EPA and ITEP Seeking Nominations for Tribal Waste and Response Assistance Program National Steering Committee

EPA and ITEP are soliciting applications for the Tribal Waste and Response Assistance Program (TWRAP) National Steering Committee

The Steering Committee supports and guides the efforts of the TWRAP, which is the result of a five year cooperative agreement between ITEP and EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER). Steering committee members serve two year terms and meet four times a year (two in-person meetings and two via conference call). Additional information is available at the website below:

http://www4.nau.edu/itep/waste/twrap.asp

Below you will find two documents. The first provides an overview of the duties and responsibilities of Steering Committee members and the second is the Steering Committee Application. (For an MS Word version of the application please contact Todd Barnell. (todd.barnell@nau.edu) This year we will be selecting up to five individuals to serve on the Steering Committee. The deadline for applications is June 22, 2012.

If you are interested in being considered for a position on the Steering Committee, please fill out the application and send it to Todd Barnell at todd.barnell@nau.edu or fax it to 928-523-1266. A selection team, composed of staff from ITEP, OSWER, USEPA Regional offices, and tribal programs, will review the applications and make final selections. Successful applicants will be notified of their selection in August 2012 and will officially join the Steering Committee in November 2012.

Multiple Federal Partners Addressing the Long Standing Disparity of Safe Water & Sanitation Services for Tribes

Multiple Federal Partners Addressing the Long Standing Disparity of Safe Water & Sanitation Services for Tribes

The lack of access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation in Indian Country continues to threaten the public health of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Approximately 12% of AI/AN homes do not have safe water and/or basic sanitation facilities. This is high compared with the 0.6% of non-native homes in the United States that lack such infrastructure. A multi-agency Infrastructure Task Force has been formed to improve access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation in Indian country. Partners include US Department of Agriculture - Rural Development, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Indian Health Service, and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Task Force accomplishments, current activities, and proposed strategies to address access to water and sanitation services on AI/AN lands are available at: http://www.epa.gov/tp/trprograms/infra-water.htm

EPA Tribal Consultation and Coordination Policy

EPA Submits Tribal Consultation Progress Report to OMB

On August 2, 2011, EPA's Designated Consultation Official Michelle DePass, Assistant Administrator for the Office of International & Tribal Affairs, transmitted EPA's annual progress report per President Obama's November 5, 2009 memorandum on tribal consultation to the Office of Management and Budget. The report describes EPA's progress under Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, including release of the new EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes (PDF) (10 pp, 213K) on May 4, 2011.

• EPA 2011 Tribal Consultation Progress Report (PDF) (2 pp, 1.2Mb,  About PDF)

EPA Final Policy for Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes

On May 4th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final policy on consultation and coordination with Indian tribes. EPA is among the first of the federal agencies to finalize its consultation policy in response to President Obama's first tribal leaders summit in November 2009, and the issuance of executive order 13175 to establish regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials in the development of Federal policies that have tribal implications.

• Letter to Tribal Leaders (PDF) (1 pg, 462K,  About PDF) - a letter from Michelle DePass, Assistant Administrator, AIEO
• EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes (PDF) (10 pp, 213K,  About PDF)
• 5/4/11 - EPA Releases Final Policy for Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes

EPA and Corporation for National Community Service Announce Partnership to Leverage Grant Resources

EPA and AmeriCorps Leverage Grant Resources to Support Indian Tribes The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Corporation for National and Community Service announced that Indian General Assistance Program (GAP) grants may be used as match funding for tribally-sponsored AmeriCorps programs.

More than $3 million worth of AmeriCorps funding is dedicated to support tribal communities every year, but often, tribal governments face financial challenges that prevent them from providing the required matched funding. AmeriCorps members help address key challenges facing Native American communities, including education, disaster response and environmental preservation. EPA manages GAP to assist eligible tribal governments in building environmental programs needed to regulate and manage their environments. The combination of AmeriCorps grants and EPA program funding such as GAP enable tribal governments to bring in energetic, committed people to help build an environmental program.

To use EPA grant funds as match for AmeriCorps grants, the proposed activities must be within the scope of EPA's work. Examples of eligible activities include conducting environmental education, performing assessments of indoor air quality or household pesticide usage, and assessing baseline environmental conditions.

• Americorps Grant Press Release (PDF) (2pp, 13K,  About PDF)
• More information on AmeriCorps Grants: Leveraging Environmental Support (PDF) (12pp, 523K,  About PDF)
• More information on EPA's tribal program
• More information on AmeriCorps
• Current AmeriCorps funding opportunities

Read more about EPA and Corporation for National Community Service Announce Partnership to Leverage Grant Resources to Support Indian Tribes

EPA Announces Selected Tribal eco-Ambassadors

New initiative leverages knowledge and resources to solve environmental problems impacting Tribal communities

The USEPA is proud to announce new Tribal EcoAmbassadors, who over the course of this year will be supported by EPA as they work to expand the conversation on environmentalism to their communities while developing locally-relevant solutions to protect public health and the environment.

Selected professors from eight different Tribal Colleges and Universities will work with a group of students to solve environmental and public health issues ranging from sustainable building materials to monitoring of local drinking water wells. The professors will collaborate closely with neighboring tribes and EPA scientists to ensure that available resources are leveraged and resulting data is verified.

EPA Announces Selected Tribal eco-Ambassadors

Tribal eco-Ambassadors Program Press Release