- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Energy | Environment
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $3.48 million for cooperative agreements aimed at building the environmental protection capacity of tribal governments.
The funding, spread over two five-year agreements, is designed to help tribes restore land for productive use, reduce waste, prevent environmental contamination, and prepare for and respond to emergencies in Indian Country, according to an EPA statement released Monday.
“These cooperative agreements will help bring together tribes to share their experience and expertise in managing land cleanup and emergency response challenges,” Clifford Villa, EPA deputy assistant administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management, said in a statement. “We are building the partnerships and capacity that will benefit tribes for years to come as we collectively work to revitalize tribal communities and protect the environment.”
The EPA plans to award two cooperative agreements to a single recipient under a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The selected recipient will provide various forms of support, including training, technical assistance, research, and tools to tribal environmental staff, focusing on waste management, cleanup, pollution prevention, and emergency response programs.
The funded activities are intended to foster collaboration, discussion, and engagement among tribes and between tribes and federal agency representatives. Key activities include hosting the annual Tribal Lands and Environment Forum, which brings together tribal, EPA, and other government representatives, as well as academic, nonprofit, and industry professionals to share tools and strategies for implementing effective environmental programs in tribal communities.
Other funded initiatives will support the Tribal Waste and Response Steering Committee, a partnership group composed of ten tribal environmental professionals with expertise in waste management, land cleanup, and emergency response. The agreements will also provide for in-person and virtual training, online resources, and networking opportunities for tribal environmental staff.
The funding will also support the Tribal Superfund Working Group, a network of tribal, federal, and other professionals with a focus on the Superfund program.
The agreements are expected to enhance tribal capacity to manage and respond to environmental emergencies and to increase engagement with tribal partners on legacy issues, such as hard-rock mining response actions. The initiative also aims to facilitate inter-tribal networking opportunities and provide research support to help tribes discuss policy issues and technical challenges related to sites contaminated with hazardous substances.
Eligible applicants for the NOFO include federally recognized tribes, inter-tribal consortia, and public and private nonprofit universities, colleges, and organizations. To qualify, applicants must submit proposals for both projects outlined in the NOFO, with a total estimated funding of $3.48 million over five years.
The application deadline is October 10, 2024.
Interested applicants are encouraged to attend an EPA informational webinar scheduled for September 11, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, which will provide details about the funding opportunity and the application process.
