Environmental regulatory enhancement (ERE) - the osage nation proposes to establish internal infrastructure necessary to implement and enforce existing environmental and natural resource regulations…

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Native Americans awarded the Osage Nation $480,000 on September 30, 2025, under the Native American Programs grant (CFDA 93.612) to establish internal infrastructure for implementing and enforcing existing environmental and natural resource regulations across the Nation's 189,923 acres of tribal land in Oklahoma.

The project focuses on operationalizing codes already enacted by the Osage Nation Congress by building regulatory framework and internal capacity within the Department of Natural Resources. Key activities include developing enforcement policies, coordinating with other tribal departments, hiring and training enforcement personnel, and conducting community outreach to ensure public understanding and support. The initiative addresses current challenges where tribal lands face unauthorized activities including tree removal, dumping, and aerial herbicide use.

The award carries a period of performance through September 29, 2027, with place of performance in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. As a Project Grant, the award is fully funded and does not require a non-competing continuation; if additional time is needed, the Nation may request a no-cost extension under FY26 program terms.

Environmental regulatory enhancement (ERE) - the osage nation proposes to establish internal infrastructure necessary to implement and enforce existing environmental and natural resource regulations on its 189,923 acres of land. The project focuses on operationalizing codes already enacted by the osage nation congress by building regulatory framework and internal capacity. Key activities include developing enforcement policies within the department of natural resources, coordinating with other tribal departments, and hiring and training enforcement personnel. The project will address current challenges where lands are exposed to unauthorized activities like tree removal, dumping, and aerial herbicide use. Through this initiative, the nation aims to strengthen its ability to protect natural resources, implement existing codes, and foster sustainable resource management practices. The project includes community outreach components to ensure public understanding and support of regulatory efforts.