United States
Environmental Protection
** Agency

Region 9 Tribal Newsletter

United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, Pacific Southwest

Inside this issue:

Regulatory News	2

Program Updates	4

Tribal Project Success Stories	6

Regional Tribal Operations

Committee	8

Tribal Resources	9

Tribal Consultation

Opportunities	11

Funding Opportunities	13

Training & Technical Assistance 18

REBRANDING ALERT!

The R9 Tribal Newsletter email
address has been changed to
R9Communities(5)epa.gov! Now
you will see Environmental Justice
Program updates, their community
office hours, and other important
EJ news, along with the usual
quarterly newsletter emails. Use
this address to submit your ideas
and feedback to the R9 Tribal
Newsletter Coordinator.

Be sure to keep a lookout for
emails from R9communities in
your inbox!

Musings from U.S. EPA Staff

To Our Region 9 Tribal Partners,

When the request came in for a volunteer to compose "musings" for
this quarter's newsletter, I raised my hand. I was interested in
reflecting on the time I served as manager of the Region 9 Tribal
Branch, acknowledge the end of my tenure, and express gratitude for
what we accomplished together. From streamlining our GAP grant
award processes, identifying opportunities to improve Tribal
Consultation, and finding creative ways to complete our work
remotely at the start of the pandemic.

Last February, I served over two years as Tribal Program Manager,
where I reviewed 240 GAP work plans and just as many end-of-year
reports, supported Regional Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC)
meetings, and worked with our dynamic Tribal Team. We worked
together with tribes to more efficiently direct grant resources into
the hands of tribal environmental programs to help grantees develop
EPA-Tribal Environmental and Integrated Solid Waste Management
Plans, complete dump cleanups and waste collection events, build
air quality and water quality programs, hold outreach events, and
strengthen codes and ordinances, in addition to many other projects.
We stood up a dedicated workgroup to discuss Tribal Consultation and
maintained our commitment to meet monthly to share updates,
welcome feedback, and identify opportunities to improve.
Encountering a global pandemic, we regrouped and pivoted, finding
ways to achieve so much of this work together in virtual and hybrid
environments, including convening our first ever virtual Tribal/EPA
Region 9 Conference.

With a mix of sadness and excitement, I said farewell to that role and
began a 120-day temporary assignment to help direct operations of
the region's Tribal, Intergovernmental, and Policy Division as acting
deputy. This was intended to be a four-month assignment while our
permanent deputy, Bridget Coyle, served as acting director, and while


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Fall 2022 Issue

our permanent director, Laura Ebbert, supported the Regional Administration.

I assumed I would return as Tribal Branch manager by June 2021 but a few things happened along the way.
First, the need for an acting deputy extended well beyond 120 days. It ended up lasting 18 months. Second,
I was delighted to observe the experience, skill, heart, and dedication with which Ruben Mojica Hernandez
approached the role of acting manager of Tribal Branch. Third, around the time my detail was concluding, the
region's San Diego Office Director position became vacant, and I had an opportunity to consider a
management role closer to home.

Witnessing the tremendous job Ruben was doing and recognizing the opportunity to serve communities in
border regions, including many Tribal nations, from my home in San Diego, I decided to apply for that role. I
was selected and formally began in August.

While my time as Tribal Branch manager was relatively short, it was profoundly meaningful and formative
to me, and I will continue to take seriously the commitments I, along with all of my EPA colleagues, hold in
helping to fulfill the agency's Tribal Trust responsibilities.

I look forward to seeing many of you at the Tribal Conference in October. In the meantime, please always feel
welcome to reach out.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Bauer

Director, San Diego Border Office
U.S. EPA Region 9

Regulatory News

The U.S. EPA provides external links in this newsletter for informational purposes only. U.S. EPA cannot attest to the
accuracy of non-U.S. EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. U.S. EPA does not
endorse any nongovernment websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein.

U.S. EPA: American Indian Environmental Office | 2022 General Assistance
Program Guidance

On September 30, 2022 the U.S. EPA's Office of International and Tribal Affairs released the 2022 Indian
General Assistance Program (GAP) Guidance, which replaces the 2013 Guidance. The 2022 GAP Guidance
provides a national framework for building tribal environmental program capacity and implementing tribal
solid and hazardous waste programs and will be used for all GAP workplan negotiations beginning October 1,
2022.

The new GAP Guidance has many changes as a direct result of the input that the U.S. EPA received from tribes.
To highlight a few of these changes, the guidance:

•	Creates flexibility to build and maintain environmental capacity, including capacity building for meaningful
participation in EPA programs.

•	Lessens administrative burden by reducing the number of indicators.


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Fall 2022 Issue

•	Includes flexibility for intertribal consortia in meeting
regulatory documentation requirements.

•	It makes information easier to find when applying for
GAP.

Beginning in November 2022, the American Indian
Environmental Office (AIEO) will offer training to tribal staff
on the new Guidance. In the coming months and throughout
FY23, AIEO will set up a new website to improve access to
important information about GAP, start a pilot of the GAP
performance management application, and invite consortia
to work with the U.S. EPA to learn more about their work
and how to incorporate it in GAP performance management
efforts.

Air and Radiation Division | Class I
Redesignation

Under the Clean Air Act (CAA), the prevention of significant
deterioration (PSD) program established classifications to
limit the amount of additional pollution to specified areas
resulting from construction or modification of major sources UWe Gross vdley Weservo//. the bMerf]y is 0 Lorquin,s
of air emissions. Under the PSD program, there are three	Admiral

levels of air quality protection: Class I, Class II and Class III.

