Environmental Department | Native Village of Barrow
The Environmental Department’s Mission with regard to tribal resources, tribal rights and Native lands are:
To assess, understand and assert the right of the Native Village of Barrow, under state or federal law or policy, to provide environmentally safe lands for its members and their heirs. To review and to advise tribal members with regard to planned projects that might affect tribal interests, including tribal resources, tribal rights and Native lands. During any public review, to coordinate with tribal members and to provide comments on any issues related to tribal resources, tribal rights, or tribal lands. To develop government-to-government relationships with federal entities. For example, NVB will consult with the Department of Defense, under its American Indian and Alaska Native Policy, when a proposed action may have the potential to affect tribal lands, treaty rights, or other tribal interests. To enter into agreements with federal, state and local government agencies, including the Department of Defense, or other Federal agencies to develop expertise, capacity and management skills.
GRANTS | Native Village of Barrow
A. Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Grant or IGAP for $503,424 is to update the Tribal Environmental Plan with feedback from the community. The Department Director will work with the Tribal Council to identify and protect subsistence use areas, and overall expand the Environmental Protection by seeking more Federal funding.
B. FY 2019 & FY2020 NALEMP Skull Cliff Grants for $653,007 is to continue to remove the pilings and debris from the Skull Cliff area.
CONTACT | Native Village of Barrow
NALEMP GRANT: Randy Patkotak
Email: Randy.Patkotak@nvb-nsn.gov
Phone 852-4411
EPA IGAP: Wyman Ipalook
Email: Wyman.Ipalook@nvb-nsn.gov
Phone: 852-8921
Mission Statement of Environmental Department | Native Village of Barrow
The goals of the Environmental Department of Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government, with regard to tribal resources, tribal rights and Native lands are:
- To assess, understand and assert the right of the Native Village of Barrow, under state or federal law or policy, to provide environmentally safe lands for its members and their heirs.
- To review and to advise tribal members with regard to planned projects that might affect tribal interests, including tribal resources, tribal rights and Native lands. During any public review, to coordinate with tribal members and to provide comments on any issues related to tribal resources, tribal rights, or tribal lands.
- To develop government-to-government relationships with federal entities. For example, NVB will consult with the Department of Defense, under its American Indian and Alaska Native Policy, when a proposed action may have the potential to affect tribal lands, treaty rights, or other tribal interests.
- Enter into agreements with federal, state and local government agencies, including the Department of Defense, or other Federal agencies to develop expertise, capacity and management skills.
As it implements these goals, the Native Village of Barrow Environment Department will work to protect and preserve tribal resources, tribal rights and Native lands, to participate in identifying lands for subsistence use, and to plan for residential purposes and commercial development. “Subsistence use” includes, but is not limited to, preserving whale harvesting and cutting area, trails designated for snow machine travel, and lands used for cultural activities. “Residential purposes” include residential lots, ice cellars and meat cache areas. “Commercial development” includes developing and implementing long-range plans for additional services such as airports, landfills, and dredging on shore.
Short Term Objectives
The Short Term Objectives of the Environmental Department of the Native Village of Barrow are to organize the office and develop and assign responsibilities to personnel, to achieve the Goals. Initially, personnel will develop communication systems, including computers, telephone, and fax machines. Personnel will maintain a filing system to assure that all correspondence is kept current and will establish a mechanism to track reports and communications.
Personnel will maintain budget and bookkeeping information, with copies available to Finance Department of NVB. It is the intent of Environmental Department to understand and work within grant moneys and budgets received from Federal agencies. Personnel will assure that these budgets are kept up to date and recorded for instant review. In addition, the Environmental Department will work with grant money and budgets approved by the Federal agencies, to investigate impacts on tribal resources, tribal rights and Native lands.
The monthly and quarterly required for the grants will be done in a professional and timely manner. Activities and constraints, projected or otherwise, will be addressed, to satisfy the Goals and Objective of the Tribal Council of the Native Village of Barrow.