Grants and Funding

• Grant
• Cooperative Agreement

• Water and Waste Program, 7CFR 1780
• 306 C Water and Waste Grant Program, 7 CFR 1777
• Infrastructure Grants for Rural Alaskan Villages

• Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program
• Native American Set-Aside Grant (306 C)
• Alaskan Villages Grants

• To provide water and waste disposal facilities and services to low‑income rural communities whose residents face significant health risks.
• Set-aside for federally-recognized Native American tribes/tribal members. To provide water and waste disposal facilities and services to low‑income rural communities whose residents face significant health risks.
• For rural Alaska villages to have safe and dependable drinking water and suitable waste disposal systems. Assist with the high construction cost, the required heavy insulation, and the cost to transport materials to the area.

• Loan and Grant Program
• 306 C Water and Waste Grants
• Infrastructure Grants for Rural Alaskan Villages
• Community Facilities – Tribal College Initiative

Water System: The new Quinhagak water tank and utility building was constructed with funds provided by USDA Rural Development.

Outline of Need: The Western Alaska community of Quinhagak, located Southwest of Bethel on Kuskokwim Bay, has a population of about 550. Most of the Residents are Yup’ik (Alaska Natives). Most of the homes in the community do not have indoor plumbing.

Assistance Provided by Rural Development: Rural Development has provided up to $30 million a year to the State of Alaska for the “Alaska Village Safe Water Program.” Starting in 2002, Rural Development funded a phased $3.5 million water quality improvement project in Quinhagak. Funds were used to design and construct a sewer pipeline to the washeteria (where many community residents wash their clothes and shower). Additionally, a water storage tank (capable of holding up to a quarter million gallons) was built; along with utility building housing boilers, pumps, and water/sewer equipment. A dozen homes have been connected to the new water and sewer system and there are plans to connect about 98 additional homes.

The Results: A safe and reliable water system is being provided to the residents of the Quinhagak community. Residents will no longer have to haul water to their homes; they will be able to receive water within their housing. Through this effort, a basic human need is being fulfilled and the quality of life greatly improved. “The Village Safe Water Program” has provided this service to rural Alaskan Villages for many years.

Outline of Need: The Yerington Paiute Tribal Housing Authority (YPTHA) applied for a Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) in 2008 to continue their rehabilitation of older housing for their low income renters.

Assistance Provided by Rural Development: USDA Rural Development provided funding to the YPTHA in the amount $50,000.00 through the FY 2008 Housing Preservation Grant Notice of Funds Availability. The funds will enable the Housing Authority to complete the renovations on four rental homes. The renovations will include repairs such as replacement of heating units with central heat/air including duct cleaning; replacement of existing kitchen cabinets, counter tops and sinks; renovation of half baths with new toilets, vanities, medicine cabinets, lighting, flooring including underlayment, and bath fixtures; and painting the units.

The Results: Through the financial assistance provided by Rural Development, the Housing Authority has been able to renovate the homes of low income renters. The tenants are able to realize a reduction of their monthly utility bills because of new energy efficient appliances, use less water due to the remodeling of bathrooms and kitchens, and live in upgraded units rather than units with aging and deteriorating features. This effort improves the quality of life for the families that live in rental units. The Tribe is also able to provide training and jobs to tribal members because they are able to use their Force Account Crew to complete the repairs. The crew consists of one supervisor, one lead journeyman, two apprentice carpenters, one laborer, and the project coordinator.

AZ Board of Regents on behalf of Northern AZ University (AZ) ($205,000) – The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) will provide training and technical assistance to increase the development of solid waste management capacity for Native American tribal communities.

Forest County Potawatomi Community (WI) (20,000) – Forest County Potawatomi Community will provide certification/recertification for Solid Waste Staff and develop/implement an outreach program for tribal members to facilitate participation in recycling and composting.

Tanana Chiefs’ Conference (AK) ($200,000) – Tanana Chiefs’ Conference will: 1) provide a training class to enhance the knowledge and skills of the solid waste utility staff; 2) provide on and off-site technical assistance to village councils, utility managers, and solid waste operators concerning solid waste management solutions; 3) continue school education programs and evaluate the solid waste curriculum for schools as well as update the information as necessary; and 4) maintain current assessments of solid wastes.

White Mountain Apache Tribe (AZ) ($115,000) – White Mountain Apache Tribe will provide a training program for continuous education and technical assistance in order to educate tribal employees on the correct practices of landfill management procedures and practices.

Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council (AK) ($155,000) – Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council will provide intensive Hazardous Materials Handling, Emergency Spill Response, and other trainings to Tribal Solid Waste Managers and staff to expand the ability to backhaul more and varied types of materials.

