vvEPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Pacific Southwest / Region 9
Tribal Water
Infrastructure Program
Water Division
Tribal Water Section • October 2016
75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA S4105
866-EPA-WEST • www.epa.gov/region9
U.S. Environmental 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 within Region 9 for pub-
lic drinking water systems. DWTSA funds come from a 2% set-aside of
the Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) program.
EPA publishes a request for proposals that is announced on the Web at
www.epa.gov/region9/funding/dwtsa.html.
The current solicitation closes on November 10, 2016. The high-
est priority projects are selected for funding based on a public health
ranking criteria. Funds are awarded through direct grants to feder-
ally recognized tribes or interagency agreements with the U.S. Indian
Health Service (IHS). Average funding levels have been approximately
$600,000 per project. In FY16 Region 9 funded over $7 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 within Region 9 for planning,
design and construction 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
(wnivw.dsfc.ihs.gov/staff) to determine if their wastewater needs are eli-
gible to be entered into the IHS Sanitation 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.
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

-------
Tribal Border Infrastructure Program
The Tribal Border Infrastructure (TBI) Program provides funding to
federally recognized tribes to address high-priority drinking water and
wastewater infrastructure needs of tribes whose reservations are within
62 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. This program is funded by
congressional special appropriations for the U.S.-Mexico Border Program.
The program received approximately $345,000 in 2016. Funds are depen-
dent upon the annual allocation received through the U.S.-Mexico Border
Program and are awarded through interagency agreements with IHS.
Historically funding levels have been approximately $250,000 to $500,000
per project.
Eligible TBI Activities Include:
Drinking Water
•	New wells to replace contaminated
sources
•	New water storage tanks to provide
needed capacity
Wastewater
•	Collection systems to replace failing
individual septic tanks/drainfields and pit
privies
•	Wastewater treatment facilities
US EPA Region 9 Tribal Water Infrastructure
Historic Allocation Levels
(FY01 - FY16)
$30,000,000
$25,000,000
$20,000,000
$15,000,000
$10,000,000
$5,000,000
$0
DWTSA
i TBI
i CWISA
FY01 FY02 FY03 FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16
Drinking Water Tribal
Set-Aside Program
Emmanuelle Rapicavoli, (415) 972-3969
rapicavoli.emmanuelletaepa.gov
EPA Program Contacts
n Water Indian Set-Aside Program
Phoenix & Tucson Areas
Nancy Sockabasin, (415) 972-3772
sockabasin.nancvtaepa.gov
Navajo Area
Howard Kahan, (415) 972-3143
kahan.howardtaepa.gov
California Area
Loretta Vanegas, (415) 972-3433
vanegas.loretta@epa.gov
Tribal Border
Infrastructure Program
Audrey L. Johnson, (415) 972-3431
iohnson.audrevkaepa.gov
Loretta Vanegas, (415) 972-3433
vanegas.lorettataepa.gov
IHS Area Office Contacts
California Navajo Phoenix (includes Nevada)	Tucson
Donald BrafFord Roger Slape Eric Matson	Cathie Frazier
(916) 930-3981 x339 (928) 871-5857 (602) 364-5072	(520) 295-5643
donald.braffordtaihs.gov roger.slape(S>ihs.gov
eric.matsontaihs.gov	cathie.fraziertaihs.gov

-------