Department of Justice, Department of Interior, and Osage tribal officials sign a commemoration of the final settlement of historic trust accounting and trust management claims. Photo Credit: DOI

 The following post appears courtesy of Ignacia Moreno, the Assistant Attorney General Environment and Natural Resources Division at the U.S. Department of Justice and Hilary Tompkins, the Solicitor of the U.S. Department of Interior

Today, we joined Osage Tribe Principal Chief John Red Eagle, other tribal leaders, and our colleagues at the Treasury Department, in a ceremony to commemorate a historic settlement marking the end of a long-running lawsuit by the Osage Tribe of Oklahoma regarding claims involving the United States’ accounting and management of the tribe’s trust funds and non-monetary trust assets. 

Reaching a final settlement with the Osage Tribe on its trust accounting and trust mismanagement claims has been a priority for the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior.  

Attorney General Holder and Secretary Salazar have been committed to resolving  pending tribal trust accounting and trust mismanagement cases, in a fair and equitable manner and without protracted litigation, so that the United States and the tribes can jointly undertake reconciliation and empowerment for American Indian nations. 

The settlement between the Osage Tribe and the United States is the product of months of dedicated efforts by the parties to achieve a fair and just resolution of the tribe’s trust claims.  The settlement is fundamental to the government-to-government relationship between the United States and the tribe.

The agreement marks a new beginning – one of just reconciliation, better communication between the Interior Department and the tribe, and strengthened management by Interior of tribal trust funds and trust resources.

The negotiated agreement, which was executed on Oct. 14, 2011, will end litigation regarding Interior’s accounting and management of the tribe’s trust accounts, trust lands, and other natural resources, including the tribe’s mineral estate. 

The United States will pay the tribe $380 million in compensation for the tribe’s claims of historical losses to its trust funds and interest income as a result of the government’s management of trust assets.  The parties will implement measures that will lead to strengthened management of the tribe’s trust assets and improved communications between Interior and the tribe. 

These measures include procedures for delivery of periodic statements of account, annual audit information, and information relating to the management of the mineral estate to the tribe.   Importantly, the agreement also provides dispute resolution provisions to reduce the likelihood of future litigation.

The United States looks forward to its continuing work with the Osage Tribe in a spirit of true partnership and mutual respect to build a stronger trust relationship.

All Americans deserve to be protected from environmental health hazards. That is why last week, the Justice Department, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the White House Council on Environmental Quality announced an agreement and signed a “Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Justice and Executive Order 12898” (EJ MOU). As part of this agreement, federal agencies will develop environmental justice strategies and provide the public with annual progress reports on their efforts. These efforts will help protect the health of those living in communities overburdened by pollution so they can thrive.

Attorney General Holder highlighted the role this partnership will play in fighting for environmental justice stating:

“Today’s memorandum will reinforce the federal government’s commitment to the guiding principles of environmental justice – that the wealth, poverty, or race of any people should not determine the quality and health of the environment in which they live their lives. These are important steps to ensure that environmental justice is an integral part of our work.”

Environmental justice is a major priority of the Department of Justice and the EPA. Its goal is to provide all Americans – regardless of their race, ethnicity or income status – full protection under the nation’s environmental, civil rights, and health laws and to make sure that certain communities are not unfairly burdened with pollution, contaminated storm water, or toxic chemicals. Those who live in these environments face disproportionate health problems and greater obstacles to economic growth when their communities cannot attract businesses and new jobs.

The signing of the EJ MOU is the latest in a series of steps taken to elevate the environmental justice conversation and address the inequities that may be present in some communities. Last September, the reconvened Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice (EJ IWG) met for the first time in more than a decade. In December, at the White House Environmental Justice Forum, Cabinet Secretaries and other senior Administration officials met with more than 100 environmental justice leaders from across the country to engage advocates on issues that are affecting their communities, including reducing air pollution, addressing health disparities, and capitalizing on emerging clean energy job opportunities. The EJ MOU reflects the dialogue, concerns and commitments made at the forum and other public events.

