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About us

 

Who Are We?
We are the Elko Band Environmental Department and are funded via the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) General Assistance Program (GAP). The GAP program was created to assist tribes in developing the capacity to plan and establish environmental protection programs and to develop and implement solid and hazardous waste programs in accordance with their individual needs. The Elko Band Environmental Program has managed many environmentally related grants the past 20 years, including weeds and pesticides programs, radon & hazardous waste programs, and emergency preparedness programs. In 2008, our department hosted the Annual Region 9 EPA Conference. Our program is also at the forefront of emergency planning for the Elko Indian Colony and we work with the Western Shoshone Department of Public Safety, the Elko Band Council, the Te-Moak Tribal Council, Te-Moak Housing Authority, Indian Health Services, the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, and the local community at ensuring the health and safety of the residents and vistors on the Elko Indian Colony.

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Who We Are Not
The Elko Band Environmental Department is not a cultural department, although we do maintain historical records and data of the Western Shoshone in the Great Basin. We are not an agriculture department although we do work with the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Dept. of Forestry, and other agencies on issues that impact the agriculture of the area. We are no longer a solid waste curbside collection program. From 2004 to 2009, we offered curbside collections of non-trash waste, however that program has ended and at this time we do not offer curbside pickups of solid waste. We are not an animal control department although we do work with the Elko Band Animal Control and City of Elko Animal Control concerning environmental health issues that may arise due to sick or dead animals. We are not the water control department although we are working on establishing a water department. Tribal infrastructure water services are provided by Indian Health Services or the City of Elko.

So What Do We Do?

Our department monitors environmental issues in the area, such as emissions from mining sites, changes in environmental law, environmental impact studies and assessments, permitting for projects that may impact our environment, and other issues that affect our local ecosystem. We inventory and map the earth, air, and water on our lands. We identify illegal dumping sites and invasive plants in the area and figure out ways to clean them up. We make sure that regulatory tools are in place to address pollution on our lands. We conduct educational environmental outreaches and offer timely environmental information to the local community by delivering an environmental newsletter to Elko Indian Colony homes and providing this website to you. We are responsible for our recycling program and work with the City of Elko and Elko County on increasing the capacity of local recycling programs. We represent the Elko Band Council on the Regional Tribal Operations Caucus (RTOC), the Elko Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), the Nevada Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission (ITERC), and other groups that make policy that could impact our community. We work with Indian Health Services on environmental health issues and we are at the forefront of emergency planning, training, and exercising for natural or man-made disasters. We are proud to act as an informational center for all local issues in the area and if we are unable to help you, we will direct you to somebody that can assist you. We also have a noxious weeds program funding by the Bur​eau of Indian Affairs. We identify weed problems then manage those vegetation problems by pulling or spraying those weeds.

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Other Stuff We Do

​Every September, our department plans the yearly Fandango event with the help of other tribal departments. We also put on a yearly Earth Day Event every April. If there is large community event, you will probably see us there. We also help Elko Band members with printing of documents needed for special events. Most of all, it is the responsibility of the Elko Band Environmental Department to listen to your environmental concerns and to respond to them.

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