Brownfields Tribal Response Program
The term brownfield site is defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as "real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant."
The L'Anse Reservation, located in Baraga County in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, consists of 56,698 acres of land. KBIC also retains Reservation lands in Ontonagon County, and Trust lands in Marquette County. Due to the historical industrial and commercial activity and land use as well as activities such as illegal dumping, environmental impacts are present or suspected to be present on some of these KBIC lands. Properties where environmental impacts are known or suspected to be present are referred to as "brownfield sites", or simply "brownfields".
Brownfields Tribal Response Program: WHAT IS IT?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides funding to KBIC Natural Resources Department to help develop the Tribal Response Program. KBIC received initial funding in 2003. The goal of the program consists of discovery, assessment, cleanup, and reuse of properties with known or suspected contamination. Activities initiated with this grant and currently in progress include:
- Completing an inventory of potential brownfield sites within and near the L'Anse Reservation.
- Developing a formal KBIC process for identifying, assessing, cleaning up and redeveloping known or potential brownfield sites.
- Developing protocol for responding to Community requests for site investigation.
- Fostering public participation and education.
- Developing and maintaining a public record.
- More information about the EPA Brownfields Program
- Map of KBIC Brownfield Sites
- KBIC Brownfields StoryMap
KBIC Tribal Response Program Public Record
The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community's public record consists of all brownfield sites where response activities have been completed in the previous year or are planned for the upcoming year.
Public Record 2008-2013
Public Record 2014-2020
In addition to web accessible information, files and reports that are part of the public record but not available online can be viewed at:
KBIC Natural Resources Department
14359 Pequaming Road
L'Anse, MI 49946
Community Survey
One of the main goals of the Tribal Response Program (TRP) includes identifying and addressing contaminated and potentially contaminated properties present on lands under the jurisdiction of Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC). Community involvement represents an important part of the process at all levels from identifying sites of concern, to the cleanup and redevelopment of a contaminated site. The TRP Community Survey gave community members an opportunity to express their ideas and concerns regarding their priorities for the cleanup and reuse of contaminated properties, preferred method to be informed about program developments, willingness to participate in the program, and general environmental concerns. The information gathered from the survey contributes to the development of a Community Relations Plan designed to guide the public participation process for the TRP, as well as ensures that the cleanup and redevelopment priorities incorporate the values expressed by community members. See the Community Survey Results Report for more information.
Contact us for more information on the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Response Program:
Serene Gauthier
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
Natural Resources Department
Phone: (906) 524-8701 ext. 3
Fax: (906) 524-5748
Email: sgauthier@kbic-nsn.gov