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 ------- Page 2 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. ------- Page 3 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. ------- Page 4 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 i i -A# ^ 5V Protecting Children's Health ------- Page 5 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) granteesbe 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 1972with an overwhelming bipartisan majorityit 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. ------- Page 6 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. ------- Page 7 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. ------- Page 8 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. ------- Page 9 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 ------- Page 10 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 ------- Page 11 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 ------- Page 12 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). ------- Page 13 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. ------- Page 14 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 ------- Page 15 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. ------- Page 16 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. ------- Page 17 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. ------- Page 18 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 organizationsKansas State University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the Center for Creative Land Recyclingto 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 ------- 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 ------- |