AEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Pacific Southwest / Region 9 Tribal Water Infrastructure Program Water Division Tribal Water Section • October 2021 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 866-EPA-WEST • www.epa.gov/region9 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 provides annual funding opportunities for federally recognized tribal governments to support drinking water infrastructure and basic sanitation needs. Outlined below is information about our water infrastructure programs, eligibility and funding. All selection criteria include public health as a high priority. Drinking Water Tribal Set-Aside Program The Drinking Water Tribal Set-Aside Program (DWTSA) provides annual funding for federally recognized tribes for public drinking water systems. DWTSA funds come from a 2% set-aside of the Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) program. EPA's 2022 request for propos- als is available at www.epa.gov/tribal/region-9-drinking-water-tribal- set-aside-program. The current solicitation closes on November 19, 2021. The highest priority projects are selected for funding based on public health ranking criteria. Funds are awarded through direct grants to federally rec- ognized tribes or via interagency agreements with the U.S. Indian Health Service (IHS). Funding levels have ranged between $40,000 and $2 million per project. In FY21, EPA Region 9 funded approximately $8 million in drinking water infrastructure projects. Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Program The Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Program (CWISA) provides annual funding for federally recognized tribes for planning, design and construc- tion of wastewater infrastructure projects. CWISA funds come from a 2% set-aside of the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF). To apply for funding, tribes must first contact their IHS Area Office (www.ihs.gov/dsfc/staff) to determine if their wastewater needs are eligible to be entered into the IHS Sanita- tion Deficiency System (SDS) list, which identifies current sanitation deficiencies for existing tribal homes. The program is not competitive, and matching funds are not required. The funds are awarded annually, based on the wastewater project needs listed on the SDS list, through interagency agreements with the IHS or direct grants to federally recognized tribes. Average funding levels have been approximately $300,000 per project. Project: Backup Power Generators for Tribal Water and Wastewater Systems - Tribes Throughout California Due to extreme wildfire events, commercial power providers in California expanded a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) Program. This resulted in unpredictable and extended loss of power for tribes, some outages lasting more than five days. Consequently, many tribal water and wastewater systems have been at a high risk of water outages or sewage overflows because there was no backup power or sufficient storage. The partnership between EPA, and the California Office of Emergency Services has made this tribal program a success. All three partners have been critical to identifying needs, funding projects, doing outreach to tribes, and taking the lead on planning, design and installation of these generators. Eligible DWTSA Activities Include: • Projects that achieve compliance with national primary drinking water standards • Water treatment plants • New sources of drinking water • Storage tanks and distribution systems Ineligible Activities Include: • Operations and maintenance (O&M) • Monitoring • Land acquisition • Dams Eligible CWISA Activities Include: • Interceptor sewers • Wastewater treatment facilities • Infiltration/inflow correction Ineligible Activities Include: • Operations and maintenance (O&M) • Emergency repairs ------- In 2019 and 2020, EPA awarded $1.66 million in DWTSA and CWISA funding to assist 23 tribal water and wastewater systems. An additional $1.2 million in IHS and State of California funds have been committed to assist 16 water and wastewater systems with backup power generators. A total of 24 backup power generators have been installed to date through this partnership, with many others in the design, solicitation or construction stage. Several of these generators have already been used to keep water and wastewater systems functioning during power outages in 2021, including a September power outage affecting the Tsenungwe Tribe caused by a nearby wildfire. Completed DWTSA Project: Flow Meter Installation and Vault Upgrades for Arsenic Compliance The Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians (Band) water system improvement project was awarded $258,000 through the DWTSA Program to address multiple deficiencies including isolation from the failing older water main, and failures and safety issues experienced by the existing pressure reducing stations. There are 21 homes and several tribal facilities connected to the water system. This project replaced two below ground pressure reduc- ing stations that experienced severe corrosion and flooding with above-ground facilities. In addition, the project isolated and abandoned all connections between the older and newer water systems and installed chain link fencing around the water storage tank. The project was completed in February 2021 in IHS and the EPA. Four portable gasoline generators for the pump stations of the Tuolumne Band ofMe-Wuk Indians sewer system Startup of the new pressure reducing station for the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians a partnership with the Band, the US EPA Region 9 Tribal Water Infrastructure Historic Allocation Levels (FY01 - FY21) Irlm FY03 FY05 FY07 FY09 FY11 FY13 FY15 FY17 FY19 FY21 EPA Program Contacts Tribal Drinking Water Team Leader Emmanuelle Rapicavoli (415) 972-3969 rapicavoli.eimnanuelle@epa.gov Coordinator, Drinking Water Tribal Set-Aside Program Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Program Tribal Border Infrastructure Program Nancy Sockabasin (415) 972-3772 sockabasin.nancv@epa. gov California Capt. Christopher Brady (916) 930-3981 x34o" chris.bradv@ihs. gov IHS Area Office Contacts Navajo Phoenix (includes Nevada) CAPT Rachael Brown Daniel S Wall is. PE. (928) 871-5857 (775) 856-6065 rachael.brownc/ihs. gov dan.wallis@ihs. gov Tucson Adam Hughes (520) 295-5642 adam.hughes@ihs.gov ------- |