Section 106 Tribal Grant Guidance: Highlights

Guidance Highlights

Establishment of consistent National guidance on all facets of Tribal water quality program management, making it possible to aggregate data in a way that allows EPA to assess national results associated with the Section 106 Tribal grants program.

Establishment of reporting requirements, helping Tribes collect critical data and information for effective management of their water quality programs. These reporting requirements will help EPA measure environmental results of the Section 106 Tribal Grant Program and comply with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) and other federal requirements.

Three approaches to implementing Tribal water quality programs: nonregulatory, Tribal standards, and regulation-based water quality controls.
- Nonregulatory approach: uses voluntary and collaborative activities, such as community education and outreach, to achieve environmental results. This approach focuses on the nonregulatory components of NPS control, watershed-based plans, water quality protection, and restoration projects.
- Tribal standards approach: relies on Tribal ordinances, codes, water quality standards, or other standards recognized by a Tribe to protect water quality in Indian Country. This approach gives Tribes the option of pursuing standards and goals that can be adopted as Tribal code.
- Regulation-based water quality controls approach: designed for Tribes that want to pursue program authorization for the purpose of implementing EPA-approved WQS and Section 401 certification within their boundaries. This approach is the most time and resource-intensive approach and requires Tribes to apply to EPA for program authorization for WQS.

Three program activity subsections, based on level of maturity: fundamental, intermediate, and mature.
- Fundamental program activities: establish the foundation for a successful program. These help Tribes identify water quality goals and objectives for their programs.
- Intermediate program activities: build the Tribal water quality program and advance it towards its water quality goals and objectives.
- Mature program activities: enable Tribes to achieve the goals and objectives of their programs as well as develop new water quality goals and objectives.