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Region 8

Tribal Set-Aside (TSA) Construction Grant Program

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EPA Region 8 includes 27 Federally-recognized Tribal governments located on 26 Indian Reservations. Tribal Programs in the Water Program promote clean and safe water for these Tribes in Region 8. Through the Drinking Water Infrastructure Grants Tribal Set-Aside Program and the Clean Water Act Indian Set-Aside Grant Program, we provide technical, funding, and other programmatic assistance for drinking water protection and wastewater infrastructure improvements.

Additional information can be found on the EPA Region 8 Tribal Grants website.

FY 2012 Solicitation in Progress

EPA Region 8 is now accepting project proposals for the Fiscal Year 2012 Drinking Water Tribal Set-Aside Program. In May 2012, through the DWIG TSA Program, a solicitation letter was sent to all Tribes in Region 8 announcing this funding opportunity and describing the project selection process. During the selection process, priority is given to projects that address the most serious risks to human health, are necessary to ensure compliance with the SDWA requirements, or improve access to safe drinking water.

Project proposals must be postmarked by June 8, 2012 to be considered for funding; proposals received after June 8, 2012 will not be eligible for funding. Project selection is anticipated to occur in the fall / winter of 2012. Please contact the Drinking Water Tribal Set-Aside Coordinator, Jake Crosby, at (303)312-6389 or at crosby.jake@epa.gov with any questions or to request additional information.

Please submit completed proposals and supporting documentation to:

Jake Crosby, Drinking Water Tribal Set-Aside Coordinator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8
1595 Wynkoop Street (8P-W-TF)
Denver, Colorado 80202

Project proposal instructions and materials:

Tribal Consultation - Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Drinking Water Infrastructure Grants Tribal Set-Aside (DWIG TSA) Program

EPA Region 8 has made a decision to not pursue the use of the Indian Health Service Sanitation Deficiency System (SDS) list as a means of identifying, prioritizing, and selecting projects for the DWIG-TSA program. The existing process of soliciting for project proposals and reviewing them internally based on criteria developed by the EPA will continue to be used.

During the consultation period regarding this proposed change, which ran from December 2011 – April 2012, EPA Region 8 received comments from many Tribes who highlighted a number of concerns. Thank you to all of the Tribes who provided comments. EPA Region 8 will be analyzing how the existing system of identifying and selecting projects can be made more efficient over the coming months, and your suggestions for improvement will be helpful.

The official EPA Region 8 contact person for this consultation and coordination process is Jake Crosby, Region 8 Drinking Water Tribal Set Aside Program Coordinator. Should you have any questions regarding this action, please do not hesitate to contact Jake at crosby.jake@epa.gov or (303) 312-6389.

Safe Drinking Water Act Tribal Set-Aside Grant (DWTSA) Program

The Safe Drinking Water Act Tribal Set-Aside Grant (DWTSA) Program was established with the 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The DWTSA Program provides grant money for planning, design and construction of drinking water treatment facilities for Indian Tribes. In 1998, the national DW TSA Guidelines (PDF) (34 pp, 101K) were made final. Additional information can be found on the Drinking Water Tribal Set-Aside Grant Program website.

In FY 2010, national funding for this program increased from 1.5% of the annual Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) appropriation to 2.0% of the appropriation. Fundable projects are currently identified through an annual project proposal solicitation and review process; however, the future of this funding process is uncertain (see the Tribal Consultation section above).

No matching funds are required. FY 2011 final allotments were:

  • National: $19.3 million
  • Region 8: $2.3 million

Allotments under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) were:

  • National: $30 million (64 projects)
  • Region 8: $3.1 million (6 projects)

Listing of DW TSA Funded ARRA Projects (PDF) (1 pg, 196K)

Clean Water Act Indian Set-Aside Grant (CWISA) Program

The Clean Water Act Indian Set-Aside Grant (CWISA) Program was established with the 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act (CWA). The CWISA Program provides grant money for planning, design and construction of wastewater treatment facilities for Indian Tribes. In 1989, the national CWISA guidelines (PDF, 64 pp, 6 MB) were made final and these guidelines were amended in 1995.  Additional information can be found on the Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Grant Program Web site.

In FY 2010, national funding for this program increased from 1.5% of the annual Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) appropriation to 2.0% of the appropriation. Fundable projects are identified from the Indian Health Service's Annual Sanitation Deficiency System (SDS) priority list. Tribes must contact their Indian Health Service Area Office to determine if their wastewater needs are eligible to be entered into the SDS priority list. No matching funds are required. FY 2010 final allotments were:

  • National: $42 million
  • Region 8: $3.0 million

Allotments under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) were:

  • National: $60 million (95 projects)
  • Region 8: $6.4 million (7 projects)

Listing of CWISA ARRA Funded Projects (PDF)

EPA Region 8 Contact Information:

Jake Crosby, Drinking Water Tribal Set-Aside Coordinator
1595 Wynkoop St (8P-W-TF)
Denver, CO 80202
Phone (303) 312-6389
Fax (303) 312-6116
crosby.jake@epa.gov

Minnie Adams, Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Coordinator
1595 Wynkoop St (8P-W-TF)
Denver, CO 80202
Phone (303) 312-6624
Fax (303) 312-6116
adams.minnie@epa.gov

About Region 8

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