Making a Visible Difference in Communities Home

Multiple Villages

American Samoa and the other U.S. Pacific Island territories are historically underserved and underfunded communities compared to the U.S. mainland. American Samoa in particular has the lowest per capita income of any state, territory, or county. In consultation with local stakeholders, EPA identified three areas for assistance: 

• improving drinking water quality
• addressing climate change concerns
• tackling clean land issues

American Samoa has significant drinking water problems, with ongoing boil-water notices impacting the majority of the population. These problems will only be exacerbated as the territory braces for the impacts of climate change. EPA worked with our partners in American Samoa to develop solutions to ongoing and upcoming challenges facing their drinking water supply, treatment and distribution, as well as other threats to their environment and infrastructure. 

EPA's Piggery Compliance Program encourages alternate piggery designs, such as this USDA-funded dry-litter piggery, that reduce animal waste from polluting downstream waters,. These changes have resulted in significant reductions of Leptospirosis in American Samoa communities.

The Island of Ta’u in American Samoa is achieving 100% renewable energy through a solar and battery storage project. A diesel generator will still be used to provide backup during emergencies. An EPA diesel emissions grant allowed them to replace their old generator with a new one, assuring any future diesel-generated power will be cleaner.
Learn more about EPA in the Pacific Islands.