Region 10 Tribal Operations Committee
Serving Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington
Learn more about Region 10 RTOC in this short video.
Tribes & Villages
AK Natives & American Indians in Region 10 (2010 Census)
Happening Now
Environmental Justice Technical Assistance Providers: NIHB
The National Indian Health Board’s (NIHB) Tribal Environmental Impact Network is a new cohort of professionals with experience in issues impacting environmental justice in Indian Country. These experts will assist NIHB in providing technical assistance to Tribal communities for funding opportunities as part of NIHB’s Tribal Environmental Justice Technical Assistance Center (TEJTAC). The TEJTAC was established to support underserved and overburdened communities addressing environmental and clean energy concerns by increasing access to federal funds. The network is open to professionals who work or have worked on environmental health and environmental justice issues in Indian Country. The network is seeking experts in the areas such as agriculture, air quality, clean energy, climate change, emergency response, environmental health, geology, hydrology, legal services, sanitation, solid waste transportation, and water quality. Compensation for technical assistance services will be provided.
Tribal Programs in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska: EPA Website
Visited EPA Region 10’s Tribal Programs chock-full-of-goodness website lately? Here’s a quick tour to help you find some of or hidden gems:
- The home page features a rotating banner with EPA funding opportunities, upcoming events, and more.
- Learn about EPA Region 10’s Land, Water, and Air & Climate programs.
- Find all things GAP on our Region 10 Indian Environmental General Assistance Program page. Here you can learn about applying for a GAP grant, the role of the Tribal Council, ETEPs, Performance Partnership Grants, Tribal Consortia, and more.
- See our Training and Technical Assistance for Tribes in Region 10 for an entire table of opportunities. If you have a training you’d like to add, please email R10TribalPrograms@epa.gov.
- See the list of Upcoming Consultations on our Consultations and Coordination page.
- Want to find your Project Officer, Grant Specialist, or other EPA staff? Visit our Contact Us page.
EPA’s New National Drinking Water Regulation for PFAS
On April 10, EPA finalized the first-ever National Drinking Water Regulation for PFAS. Exposure to these forever chemicals has been linked to cancer, impacts on the liver, heart, and immune system, and developmental damage in infants and children. This final rule will regulate six kinds of PFAS and help to ensure that all Americans have access to clean, safe, drinking waters. In sum:
- Public water systems must monitor for these PFAS and have three years to complete initial monitoring (by 2027), followed by ongoing compliance monitoring. Water systems must also provide the public with information on PFAS levels in their drinking water beginning in 2027.
- Public water systems have five years (by 2029) to implement solutions that reduce these PFAS if monitoring shows that drinking water levels exceed allowable levels.
- Beginning in five years (2029), public water systems that have PFAS in drinking water that violates one or more of these levels must take action to reduce them and notify the public.
EPA will also invest $1 billion to help states and territories implement PFAS testing and treatment at public water systems and help owners of private wells address PFAS contamination. Note that EPA will distribute the national Tribal allotment of 2% of the appropriations, estimated at $24M in FY22 funding, as an allocation to regions based upon the Drinking Water Infrastructure Grants Tribal Set Aside Program allocation formula. Regional offices will develop the procedures and schedule for annual selection of projects and activities, obligation of funds, or distribution of grants.
- Read the press release
- EPA will host webinars on April 16, 23, and 30 to discuss the new regulation. See Events to register.
Tribal Waste and Response Steering Committee – Apply by May 31
The Tribal Waste and Response (TWAR) Steering Committee is composed of people working on the front lines for Tribes, Nations, and Alaska Native Villages in the fields of Superfund, emergency response, solid waste, underground storage tanks, and brownfields. TWAR is now accepting applications from Tribal professionals who are interested in serving on the committee, which produces a bi-annual Priorities Document, serve as mentors, help with the Tribal Lands and Environment Forum and other special projects, and meet with federal staff throughout the year to advance Tribal concerns and challenges.
Earth Day! – April 22
On April 22, Mother Earth gets the recognition she deserves: Earth Day! Help protect the environment by organizing events and educating your community. Visit EPA’s Earth Day website for ideas.
