Posts Archive

Subscribe to the State Emergency Response Commissions (SERC)/Tribal Emergency Response Commissions (TERC) monthly updates newsletter to learn about new policies, guidance, and training resources for implementing the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act...

The Upper Snake River Tribes Foundation and the Great Basin Fire Science Exchange have released the report, An Indigenous Perspective of Fire in the Upper Snake River Basin. Topics include Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Western science, and management systems;...

“Modeling Floodplain and Watershed Restoration for Salmon Recovery in The Tolt River Watershed,” by EPA and the Snoqualmie Tribe, reports on a study to help inform local and regional planning and support ecosystem restoration in the Tolt River and Snoqualmie River...

EPA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) will provide an overview of the cybersecurity vulnerabilities identified at water and wastewater systems. EPA and CISA will share cybersecurity best practices for water and wastewater systems to limit...

Check out the March edition of EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment Program newsletter. This edition highlights the national economic benefits of Superfund reuse and features recently released tools and resources for Superfund redevelopment.

Dust is one of the top air quality concerns voiced by Tribes and rural communities throughout Alaska, and dust season is coming soon. In rural Alaska, ATVs and other vehicles driving on unpaved roads contribute to airborne dust that negatively impacts health, road...

Join this EPA listerv to get announcements and updates on Tribal waste management webinars, funding opportunities, resources and more from EPA and our partners. Other listserv opportunities are also available on this page. Subscribe

The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDS) has released its 2024 Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Assessment, which summarizes variations in temperature, precipitation, and snowpack across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho in Water Year 2024. The report...

On March 27, King County, WA, released a video press release on the effectiveness of a soil mixture that treats 6PPDQ, a toxic chemical found in tire dust that causes coho salmon to die before they return to their spawning grounds. Watch the video

Please see below for a reminder about Lead and Cooper Rule requirements instituted in October 2024. Please pass this information along to your Tribe’s water utility staff, water operators, and anyone else involved in disseminating drinking water public notices. EPA’s...

The March 14 Presidential Action, “Additional Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions,” rescinded Executive Order 14112, “Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of...

On March 18, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin visited the Ak-Chin Indian Community in Arizona, marking his first visit to Indian country. Read the press release Learn more on EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin's X Account Learn more on EPA Region 9’s Instagram Account

The Healthy Schools Network offers two toolkits for schools:   The Green Cleaning for Healthy Schools Toolkit contains free posters, two webinars, tip sheets, and checklists. The Healthy Products for Schools Toolkit offers guidance on finding products with low...

Kansas State University’s Interactive Transformative Resilience for Indigenous Brownfields & Environmental Sustainability (iTRIBES) is a holistic, community-wide, participatory approach to brownfields redevelopment in Indigenous communities. With a focus on...

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are frequently found in freshwater, estuarine, and marine waters. Cyanobacteria are naturally occurring, but some have the ability to produce highly potent toxins, known as cyanotoxins, that can lead to a variety of...

On Feb 20, EPA Region 1’s Tribal Program hosted a webinar, “Audit Preparedness Training for New England Tribal Nations.” Attendees included staff from Tribal Environmental Departments and Tribal Finance Departments. The presentation covered valuable tips and...

Oxcenia O’Domin has joined the Region 10 Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC) as its new Executive Director. Following is an excerpt from her bio: I am Sugpiaq and Unangax̂ originally from Chignik Lake, Alaska, and a member of the Unga Tribe. My family ties span the...

This brochure from EPA and the Centers for Disease Control offers tips on how to manage asthma and follow simple steps to minimize exposure to asthma triggers found indoors and out. 

The Institute for Tribal Professionals (ITEP) hosts 19 online courses for Tribes. Categories include Tribal air quality, waste and response, indoor air quality, and quality assurance planning. Check them out.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Branch of Tribal Community Resilience and the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) are seeking participation from federally recognized coastal Tribes in the lower 48 states that are interested in sharing their...

