Last Updated: October 8, 2008 7:10pm
RUBY PIPELINE PROJECT
October 8, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
Another tribe has shared a report by EPG (environmental planning group) they received after it was filed with FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), and the Tribe has received another report by EPG with FERC. It is important that as many tribal members as possible read these reports to keep yourselves aware of what is planned for the area between the Sheldon Antelope Refuge and the Reservation; tribal members know more about the Summit Lake Reservation and your people's tradition and territorial territory than anyone else will ever know. To review the reports, click on the report number below):
October 6, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) served the Tribe with notice on Saturday, October 4, 2008, of their intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Land and Resource Management Plan Amendment for the proposed Ruby Pipeline Project, and Requests for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings, including a scoping meeting which starts at 7:00pm, Wednesday, October 22, 2008, at the Elks Lodge, 323 F Street, Lakeview, Oregon. To see, print or save, a copy of the FERC Notice, click here.
September 23, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
A limited number of copies of the handouts distributed by the Ruby Pipeline Project Team at the September 20, 2008, Special Meeting of the Summit Lake Paiute Council held at the Summit Lake Reservation are available at the tribal office; first come, first serve.
August 20, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
RUBY PIPELINE PROJECT
October 8, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
Another tribe has shared a report by EPG (environmental planning group) they received after it was filed with FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), and the Tribe has received another report by EPG with FERC. It is important that as many tribal members as possible read these reports to keep yourselves aware of what is planned for the area between the Sheldon Antelope Refuge and the Reservation; tribal members know more about the Summit Lake Reservation and your people's tradition and territorial territory than anyone else will ever know. To review the reports, click on the report number below):
- Draft Resource Report No. 2 Water Use and Quality (Sept. 2008)
- Draft Resource Report No. 4 Cultural Resources (Sept. 2008)
October 6, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) served the Tribe with notice on Saturday, October 4, 2008, of their intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Land and Resource Management Plan Amendment for the proposed Ruby Pipeline Project, and Requests for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings, including a scoping meeting which starts at 7:00pm, Wednesday, October 22, 2008, at the Elks Lodge, 323 F Street, Lakeview, Oregon. To see, print or save, a copy of the FERC Notice, click here.
September 23, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
A limited number of copies of the handouts distributed by the Ruby Pipeline Project Team at the September 20, 2008, Special Meeting of the Summit Lake Paiute Council held at the Summit Lake Reservation are available at the tribal office; first come, first serve.
August 20, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
The Bureau of Land Management released a new map of the proposed route for the Ruby Pipeline just north of the Reservation boundary. To see the newest map, click here.
August 16, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
Chairman Warner Barlese issues letter to Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) demanding that the Ruby Pipeline Project be stopped until FERC complies with federal law and consults with the Council. For a copy of the letter, click here.
August 7, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
I emailed an employee of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) asking when, in accordance with federal law, FERC would conduct the required consultation with the Summit Lake Paiute Council. To see a copy of the email I sent, click here. To see the two Power Point Presentations on tribal consultations I identified in my email (developed for other federal agencies), click here and here.
July 15, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
Chairman Chairman Warner Barlese has asked the U.S. Attorney's Office to have one of their attorneys attend a Council meeting in the near future, in part, to advise the Tribe what it can do to help prosecute anyone who takes or vandalizes important tribal resources during the Ruby Pipeline Project construction. Because current BIA staffing for the region is insufficient to protect the Tribe's resources, the Council believes the Tribe must be prepared to protect the member's important resources on and off the Reservation. When a Council meeting date has been selected, it will be posted: at the Tribe's Primary Administrative Office; in a tribal newsletter or news brief; at the Reservation; and other places.
May 27, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
A company hired by Ruby Pipeline LLC (Ruby), Environmental Protection Group (epg), has sent a two page letter "invit[ing] your community to provide us with any concerns for cultural resources or Traditional Cultural Properties or information that can be used to evaluate possible effects." The Council will be discussing this letter, and the possible Tribe's response, at its June 21, 2008, Council Meeting during the Environmental Coordinators' Report. While there is reason not to reveal all of what is known in the proposed pipeline construction zone (which is what the Council will discuss on June 21), you can, in accordance with the letter's instruction's, "if you have any questions or require additional information ... contact [Kris Dobschuetz, Cultural Resource Manager] (phone 602-956-4370, fax 602-956-4374, kdobschuetz@epgaz.com); or Nicole Pedigo, Principal Environmental Scientist at El Paso Corporation/a.k.a Ruby (719-667-7529, nicole.pedigo@elpaso.com)." The Tribe has given both Ms. Dobschuetz and Ms. Pedigo, and others, notice that entry onto the Reservation for Ruby Pipeline surveying or for any other Ruby Pipeline purpose without Council permission is prohibited.
