Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Rancheria, California

Pesticide Use Adjacent to Road Dividing Habematolel Housing From Orchard (May 2000)

Pesticide Use Adjacent to Habematolel Housing (May 2000)

Site Overview

Site Location

Upper Lake, California

Site Description

The Habematolel Pomo are located on a small Rancheria in Upper Lake, California. They live in a small portion of their aboriginal lands north of Clear Lake. The Habematolel are one of six Pomo Tribes in Lake County who have interest in cleanup activities at Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine and restoration of Pomo natural resources.

In 1999, the Habematolel Pomo were developing capacity within the environmental program to deal with solid waste, pesticides, and groundwater concerns. Through community efforts, the environmental program coordinated the cleanup of most Upper Lake Rancheria dump sites by May 2000. The Habematolel community was primarily concerned with use of pesticides near Rancheria housing. A privately owned orchard directly adjacent to the houses was spraying pesticides through hand-held applicators, as well as using smudge pots that produce heavy smoke to warm the trees in cooler climate. Pesticides application caused considerable health concerns, as many residents were experiencing respiratory problems, including asthma. After the Habematolel Pomo pesticides and groundwater management plan was implemented, the orchard was shut down and removed in compliance with regulatory guidelines.

Organization Requesting Assistance

Habematolel Pomo Environmental Program

Beginning Date of Assistance

July 1999

Summary of TOSNAC Assistance

Assistance sought involved technical support to meet training requirements for solid waste and pesticides management during development of tribal regulations and procedures. The TOSNAC Coordinator provided the following services for the Habematolel Pomo Environmental Program:

Three meetings, site visits and several phone consultations with environmental staff at Upper Lake Rancheria;

Review of General Assistance Program Work Plans for 1999 and 2000;

Review of solid waste management plan, July 1999;

Assistance during development of pesticides and groundwater management program, May 2000;

Delivery of educational resources related to pesticide contaminants and health concerns; and

Networking and capacity building assistance through joint tribal environmental conference attendance with Habematolel environmental staff.

Tribal Environmental Program Directors in Upper Lake, California (May 2000)

NOTE: The EPA TOSC and TOSNAC programs have ended. Communities seeking technical assistance should contact:

- Karen Martin at EPA Headquarters at 703-603-9925, Martin.Karenl@epa.gov; or

- EPA personnel identified at the bottom of the TOSNAC Information Contacts below:

TOSNAC Information Contact

Brenda Brandon

TOSNAC Program Manager

E-mail: brendabrandon@msn.com

Voice: 785.749.8498 OR 785.532.6519

Mailing addresses

Haskell Environmental Research Studies Center
155 Indian Ave., Box 5001
Haskell Indian Nations University
Lawrence, KS 66046

Center for Hazardous Substance Research

104 Ward Hall

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS 66506-2502