Class I status allows the most protection of air quality. Most areas throughout the United States are Class II
areas, and there are no Class III areas.

Many tribes have been going through the Class I redesignation process to be more protective of their airsheds.
An established air program and prior monitoring data are not required to go through this process, with the
only requirement being that the tribe has a land base or reservation. Class I status means that only a limited
amount of pollution from new, major sources will be allowed after a certain baseline date. The maximum
allowable increase of an air pollutant that is allowed to occur is known as the PSD increment. By establishing
the maximum allowable level of increase of ambient pollutant concentration in a particular area, an increment
defines significant deterioration of air quality in that area.

Class I area land manager agency responsibilities include the review of permit applications from proposed new
or modified major pollution sources to determine if emissions from the source will cause or contribute to
adverse impacts on air quality related values (AQRVs) of the Class I area. The AQRVs are resources that have
the potential to be affected by air pollution including visibility, scenic, cultural, physical or ecological resources.
Tribes can request that the U.S. EPA redesignate additional areas to Class I status. The process for
redesignation includes notifying and consulting with affected governments, preparing a technical support
document, holding a public hearing, and getting approval from the U.S. EPA.

For more information, please visit the U.S. EPA's page here: Class I Redesignation.


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Fall 2022 Issue

Program Updates

Region 9: Children's Environmental Health j October is Children's Health Month
Did you know that children drink about 7x more, eat about 3.5x more, and breathe about 2x more than adults?
This means if their air or water is contaminated, they'll take in proportionately more harmful toxins than
adults.

A child's environment shapes their health and can have both short and long-term consequences. Exposure to
environmental hazards can lead to increased asthma, childhood obesity, cancer, neurological damage leading
to disorders such as ADHD and autism, and other issues. These conditions impact not only the child, but the
community and our society as whole for many reasons, including increased health care costs, special education
needs, and lower lifetime earnings.

Protecting children's environmental health from conception, infancy, early childhood, and through teenage
years is critical to our work at EPA and to protecting communities. As Environmental and Community Leaders,
you can:

•	Form a community-wide children's environmental
health workgroup to assess and prioritize children's
environmental health concerns in your community
and develop a plan to address those concerns.

•	Use GAP funding to start or continue outreach and
training for healthy homes, schools, or childcare
centers.

•	Work with your EPA and other federal and state
agency contacts to start or continue children's
environmental health intervention programs for
concerns such as lead, mercury, asthma, water
quality, and indoor and outdoor air quality.

A great resource for communities to protect children's
environmental health is the new Tribal Indoor Air Quality
Training and Resource Directory. The resource directory
is a comprehensive compilation of resources and information to help Tribes identify and access various Indoor
Air Quality (IAQ) resources and funding to support the creation or expansion of Tribal IAQ programs. The topics
covered include asthma, radon, COVID-19, grants, EPA contacts, and more.

For more information and resources related to Children's Health Month and how you can protect children
where they live, learn, and play, please visit Children's Health Month Resources or contact EPA Region 9
Children's Environmental Health Coordinator Sarah Sullivant - sullivant.sarahPepa.gov.

Region 9: Tribal Branch j New General Assistance Program Project Officer> Abigail
Jones

Please welcome our newest General Assistance Program project officer, Abigail Jones! Abigail, also known as
Abbey or PJ, treasures an opportunity to take on new adventures. She also enjoys hiking, dancing, crafty
projects, skydiving, and spending time with her husband and dog. Her academic background includes a
Bachelor of Science in Geography with an Environmental Sustainability concentration, a post-baccalaureate



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Protecting Children's Health


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Fall 2022 Issue

certificate in Geographic Information Systems, and a Master
of Science in Environmental Policy and
Management. Before joining the Agency, she interned for
Southwire Company as an Environmental Health & Safety
technician, worked for the City of Jacksonville as a high-risk
facility inspector within the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm
Sewer System (MS4) program,

Upon reflecting on her path to the Tribal Branch, Abigail
expresses, "It has always been a dream to join the U.S. EPA,
and I truly owe it to my family and ancestors for their
sacrifices, paving the way for me to pursue my dream as I
proudly support the goals and missions of the Agency."

Region 9: Tribal Branch | Fiscal Year 2022
End of Year Evaluations & Fiscal Year 2024
Planning

Another year in the books! Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) has been
a year full of many firsts as the U.S. EPA and tribal partners worked together to overcome new challenges
brought upon by the ongoing pandemic. General Assistance Program (GAP) grantees—be sure to capture all
the hard work and accomplishments from FY22 in the quarter four report submissions due October 30, 2022,
along with associated deliverables. Federal Financial Reports will be due by December 30, 2022, and end of
year co-evaluations between grantees and project officers will begin thereafter.

As the fall season has begun, so has Fiscal Year 2023 with a fresh programmatic start and new goals. GAP
project officers will begin reaching out in late October to schedule coordination calls to discuss GAP Fiscal Year
2024 (FY24) applications and go over the 2022 GAP Guidance and FY24 funding notification.

U.S. EPA: Water Division I Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act
Five decades of Clean Water Act implementation have reduced direct pollution discharges to our nation's
waters and improved wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. This progress was built on strong
partnerships between the U.S. EPA, and state, local, and tribal governments as well as community and
environmental organizations, industry, and agriculture.