Required Training for New EPA Grantees
As of March 4, EPA’s Office of Grants and Debarment requires new grant recipients to complete two courses before receiving funds: EPA Grants Management Training and How to Develop a Budget. Whether you’re a seasoned or new grantee, this is great training for everyone!
Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants
Grants.gov has published a new Quick Start Guide for Applicants to help you register and apply for grants using Grants.gov. The guide covers registering with SAM, creating workspaces, submitting your application, and more.
Internships for Students and Recent Graduates
Looking for opportunities for youth? EPA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Renewable Energy Laboratories, and other federal agencies are recruiting now! You can also search or internships on USA Jobs.”
EPA’s Tri-Regional Radon Symposium – April 22-24
The Tri-Regional Radon Symposium, hosted by Kansas State University, will be held in person in Reno, NV, for EPA Regions 8, 9, and 10. There will be a virtual option for those who cannot attend in person. On the agenda, note the sessions specifically for Tribes on day two. There will also be a presentation on an Environmental Justice grant for radon mitigation and education.
Ocean Acidification in Alaska
Ocean Acidification in Alaska is a free online course from the Alaska Ocean Acidification Network for anyone who wishes to learn how ocean acidification is affecting Alaska waters and its potential impacts on local species. The course is comprised of 8 modules and each module takes approximately 45-60 minutes to complete.
EPA’s Clean Water Act Hazardous Substance Facility Response Plan Requirements
As climate change increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, planning and preparedness are especially important. EPA has finalized new requirements for certain facilities to develop response plans for worst-case discharges of hazardous substances, or threat of such discharges, into or on navigable waters or conveyances to navigable waters. These requirements help protect the environment by ensuring that facilities have planned for and can respond to discharges of hazardous substances, particularly in communities with environmental justice concerns, which are disproportionately located in proximity to industrial facilities.
Disposal of E-Cigarettes
EPA’s new fact sheet, How to Safely Dispose of E-Cigarettes: Information for Individuals, explains that e-cigarettes should be taken to household hazardous waste collection sites rather than thrown in the trash or recycling bins. The lithium batteries inside of e-cigarettes can cause fires and the nicotine poses a risk to workers and the environment.
Tribal Lands and Environment Forum – August 12-15
Registration has opened for the Tribal Lands and Environment Forum, which focuses on how to improve management, protection, and restoration of Tribal lands. The forum will be held in person in Eugene, OR. The planning committee is seeking proposals for presentations through May 17.
Disaster Resilient Design Concepts: EPA Report
The potential for disaster increases as communities expand into hazard-prone areas and climate change alters the frequency, severity, and locations of threats. Disaster Resilient Design Concepts showcases designs that can help communities reduce the impact of disasters, recover more quickly, strengthen local economies, and create safer, more equitable places to live.
Household Medication Disposal: EPA Website
EPA has launched a new website to provide information about proper disposal of leftover household medications, including how to use various pharmaceutical take-back programs. The website helps the public understand why proper disposal of household medication is needed and what households should and should not do with their unwanted medications.
Washington State Department of Ecology 6PPD Action Plan Recommendations Meeting April 18, 2024
Advanced Notice:
6PPD Action Plan – Phase 1 Recommendations
Tribal Government Review Period
April 18 – May 17, 2024
The Washington State Department of Ecology and Department of Health are currently developing recommendations to the Legislature that will advance our work on 6PPD in Washington state. We would like to extend an invitation to federally recognized tribes to review these recommendations and provide feedback prior to their finalization and transmittal to the Legislature.
We convened an advisory committee in January 2024 as part of our 6PPD Action Plan recommendation development process. The advisory committee includes representatives from Washington state agencies, Federal agencies, Tribal governments with lands and traditional territories in Washington state, municipalities, and community groups. Representatives from several Tribes are participating in the advisory committee, and we wanted to share additional opportunities for feedback and discussion with Tribes. The advisory committee will complete recommendation development on April 17.
We will send the draft recommendations for review and comment by Tribal governments on April 18 and request any feedback by May 17.
