Posts Archive
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Proposed rulemaking process for unreasonable risks for HPS Phthalates; Regulation under TSCA – Ends Nov 1. Webinars Sept 14 and 16
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) is initiating consultation and coordination with federally recognized Tribes regarding regulatory management of unreasonable risks identified in the Toxic...
Proposed rulemaking process for unreasonable risks for 1,3-Butadiene; Regulation under TSCA – Ends Oct 9. Webinars Aug 25 and Sept 1
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) is initiating consultation and coordination with federally recognized Tribes regarding regulatory management of unreasonable risk identified in the Toxic...
2026 Infrastructure Conference – Registration Opens Soon
The Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council (IACC) will host its 2026 Infrastructure Conference October 20–22, 2026, in Wenatchee, Washington. The conference brings together Tribes, local governments, state and federal agencies, funding organizations,...
Opportunity for Tribal Clean Air Centers and Early Childhood Programs
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) is making a limited number of industrial-sized HEPA air cleaners available to Tribal communities through a donation program. Priority will be given to Tribal Clean Air Centers (Clean Air Shelters) and Tribal...
Registration Open: ITEP Air Quality Training for Alaska Native Communities
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) is accepting registrations for an entry-level, in-person Air Quality training designed for environmental staff from Alaska Native communities. No previous experience in air quality or environmental science is...
Applications Open for the Tribal Waste & Response Steering Committee (TWAR) – application deadline Oct 16
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) is accepting applications for new members of the Tribal Waste & Response Steering Committee (TWAR SC). The Steering Committee provides Tribal leadership and guidance to ITEP's Waste & Response Program...
Alaska Landfill Operator Training (ALOT)
Training Dates: September 9–10, 2026 Time: 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (Alaska) each day Format: Online | Cost: Free | Register Participants must attend both days to receive certification. Registration is now open for the Alaska Landfill Operator Training (ALOT), a free...
Tribal Fish Passage Working Group – Quarterly Virtual Meeting
Dates: August 25, 2026 Time: 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. AK Format: Online The Chickaloon Village Traditional Council Fish Passage Program invites Tribal environmental professionals, fisheries staff, natural resource managers, and partners to attend the next Tribal Fish...
Alaska DEC Opens Applications for 2027 Brownfield Assessment & Cleanup Services – Application deadline Nov 13
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Brownfields Program has opened the application period for the 2027 DEC Brownfield Assessment and Cleanup (DBAC) Services. The DBAC program provides assessment and cleanup services to help eligible communities...
EPA Releases Draft TSCA Risk Evaluations for Two Household Chemicals
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released draft risk evaluations for o-dichlorobenzene (oDCB) and p-dichlorobenzene (pDCB) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and is seeking public comment. Both chemicals are used in certain household and...
Modification to Washington Tribal & Federal Aquaculture General Permit – Ends Sept 30
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 is inviting Tribal participation in the consultation process regarding a proposed modification to the Washington Tribal and Federal Aquaculture National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General...
Proposed 2027 Construction General Permit (CGP) – Ends Sept 2
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the proposed 2027 Construction General Permit (CGP) for a 30-day public comment period. Once finalized, the permit will replace the 2022 Construction General Permit, which expires on February 16, 2027. The...
EPA Provides a Checklist for Laboratories Supporting Water Contamination Incidents
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a Checklist for Laboratories Providing Analytical Support for Water Contamination Incidents to help laboratories prepare for and respond to drinking water emergencies. When a drinking water contamination...
EPA Seeks Tribal Input on the Future of the Tribal Partnership Network
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO) is conducting a review of the EPA Tribal Partnership Network (TPN) and is inviting Tribal Leaders, Tribal environmental professionals, and Tribal partnership groups to help shape...
EPA Focuses on Strengthening the Water Sector Workforce
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently convened a national Water Sector Workforce Roundtable to discuss strategies for recruiting, training, and retaining the next generation of drinking water and wastewater professionals. The roundtable brought...
Protect Your Indoor Air During Wildfire Smoke Events
As wildfires continue to impact parts of the Pacific Northwest, including communities in eastern Washington, many residents are experiencing hazardous smoke, evacuations, and, for some, the devastating loss of homes and property. Our thoughts are with everyone...
Proposed rulemaking process for unreasonable risks for 1,3-Butadiene; Regulation under TSCA – Ends Oct 9
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) is initiating consultation and coordination with federally recognized Tribes regarding regulatory management of unreasonable risk identified in the Toxic...
Mentor Opportunity: Join the MARSH Wetland Mentorship Program
The Mentorship Assisted Resource & Support Hub (MARSH) is now accepting applications for mentors for its 2027 program. Hosted by the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) in partnership with the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) and the SWS...
ITEP Office Hours
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) continues to offer Monthly Office Hours covering topics including grants, indoor air quality, outreach and education, and Tribal air monitoring. These virtual sessions provide opportunities to ask questions,...