May 7, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
Several companies have filed a notice with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to build a natural gas pipeline in the area of the Summit Lake Reservation. The width of digging by the estimated 500-700 person crews would be 150 to 250 feet wide depending on the terrain. The first notice to the Tribe on February 14, 2008 only gave a generalized map of the pipeline construction route but the April 7, 2008 notice clearly showed it would be south of Sheldon and north of the Reservation (Ruby Pipeline Project Notices to Tribe received on 02/14/08 and on 04/07/08). On April 29, 2008, a more detailed map was found of the pipeline construction route (Newest map Ruby pipeline received on 04/29/08). On May 2, 2008, the SLPT Environmental Coordinator filed a protest with FERC asking the public comment period be reopened given the lack of notice to the Summit Lake Tribe during a April 24, 2008, FERC led scoping meeting where the more detailed map was not disclosed to the Tribe. More posting on this issue will follow.
NOXIOUS WEED ERADICATION (SPRAYING) AT SUMMIT LAKE
June 26, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
Weed eradication efforts (see notice immediately below) ended Friday, June 20, 2008, because the weeds are going to seed. There is a serious noxious weed problem on the Reservation. Funding to eradicate weeds is insufficient. Tribal members who live on the Reservation, and those who have land assignments, can assist the Tribe in two ways. First, by giving the Tribe notice of what weeds they have on their land assignment (contact information below) and where. Second, by assisting in next year's weed eradication efforts. The Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Departments are monitoring biological weed control efforts, including the near future release of insects in Wyoming that Wyoming and the federal government believe might control hoary cress.
Dear Tribal Members,
Chairman Warner Barlese issues letter to Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) demanding that the Ruby Pipeline Project be stopped until FERC complies with federal law and consults with the Council. For a copy of the letter, click here.
August 7, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
I emailed an employee of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) asking when, in accordance with federal law, FERC would conduct the required consultation with the Summit Lake Paiute Council. To see a copy of the email I sent, click here. To see the two Power Point Presentations on tribal consultations I identified in my email (developed for other federal agencies), click here and here.
July 15, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
Chairman Chairman Warner Barlese has asked the U.S. Attorney's Office to have one of their attorneys attend a Council meeting in the near future, in part, to advise the Tribe what it can do to help prosecute anyone who takes or vandalizes important tribal resources during the Ruby Pipeline Project construction. Because current BIA staffing for the region is insufficient to protect the Tribe's resources, the Council believes the Tribe must be prepared to protect the member's important resources on and off the Reservation. When a Council meeting date has been selected, it will be posted: at the Tribe's Primary Administrative Office; in a tribal newsletter or news brief; at the Reservation; and other places.
May 27, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
A company hired by Ruby Pipeline LLC (Ruby), Environmental Protection Group (epg), has sent a two page letter "invit[ing] your community to provide us with any concerns for cultural resources or Traditional Cultural Properties or information that can be used to evaluate possible effects." The Council will be discussing this letter, and the possible Tribe's response, at its June 21, 2008, Council Meeting during the Environmental Coordinators' Report. While there is reason not to reveal all of what is known in the proposed pipeline construction zone (which is what the Council will discuss on June 21), you can, in accordance with the letter's instruction's, "if you have any questions or require additional information ... contact [Kris Dobschuetz, Cultural Resource Manager] (phone 602-956-4370, fax 602-956-4374, kdobschuetz@epgaz.com); or Nicole Pedigo, Principal Environmental Scientist at El Paso Corporation/a.k.a Ruby (719-667-7529, nicole.pedigo@elpaso.com)." The Tribe has given both Ms. Dobschuetz and Ms. Pedigo, and others, notice that entry onto the Reservation for Ruby Pipeline surveying or for any other Ruby Pipeline purpose without Council permission is prohibited.
May 7, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
Several companies have filed a notice with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to build a natural gas pipeline in the area of the Summit Lake Reservation. The width of digging by the estimated 500-700 person crews would be 150 to 250 feet wide depending on the terrain. The first notice to the Tribe on February 14, 2008 only gave a generalized map of the pipeline construction route but the April 7, 2008 notice clearly showed it would be south of Sheldon and north of the Reservation (Ruby Pipeline Project Notices to Tribe received on 02/14/08 and on 04/07/08). On April 29, 2008, a more detailed map was found of the pipeline construction route (Newest map Ruby pipeline received on 04/29/08). On May 2, 2008, the SLPT Environmental Coordinator filed a protest with FERC asking the public comment period be reopened given the lack of notice to the Summit Lake Tribe during a April 24, 2008, FERC led scoping meeting where the more detailed map was not disclosed to the Tribe. More posting on this issue will follow.
NOXIOUS WEED ERADICATION (SPRAYING) AT SUMMIT LAKE
June 26, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
Weed eradication efforts (see notice immediately below) ended Friday, June 20, 2008, because the weeds are going to seed. There is a serious noxious weed problem on the Reservation. Funding to eradicate weeds is insufficient. Tribal members who live on the Reservation, and those who have land assignments, can assist the Tribe in two ways. First, by giving the Tribe notice of what weeds they have on their land assignment (contact information below) and where. Second, by assisting in next year's weed eradication efforts. The Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Departments are monitoring biological weed control efforts, including the near future release of insects in Wyoming that Wyoming and the federal government believe might control hoary cress.