Nez Perce Tribe
Nez Perce Tribe is one of 39 environmental and peace organizations that won a landmark lawsuit against the U.S Department of Energy for failure to follow-through on adequate environmental cleanup during its 50+ years of nuclear weapons research, testing, and production. Part of this settlement was the establishment of the MTA Fund (Citizens’ Monitoring and Technical Assessment Fund), which provided $6.25 million for tribes and non-profit organizations to assess and conduct independent technical and scientific studies regarding the multitude of technical, ecological, and health issues surrounding the nation’s nuclear weapons complex.
Clark University was chosen by the non-profit peace and environmental groups as the conservator of these reports to ensure they remain available to the public in perpetuity. The unconventional election of university as conservator is an innovative example, particularly within the era of Web 1.0, of higher education as protector and provider of information through wide dissemination.
The research and reports available in this series were conducted by Nez Perce Tribe with their allocated portion of the MTA fund.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at digitalrepository@clarku.edu.
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Hanford Tribal Stewardship
Nez Perce Tribe and Kristie L. Baptiste
In 2002, the Nez Perce Tribe, through its Environmental Restoration & Waste Management Program (ERWM), received a Citizen’s Monitoring and Technical Assistance grant (MTA), which set to analyze the Canyon Disposition Initiative (CDI) 221-U Facility (U Plant) decision-making process. The ERWM analysis focused on the technical data being utilized by the Tri-Party agencies (Department of Energy, State of Washington-Department of Ecology, and the Environmental Protection Agency) in making its recommendations for the CDI.
The Nez Perce Tribe has advocated for Long-Term Stewardship because the Hanford site is located within its ceded territory, defined by Treaty of 1855. Long Term Stewardship is a priority issue for the Nez Perce Tribe and will continue to provide guidance on this process as it evolves, incorporating fundamental tribal, social, and cultural protective measures. What is stewardship? Every land user of Hanford site has their competing concept and definition of stewardship. Currently, it is defined in the Hanford Long-Term Stewardship (LTS) Program Plan as "Long-term stewardship at Hanford Site is the management of residual risks (human health, ecological, and cultural) associated with any remaining residual contamination; protection of the Site's cultural, biological, and natural resources; and the reuse of the Site's assets to encourage a healthy regional economy. It begins at clean up completion."
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Nez Perce Analysis of the Canyon Disposition Initiative Hanford Site, Washington
Nez Perce Tribe and Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Department
In 2002, the Nez Perce Tribe, through its Environmental Restoration & Waste Management Program (ERWM), received a Citizen’s Monitoring and Technical Assistance grant (MTA), which set to analyze the Canyon Disposition Initiative (CDI) 221-U Facility (U Plant) decision-making process. The ERWM analysis focused on the technical data being utilized by the Tri-Party agencies (Department of Energy, State of Washington-Department of Ecology, and the Environmental Protection Agency) in making its recommendations for the CDI. In 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its Record of Decision (ROD), which presented the selected final remedial action chosen for the 221-U Facility (U Plant). This document finalized the selected alternative chosen by the Department of Energy.
The Hanford area has long been a common use area by Columbia River Plateau tribes, due to its central location on the Columbia near the confluences of the Snake and Yakima rivers. This site, through the Nez Perce Treaty of 1855, is a “usual and accustomed” (U & A) area, where the Nez Perce retained its right and privilege to hunt, fish, and gather within those U & A areas. Thus, the Nez Perce Tribe is involved in the activities that occur on the Hanford site, which has been reaffirmed through federal actions and laws in the area.
This research was completed money allocated during Round 4 of the Citizens’ Monitoring and Technical Assessment Fund (MTA Fund). Clark University was named conservator of these works.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at digitalrepository@clarku.edu
