Region 10 Tribal Operations Committee

 

11 elected tribal representatives & epa administrators 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)

NTOC and RTOC Nominations

This year, RTOC is sending and collecting NTOC and RTOC nominations and conducting the election with assistance from EPA. The following positions are open. Please send completed forms to Ashley Corrao.

National Tribal Operations Committee Nominations:
NTOC Alaska Position 1 Nomination Form
NTOC Western Oregon and Western Washington Nomination Form

Region 10 Tribal Operations Committee Nominations:
RTOC Alaska Position 1 Nomination Form
RTOC Oregon Nomination Form
RTOC Eastern Washington Nomination Form

 

We Have the Power to Impact Our Future Generations, 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, based on input from Tribes in our region. We assist busy tribal leaders by providing template comment letters from which they can alter to their specific Tribal message.

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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 bi-annual virtual town hall meetings 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.

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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 many tribal concerns directly to Region 10 and National 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.

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Engaging with Tribal Leaders

In addition to our meetings and Town Hall outreach to Tribes and Consortia, our representatives each garner topics and issues of importance directly from the tribes in their representative outreach areas to guide our agendas, 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. 

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Happening Now

Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassadors – Apply by Jan. 4

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking youth passionate about the ocean and the natural environment. The Youth Ambassador Program helps youth ages 13-18 develop the skills to engage in conservation and stewardship opportunities. The program will run from January through December 2026 with monthly virtual meetings.

Record Retention

So, how long do you have to hang on to those pesky old grant records? Per 2 CFR 200.334, most records pertinent to federal award must be retained for three years from the date of submission of the final financial report.

Indigenous Access

IndigenousACCESS, provided by the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI), is a rapid-response tool to help users locate information and resources related to extreme hazards and severe weather events in the Pacific Northwest. The website’s PNW Tribal Flood Response Dashboard provides real-time updates and resources, emergency alert monitoring, and other information specific to the severe flooding and atmospheric river event occurring now, including:

  • Active weather alerts for Tribal lands and surrounding areas
  • Current conditions and impacts across the region
  • Local resources and emergency contacts
  • Situational awareness tools for emergency managers

Tribal Technical Assistance to Brownfields

The Tribal Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) program supports Indigenous communities in protecting and restoring sacred lands and accomplishing their revitalization goals. TAB is a collaborative partnership between Kansas State University, the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. If you’re interested in addressing brownfields issues in your community, check out their new website. 

Navigating Natural Hazards and Extreme Weather Events in Tribal Communities: Online Training

The National Center for Disaster Preparedness is offering a web-based training on the impacts of extreme weather events and the associated risks and hazards on emergency management, with a specific emphasis on Tribal Nation protocols. The course will teach tailored strategies Tribal Nations can use to prepare for extreme weather events and enhance their adaptation to the changing environment.

A lightbulbIf you complete the course, include the training certificate as a deliverable with your progress report.

Closeouts: Critically Delinquent Progress Reports

Heads up to an issue we recently learned about: A “deficiency” will be logged in SAM.govagainst a grantee for failure to submit final grant reports within one year of the end of the grant cycle.

2 CFR 200.344 says:

  • (h) The Federal agency must make every effort to complete all closeout actions no later than one year after the end of the period of performance…
  • (i) If the recipient does not comply with the requirements of this section, including submitting all final reports, the Federal agency must report the recipient’s material failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the Federal award in SAM.gov…

A report of non-compliance in SAM.gov can negatively impact an organization’s ability to receive future federal grants or contracts. So…. get those final reports in on time, folks! 

  • Our handy-dandy calendar can help you keep the deadlines straight.
  • Visit our page on closeouts for more details.

Submitting an SF-425, Federal Financial Report

The SF-425, Federal Financial Report, is required annually within 90 days of the end of the performance period. If your grant operates on the fiscal year, the report is due by December 30. If your grant operates on the calendar year, the report is due by March 30.

However, in the last year of the grant, the SF-425 is due 120 days of the end of the performance period and must cover the entire grant period. 

It’s easy to make an error on this form. To get it all right, please review the attached guidance from our grants office and please share it with your accountant or bookkeeper. 😊

Western Alaska Science Conference: Call for Abstracts

Hosted by Alaska Sea Grant, the Western Alaska Science Conference will highlight ways for maintaining strength, health, and subsistence lifestyles while moving forward during rapid transitions within the environment, ecology, and industries of Western Alaska. The conference will be held in Bethel, AK, April 7-9, 2026. Abstracts are sought from all disciplines that address questions and issues of concern to Western Alaska communities.