"When Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972—with an overwhelming bipartisan majority—it charted
a new path for America's waters. As a result, we have seen transformational progress over the last 50 years-
waters that were once polluted are now fishable and swimmable," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water
Radhika Fox. "President Biden and Congress have laid the foundation for the next 50 years of progress by
investing $50 billion in EPA's water programs through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law."

To read more about the anniversary, please visit: U.S. EPA Kicks Off Tour of Iconic Waters. Celebrating the 50th
Anniversary of the Clean Water Act.


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Fall 2022 Issue

Tribal Project Success Stories

Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians Creates a Virtual Earth Day Event During the
Pandemic

Coming up with creative, motivating and thought-inspiring new ideas for environmental outreach for tribal
communities is never easy, but the recent multi-year COVID-19 pandemic made that task even more
challenging. The Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians' Environmental Department's Virtual Earth Day is one example
of a successful and innovative outreach effort.

The Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians
is a federally recognized tribe whose
reservation is located in North San
Diego County. When venues and
events closed in early 2020 and group
activities were actively discouraged,
the Environmental Department
decided to try something brand new
and completely different from what it
had ever attempted before: to create
a socially distant multimedia "Virtual
Earth Day" event.

The event focused on a series of
twelve 3-10 minute educational
video clips intended to create awareness about culturally and environmentally relevant topics on the
Rincon Reservation. Rincon, however, shares many of the same concerns that Rincon's neighboring tribes
and other communities do, so these short films are also useful and relevant to other website visitors. The
environmental messages in the videos were told from a cultural point of view, in either an informational, or
fun and entertaining way. The Virtual Earth Day video film clips created include: Harmful Algal Blooms, Climate
Change and Changes in the San Luis Rey River, Water Conservation, Maintaining Your Septic System, Native
Wellness and Food Sustainability, Endangered Species on the Rincon Reservation, Battling Invasive Beetles
and Preserving Oak Trees, Climate Change Effects and the Importance of Oak Tree Restoration, Make Everyday
Earth Day, Recycling & Sustainable Energy, Improving the Reservation's Air Quality, and Being Safe With
Household Hazardous Waste.

The virtual nature of the event is intended to allow visitors the flexibility to learn about various topics in a
socially distant and responsible manner from the location of their choice, at a time of their own choosing. After
watching each video clip, viewers can test their knowledge of the information conveyed in the clip by
answering a short 3-question quiz. Complementing the posted video clips, informational brochures were
prepared for each topic and posted for download on the website.

Why were video clips the chosen media? Tribal members, just like the vast majority of people in the US, are
used to social media and viewing movies online and film clips were thought to be a good way to reach people
in a manner they were used to responding to. Visual media allows for engaging storytelling and for information
to be shared in an interesting way. Videos also allow for history and stories to be archived that might not be
widely known or shared. Older tribal members can impart wisdom to the next generation via video; these
stories or personally experienced histories might otherwise be lost. Tribal council members, elders, and youth,
and subject matter experts all contributed their views, history, and knowledge to the videos.


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Fall 2022 Issue

The opinions of tribal youth added fun and provided an interesting contrast with adult opinions. In addition to
preserving stories and sharing information, the Virtual Earth Day videos provided viewers an appreciation of
the beauty of the Rincon Reservation by seeing it in a new perspective through aerial drone footage.

The Virtual Earth Day event was funded by three grants: a U.S. EPA General Assistance Program (GAP) program
grant, a U.S. EPA Clean Water Act (CWA)

Section 106 grant, and a Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA) Forest Health grant. Each grant
funded the creation of four video clips. To
help film video content, the Environmental
Department contracted with the Native
American-owned local firm, Condor Visual
Media, who were able to determine the
best way to film the topics and organize and
combine interview, footage, aerial imagery,
and stock footage.

While organizing, scheduling, and filming the
12 video clips took a considerable amount of

time, effoi t, 3rij organization, the resulting	Rincon tribal youth providing their opinions on various environmental topics during

web-based content turned out extremely well,	virtual Earth Day filming.

exceeding all expectations, and provided a good source of environmental engagement for both tribal members
and other reservation residents, along with other members of the public visiting the website.

Check out the Rincon Virtual Earth Day event on the Rincon Government's website at Rincon Virtual Earth Day.
The Rincon Environmental Department webpage can be accessed at Rincon Environmental Department (RED).

The U.S. EPA Selects Recipients of Nearly $12 Million in Pollution Prevention
Grants

The U.S. EPA announced the selection of 39 recipients across the country that will receive nearly $12 million
in pollution prevention (P2) grants made possible by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's historic
$100 million program investment. These grants will allow states and tribes to provide businesses with technical
assistance to help them develop and adopt P2 practices to prevent or reduce pollution before it is even
created, while also reducing business and liability costs.

Preventing pollution at the source, also known as P2 or source reduction, rather than managing waste after
it is produced is an important part of advancing a sustainable economic and environmental infrastructure. P2
can lessen exposure to toxic chemicals, conserve natural resources, and reduce financial costs for businesses,
particularly costs associated with waste management, disposal and cleanup. These practices are essential for
protecting health, improving environmental conditions in and around disadvantaged communities, and
preserving natural resources like wetlands, groundwater sources, and other critical ecosystems.

