Region 8 Tribal Regional Operations Committee
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Following this lead, Regional Administrator Bill Yellowtail of EPA Region 8 (the "Region") made environmental protection in Indian Country one of three priorities in Region 8. In support of this, a Regional Operations Committee (ROC) was formed to serve critical functions in maintaining a government-to-government relationship between the Region and Tribes. The ROC will serve as a liaison between the TOC, Tribes and Region 8 on national policy issues and will articulate tribal environmental needs and concerns to the TOC. The ROC will maintain open and consistent communications with the Regional Administrator and his staff on matters of regional significance to tribal governments.

On July 13, 2001, EPA Administrator Christie Whitman this week reaffirmed the Agency's commitment to partnerships between EPA and Indian Tribes. Appearing at a Tribal Operations Committee Meeting at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Whitman signed two documents signaling that agreement.

The first document was the reaffirmation of commitment to the EPA "Indian Policy." Latane N. Donelin, Prairie Band of Potawatomi Indian and Derrith Watchman Moore, The Navajo Nation, joined the Administrator in signing the Tribal Operations Committee Charter that represents the continued support for the work of the partnership.