattress
- Sloan gets 1-year extension
- Wildcats snap long U. losing streak
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
921 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
483 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
406 - Max Hall issues apology
393 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
361 - Utes won't respond to Hall
278 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
268 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
245 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
185 - Religion in politics is tiresome
157
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
You Lie Mr.President, You do not tell the truth, unless it is to let...
... dig ten feet down? The building would be 40 feet tall, but only stand 30...
Why not just make the estate tax 100%. Who cares about surviving family...
Nice job avoiding the historical fact that isolationism turned a recession...
Helping the poor versus compelling the poor. What is it? Do liberals...
Everybody hates PC. Remember when you could say anything offensive you wanted...
To Re: True Conservative at 11:00 am. Let me set you straight on a couple of...
What do cats do when their owners are away? sleep, rip up everything,...
Good news? Let's just hope Sloan doesn't bench players like Maynor and...
If he would play Fes and Koufos I would probably like him too. For sure.