Congratulations to the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians for their P2 grant award I

To learn more about this year's awardees and the P2 program, please follow this link: U.S. EPA Selects
Recipients of Nearly $12 Million in Pollution Prevention Grants Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.


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Fall 2022 Issue

RTOC and Tribal/U.S. EPA Annual Conference

The Regional Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC) is a working committee of the U.S. EPA and tribal personnel co-chaired

by a U.S. EPA representative and a tribal representative. The U.S. EPA designates its RTOC representatives through
internal mechanisms. All tribes within Region 9 are considered members of the RTOC. Tribal representatives to the RTOC
are selected through government-to-government communication, by tribal leaders in various geographical areas within

Region 9.

Tribal/U.S. EPA Annual Conference

The Tribal/U.S. EPA Region 9 Annual Conference co-sponsors, the Pala Band of Mission Indians and the U.S.
EPA, are pleased to announce this year's conference theme will be, "Knowledge is of the Land." The Tribal/U.S.
EPA Region 9 Annual Conference brings together more than 300 participants from tribal nations located across
Arizona, California, and Nevada, and representatives from federal, state, and local agencies, nonprofits, and
academia.

Plans are in place to hold this year's conference at Harrah's Lake Tahoe Conference Center in Stateline, Nevada,
October 25 - 27, 2022. Conference organizers are planning a hybrid event so attendees can participate
in-person or virtually. If you haven't done so already, secure your place at the Conference now by registering as
an in-person or virtual attendee!

Stay up to date on important information from the conference organizers such as registration, travel, and the
conference agenda by visiting the Tribal/U.S. EPA Region 9 Annual Conference Website.

Regional Tribal Operations Committee

On July 25-27, Region 9 RTOC Co-Chair Mervin Wright Jr. (Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe) and Co-Chair Laura
Ebbert (U.S. EPA) convened the hybrid Summer RTOC meeting. This was the first hybrid RTOC meeting and
continues to be well-attended with over 200 participants, including the U.S. EPA Region 9 Administrator. The
three-day meeting included a tribal caucus, treatment in a similar manner as a state (TAS) acknowledgement,
presentations on climate change, a tribal leaders' roundtable, and several technical break-out sessions on an
array of topics. The Summer RTOC presentations and meeting materials can be found here: Region 9 RTOC
Meeting: Summer 2022 I US EPA.

The Fall RTOC will take place on Monday, October 24 in conjunction with the Tribal EPA Conference in Lake
Tahoe, CA & online. Please check the RTOC website for more details: Regional Tribal Operations Committee
(RTOC) I US EPA.


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Fall 2022 Issue

Tribal Resources

U.S. EPA and ITEP | Tribal Indoor Air Quality Training & Resource Directory
The U.S. EPA's Indoor Environments Division, in collaboration with the National Tribal Air Association (NTAA)
and the Institute forTribal Environmental Professionals (ITER), is pleased to announce the availability of a
valuable new resource: the Tribal Indoor Air Quality Training and Resource
Director . The resource directory is a comprehensive compilation of resources
and information to help tribes identify and access various Indoor Air Quality
(IAQ) resources and funding to support the creation or expansion of Tribal IAQ
programs. The topics covered include asthma, radon, COVID-19, grants, the
U.S. EPA contacts, and more. U.S. EPA values our collaborative relationship
with tribes to support improvements in IAQ in tribal communities. We hope
this resource will continue to foster the U.S. EPA's collaborative relationship
and increase access to vital tools and resources that can be used to address
the health and the safety of tribal members when it comes to indoor air
quality.

SERA

Tribal Indoor Air Quality
Training & Resource
Directory

For Use in Developing
Indoor Air Programs

Please visit the U.S. EPA's Indoor Air Quality homepage or the Indoor Air
Quality Tribal Partners Program webpage to learn more.

The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency

In collaboration with
The Institute forTribal
Environmental
Professionals and
The National Tribal
Air Association

U.S. DOC NOAA and U.S. DOI | Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation
The Biden-Harris Administration in partnership with U.S. Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NQAA) and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) jointly launched a new
website to heip communities across the nation understand the real-time climate-related hazards in their area,
analyze projected long-term exposure to those hazards, and identify federal funds to support climate resilience
projects for their communities.

The Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) portal, an easily accessible and interactive
geospatial website, will help federal, state, local and tribal governments as well as non-profit organizations
learn about climate hazards impacting their communities.

Climate Mapping for

•••• • •• ••••••• ••	i i	w

Resilience and Adaptation

• •••• ••••••••• •••••••••••••••• ••• ••••	• • •• ••• • • • •• •••••	HnKi

CMRA integrates decision-relevant
information from across the U.S.
government, including climate
maps and data; non-climate data
such as building code standards,
economic justice, and social
vulnerability information; and
federal grant funding opportunities.
The website's new CMRA
Assessment Tool offers information
on past, present, and projected
future climate conditions to
support planners and managers


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Fall 2022 Issue

in assessing their exposure to climate-related hazards, including drought, extreme heat, coastal and inland
flooding, and wildfire. The site helps users create their own custom climate exposure assessment for specific
locations and customize statistics and visual representations of the hazards in their particular area.

To access the CMRA portal, please follow this link: Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation.

Follow this link to learn more about the tool: Biden Administration launches portal to help communities assess
exposure to climate hazards.

