Region 8 Tribal Drinking Water Monthly Newsletter March, 2023 THIS MONTH Training Resource: Lead and Copper Webinar (EPA Small Drinking Water Systems Webinar Series) Announcement: EPA Region 8 to Host Webinar on Upcoming Environmental Grant Opportunities Tribal Resource: Water Distribution 1 Training for Tribal Operators (brought to you by the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) and EPA Region 8) Announcement: Biden-Harris Administration Announces $550 Million to Advance Environmental Justice Training Resource: Cybersecurity Training Resource: EPA Small Drinking Water Systems Webinar - Lead and Copper Topics • EPA's Lead Service Line Inventory Guidance - This presentation will provide an overview of EPA's Guidance for Developing and Maintaining a Service Line Inventory. • Corrosion Test Methods - Bench top and pilot lead corrosion studies are gaining more interest, considering revisions and upcoming improvements to the Lead and Copper Rule. Webinar Date: March 28, 2023, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET A certificate of attendance will be offered for this webinar. Upcoming Regulatory Deadlines Key EPA Contacts Webinar Flyer: Lead and Copper (pdf) Register for the webinar Announcement: EPA Region 8 to Host Webinar on Upcoming Environmental Grant Opportunities for States, Tribes, Communities, and Non-Government Organizations on March 15 Join us for information on unprecedented funding available for air, land, water, climate change, and environmental justice projects ------- Are you interested in learning more about the many new grant opportunities available from the Environmental Protection Agency, but don't know where to start? This webinar is for you! On Wednesday, March 15, EPA Region 8 will host a webinar from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM MST focused on current and upcoming environmental grant opportunities associated with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. EPA Region 8 includes the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming, and 28 Tribal Nations. Please join EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker and EPA staff as we explain the basics on how to find and apply for grants that can help communities protect human health and the environment. Register below and we'll send you a Zoom link the morning of the webinar. Come prepared to ask questions! REGISTER HERE. Wednesday March 15,10:30-11:30 AM Mountain Time Agenda Opening Remarks EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker Grants Availability Overview of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act grants and application timeframes Grants Basics Registration; Grants.gov and how to Search for Grants; Eligibility, Budgeting, and Terms and Conditions Preparing to Apply EPA Science Priorities; Quality Assurance Plans; Tips for writing good applications Environmental Justice EJ considerations and tools Training Resource: Water Distribution 1 Training for Tribal Operators (brought to you by the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) and EPA Region 8) Title Descriptions Dates Registration Water Distribution - Level 1 (Virtual and In-Person - New Town, ND) Water Distribution - Level 1 Live Online and In-Person (New Town, North Dakota, April 5-28, 2023). Training Course for Tribal Operators. Priority registration will be given to Tribal Operators working in EPA Region 8. Training course size is limited. Click here: Brochure & Reqistration Forms Online Dates: April 5, 7,10, 12,14 and 17. 9:00-12:00 PM Central Time In-Person Dates: April 24- 28. 8:00 AM- 5PM Click here: Electronic Registration Announcement: Biden-Harris Administration Announces $550 Million to Advance Environmental Justice ------- On February 23rd, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the availability of $550 million from President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act to expedite investments through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking (EJ TCGM) program. This new, innovative program will fund up to 11 entities to serve as Grantmakers to community-based projects that reduce pollution. Selected Grantmakers will develop an efficient, simplified process so that organizations that historically have faced barriers to receiving funding can more seamlessly apply for grants that address environmental harms and risks. The new program advances the Biden-Harris Administration's whole-of-government commitment to achieving environmental justice by building early, meaningful, and sustained partnerships with communities. "Over the last two years I've traveled to overburdened and underserved communities and their message to me has been clear - residents have suffered far too long without access to crucial federal funding and resources," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "Thanks to President Biden's historic investments in America, including the largest ever investment in environmental justice, we're removing barriers and moving faster to deliver this unprecedented relief to the communities who need it most." The entities eligible to apply under this Request for Applications (RFA) and serve as an Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaker fall into four categories. They include: • A community-based nonprofit organization; • A partnership of community-based nonprofit organizations; • A partnership between a Tribal Nation and a community-based nonprofit organization; or, • A partnership between an institution of higher education and a community-based nonprofit organization. EPA intends to award up to 11 cooperative agreements under this RFA for up to approximately $50 million each to be funded incrementally over a 3-year period. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2023. EPA expects these Grantmakers to begin awarding subgrants to community-based organizations no later than early 2024. The EJ TCGM program will further the goals of President Biden's Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to disadvantaged communities that have been overburdened by pollution and historic underinvestment. EPA will continue to uphold the goals of the Justice40 Initiative by ensuring funds get to communities that have often been unable to access resources due to high barriers to entry. To view the Request for Applications, please visit: www.grants.gov. More information on the Inflation Reduction Act- Learn more about environmental justice at EPA. Training Resource: Cybersecurity Title Descriptions Dates Registration ------- Cybersecurity Assessment Training for Public Water Systems Webinar This two-part webinar series for Public Water Systems (PWS) will demonstrate how to use the cybersecurity checklist to assess their program, information on how to address vulnerabilities, and available resources. Attendees are encouraged to attend both Part One and Part Two of the Series Part 1: March 21, 2023, 12:00- 3:00 PM ET Part 2: March 23, 2023, 12:00- 3:00 PM ET Register Here Cybersecurity 101 Training This webinar is an introduction to the basic principles of cybersecurity. The presentation slides can be downloaded here: Cvbersecuritv 101 Webinar Slides (pdf) Link to online training: https://voutu.be/e2QDbgroibO Available Online Available Online Upcoming Regulatory Deadlines Date Event Location Last day of every calendar month Last day to collect monthly total coliform samples Sites approved on your RTCR sample plan 10th of every month Last day for EPA to receive total coliform and DBP samples collected during the previous month N/A Key EPA Contacts Region 8 Tribal Team Joe Faubion - Helena, MT Office - 406-457-5005 - Faubion.joseph@epa.gov Andrea Griese - Pierre, SD Office - 605-945-1192 - griese.andrea@epa.gov Other R8 Drinking Water Employee Contact Information Can be Found Here. This newsletter can be viewed online by visiting: https://www.epa.gov/region8-waterops/epa-region-8- tribal-drinking-water-monthly-newsletter. If you would like to be added or removed from this newsletter distribution list, please email griese.andrea@ epa.gov. ------- ------- |