The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has created a bipartisan oversight email to track how any freeze on federal funding is impacting Tribal Nations and Native communities. If your community or Nation is affected, please share your experiences and concerns by...

EPA’s report, The Environmental Value of Applying Compost: Improving Soil Health for Stormwater Management, Contaminated Site Remediation, Ecosystem Restoration, Landscaping and Agriculture, summarizes the published science on the benefits of compost use in various...

The logistics of removing waste from remote areas of the country can be very challenging. Learn about Backhaul Alaska and the development of a mobile app to help support backhaul in rural Alaska. Read the article 

With the spate of devastating wildfires in California and the prospect of more fires in the near future, EPA and other organizations are sharing information on how to address the health effects.  ITEP Training: After a Wildfire – Health and Safety Considerations...

EPA’s Office of Grants and Debarment hosted a December webinar series on the following topics:  Participant Support Costs 2024 Revisions to 2 CFR Part 200 Regulations – Impacts to Tribes as Federal Award Recipients 2 CFR Updates to the Appendix,...

Many Superfund sites are well suited to support alternative energy production, and 110 Superfund sites now host alternative energy facilities. As of October 2024, these facilities provide enough energy to power more than 280,000 homes for one year.   Read the...

This EPA calculator can be used to estimate the methane emissions avoided per ton of food waste by diverting food waste from landfills over time. Anyone can download and use the calculator, which may be useful for grant applications, program planning, and reporting....

EPA has updated its Hazardous Waste Cleanup website to include a new landing page for all corrective action program topics and initiatives; a new searchable, sortable table of corrective action guidance, regulations, rulemakings, and resources; and a new training...

The Build America Buy America Act, enacted as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on November 15, 2021, established a domestic content procurement preference for all Federal financial assistance obligated for infrastructure projects after May 14,...

ASHRAE Guideline 44, “Protecting Building Occupants from Smoke During Wildfire and Prescribed Burn Events,” released in December, recommends building measures to minimize occupant health impacts from wildfire and prescribed burn smoke events. It is the first guideline...

On December 23, EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights released the agency’s Environmental Justice Strategic Plan. The plan lays out three goals for agency: Promote environmental justice and civil rights at the federal, Tribal, state, local,...

n its FY2022-2026 Strategic Plan, EPA committed to assembling a set of indicators of disparities in environmental and public health conditions relevant to the agency’s work, consistent with the broader effort to advance environmental justice. EPA has now released the...

Through E-Enterprise for the Environment, EPA, states, and Tribes are working together to improve environmental program management by streamlining processes and modernizing technology. It is governed by three goals: Early and meaningful dialogue with partners who make...

Pathways to Science compiles research and funding opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Some of these opportunities are in federal agencies, including EPA. Paid Summer 2025 Undergraduate Research...

EPA recently published updates to the agency’s Recommendations of Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing, which help federal government purchasers and other buyers select products that are more sustainable and contain safer chemical...

Brownfields 101: Tribal Funding Panel: A presentation from EPA given at the Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council Conference. Brownfields 101 Practical Ways to Navigate Cleanup and Redevelopment: A presentation from the Washington Department of Ecology, EPA,...

EPA has posted fish graphics that show parts of a fish that should not be eaten because of possible exposure to chemicals. This is particularly true for sensitive populations (e.g., pregnant people, children) and people who are subsistence fish consumers. Download the...

Pathways to Science compiles research and funding opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Some of these opportunities are in federal agencies, including EPA. Paid Summer 2025 Undergraduate Research...

EPA’s Tribal Water & Natural Resources Conservation Guide aims to provide resources to Tribal environmental programs about federal assistance opportunities that can support Tribally led efforts to protect and restore waters, protect air quality, protect wildlife...

As we enter the new year, the Info Box thought it might be helpful for readers to have the grant reporting deadlines all in one place.   ReportDue Date(for awards starting Oct. 1)Due Date(for awards starting Jan. 1)Progress reports that document progress in...

