Recent agreement gives Yakama Nation more say over Bradford Island cleanup

The Confederated Tribes and Bands of Yakama Nation reached a mutual agreement with two federal agencies that will allow the tribe to provide essential feedback for cleanup at a Columbia River Superfund site.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency and Yakama Nation signed a memorandum of understanding over the summer that grants the confederated tribes access to documents at a government level regarding cleanup at Bradford Island. The MOU also allows Yakama Nation to be present for government-to-government meetings and provide comments on the Corps’ plans. This is the first time federal agencies have signed such an agreement with a tribal nation for land that is owned or leased by the federal government.

Rose Longoria, Yakama Nation’s regional Superfund project manager, said the tribes have been heavily involved in seeking solutions and to begin cleanup in the area for nearly 20 years. The location is important to many tribes in the region, including the Yakama Nation. The Yakama people inhabited the area and harvested salmon and other fish from the Columbia River.