U.S. EPA, States, and Tribal Nations | E-Enterprise

E-Enterprise for the Environment is a model for collaborative leadership among environmental co-regulators.
Through a shared governance model, environmental leaders at the U.S. EPA, states, and tribes are using
E-Enterprise to deliver better results, often with lower costs and less burden, for the benefit of the public, the
regulated community, and government agencies. E-Enterprise helps foster greater trust among these groups by
improving data integrity and communication.

States, tribes and the U.S. EPA share similar goals
for the environment. Authority to implement
environmental protection is also shared, making
collaboration among the partners essential to
ensuring that they can simultaneously address
the following common goals and desires:

•	Establish a more collaborative relationship,
while still respecting delegated program
responsibilities.

•	Provide states and tribes the opportunity
for early and meaningful engagement with
EPA on key issues and decisions that affect
implementation of delegated programs and
primary jurisdictional authorities.

•	Incorporate the user's perspective, improve customer service and institute business-friendly approaches.

•	Deliver environmental programs and services with greater efficiency and effectiveness by streamlining and
simplifying processes.

•	Prevent or eliminate backlogs of agency actions and meet or beat required timelines for agency actions;

•	Avoid duplication of efforts and make the best use of limited resources.

•	Accomplish important environmental goals in the face of constrained, and sometimes decreasing, budgets.

•	Achieve improved and measurable environmental progress and results.

Learn more about E-Enterprise at their website: E-Enterprise for the Environment.

U.S EPA's Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery | All Hazards Waste
Management Tool

The U.S EPA's Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery in the Office of Land and Emergency Management
launched a new version of the All Hazards Waste Management Planning Tool I This interactive online tool helps
users develop pre-incident waste management plans for both natural and man-made disasters. The intended
user community for this tool is primarily decision makers at the state and local levels, tribal communities, as

E-ENTERPRISE

for the Environment


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Fall 2022 Issue

well as owners and
operators of large facilities
(e.g., chemical plants). The
new features of this tool
include improved estimation
of waste volumes based on
specific information about
structures in impacted
areas, updated and more
detailed information
on waste management
facilities, the ability
to add information on
transportation options,
and integration with other
U.S. EPA disaster waste and
debris systems. The U.S. EPA
expects that this tool will
lead to the development of

more pre-incident	GAP Project Officer Mark Royos poses with Wiyot Natural Resources Department staff Director Adam Canter and

planning resources, enhancing	Fisheries Biologist Dr. BUI Matsubu during Wiyot Day.

the resiliency of our nation's ability to respond to disasters.

Access the tool on the U.S. website here: All Hazards Waste Management Planning Tool.

Tribal Consultation

A full list of active U.S. EPA Tribal Consultation opportunities are available on the U.S. EPA's Tribal Consultation
Opportunities Tracking System (TCOTS) weboaae: TCOTS Weboaae. If interested, join the TCOTS Listserv by sending a
message toJoin-epa tcots(a)lists.eDa.gov to receive email notifications on the latest U.S. EPA Tribal Consultations.

Each month, the Region 9 Regional Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC) Consultation Workgroup meets to
share information and updates and to discuss consultation topics of interest. This workgroup is jointly chaired
by Kelcey Strieker, Environmental Director of the Pechanga Environmental Department, and JR Herbst, U.S. EPA
Region 9 Tribal Branch Project Officer. For more information or to become involved in the workgroup, please
contact Kelcey (kstricker(S)pechanga-nsn.gov) or Jeremy (bauer.ieremv(5)epa.gov).

U.S. EPA Air and Radiation Division | Reducing Air Pollution from the Electric Power
Sector

The U.S. EPA is initiating consultation with federally recognized Indian tribes to obtain input on three
upcoming actions to reduce air pollution from the electric power sector. The U.S. EPA seeks input to inform the
development of these rules prior to publishing proposals in the Federal Register. These regulations are
important actions to mitigate the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to address the challenges of climate
change, as well as help reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants (HAP) that have been demonstrated to


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Fall 2022 Issue

pose significant risks to human health and the environment. EPA is addressing three upcoming power sector
rules: (1) GHG Emission Guidelines for Existing Electric Generating Units (EGUs) under Clean Air Act (CAA)
Section 111(d); (2) GHG New Source Performance Standards for New, Modified, and Reconstructed EGUs under
CAA Section 111(b); and (3) Review of the Residual Risk and Technology Review for the Mercury and Air Toxics
Standards.

Learn more on the TCOTS web page, and submit written comments at the following link by October 17, 2022:
Regulations.gov. See Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0723.

U.S. EPA Air and Radiation
Division | Designation of PFOA
and PFOS as CERCLA
Hazardous Substances

The U.S. EPA is initiating consultation
and coordination with federally
recognized Indian tribes on the notice
of proposed rulemaking to designate
perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and
perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)
as hazardous substances under the
	Comprehensive Environmental Response.

.... _ .... _	Compensation, and Liability Act

Little Grass Volley Reservoir	¦	c	'	2	

(CERCLA). These designations would require
facilities across the country to report on PFOA and PFOS releases that meet or exceed the reportable quantity
assigned to these substances. The hazardous substance designations would also enhance the ability of federal,
tribal, state, and local authorities to obtain information regarding the location and extent of releases. The U.S.
EPA or other agencies could also seek cost recovery or contributions for costs incurred for the cleanup. Read
the prepublication version of the notice here: Proposed Designation of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and
Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) as CERCLA Hazardous Substances.

