§3904 Authority of Director of Indian Health Service

Summary

When an Indian tribal government or Alaska Native entity asks, the Director must inspect and evaluate open dumps on their lands. The Director must figure out how dangerous each dump is to health and the environment, and can order extra tests like soil or water checks if needed. The Director must also estimate how much it will cost to close each dump and care for it after closure. The inspection and danger rating must be done with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the EPA Administrator must agree with the danger ratings. After those steps are finished, the Director must give money and technical help to the tribe or Alaska Native entity to close the dumps and to pay for post-closure upkeep. That help is given for specific sites and follows priorities the Director sets with the tribe or entity. The priorities must consider how dangerous each dump is and how much funding is available.