Welcome to the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians’ webpage for the Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Environmental Mitigation Trust for Indian Tribe Beneficiaries (the “Indian Tribe Trust”).  The purpose of the Indian Tribe Trust is to expeditiously and efficiently fund Eligible Mitigation Actions projects that reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (“NOx”). The projects funded under the Tribal Trust include replacing or repowering various types of diesel vehicles or equipment.  Designated Tribal Beneficiaries are eligible to pursue funding for the Eligible Mitigation Actions projects.

Pursuant to a Notice of Beneficiary Designation filed by the Trustee with the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians has been designated as a Beneficiary of the Indian Tribe Trust.

As a Beneficiary, the Rincon Tribe is responsible for selecting Eligible Mitigation Actions (“EMAs”) and certifying that any such EMA meets all the requirements of the Indian Tribe Trust. The goal of each EMA shall be to achieve reductions of NOx emissions in the United States. An example of an EMA would be replacing an older engine model year Class 4 through 8 diesel truck with a newer, current model year diesel truck.

Each Beneficiary is responsible for oversight of the proposed EMA and each Beneficiary is required to maintain and make publicly available all documentation submitted in support of each funding request and all records supporting all expenditures of EMA funds, subject to applicable laws governing the publication of confidential business information, together with an explanation of the procedure by which the Beneficiary shall make such documentation publicly available.

The Rincon Band will maintain and make publicly available all documentation submitted in support of its funding request and all records supporting all expenditures of any funds it receives, subject to applicable laws applicable laws governing the publication of confidential business information and personally identifiable information.

Semi-annual reports to the Trustee will be posted below.  To obtain a copy of additional documents submitted by the Rincon Tribe to the Trustee including the Eligible Mitigation Action funding requests, please visit the Trustee’s website.

For additional questions and information requests, please send an email detailing the request to environmental@rincon-nsn.gov and include “VW Settlement Information Request” in the subject line. The Rincon Tribe will endeavor to respond to such requests within fifteen (10) business days. In response to any inquiry from the public requesting additional information and documents related to the funding request and expenditure of funds, such documentation shall be made publicly available by appointment for review at Rincon Tribal Government offices.

All requests for information are subject to the Rincon Band’s governing policies on the release of its records, which establishes the Rincon Band’s position on the procedures for making records publicly available and on the handling of requests by outside parties for the release of various categories of tribal records and the procedures for handling such requests. The Rincon Band protects from disclosure privileged and protected information.

Information Requests:

Please email requests to: environmental@rincon-nsn.gov
Subject: “VW Settlement Information Request”

Semi-annual reports to the Trustee from the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians are posted below. The first semi-annual report is due by May 12, 2021, which will be six months after the Rincon Band receives its first disbursement. Thereafter, no later than January 30 (for the preceding six-month period of July 1 to December 31), and July 30 (for the preceding six-month period of January 1 to June 30) of each year, the Rincon Band shall submit to the Trustee a semi-annual report describing the progress implementing the Rincon Band’s Project during the six-month period leading up to the reporting date.

Third Funding Cycle – Trash Truck Replacement Project	Fourth Funding Cycle
Rincon Semi-Annual Beneficiary Report (Nov. 2020 – May 2021)	No documents yet available

Visit the following websites for information about the VW Settlement and the Indian Tribe Trust:

https://www.vwenvironmentalmitigationtrust.com/

http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/volkswagensettlement/

https://www.vwenvironmentalmitigationtrust.com/tribe-trust/rincon