Executive Order 12898 “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations,” named federal agencies responsible for making environmental justice part of their mission and working with the other agencies on environmental justice issues as members of the EJIWG. This agreement furthers these responsibilities by broadening the reach of the working group to include participant agencies not originally named in the Executive Order.

The agreement also provides for areas of focus for federal agencies to consider as they prepare their environmental justice strategies and annual progress reports, including the impacts of climate change and commercial transportation and the implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Finally, it emphasizes the need for public input into agencies’ environmental justice work. 

 The following agencies signed the EJ MOU: Environmental Protection Agency; White House Council on Environmental Quality; Department of Health and Human Services; Department of Justice; Department of Agriculture; Department of Commerce; Department of Defense; Department of Education; Department of Energy; Department of Homeland Security; Department of Housing and Urban Development; Department of Interior; Department of Labor; Department of Transportation; Department of Veterans Affairs; General Services Administration; and Small Business Administration.

More information about The Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice is available from the EPA.

Assistant Attorney General Ignacia S. Moreno of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, addressed youth scholars from around the country today at George Mason University’s Washington Youth Summit on the Environment. 

 AAG Moreno discussed the Justice Department’s response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, efforts in support of EPA’s actions to address climate change, and the Department’s efforts to achieve environmental justice for all Americans.

 “All Americans deserve clean air to breathe, clean waterways, and safe drinking water.  They deserve to live their lives protected from pollution, hazardous waste, and toxic substances. In short, all Americans – regardless of their race, ethnicity, or income status, deserve full protection under our nation’s environmental laws.  In the work of the Environment Division, we strive to ensure that all Americans enjoy the benefit of a fair and even-handed application of environmental laws and that we provide communities with a meaningful opportunity to participate in the decisions that affect their well-being.” 

 Assistant Attorney General Moreno also stressed the importance of public service and youth leadership in reaching environmental goals stating: 

 “Through public service, you can make others’ dreams come true, and there is no better feeling. An individual can truly make a big difference.”

 For more information on the Environmental and Natural Resources Division, visit justice.gov/enrd

Today, the Environment and Natural Resources Division celebrated Earth Day at a community service event at the new Marvin Gaye Community Greening Center in Washington, D.C.

Deputy Attorney General James Cole and Assistant Attorney General Ignacia S. Moreno joined volunteers, community leaders, and the D.C- based Washington Parks and People organization to begin work on the neighborhood-based nursery for plants and an environmental education resource center.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Attorney General Cole stated:

“Earth Day is a reminder to all of us at the Department that we serve not only to protect the people of our country, but also its natural resources such as our lands, waters, air and wildlife, and the tremendous work of the Environment Division is essential to that mission.  The Division has contributed its expertise and hard work in a number of key areas, including the government’s response to the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and oil spill, important tribal matters and our overall efforts in advancing environmental justice, and I am grateful for their continued dedication.”

Assistant Attorney General Moreno said:

“I am proud of the meaningful results that we have achieved for the benefit of the American people over the past year.  In our work, we have not forgotten vulnerable communities and have taken concrete steps to make environmental justice a reality.”

This year marks the eighth consecutive Earth Day service celebration at Marvin Gaye Park.  In the last seven years, ENRD has devoted over 5,000 hours of employee time to planting trees, removing trash, laying sod and gardening.

During the event Assistant Attorney General Ignacia S. Moreno also announced the publication of ENRD’s Fiscal Year 2010 Accomplishments Report. The report details the division’s work across the nation during FY2010.

The event also featured brief remarks by Steve Coleman, Director and President of Washington Parks and People and Lisa A. Hayes, Director of Development and Senior Counsel at the American Constitution Society of Law and Policy.  Ms. Hayes is the daughter of Earth Day Network founder Denis Hayes, who coordinated the first Earth Day in 1970.

The following post appears courtesy of the Environment and Natural Resources Division.

Today, on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, employees of the Justice Department, led by Acting Deputy Attorney General Gary G. Grindler and Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) Ignacia Moreno, rolled up their sleeves, planted trees, and cleaned up trash at  Marvin Gaye Park in Northeast Washington, D.C.  The park clean up and tree planting event has been a yearly tradition. ENRD has devoted over 2,500 hours to planting trees, removing trash, laying sod and gardening at the park since the service day began.

