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In 1991, in the second phase of the tribal water quality program, the Northwest tribes 

 received funding from the EPA to provide techrucal coordination to participating 

 tribes for one year. The commission currently employs a water resource coordinator 

 to help render technical services to those tribes requesting assistance in developing 

 and expanding their water quality programs. Through the Coordinated Tribal Water 

 Quality Program, the commission will continue to provide statewide policy coordi- 

 nation, intergovernmental coordination, technical coordination, water quality testing, 

 information management and education services. 



Framework Summary: 



In summary, the Coordinated Tribal Water Quality Program would operate as fol- 

 lows: 



• In all respects it would be tribally directed. 



• Each participating tribe would develop its own water quality program 

 through its govemment-to-govenunent relationships with the EPA, 

 other federal agencies, and state and local governments. 



• Neighboring tribes would seek to begin or expand existing 

 comprehensive, cooperative water resource programs with other tribes 

 and with local, state and federal agencies, with particular focus on 

 watershed or regional programs. 



• The participating tribes would coordinate their water quality efforts 

 through the Environmental Policy Comnuttee of the Northwest Indian 

 Fisheries Commission. 



• The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission would undertJike to 

 provide centralized coordinating and techiucal service programs for 

 participating tribes and to provide a forum by which participating 

 tribes might arrive at a unihed voice on water quality concerns. 



• The Coordinated Tribal Program, now just beginning, would develop 

 in stages as fimding allows. 



Coordinated Tribal Water Quality 

 Program Implementation Schediile: 



Full development of the Coordinated Tribal Water Quality Program will occur over 

 four stages. The staging recognizes that not all parts of the program will occur simul- 

 taneously with all tribes. Some tribes already have parts of a water quality program 

 in place. Others are just beginning to develop water quality programs. 



The drcumstances, water quality needs and indirect costs of the tribes vary. Some 

 tribes nught choose to use initial program funding for maintairung two water quality 

 staff: One person to be concerned with developing water quality policy and to liaison 

 with other tribes and goverrunents; the other to be a techrucal field person. Other 

 tribes might choose, depending on circumstance, to use initial funding to support the 

 program needs of one techrucal field person. Still others might choose to pool their 

 funds in water quality efforts. 



