Resolution No. 071-2000 — Groundwater Protection

WHEREAS, The Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Band of Mohican Indians, is a federally recognized Indian tribe governed by the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Council pursuant to authority vested in the Council by a Constitution approved in November 1937; and

WHEREAS, The Stockbridge-Munsee Community has the authority under its Constitution and its inherent rights as a sovereign nation to adopt Ordinances; and

WHEREAS, The Stockbridge-Munsee Community is interested to better protecting the groundwater resources of the Community since groundwater is the exclusive source of drinking water and the primary source of water for wetlands, streams and rivers on the Reservation; and

WHEREAS, The Stockbridge-Munsee Community has identified groundwater protection as one of its environmental priorities; and

WHEREAS, The Stockbridge-Munsee Community wishes to create a legal framework for providing such groundwater protection by addressing issues like wellhead protection, private wastewater treatment systems and practices that may impact groundwater; and

WHEREAS, The Stockbridge-Munsee Community agreed to establish a plan for wellhead/source water protection in order to receive funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the Camp 14 and Moh He Con Nuck Roads Water and Sewer Extension Project.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Council hereby adopts Chapter 37, the Stockbridge-Munsee Groundwater Protection Ordinance, to protect groundwater of the Reservation for reasonable use, as well as to promote the public health and welfare of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community.