Assistant Attorney General Ignacia S. Moreno, Acting Deputy Attorney General Gary G. Grindler and Steve W. Coleman, Executive Director of Washington’s Parks and People plant a tree at Marvin Gaye Park in Washington, D.C.

Whether it’s protecting our nation’s air, land and water; ensuring cleanup of oil and hazardous waste; or promoting responsible stewardship of America’s wildlife and natural resources, the division’s attorneys and staff are making valuable contributions everyday to protect human health and the environment. The division also criminally enforces our nation’s pollution and wildlife laws, defends vital federal programs and interests, promotes national security and military preparedness and protects Indian resources.

To provide a deeper look at the many cases the division has worked on this part year, the Environmental and Natural Resources Division today released their annual report to the American people. Summarizing the accomplishments the division has made on behalf of Americans this year, the annual report is available for download on Justice.gov.

The report offers a detailed picture of some of the major litigation that impacted our environment this year, as well as offers up information about the division’s internal efforts to be better stewards of the planet.

Wondering what you can expect in the coming year? Assistant Attorney General Moreno lays it out in the report’s foreword:

“Be assured that I could not be more committed to fulfilling ENRD’s core mission: strong enforcement of civil and criminal environmental laws to ensure clean air, clean water and clean land for all Americans; vigorous defense of environmental, wildlife, and natural resources laws and agency actions; effective stewardship of our public lands and natural resources; and careful and respectful management of the United States’ trust obligations to Native Americans. To meet this challenge, we must be creative and resourceful.”

Check out the full report for yourself: ENRD 2009 Annual Report .

To find community service opportunities in your own neighborhood, visit Serve.gov

A Sea Turtle in the wild. Image courtesy of NOAA.

The following post appears courtesy of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of The Department of Justice. 

The Department of Justice, along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was recognized this week with the Animal Welfare Institute’s Clark R. Bavin Law Enforcement Award for its successful work uncovering and prosecuting four sea turtle smuggling rings that were operating full-scale supply networks in Mexico and China with Operation Central. 

Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division said:

“This award appropriately recognizes the talented and dedicated prosecutors in the Environmental Crimes Section, who worked tirelessly to break up these international smuggling rings. Let there be no doubt:  the United States is not a safe-market for illegal wildlife products.  We will continue to work with our allies around the world to stop the destructive practice of illegal wildlife smuggling.”

Operation Central uncovered four sea turtle smuggling rings – two based in Mexico and two in China – engaged in illegal trafficking in endangered and threatened sea turtles and other protected species, and products made from their parts.  The investigation and prosecution stands as the largest probe ever of the black market exploitation of highly endangered sea turtles.

Several of the sea turtle species illegally traded nest solely in Mexican waters, and this illegal trade had a significant impact on populations of these species.  The market value of the wildlife parts and products at issue was estimated at well over $1 million.  

The complex multi-year investigation, led by the Environment and Natural Resources Division, resulted in 12  individuals being charged with more than 50 counts of conspiracy, smuggling, and money-laundering.  The investigation included innumerable hours coordinating and supervising both the collection and translation of tape-recorded and electronic evidence, and the simultaneous take-down of the charged defendants in different jurisdictions.  It also included the preparation and execution of eight search warrants in five different states, and the simultaneous arrest of eight of the charged individuals, six of whom were lured to the United States from Mexico and China.  Through their diplomacy, the prosecution team also garnered the cooperation of the Mexican government in coordinating a simultaneous take-down in Mexico of other Mexican nationals suspected of engaging in similar conduct. 

All of the defendants lured to, or arrested in, the United States pleaded guilty and were sentenced. 
This effort curtailed illegal trade in a significant population of endangered sea turtles and other wildlife, and forged a cooperative and successful relationship with Mexican law enforcement authorities engaged in wildlife protection.  The case was handled jointly with the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Colorado.

The Clark R. Bavin Law Enforcement award is named after the late Chief of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement.  For more information about the United States Delegation to the Convention of Internation Trade in Engandered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), visit uscites.gov.