National Tribal Forum on Air Quality: Call for Proposals

The National Tribal Forum on Air Quality will be held April 27-30, 2026, in the Pacific Northwest. The Forum supports Tribal programs by fostering information-sharing and networking opportunities focused on building Tribal capacity in air quality management. The organizers are seeking abstracts for presentations, trainings, and other informational sessions that will provide engaging opportunities for Tribes to connect with others working to address air quality concerns. 

National Association of Environmental Professionals Conference & Training Symposium: Call for Abstracts

The National Association of Environmental Professionals Conference & Training Symposium will be held May 11-14, 2026, in Anchorage, AK. Environmental professionals from across the country will learn about new projects, share technical knowledge, network with other industry professionals, and engage with environmental leaders. Topics typically include NEPA practice, biological resources, brownfields and remediation, cultural and historic resources, geospatial analyses, natural resources management, offshore wind and renewable energy, socioeconomics and community impacts, technology in environmental planning, transportation, and water and coastal resources. 

The organizers are seeking abstracts to showcase your work to an audience of national and Alaskan environmental professionals. Abstracts can be submitted for oral presentations, posters, workshops, and special sessions on national and Alaskan issues.

Celebrating America’s Wild & Wonderful Wetlands: Call for Abstracts

The National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) is seeking abstracts for its conference, April 27-30, 2026, in Shepherdstown, WV. NAWM is particularly interested in presentations that address one or more of the following topics: 

  • Updates on State and Tribal regulatory approaches and permitting
  • Wetland and aquatic ecosystem restoration
  • Tribal programs and wetland management
  • Integrated project funding and financing
  • Market-based approaches and incentives to conservation
  • PFAS and other emerging contaminants in wetlands management
  • Wetlands management for wildlife conservation
  • Application of tools, technology, and AI to wetlands management
  • Creative partnerships and stakeholder engagement

GAP Notice of Funding Availability: Slides and Recording

FY 27 GAP NOFA Webinar Slides PDF

If you missed yesterday’s webinar on the GAP funding announcement, you can enjoy it now! The slides are attached (in case you didn’t see them previously) and you can listen to the recording here:  

IMPORTANT POINT 1: The recording is available for 30 days only.

IMPORTANT POINT 2: If you don’t have time to listen to it all, I highly suggest listening to Adam Baron’s introductory remarks at the beginning of the webinar, when he discusses in detail what’s new this year.

The second webinar will be held on January 6 at 1:00 Alaska, 2:00 Pacific, 3:00 Mountain. That webinar will cover a different topic: application tips and the forms you will need to submit with your application. 

Questions? Contact Susan Conbere at Conbere.Susan@epa.gov.

Washington’s After the Flames Conference – April 6-9, 2026

Hosted by the Washington Department of Natural Resources and Coalitions & Collaboratives, the After the Flames conference will bring together wildfire-impacted communities, response agencies, and recovery experts to share tools, build partnerships, and drive progress in restoring landscapes and building resilience after a wildfire. The conference will be held in person in Cle Elum, WA. Early bird registration ends Feb. 23. 

GAP Notice of Funding Availability

EPA’s American Indian Environmental Office has issued the national Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for GAP grants! Visit our Region 10 Tribal Environmental GAP Funding page to read the national NOFA and the Region 10 supplement.

Highlights:

  • Work plans and budget worksheets are due by February 13, 2026, for work beginning on or after October 1, 2026.
     
  • Applicants may request funding up to $138,000 per year. EPA Region 10 will determine final amounts after we receive a final federal budget and will communicate the final allocations to Tribal staff.
     
  • EPA Region 10 requests multiyear proposals. Applicants beginning a new 4-year GAP grant in 2027 are encouraged to apply for four years of funding. Other applicants are encouraged to apply for as many years as are remaining in their budget cycle. If applying for a multiple year grant is not a good fit for your community, please consult with your EPA Tribal Coordinator.
     
  • EPA Region 10 will host two webinars related to this announcement. Visit the Region 10 Tribal Environmental Webinars web page for details. No registration is required.
    • December 4, 2025, 1:00 Alaska, 2:00 Pacific, 3:00 Mountain: The first webinar will provide information on how to prepare your application and will include a discussion of multiyear applications. 
       
    • January 6, 2026, 1:00 Alaska, 2:00 Pacific, 3:00 Mountain: The second webinar will focus on how to submit your application, including how to fill out the forms. 
Questions? Contact your EPA Tribal Coordinator.
Resources for Tribes
EPA Tribal Programs in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska

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