• On-going each program year
• Solid Waste Management Grants funded at the National Level
• Water and Wastewater Funded at the State and National Level
• 306 C Funded at the State and National Level
• Alaskan Villages Grants Funded at the State and National Level

Sandi Boughton, WEP Director
Phone: (202) 720-9628

Joyce M. Taylor, Loan Specialist
Phone: (202) 720-0499
E-mail: JoyceM.Taylor@wdc.usda.gov

Tedd Buelow, Tribal Coordinator
Phone: (202) 690-1681
E-mail: Tedd.Buelow@wdc.usda.gov

DoD entered into a $567,737 cooperative agreement with the Native Village of Gambell, Alaska to clean up several sites used by the US Army, Navy, and the Air Force since approximately 1948 until late 1950’s. Various facilities were constructed to provide housing, communications, and other military functions. The Air Force operated aircraft control and warning station. The Army operated a base of several hundred personnel. The Navy started appearing during the Cold War. The project includes the development of a strategic project implementation plan; acquisition of permits; training; work plan and transport and disposal of soil and debris.

The Makah Tribe, Washington received an $841,078 cooperative agreement to conduct environmental mitigation activities at former military sites located on the Makah Indian Reservation. The cooperative agreement provides for removal of underground storage tanks and petroleum-contaminated soil; removal of asbestos-containing materials from former housing area; demolition and removal of abandoned buildings; performance of site investigations; sampling of ground water at the Warmhouse Beach open dump and cantonment area; sampling of surface water and sediment at the 200-Line dump and Cape Flattery dump; removal of abandoned structures from the Top Camp Dam; development of site closure reports; and updating of work plans for future activities.

• 42 U.S.C. 2004a
• 25 CFR Part 900 Subpart J
• 42 CFR Part 137, Subpart N

The Fort Totten Indian Reservation is located in east-central North Dakota and is home to the Spirit Lake Tribe. Approximately 6,000 people reside on the reservation, which covers 405 square miles and borders Devils Lake, the largest natural lake in the state. The principal communities are Fort Totten, St. Michael, Tokio, and Crow Hill, but most residents live in scattered home sites across the reservation.

Prior to 1997 the Tribe operated an unapproved dumpsite and many residents burned their domestic waste. To comply with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, the dump was closed and with funding from a US Department of Agriculture-Rural Development (RD) loan, the Tribe implemented its own collection system. Waste was hauled from communities and scattered sites in a compactor truck to a transfer station owned and operated by the City of Devils Lake, north of the reservation boundary. This was never viewed as a viable long-term method of waste disposal for the Tribe.

Meetings were held between the Spirit Lake Tribe, RD, and Aberdeen Area IHS and a memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed to develop the Spirit Lake Solid Waste Project. This project provided for a $1.05 million solid waste transfer station, scale, and inert waste disposal site. The Tribe, RD, IHS, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs signed a second MOA to provide solid waste collection and transfer equipment enabling the Tribe to haul waste to a sanitary landfill near Grand Forks. Tribal and federal contributions totaled $2.35 million, with approximately half the funding provided by IHS. The project also provided a satellite transfer station to serve rural customers, closure of the unapproved dump, and recycling equipment. IHS maintained project engineer responsibilities and worked closely with the Tribe and federal partners.

The transfer station has a design capacity of 200 tons per day, allowing for the expansion of service to nearby communities located outside the reservation. It is the Tribe's intention to expand their service area and revenue base which will optimize operation and maintenance of the system. With assistance from IHS and the Midwest Assistance Program improvements have been made to the billing and accounting functions of the Tribe’s solid waste program.

An updated integrated solid waste management plan was drafted that included additional recommendations for improvements and expansion. There are currently 19 businesses and 308 residential units billed for services. The solid waste program also serves the Native American Housing Self Determination Act units under a separate contract. The improvements provided by the Spirit Lake Solid Waste Project will insure the Tribe and its members have a sufficient infrastructure to handle the waste generated on the Reservation for several decades.

Year Funded: 1999
Amount: $200,000

• 1921 Snyder Act (25 U.S.C.§ 13)
• 1975 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act – Public Law 93-638, as amended; 25 U.S.C. § 450 et seq)
• 1994 Indian Lands Open Dump Cleanup Act (Public Law 103-399 – U.S.C. § 3901 et seq), Special Congressional Appropriations

Choctaw, Mississippi – $20,000. BIA provided funding to support laboratory chemicals disposal at Choctaw Central High School.

Hopi Tribe – $158,200. BIA provided funding in FY 2009 to support the Tuba City Dump, Tribal Tech Support.

Alaska Region: Kristin.K'eit@bia.gov
Eastern Region: Kurt.Chandler@bia.gov
Eastern Oklahoma: Jonna.Polk@bia.gov
Great Plains: Marilyn.Bercier@bia.gov
Midwest: Scott.Doig@bia.gov
Navajo: George.Padilla@bia.gov
Northwest: James.Brown@bia.gov
Pacific: John.Rydzik@bia.gov
Rocky Mountain: Rick.Stefanic@bia.gov
Southern Plains: Michael.Reed@bia.gov
Southwest: Ryan.Riley@bia.gov
Western: John.Krause@bia.gov