Yankton Sioux Brownfields Site

Bison and the Missouri River Inspire the Spirit of Yankton Tribal Land

(April 2001)

Site Overview

Site Location

The Yankton Sioux Reservation is located in the south central part of South Dakota, occupying the eastern half of Charles Mix County.

Image:Map of South Dakota highlighting Charles Mix County.svg

Charles Mix County, South Dakota

(image source: en.wikipedia.org)

The southeastern of the reservation is bordered by the Missouri River, and Francis Case Lake is located in the southwestern part of the reservation.

Fort Randall

Francis Case Lake and Fort Randall Dam

(source: https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil)

Site Description

The following texts are excerpts from the EPA Brownfields Assessment Pilot Fact Sheet

The Yankton Sioux Reservation covers more than 200,000 acres along the Missouri River in southeastern Charles Mix County, South Dakota. The reservation is mostly farm land with some small areas of timber. The remainder is rolling hills and prairie suitable for grazing. The Missouri River is the southern border of the reservation. Fort Randall Dam on the Missouri River creates Lake Francis Case which is on the southwestern part of the reservation. Greenwood, a community on the southernmost part of the reservation, is situated near rolling hills and shear bluffs leading to the shores of the Missouri River.

The Greenwood community, which is home to 50 residents, is the focus of the brownfields effort. The 20-acre target site in Greenwood contains several abandoned buildings, one of which covers 5,000 square feet of space. Indicators of potential environmental contamination at the targeted site included stressed vegetation, asbestos-containing materials, a boiler room in the old school basement with possible used oil and lead contamination, and abandoned cars and appliances. Additionally, various unknown materials may have been discarded on-site. The proximity of the brownfields to the Missouri River poses a potential negative impact on the river surface water and riparian habitat.

Yankton Sioux Brownfields Site Includes Old Tribal Complex (April 2001)

The Yankton Sioux Tribe restoration of the Greenwood brownfields site was planned in anticipation of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial celebration. Please review web links below for information about YSTEPP brownfields program success and Greenwood community participation in restoration project outcomes.

Organization Requesting Assistance

Yankton Sioux Tribe Environmental Protection Program (YSTEPP)

Beginning Date

2000

Summary of TOSNAC Assistance

TOSNAC assistance began in 2000 and continued to 2004, and included the following activities:

YSTEPP brownfields site visits and conference calls
Technical support for planning tribal brownfields restoration projects
Assistance with development of YSTEPP Brownfields Community Involvement Plan
Haskell Environmental Research Studies Center support by Yankton Sioux Tribal member, Haskell Indian Nations University science student involvement in technical review and Greenwood community communications
Review of Phase I Environmental Impact Assessment report