Tribe seeks to set water quality standards

Baraga – A Michigan-based Native American tribe wants to implement water quality standards under the Clean Water Act for its reservation.

The Daily Mining Gazette of Houghton reports the Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment on the proposal by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s application. If approved, the tribe would be allowed to develop and maintain its own water-quality standards for surface waters on its reservation.

Concerns about water quality potentially affecting the Upper Peninsula reservation are linked to cattle farming; commercial logging, mining; runoff from road salt; illegal dumping; industrial discharge; septic systems; and lawn chemicals. The newspaper says the public comment period is open until May 23.

Officials announced earlier this year that the EPA awarded a $195,000 grant to the tribe to modernize its environmental data reporting system.