Learn more on the TCOTS webpage. and submit written comments at the following link by October 24, 2022:

Regulations.gov.

U.S. EPA Region 9 Water Division | Tribal Engagement Opportunities for National and
Regional Water Actions Visual Calendar

In response to ongoing requests from Region 9 tribes for more outreach on current tribal consultations, we
have compiled a schedule of upcoming consultation engagement opportunities for the various U.S. EPA
proposed water actions. This document provides both a visual calendar to track important consultation dates
and includes a narrative that briefly summarizes all current actions with more specific resources.

To access the current and future visual calendars, go to: Trraa Consujtaj$g|j j] u.S. [PA|s	Southwest

(Region 9).


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Fall 2022 Issue

Funding Opportunities

Stay up-to-date on federal grant opportunities by using the Grants.gov search page.

U.S. EPA | Tribal and Insular Area Grants Diesel Emissions Reduction Act
The U.S. EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality is announcing the availability of funds and soliciting
applications for projects that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions. U.S. EPA anticipates awarding
approximately $8 million in Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) funding under this announcement. A total
of $7 million will be made available to tribal governments (or intertribal consortia) and Alaska Native Villages.
U.S. EPA anticipates awarding ten to fifteen cooperative agreements to tribal governments (or intertribal
consortia) and Alaska Native Villages.

This request for applications has no mandatory cost share requirement. The amount of federal funding
requested per application by the tribal governments (or intertribal consortia) or Alaska Native Villages must
not exceed $800,000. Applications requesting in excess of these amounts will be rejected. Each applicant may
submit up to two applications.

Applications are due by October 26, 2022.

More information is available on Grants.gov. under Funding Opportunity Announcement EPA-OAR-
QTAQ-22-03.

U.S. EPA | Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers

The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers' request for applications will
now provide up to $100 million in funding for establishing 5-10 technical assistance centers across the nation.
These centers will serve communities with environmental justice concerns and their partners. Funds per award
have increased and will now total approximately $10 million. Intertribal consortia are eligible to apply.

Applications are due by November 1, 2022.

More information is available on Grants.gov. under Funding Opportunity Announcement EPA-l-QP-QEJ-22-02.
USDA Rural Utilities Service | Rural eConnectivity Program

The Rural eConnectivity Program (Reconnect) Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to
facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. In facilitating the expansion of broadband services and
infrastructure, the program will fuel long-term economic development and opportunities in rural America.
The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities:

•	Assisting Rural communities recover economically from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly
disadvantaged communities.

•	Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development programs and benefits from Rural
Development funded projects.

•	Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic
support to rural communities.

Applications are due by November 2, 2022.


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Fall 2022 Issue

More information is available on Grants.gov. under Funding Opportunity Announcement RUS-REC-2022-2.

U.S. EPA, Commission for Environmental Cooperation | EJ4Climate Grant Program
The US Environmental Protection Agency joined the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) of North
America to announce that the $2 million Environmental Justice for Climate (EJ4Climate) grant program is now
open for applications. With the aim of funding projects that support underserved and vulnerable communities
and indigenous communities on the front lines of climate change, up to $200,000 in grant funding is available
for recipients.

The EJ4Climate grant program welcomes projects that, for example, address extreme weather impacts,
support the transition to clean energy and/or transportation systems, conduct conservation or restoration
works, or employ traditional ecological knowledge to address climate change impacts.

Proposals are due by November 11, 2022.

More information is available here: EJ4Climate: Environmental Justice and Climate Resilience-

Learn more about the EJ4Climate program, selection criteria, and previous grant recipients, and access the
online application portal.

U.S. DOI Bureau of Reclamation | Central Valley Project Habitat & Facility
Improvements

The rivers of the Central Valley of California support populations of Fall Run Chinook, Spring Run Chinook, and
Winter Run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and Steelhead Trout (O. Mykiss). Water resources
development, stream channel manipulations, and other anthropogenic actions have reduced and modified
historical salmonid habitats. Gravel is regularly transported from spawning sites on the river and there is less
utilizable rearing habitat. Infrastructure entrains juveniles, impairs passage, and increases susceptibility to
predation.

Relevant purposes of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) include:

•	To protect, restore, and enhance fish, wildlife, and associated habitats in the Central Valley and Trinity River
basins of California.

•	To address impacts of the Central Valley Project (CVP) on fish, wildlife and associated habitats.

•	To improve the operational flexibility of the CVP.

•	To achieve a reasonable balance among competing demands for use of CVP water, including the
requirements offish and wildlife, agricultural, municipal and industrial and power contractors.

The objective is to execute the collaborative planning efforts for salmon rely on the CVPIA and the Science
Integration Team (SIT) supporting implementation of the Fish Resource Area of the CVPIA.

Applications are due by November 14, 2022.

More information is available on Grants.gov. under Funding Opportunity Announcement R23AS00650.

U.S. EPA | FY2023 Brownfields Program Grants


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Fall 2022 Issue

Approximately $169 million in funding is available for Brownfields Multipurpose. Assessment. Revolving Loan
Fund, and Cleanup Grants under the Fiscal Year 2023 grant competitions. Grants offered by the Brownfields
Program may be used to address sites contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants
(including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum) and petroleum.

