vvEPA	Tribal Water

Infrastructure Program

Water Division	75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105

Tribal Water Section • October 2019	866-EPA-WEST • www.epa.gov/region9

Eligible CWISA Activities Include:

•	interceptor sewers

•	Wastewater treatment facilities

•	Infiltration/inflow correction

Ineligible Activities Include:

•	Operations and maintenance (O&M)

•	Emergency repairs

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 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 2020
request for proposals is available at www.epa.gov/tribal-pacific-sw/
region-9-drinking-water-tribal-set-aside-progra . The current
solicitation closes on November 22, 2019.

The highest priority projects are selected for funding based on public
health ranking criteria. Funds are awarded through direct grants to
federally recognized 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 FY19, EPA Region 9 funded
approximately $8.3 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 con-
struction 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 IITS Area Office
(www.ihs.gov/dsfc/stafi) to determine if their wastewater needs are
eligible 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 activity: construction of a
wastewater lift station


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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 dependent 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 approxi-
mately $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
(FYOl - FY19)

S 30,000,000 	

$25,000,000 	

$20,000,000

F\01 FY02 FY03 FYD4 FY05 FVD6 FY07 FYQB FYD9 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19

Drinking Water Tribal
Set-Aside Program

Coordinator

Karly Ho, (415) 972-3458
ho .karly @epa. gov

Team Leader

Emmanuelle Rapicavoli, (415) 972-3969
rapicavoli.emmanuelle@epa.gov

EPA Program Contacts
Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Program

Phoenix & Tucson Areas

Nancy Sockabasin, (415) 972-3772
sockabasin.nancv@epa.gov

Navajo Area

Howard Kahan, (415) 972-3143
kahan.howard@epa.gov

California Area

Loretta Vanegas, (415) 972-3433
vanegas.loretta@epa.gov

Tribal Border Infrastructure
Program

Loretta Vanegas, (415) 972-3433

vanegas.loretta@epa.gov

IHS Area Office Contacts

California Navajo Phoenix (includes Nevada)	Tucson

Christopher Brady Roger Slape Ken Fitzgerald	Adam Hughes

(916) 930-3981 x340 (928) 871-5857 (602) 364-5084	(520) 295-5642

chris.brady@ihs.gov roger.slape@ihs.gov ken.fitzgerald@ihs.gov	adam.hughes@ihs.gov


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