As part of a $500,000 grant made two years ago by the EPA to the Kiowa Tribe in Anadarko, the tribe was to prepare a plan for use of the funding aimed at cleaning up so-called Brownfields, abandoned properties where redevelopment is slowed by possible environmental contamination.
Soon, the Kiowa Tribe will be releasing its plan to the public for proposed environmental cleanup of the historic Indian City, according to the Lawton Constitution.
The project required about one year of planning (scoping, environmental review, funding alignment, procurement) and six months of implementation to reach the current stage (contracting, preconstruction submittals, and mobilization readiness) and is set for completion in 2026. It will feature a plan for community outreach and events to inform and engage tribal members along with the local community.
The first public forum is set to take place in early 2026, with information provided by the tribe, contractors, and other stakeholders. A tentative date is set to be released soon. This project will be the first of many for the Natural Resource Department, with future plans that focus on strengthening and expanding sustainable, integrated management systems that protect, restore, and responsibly utilize the Kiowa Tribe’s natural resources while building long-term environmental resilience, regulatory capacity, and economic benefit for the Tribe and future generations.
The funding came after the Tribe signed an agreement with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality for the $500,000 subgrant with the DEQ’s Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund.
The Oklahoma DEQ is a recipient of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s BRLF grant and authorizes the use of the federal grant funds within the boundaries of Oklahoma. The funds are only allocated to, along with other provisions, environmental remediation or cleanup of contaminated properties.
The Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (BRLF) Grants are available through the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide funding for a grant recipient to capitalize a revolving loan fund and to provide loans and subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites.
Through these grants, the EPA strengthens the marketplace and encourages stakeholders to leverage resources to clean up and redevelop brownfields. When loans are repaid, the loan amount is returned to the fund and re-lent to other borrowers, providing an ongoing source of capital within a community.
The Kiowa Tribe Natural Resources Department submitted a Statement of Work for the remediation and cleanup of the Indian City properties located in Anadarko and has been working diligently to outline a plan which ensures compliance with the funding.
Indian City offers a rich history for the Kiowa people and surrounding communities. Amanda Hill, the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) for the Kiowa Tribe stated, “Indian City is a significant cultural site for the Kiowa Tribe beginning with the historic Tonkawa Massacre of 1862. Several tribal members were later employed at Indian City USA from the 1950’s to the early 2000’s, providing crafts, guided tours, and dance exhibitions. Also, the Indian City Dance Ground has hosted Kiowa ceremonies such as Tonekonegah and the Ohomah Lodge for many years. ”
Ephraim Kelly, Natural Resources Director, stated, ““Cleaning up Indian City protects our people today and prepares opportunities for tomorrow. By addressing asbestos safely and cleanup through strong planning, compliance, and TERO hiring, we reduce risk, create good-paying jobs for our citizens, meet federal standards, and open the door to a community-led reuse of this land on our terms.”
An assessment on the property has been completed and the expected benefits of the project include:
•Health and safety, by removing asbestos hazards from vacant, deteriorated buildings, reducing exposure risk for nearby residents and first responders,
•Economic opportunity, through utilizing Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO) hiring preferences and Davis-Bacon prevailing wages to put dollars into Native households during abatement and demolition,
•Regulatory certainty, with bringing the site into compliance with EPA Asbestos-NESHAP and tribal policy,
•Lowering long-term liability, also bringing the land back to productive use by clearing the way for future community-driven redevelopment (cultural, educational, or revenue-generating uses identified by the Tribe), and
•Stewardship, aligning with tribal sovereignty and good governance by responsibly managing trust land and safeguarding environmental and cultural values.
As a part of the requirements of the fund, all information about the project will be posted publicly on the website and submitted to local news sources.
Source: Lawton Constitution