"With this funding opportunity, we will remove longstanding barriers to Brownfields reuse and spur new
sustainable and environmentally just redevelopment in communities across the nation," said Carlton
Waterhouse, U.S. EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management.
"During this grant cycle, our expanded funding will allow us to address more sites plaguing underserved areas,
and in some instances, award grants of greater funding levels. In the case of our Brownfields Cleanup Grants
and our Revolving Loan Fund Grants, the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding allows us to remove
the matching funds requirements."

Applications are due by November 22, 2022.

Access grant application resources and links to Grants.gov here: Multipurpose. Assessment. RLF. and Cleanup
(MARC) Grant Application Resources.

U.S. EPA | Drinking Water Tribal Set-Aside Program

The U.S. EPA is pleased to invite tribes to apply for Drinking Water Tribal Set-Aside (DWTSA) funds to support
drinking water infrastructure projects at public water systems that address high priority public health risks.
These funds can be used to support both planning and construction projects that address critical water supply
shortages, chemical and bacteriological contamination, aging infrastructure, and water resiliency projects at
public water systems. U.S. U.S. EPA awards funds through direct grants to tribes or interagency agreements
with the Indian Health Service.

Please note that to be considered for funding, proposals must be received by November 30, 2022 and must be
submitted with a tribal government endorsement.

The full announcement, guidance, and project proposal form are available at U.S. EPA Pacific Southwest
(Region 9) Drinking Water Tribal Set-Aside Program.

U.S. DOI Bureau of Reclamation | Native American Affairs Technical Assistance
Program

The Bureau of Reclamation operates the Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program to increase
opportunities for federally recognized Indian tribes to develop, manage and protect tribal water and
water-related resources. Common activities include water-needs and water-management studies,
water-quality data collection and assessments, facility assessments and repair, and training. The maximum
Reclamation funding will be $400,000 per award and anticipates that total funding available will be
approximately $4,000,000. For more information contact KayLee Nelson, Bureau of Reclamation's Lower
Colorado Regional Office, at KDNelson(a)usbr.gov or 702-293-8073.

Applications are due by December 14, 2022.

More information is available on Grants.gov. under Funding Opportunity Announcement R23AS00016.


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Fall 2022 Issue

USDA Forest Service | Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program 2023 Tribes
The purpose of the Landscape Scale Restoration competitive grant program is to encourage collaborative,
science-based restoration of priority rural forest landscapes. This program supports high impact projects that
lead to measurable outcomes on the landscape, leverage public and private resources, and further priorities
identified in science-based restoration strategies.

Landscape Scale Restoration projects cross multiple jurisdictions, including tribal, state and local government,
and private forest land, to address large-scale issues such as wildfire risk reduction, watershed protection and
restoration, and the spread of invasive species, insect infestation and disease.

Applications are due by December 15, 2022.

More information is available on Grants.gov. under Funding Opportunity Announcement USDA-FS-2023-LSR-
TRIBES.

U.S. DOH Federal Emergency Management
Agency | FY2022 Flood Mitigation Assistance
The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program makes
federal funds available to states, U.S. territories, federally
recognized tribal governments, and local governments to
reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to
buildings and structures insured under the National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP). It does so with a recognition of
the growing flood hazards associated with climate change,
and of the need for flood hazard risk mitigation activities
that promote climate adaptation, equity, and resilience
with respect to flooding. These include both acute extreme
weather events and chronic stressors which have been
observed and are expected to increase in intensity and
frequency in the future. Projects or initiatives that are
eligible for funding under this announcement may or may
not involve Geospatial (GIS) issues.

Applications are due by January 27, 2023.

More information is available on Grants.gov, under Funding
Opportunity Announcement DHS-22-MT-029-000-98.

Americorps j FY 2023 AmeriCorps State and National Native Nations Planning Grants

AmeriCorps improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and
volunteering. AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country's most pressing challenges
through national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve
with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities and those serving. AmeriCorps helps make
service a cornerstone of our national culture.

Natural Resources Director Adam Canter pulls up some native plants in
Wiyot country during a GAP site visit.


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Fall 2022 Issue

AmeriCorps is committed to working on a nation-to-nation basis with Native nations and upholding the
federal government's tribal trust responsibility.

AmeriCorps planning grants provide support to a grant recipient to develop an AmeriCorps program that will
engage AmeriCorps members in implementing evidence-based interventions to solve community problems.
Grant recipients are awarded up to $240,000 for a 12-month planning period and are encouraged to
compete for an AmeriCorps program grant in the following grant cycle if they deem the fit with AmeriCorps
to be of use to their community. A planning grant may not be used to support AmeriCorps members.
Applicants will apply for a cost reimbursement grant. The project period is no more than a year, with a start
date proposed by the applicant. The project start date may not occur prior to the date AmeriCorps awards
the grant.

Applications are due by April 5, 2023.

More information is available on Grants.gov. under Funding Opportunity Announcement AC-08-18-22.
USDA Rural Utilities Service | Rural eConnectivity Program

The Rural eConnectivity Program (Reconnect) Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations
to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. In facilitating the expansion of broadband services and
infrastructure, the program will fuel long-term economic development and opportunities in rural America.
The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities:

•	Assisting Rural communities recover economically from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,
particularly disadvantaged communities.

•	Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development programs and benefits from
Rural Development funded projects.

•	Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic
support to rural communities.

Applications are due by November 2, 2022.

More information is available on Grants.gov. under Funding Opportunity Announcement RUS-REC-2022-2.

