The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced more than $25 million in funding through grants and interagency agreements to 85 tribes in California.
Another $23 million in funding will be given to 17 tribes in Arizona to invest in environmental protection programs and water infrastructure. This funding includes more than $12 million in grants and nearly $11 million in interagency agreements.
The funding was announced as part of Native American Heritage Month.
“Tribes are essential partners in helping us meet our mission of protecting human health and the environment across the country,” said Bridget Coyle, acting director of the EPA's Pacific Southwest Tribal, Intergovernmental, and Policy Division. “EPA is proud to announce these awards, which are a crucial tool to ensure Tribes can sustain and grow their environmental programs and departments,” she added, according to an EPA press release.
EPA funding to tribes in California will support projects including water quality monitoring, watershed protection and restoration, tribal drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, plant operator training, and technical assistance. Tribes in California will also use EPA funding to develop programs to build capacity for shared prevention resources to prevent releases of hazardous substances into the environment, monitor, protect and improve air quality, and build public awareness of these efforts.
Examples of work being funded in California include helping the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians develop its solid waste and recycling programs; aiding the Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Tribe plan a youth camp and conduct quality workshops; constructing a sewer system for Big Sandy Rancheria of the Western Mono Indians, and collaborate with the Klamath Water Quality Consortium on water quality issues.
Examples of work being funded in Arizona include assisting the Cocopah Indian Tribe with building environmental management capacity; helping the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community address illegal dumping, collecting and transporting solid waste from the Havasupai Tribe, and completing two public water systems for the Tohono O’odham Nation.
