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EPA provides $95,000 for state/tribal partnership focused on environmental protection

Release Date: 2/6/2004
Contact Information: Laura Gentile, 415/947-4227 (gentile.laura@epa.gov)

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded $95,000 to the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada to enhance communication and coordination between tribes and the state of Nevada.

The grant funds will be used to create a liaison position within the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection aimed at helping the tribes and state communicate more effectively on environmental issues, particularly mine cleanups.

“This funding will help further the environmental partnership between the tribes and the NDEP, " said EPA Regional Administrator Wayne Nastri. “The tribes and the state both want to see their land protected, their air cleaner and their water pure."

Nastri presented the grant to the Council's President Philbert Swain at a ceremony held this afternoon at the State Capitol in Carson City.

"This grant will assist the state and the tribes by increasing communication and coordination on environmental issues," said NDEP Administrator Allen Biaggi. "It will improve our partnership in protecting human health and environmental quality."

"This is a great start for opening new lines of communication between the state and tribes," said Wayne Garcia, chairman of the Yerington Paiute Tribe. "This funding will help us work together toward our shared goal of protecting the environment for future generations to come."

Last year the EPA worked with tribes to clean up dump sites, protect drinking water and improve air quality in the Pacific Southwest. The EPA helped improve drinking water for 13,000 tribal homes and also funded 31 tribal dump closures. Last year, EPA helped 21 tribes improve air quality and worked with tribes to close eight leaking underground storage tanks.