MARICOPA, AZ – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin recently met with the Ak-Chin Indian Community, which was his first trip to Indian Country since being sworn into office.
During his visit, Administrator Zeldin met with Ak-Chin Indian Community Tribal Council Members Dennis Antone, Lisa Garcia and Cecil Peters, as well as Roman Orona, Ak-Chin Indian Community Environmental Manager and EPA National Tribal Caucus Representative, and other members of the community. The Ak-Chin Indian Community engages in farming and agriculture, and the discussion during the meeting focused on water issues and pesticides.
“I am grateful to the Ak-Chin Indian Community for hosting my first visit to Indian Country,” said Administrator Zeldin. “Tribal governments and EPA have a unique government to government relationship. I am proud of the valuable work we do with tribes and in partnership with the National Tribal Caucus to ensure all Americans have access to clean air, land and water.”
“It was a phenomenal learning opportunity to meet with the leadership of the Ak-Chin Tribe and Administrator Zeldin and see firsthand the benefits of Indian self-determination in managing clean water infrastructure for people and farming,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Josh F.W. Cook.
“We appreciate Administrator Zeldin coming to the Ak-Chin Community, and of his willingness to seek the Native environmental perspective,” said Orona. “I look forward to working with Administrator Zeldin and the Trump administration to further tribal participation in the federal government’s partnership in Indian County.”
Last month, Zeldin addressed the joint Region 8 and Region 9 Tribal Operations Committee meeting to express his commitment to EPA’s continued relationship with federally recognized tribes.
