Last Updated: December 4, 2009 2:27pm
NOTICE OF TRIBE"S EFFORTS TO CONTROL NOXIOUS WEEDS ON THE SUMMIT LAKE RESERVATION.
Dear Tribal Members and Others, To view the Tribe's notice of its efforts to control noxious weeds, see the Natural Resource Department Page.
FATHER AND ADULT SON PLEAD NOT GUILTY; NEW DEVELOPMENTS. Tribe
will not tolerate the taking of arrowheads and other resources
December 4, 2009
Dear Tribal Members,
There is no new news on this.
The Tribe will continue to watch the developments in this case. For a copy of the Indictment, click here.
JUNGO ROAD (RECOLOGY) DUMP
NEW -- SEE NEWS BRIEFS ON HOME PAGE
RUBY PIPELINE PROJECT
NEW -- SEE NEWS BRIEFS ON HOME PAGE
May 27, 2009
Dear Tribal Members,
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation ("ACHP") has given the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") notice, dated May 19, 2009, that "[i]n response to recent expressions of concern by Indian tribes" ACHP advises "of its decision to participate in the Section 106 consultation for the" Ruby Pipeline Project.
April 11, 2009
Dear Tribal Members,
The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony is hosting a meeting on the Ruby Pipeline Project which will be attended by employees of numerous Tribes, BLM and Ruby Pipeline LLC personnel at the Reno Accura Dealership on South Virginia, Reno (on Colony land), at 3:00pm, Monday, April 13, 2009. Call the Environmental Coordinator ((775) 622-7520) for more information.
March 18, 2009
Dear Tribal Members,
The Council continues to monitor all of the filing made in support of and opposition to Ruby Pipeline's application with FERC (FERC Docket No. CP09-54). The Council will finalize its plans to meet with tribal members on the Ruby Pipeline Project and its possible effects on the Tribe's important, historic, cultural and other resouces, at the March 21, 2009, Council Meeting. The first meeting will be in Boise, Idaho, 10am-2pm, Saturday, March 28, 2009, at the Salmon Room, Boise Airport Conference Rooms, Boise, Idaho. The second meeting will be 10am-2pm, Saturday, April 4, 2009, in Bishop, California (location to be announced). Other meetings will follow in Alturas, California; Reno-Sparks, Nevada; Fallon, Nevada; and Lakeview, Oregon.
February 13, 2009
Dear Tribal Members,
No one opposed the motion to intervene filed by Chairman Warner Barlese thus the Tribe is now a party in Ruby's application (FERC Docket No. CP09-54).
February 25, 2009
Dear Tribal Members,
On February 25, 2009, Council Chairman Warner Barlese filed a "motion to intervene" in Ruby application to FERC (FERC Docket No. CP09-54). If no one opposes the Tribe's motion in 15 days, the Tribe becomes a party and can, if there are grounds, challenge the Commission's decision in court.
February 24, 2009
Dear Tribal Members,
On February 24, 2009, Council Chairman Warner Barlese issued letters to: the Secretaries of the U.S. Departments of the Interior, Commerce, Agriculture and Energy; Acting Administrator of EPA Region 9; and, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, asking them, in accordance with their trust responsibility, to file "notices of intervention" in the Ruby application (FERC Docket No. CP09-54).
February 9, 2009
Dear Tribal Members,
On February 9, 2009, the FERC Secretary issued a Notice of Application by Ruby Pipeline LLC ("Ruby") whereby Ruby applied for the necessary certificates authorizing the construction and operation of its natural gas pipeline. The new FERC Docket Number is CP09-54. Ruby's application is 116 pounds of paper--the Tribe has a copy.
January 16, 2009
Dear Tribal Members,
On January 15, 2009, Chairman Warner Barlese wrote the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) to inquire whether the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) had notified ACHP of the Ruby Pipeline Project. For a copy of the Chairman's letter, click here. ACHP wrote FERC advising "We have reviewed our records and have no record of notifications regarding this undertaking . . . ." and asked "We would appreciate you investigating this matter and providing us with relevant background information . . . ." For a copy of the ACHPO letter, click here.
December 12, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
Many thanks to the many concerned Northern Paiute People who attended the Monday, December 8, 2008, ad-hoc tribal coordination meeting, this time, hosted by the Summit Lake Paiute Tribe at its Sparks office. Attending the meeting were: Summit Lake tribal members Christina Gonzalez and Nedra Crane; Michon R. Eben, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony; Loyette Meza and Kenneth Sam, Fort Bidwell; Melony Johnson, Susanville Rancheria; Dean Barlese, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe NAGPRA Committee; and, Ron Johnny, SLPT Environmental Coordinator.
Although today is the deadline for filing comments on Ruby Pipeline's Second Draft Resource Reports Nos. 1 thru 10 (which came in a 43 pound box, including about 13 pounts of maps) ("Reports"), a Comment tomorrow or another day is valuable too. For a copy of the Tribe's Comments on the Reports filed December 10, 2008, click here.
Thanks to the many tribal members, and others, who filed Comments too. For a copy of today's (Dec. 12, 2008) printout of FERC's Online e-Library contents (look to Pages 62 and 63 for the Tribe's and others Comments), click here.
December 9, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
To learn about a future alternative routes for natural gas pipelines and other energy projects, see the Press Release jointly issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Department of the Interior - Bureau of Land Management (DOI-BLM), U.S. Department of Agriculture - U.S. Forest Service (DOA-USFS), and the Department of Defense, click here.
December 5, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
The Tribe found out about a BLM meeting that was being held on Tuesday, December 2, 2008, indirectly, and the Environmental Coordinator attended the meeting and poushed for better BLM government-to-government consultation with the Tribe--Summit Lake and Reno-Sparks Indian Colony were the only two tribes attending the meeting. At this meeting, Ruby Pipeline,LLC, issued a new map showing where the Jungo (Road) Tuscarora Alternative would likely be constructed. Most of those attending the December 2 BLM Meeting are in favor of the Jungo Tuscarora Alternative (flat ground, road-railroad line-power pole disruption of the ground, easier terrain the the preferred route between Sheldon and Summit Lake Reservation, etc.). To see the left half of the map (too big to scan the entire map), click here.
October 28, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
Chairman Warner Barlese issues a comment before the deadline for the Scoping Period Ending October 29, 2008, and for FERC Staff to Consider when Preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as set forth in the September 26, 2008, FERC Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS. Click here for a copy.
Chairman Warner Barlese also replied to FERC's August 16, 2008, reply to his September 17, 2008 letter, setting forth the Council's final position that FERC's development of policy impacting tribes as set forth in FERC's August 16, 2008 letter, did not comply with the government-to-government consultation requirements of President Bush's Executive Order 13175. Click here for a copy.
October 18, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
During the Saturday, October 18, 2008, Summit Lake Paiute Council Regular Meeting at Summit Lake, the Council enacted Resolution SL-39-2008,. "Opposing the Planned Route of thed Ruby (Natural Gas) Pipeline Construction Project." Click here for a copy of the Resolution, including two color maps mentioned in the Resolution.
October 16, 2008
Dear Tribal Members,
Two maps posted on the Ruby Pipeline Project web site (http://www.rubypipeline.com/) will show you how close the surveyor markers are to the Reservation (click here), and the two alternative routes for the pipeline (click here).
If you would like to know what you can do to help the Council's effort to prevent the desecration of important tribal historical and cultural resources, contact the Environmental Coordinator at the tribal office (1-800-335-7978) or by email (ron.johnny@summitlaketribe.org).
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 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.
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 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.