Zender Environmental Free Training Opportunity: Business of Trash & Solid Waste Planning Workshop – Sept 15-17
September 15–17, 2026| Zender Training Facility 3227 Arctic Blvd., Suite D | Anchorage, AK 99503 Zender Environmental is offering a free, in-person training focused on building sustainable and effective solid waste management programs for Tribal and rural communities....
EPA Finalizes Compliance Date Extensions for PCE & Carbon Tetrachloride TSCA Rules
EPA has finalized a rule extending certain compliance deadlines under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk management rules for perchloroethylene (PCE) and carbon tetrachloride (CTC). The agency states the extensions are intended to provide facilities with...
EPA Announces $28.4 Million in Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Tribes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the selection of 23 Tribal and intertribal consortium projects to receive a total of $28.4 million through the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia...
The Alaska Forum, in Partnership with the EPA & the State of Alaska Offers their Annual No-Cost Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training and a 40-Hour HAZWOPER Training
The Alaska Forum, in partnership with the EPA and the State of Alaska, is excited to offer our annual Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training and 40-Hour HAZWOPER Training. Registration: https://cvent.me/dLXDw4 Community Emergency Response Team...
Free EPA Technical Assistance for Water Utilities Through the SWIFT Initiative
EPA's Strengthening Water Infrastructure for Tomorrow (SWIFT) Initiative offers free technical assistance to help drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities strengthen resilience against natural hazards and other emergencies. SWIFT provides support with:...
Cybersecurity Procurement Checklist Tool Training – Aug 27 from 10:00 – 11:30 am PDT
EPA will demonstrate how to use the Cybersecurity Procurement Evaluation Checklist for Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems to assess and compare cybersecurity vendors. Register Here
Water Cybersecurity Assessment Tool Training – Aug 26 from 10:00 – 11:30 am PDT
EPA will demonstrate how to use the Water Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (WCAT) to conduct cybersecurity assessments at water and wastewater systems. Register Here
EPA Announces Changes to NEPA Comment Letter Process
EPA has released a new implementation memorandum aimed at improving transparency, clarity, and efficiency in the agency's review of Environmental Impact Statements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Clean Air Act Section 309. The memorandum...
EPA Waives WIFIA Loan Fees for Small Communities
EPA has announced it will waive application and credit processing fees for small communities applying for Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans during Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027. The fee waivers are intended to reduce barriers for...
EPA Announces $227 Million in Funding for Tribes & Alaska Native Villages to Improve Water Infrastructure Improvements
EPA has announced more than $227 million in Fiscal Year 2026 funding to help American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages improve drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and protect public health and the environment. The funding will support projects that...
The National Tribal Water Council is Seeking New Members & Offering a Tribal PFAS Working Group Summer Webinar!
The National Tribal Water Council (NTWC) is currently accepting applications for two council vacancies: At-Large Representative Open to Tribal water professionals employed by a federally recognized Tribe or Tribally authorized organization in EPA Regions 1–10....
EPA Seeks Public Input on Legacy Uses & Disposal of Asbestos – Ends August 24
EPA is requesting additional information to support the development of a proposed rule addressing legacy uses and associated disposals of asbestos, including chrysotile and non-chrysotile asbestos fiber types and asbestos-containing talc. EPA's 2024 Risk...
EPA GAP Academy Resources Now Available
Tribal environmental professionals looking to strengthen program management, environmental capacity, and technical skills can access a variety of free training opportunities through EPA's GAP Academy. The GAP Academy provides self-paced and instructor-led training...
2026 Tribal Community Resilience Webinar Series
Register Here Description Join us for presentations and Q&A focusing on how Tribal Nations, Native Villages, and Pueblos are responding to resilience challenges across regions throughout the U.S. Together, we will explore these topics on the following dates: July...
ANTHC Webinar Resources: Change Requests & Budget Revisions for EPA Grants
The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) recently hosted a webinar focused on EPA grant change requests and budget revisions, providing practical guidance for Tribes and Tribal organizations managing EPA-funded projects. The webinar covered two common...
Responding to Disasters in Indian Country Guide – December 2025
This guide is designed to help Tribal leadership and staff decide how to seek federal disaster assistance after a disaster. It includes an introduction to the disaster declaration process, the three types of declarations available to Tribal Nations, and the...
ALPAR Recycling Collection Event Mini-Grants (Alaska) – Apply by March 31, June 30 Sept. 30, Dec. 31
If you’re organizing a collection event for hard-to-recycle items, Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling (ALPAR) mini-grants may be able to help. Applications are due at the end of each quarter (3/31, 6/30, 9/30, 12/31). Apply Need bags? ALPAR now has...
NCAI Releases Survey on Tribal Impacts from 2025 U.S. Federal Shutdown
The Federal Government is shut down again, placing Indian Country in jeopardy as trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations go unpaid. Even with advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service, most other Tribal programs will be severely impacted, including...
Tribal Funding Registry
The Tribal Funding Registry is a free, searchable grants database designed for Tribes and Native-led nonprofit organizations. The registry is hosted by the Hozhonigo Institute, a Native American-led nonprofit.
