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douglas9

(4,487 posts)
Mon Oct 5, 2020, 08:00 AM Oct 2020

EPA Grants Oklahoma Control Over Tribal Lands

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted the state of Oklahoma regulatory control over environmental issues on nearly all tribal lands there, TYT has learned. This strips from 38 tribes in Oklahoma their sovereignty over environmental issues. It also establishes a legal and administrative pathway to potential environmental abuses on tribal land, including dumping hazardous chemicals like carcinogenic PCBs and petroleum spills, with no legal recourse by the tribes, according to a former high-level official of the EPA.

This also includes hazardous chemicals that are byproducts of petroleum procurement and refining. In 2019, Oklahoma had the fourth largest petroleum industry in the US.

TYT has obtained a copy of the letter EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler sent to Gov. J. Kevin Stitt (R-OK) on October 1. The end of the opening paragraph states simply, “EPA hereby approves Oklahoma's request.”

https://tyt.com/stories/4vZLCHuQrYE4uKagy0oyMA/65Oa5a0nYI4rljnOqxhUto

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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EPA Grants Oklahoma Control Over Tribal Lands (Original Post) douglas9 Oct 2020 OP
Is there a precedence for this? ntp AnnaLee Oct 2020 #1
Oh, hell NO! yellerpup Oct 2020 #2
I know much needs to be done, but I hope the EPA is given a major overhaul. Tech Oct 2020 #3
This is illegal. GeorgeGist Oct 2020 #4
How can that be legal? procon Oct 2020 #5
What about their treaties? Deuxcents Oct 2020 #6
Oklahoma governor asked EPA to strip tribes of environmental authority (Background) douglas9 Oct 2020 #7
I despise the repub criminals, wendyb-NC Oct 2020 #8
This must be overturned in January 2021! sinkingfeeling Oct 2020 #9

procon

(15,805 posts)
5. How can that be legal?
Mon Oct 5, 2020, 08:11 AM
Oct 2020

This is what the US govt did to native American people over a century ago to steal their land. I hope this moves up the court system and their rights are protected.

douglas9

(4,487 posts)
7. Oklahoma governor asked EPA to strip tribes of environmental authority (Background)
Mon Oct 5, 2020, 08:33 AM
Oct 2020

snip>

This move could destroy opportunities for tribal leaders to reduce pollution and fossil fuel dependency in the eastern half of Oklahoma, effectively thwarting July's Supreme court ruling giving the tribes sovereignty over the vast area.

Stitt revealed his EPA request in a little-noticed webinar hosted by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, a farming trade group. The farm bureau's president, Rodd Moesel, noted that in 2005, Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) attached a midnight rider to an appropriations bill, creating a federal law that the EPA must regulate environmental issues on the state’s tribal land or, if requested, the state of Oklahoma gains regulatory control.


https://www.ncronline.org/news/earthbeat/oklahoma-governor-asked-epa-strip-tribes-environmental-authority

wendyb-NC

(3,883 posts)
8. I despise the repub criminals,
Mon Oct 5, 2020, 08:41 AM
Oct 2020

everything is for their,privileged exploitation, and personal financial enhancement. Who or what they hurt does not matter. It's all about their power grab.

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