Division of Environment, Safety and Cultural Resources Management

Division of Environment, Safety and Cultural Resources Management:
(605) 226-7656

The Division of Environmental, Safety and Cultural Resources mission is to document or investigate conditions affecting the integrity and security of the landscape, human health and safety, and cultural resources, taking necessary, prudent or emergency measures to understand, protect and sometimes improve these assets of the United States, American Indians and Indian Tribes. This Division was formed under the reorganization in 2004.

Objectives:

1. Reduce liability at federal facilities:

• Perform Environmental Site Assessments prior to fee-to-trust conversions.
• Exercise due care in identification of liabilities at or near 1500 BIA buildings and facilities in 76 locations.
• Track and report Environmental and Disposal Liabilities.
• Remove approximately 250 inactive aboveground and underground fuel tanks.
• Remove and replace approximately 200 active Underground Storage Tanks.
• Characterize and dispose of unused hazardous materials.
• Support BIA defense in Blue Legs litigation.

2. Achieve/maintain environmental compliance:

• Provide technical and regulatory support to: Transportation, Realty, Facilities Management and Construction (OFMC), Law enforcement (Office of Justice Services), Education (OIEP), Natural Resources, and Housing.
• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): Identify Federal actions requiring NEPA compliance and Consolidate and standardize NEPA activities in the Great Plains Region. Produce Environmental Assessments (EA), Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), and Review NEPA documents prepared by other Federal Agencies. Current Issues Include: wind energy, cell towers, oil and gas, Indian gaming.

3. Support environmental progress on trust land.

Safety Management

• Perform Safety inspections on 1,500 BIA buildings at 76 locations
• Process tort claims, worker’s compensation claims, motor vehicle accident reports, personal injury reports.
• Provide analysis of driving records for 1564 employees to comply with DOI and BIA Motor Vehicle Operation Policy.