Posts Archive

As discussed in last week’s digest, providing a payment justification is now required for all ASAP drawdowns. Requesting a payment without entering a justification under 300 characters will result in an error message. Using symbols (e.g., %) may also generate an error...

Above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation continue to rapidly melt the snowpack at record-breaking levels in the West. The rapid depletion of snow, coupled with increased evaporative demand, can rapidly dry soils and vegetation, which can lead to an...

Got a hazardous waste treatment storage and disposal facility (TSDF) near you? EPA has updated its TSDF Toolkit, which includes the main publicly available hazardous waste permitting resources so that permittees, the public, and state permitting authorities (including...

Check this out! EPA’s Model Recycling Toolkit can help communities create effective programs for recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, reuse, repair, and waste reduction; increase participation in recycling programs; and reduce contamination in the recycling...

Smoking tobacco and marijuana — and vaping with e-cigarettes and other devices — can release harmful chemicals into the air. People around the smoker or vaper are also exposed to these chemicals. Use the following fact sheets to educate your community: Health Risks of...

EPA’s new Flooded Homes Cleanup Guidance website provides tips and informational videos for people impacted by flooding to prepare to re-enter their home and begin cleanup. The site also explains the different health risks associated with flooding, such as asbestos,...

EPA is loaning air monitoring technologies to state, local, and Tribal air organizations to support supplemental air monitoring in areas affected by wildfire smoke and with observational data coverage gaps. The loan program, called Wildfire Smoke Air...

EPA’s National Tribal Waste Management Peer Matching Program is a unique opportunity for Tribes and Alaska Native Villages to support each other in waste management efforts through peer-to-peer mentorship and technical assistance. Whether your Tribe seeks...

EPA’s website, Tribal Programs in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, just got a facelift. The biggest change is the addition of a calendar that allows you to see funding opportunities and events at a glance. Happy exploring! If you’re having trouble...

EPA’s National Tribal Waste Management Peer Matching Program is a unique opportunity for Tribes and Alaska Native Villages to support each other in waste management efforts through peer-to-peer mentorship and technical assistance. Whether your Tribe seeks...

Has your Tribe submitted the Federal Financial Report (FFR), also known as the SF-425, for FY24 (or CY24)? Once upon a time, this form was only required at the end of the grant cycle, but it is now required annually. At the end of the grant cycle, EPA also...

EPA’s Superfund Remedy Report provides information and analyses on remedies EPA selected to address contamination at Superfund National Priorities List and Superfund Alternative Approach sites. This report focuses on the analysis of Superfund remedial actions selected...

EnviroAtlas is an interactive, web-based tool from EPA that decision-makers can use to inform policy and planning in the places where people live, learn, work and play. You can explore EPA’s environmental and health data with the EnviroAtlas Interactive Map,...

In an April 28 news release, EPA outlined upcoming agency action to address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), including the designation of an agency lead for PFAS, the creation of effluent limitations guidelines for certain PFAS to stop these forever...

The Arctic Encounters Symposium has been rescheduled to July 30-August 1. Policymakers, diplomats, indigenous leaders, industry innovators, diverse stakeholders, national security officials, and leading experts from the science, technology, maritime,...

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) has launched a new website about the  Caring for Our Relatives program. Learn about the program, sign up for technical assistance services, explore funding opportunities, view upcoming events, and review the...

In collaboration with the Tribal Solid Waste Advisory Network (TSWAN), the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe is hosting the Tribal Green Summit September 16-18 in Snoqualmie, WA. The gathering is dedicated to environmental stewardship, advancing circular economies, and...

Learn about radon and the people who work to combat it at RadonLeaders.org. The site connects radon stakeholders through interactive tools (like blogs and discussion forums), and features information and resources (like the Resource Bank and the Radon Change...

Run before, but worth running again! This grant calendar, along with the live links, can now be found under Administrative Resources on the EPA GAP webpage. 

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ISLR) has released Composting 101, a home composting guide that covers the fundamentals of community composting and prepares participants to establish and manage composting projects that both engage and serve their communities....

Tribes across the country are leading the way in resilience—adapting to wildfires, floods, heatwaves, and changes to cultural and natural resources while protecting their communities, lands, and traditions. The Tribal Resilience Action Database is a free tool designed...

On April 4, EPA released the report, “Estimating the Cost of Food Waste to American Consumers.” EPA’s research shows that, on average, a family of four spends almost $3,000 per year on food that never gets eaten. Wasting food wastes the labor and other resources spent...

April showers can bring May flowers but can also bring unwanted flooding with harmful consequences. Flood water that enters your home can make the air inside unhealthy. Mold can grow on wood, drywall, carpet and furniture if they remain wet for more than 24-48 hours....

EPA has announced new AirKnowledge air quality training materials, including: An updated self-instructional module that explains the key aspects of the National Emissions Inventory A new self-instructional module that explains requirements (statutory and regulatory)...

Want to learn more about how to improve indoor air quality in schools? Boy, do we have resources for you! EPA’s Asthma Resources One-Pager (at right) includes guides for asthma triggers, tips for controlling asthma, and a home visit checklist for healthcare...

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...

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...

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...

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...