The Environmental Protection Agency has recognized the authority of a Wisconsin tribe to regulate air quality on its reservation.

The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is the first tribe in Wisconsin to gain treatment of state status under the Clean Air Act. The state is now required to give advance notice of actions that may affect air quality within 50 miles of reservation boundaries.

Wisconsin and several other states have fought the EPA over its treatment of state designations under the Clean Water Act. The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear the cases.

Get the Story:
Bad River secures treatment-as-state status (The Ashland Daily Press 2/10)
EPA expands band's authority (The Ironwood Daily Globe 2/11)
EPA grants Clean Air Act authority to Bad River Band (EPA 2/9)

Relevant Links:
American Indian Environmental Office, EPA - http://www.epa.gov/indian

Related Stories:
State challenge to tribe's authority rejected (6/4)
Wis. wants tribal water ruling reconsidered (11/6)
Wis. might appeal Ojibwe decision (9/25)
Challenge to tribal authority rejected (9/24)
Court rejects challenge to tribal authority (4/17)
EPA attorney pleads guilty (06/28)