RTOC Webinar: (Un)Precedented Times: What the President Can and Can’t Do and What That Means for Tribes
Presented on May 14 by Grant Thompson, Ph.D., J.D. Link to Slides https://youtu.be/mqD3MXlTKB8
Reuse of Mining Waste: ITRC Guidance Document
Reuse of Mining Waste, from the Interstate Technology Regulatory Commission (ITRC), is designed to help communities determine if there is an appropriate use for solid mining waste. These materials have a range of physical and chemical properties that make them both...
EPA’s Environmental Justice Strategic Plan
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,...
EPA Indicators of Environmental Health Disparities
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...
Tackling Emerging Contaminants: EPA Technical Assistance – No Deadline
EPA has launched the Tackling Emerging Contaminants initiative, a technical assistance program focused on reducing exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other emerging contaminants in small or disadvantaged communities. This assistance...
EPA’s Policy for Meaningful Engagement and Public Participation in Agency Decision-Making Processes
On September 5, EPA released the final document, Achieving Health and Environmental Protection Through EPA’s Meaningful Engagement Policy. The new policy outlines how the Agency intends to engage with the public and provide meaningful public participation...
Solid Waste Bootcamp: DEC Presentations
You wanted to attend the Solid Waste Bootcamp hosted by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation last week, but something came up? Happily, you can now download the presentations from the Solid Waste Bootcamp web page. Learn about recycling and backhaul,...
Pesticidal Air Treatment Devices: EPA Webinar Recording
On September 6, EPA hosted a webinar about research and regulation of pesticidal air treatment devices. The webinar provided an overview of EPA’s role in regulating pesticidal air cleaning and treatment devices, research on the effectiveness of these technologies...
Region 10 Tribal Operations Committee Clean Water Act Handbook
The Clean Water Act Handbook for Tribes: Protecting Tribally Significant Waters in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska
U.S. Department of the Interior First Annual Report on Tribal Co-Stewardship
First Annual Report on Tribal Co-Stewardship: Implementing Joint Secretarial Order 3403 on Fulfilling the Trust Responsibility to Indian Tribes in the Stewardship of Federal Lands and Waters
Implications of the Supreme Court’s Sackett Decision for Protection of Wetlands and Waters: NAWM Webinar Recording
On May 25, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision in Sackett v. EPA, which established the standard for determining when a wetland, stream, or other water is a “water of the United States” (WOTUS) protected by the Clean Water Act. This webinar hosted by the...
USDA Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program
USDA Rural Development funds grants for water and waste disposal facilities and services on federally-recognized tribal lands, colonias and rural areas that face significant health risks due to a lack of access to adequate, affordable water or waste disposal....
Western IPM Center Planning Documents Grants – Applications accepted on a rolling basis
Funding: Up to $15,000 per award, available 2022-2026 Details: These grants can be used to produce Pest Management Strategic Plans, Crop Profiles or other IPM-related plans. Proposals will be considered on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. Deadline: None...
Federal Financial Reports and Closeouts: EPA Webinar Recording
On September 6, Nyketric Singletary, Financial Specialist for EPA’s Research Triangle Park Finance Center, and EPA Region 10 Tribal Coordinators Sophie Manaster and Susan Conbere hosted a webinar for a group of grantees on Federal Financial Reports (FFRs) and...
Presentation: How Tribes Can Influence Agency Decision Making
Public participation matters. Democratic, legal, and management principles justify why public comments make a difference in regulatory policy. Big Corporations, private citizens, industry polluters also comment, it is important that Tribal perspectives are represented...
Letter from EPA Administrator Regan to National Tribal Caucus Chair Wagner and Meeting Notes
Attachments: NTOC 2021 - Administrator Letter to Chair Wagner.pdf 2021 NTOC meeting - summary notes.pdf
Posted 7/14/21: EPA Response to Transition Letter from RTOC
EPA Responds to RTOC Transition Letter EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Jane Nishida sent this letter in response to a letter RTOC Chair Raymond Paddock sent regarding requests to the new EPA administration. Original post is here
Posted 6/4/21: Tips for Effective Comment Writing for Tribes Video
Tips for Effective Comment Writing for Tribes Video RTOC Legal Legal Intern for 2020-2021, Rachel Hill created this presentation on how to create more effective comments to EPA. The video is posted on our RTOC YouTube Channel
Posted 4/30/21: EPA – Consultation Plan and Response to Comment
RTOC received the following email regarding the US EPA Consultation Plan and Response to Comment. Please see the attachments linked at the end. (email below revised on 5/4/21) Colleagues, Attached and summarized below are final documents created in response to...
Posted 3/30/21: Tribal Science Council Presentation
National EPA - Tribal Science Council Presentation: Collecting Examples of Indigenous Research Frameworks, Protocols and Methodologies Tribal Science Council Co-Chair Neil Patterson, Jr. shared this presentation at the March RTOC meeting. He has graciously allowed us...
Posted 3/26/21: RTOC Letter to EPA on transition
Region 10 Requests in New Administration The RTOC sent this letter to US EPA with requests and suggested initial actions in response to President Biden's Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships.