NTEC Staff Profile

Lewis McLeod
NTEC’s Tribal Director of the Western Regional Air Program [WRAP]

I want to give back to tribes on a larger scale, and know that I did something to truly help tribes in air quality,” said Lewis McLeod from NTEC’s offices in Albuquerque, NM recently.

So far, McLeod is moving in the right direction to see his vision to fruition. McLeod, who currently resides in Montana, is working hard to make contacts and partnerships between NTEC and colleges and universities in the Pacific Northwest.

As NTEC’s co-director of the Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP), McLeod has worked diligently to develop resources and forge alliances with the goal of giving back to tribes. The WRAP is a voluntary organization of western states, tribes and federal agencies, and is administered jointly by the Western Governor’s Association and NTEC. “WRAP grew out of the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission,” explained McLeod. “What I think is important is to make sure that the tribes have the opportunity to come to the table early on in discussions with the western states and the federal land managers.” McLeod feels that by gathering the data and personnel through the alliances he’s established, the projects and planning processes developed by the WRAP become easier to implement and more accessible to tribes. “What I am working toward through these partnerships is developing the staff and personnel necessary to help tribes in whatever way possible, whether technically, administratively, or whatever their needs are,” explained McLeod. “There are a lot of great projects and ideas for tribes, and by providing the manpower and data resources, NTEC can make things happen, and that’s where these partnerships come into play.”

McLeod feels that there has been significant progress in gaining visibility for tribes in the Western U. S. “The EPA has been more tuned into tribal issues and as a result, has been more tuned into state issues,” surmised McLeod. He wants to be sure that, through the WRAP program and partnerships, tribes will be able to come in at the beginning of projects and have a seat at the table early on. “In the past,” said McLeod, “tribes were mostly ignored, but now it appears that the visibility problem is solved, and so we need to continue to move forward.” The partnership that has been forged between Federal land managers, Tribes and States has, in his view, saved the EPA and States a lot of money and resources. “Many times, States will move forward on a project, and when it appears that the outcomes won’t be successful, the project is abandoned,” explained McLeod. “But this is where the partnerships with tribes benefit states, by providing similar data so that the states won’t have to re-invent the wheel, so to speak. We have a lot of smart Indians out there, and by drawing on data and knowledge from the Tribes, everyone benefits.”

McLeod’s expertise in the tribal environmental arena has been cultivated over a lifetime of environmental work. After serving seven and a half years in the Marine Corps upon graduating high school, McLeod spent yet another fifteen and a half years in the Air Force, during which time he traveled overseas. In 1988, McLeod decided to go to work for his Tribe (Salish & Kootenai) as a Tribal Air Quality technician. He wanted to give back to his Tribe, and he did so for the next sixteen years, eventually becoming the Air Quality Program Manager, in addition to furthering his education.

McLeod became affiliated with WRAP in 1994 and decided to go to work for the EPA in Region 10 as a tribal Project Officer in Seattle, WA. He stayed in touch with Bob Gruenig, who eventually convinced him to come to work with NTEC. McLeod has been able to work from his home in Montana, and his proximity to the colleges and universities and tribes in the Western U. S. has helped him nurture his vision. “I try to come to the NTEC main offices several times a year, but I’m able to accomplish quite a lot where I’m at.” As co-director of WRAP for NTEC, McLeod has taken it upon himself to forge alliances and partnerships for the benefit of NTEC member-tribes, and tribes in general in the area of air quality and other critical environmental issues.

Given his track record, McLeod should have no problem accomplishing his vision of giving back to tribes and knowing he’s truly done something beneficial. McLeod will unveil a new plan to address nine important issues for tribes in February to NTEC’s board to be addressed by WRAP. Insights will continue to monitor the WRAP program and provide timely updates.