U.S. DOC National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Species Recovery
Grants to Tribes

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) recognizes the unique importance of many protected species
to tribes and values ongoing efforts by tribal nations to conserve and protect species listed under the
Endangered Species Act (ESA), 16 U.S.C. 1535. NMFS is authorized to provide Federal assistance to tribes
to support conservation programs for listed marine and anadromous species under its jurisdiction. This
assistance, provided in the form of grants or cooperative agreements, can be used to support conservation
of endangered, threatened, and candidate species or species proposed for listing, as well as post-delisting
monitoring of recovered species. Funded activities may include development and implementation of
management plans, scientific research, and public education and outreach.

Applications are due by October 31, 2022.

More information is available on Grants.gov. under Funding Opportunity Announcement RUS-REC-2022-2.


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Fall 2022 Issue

Training & Technical Assistance

Training opportunities in this newsletter are either hostedfunded, or sponsored in collaboration with the U.S. EPA.
Any links to websites outside of U.S. EPA are provided for additional information that may be useful or interesting
to our readers. The U.S. EPA can neither attest to the accuracy of these third-party sites nor endorse any

nongovernment websites, companies, or applications.

U.S. EPA | Starting Community Composting Programs on Tribal Lands: In-person
Workshop

The U.S. EPA is offering a free, in-person workshop on November
composting program. It is being hosted by the Ak-Chin Indian
Community in Maricopa, Arizona. Looking for solutions on how
to manage organic materials on your lands, return nutrients to
the soil and reduce landfilling? Join this in-person workshop
to learn how to compost, identify community composting
practices that may work well in your community, and chart a
path towards developing a community composting
program. We will visit current on-farm composting operations
and hear from other Tribes on their composting experiences.

This workshop is intended for employees of federally-
recognized tribes and tribal consortia. It is organized by the
U.S. EPA Region 9, with the support of Booz Allen Hamilton.

If you have questions regarding the workshop, please contact
Jenny Stephenson (stephenson.iennv@epa.gov) or Deirdre
Nurre (nurre.deirdre@epa.gov)

Register at U.S. EPA Waste and Materials Management Training
Series for Tribes Starting Community

Composting Programs on Tribal Lands: In-Person Workshop.

9 to 10, 2022 on how to start a community

U.S. EPA | Technical Assistance to Brownfields	11 ™

Com HI Ufl iti&S Pro Qfd m	Wiyot Natural Resource Director Adam Canter peeks at a water quality

"	monitoring well.

The U.S. EPA's Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB)

Communities Program helps communities, states, tribes and others understand risks associated with
contaminated or potentially contaminated properties, called brownfields, and learn how to assess, safely clean
up and sustainably reuse them. The U.S. EPA funds three organizations—Kansas State University, the New
Jersey Institute of Technology and the Center for Creative Land Recycling—to serve as independent sources of
technical assistance. Each of these TABs has an extensive network of partners, contractors and other contacts
that provides services across the country. They help communities tackle a variety of challenges related to
identifying, assessing, cleaning up and redeveloping brownfields. The technical assistance comes at no cost to
communities.

For more information, please visit: Brownfields Technical Assistance, Training and Research.

U.S. DOE Office of Indian Energy | On-Request Technical Assistance

The U.S. DOE Office of Indian Energy provides federally recognized Indian tribes, including Alaska Native


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Page 19	Fall 2022 Issue

villages, tribal energy resource development organizations, and other organized tribal groups and
communities, with technical assistance to advance tribal energy projects at no cost. Technical experts from
the U.S. DOE and its national laboratories, along with other partnering organizations, provide support to assist
Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages with energy planning, housing and building energy efficiency, project
development, policy and regulation, resilience, and village power.

For more information, please visit: Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs.

U.S. DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy | Clean Cities Coalition
Network Technical Assistance

Clean Cities connects transportation stakeholders with objective information and experts to assist with
alternative fuels, fuel economy improvements, and emerging transportation technologies. Through these
trusted, time-tested resources, Clean Cities has helped fleets and fuel providers deploy hundreds of thousands
of alternative fuel vehicles and fueling stations that serve a growing market. Clean Cities continues to support
the entry of new transportation technologies into the marketplace.

For more information, please visit: Clean Cities Coalition Network.

oEPA

United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

Environmental Protection Agency
Region 9 Tribal Branch

Tribal, Intergovernmental, and Policy Division

75 Hawthorne St.

San Francisco, CA. 94105

Get in Touch!

Do you have an idea for inclusion in an
upcoming newsletter? Do you have a question
or comment about an article in this issue?
Please submit ideas, questions, tribal success
stories, original photos, or other feedback to
the R9 Tribal Newsletter Coordinator, Mark
Rayos, at:

R9Communities(5)epa.gov

R9 Tribal Programs: www.epa.gov/tribal/epaspacificsouthwest-tribal-programregion-9
Follow Region 9 EPA on Facebook! www.facebook.com/EPAregion9
Follow us @EPAregion9 on Twitter! www.twitter.com/EPAregion9

Please see and subscribe to our EPA in the Pacific Southwest Newsletter
for more general news about the U.S. EPA in Region 9.

EMERGENCIES
&EPA

Report oil or
chemical spills at:
800-424-8802

To report environmental violations, please call 1-800-300-2193, operational
during normal working hours, Monday through Friday. To report oil or chemical
spills, please call the emergency line. More information on reporting spills and
environmental violations could be found here:

How to Report Spills and Environmental Violations

Protecting Human Health and the Environment


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