Environment Division Prepares for Spring

Akwesasne, NY, Onerahtokha/April 3,2006, 2006—The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Environment Division will be embarking on a number of projects this spring and summer. Below is a partial listing of planned projects.

Water Quality Program

Surface water monitoring for bacteria

The Water Quality Program produces an annual report on the state of our rivers. This report is in the early stages of development. One component of this report is dedicated to assessment of water quality. The focus this summer will be on pathogen indicator bacteria, or bacteria that represent more serious organisms that can cause sickness in humans. These data will be collected from all the rivers that run through Akwesasne and the information will be relevant to swimmers across the territory. Possible sources of pathogens are inadequate treatment of human waste, agricultural runoff, and livestock waste.

Fish monitoring

Water Quality will continue its task of monitoring contaminants in sportfish from the waters of Akwesasne. This year will hopefully bring even more cooperation between Water Quality and community anglers. With the overwhelming success of getting participation from anglers in the 2005 Noah Thompson Memorial Fishing Derby—where 42 smallmouth bass were collected and analyzed—our program wants to expand the monitoring program to look at other species like perch and walleye. These efforts will help anglers better understand which fish are acceptable to eat, and which are not.

Another part of this project will evaluate the presence of contaminants in river sediments and minnows. These minnows are eaten by larger fish, which are in turn eaten by community members. This project will help us understand if there is a link between contaminated fish with local river sediments and minnows.

Solid Waste Management Program

The Solid Waste Management program will be holding a spring clean-up from May 1^st – June 9^th.

A tire clean-up/collection is being planned for later in the summer. Stay tuned for more information.

A project to begin collecting waste lamps from businesses for recycling is also in the planning stage.

General Motors Oversight

The activities planed at GM this year include developing a Comprehensive Groundwater Sampling Program. This involves installing additional monitoring wells on GM property. The information gathered by this project will be used in the design plan to remediate the site sources at GM. The second activity planned is sampling the soils and sediments on Tribal property in Raquette Point. The information gathered by these sampling efforts will define what areas on Tribal lands that need to be remediated. Both planned activities are currently under review, but are expected to begin this year.

If you have any questions you may contact the Environment Division at 518.358.5937 or visit our website at www.srmtenv.org.

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		PRESS RELEASE For immediate release: Onerahtokha/April 7, 2006 For information contact: Lornie Swamp SRMT Environment Division Phone: 518-358-6211 Fax: 518-358-6252 Environment Division Prepares for Spring Akwesasne, NY, Onerahtokha/April 3,2006, 2006—The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Environment Division will be embarking on a number of projects this spring and summer. Below is a partial listing of planned projects. Water Quality Program Surface water monitoring for bacteria The Water Quality Program produces an annual report on the state of our rivers. This report is in the early stages of development. One component of this report is dedicated to assessment of water quality. The focus this summer will be on pathogen indicator bacteria, or bacteria that represent more serious organisms that can cause sickness in humans. These data will be collected from all the rivers that run through Akwesasne and the information will be relevant to swimmers across the territory. Possible sources of pathogens are inadequate treatment of human waste, agricultural runoff, and livestock waste. Fish monitoring Water Quality will continue its task of monitoring contaminants in sportfish from the waters of Akwesasne. This year will hopefully bring even more cooperation between Water Quality and community anglers. With the overwhelming success of getting participation from anglers in the 2005 Noah Thompson Memorial Fishing Derby—where 42 smallmouth bass were collected and analyzed—our program wants to expand the monitoring program to look at other species like perch and walleye. These efforts will help anglers better understand which fish are acceptable to eat, and which are not. Another part of this project will evaluate the presence of contaminants in river sediments and minnows. These minnows are eaten by larger fish, which are in turn eaten by community members. This project will help us understand if there is a link between contaminated fish with local river sediments and minnows. Solid Waste Management Program The Solid Waste Management program will be holding a spring clean-up from May 1^st – June 9^th. A tire clean-up/collection is being planned for later in the summer. Stay tuned for more information. A project to begin collecting waste lamps from businesses for recycling is also in the planning stage. General Motors Oversight The activities planed at GM this year include developing a Comprehensive Groundwater Sampling Program. This involves installing additional monitoring wells on GM property. The information gathered by this project will be used in the design plan to remediate the site sources at GM. The second activity planned is sampling the soils and sediments on Tribal property in Raquette Point. The information gathered by these sampling efforts will define what areas on Tribal lands that need to be remediated. Both planned activities are currently under review, but are expected to begin this year. If you have any questions you may contact the Environment Division at 518.358.5937 or visit our website at www.srmtenv.org. --30--