Under the Clean Water Act, sections 303, 319, and 401 allow a state to create its own standards. Since Native American tribes are sovereign entities, they are allowed to create their own standards and regulate the water bodies on the tribal land just as states do; this is called gaining Programmatic Authority. Being granted Program Authority for sections 303 (Total Maximum Daily Loads), 319 (Groundwater Quality), and 401 (Water Quality Standards) helps tribes to retain their sovereignty from the federal government. It also entitles them to apply for the same environmental grants through the EPA that individual states can apply for that are used for improving the water resources of an area.
Native American tribes also have the normal needs of most clients. Being interested in developing their land, they require 404 permitting and all parts of wetland mitigation, including construction and monitoring. Tribes also need to be able to assess the quality and characteristics of their water resources in order to find the best way to manage them.
7Q10 has worked with many Native American tribes to facilitate their wetland consulting needs. The firm is experienced with the intricacies of EPA law concerning tribal sovereignty and also the inner workings of tribal governments. Furthermore, the company is familiar with the many cultural needs and differences that many tribes have.