Workshop Highlights

The workshop featured presentations and discussions on program implementation, site assessment and cleanup strategies, community engagement, collaboration, and innovative solutions.

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Sessions emphasized the importance of: 

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• Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP): Emphasis on data quality, implementation, oversight, and usability. 

• EPA Competitive and non-competitive grants: Focus on grant goals, application preparation time, and submission of Community-wide Assessment Grant and Cleanup Grant. 

• 128a compliance: Highlighted TAB services and resources offered by Kansas State University. 

• Technology and Software Usage in Brownfields: Significance of drones and GIS to conduct site documentation and data management. 

• Storytelling: Importance stressed the showing not telling technique of the stories you want to write, record, and share. 

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Participants highlighted the importance of: 

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• Consistent engagement with community members

• Integrating cultural values into redevelopment planning

• Collecting community stories and incorporating historic preservation

• Building trust through ongoing communication and collaboration

• Understand the distinct policy and regulation challenges to Brownfields in Alaska

• State-supported brownfields-specific and –adjacent resources, assessments, and partnerships for Tribal Nations

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Field Trip to some of Cherokee Nation’s Highlighted Sites and Projects 

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• Cherokee Nation Tahlequah Crisis Center (former Phoenix Park Ballparks & Sport Complex) 

• Cherokee Nation Career Readiness Center (former County Fairgrounds Site) 

• Wilma P. Mankiller Capital Park (former Prewitt Septic Business) 

• Peace Pavilion (former Dotson-Roberts Lumber Site) 

• Cherokee Cultural Art Pathway (former UST site) 

• Cherokee National Prison Museum (former brownfield) 

• Cherokee Nation History Museum (former brownfield) 

• Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Site (former brownfield) 

• Cherokee Arts Center & Spider Gallery (former livery) 

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Lessons Learned from Tribal Programs 

 

Through peer discussion, attendees identified key success factors: 

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What Works 

• Strong interdepartmental collaboration (planning, environmental, land, and infrastructure) 

• Consistent communication with community stakeholders 

• Leveraging partnerships with federal, state, and regional organizations 

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Common Challenges 

• Limited infrastructure and remote access 

• High costs for fuel, travel, and materials 

• Complex land ownership and regulatory requirements 

• Capacity constraints for staffing, housing, and technical resources 

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Innovative Strategies 

• Use of technology (e.g., remote connectivity tools) 

• Regional collaboration through Tribal committees and networks 

• Maximizing grant programs such as EPA Brownfields and IGAP 

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