First published in 2019, Alaska’s Changing Environment, published by the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy, highlights environmental changes and extremes that impact Alaskans lives and livelihoods. All regions of the state have been impacted, from...

Here’s some good news to fuel your day: EPA’s FY 2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan included a new strategic goal focused on addressing climate change and an unprecedented goal to advance environmental justice and civil rights and we’ve made a lot of progress in FY24!...

Man, does EPA have resources! If you are looking for ideas to include in your GAP work plan for FY26 or beyond, take a gander at the following: EPA’s GAP Technical Assistance Handbook: The handbook provides a roadmap of activities that may be useful to Tribes and...

The Salmon Recovery Conference in Yakima, WA, will include discussion of innovations being used in partnerships, projects, coordination, community involvement, and funding to integrate salmon recovery with other interests while reflecting diversity, equity, inclusion,...

EPA’s Compendium of Tools and Methods to Estimate Environmental Benefits for Nature-Based Solutions identifies open-source tools and methods that can be used to estimate and communicate environmental benefits related to water quantity, climate mitigation, air quality,...

Vehicle tires contain the chemical 6PPD, which helps prevent degradation and cracking of rubber compounds. When 6PPD reacts with ozone in the air, it forms a transformation product called 6PPD-quinone, which has been shown to exhibit acute toxicity toward some aquatic...

This Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center, funded by EPA Region 10, is now offering free, no cost technical assistance to communities across the Northwest, including support navigating government systems, increasing administrative...

EPA’s Burn Wise website provides many handy resources to help you educate your community about safe ways to burn wood this winter:   Brochures and Flyers Example: Does Your Wood Stove Have a Dirty Little Secret (brochure) Example: Test Your Wood with a Moisture...

On Nov. 13, EPA released its final supplement to the risk evaluation and final risk determination for the solvent 1,4-dioxane under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA has determined that this chemical poses an unreasonable risk of injury to human health....

FY 26 GAP NOFA Webinar What's New in the Uniform Grants Guidance 2024 On November 12, EPA Region 10 provided an overview of GAP funding in FY26. Initial proposals are due to your EPA Project Officer by January 21, 2025. (And would we take them early? You bet!!) ...

The Clean Air Act requires EPA to review new science on the public health and environmental impacts of air pollutants every 5 years and revise the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), as necessary. EPA lowered the annual NAAQS for PM2.5 from 12.0 to 9.0...

The ELI Digital Consultation Hub serves as a comprehensive platform to build the capacity of Tribal, state, and local policymakers in implementing best practices in government-to-government consultation. The database includes documents from Tribal, state, and federal...

Brand spanking new and hot off the presses! If you’ve thought of combining your EPA-Tribal Environmental Plan (ETEP) with your GAP work plan – which should make it easier to keep both documents aligned and up to date – EPA has a new, optional template that can help....

A new report from the National Integrated Drought Information Service (NIDIS) identifies outcomes and opportunities to manage drought on Tribal lands. The document captures a range of best practices and opportunities that Tribal Nations, Tribal Colleges and...

There is no safe level of lead exposure, particularly for children. EPA has released updated sample lead disclosure forms that will give renters and homebuyers clearer and more specific information about lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978...

The Universal Access to Clean Water Initiative has released the Funding Handbook for Access to Clean Drinking Water in Tribal Communities. This is a reference guide for Tribes seeking to access and use funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation...

EPA has released new tools to help protect public health and local water bodies in communities that rely on lagoons for wastewater management. Lagoon wastewater treatment systems are typically used in communities that are smaller than 3,000 people and can lack the...

The Firewood Community Safety Initiative is aimed at any firewood bank or high wood burning town. Those who participate will receive technical assistance from the Alliance for Green Heat to improve the safety of low-income households that heat with wood. A free...