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Pacific Southwest, Region 9

Serving: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, Tribal Nations

Region 9 Strategic Plan, 2011-14

Geographic Area of Focus: Tribal Partnerships

The United States has a trust responsibility to federally recognized Indian tribes. We work on a government-to-government basis with all 147 tribes in Region 9. Region 9 tribal lands comprise half of all Indian land in the country, and more than 80% of the tribes in the Region have an environmental presence. Economically disadvantaged populations in Indian country still suffer from critical environmental and health problems. We will protect the environment in Indian country by focusing on the following priorities:

tribal community meeting

Building Tribal Environmental Capacity through the General Assistance Program

  • Work collaboratively with tribes to build and maintain environmental programs to protect 27 million acres of land and the health of more than 300,000 reservation residents.
  • Each year, award approximately 130 grants totaling more than $15 million and technical support to over 125 tribes and inter-tribal consortia to build environmental protection programs.
  • Advance green building practices in tribal homes through two demonstration projects in 2012. Work with Kayenta Township, Pinoleville Pomo Nation, and one additional tribe to advance adoption of greener building codes.
  • Develop a Web-based green building code template with adaptations for various tribal cultural interests by the end of 2012.

Tribal Clean and Safe Water

In 2012, we will reduce the number of tribal homes lacking safe drinking water and wastewater and restore tribal water quality.

  • Support approximately 50 tribal water infrastructure projects by investing $12 million of EPA funds to create access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
  • Provide $10 million and technical support to more than 100 tribes to protect and restore water quality. 

Tribal Solid Waste Management

Approximately 1,300 open dumps exist on tribal lands in Region 9. In partnership with tribes, we are identifying sites posing the greatest threat and closing them, and working to prevent their recurrence. The development of Tribal Integrated Solid Waste Management Plans and adoption by tribal councils lead to long-term planning for safe solid waste disposal. We will partner with tribes to:

  • Close, clean up, or upgrade at least 35 open dumps during 2012, and improve tribal solid waste management.
  • Increase by two each year the number of tribes that will have an Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan in place, for a total of 39 plans region-wide by October 2012.

Tribal Underground Storage Tanks

  • Work with federally-credentialed tribal inspectors and EPA contract inspectors to inspect 65 underground storage tank facilities on tribal lands during 2012.
    Each facility in Indian Country will be inspected at least once every three years.
  • Prevent releases from and close at least seven leaking underground storage tank sites on tribal lands during 2012.

Tribal Clean Air

  • Support tribes in building capacity and protecting air quality through $2.5 million in 2012 grant funds for training, education and outreach, monitoring, emission inventory development, and rule development.
  • Provide technical support to 25 tribes for emission inventories and air monitoring during 2012.

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