We will also host a 6PPD recommendation review meeting, in partnership with the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, on Thursday, April 18 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. to support the start of the 30-day review period. We will review each of the recommendations and provide opportunities for questions and discussion. You can join this meeting using the Zoom link below.
- Join the Zoom meeting online
- Dial-in information
- Phone: +1 253 215 8782
- Meeting ID: 899 8411 1211
- Dial-in information
If you would like additional opportunities for discussion during this review period, please reach out to me or Tyson Oreiro, tyson.oreiro@ecy.wa.gov, to schedule a meeting.
With respect,
Tanya Williams | she/her | 6PPD Lead Agency Planner
Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction Program
Washington State Department of Ecology
tanya.williams@ecy.wa.gov | 360-688-4993 (c)
2024 UCUT / T&H Transboundary Mining Conference
The Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida) is thrilled to invite you to attend the third annual UCUT Transboundary Mining Conference in Dzantik’i Heeni (Juneau, Alaska).
- August 26 & 27 for Tribal and First Nation representatives
- August 28 – 30 for all registrants
Please find the formal invitation here. Registration is open and travel information is included. The agenda is evolving, and we look forward to updating the Eventbrite page with more details in the weeks to come.
Tribal Underground Storage Tank Boot Camp Workshop – June 4-6
Gas stations can be a significant hub for Tribal communities. They are often critical infrastructure when disasters hit, and they can be found in many tracts of land Tribes are trying to remediate. The Oneida Nation is offering a Tribal Underground Storage Tank (UST) Boot Camp, which will help participants assess, inspect, and evaluate the many aspects of USTs. The workshop will be held in person in Arlington, TX. Limited travel assistance is available.
- Apply by May 17
BIA’s Tribal Assistance Coordination Group Conference – May 7-9
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Tribal Assistance Coordination Group Conference brings together emergency management professionals to share the latest program information and best practices for all hazard emergencies and disasters. The conference will be held in person in Phoenix, AZ.
SOAR Conference (Solid Waste) – April 15-18
Hosted by the Solid Waste Association of North America, the Sustainability, Operations, Action, and Resources (SOAR) Conference will cover solid waste topics such as collection and transfer of waste, planning and management, landfill operations and landfill gas management, and safety. The conference is intended for solid waste decision-makers, supervisors and managers, technicians, and operational staff. It will be held in person in Phoenix, AZ.
We Have the Power to Impact Our Future, and We’re Doing Something About It
Advising on Environmental Policy
The RTOC contracts with an Environmental Lawyer who assists our committee in analyzing and understanding environmental policies, law, federal comments and consultations. The RTOC Policy Advisor takes direction from the RTOC Chairman and committee to draft comments on behalf of our committee, and to make those comments available on our website for all tribes.
Protecting Our Way of Life
Nobody knows better about how to protect our way of life than those who are actively living within tribal communities. Since our region is spread out over 4 states and thousands of miles, we utilize technology to help us become aware of the needs of those we serve. Each representative holds a virtual town hall meeting to get input from constituent tribes about the environmental matters closest to them. We encourage all tribal leaders and environmental staff to attend these community building meetings, where they can learn from others and be heard.
Elevating Tribes as Original Guardians
Our committee recognizes Indigenous people as the original guardians of mother earth. Drawing upon thousands of years of Indigenous Knowledge, we work now within both traditional and western systems to continue our guardianship. The RTOC counts on the 271 Tribes in our region to keep us up to date with current environmental issues affecting tribal communities. We have advanced tribal concerns directly to Region 10 EPA Administration. Likewise, the NTOC (National Tribal Operations Committee) relies on all the regional RTOCs to elevate certain issues to the American Indian Environmental Office in Washington, DC, and to the National EPA Administrators.
Engaging with Tribal Leaders
Our representatives each garner topics and issues of importance from the tribes in their representative outreach areas to guide our official comments and direct our committee. Each year we host a Tribal Environmental Leaders Summit (TELS) where Tribal Council members and Environmental staff gather to discuss issues of environmental concern to tribes.
Our Partners
